Hunter HQ - Commissary

Once the most-used area on the Fort Sam Houston, this area sees a little less usage by the Maverick Hunters, but it is still an important part of the ship. The mundane tasks of the Maverick Hunter Base are carried out here, from clothes laundry and armor cleaning to basic repairs. Mail sent from Neo-Tokyo is sorted here and delivered, and there is a small commisary, primarily for the human residents of the base, though it gets more than its fair share of usage by the Reploids here, as well. The room is seldom busy, but without the functions performed here, life in the Hunter Base wouldn't be quite as easy.

Down <D> leads to Hunter HQ - Science Area.

East <E> leads to Hunter HQ - Medical Area.

South <S> leads to Hunter HQ - Residential Level.

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Evenin."

[Radio] Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Hello, handsome! How did you like the family? And the dinner?"

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Ah had a good time."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "Tonight's supper is chicken casserole. Containers are in the fridge."

[Radio] Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "They really liked you. And I am very glad you enjoyed yourself. Aunt Katarina is crazy about you, she says you can come over anytime."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Nice t'know Ah'm not imposin. Tell her thanks again fer the recipie."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "...thay do know whut Ah am, right? Not that it bothers me either way."

[Radio] Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Um...no, I did not tell them. They do not need to know. I did not tell them that because they um, they are kind of Old World thinkers. They tend to associate reploids with Daddy, if you know what I mean. His name is not mentioned around here."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "All right."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Jus don't want them t'get upset later. But if ya druther keep it quiet, Ah unnerstand."

[Radio] Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "It is just something they do not need to know right now. If Auntie asks, I will tell her. It is just...right now, everyone is really upset about Daddy. I mean -really- upset. As many times as I have told them that my legal troubles are my fault, they say it was Daddy's fault completely because he was supposed to be a better parent. See, that is the way they think, and I cannot change that. Maybe later, when this has...cooled down some. Then the truth can be told. It is just that right now, they would not be receptive to it."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Ah unnerstand."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Want me t'save ya a plate a chicken casserole?"

[Radio] Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Oh, yes please, I love your chicken casserole."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Ah'll bring it over later. Got t'keep the others fed too."

[Radio] Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Do you know if Daddy has eaten anything?"

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Ah sent his dinner down already. Dunno if he'll eat it."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "Ah asked Doc Rigger t'keep an eye on him. He's not speakin to me."

[Radio] Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Not speaking? Well, I am no longer going to make excuses and apologize for his attitude problem. At one time I would have apologized, because that really is a rude way to treat you."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "Las call fer supper. Otherwise ya get t'heat it up yerself."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "This ain't yer fault."

[Radio] Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "His not speaking to you is my fault, his...well, whatever it is he is doing now, probably sulking and building a huge weapon...it is always my fault. Because he would be fine if I had thought a little bit better on that day a few months ago, and decided not to do what I did, you see."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "*firm* This is not yer fault."

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "He wants to not speak t'me, that's his business."

Rigger arrives from the Hunter HQ - Medical Area.

Rigger has arrived.

Bowie is in the kitchen area, busily divvying up casserolle into tupperware containers. Even Cossack's is filled.

Rigger steps out of the medbay tugging up the lapels of her labcoat as she adjusts it around her. Not really necessary to wear it here, really, but she was trying to remain official looking for the whole physical thing. "Hey, Bowie. What'd you make?"

Anarchy Diptera has connected.

"Chicken casserolle," Bowie answers. He's still not quite smiling, but at least the scowl hasn't become a permenant feature. "Help yerself."

Rigger takes a deep breath to better smell the food, and hopefully get her stomach awake. "Sounds good to me. I wasn't looking forward to frozen pizza again anyway." She steps over towards one of the sectioned off bits of caserole to pick up a noodle and pop it into her mouth.

Bowie quietly offers Rigger a fork. "Know Ah haven't shown up fer mah physical yet," he says apologetically.

Rigger glances over at the fork. Oh yeah. She accepts it with a silent nod and pokes at the food a bit to let it cool some. "That's alright. Other than Alloy very few folks have. Gives me time to work on other stuff, anyway. I've been really busy lately."

Bowie isn't Roll, but he knows his way around a kitchen. "Doc Prismatic jus did a neural scan a me earlier this week. Ah can get the results if ya want."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Hunter Security System says, "RED ALERT. HUNTER HQ SECURITY BREACH. MASSIVE ROBOT MASTER ASSAULT DETECTED. INITIATING COUNTERMEASURES."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "..."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Main Rigger transmits, "Oh fornication."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Rock transmits, "All Hunters... prepare to defend Hunter HQ. Deploy for defense. Get the Ride Armors out and don't spare anything..."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Inquisitor transmits, "Mobilizing.."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Argent transmits, "Scrambling."

You enter the Asuncion Island.

(For reader's edification - all action takes place on Asuncion Island. However, for sanity's sake we split into two groups in separate rooms. Bowie is in the auxillary group on the other side of the island.)

Asuncion Island

A deserted island in the North Pacific, Asuncion Island is one of the many gems that makes up the Philippine Island chain. A beautiful pearl of virgin beaches surround an emerald green lagoon. Only two miles wide at it's thickest point, this island, formed by a collapsed volcano, is covered with lush green vegetation. There are lava tubes caves for the most hardy of spelunkers, while the lagoon beckons swimmers to it's slightly warmer than normal waters, a sign of the volcanic activity that was recently in this reigion. Off one of the beaches, a long finger peninsula juts into the lagoon, a natural deck, of sorts.

Dark Entrance <DE> leads to Cave.

Submerge <S> leads to McNaughton Lagoon.

Pathway <P> leads to Deserted Beach.

Out <O> leads to Philippines.

As the attack begins, the answer becomes clear: unleash Hell.

The assault begins in earnest. As the bombs drop, the island remains dark. Sensors indicate a sudden series of infrared blooms regularly across the island as weapons systems drop out of cloaking. Surface-to-air missile platforms come online across the island, tracking onto the Dreadskull with deadly precision.

The eerie silence remains, save for the soft *vrrting* of platforms turning to face their large aerial opponent. There is the very faint sound of klaxons ringing out somewhere deep within the island.

That sound is blotted out promptly by a series of missile launches that seem to come from EVERYWHERE at once. The contrails stream out from the island with tremendous speed, accompanied by bright red-yellow flames coming out of the tails of the weapons. There are so many simultaneous contacts in the air that it would make a Robotech animator cringe; while individually the missiles are fairly small, the sheer number of them is a definite danger to the SS Dreadskull.

Simultaneously, Hunters begin to stream out to repel the Robot Master assault. The ride armors are coming out, and who knows what else is yet to come.

The Dreadskull pitches violently as the FSH hammers on it. Wily staggers at the controls, glowering out the windows. Looking around, he begins barking orders. "Pirate Man, take the wheel. We're going to need air support." Stepping away, Wily glances at the assembled Masters. "Joe units, prepare the Mecha for combat deployment." The Joes nod sharply and march off as WIly begins addressing the rest of the Masters. "Quint, Elec Man, Quick Man, Flash Man, Cut Man, Bomb Man. With me." He points to all the other Masters. "Gyro Man, Centaur Man, Junk Man, Tengu Man, Search Man, Magic Man, Gemini Man, Top Man, Clown Man. You will form another attack unit. Leave none alive. Show no mercy. Destroy everything you see."

Let it never be said that Bowie doesn't drop what he's doing in an emergency. When he emerges from the staging grounds, he's still wearing a chef's apron. His rifle slaps a tatoo on his back as he makes a dash across what used to be the Sam Houston's deck, then climbs up a ladder to enter the jungle above...

Blues just waits, quietly, on the edge of the jungle canopy. His hands are at his side, and he cracks and kneads his hands idly, watching. He's going to defen the labs, but he's got his own plans for how this battle is going to be fought. Scanning the arriving Masters, his eyes are narrowed beneath his visor.

The island has become a seething cauldron of activity, accompanied by extensive concealed defenses. It becomes immediately apparent that most of the island is heavily mined, drone support quickly finding its movements impeded by monofiliment-laced Claymore shrapnel. Simultaneously, surface-to-surface rockets zoom at the Robot Masters at a constant pace, more so as they try to come in from the beach.

And, of course, we have the Maverick Hunter opposition.

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "*aounds of heavy artillary* Sunshine? Ah love ya."

[Radio] Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Huh? ...Handsome?? What is happening??"

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Bowie transmits, "*says something, but it can't be heard over the noise*"

Anarchy Diptera isn't hard to see at all, bursting out of the Hunter base and into the surrounding skies, trees blazing aside in his wake. He's not large, but he is quick, and he's defintely determined. He has no plans to touch the ground right away, since he's well aware of those nasty defenses, but he sees plenty of targets from his current vantage point that look primed and ready for death from above.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Zey can't hear you, Proto Man."

Search Man sends a radio transmission to Bowie.

[Radio] Search Man sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "*both heads together* We love you too!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Our vadios verk, but zeirs do not."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Bowie transmits, "*ooc*Gah mis."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "Sometimes it's just fun to say."

Fortunately for one particular Hunter knight, he happens to've already been dressed for the occassion. He zips out of the base and out into the open, hovering a ways into the air with his bow in hand. Inquisitor's eyes search the approaching threat intently, seeking out a target to pick off. He eventually lowers down to the ground, jets shutting off to dart to meet them frontally first...

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Just vanted to be sure you knew zey vern't ignorink you."

Magic Man steps off of the ramp from the Dreadskull, frowning in a most annoyed manner. The magician has his cloak wrapped around him, which keeps him, and his frown, hidden from the prying eyes of most adversaries. This suits Magic Man just fine, because as far as his idiot brothers should hopefully be thinking, Magic Man is here to fight the good fight and kill a Hunter for the good of his family yadda yadda etc etc and all that diabolically righteous crap that some of the others are here for. Magic Man is here just so people will stop whining at him when he doesn't use his battle talents to good use. Oh how he wishes he could stay at home and watch from afar. Kind of like how he did when Skull Haven was attacked; Magic Man watched it from the lunar base and didn't bother to aid his brothers. Oh what fun that was. But here, out on the soon-to-be battlefield, Magic Man knows deep in his core processors that this is the -wrong- place for him. Ah, well. You've got to play the cards that you're dealt with. Magic Man knows that as much as the next person. And so, with his cloaking field still activated, Magic Man readies himself for combat, charging up his systems and preparing a deck of his razor sharp playing cards. Staying near the rear of the advancing force, Magic Man looks for any potential victims. On the back lines... invisible... not drawing attention to himself... going up against automatic defenses and not seasoned warriors... oh baby, this is Magic Man's style all the way.

[Radio] You send Kalinka a direct message: "*says something, but it can't be heard over the noise*"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Rock transmits, "How long before they figure out how to crack that, Doctor?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Main Rigger transmits, "And well said at that. But it's too late for them. Heh."

Centaur Man glances about. "Careful brothers... I have a bad feeling about this." he suspiciously stays on his guard, trotting slowly and cautiously. The herd is the word, and Centy's not letting his breathren and brothers down. "Show them no mercy!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "Noffink to crack, Rock."

Lets see now... You've got Blues knowing exactly what he's going to do. Check. You've got Bowie knowing what he's going to do. Check. You've probably got almost every other Hunter knowing exactly what they're going to do. That is of course with one possible glaring exception. Yes, that's right, like always Jazz is lost. Sure she ran right out of the base. And sure she almost immediately begins searching for the enemy, but come on, this the the Hunters first class scatterbrained ditz! Odds are almost immediately she'll be standing around out in the open doing absolutely nothing.

Blues receives a radio transmission.

Just one of the many Masters pouring out of the Dreadskull, Tengu Man begins his own run. It's easy to avoid land mines when you can fly, and although he hadn't considered that possibility, Tengu remains above ground, ducking around rockets launched at him with his speed and agility. Not to say it /isn't/ hard work dodging them -- it's taking all of Tengu's concentration, and the murder of Tengu Birds following him are being picked off rather easily. Numbers certainly help, so the Birds merely continue their suicide runs while Tengu does his best to not get blown up, and get himself into position to do some damage.

You paged Tengu Man with 'Mind being first on my list? :D'

Blues sends a radio transmission to Kalinka.

Ever got a missle to the face? Not fun. Junk is reminded of this as one of the various bits of explosive weaponry being sent at him is missed by the various defensive manouvers, which is usually not being there. He's... not good at deflecting stuff. Hence why the small missle catches him in the chest region, blowing off a few bits of armor off and leaving trails of smoke to drift across his now slightly singed face.

He ignores it as only Junk can. It's not the first time he's gotten high explosives to the face, and he just glowers faintly, shaking his head.

"At least we get to to to kill Hunters th-this time instead of Mavericks..." what exactly he means by this isn't explained in any great detail as he shambles on; the unshakeable mountain of a Master. Another missle is taken, and barely felt.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Anarchy Diptera transmits, "Aerial Masters. COMING right FOR me! Want me to take out the funny-looking one?"

Search Man runs not too far behind Tengu Man. Whether they are friends or not, Search knows they're in the same squad and ought to stick together. Search Man moves very eratically, using his cannon to rocket-jump here and there to avoid any incoming missiles. He's trained for this, yes. Good old Quake-style rocket jump. "Bonzai!" the left head calls out. The right merely looks worried.

Blues receives a radio transmission from Kalinka.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "Yes. All of them."

Explosions. Lots and Lots of Explosions. From within the withering mass that can be called a war, there is two... I guess you can call them people, but more like animals. A Clown. A Monkey.

and a way to hurt the Hunters that they've never ever been hurt before.

And Da Clown and Da Monkey grins. It's on.

"Prepare for Trouble, Hunters!"

"And make it Double!"

"To send your hopes and dreams into ruin!"

"To break your spirit into ruin!"

"To make this another step for Wily into the Stars Above!"

"Sideshow!"

"Clown Man!"

"Team Clown will destroy this base!"

"Prepare to go back to the Labs in pieces!"

"MEOWTH!!! That's Right!"

With that, Clown curls up into a ball and bouncing onward...

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Anarchy Diptera transmits, "Awesome, because I was going to anyway."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "But Tengu Man is /MINE./"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, ".....*muttered* unnerstood."

[Radio] Kalinka sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "I am coming, handsome!"

Search Man sends a radio transmission.

[Radio] Search Man sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "*both heads chiming* Handsome!"

Hey don't for Boba Fett!

Oh wait, Vile isn't here.

Blues doesn't have a hard time seeing his target. After all, the swarms of birds are a good giveaway. Using them to his advantage, he blinks from missile to missile, then onto the backs of Tengu Birds. Finally, he's close enough that Tengu probably really isn't expecting him to leap from a Tengu Bird, to a missile, and then to dive-tackle the Master.

Of course, one of us can blink away, can't he.

Blues strikes Tengu Man with his Dash attack.

Bowie summons his armor from plot-convenience-space once he reaches the sheltering canopy of trees. Much better. Without breaking pace, he climbs up to one of the higher outcroppings on the island. While he has faith in Cossack's weapons of mass destruction, that doesn't mean he hasn't scouted out the island, or laid in a cache of ammuntion. The gunslinger slips into position between the rocks, panning the area for a suitable target....

...and while Tengu Man makes a most tempting target, he's been warned off of him. However...no one said a thing about the others, and so he lines up his sights on Search Man instead. Lock, load...aim...fire!

Gyro Man also arrives airborne, flying in Tengu's wake. He doesn't have his fellow aerial's speed, but the hail of missile fire lets him strut his stuff in any case. Gyro's flight path is wild and erratic as he dodges the missiles, dipping, swerving, and sometimes cutting the spin of his rotor entirely and maneuvering in a state of freefall. Once he's clear of the volley of missiles, he scans the beach for an opponent or an ally in need of some help.

Inquisitor finds his landspeeds to be far too slow for his comfort. The knight takes a jump into the air, his jets kicking in to lift him up over the larger populace and perhaps begin sniping. Instead, he finds.. Jazz. For a second, he ponders calling something out to her, but decides against it. She's a seasoned Hunter, been with them longer than he has. Surely she knows what she's doing. His eyes resume searching the crowd, only to land on Junk Man. Why did he have to be here? That complicates things.. but, then again, war is war. The Hunter speeds onwards, only to cut off his jets to land in a graceful kneel before Junk Man. He raises up slowly, dramatically, and looks towards the larger android. "..thou art making a mistake", he says calmly. "Turn back..".

Huh? (Type "help" for help.)

You strike Search Man with a glancing hit from your Buffalo Rifle attack.

Up in the sky! Over there! Wait...it's... Well, Blues just DIBSED that Master flying RIGHT toward Anarchy.

Now, the question is, do dibs count in this situation? I mean, what good is dibs really? On the other hand...it's Protoman, and Protoman's a pretty cool guy.

Anarchy thinks quickly, and doesn't waste time on this decision. Even if Tengu was an obvious target, there were plenty of other stupid-looking targets. Like that one. A clown quoting Pokemon.

"Congratuations on your entrance." Anarchy turns toward Clown Man, and streaks down between the trees, a burst of wind building as he dives forward, ripping through trees. "Death from above will now commence in five...four.... one!"

Magic Man hovers along at his own pace, surprisingly not lagging behind many of his brothers. Magic Man didn't want to be here, but now that he is, he isn't about to turn around and run just yet. At least, not unless something goes wrong. Then he'll ditch everyone and let them fry like the losers that they are. Magic Man's optics widen at the sheer firepower that the Hunter defenses are putting out, "My word..." he gasps essentially to himself as he's forced to dodge a missile that probably wasn't even aimed at him in the first place, "I'm starting to remember why I usually stay home." Magic Man's tone doesn't have a hint of fear in it, despite the somewhat cowardly words. Surveying the battlefield, Magic Man notices one of his allies, Search Man, being struck, seemingly from no-where. "Hmm..." Magic Man pauses, slowly trying to make his way over towards where he -thinks- the shot came from. Whoever it is, he's got a very good hiding spot.

~vroom, vroooooooom~ With the squeal of rubber on metal, Top Man launches out of the Dreadskull, dropping heavily onto the ground of the island and blasting off, throwing up clips of grass and clods of dirt behind him.

He's moving so fast, in fact, that the lain minds explode several feet in his wake rather than into him. The missiles don't fare much better; most of them have trouble locking on to the speeding Topper, and those that do invariably fail to hit him.

This isn't as bad for the Hunters as it could be, though, as Top is currently using his speed to round up the drones and usher them inland rather than to strike at Hunter defenses.

Centaur Man sighs, "And so it begins!" he sighs, "For the herd, fight fierce, brothers!" he readies his energy archery weapon. First person to strike him gets an arrowing. Who dares to cares to fight the horse, of course!

If there was one thing Tengu REALLY wasn't expecting, it was to be leapt upon by someone who CLEARLY cannot fly.

"AUGH! WHAT THE #@$*!" quoth Tengu, immediately gripping at the /thing/ that's /tackled/ him in /mid-air/. Letting out a single, falconlike shriek, the WilyDemon alters course... downward. Immediately downward. The Tengu Birds continue as they would normally while Tengu plummets in an attempt to shed Blues. Into the ground.

Tengu Man misses Blues with his Ram attack.

Blues deflects Ram from Tengu Man.

Another missle catches him in the shoulder. His body shudders, a layer of scrap falling off, but as the shrapnel tears through his body, burying itself in the... shrapnel that's there from previous battles, he just shrugs off the damage without really noticing it, smoking slowly. Only Junk man... well, Guts could probably pull it off too, but only Junk takes it without feeling, without much damage at all, without much of anything. His grim look of determination is halted after a moment by... Inqy?

Another missle slams into him, boring into his body before detonating. The gaping hole shuffles closed as Junkers stares at Inquisitor... before pulling off his headphones, the calm strains of Dave Matthews heard as he stares at the Hunter with a deadpan look.

"Turn back? ...sure! Okay, I I turn around right now, idly go back and wait on th-the Dreadskull. Then, when everyone is done beating on Hunters th-they get back and whee, I get to answer for treason and reprogrammed. Great plan Inqy. Great plan." He idly pulls off the Great Knife, asking casually. "Do you hunters actually th-think before you speak?"

Kalinka arrives from the Asuncion Island.

Kalinka has arrived.

Search Man watches from cover as Tengu man gets attacked by Blues. Search peeks the heads above the rock he used as cover and frowns. Oh, it's on now. Theta! Search raises his cannon towards Blues as he begins running towards him. But then...something...something from the distance strikes Search Man. He's not too sure where it came from, which is a bit unlike him. The shot sends Search onto his rear end, but he quickly gets up. Search frowns and activates his cannon. He was going to try to whack him with the barrel, but the shot...which came from direction unknown....slowed him down. His cannon quickly changes function: Machine Gun. Search takes careful aim, gripping the barrel of his cannon with his hand to steady it, and unleashes a few clips of machine gun action! At....BLUES!

One would think land mines and surface-to-surface rocket launchers would be formidable defenses for anyone. But, alas, they are just decorative compared to what the Cossack has packed the island with.

As the speedsters begin tearing across the turf of the island, setting off a certain number of mines -- abruptly, large holes open in the sandy floor, spilling drones and other unfortunates to their doom far below. While several holes appear to be nearly bottomless, several are more shallow -- and are lined with electrified spikes, blue sparks crackling between the tips.

Several of the longer holes seem almost impossible to pass. However, within a few seconds of their appearance, blocks begin to fade out of the air, solidifying overhead. A path over the spike pits, perhaps?

Shortly thereafter, buoys appear out on the sea, seemingly ordinary -- until Stinger launchers decloak on either side of individual buoys and launch /inward/ towards the Robot Master assault. Hoo boy.

Search Man misses Blues with his Machine Gun attack.

Inquisitor narrows his eyes at the Robot Master. Mercy is a chivalrous trait, and Inquisitor is a knight, so.. it goes with his personal code of honor. "So be it". The Hunter lifts into the air, hovering about a Junk Man's height above Junk Man and draws back on the string of his translucent red bow with three fingers. Two straight bolts of crackling energy form between his fingers, and are then shot out quickly towards the Robot Master.

Inquisitor misses Junk Man with his Double Arrow attack.

Foolish Robot Masters! Didn't you know that Protoman is cooler than Zero? And if Zero can deflect the Apocalypse Cannon, Protoman can /certainly/ deflect the laws of physics. So, avoiding Tengu's attempt to slam him groundwards, he kicks off from Tengu's lunge, and slams his shield into Tengu's face on the way out, blinkng back the way he came to get clear, ready his next attack, and avoid the bullets.

Blues strikes Tengu Man with his Smash attack.

Sideshow blinks. "Death from Above?" The Monkey and The Clown looks up momentarily at the winds building around them... and the Hunter that is most likely causing the disturbance. "Why oh why am I always the one with the Wind Warrior. WHY?!" Da Clown bemoans to no one in particular. "Oh well, I'm not going down without a fight..." Clown draws out a Yo-Yo. And Smiles at the Diptera Hunter. "Here's how you do the 'Around the World' Trick... As well as how to get your foolish head sliced off.."

With that, Da Clown performs that particular Yo-Yo Trick... with that razor-sharp Yo-Yo of his.

As the chaos continues, Jazz just blinks again. And again. Eventually though some things do start to sink in. Such as the fact that if she continues to stand here and do nothing, she's not only going to get herself killed, but also, the Hunters might just loose their home. Either way they're serious /BAD/ things. Things that should be avoided, just like the missiles flying about. Or like the scream that comes out of Jazz as she turns to face one of the oncoming Robot Masters.

"GO HOME!"

Top Man has disconnected.

Jazz strikes Centaur Man with her Sonic Distruptor attack.

Top Man has connected.

Clown Man misses Anarchy Diptera with his Yo-yo Assault attack.

"So be it indeed." he's not particularly malicious as he says that. More regretful, but that doesn't stop him from ducking and lunging forward, the arrows slicing off a bit of shoulder scrap as he dashes underneath before, a bit under and behind the other Hunter, he idly rips the Great Knife off his back, eight feet of blade being added to four and a half feet of arm for a bit short of a thirteen foot reach. And with that, the Scrapmaster leaps... leaps? Yeah. It's pretty creepy, watching the mountain actually become airborn as he draws back the Great Knife louisville slugger style... before trying to smash Inquisitor to the ground.

Bowie grunts in satisfaction at his aim, ejects the spent shell, then moves on to another target. His purpose tonight is not to attempt to take out the Robot Masters individually. Better to serve as a distraction, take them off-guard long enough for the Cossack Defense System to finish them off. The next shell is an incidiary round...and this time, he has Magic Man in his sights.

Junk Man misses Inquisitor with his Smackdown attack.

You miss Magic Man with your Blast Rifle attack.

From afar, Magic Man (Excise) presumes you saw through my disguise, then?

Magic Man deactivates his stealth mode.

You paged Magic Man with 'Gah, you were stealthed? I'm sorry. I missed that. -_-'

Amidst the explosions and the general insanity and violence, a small yet agile figure scrambles her way over the sand-dunes, running and leaping at times, and crouching low at others. Kalinka doesn't know how she managed to make it into the base unconnected...well, she didn't until she got a good look at the monitor. And the sounds themselves were unmistakable. Protoman was right; this IS Armegeddon. (They probably think I brought this upon the base,) she thinks suddenly as she catches her breath behind a boulder. (Damn it, it's too bad the Triumph is in lockdown mode...there's got to be some way I could help,) she thinks in frustration.

Magic Man (Excise) pages: No prob. I can work around it. Are you attack_ok?

You paged Magic Man with 'Yes, I am.'

As the other Robot Masters engage the Hunters, Gyro Man finds himself with a new volley of weaponsfire to dodge. Still, before he dives for some possible cover a bit further from the water, he catches sight of Top managing the drones. That's probably the way to go, for now. He hovers near the advancing drone troops and speeds up his rotor's spin, hoping the blast of air will slear away some of the artillery in dandger of showering them.

Fool, the warning was made, but sadly, Centaur Man don't like being yelled at, and all must be made retributions for. "You tempt the wrath of the herd?" he glares, angry and disappointed at the lady who struck him. "Shameful that, but what must be done is to be done." he holds back not as he revs up, charging at his horsey speed at Jazz. "Tis a shame you resist the inevitable!" he nearly yells as he grows close enough to ram head first!

Centaur Man misses Jazz with his Charge attack.

Magic Man touches down on the ground, now avoiding hovering in order to save power. Muttering an arcane spell of protection and stealth around him, Magic Man silently stalks through the tropical trees, slowly marching towards the location of the mysterious sniper. Magic Man peers up through the canopy of trees, but can't see anything. Damnit, this is a sniper's paradise. Ah well, at least /he's/ not the one being shot at. Anyone with a keen eye might notice brush and grass parting as the invisible Magic Man moves through. The magician silently thanks Search Man for taking the first shot from the sniper. Hey, anyone but him, right? Anyone but him. Anyone bu-

- BAM! -

A gunshot suddenly goes off from the location he was stalking from. Thankfully, his previous spell of protection serves its purpose, and the shot glances off an invisible forcefield. Magic Man returns himself to normal, dropping his stealth. "Well. Well. Well." he grins viciously, "You, good sir, have made a -critical- mistake." Magic Man takes off his cape and gives it a snap, transforming it into his magic cane. Pointing the crystal ball hilt towards where the shot came from, Magic Man mutters a magic word and sends a plasma ball flying up high into the canopy. He still can't make out who it is.

Magic Man misses you with his Energy Ball attack.

Oh dear. Oh -dear-. Blues' smacking of Tengu in the face produces a rather sickening metallic screech as -- alas! alack! woe! -- the Nose *bends*. About 60 degrees downward, because Blues' shield is simply made of tougher stuff.

The strike itself is enough to put Tengu sufficiently off-course. He rights himself, and avoids smashing into the ground, to pop up into the air again. Growling, Tengu seeks out his opponent for the next strike. "C'mon! Where are y--"

It's then that he sees the damage done to his nose.

"...ou... ... ... Oh. My. GOD. I'm going to #@*$ing KILL YOU! AAAAAAAAAAAUGH!" The screech just continues to rise and rise and rise in pitch and volume, but mostly pitch. That boy sure can scream. Tsk.

Anarchy Diptera does a backflip in midair, managing to stop his dive with this just in time for that yo-yo to come up short. "Nope. Nice try, though. Came a little closer than the last Robot Master I trounced." Clown's wind comment doesn't go unnoticed. Apparently he's not a fan of that kind of treatment? Anarchy anticipates a quick fight, which is fine--there's plenty of Masters to go around. Anarchy dives down again, slashing at Clown with the blades attached to the outside of his arms. The wind isn't nearly as strong now that he's had to stop himself, so the storm hasn't started building up again.

Anarchy Diptera nails Clown Man with the ever-so wacky Blade Sweep attack.

Tengu Man strikes Anarchy Diptera with his Shriek attack.

Tengu Man misses Blues with his Shriek attack.

Tengu Man strikes Junk Man with his Shriek attack.

Clown Man evades Tengu Man's ever-so wacky Shriek attack. HOO HA!

Tengu Man strikes Jazz with his Shriek attack.

Tengu Man strikes Centaur Man with his Shriek attack.

Tengu Man strikes Gyro Man with his Shriek attack.

Tengu Man strikes Search Man with his Shriek attack.

Tengu Man misses Top Man with his Shriek attack.

Tengu Man strikes Inquisitor with his Shriek attack.

Blues says, "You are /such/ a whiny b*$^&@."

Tengu Man says, "SHUT UP!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Main Rigger transmits, "Frag it! That does it I'm squishing him."

Blues laughs darkly. "I see I pushed a button..." Not noticing Kalinka, which is proabably for the best, he lines up a Proto Buster shot as the scream fades, and simply fires away.

Blues misses Tengu Man with his Proto Buster attack.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bastion transmits, "If its Wily yer talking about, kick him in the teeth for me when you do."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Main Rigger transmits, "No, Crash."

Woah. As the Mythical Master charges at the Hunter Detective, the detective looks strangely serene, before jumping to the side, and landing in a roll. But fortunately it isn't a long roll, because just as quickly as she got out of the way, she's back on her feet in time to have her ears momentarily overloaded by the noise.

"Owie. That /hurt/."

Maybe it's fortunate though for Cent that Jazz was injured though, because now, she's back to looking like her regular old happy-go-lucky self, even as she picks up a rock to toss at the semi-horse bot.

Inquisitor watches Junkers intently, noting how he managed to dodge the worst of his arrows. That's rather surprising, actually. Nevertheless, he's fully in motion as the Master leaps into the air and lowers to cleanly and gracefully evade the knife's massive swing, and aligns another shot on him. About that time, the shriek rips through the air and numbs his mind for a second.. not enough to really do much more than cause a sharp pain to sear through his head and clear up again, but still quite aggrevating. The string is drawn back, a stream of pure fire appearing before it. As the string is released, the flame streams out towards Junk Man, looking like a worm of pure flame snaking through the air.

Jazz strikes Centaur Man with her Generic Ranged attack.

On one of Top's circles around the majority of the Master's forces, he finds himself abruptly faced with a very large gap in the ground. With no time to try to stop, he simply tries to take the jump, pushing into the air as he hits the edge and soaring over the gap.

In midair, he glances downwards and scowls as he sees the spikes. That's CHEATING. He lands, precariously balanced, on the edge of the pit, but manages to push himself forward and escape a spiky doom.

That was a tad too close for comfort, however, and Topper stops for a breather, glancing about to assess the situation. Missiles, check. Pits, check. Drones, check. Masters, check. Little girl, che-- wait, what? The Topper performs a rapid double-take as he spots Kalinka watching the battle from a nearby dune, and he smacks the side of his head with one hand, revving up his skates and streaking towards her. "Hey, little giiiirl!" he wails. "Get down! It's dangerous out here!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bastion transmits, "Damn. A Bazooka to whoever kicks Wily in the teeth for me."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Main Rigger transmits, "No taking it out on my Wily-Drone, either."

It is a very very good thing that Bowie doesn't realize Kalinka is here. If he did, all his priorities would suddenly change.

The gunslinger hears rather than sees the plasma ball first as it bursts through the canopy. He ducks behind the protection of the outcropping, part of the stone shattering as the energy shot connects. Was that stray fire or a deliberate attack? He's not sure. He quickly ejects the spent shell, then slams an armor-piercing round into the chamber. Who's next? He peeks out behind the outcropping again, finds that Centaur Man has made it into range, and fires.

You miss Centaur Man with your Needle Rifle attack.

The spike pits gleam, a deadly obstacle for any drones trying to advance further towards the base. While some of the drones continue to fall (or are knocked into) the other pits, the spike pits present a challenge -- some of the Joes begin to try to jump onto the blocks to cross the pits. As they do, the blocks begin to disappear and reappear in seemingly random patterns, sending the drones crashing to their electric doom. The repeated impacts of Joes and other robots onto the spikes don't seem to harm the spikes one bit -- the explosions keep the pit regularly clean, and you'd swear the blades looked hungrier as mech-fluid accumulated on them.

Rockets continue to fly, both from the island outward and from the sea inward. The Robot Master attack force gains no rest, still finding numerous mines. Even spots believed to be swept clean see steady mine activity -- Cossack must have started to layer them onto each other to insure coverage. How they aren't blowing each other up is a mystery of Godless Communist Science.

At this point, a new problem presents itself. Small groups of non-Robot Master drones begin to melt out of the underbrush. The drones are generally Joe-like, painted a dull gold; they have two Vile-style shoulder cannons on either shoulder, and instead of shields have long, prehensile `fingers' that gleam with the promise of monofiliment. On their heads are a single, glowing red optic.

These drones, these killing machines, press out of the island and begin slaughtering anything in their path. Their shoulder cannons fire salvos of plasma at Robot Masters and drones alike, with their slashing `fingers' reaping through anything that gets within reach.

Behold, the elite guard: behold, the BORIS units.

The flames wash through Junk man, ignored as he snarls a bit, feeling SOMETHING strike him, sticking for a moment. His scrap is lit faintly, burning merrily as the impurities begin go be singed off... and he shrugs it off. He doesn't FEEL it. Snarling faintly, he sees that he missed, and, well, not liking that at all, he hisses through his teeth, drawing the Great Knife over his head. Still the flat side, but... a liiiiiiiittle more force to the blow being leveled at the mideval Hunter.

Junk Man misses Inquisitor with his Smash attack.

"AUGH!" Tengu nearly goes cross-eyed staring at his poor, RUINED nose. AUGH indeed. He similarly fails to notice Kalinka, which is is definitely for the best. Besides, Blues has summoned the NOSE WRATH. Tengu's got a pretty one-track mind.

He looks up long enough to see the Proto Buster aimed in his direction, and leaps out of the way with another loud, whiny yelp. The Master narrowly avoids another rocket, and lines up a shot of his own at Blues -- a bolt of lightning, flung at Blues as if from the hand of Zeus himself. Well, not really. Just pretend.

Tengu Man misses Blues with his Lightning Bolt attack.

Blues deflects Lightning Bolt from Tengu Man.

Da Clown winces as the Diptera Reploid causes a nice cut to his form. Fortunately, this also nicely distracts Clown from the pain of his fellow (and idiotic) Theta member's screeching.

Which gives Da Clown a idea. Guts isn't the only one who can use the pain of MSM (Master Singing Music) to his own advantage. Clown takes out a microphones and Raps:

0/- Work it up, Work it Down, Move it, Oh yeah, Shake that Tailfeather -/0

Fear the Feedback from HELL!

Clown Man misses Anarchy Diptera with his Clown Scream attack.

Oh, definitely a deliberate attack. Keeping his protection shield up and operational, Magic Man continues to stalk through the thick rainforest trees. He still hasn't been able to find exactly where Bowie is hiding, but he knowsthat he's getting closer and closer. Soon, the Hunter bastard shall - WHOA! Rocket! Magic Man lunges to the side in a most unceremonious manner as a stray rocket flies by his head, shattering a tree behind him and engulfing the area in flames. Magic Man high-tails it out of there, resuming his search for Bowie. As the BORIS units approach, Magic Man finds himself having to frantically avoid the plasma charges until finally *POOF!* Magic Man vanishes, reappearing where it's safe so he can resume his stalking...

Inquisitor lands on the ground and nimbly goes into a roll to the side, evading the smashing knife. He ends this movement in a clean knelt position, bow held horizontally. Fingers pull back on the string, and a yellow sphere begins to form before it, sparks flying from it from time to time. When the string it released, a steady stream of electricity bolts out from the sphere, seeming to unravel it as the thunder continues to course along towards the big ol' Robot Master.

Inquisitor misses Junk Man with his Thunder Ray attack.

Centaur Man feels the rock smack him in the head, moreso, in tthe front horn, which then gets impaled (the rock that is), and is stuck there. "You are tempting the wrath of the Robot Masters, the great herd that shows no remorse," he growls, moving in, an arrow at the ready, "You leave no choice but for war!" he glares, readying the shinyest steel arrow built to chip diamonds and anything else. You get to try it on now, hooray! Teehee, Centy's funny looking with a rock lodged into his skull.

Centaur Man strikes Jazz with his Armor Piercing Arrow attack.

Kalinka looks over at Top Man. Noticing the BORIS units advancing, she smirks a little bit. "Yes. Yes, it is," she says. "And if you know what is good for you, you will leave." She scoots behind a boulder, using it for cover and hoping Top Man will leave her alone. Sadly, most of the time her luck just doesn't work that way.

Blues stands amidt the BORIS onslaught, their volleys of fire and devastation supporting him easily. Shrugging as his blast misses, he slips his shield into his hand and backhands the lightning away. Watching the battle escalate, he laughs, softly. "I think it's time to end this, and get a real challenge." His colors then change, and a silvery-blue hue covers most of his body, while a pair of multi-barreled cannons deploys from his arms.

BOOOM.

Blues strikes Tengu Man with his Bustercannon Full Assault attack.

Gyro Man clutches his helmet's earpieces when Tengu shrieks, the shock and pain of it enough to knock him out of the air. And then the ground gives way beneath him. Kicking his rotor into high gear, Gyro shoots back upward, though he can still feel the sting from the electrified spikes he nearly had himself impaled upon. He's scowling from his vantage point above the battlefield, now set on attacking the first likely target to come into view. He spots weaponsfire, aimed at Centaur Man, though he can't see who it is who'se firing on the other Master. He /can/ see the direction of that arc of fire, though. He pulls a small explosive from a cavity in his chestplate and lobs it accordingly.

Anarchy Diptera has heard worse, honestly. He lives with Jazz. "Yes, that sucked," he says, righting himself in midair. "What was your point?" Then, of course, he winces, as Tengu Man actually manages to rattle him somewhat, from long distance. "You see? THAT was bad." He clenches a fist, and lets loose his own blast of microphone feedback: "As is this." SCREEEEEEEEEE... "Amatuer."

Gyro Man strikes you with a glancing hit from his Bombshell for 8 units of damage.

Clown Man evades Anarchy Diptera's ever-so wacky Aural Overload attack. HOO HA!

Junkers sees the kneeling form, and his eyes narrow. Within reaching distance. He leaps forward... but as the sudden surge of electricity arcs towards him, he skids to a sandy stop, wincing back... but how does the hot electric death miss him?

Why it would be that smoking heap that used to be a BORIS unit now pinging softly as the twisted metal cools...

Junk looks up, shaking his head as he gathers himself, throwing himself at the errant Hunter, his intents on crushing him between thick, powerful arms-re the missle not to catch him in the back, sending him, instead, FALLING on Inquisitor as his systems fought the stunning effect of the explosive.

Junk Man misses Inquisitor with his Physical Malfunction attack.

"No." Jazz manages to say in reply as she starts to move towards the Master, the arrow lodging itself in her shoulder. "If anything it's you who are here for waaaaaah..."

Then again, considering the hunter ditz was running, it should be no surprise to anyone that before she can finish that, she trips over a rock. What is strange is that almost as if this was the Matrix, or at least a very bad Matrix parody, she lands in a handstand that she launches herself from, before landing on one foot, falling backwards, only to catch herself with a hand, and yadda, yadda, yadda, there's a lot of funny things where every time jazz tries to get up, she does some sort of gymnastic or martial arts trick to save herself, including possibly a few kicks and the like in Centaurs general direction if she can get close enough.

Jazz misses Centaur Man with her Ditz-fu attack.

Inquisitor frowns as the BORIS takes the shot. Well, dang. The Hunter raises to his feet and leaps high up into the air, evading the tackle. When he reaches as high as he can through his regular jump, his jets kick in to keep him aloft over the Robot Master. His bow is pointed straight down at him and four fingers draw back on the string. Three bolts of rippling silver energy forming between each finger to create three straight arrow shafts. The string is released, arrows sent searing downwards to hopefully implant themselves in along Junk Man's back.

Inquisitor strikes Junk Man with his Triple Arrow attack.

Top Man doesn't circle around the boulder; no, no. He's too GOOD for that. As he nears Kalinka's cover, he cuts off his skates, dropping into a run and then springing up on to the top of the boulder, crawling over it, and peering down at Kalinka. "No, I'm supposed to be here! You aren't! You're squishy, and you might get hurt!"

There's a pause, and, hesitantly, Topper asks, "Have I seen you somewhere before? 'cuz you look familiar... really, really familiar..."

Centaur Man smiles as he blinks out of existance. "I warned you, now dont expect any hold back. I dont give freebies when the herd is at stake." Hmm, where's Centy? Oh, look up Jazzy, see those hooves falling towards you super fast. Lights out for you!

Centaur Man misses Jazz with his Trample attack.

Junk Man flips a coin in the air and it comes down heads.

Bowie's luck can only hold for so long. Again, he hears the incoming whistle of the bomb, but this time ducking does no good, as the bomb explodes behind him. His back and legs are scored by the blast and resulting debris, but he's suffered worse. Another spent shell clatters down the face of the outcropping, another round is loaded into the chamber. Magic Man goes unnoticed for the moment as he spots Gyro Man hovering over the jungle. Next target aquired. The Texan leans back, takes aim, and fires at him with an ice-creating shot. Should it connect, the area around the wound will freeze over. He hopes.

Either you do not have that attack armed, or you were not specific enough.

You strike Gyro Man with a minor hit from your Cryogel Rifle attack.

The most notoriously abused WilyDemon hangs in the air like the idiot he is, Tengu Blades whipping out with a loud *shk*. He's waiting for his opportunity to attack again, and, because with Tengu this equates to sitting still and watching, he's left himself completely open to attack. That, and he doesn't think well when angry. Of course...

Seething, the birdbot opens his mouth -again- to protest. "ExCUSE me? A REAL challenge? I fought you once before, y'know, and it took you AND that Dawn girl to take me do-- hey! What--"

The barrage rips into Tengu like a 6 year old rips into birthday presents. The energy is enough to utterly destroy and melt too much of his armor. Forget the bent nose; it's officially ceased to be a proper Tengu nose. Tengu almost falls out of the air, engines struggling to support him with the damage they've taken. Another inhuman screech issues from him -- no longer one of outrage, but one of pain. Tengu Man is out of this fight; it's all he can manage just to get back in the air and frantically try to exit the area.

Tengu Man retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Leo.

And, Da Clown gets only a *slight* feedback from Anarchy's attack. "Pshew. I've lived with BALLADE and GUTS MAN. Compared to them, you're a afterdinner mint." Then the Clown's eyes narrows. "Amateur, eh? Try this on for size, my dear Hunter..."

Sideshow's chest glows and out comes a Caterpault... with something already in it.

"PULL!" shouts the little clown.

and the little monkey pulls the caterpault's handle which launches.... A Barney. No, not a ordinary Barney. A HAPPY GAY Barney.

o/- I love you, you love me, you're a cute guy, so what don't we cuddle... -/o

FEAR.

Magic Man, now safe from the psycho BORIS drones of DEATH (for now, anyway), watches as Gyro Man seems to spot someone up high in the trees. Ah. Beautiful! Gyro Man has found the person that Magic Man was going after. "Gyro, I owe you one..." Magic Man mutters softly, grinning as he charges up his cane for another several blasts. As Bowie fires a shot at Gyro Man, the Robot Master finally locates the sniper. Vanishing in a flash of light, Magic Man reappears, hovering just above a branch on a tree just over from Bowie. Without warning, Magic Man leans back, then exhales a massive stream of fire, trying to burn both Bowie and the tree he was using down to the ground.

Magic Man misses you with his Breathe Fire attack.

[OOC] Bowie is on a rock outcropping. But good enough. :)

Clown Man misses Anarchy Diptera with his Generic Ranged attack.

[OOC] Magic Man whistles innocently.

Kalinka hmms, eyeing Top in the same fashion. "Wow, you think?" she says in faux-wonder. Then, she narrows her eyes. "Nothing personal, but I did not come here to talk," she admits, pulling a small orb out of a shoulder-sack and underhandedly flinging it in Top's direction. It lands with surprisingly heavy <thud> into the sand near Top...then with a surprising intensity, the small device explodes, sending shrapnel scattering.

Kalinka strikes Top Man with her Random Invention attack.

Top Man is temporarily disoriented by Kalinka's Random Invention attack.

Blues shakes his head as Tengu flees. "Yes. Well. Goodnight." Then, he looks around at the battle scene. "Well. Who's next?"

"Hi. I'm Anarchy. Great to meet you, Mister Try Way Way Too Freaking Hard and Still Turn Out Not Even Mildly Amusing Man." Anarchy quips. "You know, you seem to suck as a Robot Master, which I guess isn't hard to do, but it boggles me that you also suck so much as a clown." Anarchy fires off another sonic squeal at Clown Man, and this one seems almost edged in blue light as it comes barrelling down from his arm-mounted weapon.

Clown Man evades Anarchy Diptera's ever-so wacky That One Hurt attack. HOO HA!

You know what Cent? You aren't the only one who can blink. In fact Jazz is well known for pulling a disappearing, or even an appearing act from time to time. Like right now for example. Only unlike most other short range teleporters, Jazz does have one slight problem. She never really ends up exactly where she wants to be. So it should be no surprise if she ends up somewhere in the air, and maybe even less of a surprise if the young Light-bot comes down, and comes down fast towards the unfortunate master who may or may not be bellow her!

"Waaaaaaaaah!"

Jazz misses Centaur Man with her Generic Melee attack.

Junk just snarls in worried aggrivation. Okay. This is it. The headphones go back on. The arrows are sucked into his body, becoming one with the collective- err... well anyway...

Junk just lurches, snarling, planting his foot as Inquisitor hovers overhead... and as his electroclaw snaps open, the blade goes down, his claw goes up, his eyes going closed as he reaches for Inquisitor with the power of his mind... well, not really, but his mind controls his electromagnetics, and he's reaching up, trying to grasp Inquisitor and rip him out of the air. Preferably into the ground at Junk's feet. Hard.

Gyro Man grunts, slapping a hand to his chestplate as he takes damage there, only to feel intense cold under his gauntlet. If only he were organic, that cold would numb the pain, but he feels the wound in his chest fill with ice. The pressure of the ice makes his armor groan and crack at the point of entry. Gyro winces, but he isn't finished yet.

Time to get a look at his opponent, and maybe grant the other Masters a chance at this sniper. He crosses his arms, his paired propellor-like helix blades deploying from his armored bracers into either hand. He throws one, then the other, sending them through the air to slice away at Bowie's cover... and at the sniper himself.

Gyro Man misses you with his Helix Blades attack.

Junk Man strikes Inquisitor with his Electromagnetic Toss attack.

Tengu Man has disconnected.

Top Man's eyes widen as Kalinka pulls out the orb, and he pounces off his spot on the boulder, kneeling down to squint at it. "Oooh, shiny..."

And then it EXPLODES. Shrieking, Top falls backwards, holding his hands up to his face. "My eyes! My eEEEEEEeyes!" he wails, rolling around pitifully on the ground. You are a cruel, cruel little girl, Kalinka!

Centaur Man smirks shaking his head. If this hits, then he's grabbed the girl as she dived towards and lunges her in wrestling suplex, horsey style! If not, he's simply gonna be pissed off. "You're tactics are very sparce." he smirks as he takes a chance and gives the tossage!

Centaur Man strikes Jazz with his Throw attack.

Gyro Man (Gyro) pages Bowie and Magic Man: Fine with me.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "Tengu Man is running. Does anyone in the southern quadrant need support?"

*Ker-SLAM* Inquisitor's leg was snatched and roughly smashed down onto the ground, a mess of sand and dust lifting in a cloud around him. Yeesh, feel that vibration from the impact, anyone? Needless to say, Inquisitor's a bit dazed at first. He manages to orient himself and rolls over onto his back, string pulled back and a narrow bolt of silver energy appears. The arrow is, at first, aimed for Junkers' face... but is then shifted down more towards his throat. The arrow is then released, aimed to cut off some of what he hopes to be more necessary and painful circuitry.

Inquisitor strikes Junk Man with his Check-shot attack.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "...thank Ah got thair attention..."

Kalinka -is- pretty cruel when she wants to be. She was really, really cruel to Abernathy, and she's only recently beginning to understand just how wrong she had been and how many of her closest friends she hurt. Rather impassively, she watches Top squirm around...then, she begins fleeing toward another dune for cover. She lobs one final tool of insult toward him, though -- amongst the super-heavy guns and laser-fire, a large wrench can be sailing through the air, toward Top Man's head. Not particularly nice, but war isn't pretty.

Amazingly, Bowie has not yet gone deaf from the cacphony of wailing death machines (or people's singing, for that matter). He hears the snapping of the tree just before Magic Man has the burning tree crash down on him. The gunslinger hops-slides from his loft among the rocks, sliding several feet down the embankment before regaining his footing. Somewhere along the way , Gyro also fires at him, but the blades manage to only give him a new haircut. Drat. He was hoping not to be found so quickly...but no matter. He grabs another shell and hastily loads it into his gun - Heavy buckshot - and since they're practically on top of him, he doesn't bother aiming. He just pulls the trigger.

You miss Magic Man with your Scattershot attack.

You strike Gyro Man with a minor hit from your Scattershot attack.

"Hmph. So says the Hunter who's targeting systems MUST be off today," muses Da Clown with a smirk as he dodges the blue-streked blast (pun intended). "But you're right, so I'm not going to do anything... save look at my watch. Yup."

Hm. What's Clown's up to? Nothing... save Sideshow leaps off Clown's hat, trying to sail over Anarchy's head. Why? The reason becomes immediate.

Sideshow's chest glows and out comes a Anvil... with the words, "ACME" engraved on it. Said Anvil is heading for Anarchy.

DEath from Above, indeed.

Clown remarks calmly, "And since you've been nice to give your name... I give you mine and my siminian's partner. Clown Wily and Sideshow at your disservice."

Magic Man watches as Bowie evades the burning tree, and immediately vanishes from sight, avoiding the deadly spray of retaliation fire that spews out into the trees. Out of the corner of his optic, he can see that Gyro's been hit, but the magician doesn't slow down for a second. "That's it, Maverick Hunter... run away," says the disembodied voice of the Master sorcerer. With a bright flash of light and coloured smoke, Magic Man appears straight in front of Bowie's running path, weilding a massively long whip made up of coloured cloth scarves. Giving the whip a mighty ~CRACK~, Magic Man flings the weapon out towards Bowie, trying to snag him with the end of it.

Magic Man strikes you with a glancing hit from his Magic Scarves Wraparound for 4 units of damage.

Bowie is temporarily disoriented by Magic Man's Magic Scarves Wraparound attack.

You take less damage due to your Blunt resistances.

Clown Man strikes Anarchy Diptera with his I Will Anvil Remember You attack.

The BORIS units continue their advance, tearing through anything in their path. Intermittently, several of them fire concentrated lasers from their optics on a single target, usually to finish it off. They work like a hive mind, efficient, cold, unyielding.

The spike pits claim more victims, explosions becoming a regular feature in their construction. Meanwhile, the bottomless pits yawn forth -- and several former Immortamets rocket out from them, flying towards the distant Dreadskull by propeller or rocket.

The aerial defenses are taking a beating from the Dreadskull, slowing the constant rocket traffic. However, secondary defenses are beginning to come online -- plasma cannons, lighting up the night with immense blasts of blue-white fire towards drones, the Dreadskull, and anything else that isn't a Hunter.

*Snap!* *Pow!*

Suplex. Horsey style. Major owie. Eventually though, the Light-Bot does get free. Don't ask me how since her player has absolutely no clue what a suplex is aside from a wrestling move. But as she does get free, the ditz just breaks down crying while she falls to her knees. Sure odds are she's about to vanish without a trace, but her player feels like she might as well put this in so people can take their partings before the inevitable +blink.

Jazz retreats from the area swiftly, leaving her open to pursuit or parting shots from Gyro Man, Centaur Man, Clown Man, Leo, Magic Man, Anarchy Diptera, Inquisitor, and Top Man.

*zzzZINGggggg*... the android's eyes go wide as the silver bolt of energy passes through his neck, slashing through the corrugated metal at the hollow of his throat... and passes out the other side in a gush of black mechfluids. It begins to pump, crackling weakly and surging through the hole, the torn tubing now sending great sluicing splatters of the stuff to drool down Junk's armor. He seems dazed, but that's probably the wetwork connectors to his CPU getting dry systems, his motor systems going to hell. The clump of wires at the back of his neck now looks rather yuppieish, the majority of it frayed free into an imprompty ponytail, rather than his conveyance unit for his electroclaw.

He stumbles, falling to his knees...

The electroclaw snaps out, trying to catch Inquisitor by the throat and drag him forward, intending on CRUSHING him in his dazed state.

He also just misses having one of the singing lines of plasma death take his head off o_0

Junk Man strikes Inquisitor with his Trash Compactor attack.

~whongg~ The wrench strike stills Top for just a moment... and then, grumbling, he wipes his eyes one last time and climbs to his feet. His face is pockmarked with shrapnel, and it looks like a piece or two got in each eye, as they are both large and swollen. "Come back here, little girl!" he yells angrily, and, with a spray of sand, kicks up his skates again, dashing after Kalinka and trying to take her down from behind in a half-tackle. Not hard enough to HURT her, mind you; just enough to get her onto the ground.

Top Man misses Kalinka with his Grasp attack.

Well, nothing like a sudden anvil to bring a high-flying Hunter down to the ground but fast. Anarchy doesn't expect death from above to happen to HIM, after all.

He slams down to the ground suddenly, and, looks up a moment later, with dazed eyes, and ...sort of buzzing. Smaller versions of himself fly around his head.

Then he has the sudden realization that one of his +skills is 'Not Waspinator,' and immediately comes into focus, shaking his head. "All right, all right, that was a little bit funny." He hops up to his feet, and points his arm at Clown Man, palm-out, and a burst of air flies toward the Master.

Anarchy Diptera nails Clown Man with the ever-so wacky Concussive Cannon attack.

Blues watches Jazz retreating, and he starts moving in, blinking towards her location in fast bursts to make sure he doesn't run into anything. Zeroing in on Centaur Man, his eyes are hardened and angry. "Hasn't anyone told you what I think about hitting girls? Especially ones I'm related to?" Centaur may get one more shot at Jazz...but it's not gonna be pretty after that.

Bowie isn't running away. He's leading the chase! Semantics are important, you know. However, he doesn't move quite fast enough. Magic's scarves ensnare him around his legs, and his momentum does the rest. The gunslinger sprawls on the ground, getting a faceful of sandy jungle soil, his rifle skidding to just out his reach.

Centaur Man smiles, "Oh, so, the hunters are spineless. Or maybe the spine's broken." he smiles, as he revs up his speed to leap and land with hoofed rage! "I will fix your spineless ordeal." he jokes so to speak, hes not much a jokester.

Centaur Man strikes Jazz with his Hoof Smash attack.

Magic Man smiles as his victim is caught helpless. The Robot Master steps forward towards the entangled foe, brandishing a... no weapon at all? The Robot Master calmly drops his end of the whip, which will no doubt let Bowie escape within about ten seconds or so. "Now then. Now that I have your undivided attention... hold still, Maverick Hunter." Magic Man begins chanting arcane words under his breath. After about six seconds of this, Magic Man smiles, "I've gotten all I need from you, Bowie." His smile suddenly turns vicious as he leans down to Bowie's level, now mere inches away from the helpless Maverick Hunter's face. "I've spared you," he whispers, "Never forget that." Then, as quickly as he came, Magic Man vanishes to resume the fight against the BORIS units. Gyro can finish off Bowie. Just what did that spell he uttered do?

Magic Man takes a holographic scan of Bowie.

Kalinka begins hot-footing it across the beach, somewhat protected from getting picked up by Top because he's having problem seeing -- but how long will that last? (How come he can skate on sand, and I can't? Boy, what I wouldn't give for a hoverboard right now,) she thinks as she tries to trip up the Wilybot so she can gain some ground. "You do not know who you are dealing with," she warns him.

Kalinka strikes Top Man with her Shin Kick attack.

You are now unstunned.

Inquisitor is just managing to get to his feet, feeling horribly unbalanced after that slam, when the claw locks around his throat and begins constricting. The knight urks and struggling in that powerful grasp, unable to truly get out of it. He's simply not powerful enough to pry the claws apart as he is now. His eyes squint as he goes to attempt getting Junkers to release him by some other means. Maybe if he becomes a pin-cushion, he'll release him. The bow is brought up, aimed towards Junk Man's torso. His other hand moves to begin strumming on the string as though it were a harp. Oddly enough, melodious notes seem to be played out from it as this goes on. With each note, an arrow of silvery energy fires out to hopefully penetrate into him. A large mess of these arrows fire off, at that..

Inquisitor strikes Junk Man with his Rapid Shot attack.

And the Ditz is hit again, this time even harder that the last time, causing her to just cry even louder, before abruptly vanishing.

Jazz blinks to another location.

Jazz has left.

Gyro Man flinches. He's banking even as the helix blades make their way back to him, but he can't seem to evade Bowie's gunfire. Another shell hits him in the chest, and one of Gyro's stabilizers sputters out with a shower of sparks. He snarls. He came here to destroy in Wily's great name, and he's not going to let it end so pathetically. His eyes flash with red light. The rage that boils up in him feels alien in a way, but it's soothing. It's a strangely peaceful thing, letting the Wilycode think for you.

Gyro's rotor speeds up again, though his flightpath veers and wobbles without his second stabilizer to help him hold steady. But it doesn't seem like he's after precision. He's after speed. And once he reaches maximum velocity, his arc through the air curves suddenly downwards. Towards Bowie.

Gyro Man misses you with his Kamikaze attack.

Centaur Man sighs, "Cowards!" he chuckles slightly, yes peeps, he's open once more!

Blues growls as Centaur stomps on Jazz again. "...now you pay." Raising his buster, he simply fires. Again. Again. Again. And again. Washing blasts over Centaur's body in a series of tightly grouped rapid fire shots.

Blues strikes Centaur Man with his Proto Buster Repeating Shot attack.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Main Rigger transmits, "*koffkoff* ...Pulling out of the Inferno. Fire. Might want to stay clear in case it reaches the ammo."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Rock transmits, "The ammo ejection system offline?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Yellow switch, back rear of the cabin."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Main Rigger transmits, "I don't know what's working and what isn't right now, I couldn't see past the smoke."

Da Clown goes flying back from the sudden blast of air. And I mean FLYING. The little clown strikes against the side of a hill, and lies there seemingly dazed for a moment... but the Clown is always thinking, always plotting. And Anarchy forgot Rule #1: Don't EVER forget about the Animal partners to ANY Robot Master. EVER.

Case in Point.

Sideshow's chest glows... and soon the little monkey is in the GOLIATH, waving down at Anarchy and holding up a sign a la Wile E. Coyote:

"YOU ARE WEAKEST LINK."

Sideshow flips the sign around:

"GOODBYE."

Incoming Goliath-sized attack.

Magic Man, meanwhile, resumes his war against the BORIS units, letting his brothers worry about getting shot. The Robot Master vanishes into the background, fighting along with the others. And, once again, (unless someone shoots him as a parting), Magic Man has escaped all harm. What can I say? Magic Man is just. That. Good.

Top Man grks; the kick succeeds at tripping him up, as he falls face-first into the sand. Why can't this little girl just cooperate? Damn you, cruel gods of children! Top scrambles back to his feet after a moment, and resumes chasing Kalinka.

"I'm not gonna hurt you, little girl! I just want to make sure you don't step on a mine and get turned into McNuggets or somethin'!" Topper cries, and, once again, tries to tackle Kalinka to the ground. Chances are he won't stay so gentle if she keeps resisting, though!

Top Man strikes Kalinka with his Grasp attack.

Clown Man strikes Anarchy Diptera with his Sideshow - Hologram Assault attack.

Magic Man retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Gyro Man, Centaur Man, Leo, Anarchy Diptera, Inquisitor, and Top Man.

Bowie says nothing in answer to Magic Man, letting his scowl speak for him. The moment he's released, he springs to his feet, snatching up his rifle. There he stands for all of two seconds. Then, it's back on the ground again as Gyro nearly catches him in his propellers. It's a good thing that the Texan's hair isn't nearly as long as Zero's, isn't it? Rather than trying to stnad again, Bowie simply rolls, allowing gravity to carry him further down the slope towards the beach.

The looming android just sorta... stops. His claw relaxes enough for Inquisitor to pull free if he pulled hard enough. He seems to stop moving, just staring in a dulled, dazed state, bleeding slowly and steadily all over Inquisitor as he stares down into his eyes, his own, now, for some reason having been replaced with a warm somber gold and a sharp black hold an emptiness there. Must be most of those cut wires and the blood gushing from the gaping hole of spitting wires where normally there'd be... important stuff >.> instead of feeding his brain's ability to work. The gentle notes from his headphones seem an odd counterpoint to the sound of the surging blood. His body is pumped full of arrows, frame shuddering and bits falling off him in a steady rain.

A plasma beam catches him, vaporizing a shoulder. He doesn't notice it. The beginning movements of rising start to happen... on the sixth try he looks like he might be able to actually do it.

Oh yeah, he's in BAD shape.

Bowie takes a moment to get his bearings...and wouldn't you know it, Magic Man just happens to be still within firing range. Whatever Magic did to him, it probably wasn't good. Time to repay in kind. One more round is chambered, this time a regular slug. *cha-chink* Aim...fire!

You miss Magic Man with your Buffalo Rifle attack.

Kalinka fights against Top vigorously as he grabs her. "Let me go, I will blow you up!" she warns, bristling like a kitten puffing out its fur trying to look menacing. "Put me down this moment, or you will be really, really sorry, do you hear me?" Arms and legs flail furiously.

Magic Man is thankfully quick enough to vanish before Bowie can gun him down. Yes. Another successful battle where Magic didn't put himself into any danger. He truly is just. that. good.

Anarchy Diptera gets struck suddenly...and...ironically, he's slammed back in the direction where he just sent Clown Man flying. He's surprised enough that he doesn't attack intentionally...but his weapon systems kick in anyway. His rockets fire, and the air builds up around the outside of his frame, sending a wake that trails on behind him. He wakes himself up, and tries to gain control, but it's a bit too late for that as he goes crashing toward Clown Man. Oops.

Clown Man evades Anarchy Diptera's ever-so wacky Buzzbomber attack. HOO HA!

Thundering plasma explosions rip forth from the turrets, plowing through drones and Robot Masters alike. Rockets fly from the sea and smack into the Dreadskull, which is under siege by ex-Immortamets who mean to monkey-wrench the enterprise. Drones fall into pits, bottomless and spike-filled, while BORIS units continue to do battle with the invaders. Even injured, the BORIS units press on, their bulldog tenacity making them vicious fighters.

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Argent transmits, "Quick Man has been voted off the island! Anyone else need a hand?"

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Rock transmits, "YEah... I need an assit on this monster."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Michael Eildath transmits, "I think I just squished Quint."

Inquisitor is struggling with everything he's got, definitely. After he manages to pull out of the claw's grasp, he stumbles backwards, going into a coughing fit. After this dies down, He stumbles up to his feet and looks as though he's readying his bow again...

But he doesn't draw the string. His fingers are on the string, but it isn't drawn. He seems to be waiting on the larger Master, watching him. The knight's frame rises and falls in uncharacteristic breathing motions, showing his fatigue from the fight. And finally.. he speaks. "..go, Junk Man", is the only thing he says, though.

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Rock transmits, "All Hunters, FIRE on the Mecha-Wily."

Gyro Man hits the beach in the one way he /doesn't/ enjoy. He hits the grouns face first about a yard beyond Bowie, sending up a shower of sand. Predictably, it takes him a minute to get up, but he does so. There's mechfluid pouring the wounds in chestplate, both courtesy of Bowie's rifle. There's wet sand clogging the vent in his facemask, which he wipes away, spitting. At least he didn't land in a pit, or on a mine.

Gyro is still wearing that Wily-eyed glare. Otherwise, perhaps he'd think twice about engaging in melee here. not that the state of his stabilizers leaves too much choice. His helix blades are still in his hands. Raising them, he lunges at Bowie with a snarl.

Gyro Man misses you with his Helix Stab attack.

Da Monkey snickers evilly, "That'll teach ya."

and Arachy crashes into where Da Clown is... or rather... where Da Clown WAS. Clown rolled himself up into a ball, and springs away. Seems he was playing possom. Clown unrolled himself and glances at Anarchy. "Aww... do you need a hug? Well, here comes one!"

Clown's arms extends Anarchy's form as Clown prepares to do the most electrifying move (literally) in RMWE History. And it's not the people's elbow.

HUG OF DEATH!!! Can ya dig that, sucka?

Clown Man strikes Anarchy Diptera with his Electric Hug attack.

Top Man, grateful to have finally caught his target, scrambles to his feet, hauling the russian girl over his shoulder. Ignoring her ineffectual flailing, he shifts the girl around and then turns, starting a slow plod towards the Dreadskull. "I'll take you in there and then you'll be safe, okay? We'll take you back to your home after the battle! What were you doing here, though? I bet those mean Maverick Hunters kidnapped you, didn't they?! Ooh, it's a good thing you got out when we came here, otherwise you might have gotten blown up! But now you get rescued!"

Centaur Man growls at Blues. His gun is on rapid fritz, and a few too many singe the hide of the herd's horseman. "You have been a thorn for too long." he growls, leaping towards the whistler with his hooves raring to kick his ASS!

Centaur Man misses Blues with his Centaur Kick attack.

Bowie wipes the grit from his face and stands up once more, taking a moment to regain his bearings. Magic Man's disappeared again, the automated defenses are still working, Kalinka is being held by Top Man, and Gyro Man is coming straight at him. Wait...Kalinka?!?!

Sheer dumb luck saves Bowie from Gyro's blades, the gunslinger sprinting with surprising speed away from the arial master. Through the trees, towards the beach, somehow managing to not drop the bullet as he loads it into the rifle. The former Ranger shoutls loud enough for half the island to hear: "LET HER GO!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Main Rigger transmits, "How's everyone doing?"

My son, when deep in combat with the living incarnation of Death Himself with a plasma cannon of much death and destruction, it is wise to be like the lily of the valley, diving away from contact and moving with the wind, rather than leaping in like the foolish grasshopper who dances nimbly in the grass and is crushed beneath the treads of the juggernaut.

That said, Protoman sees exactly what Centaur Man is planning, and he reacts by feinting backwards, a long red beam-blade popping out of his Buster so that he can make a decent attempt at cutting off one of the offending legs.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "*Non-stop crying*"

Blues strikes Centaur Man with his Protoblade attack.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "2 down. One more on the way."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Inquisitor coughs while transmitting, "I can continue fighting.. I believe Junk Man is finished.. although I would rather be certain".

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Main Rigger transmits, "Jazz? You okay?"

Kalinka squirms angrily. "--What?? No, you do not understand!! I belong here, I -belong- here..." Overhearing Bowie shouting makes her struggle all the more. "BOWIE!!"

Anarchy Diptera shouts out an "OW!" as Clown shocks him one. He falls to the ground in a smoking heap.... twitching, and giving off an occasional electric sputter. "You know. There's nothing a bug hates worse than being BUG-zapped. Zapped. It's almost...ALMOST.... as undigifnied as being swatted." He starts talking, even before he stands up. His knees shake. He glares. Yes, even after that...he's not giving up. "And I'm not going to stand for it." Suddenly, he whips a leg around, streaking it toward Clown Man with a blinding blur of speed, and a wave of air.

Anarchy Diptera nails Clown Man with the ever-so wacky Tornado Kick attack.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "..."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "Bowie. GET HER OUT OF HERE. NOW!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Jazz transmits, "*Sniffle* I'm back in the base... *Sniffle* But I don't think I'm going to make it that much farther inside... *Crying*"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Main Rigger hisses... "I'll be there as soon as I can Jazz."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "I'm already there."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Inquisitor transmits, "My lady.. I will see thee when things settle, I hope."

Top Man blinks, halting mid-step. He sets his foot down and turns around, squinting at the approaching Bowie. A missile streaks overhead, obliterating a group of Joes that were moving to escort Topper back to the Dreadskull, but the Master doesn't even notice, insted pointing accusingly at Bowie.

"Aha!" he cries. "So you Hunters _did_ kidnap this little girl! And you've brainwashed her, too!" he adds, as Kalinka turns up the amount of her struggling. "You can't be forgiven for this, you fiend! I'll rescue this girl, and you're not gonna stop me!"

With a snarl, Top morphs his free hand - the one that isn't keeping Kalinka on his shoulder by the legs - into his trademark Spin Blaster, and raises it at Bowie, unleashing a swirling blue blast of energy at the charging Hunter.

Top Man misses you with his Spin Blaster attack.

Search Man has left.

Da Clown cries out in pain as the high winds takes it to him once again. (Too hurt... If there's a time for the Claw that time is now!)0o. As Clown struggle to recover...

Da Monkey bounces all around, distracting Anarchy...

...Long enough for Clown to go into his Thunder Claw pose. Sideshow bounces over to Clown as he calls out...

"THUNDER! THUNDER! THUNDER!"

"THUNDER CLAW!!!"

"HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "<< "Sasha. DESTROY the WilyMecha." >>"

Centaur Man glances about, his hoof blocking the POrotoblade but still causing pain.. "Brothers, is everyone ok?" he makes sure, but the floor is plastered with fallen parts and injured troops. "You!" he points, as he grabs whatever remaining little units he can gather. "Another time!"

Clown Man misses Anarchy Diptera with his Thunder Claw attack.

Centaur Man retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Gyro Man, Leo, Anarchy Diptera, Inquisitor, and Top Man.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Argent transmits, "Sasha? erm... Cossack should I continue to do the same thing or no?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "Rock gave us an order. Drop the mecha."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Argent transmits, "Yes sir."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "OOC: Commander X, even."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Blues transmits, "Sasha will take care of it."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "I don't care if Elvis is coming back to deal with it, we've got our orders. Continue the attack."

Kalinka, in turn, begins swinging at Top Man's head furiously. "Leave him alone!!" she hollers as she tries to deck him. "God, you are a dope! Maybe well-meaning dope, but still -- listen to me -- I be-long-here, read my lips!"

Kalinka misses Top Man with her Right Uppercut attack.

Top Man deflects Right Uppercut from Kalinka.

As if Protoman really needed to order him to rescue Kalinka.

What Top Man fails to understand is that Kalinka is Bowie's girlfriend. This means that he is willing to do Brave and Patently Idiotic Things in order to protect. Such as charging straight at him with no regard to his own safety. The gunslinger lunges forward, the blast of energy sailing over his head, moving to tackle Top Man. Hopefully Kalinka will be able to free herself from his grasp in the process.

You don't have to tell him twice. Actually you don't have to tell him at all, since he can't hear you. Part of that wiring that was cut. Staring faintly, he stands, his body sorta standing there for a moment... before he pushes past Inquisitor, absentmindedly patting his shoulder as he stumbles away...

A strange sensation filters through his dazed consciousness, and he looks down at the BORIS unit currently 2/3 of the way towards slicing through his arm. He shakes it off, grasping it by the head, and swings it clumsily, sending two Joes and another BORIS into one of the spike pits.

But others, scenting a weakened opponent begin to converge.

A plasma cannon orients, turning with a grinding chug and fires off a beam. The BORIS on the other side of Junkers takes it, being blown to pieces as the plasma beam bores through his chest without resistence, entering from the unarmored back. Metal plates fly outwards, pattering to the sand as he staggers, falling to one knee and blinking weakly.

A snapping sweep of his electroclaw meets three BORIS at once, one setting to work trying to cut off his shoulder, the other starting on the wrist, the third on the hand before Junk snatches back his arm. He feels the presence behind him before the tubing is neatly sliced, the circulation pack falling to the ground.

The BORIS have to wait for just a moment, pulling back as a missle catches him in the side.

When he falls it doesn't take long for the Boris to converge.

It still takes minutes of cutting before the E-Ring system activates... thankfully he didn't feel the last few minutes, the cut cords an unexpected mercy this time.

You miss Top Man with your Ram attack.

Inquisitor has reconnected.

In the distance, the bright flash and roar of the WilyMecha using Lots and Lots of Guns Under the Labcoat thunders forth.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "I'm at the Staging Area, Jazz is being taken care of. If anyone tried to follow her in... Well, I absorbed a LOT of energy on the way in. They'll not get any further. I promise."

Blues laughs softly as Centaur Man runs. Until he hears the scream from Kalinka. Moving to cover Bowie's attempt to keep her safe, he intends to keep the other Masters away from the three of them.

Inquisitor keeps his bow trained on Junk Man for a while.. until he sees the Robot Master getting E-ringed. The knight sighs and shakes his head.. then falls into another bout of coughs before trying to murmer over his radio system. The knight lifts up into the air, searching for a new target, regardless of his current beating. He's not leaving until he feels he absolutely has to.

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Inquisitor transmits, "Junk Man has been.. E-ringed. I *cough*.. am available to assist anyone who needs it.."

Inquisitor has partially disconnected.

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Blues transmits, "Cover. Bowie."

Gyro Man kneels in the sand, both his blades embedded in the turf not far from where Bowie had been standing minutes ago. He's still bleeding, scanning the area for a new target, though his head is beginning to clear.

Top Man grunts, taking a smooth step to the side and merely letting the enraged Bowie charge past him. As he's passed, however, Topper (with Kalinka in tow) changes facings in less than the blink of an eye, turning a 180 and snapping his foot into the Hunter's rear-end. "What's wrong with you?! Are you performing SECRET GENETIC EXPERIMENTS on this girl or somethin'?!"

Top Man strikes you with a glancing hit from his Kick for 4 units of damage.

Anarchy Diptera is starting to levitate again, with air building up around his body. The Thunder Claw disspates as the wind whipping around the fly blows him off-course from the electrical attack...

Oh. It looks like he's getting upset. He's not ignoring Sideshow, either. He knows one thing that will probably take them both out... He raises his hands into the air, and then pushes them downward, a blast of wind letting loose all around his body. It funnels outward like a tornado, whipping through the trees, and glowing with an edge of pale yellow. He's not paying attention to who it strikes...nor can he really control it, for, it is chaos.

Clown Man evades Anarchy Diptera's ever-so wacky Chaos Whirlwind attack. HOO HA!

Anarchy Diptera misses Blues with his Chaos Whirlwind attack.

Blues deflects Chaos Whirlwind from Anarchy Diptera.

Anarchy Diptera strikes Kalinka with his Chaos Whirlwind attack.

Kalinka is temporarily disoriented by Anarchy Diptera's Chaos Whirlwind attack.

Anarchy Diptera strikes Top Man with his Chaos Whirlwind attack.

Top Man is temporarily disoriented by Anarchy Diptera's Chaos Whirlwind attack.

Bowie isn't enraged. He's simply focused upon one objective: protect Kalinka. Anything else be damned. He picks himself up from the sand, drawing his knives from their sheathes as he stands. "Let her go," he again demands in a tone that brooks no other answer but compliance.

Kalinka is about to start in on a whole new round of kicking and punching Top Man, when suddenly, a mighty, mighty wind whips up. Kalinka screams, grabbing tightly onto Top Man in fright as the wind howls in their direction fiercely.

Pharaoh Man has left.

Blues growls and looks as Kalinka is flung upwards. Bowie's got his knives out, at least. Moving forward, if Bowie doesn't take him down, Blues probably will in short order.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Sasha transmits, << "Yes, Father." >>

Inquisitor scans the battlefield and spots the apparently-winded Gyro Man. He zips down near him, landing in a kneel next to him, and rises somewhat shakily. Translucent red bow is brandished, prepared for another fight against a Robot Master. "Be gone, Robot Master, and I will not fire..", he pants out. He probably doesn't look as though he can take too many hard hits, himself, but as was previously mentioned, he intends on sticking around for as long as he can.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Argent transmits, "I believe i'll leave this to her... she seems more capable then I..."

And then, just when things couldn't get ANY worse:

The Cossack booms through the hidden PA system he has put across the island, speaking louder than the weapons, louder than even the WilyMecha can manage. He booms out:

"WILY! You haff came to my home and faced my wraff! But today -- TODAY, Albert Wily, I haff proven myself your equal! TODAY, we haff defeated you and your forces on our own terms, facink off against zee BEST you had!"

The Cossack gestures within the command center, eyes gleaming as he watches the video feeds. "Albert Wily! Hear me! I haff taken your works and *perfected* zem! I haff shown Doppler to be a fool by doink somet'ink zhat should haff been IMPOSSIBLE!"

The Cossack leans into the mic, teeth gritted, adrenaline pounding through his body. "And now, Doctor Wily, you see zee true extent of my MASTERY! Old Teacher, old friend! Behold zee child I haff made wiff your tools! Behold ziss beautiful veapon of var! Behold - my /child/."

In the distance, the fallen WilyMecha is smote by a surge of the lightning ... and the Cossack cackling begins. This will not end well.

Top Man sighs. "How come you're so stubborn? I'm just takin' her somewhere safe so she won't get exploded!" he explains exasperatedly. "But you're being a dumbface and not LETTIN' me!" Angrily, Topper lifts his Spin Blaster, and...

Doesn't get a chance to use it, as Anarchy's whirlwind sends him staggering backwards and to the side. His blaster does discharge, and vaporizes a small shrubbery, but that's the closest he come to anything offensive. He looks very disoriented, in fact, and he begins to stagger around the area, trying to regain his balance... but it's hard, because of the whole 'Kalinka On Shoulder' thing. "Whooaa.. whooooooa! Aagh! Can't you be lighter, little girl?!"

Long distance to Kalinka: Bowie suspects I'll be moving into your lab. ^^

Gods looks down on Clowns, Monkeys, and of course, Wilys. The fact Clown and Sideshow fills all of those things in short order. However, things can happen that makes a God smile fortune down upon a hapless clown and his monkey.

This is one of those cases.

Too drained to dodge the incoming wind attack... Clown and Sideshow watches as Anarchy launches it... and it hits nearly everybody else save THEM.

(Don't think about it! We got one last chance! Make it count!)0o. And Clown transforms into...

ash Katchem. Pokemon Master.

"SQUIRTLE, PIKACHU, CHARMANDER! I CHOOSE YOU!!! TRIFORCE ASSAULT! THUNDER! WATER GUN! FLAMETHROWER! NOW!!!"

The three Pokemon toys unleashes their powerful attack, uniting them into a single beam of pure destructiveness...

Aimed at Anarchy.

(Please gods let this work...)0o.

Clown Man misses Anarchy Diptera with his Lethal Toy attack.

Clown Man transforms into pokemon trainer

Kalinka rolls her eyes in exasperation. "Can't you get a clue --" As she hears the booming, insane voice of Cossack echoing throughout the island, she freezes, blinking in astonishment. "...Daddy...?"

Bowie seems to be having very strange luck tonight. The chaos whirlwind casts dust and sand at him, but does no other harm. Taking the opportunity granted by his fellow Hunter, the Texan dashes forward, swings at Top with the flat of his blade, then moves to grab Kalinka from him while he's still seeing stars.

You strike Top Man with a minor hit from your Generic Melee attack.

The winds start to die down around the fly.... but they're still whipping enough that the pokemon come up against an almost impenetrable wall of wind, and are tossed back away. Anarchy doesn't even get to notice how ridiculous the attack was, let alone quip about it. He lifts up higher off the ground, regaining strength. ....Please, no puns about a 'second wind.' He aims both his hands at Clown Man, and declares, "This has all been...really unfunny." A glow emerges from the back of his wrist, and a burst of air and energy fires out, streaming in glowing gold and blue.

Gyro Man looks up as the Hunter lands beside him. Lands. He finds it almost insulting that he's grounded while someone else can still fly. "Destroy... Father sent us to destroy!" But even at this distance, he can smell the ozone in the air. He can hear the crash of lightning, and he looks off in the direction of the flash.

"Father..." The Master's eyes flicker with red light, but settle into subdued steel blue. He shakes his head to clear it, then takes a step back from Inquisitor, shoulders slumped. Gyro knows a loss when he sees it. "You Hunters..." he rasps, "...had better hope Dad is alright. We'll be back, either way."

Gyro Man takes a few more steps back, then turns to use the rest of his strength to navigate the battlefield.

Blues watches Bowie go to snatch Kalinka, and as she's grabbed for safety, he lunges in, hoping to finish the fight by bringing a heavy fist in for a haymaker at Top Man's jaw in the midst of the confusion.

Clown Man evades Anarchy Diptera's ever-so wacky Burst Blaster attack. HOO HA!

Blues strikes Top Man with his Jab attack.

And, in the distance, the WilyMecha explodes. Messily.

"ROBOT MASTERS!" booms the Cossack, through the PA system, "YOU WILL FALL BACK! YOUR ASSAULT IS BROKEN! FLEE WHILE YOU STILL CAN, OR FACE DESTRUCTION!"

Kalinka clings tightly to Bowie, somewhat dazed at the moment from the whirlwind, the chaos of the attack and her father's disembodied voice...which she isn't sure if she's hallucinating or not. "Your child...? Daddy, I am your child...I -am- your child..." She clings tightly to Bowie, closing her eyes.

Gyro Man retreats from the area swiftly, leaving him open to pursuit or parting shots from Centaur Man, Leo, Anarchy Diptera, Inquisitor, and Top Man.

Top Man sends a radio transmission.

And this is where the hero rescues the heroine in distress and runs like mad for safety. Bowie throws Kalinka over his left shoulder and does just that. Anyone that's in his way is ginored unless they intentionally get in his way. The gunslinger growls, but whather it's at Kalinka, Cossack, or the MAsters in unclear.

You take Kalinka.

Kalinka has disconnected.

Inquisitor stares sternly towards Gyro Man as this goes on, and simply smirks when he turns to take off from the battlefield. The Hunter watches him for a while, making sure he doesn't whip around for any unexpected attacks on him. When it seems like he's safe, he turns around to the larger majority of what's still going on, and murmers into his radio systems again.

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Inquisitor transmits, "Gyro Man has fled. Once again, I am available."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Bowie transmits, "Ah got her."

Top Man receives a radio transmission.

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Blues transmits, "Withdraw;."

(And so Bowie runs through the other combat zone on his way outside.)

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "Jazz is to safety and as repaired as I can make her. I await incoming injured in the staging level."

Maverick Hunter Ride Armor <Gunslinger> is SLICED by the Rolling Cutter, the blade lodging deep in the armor of the Gunslinger. "Dammit... wait a second." The blade has made some electrical connections. He's got power in both arms! "Cut Man... I'm sorry. Your luck just ran out." The Gunslinger leaps into the air, levelling both arm cannons at Cut Man. "Goodbye."

"GUNSLINGER RIDE ARMOR! ALPHA STRIKE!"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Inquisitor transmits, "It would appear as though things will not be lasting too much longer out here. Expect more patients coming thy way."

Maverick Hunter Ride Armor <Gunslinger> misses Cut Man with its Death By Overkill attack.

Bowie runs down the beach, a certain young disavowed woman slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Objective? Inside the base post-haste.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "I'm as ready as I get. Uh... Don't use the hovercycles anytime before tomorrow afternoon, I had to borrow their battery output to restore my energy levels."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Argent transmits, "Withdrawing... *pant* that was rough..."

[Radio] You send Blues a direct message: "Ah'm takin her somwhere Ah know is safe. Y'all can tell me whut the HELL Cosack's ranting about later."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Sasha transmits, << "Wily is down. Engaging new target: Metal Man. He--presented himself." >>

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Alpha transmits, "Well, I guess it's only fair to let you beat him up, I have done it so many times it wouldn't be fair to hog him."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Michael Eildath transmits, "He's weak against blades. Though I'm sure you already know that."

You enter the Hunter HQ - Staging Level.

Hunter HQ - Staging Level

This area, once the hangar bay and deployment area for the Fort Sam Houston, serves much the same function for the Maverick Hunter base. Light by large lights set high into the ceiling, and small lights partially sunk into the deck, this area has docking slots for all the Hunters' vehicles, as well as quite a few civilian or individually-owned craft as well. There is enough room here for many Hunters to gather as once for deployment on combat missions, and well-lit walkways head toward the other areas of the ship. Sealed doors lead to the armory and the living quarters, while more open passageways lead to the moonpool, the teleporters, and outside.

Large elevators are in place to lift vehicles to launch to the outside. As a reminder of what this once was, in the middle of the floor is the restored painting of the patch of the USS Fort Sam Houston, which is shield shaped, with a silhouette of the city inside the shield, while the divided top has crossed sabres on the left, and a silhouette of a tank on the right, with a script beneath it reading "In Peace Prepare for War".

Corona [Normal] [MH]

Launch <U> leads to Philippines.

East <E> leads to Hunter HQ - Lift Station.

Crevasse <C> leads to Hunter HQ - Motorpool.

Tunnel <T> leads to Hunter HQ - Moonpool.

South <S> leads to Hunter HQ - Armory.

Out <O> leads to Cave.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Alpha transmits, "I feel bad stabbing him...he's fragile enough already..."

Clomp clomp clomp clomp. Bowie comes down the tunnel at a dead run, Kalinka slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Corona transmits, "Stab him anyway. All's fair in love and war... and if you love him, YOU can explain it to the bosses."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Inquisitor transmits, "Is assistance required anywhere?"

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Sasha switches to English. "While I don't require your assistance, Alpha, you may help me bring him down. It should be an interesting--bonding exercise."

[Radio: (D) Hunter-S] Blues transmits, "We're done. Go home."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Main Rigger transmits, "Be careful Alpha."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Argent transmits, "I've returned to base, I'll be in the bay."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Inquisitor transmits, "A-aye.. I will be on standby, if needed."

Corona is standing near the base entrance side of the bay, glowing like a streetlight and waiting patiently. One arm is cocked as if holding a weapon, and the crystal in his palm is gleaming, ready to heal or destroy as necessary.

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Alpha transmits, "I don't think I could hit him from that far away without hurting that sapling over there."

[Radio: (B) H-Chat] Dr. Cossack transmits, "<< "Let them fall back, Sasha. We have won the day. Bring Rock inside. He requires our attention." >>"

Bowie barely notices Corona on his way past. Slowing down once he reaches the staging area, he makes his way to the rack of bikes. Kalinka appears to have passed out - no major injuries are visible.

Corona comments quietly, "Uh... those aren't working right now. You might want to take the teleporter." He looks a little sheepish, scratching the back of his neck with the hand that isn't ready to fight.

Bowie looks at Corona for a moment, almost a glare...then shakes his head and walks for the lift. Not a word from him, and no thought to his own injuries.

(Bowie takes Kalinka to her Lab in Moscow. And there he spends the night, thinking.)