bravenewworld | Event - Confrontation with the Enhanced

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Event - Confrontation with the Enhanced

With the revelation of the presence of the Enhanced, Union was able to quickly mobilize. As the strange conditions continued to worsen, the Trainers of Union once again set out to bring order to the chaos.

This time however, they do not walk entirely alone. A small, dedicated team remains behind in Union, sorting through the dossiers and information that Crystal and Rory have collected. Connected to those in the field via Warp Band network, hopefully they can identify the Enhanced and find a way to calm them before a tragedy occurs.

[OOC: There will be a thread for each active team based on the sign-ups. Any areas that did not have any sign-ups will not be present and will be addressed later. As per our usual standards, moderators and NPC helpers will progress the log at least once every 24 hours. The Union log will work somewhat differently from the battle logs in that the participants will be collecting information concerning the Enhanced; when enough information has been accumulated, they will be asked to tag into the battle threads to provide guidance and support to those out in the field.

Characters participating in the Union log will function as support staff for this event. They will have their own log interacting with Rory and Crystal and as characters in other logs encounter the Enhanced, they can use the observations made to try to find out more about the Enhanced in the field and help the people in the field determine an appropriate situation. Because of this, players in the Union thread may threadjack any ongoing log to relay information as needed.

The outcome of this event will depend very much on player decisions and the ability of the characters to respond to the threats at hand, so we would highly encourage you all to tag as regularly as possible. Thanks!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ami's admonishment probably comes too late to prevent the attack from actually striking! The Aura Sphere smashes into the rock formation head on and blows a nice crack in it, though it's not enough to send the whole thing crumbling to the ground. With a slow deliberation, the earth shifts as more rocks rise up to cover the gap... though perhaps some of the airborne adventurers will catch a glimpse of something fiery behind it.

The earth gives a shuddering gasp - no. There is an actual shuddering gasp and the earth trembles along with it. The voice is barely audible, but to those with keen senses, the sound of short, staccato gasps of breaths will follow the long exhalation.

"Go......"

The rumbling of the earth will herald the imminent opening of another fault... this one extremely close to Kuzuryuu, Souda, and their Pokemon.

Ami gasped as the ground shook and the chasm begin to open. With quick thinking she shot out some ice and created a frozen bridge beneath their feet that would give them just enough time to get away from the chasm before it would crumble away.

"MOVE!"

She whistled and immediately her Noctowl, Minerva flew down. She got off of Aurora and onto the Noctowl while letting the Luxray return to the band for safety. She looked all around and towards the rock. If they could get to actually talking to the enhanced, maybe they could be reasoned with.

"Please, we wish to help you. No one" she glared at Cordelia, "is trying to hurt you. We want to help but you have to allow us to get close."

"Olympus, help them!" Rei shouts and wheels back around, banking sharply so that the Charizard could scoop up Fuyuhiko and Souda in his claws, provided they're smart enough to grab hold. She wouldn't let them fall, she couldn't.

That presence though...the sheer weight of the power behind it is astonishing, and the rasping of it...that's not good!

"Ami-chan's right! We're here to help! Just tell us what you need, and let us get to you! She's a medic! If there's anything we can do to help, we will!"

Fuyuhiko yelped as Olympus Mons grabbed him and, lacking any opposable thumbs to grasp with in his Mightyena form, could only do his level best to stay still and not force the Charizard to drop him. It made shouting orders awkward, but he called out to his Cofagrigus below:

"Oba-san! Get Belaire!"

The Cofagrigus stopped her moaning briefly, then rushed over to take the three-legged Houndoom in the right two of her four arms and swoop over the widening chasm to solid ground.

Shit. He'd assumed they were facing Ice and Fire, but are they dealing with a triple-type, here?

"Kazuichi, can you get on the line back to Union? Ask them if any of those bastards are Ice, Fire, and either Rock or Ground!"

Cursing all the way along, Souda clung to the charizard as best he could, whining once he was steady.

"Fuck-- fuck," he whined, heart hammering as he watched Oba-San scoop up Belaire. But with an affirmative howl from her, Kazuichi took Kuzuryuu's direction, engaging his warp band.

"Hey--hey! Whoever's out there-- we gotta know, right frickin' now. I-Ice, fire, and--" A breath. "Rock or ground. We need one that matches that! We just got the ground pulled out from under us up the mountains!"

Well, if anything, the Unioners watching would get a sense of urgency.

Robin, meanwhile, is taking a more proactive approach. He casts his gaze upon the Enhanced and scans her, taking in her typing and abilities.

[OOC: Analyst type level scan per the Trainer ability.]

Ami, if you were thinking Cordelia was going to try to have a conversation with a rock, and that she would actually feel bad about engaging said rock, you're barking up the wrong tree.

But nature puns aside, it probably wasn't the best decision. Even still, this person was threatening the wildlife here, and, by proxy, the safety of Union. That came first; she was a former Sword, and some habits never die. Let the kids talk. Calling Lucario back into the band, Cordelia stays afloat, moving to give Robin a better vantage point. If there is any further threat, she would strike, no questions asked.

Robin will have only enough time for a glimpse before the crack closes again - but it's likely perfectly obvious even without the Analysis what this person's typings are. His keen eye will see that the flames surrounding her body sputter and flare as if contacting water - which indeed they are - and a strange vapor is rising simultaneously from her body. Half-Ice, Half-Fire... with the body composition to reflect it. She's sitting with the fire portion facing them now.

There is nothing about her appearance that readily suggests her innate ability: her frame is frail, obviously sickly; she's hardly ready for battle. That she possesses the traits of a God of War is exceedingly unlikely, but her actions suggest some control over a third typing - rock or ground. In the absence of that possibility, then, it is safe to conclude that this woman's control over ground is her Enlightened trait. Ergo, she is a Child of the Shifting Earth.

More than that will be evident as well, not just to Robin. She is clearly in a great deal of distress as she slowly continues to wheeze, the ground shuddering underfoot as she does so.

"I can't..."

The chasm widening where Souda and Kuzuryuu were moments ago halts with a great effort, though it seems she is incapable of closing it.

"You have to go..."

One last gasp.

"...t... ....urts...."

[ Were they being tested? It certainly felt like they were being watched by something with rapt interest. What would the group choose to do? Would they save her, or..? The more perceptive might feel themselves being watched, but if they try to find it, they'll see nothing actually there. How strange. ]

Ami did notice, but she didn't have time to examine it. The medic was being presented with a patient, everything in her wanted to help them and help them now, circumstance be damned. She looked to make sure everyone was safe before she moved Minerva in closer, keeping the Noctowl as close as was safe. Just like when Rei had been engulfed from flames from she evolved the second time, the ice and water type encased her arms in ice to provide a barrier from the intense heat.

She looked over to Rei and the others. She would help this girl, not just to keep to her oath as a medic, but because someone was hurt, someone who had been forced to endure so much...

"Please," she said, getting closer and closer. "I can help. I will do everything I can to make the pain go away. We will do everything we can," she looked back at everyone. "No one is going to hurt you any further, I won't let them." She wished more than ever she had the healing abilities some pokemon had, but she didn't.

"My name is Ami Mizuno, what's your name?" she would start there, introducing herself as she might with any patient. "I'm a medic at Union, I'm an ice and water type," she said with a smile, trying to keep attention on them and see if she couldn't get the enhance to open up.

"We just want to help you, but you have to let us close. Let us do what we can. Let me try and help you. Please. What hurts?"

She looked at the others, trying to encourage them to offer gentle words instead of attacks or screams of surprise.

"Will you let us get close?"

Rei guided Olympus Mons closer, the big Pokemon carefully and gently holding onto both Souda and Fuyukiko. He wouldn't let them fall. Her attention does briefly divert to the intruding entity, a powerful psychic presence telling them that something was there...and then it was just...not.

Not that it matters, the real focus is on the obviously pained Enhanced down on the pillar of stone. There's no way she's going to turn on someone in obvious pain, and neither will Ami. That just isn't how the two of them operate.

"Ami-chan's right. We're here to help. If you let us get closer, we'll do what we can. Deimos can heal your injuries...and sooth what she can, and Ami-chan can take care of you. She's the best healer I know. So please, let us help!"

Even Fuyuhiko couldn't bring himself to attack someone so obviously not at fault for this shit, not right now. She was hurt, and she was still trying to control the fissures in the ground, if that's what the halted spread of the chasm meant.

He kept his growl of a voice low, just enough for Rei, Kazuichi, and Olympus Mons to hear. "Hey. The ground stopped, I'm going back down. It'll be easier, and I got my own Flying-type if I need her." And with that, after making sure he wasn't about to drop like an idiot into a lava flow, Fuyuhiko wiggled free to take some weight off Olympus Mons.

Oba-san the Cofagrigus put Belaire down just in time to catch her Bonded partner and gentle his landing, but she wasn't even paying him much mind. She was still uncharacteristically silent, glowing eyes fixed on the woman in the stone. So much hurt, so much effort--Oba-san was generally disconnected from the world, floating as she did between her memories of life and the crushing grief of what she'd lost, but the woman's labor called to her.

She'd pulled the stone around her the way Oba-san wore her gold sarcophagus, hadn't she? A shield against the pain, to protect her and shut the world out from it.

Oba-san drew herself up, floated forward about a step, and began, whisper-soft at first, to sing: not her mournful lullabies this time, but the songs they'd sung for her during the birth of her child. Comfort, but stern encouragement, as well, as her warbling, echoing, unintelligible voice rose enough in volume to be heard. Push through it. Breathe. She was a woman grown, was she not? Breathe, and hold.

With Kuzuryuu moving much too quickly for Kazuichi to protest, the skittish mechanic looked to Belaire, who once again gave a short call to her partner.

With her reassurance, Kazuichi did his best to stay-- quiet. Calm was not a possibility. He was too stressed, too scared, but with everyone acting the way they were? Well. They needed him to do a job, and he was going to do it. He focused on communicating with Union, trying to put together a solid set of information to relay before reporting anything that could be incorrect.

(He'd shake and tears might form at his eyes, but Kuzuryuu had told him what to do.)

((24 hour progressing!))

The answers don't come quickly, but eventually, something will emerge from the rock formation besides muffled gasps and pants. The women's voice seems a little steadier as she tries her best to suppress the abilities that are raging out of control.

"Sierra..."

The rock encasing her recedes at a snail's pace. Heat radiates from one side; intense frost from the other. It would probably be faster to describe what didn't hurt, in this particular instance.

"I should never have left. I was a fool..."

There is a palpable sense that she is one moment away from disaster; one twitch of the head or shake of the hands from a terrible outcome.

"Please..."

((Souda can feel free to chime in down here if he wishes! Also the next tag might come a little quicker so that Something Can Happen.))

Rei, now without passengers, does move closer, keeping the Charizard heading straight for the obviously pained woman. Heat doesn't bother either of them as much, and Rei's own intense body temperature more than compensates for any radiating cold.

"We'll help, however we can."

She's already calling for Deimos, the Gardevoir appearing on Olympus Mons' back in a flash.

"Can we come closer, so she can start the process?"

Slowly she'll move that way anyway, getting in range for a Heal Pulse, while shooting Ami an urgent look...

Unable to provide healing, Robin summons Bolganone and Fimbulvetr. Putting a steadying hand on Cordelia, urging her to wait and see, he directs the Flareon and Glaceon to start mitigating the damage to the area and making it a bit safer for his companions to traverse.

This was getting out of hand, quickly. Cordelia felt for the woman, she did, but they would need to act fast to pacify her, otherwise they may not have the luxury. It was a terrible thought, but, as said before, it was possible not all of them could be saved, and Cordelia was not about to put her team in danger.

Casting a quick glance at Robin, she looked back at the scene. Waiting wasn't something she was particularly good at, but she could aid in the healing process. She just needed to get close enough. Swooping down, Cordelia followed Rei, Warp Band glowing and ready to activate at her command.

The Cofagrigus continued her ghostly song, floating closer to Sierra with all four hands held low but palm-up, supplicating and coaxing. She paid no attention to her surroundings, and Fuyuhiko had to hop over some of the Eeveelutions' repairs to keep up with her.

"Oba-san..."

He kept his tail low and his posture as inoffensive as possible, but he wasn't going to be any help even if he did get close.

Ami jumped down from Minerva and landed in a crouch when she was safe enough to do so. She didn't put the Noctowl away just in case it was necessary for a quick escape from any fissures or volatile fire. She stood up, slowly, not making any movements that were too sudden, keeping to the ice side as that made her the most comfortable.

She summoned her Dragonair, Socrates. Just as the Cofagrigus sang to help soothe the Enhanced, just as Rei had Gardevoir at the ready, Socrates used his natural calming aura to try and help the situation. He offered a gentle song as he and Ami came closer to Sierra.

"Hello, Sierra," she smiled, coming ever closer. "I promise, we're going to do everything we can to help you. I'm going to make the pain go away as best I can. I know you've been in great pain, you don't want to hurt anyone, I can tell. I'm going to help you. We're all here to help."

She kept getting closer and closer.

"I ask that you trust me, Sierra, that you believe me when I say all I want to do is help."

From within her self-imposed imprisonment, the woman shudders slightly at the sound of the Cofagrigus and Dragonair's song. It's not entirely certain whether or not this is a positive response, but at least, she's not rejecting it outright. There comes a pained inhalation as the flames and the frost surrounding her begin to recede slightly as well - though really, it doesn't amount to a much better situation in the end. She seems to be holding her breath, as if keeping the air from escaping will keep her powers from spiraling out of control as well.

"Hurry..."

And for a moment, it seems like this might possibly go without incident. But as Ami draws closer and closer, Sierra's hands begin to shake.

"Wait - No - Don't..."

She can feel it in the ground. Every step forward sends a tremor, every movement sends a twitch of pain through her mind. That connection she had with the earth would be her downfall.

"S-Stop!"

And with that choked cry, the rock surrounding her suddenly shatters and bursts out in every direction! Ami might be in trouble here, but by a freak stroke of terrible luck, a shard, barely a sliver, shoots out straight towards the eye of a certain Shifter standing awkwardly a ways back.

"No no no no no no no no... no....."

Her body is revealed now for the world to see; her legs are half-buried in the ground, and it is from there that the veins of ice and fire are flowing outwards... Sierra has closed her eyes; every ounce of her being is dedicated now to preventing those veins from expanding even now.

"THORON!"

A blast of lightning descends from the sky to knock away the rocks and defend those on the ground.

And this was why she wanted to act cautiously instead of getting close and talking to the out-of-control Enhanced person.

"Dammit! Swanna!"

Summoning up a Tailwind, the Pokemon directs it downward, attempting to use it to divert the attack and speed up her allies.

"Deimos! Now! Heal Pulse!"

Rei practically screams out the command, pouring a sense of urgency into her words. It's as much directed at Fuyuhiko now as it is the obviously suffering Enhanced. The Priestess herself funnels some of her own psychic energy into the Gardevoir, and a purplish light floods the area! But...would it do any good?

"Augh!"

Fuyuhiko hit the ground in a sprawl with a sharp whine, one foreleg covering his face, and didn't get up. Oba-san, broken out of her keening tune, moved to shield him from further harm, then glared up at the woman on the mountain. All kinship in her eyes burned away to rage, but then she suddenly disengaged from the world again, lullaby dirges rising like a tide in her head.

Instead of attacking, the move she used in her disconnected delirium was Power Split. Perhaps Cofagrigus' generally low attack could ameliorate future damage...

"Aniki!" exclaimed the skittish mechanic, disengaging his warp band almost immediately after the hit landed.

Speeding to Fuyuhiko's side without much concern for his own safety, Kazuichi ~~tearfully~~ checks on his friend. Meanwhile, despite her worry, Belaire is sure to stand before the two as guard, standing defensively but not letting herself growl. As much as this is not something she wanted to ever happen, she had to believe it wasn't Sierra's intent.

Event - Confrontation with the Enhanced

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