Second Report - Necessity Is The...

[lessabrasive]

[ The communicator clicks on, revealing the sunlit decore of Twilight Town. Sunset Hill, specifically, for those familiar with the location.

What should also be familiar is the statue in view of the camera. Not so familiar? The portal set at the base, the glow pulsing brightly. Invitingly, even. A pricklemane bounces towards it, then stops, tilting its head from left to right and waggling its ears in a show of interest. ]


This wasn't here when I passed by this morning. But it looks like the wait for something new to happen is over.


[ After 10 seconds or so of focus, the camera swings around until the firm frown of Lin Beifong is visible. ]


We don't know what might be through here, and securing a safe point on the other side is a priority. I plan on crossing over shortly. Anyone in Twilight Town is welcome to join me, but I recommend being ready for combat.


[ooc: this post is action/prose friendly! feel free to reply to Lin, or go ahead and do your own thing in a seperate thread. :D ]

Comments

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[It seems they weren't here for long before something going very wrong, and that's got Eraqus worried. Even worse when he finds out it's Sora, considering how important the boy is to many people.]

[They have been introduced, although it seems so far he's only seen Tony in states of injury...] This doesn't look good...

Here. [He immediately raises his Keyblade and casts curaga over the two of them...hopefully that should help Tony recover quicker, and Sora wake up.]

[revenancenpcs]

[A strange, growling, hissing sound seems to come from behind Eraqus, but if he turns to look, there's nothing to be seen.]

[Lin and her dream eater are suddenly attacked and left conscious but battered by the assault.]

[dork_of_keys]

[Sora stirs with the healing. It certainly helps. His Spirits are instantly relieved by his returning to consciousness. He slowly starts picking himself up. Hurting a bit and still a bit woozy, he doesn't rush things.

He's about to ask if anyone has any idea what hit them when Lin and her Spirit are nailed. That gets his attention and he scrambles up. He's a bit unsteady and doesn't really get any further than kneeling just yet. Perhaps he ought not rush it, but he's looking around for the unseen attacker, hoping to maybe be able to offer some warning if it strikes again.

Someone might want to be ready to steady him once he does actually stand up, otherwise he'll be on his ass again in short order. He won't object to the suggestion that they get the hell out of there.]

[lessabrasive]

[ Lin nods at Tony, before stepping aside to let Eraqus do his work. She's seen a few healing spells before, but watching magic at actual work has yet to cease to be a curiousity for her. It's nothing like the sort of healing done by waterbenders.

A pouch flips open at her hip, and she tosses two more vials towards Tony. ]

Here. For your dream eaters.

We didn't see anything when--

[-- And that's all Lin manages before Something Strikes. For a moment, her entire body constricts, before she is sent flying through the air, crashing into the bulkhead forming the corridor.

Her armour, near spotless moments before, looks the worse for wear from the invisible contact, and there's muffled cursing as she attempts to sit up; blood drips from her forehead, though whether the gash was caused by the unseen force or from her face hitting the wall is unclear.

Her pricklemane makes a choked noise like a deflating balloon, before being sent tumbling to one side, its spikes looking decidedly flattened. ]

[the_mechanic]

[Tony shudders at the healing magic, but manages to nod a thanks. When Sora starts to come to, Tony reaches out a hand, ready to steady him if need be.]

Welcome back, kid.

[When Lin tosses the vials at Tony, he only manages to catch one, in his un-gloved hand, because at the growl the mask snaps down and his other hand is raised to attack. He knows what he heard, but he doesn't see anything, and Jarvis's data is inconclusive. He fires a short burst from the repulsor in the general direction of the sound, just moments after Lin has already been attacked, and curses vehemently under his breath. It's muted by the helmet and Jarvis's wisdom.

Thankfully his power was still dialed down, so only minimal damage should be done to the ship itself if the intended target was missed entirely.

He's still snarling under the helmet as he stands to rush to Lin, though he hesitates just a moment, torn between staying to steady Sora or lending a hand to Lin. After a quick vitals check, he approaches Lin. He offers her the potion back.]

I think it's time to blow this popsicle stand.

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Eraqus spins around instantly at the sound of the growling, Keyblade in hand, but there's nothing there. Nothing to see, but noises to hear? Is this some kind of creature with invisibility?]

[No time to decide for sure, since suddenly something hits Lin and her Dream Eaters, too. Eraqus swears something under his breath, and calls up his Wheeflower.]

Jyunai!

[For once Jyunai's OCD comes in handy. The Wheeflower makes some shocked and frustrated noises at how many blood and bruises are around here, and sets about throwing cure spells at Lin, her Spirits, and anyone else within range. He puts a hand on Sora's shoulder.]

You're still hurt; keep still for now!

[And Eraqus agrees. They're at a severe disadvantage here if they don't have the means to detect an invisible enemy yet.] Yes, let's leave this world.

[dork_of_keys]

[Sora can't exactly argue here. He's still hurting and unsteady and Tony's efforts to stabilize him are quite appreciated.

Bruce chatters at Jyunai's fretting. Really? This kind of stuff happens sometimes. You should have seen it when they blew up the greenhouse!

Sora has fought invisible enemies before, but there had been ways to detect them before they could nail someone. This one though... This one needs a little more effort and that isn't happening now.]

We're not too far from the portal.

[The added healing that the Wheeflower is throwing around helps. It doesn't put him in fighting shape, but at least no one's going to need to carry him when they get moving.]

[lessabrasive]

[ The squeaking sounds less deflated as the Cure spells reach the Pricklemane, who struggles back onto his paws. Persons need to be more careful it churrrs when someone mentions blowing things up, before looking towards Lin worriedly.

The offered hand up is accepted from Tony, though Lin half-pushes herself to standing using the wall until she's on her feet again. The heals help greatly, the swelling reduced then gone completely in a matter of what feels like moments as Jyunai begins the caster spam; the trail of blood down her face remains, however. ]

Did anyone..? [The question cuts off - given both their expressions and the cursing, it didn't appear that anyone saw...whatever it was.] Tch.

[ Discretion IS the better part of valour. Lin's not best pleased, that much is clear, but the ex-Chief isn't about to argue. ]

Agreed. I think Luna's suggestion to warn the others of this world should be extended to all, now.

[To Tony:] Keep it. I have enough spares for now.

[the_mechanic]

[The healing spells are disconcerting, but welcome, as Tony really would rather have his hands free to fight than to have to carry an injured party member.

He pockets the spare potion in one of a few compartment in the suit and beckons his other glove over from where he'd left it: it flies to his hand and attaches, the suit whole again.

Tony's not thrilled about leaving. Not at all, but if something can hit that hard without being seen and without leaving a discernible trace, they definitely need to spend a little more time planning. And he'll need to make a few adjustments.

He'll be back.

He glances over to Sora.]

You alright, kid?

[He then turns to finally assess the state of his own dream eater, when the bat flies full force into his face with a screech, latching on with its wings until it can reach its perch on top of the helmet.

Tony closes his eyes and counts to 10 to keep from screeching at it in return. He's glad Dingbat is alright, in a way, but damn it, why the face.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[Jyunai keeps tossing about spells, tut-tutting at everyone for getting hurt. Exploding a greenhouse? That's the most unsafe thing she can think of! How awful!]

It sounds like no one saw it... [He sounds frustrated.]

Everyone's able to move all right? [He looks between Lin, Sora and Tony, and they seem to be as all right as could be considered.]

Then let's go. [Since he's the one that seems to be in the best shape for now, he leads the way towards the portal. However, he keeps a careful eye out the entire way.]

[dork_of_keys]

[It isn't like they blew it up on purpose, but yes, big magical explosion. At least it took out the big Nightmare.]

I've been worse, actually. [He's not exaggerating.] Yeah, I'm fine.

[He may not exactly be in top fighting shape (at least not enough to handle something as dangerous at the mystery creature), but that doesn't stop him from keeping an eye out as they head back to the portal. Even if the creature doesn't appear again, there might still be Nightmares to worry about.]

[lessabrasive]

[ There's the arch of a brow when Tony freecalls his gauntlet into position. She hadn't taken him for a metal bender - did that mean such abilities were available in his world? Something to enquire about later. Then green eyes flicker back to Eraqus, and she nods acknowledgement. ]

I can move. Let's not waste any more time than necessary - we don't know it'll be coming back.

[..Assuming it actually left. The invisibility simply feeds into the paranoia, really. Only once she was completely steady did Lin push off from the wall and move to walk alongside Sora. If anything, he should stay at the center of the group, he had taken the most hard after all.

Her pricklemane doesn't face-slam like Tony's bat, but it does immediately siddle up and hop beside his Person. Hopefully getting to the exit won't take too long.]

[the_mechanic]

[Not quite. More like microchips he embedded in his arms to kinetically control the thing. It's a work in progress... and he couldn't help subtly showing off just a touch. Plus it's just plain convenient.

He nods in acknowledgement: time to go. He makes eye contact with everyone briefly before the helmet's mask closes.]

Alright, let's move.

[He plans to take the rear, considering that's where this invisible bogey seems to be attacking from, and as he's armored, he stands a better chance at not quite cracking his skull should it take another swipe.

He's also got Jarvis on high alert, recording as well as using whatever motion sensitivity is still working. Things that will be hard to upgrade without his home servers, but he's succeeded under worse conditions.

And then there's the uncharacteristically quiet gargoyle on his head.]

[hiptobe_eraqus]

[It looks like they're all set to go, covering all sides that they can and as prepared as they can be.]

[He leads the way back to the portal, with Jyunai floating alongside and Yaza (presumably) underground. No conversation on his part; he's listening just in case that growling is heard again.]

[He'll have to ask on the communicator network if anyone has the magic or tech to detect invisibility, since he doesn't have any spells that work like that.]