Jail Break! (Action/Video)

[4letters4ninja]

[So, with Ziva gone, Fluffy and Abby have been in Wash's care. But, that doesn't mean the behave. They break out at least once a day to try to find Ziva. Why no, she totally didn't teach them how to pick locks. This time is slightly different though.

They brought Ziva's comm with them.

It's currently in Fluffy's possession, and he's in flight somewhere in Traverse Town. Every once in a while, Abby can be seen on the ground in the lens of the comm. They're talking back and forth to each other, mostly Where haven't we looked? and Hey! Over there!.

Then, there's the sound of gunfire off in the distance. Their person had a gun! And it sounded kind of like that sometimes. So, immediate direction change and off they go that way. The comm is tossed down to Abby and she catches it as he lands on her head, taking a break from flying for a moment.

The camera shows a glimpse of someone, in armor...some not-so-blue shade of blue, but not enough to show who it may be. Just...it's not who they were looking for.]

Comments

[Shaky-Comm Feed?]

[guerriera]

[ The aforementioned 'blue' armor is practically a glint at the current camera angle, not helped by the fact the person in it is determinedly following something that just ducked out of the First District and into the back streets of Traverse Town. Gunfire stalls as the figure disappears through the massive doors, and out of the dream eaters' line of sight.

The type of armor certainly wasn't clear, but it might be a familiar colour to someone.

But surely that's just coincidence...? ]


----

[ Out of communicator view, the chaser was unaware of her appearance on Candid Camera, attention having been focused on the fact she'd /just lost/ what was likely her first clue to what the hell was going on here. The advantage of flight had meant that the moment the Moogle (the ever so unfortunate "my-name-is-not-Steve-KUPO") hit the shadows of the waterways, she had little chance of finding him again.

Stalking forwards under the first archway, the visor's glare glanced left to right, up then down, her right hand drawing the second plasma rifle into her grip. Carolina didn't like this, not one bit. ]

[4letters4ninja]

[The two spirits opt to follow her, because people in armor are nice, right? At least the people they've met. Fluffy grabs the comm again, taking flight, leaving Abby on the ground. She stops behind one of the twists of the backroads, watching as Fluffy flies up above where the new person is standing.

Probably not the smartest move, but she would be backup if something went wrong.]

More Shaky-Cam!

[guerriera]

[ It's been a very, very long time since anyone called Carolina 'nice'. Especially given the guns in her hands could be argued as the least worrying part of her arsenal. Her strides pause at the echo of fluttering, the watter carrying and distorting the sound. Then, a snap pivot, and a sharp jump back reveals-- ]


...

What the Hell--


[ She's staring. She can't quite help it. After all, how often do prismacolour critters show up in the middle of an assassination mission? Even as Carolina's brain stalls, her body takes over: one gun trains immediately on the bat, not yet sighting the bear, though she doesn't fire. That doesn't look at all like the beasty she was initially chasing, so what on Earth is--

Bump.

#GRRRRrrrrr#?, rumbles the 'bump' behind her, before the shadows cast at Carolina's back rippled to reveal the first of three Nightmare teddies, the bear's twins warping in behind her. Oh look, it's the welcoming committee.

There's a very long sigh from the woman in cyan armor. ]

Even more shaky cam! Brought to you by candid camera (tm)

[4letters4ninja]

[Fluffy squeaks in alarm when he sees the Nightmares show up. The comm is immediately dropped, but the video continues, as he dives towards one of the bears. Abby is immediately out from her hiding place and targeting the same one as Fluffy.

She may not be their person, but she is a person, and their person taught them to help when they could. (If not necessarily to /behave/.)

They just really hoped she didn't mind.]

Re: Even more shaky cam! Brought to you by candid camera (tm)

[guerriera]

[ The sudden arrival of reinforcements is as unexpected as the evil teddy brigade. The fact they're her backup? ..Well, she'd sort it out later.

Carolina hasn't even noticed the abandoned device, her attention having abruptly focused on three very large sources of trouble. The initial swipe hits hard; at near point blank range, she simply braced for impact, sliding back with the force.

...South used to hit harder than that. Tch. ]


All right then.


[ Rifle is stowed, and a moment later: WHAM. She always did prefer the hands-on approach.]

[unrecovered]

[Wash has been tracking down Ziva's Spirits every time they escape. He can't get too upset about it - it gives him something to focus on that isn't the spectacular fashion in which his life is falling apart. Plus, this time they brought the camera with them, which makes them easier to follow.]

[The gunfire gives him pause - there's a very set amount of people in the city who use guns. He's off and running, and when he checks the video again, it's in the waterways and there's armor-]

[Oh dear God.]

[It doesn't take him long to get to the waterways and find the wayward Spirits. Melody perches on Wash's shoulder to keep her paws dry, and Fang flies up to bump against Fluffy. Where were you going? What'd you find?]

I swear if you two run away again I'm tying you down.

[4letters4ninja]

[Abby and Fluffy hear Wash, and give one another a look that pretty much says 'Busted.' But, Abby runs right over to where Wash is standing. Did you see, did you see? We helped new armor lady with the bears! Fluffy just makes a noncommittal noise at Fang. They were looking for their person, they didn't find her.

He flies down to grab Ziva's communicator again, managing to click it off before flying to land on Abby's head. He really hoped they would find their person.]

[guerriera]

[ '..What the Hell is he doing here.'

Carolina steps back slowly into the curve of the waterway's arches, making no move to go back into view just yet, content instead to watch. Wash does seem to know her two little 'friends' here, however, which leaves her curious. Time hasn't exactly flown since she left Outpost 17B, but Carolina cannot fathom how Washington got here, let alone ahead of her and Church.

('Where the hell are you, Church,' is a very brief thought that flits through her head.) ]

[unrecovered]

[He didn't see the actual fight, but the fact that there's dream pieces and munny scattered everywhere attests to its happening. Wash reaches up and pats Abby on the shoulder anyway - it's obvious she's looking for praise, and he can't begrudge her that, escape job or no.]

[Fang droops for a moment - oh, that's too bad, he's sorry - before perking right up again when he hears Abby. Another armor person? Where? He flies off down the corridor, looking. Armored people were friends, right? Melody, sensing that Fang might have just been the least bit insensitive, leaps over to Abby's shoulder and nuzzles Fluffy comfortingly. Don't worry - it'll be okay somehow.]

[A moment later, Fang's excited squeaking echoes down the tunnel. He found it! He found the armor person! It's greenish-blue this time! Hi, person! Hi!]

Sorry, Carolina - Fang's better at hide and seek than you are. [Wash didn't have much to go off except for armor color, and the only other person he knows with that color armor would have been strutting around making horrible double entendres by now. He still doesn't know how much she knows or what point on the timeline she's from, so careful neutrality is the way to go for now.]

[allfunandgamesuntil]

[York sees the armor color and is on his way immediately. He's definitely not recovered from seeing the MOI appear and he's not sure if he can even deal with this right now, but if that's who he thinks it is, he's not going to let her get away.]

[He heads to the back streets at a run; the transmission isn't totally helpful, but he hopes he can track them down. He runs towards the gunfire, pausing at the edge of the area.]

Carolina?

[guerriera]

[ There's a whole lot of money and a whole lot of loose dream pieces scattered across the walkway by the time actual humans arrive. The cookies scattered about are free game for any dream eaters that feel like helping themselves.

Kneeling near the water, the bright aqua armor doesn't immediately turn at the approach of others, Carolina distracted by examining and comparing the pieces she's collecting up in her hand in size. They get twisted about, lined up next to one another with a distant curiousity. The heck are these even for, anyway? (The Director was never one for puzzles like this, even when he hid his intentions in plain sight and coated them in seemingly good intentions.)

It's only when York actually speaks that her spine straightens abruptly.

That...wasn't a voice she was expecting. Wasn't a voice she'd heard in weeks, not since Church showed her those recordings. Her jaw clenches, and for a moment, Carolina can't breathe.

The visor snaps up, attention caught. When she turns, it shouldn't surprise York at all to see it's with both guns at hand, pointed rather abruptly in his direction. ]

[allfunandgamesuntil]

[Okay, he should have been expecting that. They didn't exactly part on the best terms, not that he knows when Carolina is from. God, he hopes that she doesn't shoot him; she'd beat herself up forever if she did. He thinks.]

[York holds up his hands in a gesture of surrender.]

Hey, it's me.

["It's okay." is a lie, so he doesn't say it.]

[guerriera]

[ This is not okay. This is not okay at all. ]

Nice try.

[ Her voice is flat, as unwavering as the grip on her guns as they remain leveled at York. Her head inclines very slightly, the lack of translucency in her visor both a blessing and a curse. It leaves only body language to give things away; the stiffness of neck and shoulders, the flex of fingers resting against her weapons.

She is saner now. (..Well, debatably.) The only voice in her head is her own once more. Magical multicoloured monsters is one thing, but she isn't about to be fooled by this....this whatever it is. Bitterness seeps into her words. ]

I should have expected him to do something like this.

[raisethemoon]

[There's a flash of light and a short crack!, and then an alicorn princess is standing there, looking at Carolina with rather haughty suspicion. First the Mother of Invention, now an unfamiliar Freelancer...is it coincidence? Moreover, the only female Freelancer she has heard tell of is North Dakota's sister. If this is she...

...well, they're going to have problems.]

Who art thou, and from whence hast thou come?

[guerriera]

[ JESUS LADY

The noise was not a good idea. Especially not around a jumpy freelancer who's already questioning her sanity thanks to the brightly coloured bat and bear tag team. The fact she *doesn't* fire her weapons at Luna can only be attributed to exceptionally quick reflexes - but the twin plasma rifles are still pointed in the alicorn's direction.

(Don't ever ever EVER tell South you thought Carolina was her. The younger twin might not know whether to laugh in your face, or punch that princess pony nose of yours.)

Her voice isn't quite a snarl. Someone's not about to answer your questions straight away. ]

And what the Hell are you supposed to be?

[raisethemoon]

[Meh. The noise just sort of happens, but alicorns are difficult to kill anyway. Luna looks disdainfully down her nose at the plasma rifles, and a faint roll of thunder echoes through the air, though there's no accompanying magical glow to connect her to the storm.]

I am the Princess of the Night. And thou?

[guerriera]

[ ...Really. Really. There's an aborted huff, that might have become laughter were she not annoyed by the current situation. ]

...Of course. An actual night /mare/. Of course.

[ Whatever. She's so done right now. Meaning that Luna's question is met by the agent's back as she turns and...walks away? If the rumble of unseen thunder disturbs her, Carolina certainly gives no sign of it. ]

[brodakota]

[There was a time when North would have been happy to see people from home. Now? Now, he's not so sure, with all the time differences. But he recognized that armour colour if nothing else, and figures he should investigate. Carolina was a friend, right?

He takes his time getting there, having no doubt that Wash and York have also seen this. Still, when he finally comes across her, it's kind of hard to believe. The last time North saw Carolina, she was collapsing on the floor of the training room because of two AIs going nuts in her head. It's good to see her standing again.

He manages a wave, not sure if he should say anything.]

[guerriera]

[ They had been friends, hadn't they?

...It's been a very long time since she's seen you, North. And as far as Carolina's memory was concerned, North hadn't defected and abandoned the team Way Back Then. At least, not before her own unscheduled bout of absence-without-leave-via-cliff.

Given who else has shown up so far, however, the gun doesn't get raised very high.

You'll have to forgive Carolina if she doesn't wave back right away, given you're supposed to be dead. ]


...North?

[brodakota]

[North takes a step back and Theta's ready to throw the shield up just in case.]

Yeah, it's me.

I'm gonna guess you're from the future, but it's good to see you up and about, Carolina.

[guerriera]

[ Is her reputation really that bad that old friends think she'd shoot on sight? (..Yes, Carolina. Yes, it probably is.)

The gun is lowered, but she doesn't step forward. She's still confused however. Up and about? Future?

Delta's explanation waves from the back of her mind, and there's a soft huff of breath. ]

Apparently so.

It's... It's good to see you, too.

[ There's a glance about.]

Is South here, too?

[dork_of_keys]

[Gunfire usually means either Ziva or the Freelancers. However, Sora knows Ziva seems to have vanished. There's no one in sight when he gets to where the shots had come from anyway.]

Huh...

[There's certainly evidence of a fight, but as far as Sora knows, no one leaves their spoils lying around after a fight. Had something gone really wrong?

Had he seen the communicator post, he would know what's up, but his own communicator is off at the moment. He sends Bruce and Toxy to scout around and help him locate whoever left all these prizes lying here. The possibility of a newcomer who somehow hadn't gotten their information from the Moogles hasn't occurred to him...]

[guerriera]

[ There hasn't been any further gunfire in a while, at least. By the time Sora's made his way through, he'll find there's a small trail left in the wake of whoever-it-may-be. Certainly not someone he's met yet.

(Perhaps, if Carolina hadn't attempted to shoot them, the Moogles might have been more helpful?)

The Freelancer did at least stop to orientate herself; should Bruce or Toxy spot her, they'll likely find her perched on a railing, once again fiddling with some of the brightly coloured block pieces. The fact she doesn't seem to have a companion of her own might be considered worrying, but only if you didn't know her well. ]

[dork_of_keys]

[There will be many meetings of face and palm when Sora finds out the newcomer was shooting at the Moogle.

In the meantime, Bruce spots the person. They're not familiar and he notes the lack of a Spirit, but figures for the moment he ought to get Sora and see if they can't figure out what's up with this person. Bruce notes the armor too and that it's not one of the armored people they know already, but he has no way to say that.

He makes a small mistake as he decides to go get Sora as he squeaks, possibly letting Toxy know he found something. It's possibly loud enough to be heard...]

[guerriera]

[ Carolina might actually feel a little embarassed about the matter later. No doubt at least one of the moogles will find subtle means of revenge...assuming they don't stay collectively frightened of her.

For now, however, the lack of a spirit companion doesn't appear to be hindering her: the mess left in her wake is a little disturbing in that context. Her head does jerk up when the squeaks echo back to her location, however. Did Ziva's pair decide to run away from Wash again?

Her hands close automatically, absently squishing the pieces together. The fact they start to glow moments later? ]


What the..?!


[Her voice likely travels back the way Bruce left, carried by water and resounding off the walls in an echo. ]