Tears of Scarlet

[Xanatos]

SEASON 1 - EXTINCTION

Prologue

Endsville - The Mega City

In the north eastern United States, stands the colossal mega city of Endsville - a technological marvel constructed by the lauded Jo-Jo Manufacturing Corporation. The first of many mega cities to be constructed across the country, Endsville stood as a physical representation of Jo-Jo's dream for the future.

The city is divided into multiple districts, each with their own primary function and living arrangements for the ever-growing population. While the more fiscally advanced districts stay relatively safe, gang activity and general crime is out of control throughout the better part of the gargantuan metropolis. As a result, the city makes use of private security to reinforce the ordinary law enforcement, provided, of course, by Jo-Jo Manufacturing.

The rising violent crime rate and near militant law enforcement is only part of the story, however. The city has also become a hotbed of supernatural activity, where the veil that hides the true world is at its thinnest. Where the veil that protects the ignorance of humanity occasionally breaks...

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Jo-Jo Manufacturing - Pharmaceutical Division

"Tonight on JJNN, Jo-Jo Manufacturing announces plans to break ground on seven new Mega City structures - using our very own Endsville to establish the framework. We sit down with Jo-Jo's chief engineering directors to discuss the upcoming plans. Jo-Jo's Pharmaceutical Director and famed Geneticist; Dr. Wilson Gordon joins us to discuss the division's upcoming medical trials and what is required to volunteer. In other news, the recent series of brutal murders are now believed to be related. Has Endsville become the hunting ground for a serial killer? All that and more tonight on the Jo-Jo News Network, your only reliable source for News."

"That's quite enough of that." A gruff voice remarked. It belonged to a tall man with graying brown hair, an equally graying beard, and a pair of thick glasses that partially obscured his tired blue eyes. He stood up from his large oak desk, silencing the large television on the opposite wall. Upon his desk sits two framed photos one of a younger version of the man himself with a beautiful blond woman, bound to a wheelchair. The other, a similar picture, much more recent with a similarly wheelchair bound younger woman. His daughter.

A knock at the door shook him back to reality. "Yes yes. Come in."

"Dr. Gordon, please forgive the intrusion. I have that update you requested." A young brunette stood in the door way, holding a tablet. She offered it to the older man as he approached, letting him read over it.

"So, another failure." He sighed heavily. "You know what to do, destroy the current sample and have enforcement redouble their efforts to find another."

"Yes, doctor. Will you still be departing early today?" She offered him a faint smile, knowing what his afternoon plans would entail.

"Yes, Elizabeth has a thing going on at the university. Some kind of presentation, I think." He smiled even as he gruffly cleared his throat. "Fancies herself a scientist. Like her old man."

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Lucky 7's Private Investigative Services - Somewhere?

"...And you're absolutely sure it works?" The voice belonged to a young man in his early teens, but dressed well beyond his years in a brown three-piece suit. He was standing in front of a tall phone booth, sitting conspicuously inside the small office.

"Yes, Victor. It works. I'm lazy, not a hack." A woman's voice responded from a spare desk in the corner of the room. She had dark red hair, extremely wavy, and equally dark red lipstick. A cigarette was burning down in her ashtray while she busied herself with filing her nails, distractedly. "The network works as well, before you ask. I laid the lines this morning. All that's left is for you to put it to use."

"Excellent work, Machina! And just in time too. I feel like we're going to need to call for extra help soon. What with the increase in incidents." He looked over at a map of the city on a cork board, red thumbtacks marking key locations across town, a few blue ones scattered about as well.

"Whatever... Just don't forget to pay me." The woman responded, clearly disinterested in the young Victor's broader schemes.

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City Limits - The Western Perimeter

"All units, be advised. Gunfire has been reported at the Moreshire Construction site. Witnesses describe the key suspect as a short youth with pale skin dark hair. The suspect's gender and approximate age is unknown."

Sirens wailed as police arrived at the scene. The worst of the chaos had died down by the time law enforcement arrived. Only one or two gun shots could still be heard, then, silence.

A young officer swallowed hard, following his older partner into the unfinished structure. What they found inside was mortifying. Five or so corpses, dry and shriveled, impaled on broken metal pipes. Their faces were twisted and contorted in pain and fear.

Further in, four more bodies were found, these ones still fresh. More importantly, the young suspect was still there, crouching over one of the bodies that would twitch violently from time-to-time. Their long black hair hung down to their mid back, knotted and disheveled. Beneath it, was a torn and bloody black belted suit. "Stay where you are! Step away from the body with your hands up!" The officer ordered, fearful hands shaking as he began to approach the bizarre teen.

The dark hair youth whirled around at the last second, bearing a set of vicious fangs and blood red eyes.

One last gunshot rang out.

The youth fell backwards with a dull thump, a bullet whole in its forehead. "Jesus, kid must've been on something heavy to cause all this..." The older cop mused, holstering his recently fired sidearm. "Dispatch, this is Officer Johannes, the suspect is down. We have nine confirmed deaths at the scene, all gangbangers. Send us a meatwagon for the dead. We have ten corpses in total."

"Roger that, Johannes. JJED is also en route to investigate."

"Great. Just what I need. An afternoon with the jack boots." He grumbled. "Roger that, dispatch. We'll stand by for JJED assistance." Behind the officers, the black haired youth's body began to move, clawed fingers dragging across the dirt concrete as it moved.

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Episode 01 - The Fog's Angel

"....So, expect heavy fog going forward for the remainder of the wee- We interrupt this weather broadcast with breaking news. A gruesome massacre occurred this afternoon at the construction site of the new Moreshire building. Nine individuals were found dead. We warn that what you're about to see is not for the faint of heart. Despite the gang affiliation of the victims and the brutality of the crime, police do not believe the event was related to either gang warfare or the serial killer. The situationappears to be on going with Jo-Jo Enforcement already on site to support the EPD."

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House Nailo - Office of Aleistor Armagus

"Your lordship?" A young blonde man in white robes entered the extravagant office -decorated by ancient tomes, powerful relics, and preserved pieces of fantastical creatures.

The man behind the desk, with long white hair and tapered ears, wearing blue robes, simply sighed. "I know about the attack. Contact Xiroh and have him and his associates investigate the scene. If they can recover the creature all the better. But for now, we have to make sure the God-Trust don't get their hands on it."

"Very good, your lordship."

-------------------

Home of Taylor Sovereign - Endsville Housing District

A phone began to ring...

 

[Kite Xiroh]

Tésíx Xiroh, preferably known as Taylor Sovereign, dried his lengthy raven locks with a fluffy white towel as he moved from the bathroom to his living room, plopping onto the dark microfiber couch behind a cheaply-made, black coffee table. Once he felt it was sufficiently dry, he tossed the damp towel onto the coffee table and picked up a brush, running it through shiny, well-cared-for hair. His hazel gaze found the Television remote and he hit the power button, the huge, 4K TV coming to life with a Jo-Jo logo on screen before the voice of a newscaster droned about the day's events. Tésíx barely paid the flat voice any mind as he pulled on a comfy gray T-shirt and stood from the couch to retrieve his leather holster before falling back onto the cushion. He pulled the custom-made beast from its holster, examining the platinum-plated Desert Eagle carefully, running a thumb over the sword engraved on the slide. Skillfully, he disassembled the firearm, inspecting its components before reassembling it.

" A gruesome massacre occurred this afternoon at the construction site of the new Moreshire building. Nine individuals were found dead."

Tésíx's eyes flicked from his gun to the screen. It seemed another job was on the way. He holstered his weapon and slipped on the leather straps, ensuring his magazines and firearm were secure. His red-leather trenchcoat slipped on like a glove. It was his trademark, after all. Steel-toed boots were tightly laced. Heavy denim pants with a thick leather belt were already on. The skilled "Fixer" shifted the blinds aside, staring out the window at the mega-city below, bathed in the orange and pink hues of evening light. His dwelling was on the top floor of a 50-story apartment building, and he had little resistance from the landlord sound-proofing and hardening his particular apartment. Money talked, and it talked in a silky-smooth, irresistible tone.

Tésíx closed the blinds and turned off the TV before pulling his burner phone off its charger. The older, sturdy Lokia brand phone could make calls and send texts. That's all. It was the perfect burner phone, popular with fixers and criminals alike. One-button data deletion. Unhackable. Its battery didn't need charging for up to a week. That didn't stop him from getting the latest Dammerung Universe 10 though. The camera, microphone and GPS uplink were all professionally removed by a more electronically inclined fixer. Safety came first.

The burner phone emitted a pleasant jingle and vibrated in Tésíx's hand before he answered it, knowing full well who it was.

"Devil May Cry." The skilled fixer's voice was smooth, followed by a chuckle. "I'm kidding. What's the job?"

 

[rosyincubus]

Down a long winding path of stone and street, sinking further into damp alleyways that thins then broadens into slum roads filled with grimy, yet happy misshapen abodes is where a hobbled, yet humble hodge-podge shop lays lit. The erratic flickering within poorly curtained windows were the only means of lighting besides the hanging lamp outside. Inside the seemingly small apothecary is a cozy warm home adorned in flowery pastel wallpaper, scratched and blotchy with an array of hues from failed experiments, broken picture frames on top packed handmade bookshelves, a taped together coffee table next to a puffy soft blue striped sofa while a small television set blurs and whirls with entertainment. There's a well cared for kitchen and a currently hunched over figure messing with the oven.

Bang!

The rattling noises from smacked cabinets, carefully made notes now scattered along the floor, and falling pots and pans is a reminder to dear ol' (former) Doctor Leonard Daniels he's not the same size as before. There was once a time where he could easily slide around his home without any issue. He was also a slender, paler, build then.

Now?

He's more... Extraordinary.

A long prehensile scaly tail of a basilisk thumps unhappily against the wooden tiling. The throbbing pain in his head would stop soon enough. Or he hopes. Pointed ears shift momentarily from their hidden spot under the messy mop of peppery wavy hair. Leonard could barely make the news being spoken considering the damaged speakers. Thankfully, the words scrolled across the screen is easier. Bright amber eyes narrowed just as the wide pupil turned into slits.

The tray of star-shaped sugar cookies were nearly forgotten in those large striped feline 'hands' of his. Not when his mind is filled with a spectrum of possibilities. The paw scratches at a ram horn out of habit before setting the tray on top the marbled countertop. Leonard's eyes never left the screen as it plays out its grisly tale. An inner snarl is ready to bubble forth and rumble deeply in his chest and throat. The primal side is clawing at the back of his mind. Screaming for a good hunt while he calmly finds his glasses.

"Today will certainly be interesting," a slow chuckling smile makes its way across his face.

A glimmer of fangs then nothing, but a kind, curious expression.

There were potions to make and cake pops to gather after all.

 

[baeleaf]

The screams that echoed in the night didn’t belong to her design, for once. In fact, she was nowhere near the area in question. Not that she had any reason to run and hide -- all she had to do if cornered was act the part of the pretty, fair skinned, and blind damsel and smooth talk her way out. The siren had learned to evade and ensnare -- men were just as easy to seduce on land as they were at sea. Her prey of the evening was none other than a poor, simple man who'd fallen to her charm and gotten lost in those pitiful, dull eyes of hers. The dimly lit, she assumed, street and buildings dripping with condensation reminded her of the dark ocean caves she'd inhabited long ago. Now, she took comfort knowing that land really wasn't so different from the dark, churning waters she'd once called home. Of course, the sea never smelled this bad.

"Please-- what do you want? I -- I'll do...!"

Those milky eyes of hers narrowed, and despite not seeing it, she felt him shiver.

"Oh, darling, I love it when you panic~"

The man's eyes widened as she inclined her head towards his neck; the sweet scent of his fear and energy radiating off of him like a beacon in the night to her desires. Lips parted, curling back to show off sharp canines and pearly whites -- he would be a divine meal... His panicked, heavy breathing only spurred her on.

“—Shh!”

Quickly, her fingers wrapped around his throat, pressing a delicate index finger over his lips to hush him as she listened.

Her ears picked up the television chatter from an open window— the massacre. Nine people dead. As if the city weren’t bad enough sometimes. Her fingers curled around the throat of the would-be victim and promptly, quickly, tilted his head. The butt of her pistol connected. Poor thing started to slump and she eased him to the ground, crumpled against the wall. Considering she hadn’t taken any of his energy he’d be fine when he woke— save for the headache. With a sigh and a quick holster of her gun, and only fumbling once, Fiadh perked her ears to the rest of the noises in the city.

Things were starting to get interesting, it only piqued her curiosity on where the trail would lead her next. Flicking back a lock of silvery hair, she left the man in the street and headed about her business-- only mildly annoyed she'd not gotten a meal.

 

[Xanatos]

"Good afternoon, Mr. Xiroh. Apologies for interrupting your afternoon." The professional male voice belonging to the clerical assistant to House Nailo's presiding magus, spoke calmly, neither acknowledging nor reacting to the fixer's attempt at humor. "There's a situation developing at the western most point of the city. The incident is confirmed to be involving a hostile non-human entity. Lord Armagus wants the creature either recovered or destroyed before the God-Trust can make their move." The man paused to allow the instructions to sink in. "Oh, and do try to exercise some degree of subtlety. Law enforcement, media, and Jo-Jo representatives are already on site. Gather your associates and head to the Morshire construction site. "

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Dominus-Markus University of Higher Learning - Presentation/Lecture Hall

"Peers, professors, honored guests, I would like to thank you all for coming to today's presentation." A beautiful young blonde woman, bound to a wheelchair, sat beside a presently unoccupied podium. A lower microphone having been made available to her. "My name is Elizabeth Gordon, yes my father is that Dr. Gordon." She smiled good naturedly at the brief giggling that rose about the room. "Today's presentation will be on Transience theory and how we might apply that to the study of genetics and cybernetics. If you would just turn your attention to the projection behind me - can we have someone hit the lights, please?" As soon as it was requested, all but the minimum lighting needed to move around was shut off.

Sitting in the audience, Dr. Wilson Gordon watched his daughter with unveiled pride. His attention was only broken by the vibration of his phone. "This had better be important." He whispered into the phone, though clearly upset. "A gunshot wound to the head? Well that's impossible. No sample has ever recovered from - Yes, of course. Have enforcement detain the creature immediately. Tell them I'm on my way. I want testing to begin as soon as it arrives at the lab." He stood up from his seat, triggering a brief pause in the presentation as his daughter took notice of his leaving. He offered an apologetic smile before heading for the exit, the presentation resuming behind him.

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City Limits - The Western Perimeter

A perimeter was established around the Morshire construction site as Jo-Jo enforcement had arrived on site. The large armored soldiers, dressed in black with faces concealed, maintained to blockade while more had entered the construction site itself.

The younger of the two officers who had first arrived was being dragged away from the scene, paramedics moving to patch up a gaping wound in the side of his neck.

As if defying death itself, the dark haired youth was on its feet again, though visibly exhausted and confused. The soldiers continued to close in as the surrounded them. "Dr. Gordon wants this one in one piece. You know the drill." The soldier's voice was heavily distorted as they gave their orders.

"Where am I!? What do you want!?" The confused creature, looked from soldier to soldier, before bearing its claws and flashing its fangs again.

The feral youth tried to leap forward only to be hit with a taser, resulting in them shrieking in pain. Two more tasers connected but the youth still struggled to reach one of the soldiers. "Get hook on it!" A man catcher was quickly latched onto their neck from behind as they were forced to the ground, snarling and scratching at the ground in an attempt to escape, but they had clearly been overpowered. "Secure its arms! The heavy binders!"

Almost as soon as the creature was subdued, a female scientist with a Jo-Jo I'd tag had arrived, stepping out of the Jo-Jo transport vehicle to inspect the asset personally. "Let's see it, then." She said simply to the first soldier she saw. Only a moment later, she was being escorted back to see the creature that had so easily killed nine gangsters and seemingly shrugged off a bullet to the head.

 

[Kite Xiroh]

"I want a bonus if I bring the thing in alive. I don't appreciate being nickeled and dimed to death for the dangerous shit I've been getting recently." Tésíx's voice was serious. "Also, don't me repeat myself again. I've told you before to call me Taylor Sovereign. Anyway, I'll bill you for any ammo expended and/or damages to my property after the mission. Half up front and half if I succeed. Goodbye."

Tésíx's hung up the phone without waiting to for a goodbye from the other side. He was fed up with handlers from House Nailo being stuffy pricks, but money was money. He'd up his fee later. He arranged a group text to include two contacts, vague names to protect himself as well as them. Muffins and Ocean.

"Job: creature retrieval @ Morshire Construction Site. Get there ASAP. I'll meet you there. Subtlety required."

The text was sent before Tésíx had finished putting on his leather gloves. He pocketed the burner phone and exited his apartment, ensuring the armored door and three deadbolts were secure, then took the elevator to the parking basement. In his personal stall sat, in Tésíx's own words, a true beauty. He swept a leg over his glossy, crimson Ducati Panigale V4 S before igniting the engine and revving a couple times, its lovely purr turning into a fearsome roar that filled the dead air. The fixer was a streak of red as he exited the underground garage, pushing his superbike to the limit as he raced toward the construction site, and his target.

 

[rosyincubus]

Meow! Meow!

The hardy blue cellphone vibrates repeatedly in three short bursts against the kitchen table while its jingle rings louder. Its covering scratched with fine thin markings that jags along the bottom and sides. Some of them covered in small adorable hearts and smiley-faced stickers. As if this would fix how shredded the phone case looks.

Meow! Meow!

Leonard returns to the kitchen, nearly skipping with his happy humming. Although, anyone else would have heard chirps, thrills, whistles and a rumbling deep purr than a simple melody. Long reptilian tail swiping long heavy flicks and nearly smashing into the wall. There’s already several patched dents on the once beautiful salmon and white-trimmed kitchen. It wouldn’t do if he repeated the action. His home business was already falling apart considering all the repairs he had done over time.

However, the meowing device reminds Leonard of why he’s back after a time of crafting potions and gathering materials. In fact, the alchemist could feel the excitement bubbling inside him. His tail wagging faster as he’s carefully picking the device and unlocking the screen. The cellphone was small and delicate in those big furry paws of his.

An amused smile made its way across his face as the message was read. Leonard was already wondering on the chances of samples and all the data he can add in his journals.

However, it was best to finish preparations.

Cooling sugar cookies were put away in their special heart-printed box for a snack later. Three different sections inside a specially designed traveling case were made to keep items properly chilled. A section is already packed with small potions and empty vials. If things get too hairy, Leonard made sure to bring the right cake pops for the job. One group of pops are covered in a white fondant with yellow iced tulips sitting beside a sturdy jade painted elephant. A lovely chocolate and peppermint defensive treat resides inside its shell. The second group are a pastel pink fondant decorated with blue and white alternating hearts for a nice coconut flavored pick-me-up. The last two remaining groups were a set of multicolored Easter egg pops for speedy carrot cake fun and, finally, a red and black checkered fondant covered pop filled with velvety power.

Of course, the chimera didn’t forget to set aside a couple of specially made German chocolate filled pops.

He wouldn't dare forget them.

Bam!

Ah, well, it seems like he’ll need to repair another dent. The excitement finally got to the alchemist. Still, he made swift timing in readying his preparations. Looking as professional as possible for his – appearance. A white overcoat, sleeves made to look bulkier than normal considering his feline limbs, is pulled on top a maroon sweater before Leonard quickly fixes his dark polka-dotted tie and dress shirt collar then placing his items and equipment in a ruddy brown leather suitcase.

Leonard double checks his list then the address and finally closes shop.
A kind joyous smile on his face. His tone matching it easily.
“Come on, Igor, my boy. We don’t have all day.”
The chimera snickers because with a snap of his fingers the hodge-podge home shakes, shutters then dissemble neatly inside the suitcase.

The suitcase is shut and locked tightly. The area cleared as if it was empty to begin with despite the humble shop’s previous placement.
Snarling hisses grumbled low into bubbling growls at the back of his mind. Clawing and pacing like a caged animal.
It left his pupils into slits as nostrils were already flaring in taking scents and pointy ears flickering for sounds.
Once both man and beast felt safe, he left.

A whistle, a skip in his step and the low sweeping wag of his basilisk tail under coat kept the mood high.

 

[baeleaf]

The shrill ring of her cell phone shouldn’t have caught her off guard, but it did. The damned thing slipped from her fingers and clattered to the ground. Fiadh heard the crack of plastic against cement, then the rumble of continuous vibration. “Fuck.” Tilting her head up to the sky, she clicked her tongue and dropped to her knees. Blindly— literally — searching for the stupid electronic device. Once she’d found it, wet from a puddle no less, she raised it to a pointed ear. “Heh-lo?”


There was dead silence on the end. Was this thing broken? “Junk crap..”


She pulled it back and raised it to her face before— oh, right she was blind.


Of course she couldn’t see, so feeling around the Braille — which she hated — on a phone — which she also hated — while sitting on the sidewalk — don’t even get her started — made her feel like a fool. Finally she heard some click come from the phone. The man she’d gotten it off of made sure it was custom for her “condition” and easy to use. That was a lie. Still, it did the basic functions of calling and accepting text messages — that she couldn’t read — but everything was alerted to her via a robotic, feminine voice.


“ONE NEW MESSAGE.” It alerted, the loud monotonous tone of the female robot echoing the deserted street. “Shh, fucking loud— where’s the noise button..” Fiadh ran her finger over the side until the repeating text message was low— and she held it up to her ear once more. She couldn’t afford to have her messages overheard, cryptic, police-warranting messages, especially with a new job incoming.


“One New Message. To: Ocean.”


“Clever.”


The siren listened to the spoken text message. Moreshire. That was on the opposite of town, but she could make it there quickly if she left now. Clicking the —she assumed — silence, Fiadh stuffed the phone back into the pocket of her leather jacket and continued on her way.


The city wasn’t terribly hard to navigate. It had definitely taken some time getting used to, especially with all the noises and scents, and clear lack of vision, but it got easier. She’d realized quickly on that traversing the massive city was much easier at night or the early morning. Everything was different than when she’d been at sea— but it couldn’t be helped now. Those milky white eyes of hers kept staring straight ahead, unseeing while her mind mapped the city streets she walked on due to other heightened senses. In a sense, she could still see, but not like how she used to. It would never be the same.


The world looked a lot different now.


Stuffing her hands into her pockets, she let the scents guide her, tongue licking over her bottom lip. The silvery haired female took a sharp right turn, narrowly avoiding a walking couple minding their own business. The scent coming off of them made her stomach rumble with need, but she quickly, reluctantly pushed that need aside because of the ‘ASAP’ she’d gotten from what’s-his-faces message.


She was owed a meal.

 

[Xanatos]

City Limits - The Western Perimeter

In their own time, the three warriors would come together near the construction site of the new Morshire building. The scene looked typical of an emergency situation. EPD cruisers parked with officers waiting for news that the situation inside their perimeter had been put to rest. Large armored vans, marked as Jo-Jo's security division were also on site, reinforcing the perimeter- though, most of the soldiers they had brought along had been sent in to deal with the hostile individual, known to the three who had just arrived as some manner of inhuman. An ambulance was on hand to treat the wounded police officer, who sat on it's open tailgate, being tended to by the EMTs and his partner.

"Fucking sick-o ripped a chunk right out of my fucking neck!" The officer could be heard griping as a large gauze pad was applied to the side of his neck. "What sort of freak-show bites like that!?" The EMT's struggled to keep the man still while they worked despite his complaining, and, understandably, panicked fidgeting. "And what exactly does Jo-Jo intend to do with it, anyway? Should just dump it in the bottom of Still-Water Asylum and forget about it! I shot it in the fucking head before it bit me! Before!"

"Fascinating~" Fangs flashed as the subdued youth tried to bite at the hand of the scientist, kneeling beside them to get a closer look. She recoiled briefly when the teeth snapped at her, looking back at the soldiers. "Are you sure, you have it subdued?" A soldier stepped forward, aggressively pressing a cattle prod into their back to pin it further. A pained shriek came from the dark haired youth before they fell unconscious. "Better..." She grumbled, leaning closer again. With a pen she raised the teen's lip to examine their teeth. "Enlarged canines, explains how it injured the officer so severely." She leaned back, looking around the area, seeing the impaled corpses and near jerky like husks. "Presumably its faster and stronger than most of us, as well. It did manage this kind of damage without weapons..." One more look to the unconscious youth and her lips spread in a smirk, wiping the bloodstain from its forehead to examine where it had been shot. "Not even a scar... You do heal quickly don't you?" She looked at the now exposed back of the belted suit, seeing the taser wounds still present. "But not now, I see. Must be some kind of trigger to activate its healing factor." She silenced a voice recorder that she had belted to her side, standing back up again. "Very well. Get it to the trucks, and get a mask on it. Wouldn't want it to kill the security attachment before Dr. Gordon gets a look at it."

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Lucky 7's Private Investigative Services - Somewhere?

"Uh-oh!" Victor hopped up from his desk, moving around quickly to get a closer look at the CCTV footage he was watching. "That looks like bad news..." He could already identify Tesix, Fiadh, and Leonard, even though they hadn't been formally introduced. "If Tesix captures this newcomer, that'll make four, and they'll need all the help they can get, but... They're already there, and there's so much security. The church is bound to be making its move." He frantically tapped his fingers on his hip before turning to face the red haired woman, sitting idly at her desk. "Machina, we need to make our move, early. The newcomer is a wild card, we can't risk him falling into the wrong hands. I need you to head out, right now."

An exasperated sigh escaped her lips as she set her magazine down, looking at him him with a lazy, yet irritated, gaze. "I was about to go to Star-Beast's for mocha. Can't it wait?" At his defeated expression of shock, she simply sighed again. "Fine..." She whined. "I'll help your precious heroes, her hands came up to make quotation signs as she spoke the word, "but you owe me a coffee... And a scone. Maybe two." She quickly added, snatching car keys off of the desk and walking to the door without another word.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Church of the God-Trust - Office of Father Nocturne

"Are the paladins en route?" The dark haired priest asked, sitting behind a desk. He stared over his glasses at a younger priest who nervously swallowed, nodding quickly.

"They are, father. Do you want them to engage when they arrive? I'm sure they're more than a match for a handful of JJSD soldiers." The younger man spoke, he ruffled his own messy dark hair as he looked towards the window. The framework of the new Morshire building was just barely visible over the skyline.

"No. While dispatching a few soldiers would be no trouble for them, it is still daylight. We don't need to instigate a feud with the ruling bodies just yet. Besides, we've got a third party in play. I want to see what their scheming, first." He stood up slowly, walking over to the window, looking the same direction the younger man had been. "Have them engage once the creature is exposed, not before."

"As you wish, father." The younger man bowed his head and departed from the office, leaving the older priest to ponder the situation alone.

 

[Kite Xiroh]

Tésíx left his glossy-black high-performance helmet on. While his coat was his unique insignia as a fixer, he still enjoyed being able to walk around in broad daylight without firing a bullet. In the past, Tésíx found that Jo-Jo had a way of ruining that if he carelessly flaunted his face while on a major job like this. Thus, his bike was parked in such a way that he could easily escape the construction site. Among the barely constructed concrete and steel, Tésíx stood with his crew, taking advantage of the lighting and positioning to reconnoiter the situation. It seemed dire already. Nothing his party couldn't handle.

"This is gonna' be a close one. See the beat-up, belt-wearing goth kid? That's our meal ticket. We bring 'em in alive and there'll be a bonus." He said, his voice slightly muffled by the helmet's design. "Don't attack unless necessary. If we can confuse them enough to fumble the target, we'll get away easy. I can summon a handful of small familiars. Any other ideas?"

 

[rosyincubus]

It wasn’t a bad plan. If anything they could formulate what position to take and how to flank if need be. However, Leonard ran over his mental list then followed it with the abilities granted to him by his experimental miracle. Yet, the more he thought, well… The reptilian muscle hadn’t stopped its insistent wagging since he’s arrived. Let alone his journey here. Now it’s nearly beyond his control. Expressing the primal glee in finally delving into a hunt. No more being locked away in the lab. Trapped inside that ‘cage’. No. They’re outside; in the wild.

Well…

The animal inside him is growling, hissing, its opinions as much as adding onto the continuous ideas running through Leonard’s mind. He reminds himself he’s with a group and with people he’s grown to care for in a way. The focus must remain true.

“Well, thankfully, I had time to prepare.” The pepperjack alchemist giggled. Tufts of curls can be seen wiggling due to the pointed ears flicking in amusement. “And, if we consider – my appearance, I had experience in escaping when need be. And if things get too rough…~”

It was then the alchemist flashed a toothy smile before bringing around his traveling case. Popping it open after undoing the lock and revealing the chilled inside. The soft grey fabric cooling his vials, potions and, more importantly, the cake pops.

“I brought treats~ Well, they’re not just here to be delightful~ I’ve got peppermint-chocolate for defense, red velvet for strength, carrot cake for speed and a nice soothing sweet coconut dose of healing~ Although, I managed to bring a few vials of smoking solutions for ground cover. Healing potions and antidotes. If need be, I can make sturdy earth walls and be a little ‘shocking’.”

Leonard giggled again, a snort even added. Sometimes he’s too hilarious for his own good.

“Oh! I almost forgot! I’ve got a special little cake pop or two for a certain someone~” His giggling continued. “German chocolate, Taylor~ I hadn’t forgotten~” He couldn’t. Not even if he tried. The chimera was too happy to please. A hand swiftly moved to tightly grab hold of the wildly flailing basilisk tail. The grip seem painful, but the beaming smile of his didn’t lessen any. Nor did his eyes reveal anything out of sorts.

“Sorry, wouldn’t do for my tail to be destroying everything in its joy. My kitchen was already a wreck today~”

 

[baeleaf]

Her ears picked up on all the surrounding chatter, distant noises; tongue taking in the acrid taste to the air she'd come to loathe. It seemed so artificial, nothing like how the sea had been. The small party in which she was with -- the ringleader and the odd-man, as she so affectionately called them -- stood beside her. While Taylor went over the plan he'd been accumulating, Fiadh popped her hip and idly bit at her thumbnail. On her left hand, she twirled a silver ring around her middle finger; her most favored weapon. The siren was eager to put it to use, unfortunately not for the sake of killing though, no matter how much she wanted to hone her skills.

Eyes fluttering shut, she perked to listen to their ringleader, her other heightened senses giving her a good blueprint of the area and the child they were tasked to bring in. It was a shame that they had to bring it in alive, but the bonus ought to be worth it in the end. Regardless, she was twitching with anticipation at getting started. The click of her boots against the pavement only proved that. "My idea involves a lot of bloodshed--" she sighed, adjusting her stance to pop the other hip, "so I doubt you're willing to take my idea, yet again."

Fiadh's head inclined towards the voice of the odd-man, listening to the male recount his culinary treats he'd brought along. The treats he often concocted did little for her more carnivorous appetite, but she'd never admit aloud that she actually quite enjoyed them. So when Leonard mentioned the sweet, delicious, mouth watering words of red velvet, Fiadh clicked her tongue. "I can distract a few of them should need be, siren song and all that." Her lips pursed and the siren crossed her arms. "Not like you'd let me have fun otherwise..."

 

[Xanatos]

((I'm going to pass this round to let this conversation play out.))

 

[Kite Xiroh]

A muffled, barely audible 'slurp' escaped Tésíx's helmet at Leonard's words. The chimera really knew his weakness when it came to sweets, and he couldn't help but appreciate the gesture. It was the reason the Fixer had given him the codename Muffins. Fiadh, on the other hand, seemed to tow the line Tésíx refused to cross himself, and it was evident, with each job they took together, that they wouldn't get along outside of work. He didn't hate her, but he did disapprove of her 'methods.' Killing innocent people was unacceptable to him, with JoJo employees being the exception. This very situation was only a single example of why JoJo soldiers were open season.

"Get that smoke ready for our escape, but be ready to wall them off if they start firing recklessly." Tésíx began as he drew his weapon. "As for you, Miss Ocean, you already know the rules of working with me. JoJo soldiers are free game. avoid killing anyone else."