Brikman McStudz

OOC: Alright folks. I'm away for the weekend (and am not coming back on Sunday, like usual) but since things are nearing the end, I'm going to get at least this post in.IC:Minerva entered the lobby of her old apartment. It looked the same as it did when the Dino Attack first began. Overturned chairs, gaping holes in the walls, and ruble everywhere. She slowly walked through, her Sonic Screamer raised. Oswald was hiding somewhere. He was here, waiting and watching for her.An angry yell echoed through the lobby as Oswald Fabello jumped from behind the front desk, his knife raised. Minerva quickly stepped out of the way as Oswald dug his knife into the floor. Standing up and pocketing the knife, Oswald pulled a small hand gun from his Dino Attack uniform.Minerva flinched and ran out into the hallway as Oswald fired several bullets in her direction. She launched her own sonic attacks in his direction, but once again, he ignored the pain. What does he hope to achieve by killing me if he thinks we're all going to die anyway. Oswald was clearly unable to rationally think anymore.Minerva ducked into a room as more bullets whizzed past her head. She slowed her breathing and waited for Oswald to arrive. She didn't wait long. Oswald burst into the room and swung his knife at Minerva. She backed away and kicked his stomach. Oswald howled and tackled her to the ground."It's over, Minnie!" Oswald growled, the knife shaking in his hand as he pinned Minerva to the ground. "We're all going to die anyway, might as well just accept it."Minerva felt the same pit of boiling anger rise in her again. "Don't you-" Minerva threw her brother off of her. "-ever call me-" Minerva punched Oswald square in the nose before wrapping his head into her arms. "-that znapping name again!" Minerva punched him hard in the stomach before throwing him against a wall.Oswald went through sheetrock and fell into the next room. Picking up her Sonic Screamer, Minerva stepping into the next room, only to get punched in the cheek by Oswald. Oswald grabbed the collar of her Dino Attack uniform and slammed her against a wall. He then gripped Minerva's forehead and slammed it against the wall multiple times.Disorientated, Minerva suddenly found herself in a flashback. A small, dark-haired toddler was wrestling with her much older, blonde-haired brother. They were rolling on the floor, laughing as they tried to overtake one another. In the background was a blonde-haired woman, who was making sure nobody got hurt. She was smiling and laughing as she watched her children play.Snapping back to reality, Minerva punched Oswald in the chest, sending him stumbling back. They were fighting, but unlike when they were both children, Athena Fabello was dead and Oswald was trying to kill Minerva. Minerva picked up her Sonic Screamer and blasted Oswald again before retreating out of the room to the stairwell.Oswald's angry screams echoed throughout the entire building as Minerva shuffled past rubble and other debris as she reached the second floor; the floor where Oswald and Minerva had lived. Minerva could hear Oswald stomping up the stairs. Minerva continued to run until she found it: their apartment.Minerva ducked into their old livingspace. It was torn up and in ruins like any other building. Minerva could vaguely see an old, dusty photograph of herself, Oswald, and Tod as she passed into the kitchen. Oswald unleashed another roar, followed by the sound of three gunshots as he ran through the hallway.Minerva shuffled through old cooking materials. Her Sonic Screamer was going to knock him out, so she would have to work with something else. As she threw open cupboards that were barely on their hinges, Minerva saw a frying pan. A bit clichéd. Probably somewhat sexist, but she didn't care. She picked it up and turned to confront Oswald when she saw him standing in the kitchen his knife raised.Minerva swung the frying pan as hard as she could at Oswald. Oswald bellowed in pain as her pan collided with his knife hand, throwing the knife back into the living room. She was about to swing into his head when his other hand shot out and grabbed the frying pan and threw it away from the both of them. Oswald's fist then connected with the side of Minerva's head.Minerva fell to her knees. Her entire world was spinning from both Oswald's blows and the bloodless from cut he had made across Minerva's stomach earlier. Minerva grunted as Oswald's foot collided with her stomach. She fell to the ground, breathing heavy. Oswald flipped her over on to her back with his foot.Oswald glared at her, his eyes practically bulging out of his head. "It's over." he hissed, stomping his foot across her chest. Minerva gasped in pain again. She looked up at him again. She could see his gun clipped to his belt, just waiting to be pulled out and used on Minerva. This gave her an idea.Minerva kicked Oswald in stomach with both feet. He groaned and doubled over, allowing Minerva to kick his chin sharply with her boots. With Oswald stunned, Minerva climbed back to her feet and shoved Oswald back into the living room, She hit his chest before nailing his stomach, her free hand brushing his hip briefly.Her attacks were cut short as Oswald grabbed her hair. Screaming, Minerva felt head get pulled up to Oswald's level. Scowling darkly, Oswald then punched Minerva underneath her chin twice before punching her cheek. He then threw her against a ruined couch.Thankful for the soft landing, Minerva climbed back to her feet and faced Oswald, only to stop to cough out large globs of blood. Wiping her mouth, she raised her fists at Oswald. "No more fighting," Oswald snarled. His hand reached for his belt. "You're just going to die…" he drifted. Looking down, he saw that his gun was missing. "Where-!" he looked to Minerva. She held the gun in her hand. She pulled out the magazine and spilled the remaining bullets on the floor before throwing the gun into the kitchen."YOU!" Oswald screamed, pointing a shaking finger as his sister. "YOU LITTLE THIEF! I GUESS SOMETHINGS NEVER CHANGE, DO THEY?" Minerva was absolutely silent. She had stolen, let alone pick-pocket someone, in a long time. Unlike long before, she felt no euphoria at how easy it had been to swipe the gun. Only a sick knot in her stomach as her brother screamed at her. "I don't why I even bothered trying to save you. I should have killed you both right there. You and Mom."Minerva scowled. "Shut up about her! You don't know anything about her!" And with that, Minerva tackled her brother to the ground and continued the fight, growing more and more willing to end her brother's life.

IC:The Maelstrom Dragon howled in pain as Kareem Nazareno dug one of his katanas into its hide. Hanging on to the golden weapon, Nazareno flipped himself upward on to the back of the dragon and pulled his sword from the dragon. From this vantage point, he could see how the other three were fairing.Solomon Koplowitz and Zelda Frodongan were spread out, striking against waves of Mutant Dinos that threatened to overwhelm them and continue their charge for Dino Attack Headquarters. One Mutant T-Rex laid dead from the combined prowess of Koplowitz, Frodongan, Darkling, and Nazareno. Zelda cut through the throat of a Mutant Raptor before turning to join Solomon in taking on the last Mutant T-Rex.Nazareno then turned his head and saw Blaire Darkling facing the other Maelstrom Dragon. Despite being a rather bulky man, Darkling was quick, dodging the dragon's short blasts of purple flames while managing to get close enough to cut up its legs with his Paradox Shinobi katanas.Nazareno looked away from Blaire and grabbed on to one of the dragon's scales as began to thrash around, attempting to throw Nazareno away. He scowled and ran along the massive, fire-breathing lizard's neck, making deep cuts as he went. The dragon bellowed in anger before bowing down and leaping into the air, its mighty wings flapping. Nazareno flinched and swung both his katanas into the dragon's back and clung on tight. Out of his periphrial vision, he could see the same Blaire being lifted into the air by the dragon.The space ninja jerked his katanas to the left. The dragon bellowed and agony and turned toward its partner and fired a stream of purple flames. The other dragon bellowed and released Blaire. Throwing one sword to the ground, Blaire used a free hand to grab the dragon's talons and hoist himself on to its body."Thank you, Nazareno," Blaire called out, his polite atmosphere not hiding his irritation. "For trying to get me roasted alive.""Shut up and cut their wings!" Nazareno snapped. Pulling his katanas from the dragon's back, Nazareno edge slowly toward the right wing, which was blowing gusts of air at him. Using a katana as an anchor again, Nazareno used the other to tear a hole into the wing.The dragon screamed and began to spin in air. Nazareno stabbed his other sword into the dragon as spun. To his luck, the katanas didn't slide out of the dragon's skin as Nazareno bumped against the dragon's back as he spun. Finally, the Maelstrom Dragon straightened back out, with his right wing flapping more frantically."Excellent work, Nazareno," Blaire called from his dragon. "You taught a dragon how to do a barrel roll. Unfortunately, I'm not really up for teaching that to my dragon.""It's the only way we're going to get back to the ground in one piece! Now do it!" Blaire shrugged and began to swing his katana throw the dragon's wings with wide, sweeping motions. Nazareno did the same. Despite the wing speeding up, the dragon's began to descend rapidly. Nazareno nodded curtly to Blaire and both leaped from their respective dragon's backs.Nazareno rolled on to the ground as the Maelstrom Dragons crashed into several buildings, leveling them completely. Nazareno then ran toward the downed dragons and quickly killed them with several well-placed strokes. As he lept from a dragon's head, he saw Blaire walking toward him, adjusting his trenchcoat and flipping his wet hair out of his eyes, a smirk on his face. None of his katanas were in sight."Excellent work, Nazareno," Blaire noted, looking to the two dragons. "Perhaps you should consider joining the Nexus Force? Or should I say, should've."It was quickly apparent as to what Blaire was speaking about to Nazareno. And he was talking about there being no hope in winning the battle. Pointing both katanas at Blaire, Nazareno's eyes narrowed. "I knew you wouldn't let me go." Blaire laughed coldly, crossing his arms behind his back as he flipped his hair again. "You haven't lost your touch, Kareem. I'm glad you knew I was going to finish our little grudge."Nazareno's swords didn't lower. "I had expected you to make some level of change in these past three years, but I've personally been waiting for this moment for a long time.""Let me assure you, Nazareno. I have changed. I aligned XERRD with the Dino Attack Team, have I not? My second-in-command is one of your Elite agents. I do want to save this planet, but..." Blaire shuddered involuntarily as he and Nazareno began to circle each other, the latter never averting his eyes. "Matthew Vherestorm wants one last crack at his old adversary. One last loose end, and he will finally be laid to rest." Blaire shrugged. "Truthfully, you brought this upon yourself by showing your...ah...mask to me.""Let me assure you, Darkling," Nazareno hissed. "You'll never get that opportunity to truly discard Vherestorm if you decide to fight. I will see to it that you will never roam this universe again. Even if you kill me and escape, you will be hunted to the end of the world."Blaire laughed again. "Really, Nazareno? So confident that, if you die, they'll immediately pin it on me? Fortunately, I have already anticipated this. Let's see...you, Virchaus, Fabello, Frodongan, the space cop, and a few more agents. All can be easily dispatched after I've finished you. Make it look like the Mutant Dinos got to them. Maybe one got stabbed by a Fright Knight. Another shot by an Inferno agent. I don't really care. I'll deal with XERRD's crimes. Vherestorm's crimes were always meant to be buried."Nazareno stared at his former rival coldly. "From what I'm hearing, Matthew Vherestorm is still in power and using Blaire Darkling as a mask," he hissed.Blaire's posture shifted dramatically. He placed his gloved hands inside of his trenchcoat. Other than his small frown, he gave nothing away of his emotions. "Believe whatever you wish, Kareem. It won't matter in a few moments." In that instant, the two Shinobi swords shot out of Blaire's trenchcoat and landed in his hands. He placed the bottom of each hilt together, cause a small click. Spinning the double-bladed katana is his hand, Blaire made one step toward Nazareno. "I've made a few upgrades to Paradox's technology, if you can't already tell. Now, let's finish our little rivalry, once and for all."Nazareno nodded before lunging forward, his katanas raised, finally ready to defeat his most powerful opponent.

OOC: Interesting, that guy. Can't wait to see it finished. Though I'm afraid I may interfere with plans for Pharisee to go after Willa the Witch. At least in his helicopter, because with both her broomstick and windship destroyed, she's grounded. And with a splitting wand sans the Elder Wand of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, she won't last much longer against five armed Dino Attack agents and one with power equivalent to hers.As for you, Atton: we should be able to get back into the lab after this post.IC:Willa the Witch screeched in anger. Her hat was gone, Shadow had broken her broomstick, and her wand was splitting from the Maelstrom's power. Once the wand was gone, Willa would just be a frail, powerless witch."NYAAAAH!" Willa roared, waving her wand. The sound of cracking whips filled the air as sharp, lightning strikes of Maelstrom energy blasted Andrew, Zach, and Digger across the story. Shadow snarled and fired his weapon rapidly. Willa disintegrate each blast, allow Dr. Cyborg and Viper to step forward and blast the witch with the EMP Sonic Screamer and Z-1 Kinetic Launcher. The witch screeched in agony as the sonics collided with her and she was thrown across the room. She spun around wildly and unleashed another massive wave of energy that threw the Elite agent and founding member to the side. As she began to walk toward them, Digger stepped up behind her.Digger fired several Cosmotronic Ray shots at Willa the Witch. She gasped as the first shot struck her back and quickly turned and blocked the rest. She was forced to step back as the rest of the shots slammed into her shield. Scowling, Willa swung her wand at Digger. A fiery blast shot toward the Founding Member, who quickly dodged it. Willa fired another blast as he was recovering.Zach rose to his feet and saw what was happening. Reaching his hand out, a blob of Maelstrom shot out of his hand and formed a barrier in front of Digger. Willa's Maelstrom collided with the barrier was absorbed into it. Willa's head turned sharply toward Zach."You!" she snarled. "I'm getting rid of you!" She waved her wand rapidly, shoot small, electric blasts of Maelstrom at Zach. He absorbed each blast with ease, raising an eyebrow all the while. Willa cackled madly and then waved he wand diagonally in front of her. Zach formed a Maelstrom shield around him. However, he was too late.Zach grunted in pain and threw the Maelstrom barrier at the witch in anger. She flew back, screaming. Zach leaned up against a wall, clutching his stomach. He glanced down and saw a large, diagonal tear in his uniform. Placing his right slowly into the cut, Zach winced in pain as saw his golden hand become stained with red."Ow," he murmured. He looked up and saw the Willa glaring at him. She laughed again and pointed her wand at Zach, only to be tackled by Shadow. In that time, Andrew ran up to Zach."Are you okay?" he asked, his rifle trained on the brawl between Willa and Shadow."I think I'll be fine," Zach grumbled. "If I had been less than a second slower in pulling up that shield, I think I'd be a lot more critical at the moment. I think a visit with a medic is in my future. Again.""Considering how mad the witch is looking, both emotionally and mentally," Andrew said as he and Zach began to walk toward the brawl, where Dr. Cyborg, Viper, and Digger were already surrounding the fight. Zach kept his left hand over the middle of his torso. He could feel warm blood touch his hand. "She can't last much longer."They both reached the fight. Shadow was easily overpowering Willa, who was firing Maelstrom fireballs everywhere trying to strike him. "Squishy witch," Zach and Andrew said simultaneously, before smirking at each other. Then Willa kicked Shadow in the gut and threw him off of her. As she stood back up, Willa stamped her foot on the ground irritably."You can't defeat me!" she screamed in anger. "Impossible!" Zach could see the crack on her wand growing larger."No where to run, witch," Digger hissed, his Cosmotronic Ray point at the witch's head as helped Shadow back to his feet.The witch cackled madly and spun her wand in the air. Then, she slammed it into the ground, creating a massive shockwave that threw everyone off of their feet. She then began to spin her wand around herself, forming a small tornado around her."She's trying to escape!" Viper realized, firing his weapon It had no effect on the witch. Zach grimaced. The witch was trying to teleport out of the battle. Zach shot a blast of Maelstrom lightning at Willa. The lightning joined the tornado and began to unravel it. Willa the Witch howled in anger and redirected her Maelstrom at Zach, intending to kill him once at for all.They held the position for a while. No wall of Maelstrom, just one concentrated streak that bounced between them. Between that and getting cut up by her spell, Zach was beginning to drift into unconsciousness. Then the sound of several blasts filled the room. Willa screamed again as the Dino Attack agents began to fire at her with everything they had. As he continued to hold the blast, he saw Dr. Cyborg gesturing to him. Zach nodded in realization.Zach turned his hand slightly and directed the blast in Dr. Cyborg's direction, who began to absorb the blast. Willa the Witch gasped as she cancelled the strike. With the Maelstrom energy in tow, Dr. Cyborg fired one large fireball at the witch. Zach threw his own Maelstrom fireball. The two fireballs, plus the firepower from surrounding Dino Attack agents charged at the witch Willa the Witch attempted to form a shield to block the fireballs. However, Dr. Cyborg and Zach's attacks were clearly too much. There was an audible crack, then a fiery purple ball surrounded Willa the Witch.As the smoke cleared, the Dino Attack agents saw Willa the Witch lying in a heap next to a wall, her wand completely shattered. Digger approached the hag and examined her quickly. "She's still alive. Guess she has enough magic to keep her alive from that. But unconscious. I don't think she'll be much of a problem anymore." Zach breathed a sigh of relief. He was extremely disorientated from the whole experience and was still bleeding, but that could be dealt with."Good," Shadow grumbled, lifted the unconscious witch on to his shoulders. "Now, how about getting back to work on that Einstein Device, eh?"

OOC: My interpretation was that while the scientists (ex. Reptile), builders (ex. Andrew), and Maelstrom-y guys (ex. Zach) worked on the Einstein Device, agents like Rotor or Greybeard, would, after getting the full picture of what was going on, would head back into the battlefield to hold back the Mutant Dinos, thus clearing up space in the lab.And since avmatoran wants to take a crack at Willa the Witch, I'll hold off a post about that. It's time to start the confrontation you've been rubbing your rhubarb for waiting almost three years for.IC:Minerva Fabello and Holly Vinyaya were driving at the wrecked vehicle that Oswald Fabello was hiding behind at a fast pace. The Fire Hammer easily tossed away the vehicle as they collided, causing little damage to the jeep itself. Unfortunately, Oswald was nowhere to be found. Minerva quickly turned her head and saw her brother rising from the ruins of a building, his weapon raised."Duck!" Minerva yelled. They hadn't rolled up the passenger side window, so bullets began to fly through the cab and over their heads. Vinyaya swore irritably and blindly drove out Oswald's firing range. As Minerva rose her head, she saw Oswald screaming in anger in the side mirrors. He fired his gun, striking an agent driving a Steel Sprinter. Oswald jumped on to the ATV and started to chase after the Fire Hammer.There was no real doubt. He wouldn't stop until he killed Minerva. She herself had no idea what was driving her to face him, but she knew she had to. Her arm stung from where one of Oswald's bullets grazed her. She still didn't know if she had the nerve to kill him, but she would at least incapacitate him. Holding a Sonic Screamer she found in the Fire Hammer, Minerva pointed it out the window behind her and fired several shots.Oswald swerved out of the way of the sonic blasts and fired several rounds at Minerva's door as he continued to gain on her. "Use the Xenon Launcher!" Vinyaya barked, turning sharply. The Fire Hammer skidded hard before it stopped, facing Oswald. Minerva turned to the Xenon Launcher and began firing at Oswald, intending only to destroy his vehicle.Oswald screamed again and drove around the blasts with ease. He fired his machine gun at the windshield, cause a sufficient enough cracks to blind Vinyaya. "Megabloking Megabloks!" Vinyaya scowled. She slammed the gas pedal and started to drive toward Oswald. Minerva saw what Oswald would do and came up with her own idea to counter it. Gripping the Sonic Screamer tightly, Minerva pulled the door handle, loosening it."Fabello!" Vinyaya snapped. "What are you doing?" Oswald drove to the ride side, passing by Minerva's door. She threw the door open and dived at her brother. They both flew from the Urban Avenger and hit the hard pavement. Minerva was quickly on her feet, ignoring the pain emitting from her body and began firing the Sonic Screamer at her brother.Oswald rolled away and fired his much more lethal weapon at her. Minerva dove behind a mailbox to use as cover and began to fired several retaliating shots. One shot found its mark, striking Oswald in the chest. Oswald screamed in pain, dropping the weapon to clutch his ears. As he fell to his knees, Minerva began to slowly approach him, never lowering her weapon. When she was a yard away from him, she whispered gently, "Oswald?"She was stepping back as soon as she said the words. Oswald's arm swung at her as he rose to his feet. His face showed he was very clearly in pain from the sonics, but was ignoring the erge to fall into unconsciousness to attack Minerva. Minerva clutched her stomach with one hand as Oswald spun his knife in his palm. He had sliced at her stomach and had torn her uniform. Minerva could feel the skin underneath. Looking at her hand, she saw small traces of fresh blood on it. She looked back to the knife, an undeniable rage growing in her stomach. She hated that weapon. Excluding her mother, everyone in her family had fallen because of a blade. Now Oswald intended to have her join Isaac and Tod, but she wouldn't have it.She ran toward him. Knocking his knife arm away, Minerva punched him hard in the face. Oswald stumbled back and gave Minerva shock looked before charging at her as well. Minerva slammed her Sonic Screamer into Oswald's arm, but not before he delivered his own punch into her cheek. Her mouth became numb quickly. She stared at Oswald, her eyes growing wide. She knew he was trying to kill her, but be physically attacked by him had still shocked her.Minerva swung her Sonic Screamer into his head. Oswald ducked and kicked Minerva's shins. She winced in pain, fighting back tears. She kicked Oswald in the stomach and fired another Sonic Screamer blast at him. Oswald howled in agony like a wild animal. His eyes were practically bulging out of his head. He lunged at Minerva neck and gripped it tight. He brought the knife close to her throat."There's no hope," Oswald, his glare piercing Minerva. "We're all going to die. Nobody is safe. We're doomed." Minerva spat into his face and kicked him hard in the gut. Oswald roared again as he released his grip upon Minerva. He swung a foot at her ankles, knocking her to the ground. As she rose, she saw him fleeing into a ruined, tan-colored building. Minerva blinked in shock. She recognized the building. It was their old apartment they had lived in after they could no longer support living in their house thanks to Athena's insanity. She and Oswald had hid out there for a week after the Dino Attack began, when their only concern was to survive.Minerva felt herself running toward the building. She could hear Vinyaya yelling her name, but she ignored the Space Police officer. Her conflict with Oswald was about to come to an end. In the very building where she lived through the first week of the Dino Attack. Gripping the Sonic Screamer tightly, Minerva began to ascend the steps to the front door.

OOC: Just an FYI, avmatoran. The pilot of the Inferno Mech is, in fact, Dr. Inferno himself.IC:Suddenly, the blast of Maelstrom shrank away back to Willa the Witch. Zach fell to his knees, panting. He looked up to the witch, who was gasping and holding her wand in shock as she floated on her broomstick. He could see a slight crack on the starhead of the weapon. Much the structure in the floor had been heavily damaged by the Maelstrom."How?" Willa gasped, looking from her wand to Zach. "How can you match my power?!"Zach rose to his feet, dizzy and winded. "I know how to use it. And if you do that again, you are going to kill us all, you moron!" Zach struggled to scream out the end of sentence.Willa the Witch scowled and fired another blast at him. Zach reached out and absorbed the blast in his hand. "Would you quit it?!" Zach said, leaning a metal beam for support. The witch responded with several more blasts of Maelstrom energy, each absorbed by Zach. He felt a painful knot form in his stomach. Too much. He wondered if he absorbed enough, he would be corrupted again. Not willing to bet on it, Zach turned and fired several Maelstrom fireballs out of his hand through the wall in the building and into the rainy sky. The knot faded slightly, allowing Zach to turn around and have the witch fire an electrical streak of energy at him.Zach quickly knocked the blast down and fired another fireball that Willa the Witch tossed through the entire floor of the building, causing the building to sudder and groan in agony as more of its supports were destroyed. Zach growled, growing angrier. The witch cackled madly at his visible frustration and prepared to fire another blast at him.At that moment, several laser blasts struck near Willa the Witch. She gasped and formed a protective shield around her, deflecting the rest of the fire. At that point, Zach could see at least Shadow, Viper, Digger, Andrew, and Dr. Cyborg jump down to the floor, weapons raised at the Fright Knight witch."More agents?" The witch sneered, rising higher into the air to the tip of her hair almost brushed against the ceiling. "So be it!" Willa the Witch spun in the air, waving her wand. A circle of Maelstrom energy shot out from around her and struck ever agent present and caused even more damage.Zach laid on the ground, his head spinning and throbbing dully against his skull. As he pulled himself to his feet, he could see the other agents doing the same. The witch was screaming in anger as she looked at her wand."Why aren't you dead?" Willa complained angrily, almost like a child. "That blast should have killed you all! You should be dead! Why aren't you dead!" Zach looked at the witch's wand again. The crack on her wand had a weak glow to it and it seemed to growing. The wall of Maelstrom energy Willa had thrown at him that he had reflected earlier had severely damaged her wand. Her power was weakening.Zach cracked his knuckles. He had back up now and the witch's power was weakened severely. He smirked coldly. The odds had been evened.OOC: Feel free to include any more characters into this confrontation.

OOC: Heh, I hadn't expected to kill them all off. I only intended to kill Gilda. Then I went overboard.IC:"MINERVA!" Oswald roared, firing several more rounds into the Fire Hammer. Zach could see the absolute madness in Oswald's eyes. He was gone, there was no doubt. He clearly had no problem shooting his sister now.Vinyaya wasted no time in operating the Xenon Launcher from the dashboard controls. She fired several blasts at Oswald, who fled behind a wrecked vehicle. "Megabloks," Vinyaya muttered. "Oh, well. Shouldn't be too much of a problem to get rid of him.""Elite Agent Zachary!" radio suddenly said. "Our Dino Air Tracker is here. Are you ready to get lifted up?"Zach grimaced. "Just a second," he replied. He looked back out the window and immediately ducked as Oswald began firing again. Vinyaya turned the Xenon Launcher and fired several blasts at the rogue Dino Attack agent. Oswald screamed in frustration and went back into his hiding place. "I don't think it's going to be that easy," Zach told the Space Police officer."We're wasting time!" Vinyaya snapped. "The longer we wait here, the sooner Dr. Rex and his armies get here! Why won't-" Vinyaya stopped to fire at Oswald again. "-he die?""Because he wants Minerva," Zach said with a hiss. "To kill her. He's gone completely insane." Vinyaya was silent, trying to come up with a plan."I'll take him."Zach turned his head toward Minerva. She was staring out the window to the point where Oswald was hiding. Her face was still extremely pale and a look of grim acceptance was on her face. "Minerva, you can't take him alone. He's gone. He'll kill you, no matter what you say.""I know." Minerva's voice was growing increasingly colder."We have to get to the thirteenth floor and-""Zach, they need you because of your Maelstrom knowledge and power. My job would be to defend the HQ long enough to get this 'Einstein Device' working, I'm sure of it. They need you up there, not me. This is your real chance to get a crack at not only Dr. Rex, but the Darkitect. Besides, this...I just have to do this."Zach stared at Minerva, who gave him a hard look back. She wasn't going to budge, no matter how much he persisted. It felt a slight knot form in his stomach. He couldn't let her go and get murdered by her brother. He was mad. He wouldn't hold back. He wouldn't stop to listen to Minerva reason with him. He would kill her. Zach knew it was a bad idea, but he could feel himself giving in."Fine," Zach said flatly. Then, "You said you couldn't kill him-""I'll work something out," Minerva said grimly. "You need to trust me. I have to do this." Zach swallowed painfully. He nodded slowly. "I'll make it back. I promise." Her voice didn't waver, believing truly in that sentiment. Regardless, Zach was still on age. Unlike his feelings after being kidnapped by Oswald, he truly felt this could be the last time he saw her."I-I..." he stammered, trying think of something to say. Then, without realizing it, Zach leaned forward and kissed her. Minerva flinched in surprise, but quickly kissed back. They stayed in that position for several seconds until:"What did I say?" Vinyaya snapped irritably. "The end of the world is knocking on our doorstep!" Zach pulled away from Minerva, who was blinking rapidly in surprise. Some color had returned to her face."Huh. Usually I'm the one that has to kiss you," Minerva said, a small, curious smile on his face."Yep." And with that, Zach crawled into the backseat and got close to a passenger door. "Dino Air Tracker crew! Change of plans. I'm still coming up, but the Fire Hammer isn't. Will that work?""If you hold on tight!" the agent responded. Zach nodded and then quickly looked at Vinyaya, trying to tell her silently to stay with Minerva. Vinyaya nodded as she climbed into the driver seat and Minerva moved to the passenger seat."If we all make it through this, I'm getting you and Bluetooth together, Vinyaya. No matter what."Vinyaya rolled her eye and smiled faintly. "I'll be counting on it. Get ready." Commander Vinyaya turned the Fire Hammer in Oswald's direction. As it began to drive toward him, Zach jumped out of the Fire Hammer and started running toward the Dino Air Tracker. He jumped on to the support that was connected to the Dino Air Tracker by a hook and grabbed on to chain connected to the hook. Zach gestured to one of the agents hanging out from the hull to take off. Soon, the Dino Air Tracker was rising into the air.Zach counted the floors as they passed. He was at the ninth floor when he heard a strange screeching. He turned and saw purple orb hurting straight toward the helicopter. Zach could tell the agents aboard the helicopter could probably tell the orb was coming toward them by the panicked but indistinguishable voices coming from the hull. No weapons at all. This thing is seriously a sitting duck. He heard the sound of conventional gunfire come from the hull. The bullets merely bounced off the orb like they were drops of rain. Zach saw exactly where there was going.Zach let go of the chain and ran at Dino Attack Headquarters. He leaped from the support as the orb collided with helicopter. The helicopter exploded in a red and purple explosion. He managed to latch his right hand over a broken windowsill as the purple orb blasted through the headquarters, knocking stone, metal, plastic, glass, and the occasional agent from the building on to a long descent to the ground.Thank Builder I can't feel pain with my right hand. Or bleed. Nazareno knew how to design prosthetics to act completely like the limbs they replaced. One thing he did change was to get rid of the ability to feel pain from that hand. If Zach had an organic hand, Zach would've at least winced over his hand being cut up by broken shards of glass. He ducked his head and allowed the debris to fall to the ground. When the debris fall decreased to a trickle, Zach reached carefully up with his left hand and pulled himself on to the windowsill.Zach looked down below at the wrecked Dino Air Tracker, a mix of normal and Maelstrom flames consuming it. He looked to his right hand. The glove was torn up, but his hand was fine otherwise. He glanced at his left hand as he pulled right glove. Not to many cuts. He lucked out.He jumped down into the room connected to the window. The ceiling had caved in and debris was everywhere. Zach coughed as he pushed his way past a crumbling door archway. He glanced around the hallway briefly.Where did I stop count? Ah, ten. Tenth floor. Not bad. He could probably climb the rest of the way up. He made his way to the eleventh floor before he looked out through a gaping hole facing the rest of the city (and battle). He saw the purple orb floating, which faded away to a woman in black robes and a pointed hat sitting on a broomstick.Willa the Witch. Zach scowled. He had heard the witch's exploits in Castle Cove and her defeat by the hands of King Race and Lord Vladek. She had her magic enhanced with the Maelstrom. Rather alike powerwise, aren't we? Zach raised his hand and pointed his palm at the witch. A Maelstrom fireball erupted in his hand and he threw it as hard as he could at the witch.Willa turned her head quickly enough to dodge the blast. She searched the Dino Attack Headquarters quickly before spotting Zach and flying up to him. "You!" she sneered. "You did that! How did you do that?!""It doesn't really matter," Zach hissed. "What matters is that your Maelstrom hijinks are at an end, witch." His tone became more sincere, perhaps even concerned. "You do not truly control the Maelstrom. Heck, I barely can control it, Once you've helped flatten this building and killed the rest of the population of the planet, you will be disposed off, just like Dr. Rex."Willa the Witch raised an eyebrow. "I plan to conqueror those weaklings in that barren wasteland!" the witch cackled. "Dr. Rex can be disposed of easily. Dr. Inferno as well, once I'm finished using him.""You're being manipulated by the Maelstrom. You will destroy until you are destroyed." His word had no effect on the Fright Knight leader. She floated away and waved her wand at him. A fiery streak of Maelstrom energy shot out of it and moved toward Zach. Zach gestured the blast away into a Mutant Pterosaur. Willa the Witch gasped and fired several Maelstrom fireballs at him. He redirected each blast into a flying hostile. He then formed his own Maelstrom fireball and fired it at the witch. She swung her wand like a bat and redirected the blast into the building, causing it to shudder. Dust and small pieces of debris fell around him.Zach's confidence began to fade as Willa gave a wide grin. "Can't fire yourself or I'll use it to destroy the building!" the witch cackled with glee. She fired several more blasts at him. He let them hit the ground near his feet as he turned and started to run toward the stairs that led to the twelfth floor. He was about to reach the thirteen floor when Willa the Witch, protected by her purple orb, shot through the stairs, reducing them to rubble.He stumbled back, his hands raised as the witch slowly approached. Zach had no idea what he was needed for to fix the Einstein Device, but if they needed his ability to manipulated the Maelstrom, he needed to save his strength. Willa the Witch wouldn't have it. She pointed her wand and fired a massive blast intended to kill him and destroy the entire floor.Zach slid back hard on his feet as the wall of Maelstrom energy collided with him. He was only stopped by a wall that, for the most part, was still structurally sound. Wind was rushing all around him. Purple sizzling tentacles whipped around him, slicing through columns and walls like they had no clutch power. Zach felt his energy draining away from him rapidly as he repelled the blast back at Willa the Witch. He either needed to get the witch to give, somehow redirect this blast somewhere it wouldn't level the building, or have someone from the thirteenth floor hear the chaos going on below and come to his aid.Zach would've said some witty, 'not backing down' type line, but right now, he could barely think as the witch's power bared down on him. She has Darkitect support. Megabloks. Regardless, Zach stood his ground, trying to come up with a plan.

OOC: You know, that guy, your posts remind me just how unnerving it would be to have all sound suddenly swept away from you. I can hardly stand to sit around without at least the TV on creating background noise. Having nothing at all is...eugh.I don't think there will be any oppertunities for Zach to ship Vinyaya and Cyborg together, avmatoran. He only brought that conversation back up because of Nazareno and Zelda and it was probably the last brief moment on mostly none action post.But thankfully, I can hear. Most notably the music track "Rainbow Dash Theme" by RainbowCrash88, seeing as it fits the character this post involves. Either that or listening to people audition for the role of Laurey or Ado Annie in Oklaholma!.IC:Raine Dashworthy soared over the battlefield that was LEGO City in her Agents supersonic jet. She loved to fly, and loved to fly fast. She might have considered dropping out of the Agents Defense Organization for the Dino Attack Team when this apocalypse began, but only have slow-moving and clunky T-1 Typhoons as air vehicles didn't suit her style.She had spent the bulk of the battle flying overhead taking out Mutant Pterosaurs and Inferno aircraft. Occasionally she'd swoop down and bomb the bricks out of the Maelstrom's ground forces and in one case, under the request of an old agent friend by the name of Zachary Virchaus, a XERRD outpost that hosted a man that had killed Thaddeus Brickhouse. Raine was disappointed to hear that not only did the man survive, but took over XERRD. Sure, he allied with the Dino Attack Team, but that doesn't change the fact he killed Thad.With the new arrivals in the form of Fright Knight windships and Maelstrom Dragons, Raine made sure to stay in the sky. It was a losing battle. Raine quickly decided the best way to scatter the Fright Knight forces was to take out the massive windship commanded by Willa the Witch herself. The witch wasn't making it easy. She had the largest Maelstrom Dragon Raine had seen so far holding the witch's ship in the air and it blasted destructive purple flames at any ship that strayed too close. Additionally, the witch could ram her ship into a helicopter with the two halberds jutting out from the front of the cruiser. Willa the Witch also used her own magic to form a shield around the Windship and to attack her enemies.So Raine had decided to gather up a group of Agent jet pilots to take down the wicked witch's windship. Colonel Score, one of the Agents' commanding jet pilots was killed barely half an hour ago after a nasty run-in with Dr. Rex himself. Agent Chase had seen fit to promote Raine to Colonel to maintain some order amongst the jet pilots. Raine wasn't much of a commander, but her loyalty to Chase opted her to take the position. Plus, Colonel Dashworthy sounded rather good to her."Is everyone accounted for?" Raine called out over her comm."Righto," called Gilda."Let's do this," said Soarin."I've seen worse," said Spitfire."Let's sink this hag!" said Cloudchaser."Here," muttered Rapidfire."YEAH!" screamed Snowflake."HUZZAH!" Nightmare roared."Okay," Raine said irritably, cleaning out her ears. "Quiet it down a bit, Nightmare and Snowflake. Otherwise, let's do this!" All eight pilots cheered as they slingshotted around the burning tower that was the Dino Attack Headquarters and started flying toward Willa the Witch's windship. "Fire!"Eight pairs of laser blasts shot out from the squadron and on to the windship. Only a few shots made contact before a purple orb casted by the witch surrounded the windship reflected the rest. "Evasive action!" Raine yelled. Her jet spun and dived low as blasts of Maelstrom started streaking toward them. Cloudchaser was hit in the nose and her ship went spiraling into a building."Oh no you don't, foul hag!" Nightmare roared. She dived her solid black jet underneath the windship. As Willa the Witch lowered the defenses, Nightmare flipped around and fired a missile, striking the back of the windship and causing a fiery, purple explosion. "HA! YOUR DAMAGE HAS BEEN DOUBLED!" roared Nightmare."Cool it!" Raine said tersely. "She is still packing some firepower." With the back of her boat now in flames, Willa the Witch had the boat turn to face the seven remaining jets. While she doused the flames with magic, the Maelstrom Dragon carrying her boat roared loudly and began breathing massive arcs of purple fire. "Watch it!" Raine commanded, spinning her jet to avoid the blasts.Raine brought her jet in a wide arc around the ship. She swore as she watched Soarin's jet get nabbed in the dragon's maw and was chewed and burnt up to a crisp. The dragon then throw the jet across the air until it collided with Snowflake's jet. Both jets went tumbling to the ground in a fiery explosion. Biting her lower lip in annoyance, Raine fired two missiles at the straps holding the dragon to the boat.One missile found its mark. The boat suddenly tipped sideways as the dragon struggled to carry the boat. Raine saw Willa the Witch rise into the air on her broomstick and redirect the missile into Spitfire's jet, turning his jet into a fireball. The witch than began to repair the strap with her magic."She's distracted! Give her your worst!" Raine barked. She, Nightmare, Rapidfire, and Gilda opened fire both with lasers and missiles. The witch quickly formed a shield around her and her ship and continued to repaire the strap. The ship was soon completely functional again and more blasts of Maelstrom energy and fire began to whiz around the pilots. "Blast!""How do we take this dweeb?" Gilda snapped irritably."I have an idea," Rapidfire muttered. "Let me try something.""Rapidfire! What are you doing?" Raine demanded. Willa the Witch lowered her energy shield again. At this point, Raine assumed that using the magic and Maelstrom sapped energy out of the witch, which was why she couldn't hold it for long. Fire shot out of the back of Rapidfire's jet as he shot straight for the witch's ship. Willa the Witch blasted away his engine with her wand. Rapidfire maintained her altitude long enough to get near the ship before she nosedived directly on to the ship's bridge. An explosion engulfed the entire ship. Raine, Nightmare, and Gilda fired everything they could at the ship and its dragon engine.A rocket finally exploded near the dragon's throat. It bellowed in anger before its wings stopped flapping. It fell into the explosion and the ship began to fall into the city. It collided into the ground with the loudest explosion Raine had ever heard. Purple flames consumed an entire city block and left nothing but rubble and charred corpses."Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead!" Raine cheered through the comm, elated.. She felt Rapidfire's sacrifice was a bit unnecessary, but he had been willing to go out to save the planet."Not quite," Gilda grumbled. A small purple orb was rising out of the chaos. It then shot toward a T-1 Typhoon with a black star painted on its hull. An explosion rocked the helicopter and sent into tumbling into the ground. A loud, sinister cackled echoed through the city."Get out!" Raine yelled. Taking out the windship had not improved their chances. The witch was faster and the only thing she had to defend herself. Raine turned her head and gasped as the witch's Maelstrom orb shot through the nose of Gilda's jet. The jet exploded instantly and crashed into a nearby building.Raine's radar beeped erratically. Willa the Witch was coming for her next. Raine sped up considerably as the witch followed. Despite the jet's speed, the witch was quickly gaining on her. Raine turned sharply and moved down low near the rooftops of several buildings. She slowed down considerable and kicked off the glass containing her in the cockpit. Her multicolored hair whipping against her face, Raine saw Willa the Witch zooming toward her. Looking down at the rooftops below, Raine made a quick prayer before leaping out of the jet.Raine combat rolled as she collided with the rooftop to absorb the damage she was taking. She finally tumbled on to her back, her body aching all over and her head spinning. Slowly climbing to her feet, Raine watched as the witch ran through the jet horizontally, splitting it into two and sending them hurtling to the ground. Raine breathed in relief. The witch though she was dead. A pang of guilt then washed over Raine. An entire squad was dead because her assault on the witch that only made things worse. Only Nightmare was still flying.However, Willa the Witch was not looking for Nightmare. Her purple orb fading away, the witch was flying on her broomstick for Dino Attack Headquarters. Raine Dashworthy grimaced as she pulled a small pistol from her belt. That hag was going to bust up the headquarters more than it already was. Unfortunately, that's going to have to be someone else's fight. Raine waved her hands over her head, hoping to attract the attention of a helicopter. If nothing came, she would have to join the fight on the ground."Then it will be time to take out some nasty, reptilian trash," Raine Dashworthy smirked.

IC:"So, Holly," Zach said as he continued driving toward Dino Attack Headquarters. "How's the battle been treating you?""Firstly, Virchaus," Vinyaya said irritably as she pointed her Cosmotronic Ray out the window and opened fire on Mutant Dinos "Call me by my rank or my last name. Secondly, other than losing my eye, I've been holding up rather well, even killing Paulie Gonepus.""I assume this was before the alliance? Or was he a renegade?""Before the alliance. From what he said, he would've killed or usurped Blaire Darkling and taken control of XERRD of himself. And based on his apathy toward my accusations, he would've continued to aid the Mutant Dinos."Zach smirked. "Well then, good on you." The Fire Hammer rattled as it ran over a mutilated raptor corpse. They sat in silence until Vinyaya spoke up again."How are you doing, Minerva? I'm sorry about your mom."Zach didn't expect Minerva to respond. To his surprise, she did. "I'm doing...okay. Thanks for the...yeah, um, it's okay. I'm okay." Minerva voice was quiet and extremely reserved. Out of his peripheral vision, Zach could see Vinyaya give him a concerned look. Zach turned his head toward the Space Police commando and gave her a serious look, trying to suggest Minerva would be okay. Vinyaya shrugged and continued to shoot down dinos."Any idea what Nazareno and Zelda are up to?" Zach asked, trying to keep up a normal conversation. It might as well be the last one ever. And besides, even though they had all been in the same area for less than five minutes, Zach felt a strange group dynamic amongst him, Minerva, Nazareno, Vinyaya, and Zelda.An amused smirk formed on Vinyaya's face. "I do have an idea. I met up with Nazareno and he told me that Zelda confessed."Zach was slightly lost until Minerva spoke up, "You mean she told him about her crush?" Zach nodded in remembrance."Yeah. I guess Nazareno messed up. He was basically the equivalent of a teenager who was having romantic feelings for the first time in his life. Which was basically how it was. He had no idea what to do or how he actually felt, so I had to guide him along I bit. I assume now he's going to or already has returned her feelings."Zach smiled, imagining the great and powerful Nazareno totally lost on how to handle Zelda's feelings. "Well, good for them." He paused as another memory suddenly flashed through his mind. "I suppose that means I have to ship you with someone else, don't I?"He was impressed with how quick Vinyaya's eye narrowed. "This again, Zachary? Is this really the time?"Zach shrugged. "Might as well. It amuses me, primarily because it annoys you.""What are you two talking about?" Minerva asked, confused."You know when Vinyaya pulled me away to talk to me after we locked up Onion Rings or whatever his name was. After our talk and we started to search the headquarters for you, Zelda, and Nazareno, I decided to start pairing off Vinyaya with potential suitors-""None which are going to happen," Vinyaya added with a grumble."-that doesn't matter to shippers. Vinyaya with Nazareno was my favorite choice, but I came up with a couple more."Zach could almost imagine Minerva smiling curiously as she spoke. "Like what?""Let's see if I remember them all. I romantically paired Vinyaya with Nazareno, Marco Martinet, Frozeen, Hotwire, Rotor, Clint Wayne, Trigger, Semick, Bluetooth, Stranger, Hertz, Pharisee, Dr. Cyborg, and...I think that's it."Zach was happy to hear Minerva laughing over the comm. It was rather reserved, but still laughing. Anything to get her mind off of Oswald and Athena. "Wow." was all Minerva managed to say."Yeah, so now I need to come up with a new favorite pairing to root for.""Despite the fact," Vinyaya said, half-amused. "I've barely spoken to most of the people you mentioned.""Yeah, but that's the fun isn't it?" Zach argued. Silence fell over the Fire Hammer as they continued their advance toward the Dino Attack Headquarters. Zach got on to the radio and secured a Dino Air Tracker to airlift them to the thirteenth floor to save them trying to traverse the ruined headquarters. As they continued, Minerva suddenly spoke."Why not Vinyaya and Bluetooth?" Minerva said.Vinyaya rolled her eye in irritation as Zach laughed. "Not you too, Minerva.""What makes you say that?" Zach asked, now curious."When they met on Adventurers' Island, Bluetooth was proposing some idea about turning the team into a planetary defense force after this war. He decided to tell Vinyaya due to her Space Police background. But when he was telling her about his idea, he could hardly talk. He could've easily been smitten by Vinyaya and was nervous about speaking to her.""What if he was just nervous I'd turn down his idea?" Vinyaya shot back, clearly unimpressed with Minerva joining in the shipping joke.Zach laughed again. "Doesn't matter, Vinyaya. The theory's there, and that's all the shippers need." Suddenly, a small buzzing sound echoed through the Fire Hammer cab. Vinyaya turned, surprised, and pulled a PDA from her belt. "What's the matter now?" Zach groaned. "Any more hopeless odds to stack up against us?""No...at least, I don't think so," Vinyaya said, looking at the device's small screen with surprise. "It's from Bluetooth."Zach raised an eyebrow in surprise. Vinyaya's left eye moved rapidly from left to right as she read the message. As she continued, more surprise seemed to form on her face.Zach pulled up to the front of Dino Attack Headquarters to wait for the Dino Air Tracker. He then turned to Vinyaya. "What did it say?""I..." Vinyaya was losing her composure fast. Her face was turning red rapidly. Zach suddenly felt a grin forming on his face. She glared at him. "It's nothing," she said, flustered. Zach shook his head and grabbed the PDA out of Vinyaya's hand. Her arm quickly snapped out and grabbed his. She gave him an angry look that he ignored as he tossed the PDA to his other hand. He then began to read the message from Bluetooth despite Vinyaya's protests."What's going on?" Minerva asked, morbid curiosity her voice."Here, I'll read it allowed." And so Zach did. Every word. "Well," Zach said as he completed his retelling of Bluetooth's message. His smile probably stretched from ear to ear. "He's fond of you."Minerva wasn't repressing her laughter at this point. "I was right!"Vinyaya wasn't amused in the slightest. "You don't have to laugh at him-""We're not," Zach said, suppressing his snickers. "We're laughing at the fact that our 'Vinyaya/Bluetooth' pairing now has some merit! So what are you going to write back?""I-I don't know. I mean, I hardly know him. I'm...I'm flattered, I suppose. I mean I...I might be willing to try something with him. But he sent that message with the idea he was about to die. What can I say?"Zach shrugged. "Any ideas, Minerva?" No response. "Minerva? Are you okay?" Still nothing. Something was horribly wrong. He was about to climb out of the Fire Hammer when one of the back doors opened and Minerva dived into the seat. She slammed the door shut and laid down on her back clutching the upper part of her right arm. Zach's eyes widened in shock as he saw blood dripping past her hand."Minerva!" Zach gasped. "What-""Bandage!" Minerva gasped. Her face was as white as snow and a look of absolute terror was carved into it. "Medical tape, something!" Vinyaya quickly turned to the glove compartment and starting shuffling through supplies until she pulled out a roll of medical tape. Vinyaya was about to apply it to Minerva's arm when Minerva snatched the roll away. Minerva removed her hand from the wound and tore off the sleeve of her right arm and wiped the blood away. Minerva then began to wrap the tape around her arm."Minerva, what happened?" Zach asked, worried."A bullet grazed my arm," Minerva grimaced, her face scrunched in pain. "It was fired-" Her explanation was silenced as waves of bullets suddenly attacked the Fire Hammer's driver side. Zach and Vinyaya ducked their heads as bullets slammed and ricocheted into the Fire Hammer's hull and windows. After ten seconds, the firing seized. Zach raised his head slowly. Thankfully, the windows of the vehicle were mostly bulletproof, catching all the bullets and allowing none to pass through. Though now the windows and the windshield were cracked. Through the cracks, Zach could see a figure several yards away walking toward the Fire Hammer, a smoking machine gun in his hand. Zach flinched in realization.Oswald Fabello was here for his sister.

OOC: I'd be all up for Zach or Minerva telling Kate to get "Jarate'd" off. Particularly Minerva, as I remember her briefly thinking about the differences between them during Rotor's big trial deal. However, since Minerva is mostly in grief and due to a variety of other factors, she'll probably not meet Kate. Perhaps Zach will find her when he gets back to headquarters. Or someone else. Or create a character to do it.As for Naomi Hale: she is most definitely just a one-off reference characters that I created just in case I ever needed another medic. I don't. I'll just go off and say Hale just "happpens" to be wearing a red shirt underneath her labcoat...And another thing. Naomi Hale shares her first name with two other medical personell and her last name with Brixton Hale and Archibald Hale. Time for some mass guessing. She's the most unoriginal character ever.IC:"Tell your Elite Agent friend thanks," Zach said to Marco Martinet as he climbed out of medical Fire Hammer. It had pulled up to a fresh Fire Hammer brought in from Antarctica."I'll-a see to it," Martinet said, bowing his head. He then leaned in close. "Tell your-a friend Minerva that I'm sorry. There-a wasn't anything I could do."As if on cue, Minerva climbed out of the Fire Hammer. Her eyes had a reddish tint to them that suggested crying. She shook Martinet hand slowly."Thank you for the ride," Minerva said quietly, her voice shaking. Zach grimaced. "And thank you for getting her body flown to the headquarters. You gave the crew my request, right?"Martinet nodded solemnly. She had asked him to fly her mother's body to the Super Teleport Pad in the headquarters, where her body would be taken to Antarctica. She had given a specific request for no one to bury the body until she return or until Minerva died herself. "Thank you," Minerva whispered. She and Zach then began to walk toward their new Fire Hammer as Martinet drove away.Zach occasionally turned his eyes upon Minerva, who was completely silent. She had finally gotten to see her mother truly for the first time in fourteen years, only for her to die. Not only that, but it was her own brother that had pulled the trigger that ended Athena's life. Zach knew Oswald had completely lost it in a combination of regret and a sense of failure. He was trying to simply save his sister and finding out there was no way to save her had crushed him."You're worried he's going to find me," Minerva said suddenly. "And kill me, like he did with Mom." Zach nodded. Minerva looked at him. She seemed completely broken by her facial expression. "I don't know if I can do it...kill him...he killed Mom, but he was my closest friend for years..."Zach didn't say anything. Minerva might not be able to kill Oswald, but he certainly could. He sympathized with Oswald to an extent, but not enough to keep him alive. If Oswald came after them, he would kill him with one swift blast of Maelstrom. Zach had actually grown fond of Athena Fabello in the time he had traversed LEGO City with her and it had hurt him watching her die just like watching Thaddeus Brickhouse die. Only this time, he had managed to keep his emotions in check for both of their sakes. But he didn't say any of this Minerva. "Driver or gunner?" Zach said instead."I'll take the launcher," Minerva said with little emotion. Zach nodded, understanding. She wanted to think by herself. And the best way was to take some emotions out on Mutant Dinos."You'll pull through," Zach suddenly said, full of sincerity. He knew he would. It's been a long time, but she's been through it before. Minerva wouldn't let this stop her. She could probably find away to have this drive her. And he would be there to help. Minerva's lip quivered slightly. Brushing her damp hair out of her face, she nodded and climbed on to the back.Zach climbed into the driver seat, "You set, Minerva?""No use sitting around here anymore," Minerva said over their comm connection. Zach started up the vehicle and started to drive toward Dino Attack Headquarters. As he drove, he flipped on the radio."Elite Agent Zachary is back online," Zach said. "What's my next move?" The radio seemed to explode with chatter. Several people were inquiring about Athena and Oswald, but Zach ignored those agents. He was getting bits and pieces of updates."Defeat? It's a scandal! It's an outrage!""I'm not leaving until Dr. Rex is six feet under.""Whose mom died? Kate Bishop's?""We're doomed, aren't we?""No! We can still win. We have every organization under the sun helping us, including XERRD!""Elite Agent Zachary? Can you hear me?"Zach jumped on to the last one. "Yes? Who is this?""My name Elite Agent Rosalie Mercedes. I got the Fire Hammer for you.""Ah, thanks for that. Can you tell me what's going on?""Certainly. Specs has called for a retreat. Rookie agents, wounded, and non-agent personnel besides Medics are being asked to head for a teleport pad in the building that would teleport them to Antarctica. Standard Agents can retreat, but many are staying to fight out the battle. All Elite Agents have been requested to head to the thirteenth floor of Dino Attack Headquarters. Since there is an aura of secrecy around this, please move to the Elite agent frequency so I can continue to speak to you and Fabello."Zach quickly moved to the Elite agent channel, which was a lot quieter. "Thank you. Now, as I understand it, we have a weapon capable of defeating the remaining Mutant Dino army.""What, exactly? All I can think of his a nuke, but I can't imagine we'd have people hanging behind for that.""No. Have you heard the rumor about a 'Doctor Device'?" Zach remembered hearing something about it at one point. "Now being called the Einstein Device, this very real weapon will be able to wipe out the remaining Mutant Dino army without destroying the city. There's apparently some issues and Specs has called all Elite agents to help out. I have been requested to hold off the advancing army while the issues are resolved. I believe they specifically asked for you and your supposed knowledge of the Maelstrom to help in dealing with this weapon.""What about me?" Minerva suddenly asked, causing Zach to jump."I don't know, but I suppose you'll find out when you get to the thirteenth floor. I imagine you will be helping hold up the lines while the weapon is repaired."Zach sat in silence for a moment. He could be essential in turning this battle back to the Dino Attack's favor. ​Heh. I wonder if that so-called prophecy referred to this moment. "Consider us on our way," Zach said with confidence."I will relay that message to the Founding Members. Please hurry." A determined smirk formed on Zach's face as he slammed down on the pedal as he began to head to Dino Attack Headquarters. As he drove, he noticed someone being attacked by several Mutant Dinos. She was holding herself rather well, but Zach decided to turn and help."You see her?" Zach asked Minerva. Her response was peppering the Mutant Dinos with Xenon fire. As the Mutant Dinos dropped, Zach rolled up to the agent and rolled down the passenger window. "Like a lift?" he called out.Commander Holly Vinyaya climbed into the Fire Hammer, a half-hearted smirk on her face. "Don't mind if I do."*********************Kareem Nazareno ran back to Zelda Frodongan and Solomon Koplowitz, killing any Mutant Dino that crossed his path with ease. He knew what he had to do. He was slightly embarrassed by needing Vinyaya to tell him, but that didn't matter. He had to tell Zelda."Zelda!" Nazareno called out. Zelda turned toward him, a confused look on her face. Nazareno was about to admit his feelings when he saw a man jump on to a Mutant Raptor's back. The man quickly slashed the raptor's throat with a dark-colored katana with a purple line along its blade. The man jumped down from the raptor and landed behind Solomon and Zelda. They both turned and their eyes narrowed."Blaire Darkling," Nazareno said coldly. "I see you have not been sitting around these past three years.""Of course not," Blaire said with a half shrug, spinning his two Shinobi katanas absently, a sinister smirk on his face. Even if he was now allied with the Dino Attack Team, Nazareno did not trust the man for a minute."I'll admit, I didn't think you'd ally with us," Nazareno continued, striking a Hybrid in the chest with his sword. "What about your old mantra about finishing a job?""I do tend to work around things like that," Blaire said, slashing through a Mutant Lizard. "Dr. Rex told me to fight in this battle. I am, are I not?" Blaire then turned away from Nazareno to Solomon. "Solomon. It is fantastic to see you again, old man. I have to admire your courage for leaving the organization so soon. Perhaps you should return to XERRD. I'm sure Dr. Cyrista would approve moving you to third-in-command. I'm sure that between the two of you, XERRD can be restored to its former glory."Nazareno quickly caught Blaire. He only mentioned Solomon and Dr. Cyborg in restoring XERRD. What about himself. "We'll see, Darkling," Solomon said tersely, slashing open another Hybrid."And you," Blaire continued, turning to Zelda. "I have only seen you in the present of Nazareno. What is your name?""Zelda Frodongan," Zelda said icily. Blaire chuckled."I imagine if you are with the great Kareem Nazareno, you are just as skilled with a katana. Good thing too." Blaire gestured around them. Two Maelstrom Dragons touched the ground near two Mutant T-Rexes. The four massive beasts roared and assembled a good sized group of Mutant Dinos that began to surround Nazareno, Zelda, Solomon, and Blaire. "Because we're going to need all the skill we can get now."A bit of the old Zelda returned. "You just watch it, Darkling."Blaire laughed loudly. "Definitely a chip off the old Nazareno. Well, lady and gentlemen, it appears we are surrounded. Let's make this creatures regret this decision." Solomon and Zelda nodded curtly. Nazareno looked at Blaire curiously, who only smirked at him. He was up to something, but right now, he would have to trust that Blaire had his back.Nazareno, Zelda, Solomon, and Blaire stepped back until their backs were touching. They could see everything through each other. Seven katanas were raised. The gathered Mutant Dinos and two Maelstrom Dragons seemed to laugh as they closed in on their prey.Nazareno grimaced, but didn't back down. He was back-to-back-to-back-to-back with some of the most skilled swordsmen and swordswoman he had ever met. Solomon's face was emotionless, Zelda's face had a scowl, and Blaire had his signature smirk dancing on his face. Without warning, the dinos lunged forward, biting and clawing. Two ninjas and two ex-Paradox Shinobi versus what had to be more than fifty Mutant Dinos and two Maelstrom Dragons.You had to feel sorry for the Mutant Dinos.

OOC: That's what I thought. It somewhat interferes with some plans I have, but they actually don't really require Zach. I'd just prefer if he was there. So I'll get Zach home as soon as I can.Also, your reaction to Athena's death was as planned, PeabodySam. Sorry for no confrontation with Sarah Bishop, Atton, as I tried to speed things along a bit (Not really sure what would come of said confrontation, Athena being amnesic up until her death. The only thing I could've seen is Sarah telling Athena off for being a bad mom or something).I did have this big long argument about Kate Bishop, but in short: I agree with Andrewnuva. Her characterization sort of derailed heavily and...yeah. The only suggest I have really is that she needs to listen to Cave Johnson's lemon speech. Instead of crying over everything, she needs to get mad. Life isn't fair and isn't going to get an easier. Instead of weeping and being life's door matt, she needs to get mad and do something. I'm not asking her to slay 196 Mutant Dinos and stand upon a hill of their corpses while she defeats Willa the Witch, Dr. Inferno, and Dr. Rex simultaneously. I'm asking her to man up and just fight dinos.IC:"This is Rookie Agent Dr. Martinet! Firstly, I'm staying behind regardless of rank because this team needs every medic it can get. Secondly, I have located Elite Agents Zachary and Fabello!""Well, that's good to hear, because the others want Zach at headquarters. Where did they go?""Eh...I'm a little lost, but what I'm getting is that-a Fabello's brother, who was with XERRD, forced them and Fabello's mother. Something happened and Fabello's mother was shot and killed. By her brother.""Ouch. Are they okay?""Zachary's fine. Fabello's...a little unresponsive at the moment, but Zachary assures me he'll try to snap her out of it. In the meantime, Zachary's told-a me to tell everyone to watch out for Oswald Fabello. He's blonde, mid-twenties, looks a bit insane, and apparently wearing a Dino Attack uniform, but works with XERRD-""Let me assure that, as a high-ranking member of XERRD, that Fabello has no haven with us.""-okay. Fabello has-a managed to tell me that he went by the codename Verrat, so don't trust anyone with that name, either. An Elite Agent friend of mine as secured a Fire Hammer brought in from Antarctica for them. Zachary says he'll contact the rest of the team as soon as he can."Holly Vinyaya sighed. She assumed that Athena Fabello had been the blonde-haired woman with Zach when she had reunited with them and met Blaire Darkling. Watching her brother kill their mother probably crushed Minerva. I imagine by the end of this battle, we'll all have scars, physical and emotional.She kicked a Mutant Lizard away and fired several Cosmotronic Ray blasts at a pack of purple lizards. Vinyaya had been simply making the rounds. Shoot, kick, punch, grab, repeat. Run if a Mutant T-Rex showed up. Sprint if a Maelstrom Dragon landed nearby. Vinyaya was already mute to killing these beasts and henchmen. And she would keep fighting until the battle was won. Even with Specs calling out defeat.She wasn't alone. Nearby, two XERRD scientists aided her in her fight named Alvin Gadd and William Lee. The former was fighting with some type of backpack and the latter was in a strange hovercraft device. Dr. Lee had apparently forcibly strapped into the craft by Dr. Rex for suggesting to end the Dino Attack. Gadd had freed him and, with the new alliance with XERRD, was now fighting Mutant Dinos and their allies. Vinyaya didn't have time to hold any bitter feelings toward the XERRD scientists. Nobody did, as evidenced by Pepper Roni's arrival into the battlefield via the Brickster's T-1 Typhoon or Skeleton Drones fighting alongside Alpha Team agents.As she smashed the skull of a darkness Mutant Lizard, she saw a flash of white. Looking around briefly, Vinyaya saw Kareem Nazareno jam one of his katana's into the roof of a Mutant Raptor's mouth. She grinned as it fell to the ground. Nazareno pulled out his sword and nodded to Vinyaya."Good to see you again, Commander Vinyaya." He jumped away from the Mutant Raptor and slashed through the neck of a nearby Inferno agent taking aim. "I suppose I forgot to ask because of Vherestorm's appearance, but how is you're...ah, face?""Fine so far," Vinyaya said, smacking a Mutant Raptor away with the butt of her gun before shooting it. "It is a rather sore spot to be hit, as I learned from Gonepus."Nazareno was in a duel with a Fright Knight. "I heard about that. Congrats on defeating him. Serves him right for leading the team to the wrong temple." He sliced off the knight's arm and stabbed his chest with both swords. Nazareno quickly kicked the knight away and began to search for another enemy.Vinyaya grabbed the neck of one Mutant Lizard and began to swing it around. "So I suppose you heard about Darkling at XERRD?" She launched the Mutant Lizard and it bowled over several more."Yes," Nazareno slashed away at Mutant Dinos with ease. "Perhaps he really has changed. Unfortunately, if we are to miraculously win this battle and he survives, he will need to be captured for his crimes in the same vein that Pepper Roni will have to catch the Brickster again."A Mutant Lizard knocked Nazareno off his feet. Vinyaya quickly turned and shot the lizard off. As Nazareno jumped back to his feet, Vinyaya continued their conversation. "Where is Zelda?""Over there with Solomon Koplowitz," Nazareno said, his tone changing dramatically. Vinyaya turned her head and watched Zelda Frodongan stab her sword hard into the back of a Mutant Raptor. Vinyaya was surprised by the cold yet sad look in the energetic young agent's eye."Um...is she alright?" Vinyaya dared to ask. She turned away from Nazareno to continue the fight as he sighed, surprising her."No. In layman's terms, I screwed up." An eyebrow perked up on Vinyaya's face. A rather different change in vocabulary."What happened?"Nazareno kicked away an Inferno agent with surprising force. "Were you aware that Zelda was...infatuated with me?"Vinyaya let out a small snort as she broke a Fright Knight's neck. "Yeah. Zach and Minerva know too.""Did she tell you?"Vinyaya snorted again. "No, and she didn't need to. It was obvious with the way that she talked about you, looked at you, and acted around you."There was an edge of frustration in Nazareno's voice as he jumped on to a Mutant Raptor's head. "It was really that obvious?""A little bit. What happened with her? Did she tell you?" Vinyaya shot away several Mutant Raptors as Nazareno relayed how Zelda had revealed her feelings and Nazareno's response. "Oh. Yeah, you probably screwed up. The most important question is: do you share her feelings? I know you rejected her, but do you love her."The only sound for several seconds was sound of gunfire and dinosaur bellows. Then, "I don't know." Vinyaya turned her head sharply toward Nazareno, who was in a battle against three Fright Knights."You don't know." It was a flat statement. "How do you not know?"Nazareno kicked one Fright Knight underneath his chin before stabbing him in the chin. "I...well..." Vinyaya raised another eyebrow. Stammering? From Nazareno? Apparently, it was more likely than you would think. "I've never actually had any romantic feelings for anyone, let alone have someone publicly feel them for me."Vinyaya jammed her gun into a Mutant Lizard's mouth and killed it instantly. "Never? Even as a hormone-controlled teenager? Well, I don't know anything about you space ninjas, so I don't know if there were woman in your monastery or whatever. Unless you like..." Vinyaya drifted off, making her meaning."There were women," Nazareno said with shrug as he brought his sword into the leg of another Fright Knight, "But I could only really see them as sisters. Once I left for the wider universe, I never really concerned myself with romance.""Well," Vinyaya said thoughtfully as she slammed her gun into the side of an Inferno agent's head. "This is not my area of expertise, and that's probably an understatement, but I'm going to help you."Nazareno cut the neck of the final Fright Knight. "How?""First things first. Since you are so conflicted about how you feel about her, how do you feel around her?"Nazareno thought briefly as he cut away Mutant Lizards. "Normal, I suppose." Vinyaya would've facepalmed if she wasn't fighting a Fright Knight. Luckily, Nazareno continued "I find myself a lot more tolerant of her personality and quips than I would with anyone else. I suppose I've connected with her better than anyone else in awhile. I enjoy her company and..." He stopped as he saw Vinyaya grinning at him. "What?" She didn't say anything, merely continued to smile knowingly at him. Nazareno's eyes narrowed. "I see what you've done. Clever, Commander.""So say it then."Vinyaya could easily imagine Nazareno's face turning red. "I'm...infatuated with Zelda Frodongan."Vinyaya chuckled quietly. Close enough. She started running as two Mutant Raptors start to approach her. "Throw me on top of one of them!" she yelled out. Nazareno nodded and leaped back on to the ground. He lowered himself to a crouch and extended his hands. Vinyaya stepped on to his hands and felt herself be propelled into the air. She stumbled and grabbed on to the spike of a Mutant Raptor's head. Climbing back up, Vinyaya started shooting Mutant Raptors with the Cosmotronic Ray, allowing Nazareno to easily dispatch them. Vinyaya then fired three shots into the Mutant Raptor's head she was standing on and fell to the ground as the dino collapsed.As Nazareno helped her back up, she looked at him. "So you know what to do now, right?""I'm not a total fool, Commander. I've already been intending to apologize for my rather...harsh response."Vinyaya rolled her eye again as she turned to keep fighting dinos. "Well, besides that. You've got to admit your feelings to her."There was slight hesitation in Nazareno's voice as he continued. "Is this really the right thing to do? I mean, like I said, there's a significant difference in age and the whole 'mentor-student' type relationship and-""Kareem Nazareno," Vinyaya said flatly, interrupting him. He could hear him briefly mutter about using his first name, but she ignored it. "I get it. You feel uncomfortable with the idea. Zelda is right. She is as much of an adult as you are. She is a happy, kind young woman who clearly cares for you a lot. and you clearly care for her." Vinyaya crossed her arms expectantly, waiting for an argument. Nazareno sighed."You're right, of course," Nazareno admitted, looking back toward Zelda. "I'm just..." Nazareno sighed again. "Thank you for helping me see reason, Commander. I really needed it."Vinyaya nodded. Kareem Nazareno needing help. Not only that, but romantic help. She smiled warmly at him. "You better go talk to her." Nazareno nodded once before turning and running back to Zelda and Solomon. Feeling satisfied, Vinyaya turned back to the battle. A million dinos down, a million more to go.

OOC: I'm just going to go with Plastic Serpent being addressed in the back of Martinet and Wade's ride, because I want him for this post.IC:The area was filled with silence after Blaire Darkling's speech. The only noise was the rain splatted against the ground and the occasional rumble of thunder. Minerva and Zach simply looked at each other before looking back at Oswald, who was staring at his walkie-talkie in shock. XERRD may have joined forces with the Dino Attack Team, but has Oswald."Baron Typhonus..." Oswald muttered absently as he began to put the pieces together. "He...is...the Maelstrom?" Minerva stopped herself from nodding, not wanting to trigger a negative reaction from him. Oswald glanced at the two of them as could see in their face that Blaire was right. "H-he...is...the Ma-Maelstrom."The color was draining from Oswald face rapidly. "Everything was a trap," he said. His gun was now shaking violently. "A lie. We're nothing but tools. What...what have I done?" Minerva could feel the sudden agony and remorse that traveled through his body. He looked at Minerva and Zach."There's no hope...we're all going to die...nothing matters...I failed...can't save Minerva...all going to die..." The gears in Oswald's head were turning. His remorseful face suddenly became darker. In fact, the entire area seemed to become darker. A mad glint appeared formed in his eyes."There is nothing I can do," Oswald muttered. Minerva watched madness descend over him like the rain. "Everyone I ever loved is going to die and there's nothing I can do to stop it. I'm so sorry, Minerva." His eyes pierced his sister's. "For everything." Turning to his mother, his entire person became bitterly grim."You monster," Oswald spat at Athena. "How could a mother do what you did? Force her children to fend for themselves when they needed her most!" Minerva and Zach glanced at each other. Minerva was glad they could read each other expressions, for she saw a purple spark travel up Zach's arm. Just knock him out. It would be safer that way."Had her kids suffer while she hid behind memories of the past," Oswald's tone became darker. His gun was still shaking, but it was steadying out gradually. "Ki-ki-killed her own son while trying to kill her daughter." He looked back at Minerva with eyes sparked with madness."Oswald," Minerva whispered, trying one last time to reason with him. "Please..." Oswald's jaw slackened as he stared at his sister. His arm was shaking again as he looked back at Athena. Minerva realized what was about to happen. She started running at him instinctively as Zach fired a Maelstrom fireball.Bang!Athena Fabello's eyes widened to astronomical proportions. She looked down at her children, who were both lying on the ground after being struck by the fireball. They both shakily crawled to their feet. Minerva had attempted to shove Oswald away, but only ended up getting caught in Zach's Maelstrom attack. Her entire body screamed in pain, but she muffled it as she looked at her mother. Athena stared at Minerva with wide, unwavering gray eyes before looking to her son. Then to his gun. Finally, she looked down at the growing red stain on her sweatshirt, around her chest. Athena fell to her knees slwoly.Minerva whipped her head from Athena to Oswald. He looked as though he was going to be sick. He dropped the gun and, without a single word, fled from the scene. Minerva didn't bother chasing him. She started to move toward Athena when Zach grabbed her arm."Are you alright?!" He seemed extremely worried. "I didn't mean to shoot you, it's-""I'm fine," Minerva snapped. She wasn't, both physically and emotionally. But she was more concerned with getting her grievously wounded mother to safety. It was like Tod all over again. "Help me!" Zach nodded in silence and approached the fallen Athena. Together, they wrapped Athena's arms around their necks and lifted her off the ground."Athena, can you hear me?" Zach asked, maintaining a calm voice. There was a small interlude before Athena weakly nodded, staring straight ahead. "Can you walk?" Athena didn't respond to this. Her pupils were still wide open. "I'll take that as no," Zach said, looking away. "We'll just have to be careful with her feet." Minerva nodded. With Athena in between them, they hurried as fast as they could back to Dino Attack Headquarters so they could find her medical attention.It was hard going. Oswald had clearly been anticipating this, so he had brought all three of them all as far enough away from the headquarters (which was now smoking and seemed on the verge of collapse) so they couldn't save Athena. Despite this, Minerva was felt a sudden determination to get her mother to safety.As they walked, Minerva felt her heart sink. Oswald had finally lost it. She had hoped learning the truth about the Dino Attack would've helped, but that, combined with remorse for his previous deeds, had crushed Oswald's hope entirely. He believed there was no hope left. That he was going to lose everyone that he had cared about. His plan had failed. There was no chance of saving his little sister now. And with his sunken sanity, Athena had become his first target.Minerva suddenly realized she was trying to stop the blood from exiting Athena's chest with her hand. Her glove now soaked in blood, she looked at her mother again. Her eyes had returned to a normal size. However, Athena was now muttering something, but Minerva couldn't hear it as they reached the battlefield. Gunfire, explosions, and roars muffled everything."Hey! HEY!" Zach suddenly yelled out. He waved his free hand. "MEDIC!" Minerva finally saw it. A Fire Hammer (or was it a Dino 4WD Trapper? It lacked the gun and instead had a small, cube-like area in the back) with the Star of Life painted crudely on the side of the door. The Fire Hammer stopped in its tracks and a mustachioed doctor jumped out of the cab and started running toward them."What's-a going on?" the doctor exclaimed. He looked at Athena "Is that a-?!""Yes, Martinet," Zach said. "A civilian. Whose been shot. We need help." Martinet nodded and gestured for them to go to the back of the Fire Hammer."I think we can-a make space for her," Martinet was saying in a hurried tone. "We found another injured man, but her wound appears to be much more serious. The headquarters has-a been blown up and at this point, I'm not-a sure if we should take her-""Stop."Zach and Minerva froze in their tracks and looked at Athena in surprise. Her breathing was shallow and her head was bowed down, allowing her long blonde hair to cover much of her head.Martinet raised an eyebrow. "Excuse-a me?" Ma'am, we need to do something or else-""No," Athena said, lifting her head to face the medic. "Thank you...""Dr. Martinet.""Thank you, Dr. Martinet, for wanting to help," Athena paused, trying to catch her breath. "But it's far too late. I want to speak to Zachary and Minerva." Martinet looked at the two Elite Agents curiously. Minerva nodded slowly, her breath taken away.Martinet sighed, but nodded. Lifting up a massive hammer, "I'll keep the dinos away." Athena smiled weakly and nodded once. As Martinet went to guard them, Zach and Minerva set Athena down on the ground and leaned her against the side of the Fire Hammer.Minerva stared at Athena, trying to find something to say. The only word that made it past her lips was, "M-Mom?"Athena bit her lower lip. There were tears in her eyes. "I'm here, Minnie." The younger Fabello woman was still guarded. "Minerva, I...I'm so sorry. For everything."Minerva froze. Memories of herself as a young child flooded her vision. She had her ear to a door. She could hear a woman weeping gently. The woman hadn't left her room for days. She would only leave to get more bottles full of a liquid that Minerva wasn't allowed to have. A blonde-haired boy pulled her away from the door and told her to stay away from her. "But she's my mom," Minerva had argued. Oswald had grimaced."She's not Mom anymore. She doesn't care about us anymore."Tears were forming in Minerva's eyes. This was her mom. The happy mother she had known when she was toddler. Not the alcoholic woman who used her memories to hide away from the present, but Athena Fabello. It was only now did Minerva realize how much she missed her mom in all those years growing up under Tod and Oswald's care. Being shot must have freed her mind from her amnesia somehow.Minerva leaned forward and hugged her mom. Athena returned the hug. Her crying was louder now. "I'm so sorry. Because of me, you had no mother and lost a brother." Athena choked at mentioning Tod's death. "Oz...Oz had every reason to do what he did.""No," Minerva muttered, not wanting to let go of her. "He didn't. He shouldn't have. He's...not okay. He's-""Shhh," Athena said soothingly. Minerva became quiet immediately. Minerva pulled away and looked into her mother's eyes. There was calm comfort and acceptance in her eyes. "I'm so proud of you, Minerva," Athena whispered, wiping a tear off of Minerva's cheek. "You haven't let what I've done to you control you.""But...but, I-"Athena put a hand to Minerva's lips and shook her head. "I've been watching you for the past hour, Minerva. I remember everything you said, including what you said to Oswald. You've become a strong, beautiful young woman. I...I only wish I hadn't missed watching you grow up." Athena looked past Minerva and up to Zach. He was clearly shaken, but had remained silent. "Thank you, Zachary. Thank you for helping me reunite with my daughter one last time. Even if I was a little annoying." Zach smiled faintly and nodded."No!" Minerva gasped. "You can't die! You've come back. You're yourself again! You can't leave!"Athena smiled sadly. "It is certainly unfair that the only way I could speak to you as myself is when I'm on the verge of death. You'll pull through, Minnie. I'm sure of it." Athena touched Minerva's cheek quietly. "I wish I hadn't been so weak." Her voice was becoming weaker. "I wish I hadn't given up.""Mom!" Minerva sobbed. "Martinet! Get back over here! Please! You can-""Shhh," Athena whispered gently. "It's okay, Minnie. I get to see them again. I hope Tod forgives me. I'm so sorry...""Please!" Minerva begged, her desperation growing. "I forgive you! Just don't go!"Athena looked into Minerva eyes, a motherly smile forming on her face. "I love you, Minerva. Tell...tell Oswald that I...love him...too." Athena closed her eyes. Her chest rised one last time before falling and become still."No!" Minerva yelled. She shook her mother's shoulders once, knowing that she wouldn't respond. Minerva laid her head upon Athena Fabello's cold shoulder and sobbed loudly, grieving the loss of her mother.

IC:"So," Blaire Darkling said, smirking slightly. "Have we reached an agreement?"There was silence over the radio briefly before there was a response. "Yes," Doctor Matthew Cyrista said with certainty. "I will be your second-in-command."A wave of relief washed over Blaire. XERRD's future was secured in the Elite Dino Attack Agent's hands. "Excellent. With you on standby in case I should die or do something... regrettable, you will continue XERRD's reformation and continue to aid the Dino Attack Team against the Darkitect.""'Regrettable?'" Dr. Cyrista repeated, an air of suspicion in his voice. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"Blaire's smirk widened considerably. "Nothing, really. The point is you are now my second-in-command and will aid in commanding XERRD, provided your Dino Attack duties do not stand in your way. I will now make the official announcement to XERRD regarding our truce, your place, and hopefully weed out any last fools who refuse to see that Baron Typhonus is alive.""Good luck," Matthew Cyrista said."As to you, old friend." Dr. Oak then cut the connection to Dr. Cyrista and extended his radio signal to all of XERRD. Scratching his beard briefly, Blaire crossed his arms and gestured for Dr. Oak to put him on the air."Members of Xenon Elite Researchers Regarding Dinosaurs! This is Blaire Darkling. The time has truly come that we save the world. Not with the extinction of the Minifig race, but with preserving it so it may continue to strive another day. At this point and time, XERRD is now officially allied with our sworn enemies, the very team will helped create in our foolish decision to destroy this planet's civilization; the D.I.N.O. Attack Team!There is no doubt now! While Ronald Alexander had tried to deny it and some of you have backed him up, Baron Typhonus, the fabled creator the Maelstrom, is very much alive. Not only is he alive, but he is the Maelstrom. We have been tricked. Manipulated. Underneath Typhonus, now being referred to the Darkitect, we perverted the very name of science and used it in our attempt to bring about the end of the Minifig race on the LEGO Planet. Not to restore it to its former glory and allow dinosaurs to repopulate the planet, but so Baron Typhonus could destroy this planet. We have been nothing but pawns to him that he cast aside once his goals are accomplish!What's worse is that once Dr. Rex was usurped and our organization was taken over by Michelle Glados, we continued this fruitless campaign of self-destruction! She knew very well that Baron Typhonus was responsible for having us start this Dino Attack, but continued this battle for no other reason but for science! Our time as Baron Typhonus's playthings is at an end! Most of us were members of Paradox! We control the Maelstrom, not let it control us! Our former leader is nothing more than a puppet at this point! Merely an invincible weapon for Typhonus to use to destroy us all! Once Dr. Rex has left nothing of this planet but ruins and corpses, he will be destroyed as well!And with our destruction assured if we continue to aid the Mutant Dinosaurs, I have seen fit to align with the Dino Attack Team. I have come off a conversation with one of their top members and will welcome us among their ranks with the idea that we will pay for our crimes. We'll pay some of our debt off by helping them destroy the monsters we have so foolishly created. With this move, will have lost the favor of Dr. Inferno, whose overinflated ego continues his fight against the Dino Attack Team, and Willa the Witch, who I believe is also being manipulated by Baron Typhonus thanks to her Maelstrom-enhanced power. But in there place, we will gain the favor of not only the Dino Attack, but the Agents, Alpha Team, and the forces of the Brickster, Evil Ogel, Sam Sinister, and Lord Vladek, far better allies in my opinion.And to assure that we will no longer aid the Maelstrom's agenda in the case that I must resign from command, I have established Doctor Matthew Cyrista, now an Elite Dino Attack agent, as my second-in-command. Yes. The same Matthew Cyrista of UlTech Industries who went missing. The one who designed Cyrista's Bane. He has become a top figure in the Dino Attack's ranks and will keep XERRD on the Dino Attack's side provided I pass on. Feel free not to believe me. I'm sure Dr. Cyrista will be more than willing to prove his survival.Now, go forth, members of XERRD! Restore right to the wrong we created!"Blaire stepped away from the microphone and turned away. It was official now. He didn't pride himself in public speech, but he believed his words should have hopefully convinced any remaining supporters of Dr. Rex of Baron Typhonus's hand in this affair.Blaire's thoughts were seized as a pained scream cut through the air. Turning quickly, he saw an electrospear jutting out of the chest of Dr. Oak. He stared at in morbid shock before his eyes rolled back and he became limp. The Quasifigus lacertilia pulled his electrospear out of Dr. Oak's body and glared at Blaire as three other Hybrids joined him. All of the Hybrids' eyes flashed bright purple and seemed almost to be on fire. They snarled at him and began to move toward him. Blaire quickly noticed the unmoving bodies of other XERRD scientists in the area.Their advance was cut off as Gary Oak, who had grabbed his grandfather's Space Marauder gun, shot one Hybrid multiple times. Gary's distraction gave Blaire enough time to run at the Hybrids. Pulling out a dark gray katana with a violet line running along the edge of the blade, Blaire jammed the sword into one Hybrid's chest. Before the other could respond, Blaire had already shot him in the head with his gun.Blaire pulled his sword out of the Hybrid's body and placed it back in his trenchcoat. He stared at the bodies briefly. The Darkitect is not happy with our change of allegiance. Blaire allowed a small smile to form on his face as he shook his head. How ironic. Huntsman had the Hybrids betray the Dino Attack Team, and now Typhonus has had them betray XERRD.Blaire turned to Gary, who stared at his grandfather's remains with watering eyes. "The Hybrids have betrayed us. Spread the word, then get out of here. Nowhere is safe now, might as well fight." Blaire turned and began to descend the stairs. He had a battle to join and, more importantly, had a space ninja to find.OOC: I hope how I did this will work for you, avmatoran.

OOC: I think blowing up the headquarters is almost certainly crazy and will end up ruining us all. If the headquarters blows up, won't it destroy the Teleport pad on top of the headquarters that was going to be used to evacuate personnel?Though, of course, there is always the possibility that PeabodySam does not care that the headquarters is being blown up and force all of us (from small child Mary Rose to probably-should-leave-while-she-still-can Kate Bishop) to stay and fight (or die).Looks like PeabodySam saved the day. For now. And the windship looks great. As for the Einstein Device, I can only repeat Andrewnuva's point and say, if done right, it can work.And I... *cough* I mean, Marco Martinet still thinks Elite Agent Hauk should've injected explosives into Snake's body. I also feel compelled to hurry up and post more. But thanks to school starting, that's going to be a be a bit hard. But I'll pull through.IC:Minerva edged up closer to Zach, who was gripping Athena's arm as if to stop her from running away. "I'm really sorry about all, well, this." She gestured to Athena, then to Oswald, who had his gun trained on them. They were drifting to the west, moving away from the bulk of the battle. They had no way to call for help, as Oswald had made sure to confiscate Zach's radio and to destroy it.Zach gave a weak, half-hearted smile. "I'll pull through. Besides, you spent most of Adventurers' Island trying to deal with my issues. I suppose I should return the favor here with your crazy, dysfunctional family. No offense, by the way." Minerva cracked the barest hint of a smile. She could only imagine this being a lot worse if she didn't have Zach nearby, who was taken being held captive by her brother rather well."Which reminds me, Virchaus," Oswald spoke up, a hint of smug amusement in his voice. "I was watching you chase after Mom when I set you go. What was she doing?""She thought she was nineteen and I was following her and hitting on her," Zach said with a shrug. Both Oswald and Minerva's eyes widened at this."She thought she was nineteen?" Minerva repeated, shocked."Yeah. She got mad, then she decided I was 'cute' and decided to 'go out' with me. I guess her mind just decided to go with that since there was no one around to connect her to her past." A grin formed on his face. "The only real thing that taught me was that I am attractive to Fabello women, mother and daughter."Minerva chuckled quietly. Oswald didn't say anything. Zach then glanced up into the sky and laid his eyes upon the Brickster's T-1 Typhoon. Suddenly, a Minifig flew out from the hull on a skateboard. He had a red-and-blue shirt with blue jeans, a green backpack, and a white cap. In one hand was a pizza and in the other was a Sonic Screamer. The skateboard-riding minifig tossed a pizza at a Mutant Lizard, which screeched in pain as the skateboard landing on the ground. The minifig then turned a fired a sonic blast at the lizard, dropping it. The minifig then skated into the fray, launching pizzas and firing his Sonic Screamer."Knock me over and call me deconstructed," Zach laughed. "Pepper Roni flying out of the Brickster's helicopter on a skateboard. You'll never see that again." Minerva nodded in realization. More LEGO Island stuff. She would get this island's population and quirks down, only to probably be killed during this battle. "Anyway, Oswald, can you hurry this up? We're both kind of needed in the battlefield."Oh yeah. I heard about the promotion the two of you received. Surprised, Minerva. I didn't expect you to do anything noteworthy to even getting considered for promotion." Minerva didn't say anything, only feeling her face grow extremely hot. At this point, Oswald definitely had to have some type of split personality. One was the brother Minerva had known for years. The other was the revenge-fueled monster created by XERRD."Minerva more than deserved that promotion," Zach growled. "And she doesn't need her demented older brother to put her down at every opportunity." Oswald didn't have a comeback, resorting to only staring at Zach with hate.They were finally at the edge of the river. Far away from the bulk of the Dino Attack and Mutant Dino forces. Minerva and Zach turned to Oswald, who had an edge of uncertainty in his eye. "Now," Oswald began. "Get-" He was interrupted as a brown Mutant Lizard suddenly appeared and lunged at him, knocking him to the ground.Zach and Minerva were quick and going to help Oswald when two more Mutant Lizards appeared. Deciding to bend Oswald's command about his Maelstrom powers, Zach quickly killed the two Mutant Lizards with Maelstrom fireballs. Before he could take aim at the one on top of Oswald, a scream pierced the air."NOT MY SON, YOU MEGABLOKER!" Athena Fabello charged past Zach and Minerva, who watched in shock, as she dived on top of the Mutant Lizard. Wrapping her arms around its neck, Athena used all of her strength to pull the lizard off of Oswald. It screeched and snarled at its new attacker and desperately tried to bite Athena's face. Athena hit its face as hard as she could with her fist and squeezed the lizard's neck against her chest as hard as she could. The Mutant Lizard desperately tried to shake free of Athena's choking grip and managed to scratch her arms multiple times. Athena winced with each attack, but refused to stand down. After several minutes, the Mutant Lizard finally stopped struggling and grew limp.Athena let the Mutant Lizard slide to the ground. Her entire was shaking and tears were flowing from her eyes. Oswald had climbed to his feet and stared at her mother. Minerva could tell he was terrified. She was too. Horrible visions of Athena approaching a twelve-year-old version of herself flashed through her mind. Watching Tod jump in front of Athena's path and take the knife meant for her..."Not my son, not my son, not my son," Athena muttered, glaring at the Mutant Lizard's body with pure hatred. "Not again. Not my son. Not again. Never again. My son. Tod. My fault. Never again. Not my son..." She was weeping quietly.Minerva and Oswald were both in shock. "Not again?" "Tod?" "My fault?" Does she remember what she did to Tod? Minerva thought. It was impossible. She couldn't possibly remember killing Tod that night. She blinked several times and saw that Zach had coaxed Athena into moving away from the Mutant Lizard carcass and was calming her down. Her eyes widened just briefly before she turned to Zach and smiled faintly."Oh, hello, Zachary," Athena said. She looked at Oswald and Minerva, which caused her smile to brighten considerably. "So we're finally all together!"Oswald snapped out of his stupor and shook his head. Picking his gun back up, he addressed Zach and Minerva, "Get to the side. Away from her." Minerva felt her arm get lightly grasped by Zach as he pulled her to the side, snapping her back to reality. "Take the helmets off. Don't argue, just do it." Minerva and Zach shrugged and threw both of their helmets to the ground, allowing their sweat-matted hair to get even more soaked by the rain."Ooh," Athena said, walking up to Minerva and running a hand through her daughter's hair, causing her to flinch. "I like what you did with the color!" Oswald growled and pulled Athena away before glancing back at Minerva's brown-and-white hair curiously."What's with the hair?""The Maelstrom," Minerva said coldly. "The Darkitect, Baron Typhonus, you know." Oswald ignored her and allowed a sincere look to form on his face."Minerva, I'm begging you, please join XERRD. If you don't, you'll die. I-I can't lose you like Tod. You're the only family I have left. And if you don't..." Oswald pointed the gun at Athena, causing Minerva to jump. "I'll kill her. Don't...don't make me do it. Please..."Minerva could see that Oswald was going off the deep end and was desperate to save his sister from the Mutant Dinos. She looked at Athena, who stared at the gun in absolute silence, then to Zach, who looked at Oswald with mixed shock, revulsion, and pity. He then glanced to Minerva. "Listen-"A gunshot shattered Zach's sentence. Minerva turned to Athena, who was unharmed but spooked horribly. Oswald had the gun pointed in the air, a scowl on his face."Virchaus isn't helping you," Oswald growled. The "bad" Oswald was back out. "No one is choosing for you except yourself. You've been helped along your entire life. It ends now, Minnie. Time to make your own decisions. If Virchaus says anything else, I'll kill him. Also, don't even consider saying yes to my offer, only to take Mom and run. If you do, I'll kill all three of you."Minerva stared at Oswald in horror. "Oswald, please," she pleaded quietly. "You aren't like this!"The barest hint of "good" Oswald appeared. "Decide." And that was it. Minerva had to find a way to stop Oswald and save her mother. She was getting help from anyone. No Zach to help her come up with plan. She was absolutely alone.Minerva first considered how to possible agree to Oswald's demands and still save Zach and Athena. It would be easy. Say yes and follow him. But, as Oswald had clearly demonstrated, he was mentally unstable. He could still turn and shoot Zach or Athena to break Minerva's will. Denying his demands would only result in Athena's death and possibly Zach's, if he was extremely desperate.Maybe she still could deny his demands. For all intents and purposes, only Oswald and herself were present. Minerva could try to appeal to his better nature. Possibly convince him of Baron Typhonus' survival. She could try to get him to reform. Zach had told her earlier that Oswald had expressed a desire to kill Athena, but now he looked like he didn't want to have to resort to it. He's doubting himself. His will, his decision to join XERRD. He's doubting it. Minerva was trapped. No way could possibly end well."Oswald," Minerva began with a shaky voice. She calmed it down quickly. She couldn't show doubt or fear to him. His "bad" side would take her weakness and grind it into the ground. "You can't continue doing this. You're destroying yourself from the inside out. I know that XERRD got you to join them by using your past against you. By convincing you that I helped ruin your life. And it's partly true. I did make life harder for the both of us. I...I was angry and sad at everything that had happened and took it out on everything, especially you. But because of you, I got better. I cleaned up my life." Minerva gave one weak sigh before continuing."I've known you forever, Oz. You aren't like this. You don't enjoy murdering innocent people. You don't want to watch the world burn because two mad scientists told you it was fate. You're my smart, kind older brother who gave up everything to raise me. You were the closest and greatest friend I ever had. Please, just drop the gun and come with me. I'll forgive you for what you've done. I just...want you back." She extended an open hand toward him.Minerva almost felt her little speech was kind of sappy, but she stood her ground. Oswald stared at her hand intently. His hand with the gun was shaking rapidly. He gave Minerva a look of desperation. Minerva knew he wanted to go with her. He couldn't bring himself to grab Minerva's hand. He turned back to Athena, who was watching in confusion. Oswald bit his lip and Minerva watched in horror as Oswald's finger pressed lightly on the trigger of the gun. He glanced at Minerva one last time. His left began to extend shakily toward his sister. Minerva held her breath, desperately reaching from her brother's grip.Then Oswald's radio crackled to life.

OOC: TITLE DROP!I forgot to mention this, but feel free to have any other agents you want be apart of Rosalie's reinforcements from Antarctica *coughcoughzennacoughcough*Now be prepared for this post to ooze unnecessary drama.IC:"Hey guys! I just found this cool technicolor butterfly. It's so hi-technicaaaal!""Just keep that thing away from me, man?""So I heard this Maelstrom thing has its soldiers set off bombs that, like, suck worlds into the Maelstrom! Like there's a subspace in the Maelstrom!""I thought the Maelstrom was created by some chaos heart and we needed heroes and technicolor pure heart things to defeat it..."You folks need to stop playing so many video games. Just because some vortex made of evil is purple and black does not make it the Maelstrom.""Hey! What did that guy say about meaningless conversation on the comms?"Fine. 'Yahoo! Reinforcements! Did you see those guys wipe out the Maelstrom's air force?' Happy?""Yes.""So, with dinos entering the base, I'm calling us out as officially doomed.""Wait, 'Vinyareno?' Is that a shipping name? Because I've got at least cargo ship full of parings. For starters....**************************Nazareno blinked several times. Zelda's entire face was red, but she looked at Nazareno with unwavering eyes. "I...like you too...?" he said with uncertainty.Zelda's face became a darker shade or red as she deciphered his tone of confusion. "I...I don't think if you understand what I'm getting at.""To tell you the truth, I really don't."Zelda blinked twice in confusion. "I-I like you. As in like-like you." Nazareno was unmoving, still trying to figure out what she was trying to say. He saw frustration begin to form on her face due to his lack of response. "I'm in love with you!" she nearly shouted.Nazareno stared for several seconds, trying to come up with a response to this revelation. She was in love with him?! But...how? "You're...in love with me?" Nazareno repeated dumbly, as if he couldn't comprehend what she was saying (which wasn't far from the truth)."Yes!" Zelda said, nodding furiously. Nazareno simply stared. He had never attracted anyone, let alone be attracted to someone else. Being a stoic ninja with your face covered up by a mask did that to you. For once in his life, he wasn't sure what to do. Some part of him did, apparently, because he started talking again."I-I'm sorry, Zelda," Nazareno began. "But I...just can't.""Why?!""Well, for starters; based on what you told me, I am thirteen years your senior."Zelda stared incredulously. "You're thirty-four?! But...you don't seem like you're in your thirties! I-""Well, I am," Nazareno interrupted, raising a hand. "I'm too old for you. You would be better off finding someone closer to your own age.""But I like you!" Zelda snapped. "We're both adults. It could work out! You just-""You've never seen my face!" Nazareno continued, a scowl beginning to form on his face. "How can be attracted to me when you don't even know what I look like."Zelda's eyes widened with mixed shock. "So? Love isn't based on physical attraction, Nazareno! I'm in love with you, not how ugly or handsome you think you are! Why are you-""What about the fact that we are basically a student and mentor? It would inappropriate for the two of us to be together.""Well, considering we're both adult and we are at the literal end of the world, it doesn't matter. Would you just-!""And you were a pirate," Nazareno said with a slight stammer. He growing irritated with how determined Zelda was at this. "It just wouldn't work out. It..." Even as he said it, he knew how weak of an argument that was. Did he dislike Zelda's pirate background? Sure, but did he really hold it over her head? No, and Zelda knew that."I was never a pirate! My parents were! You're just making up excuses!" Zelda said, her voice rising slightly. "Why won't you at least try something? What's your real problem with this?""I'm not in love with you!" Nazareno yelled without even realizing it. He immediately regretted it. Zelda looked at him in silence, trying to hide her emotions. But for a variety of factors, which could include never learning how to conceal her feelings or being a descendant of loud and boisterous pirates, Nazareno could see how upset Zelda was at this. "Listen, Zelda, I-""No," Zelda said, her voice shaking. She shook her head slowly. "You're right. It...it wouldn't have worked it. I'm sorry for bugging you. Just my stupid emotions getting out of control. And I can't really expect you to share my feelings. Let's just get back to fighting, okay?"Nazareno watched her retreating back with mixed emotions. He felt waves of bitter resentment wash over him. Part of it was how he had rejected her. He had let his emotions overrule his calm, logic demeanor and had, more or less, crushed Zelda's heart into a million pieces. The other part was:I'm not sure I'm not in love with her, Nazareno realized, a knot forming in his stomach. For all his skill and power, he had finally found an area where he had no control. No knowledge, no prior experience. Nothing. A feeling of being totally powerless washed over him. He had just alienated the first woman to show any romantic interest in him (with him possibly reciprocating the feelings) and he didn't know how he could fix it. Nazareno was about to turn to try and talk with Zelda when he saw Solomon Koplowitz standing by her. Nazareno winced slightly as he noticed how Zelda was careful to avert her eyes from him."We need to keep moving," Solomon said. "Or we're dead."Nazareno shot one last look toward Zelda, then nodded grimly. "Of course," he said, making sure to keep his voice controlled. "We must battle on." And with that, Nazareno, Zelda, and Soloman jumped back into the battle, swords swinging.

OOC: I'm back. And it seems our situation as not improved.Soloman can stay with Nazareno and Zelda, that guy. In fact, it makes an idea I have's awesome factor rising up to...well...eleven, at least.Now, instead of focusing on the Fabellos...and Zach, Nazareno and Zelda, have Vinyaya find a vehicle, or have Blaire give his rousing speech to XERRD, but instead, we're going to be focusing on...someone different!I'd also recommend listening to "Enter the Galaxy" from Super Mario Galaxy. Or "Grand Star Rescue" or whatever you call it.IC:"Would you hurry up and put me back together?!""I'm-a working on it!" Marco Martinet snapped. "There happen to be a lot of Mutant Dinos around here." As if to prove his point, Martinet rose to his feet and slammed his hammer into the side of a Mutant Lizard's face. "Now, shut up and let me do my job!"Dr. Marco Martinet's patient in-question was suffering from burn wounds from a Mutant Lizard. His name was Snake, but following a beatdown by a another man named Snake, he had changed his codename to Plastic Serpent, or simply Serpent. Only now, the other Snake had supposedly ditched the team, leaving Serpent free to take his name back. That Snake guy was a criminal Martinet noted. Why didn't inject him with microscopic explosives that the authorities could blow up if he decided to escape?Martinet applied one last bandage over Serpent's wound before sending him back into the battle. Martinet turned and sprinted back to his Fire Hammer, swinging his mighty hammer through waves of Mutant Dinos. He pulled off one of his grenades (designed to look like pills), pulled the pin, and jammed it into a Mutant Raptor's mouth before reaching the driver's seat and pulling open the door. Martinet watched with grim amusement as the grenade went off in the raptor's mouth, killing it."Well," Martinet said, turning to his medic partner Doctor Giovanni Wade. "Let's-a keep moving, shall we?" Putting the Fire Hammer into drive, Martinet and Wade set off to continue their medical work. As Martinet discovered recently, he was rather skilled behind the wheel. Heh. Perhaps I should have become a race car driver, eh?The battle in the sky had taken a definite turn for the worst. The Dino Attack, Alpha Team, and Agents all had to deal with not only Mutant Pterosaurs and Inferno helicopters, but now Maelstrom Dragons and Fright Knight windships. The air vehicles were particularly getting battered by the Maelstrom Dragons, who were much stronger than the average Mutant Pterosaur. They could also land and cripple land vehicles with their powerful Maelstrom fire."How are these guys still here?" Wade muttered. "I thought with the Maelstrom Temple's elimination, all Stromlings except for Hybrids and Mutant Dinos were destroyed!""Well," Martinet grumbled, running down several Mutant Lizards. "Seeing as the Darkitect is still there and I hear this Fright Knight witch has Maelstrom-enhanced powers, I imagine she bent the Maelstrom Dragons under her thumb, and the Darkitect bent her under his thumb.""The skyfleet's going to need to figure how to take these guys down or we're going to need reinforcements. And..." Wade paused and pointed to an injured agent trying to hobble away from a swarm of Mutant Lizards."I got this," Martinet said, kicking up his door and landing on the ground, hammer raised. He ran toward the agent and swung his hammer at the Mutant Lizards. After a short, bloody carnage, all the lizards laid dead or wounded. Martinet then turned to the agent. "Get into the Fire Hammer!" The agent nodded and started moving toward the Fire Hammer. Martinet began to follow, but stopped.Just beyond the Dino Attack Headquarters, a fleet of T-1 Typhoons were approaching. As they soared over Dino Attack Headquarters, Marco Martinet managed to count at least 25 T-1 Typhoons. In addition, five Dino Air Trackers were with the group, carrying two new Fire Hammers, two Iron Predators, and one High Voltage Half-Track.The T-1 Typhoon fleet connected with the Maelstrom's airfleet, guns blazing. Taken off-guard by the sudden reinforcements, Mutant Pterosaurs and Maelstrom Dragons were easily grounded and Inferno aircrafts and Fright Knight windships were ignited and being sent spiraling toward the ground in fiery explosion.Martinet raised his hammer and cheered. There was still no idea on how to defeat Dr. Rex, but the reinforcements against the new Fright Knight arrivals were greatly appreciated. As he cheered, the lead T-1 Typhoon broke off from the main group and oddly began to move in Martinet's direction. As it began to land, its weapons opened fire on Mutant Dinos below hoping to take a bite out of it. Martinet aided the helicopter with his hammer and grenades. As the T-1 Typhoon landed, a woman appeared from inside the helicopter's belly. Martinet gasped.The woman had long, platinum-blonde hair with several flips in it and a long bang that completely covered her right eye. She was tall and had a calm and commanding aura surrounding her. She had a chain around her neck with a star-shaped medallion attached to it and had star-like earrings danging from her ears. She stepped out T-1 Typhoon and looked at Marco Martinet with her one, light blue eye and gave a small, reserved smile."Rosie?" Martinet gasped, feeling shock, surprise, fear, and happiness all radiate out of his body at one. Rosalie Mercedes nodded once began walking toward Martinet. As he embraced her, he asked, "What are you doing here?""The Dino Attack Team had seen fit to promote to Elite Agent almost immediately after you left," Rosalie said in a calm, soothing voice. "After Dr. Rex launched his attack on the headquarters, I helped organize several T-1 Typhoons to fly over here from Antarctica to come to the team's aid."Even though Marco was happy to see Rosalie again, he was extremely fearful. He was still getting to know her. He didn't know how he would respond if she would die. Horrible memories of hearing what happened to another woman he had loved.Rosalie seemed to detect his concerns. "I can fight, Marco," she said, touching his shoulders. "I did spend a lot of time in Antarctica, but I didn't waste it sitting around. And when I was sent out on a mission, I held my own rather well."Martinet bit his lip with uncertainty. "I just...I-"Rosalie laughed gently, interrupting him. "I am a rather skilled pilot, Marco. I will be safe. There's is no use worrying about me when you should be doing your job."As if on cue, "Come on, Martinet!" Wade shouted. Martinet glanced back to Wade, then to Rosalie."Stay safe, eh?" was all he could muster.Rosalie smiled and nodded. "May the stars shine down on you." She then turned and reentered the T-1 Typhoon, which Martinet now noticed had a black star painted on its nose. As the helicopter rose back into the sky and engaged the Maelstrom's forces, Martinet heard Wade yell for him. Swallowing his bad feelings, Martinet ran back to their Fire Hammer ambulance. Rosalie was right; there was a job to do and people to be saved.

OOC: I was all "Poor guy. Been pushed off the deep end by everyone he loved and manipulated into doing stuff blah, blah, blah."And then: I lost it.EDIT: Shoot! I just remembered I was going to vaguely hint at this in my previous IC! To boost morale and all that good stuff. Or at least get a more fabulous send-off than getting an unflattering send-off by being crushed under a tent.IC:Blaire Darkling surveyed the battle with increasing interest and dread. Upon escaping Kareem Nazareno and his allies, Blaire had stumbled upon a rather advanced XERRD command post in a three story building. From there, he could continue his observations, now as XERRD's leader.Blaire was relieved that the bulk of XERRD had decided to accept him as leader. There were a few naysayers, such as Paulie Gonepus, but they could be silenced. He had control. No, what unnerved him was Nazareno's appearance. The last thing he had wanted was someone directly related to his past appearing, particularly a rival. It could easily tempt him into becoming Matthew Vherestorm one last time. However, Nazareno would have to be dealt with later. Now, he had an organization to run.Blaire turned away from the window he was watching the battle from and descended down the stairs. Dr. Rex had been halted to speak with his sister, but that ended rather quickly and he continued his attack toward Dino Attack Headquarters. Members of XERRD were out there aided them. He had told them to fight. No fancy maneuvers, tactics, or tricks. Just fight. So Blaire could consider his next move carefully.He reached the second floor and came upon a complex set up of radios and laptops. At this point, this building was where all XERRD transmission came in. Several Hybrids and Inferno Agent stood guard over the XERRD scientists that were at work."Get me on with Gadd," Blaire commanded to Dr. Oak and his grandson, Gary. They two pressed several buttons, then gestured for Blaire to speak. "Alvin Gadd?""Darkling," Alvin Gadd's voice came over the radio. "I suppose you want an update, correct? Very well. First things first, Paulie Gonepus was discovered dead."Blaire smirked coldly. One less loose end to deal with. "Anything recoverable? The Maelaser?""Nope. All destroyed."Blaire shrugged. "Very well. Where is Dr. Inferno? I don't want that fool skipping out." He heard menacing growls from the Inferno agents guarding the room. Blaire turned to the Hybrids. "Get rid of them, please.""Look out the window." Blaire did. He saw a tall, black and orange robot stomping through the city toward Dino Attack Headquarters, throwing vehicles aside with its claw and toasting anything that crossed its path with a flamethrower arm."Ah. I was wondering when that mech would show up. Anything else worth reporting?"He thought he could hear a sigh on Gadd's end. "Go on to the roof of the building." Blaire shrugged and ascended the stairs to the third floor and used a ladder to reach the roof. He looked up into the sky and raised an eyebrow.Several black-scaled dragons flew in the sky with the Mutant Pterosaurs, breathing purple flames. With them were several boat-like aircrafts with straps connected from the boats to large, black dragons, who carried them.Blaire lifted his walkie-talkie to his face. "So the Fright Knights have arrived." XERRD's other ally with a large amount of resources. Though despite their allegiance, the fact that the Fright Knights saw fit to use Maelstrom Dragons worried him.One windship split off from the group and floated to the building Blaire was standing on. It was much larger than the others, with a massive Maelstrom Dragon carrying it. From the windship rose Willa the Witch on her broomstick, a wand spinning in her finger tips."So!" Willa the Witch cackled as she lowered herself down to Blaire's eye level. "You are XERRD's leader now, hmm?""That would be correct," Blaire said, staring hard into the witch."I hope you don't mind if I don't get your name?" Before Blaire could answer, she raised her wand. "Good. And I'm glad to see myself and the Fright Knights have arrived just in time to stop this pesky Dino Attack Team from taking Castle Cove from us! In addition to the air force above you, we have several ground troops as well. And," Her tone darkened. "I can find King Race and Lord Vladek and get my revenge.""Unfortunately," Blaire said, crossing his arms. "We have already received word that King Race had perished. Lord Vladek and his allies are out there, though you may not get the opportunity to get your revenge.""And why not?" Willa the Witch sneered."I am considering a truce with the Dino Attack Team."Willa the Witch gasped and flew in so close that her breath began to fog up Blaire's sunglasses. "You would not dare join them! The other kingdoms would return and take Castle Cove from me! If you join them," she jabbed Blaire in the chest with her wand fueled with the Maelstrom's power. "You will regret it."Blaire's face remained emotionless. He could see purple sparks travel through her wand. He was vaguely reminded of Zachary Virchaus and his Maelstrom powers. But unlike Virchaus, Willa the Witch had never been a Stromling and did not understand the Maelstrom's true power as Virchaus did. Blaire could only assume that, with her use of the Maelstrom in her magic, Willa the Witch was now unknowingly under Baron Typhonus's thumb and would aid his Mutant Dino army in destroy the Dino Attack Team before he turned and destroyed her himself.A strange smile formed on Willa the Witch's face. "I think you see my point. One word of joining the Dino Attack Team, and I will see to it that the only thing you will lead is the dead!" Cackling madly, Willa the Witch flew back into Windship and it returned to the sky. It traveled to east of the headquarters. Blaire saw the small blip that was witch fly out of her windship, a purple ball of energy surrounding her. She then flew around in several circling before shooting straight through the central tower of Dino Attack Headquarters, starting several purple fires in the building.Blaire grimaced. He did not have the Fright Knight's support, but that wouldn't matter. He lifted the radio back up to his face. "Gadd?""Yes, Darkling. I'm here. That's all that's really worth reporting. Oh, and I another thing: I'm done."A surprised smile formed on Blaire's face. "Elaborate.""This whole thing. I'm done with XERRD. We've all made a terrible mistake, and I'm determined to fix it." Gadd paused before continuing. "I've also found Dr. Lee and freed him from the death trap Dr. Rex put him in. We're both surrendering."Blaire was surprised. "I'll admit, Gadd. I thought you were spineless. Here you are telling me off. Is it foolish? Perhaps. Regardless, you will not need to surrender to the Dino Attack Team if everything goes according to plan. Just wait a few moments." Gadd sighed, but ultimately agreed to Blaire's demands. Blaire then returned to the second floor."Well?" Blaire asked expectantly to Dr. Oak."I think you could pull it off. You do have something planned for the others, correct?""Indeed.""Yes. Also, Dr. Inferno refuses to accept your plan. He states he will never ally with the likes of the Alpha Team, Agents, and especially Ogel."Blaire scowled. Of course. Dr. Inferno's massive ego refused to see that unless he allied with his enemies, he would not take over the world, but be destroyed. "A pity, but we can move on without him. Have you traced the radio signal from Elite Agent Semick's message?" Oak nodded. "Then let's get this show on the road."Blaire stepped up to a microphone, tapped it briefly, then said, "Elite Agent Semick?"A short silence before the Elite Agent spoke up. "Yes? Who is this?"A small smile formed on Blaire's lips. "My name is Blaire Darkling, the leader of XERRD. I would get into contact with you leaders, but you made the request, not them.""Am I hearing this right? You're forming a truce?""Indeed I am. The shroud of the Darkitect has fallen. I refuse to be his pawn any longer and will see to it that he is defeated and the creatures of destruction we helped create are stopped. Unfortunately, Dr. Inferno and Willa the Witch refuse to go along with any alliance with the Dino Attack Team, so the Inferno agents and Fright Knights are still enemies to you. After I am finished with talking to you, I will make the announcement to XERRD as whole in an attempt to turn an who are still under the Darkitect's influence to helping us. And if that fails...well, fell free to let any of your agents' trigger fingers' slip if they see a Space Marauder, Sorcerer, or Shinobi aiding the Mutant Dinos, Fright Knights, or Inferno agents."Blaire paused, then concluded with, "Is there any terms or conditions you would like to lay down before making this truce official?"

OOC: Wowsers. That confrontation was most satisfying and Trigger's end was interesting as well. I'd say go for Rotor as your new primary character, Atton.And now Katerina and Dr. Rex. Oh boy! Heh. I had planned on how to insert the other two references ("Paulie-Znapping-Gonepus" and "Nothing of good food") but the "Blah" just came to me as I was writing that. lol. Who the Fr- will probably be revealed today after this post.IC:Minerva, Zach, Athena, and Wilma walked through the headquarters at a brisk. Minerva was keeping an eye on her mother while Zach listened in to a radio that he had received from Joike's Fire Hammer. Luckily, Athena had kept mostly quiet at this point. Minerva was relieved at this. Now that her emotions were in check, she probably wouldn't have snapped at Athena again, but it was still just better to have her quiet."What's going on outside?" Minerva asked Zach as he put away the walkie-talkie"The Darkitect sent Dr. Rex straight for the headquarters," Zach said with a hint of urgency. "He's only being held off by talking to a woman, who I am hearing is either 'Kat', 'Katerina', or both. Which makes some sense, as I did hear something about Kat being Dr. Rex's sister." He turned to Wilma, "Dr. Rex appears to be fighting off the Darkitect's influence for now to speak to Kat. I know personally that he won't last long unless something big happens, so we need to take this opportunity to find this Teleport Pad quickly."Elizabeth Wilma nodded and sped up her pace. Zach and Minerva adjusted while Minerva grabbed her mother's arm so she could keep up. As they rushed through the cafeteria, Minerva got a brief look around. Back in the kitchen section, Minerva thought she could see Mama and Papa Brickolini baking pizzas, thought she wasn't sure why. The mess hall itself was mostly devoid of life, save for a couple of people sitting at a table with their heads bowed, speaking quietly enough that Minerva could not comprehend what they were saying.She sped up to Zach. "What are they doing?" Minerva whispered to him, glancing back the Minifigs."Praying, presumably. To what deity, I'm not sure."Minerva frowned slightly. "What is that supposed to do?"Zach shrugged. "People find comfort in it. To know someone more powerful than anyone is out there, listening. Also, there is a giant beast leading an army of monsters toward this headquarters, the giant beast being controlled by an almost godlike person in control of basically the essence of chaos and destruction. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some religious text that describes an incident like this. All we really need is a savior to arrive and save us from certain destruction."Minerva glanced back at praying Minifigs. She herself did not follow any religion, preferring to put her faith into more physical beings. She couldn't really blame the Minifigs for trying find some comfort in this battle or trying to get some outside help. At this point, she could probably bring herself to pray as well.The group continued down the hallways in silence. Zach and Minerva was eager just to get Athena out of danger so they could return to the battle. Naturally, things never seem to work out that way."Stop," a shaky voice commanded from behind them. Minerva flinched visibly. "Turn around." Wilma, Minerva, Zach, and Athena turned slowly to face Oswald Fabello, pointing a handgun at the group.Minerva suppressed a small gasp. Zach was right. Oswald wasn't looking very good. Sunken eyes, unkept hair, a slightly-crazed look. He had sank even farther down since she had last seen him fleeing into Adventurers' Island's jungle."Oswald," Minerva whispered. "I-""Drop your weapon," Oswald commanded irritably. Minerva dropped her Cosmotronic Ray quickly. "You too, Virchaus. Drop the knife." Zach scowled, and let his knife fall to the floor. "And no Maelstrom tricks, Virchaus. One little purple spark, and I will kill all of you." Zach didn't say anything, choosing simply to glare. How did he know about that?Minerva wondered."You," Oswald hissed, turning his stare to Elizabeth Wilma. "I don't care about you. Get out of here. Now."Elizabeth Wilma looked to both Zach and Minerva. Minerva couldn't bring herself to speak, so Zach did. "He's dangerous. Just go. And maybe get some help." Oswald chuckled coldly, but didn't say anything. Wilma nodded quickly and turned and fled. "Well," Zach continued, crossing his arms. "Your plan seems be working, from what I can tell. Athena and by extension, you, made it to Minerva. What now?"Oswald cracked the barest hint of a smile. "We get out of here so we can have a more private place to talk." He stepped to the side and gestured for the group to get ahead of him. Gripping Athena's arm, Zach gave Oswald one last cold glare before they started walking. Minerva came up from behind and walked by Oswald as they began to leave the headquarters.Minerva looked at Oswald, who stared straight ahead. Her brother probably disliked Zach and he most certainly hated Athena. If anyone could possibly reason with him at this point, it was her."Oz," Minerva said quietly so only he could hear. She had chosen to use his old nickname as if to better connect with him. "What are you going to do?"Oswald was quiet for a brief moment, and then he spoke. "I can't lose you, Minerva. You're the only family I have left."Minerva was taken aback briefly. She had expected the ax crazy, murderous psychopath she had seen on Adventurers' Island to speak. Instead, she was speaking to her older brother. "Do you think being with XERRD will keep me alive?" she asked gently. Oswald nodded slowly. "No organization is safe from Baron Typhonus. He'll destroy the Dino Attack Team, then turn the Mutant Dinos on XERRD. No one is safe."She saw his eyes narrow briefly. "Baron Typhonus is dead. He was killed when the Maelstrom was created.""No," Minerva said, her voice growing cold. Oswald finally turned to look at her. "He isn't. I saw him myself in the Maelstrom Temple. He spoke to me, trying to get me to turn against my team. He is alive and he's out there now, controlling Dr. Rex. You are his puppet, just like the rest of XERRD is."Oswald looked at her, unsure what to think. Minerva was silently hoping that her words were help Oswald. He then turned away. "I don't know what to do with you, Minnie," he said in a shaky voice. "Part of me wants to just kill you. The other part wants to keep you safe because your my baby sister and the closest companion I had in the last six years."Minerva reached a reassuring hand out to Oswald. She wasn't sure if he was actually being manipulated by the Darkitect or his sanity was declining because of the Darkitect, but she was determined to help him. Oswald looked at the hand, then at Minerva. "You helped me when I needed it most," Minerva said warmly. "I want to return the favor."Oswald seemed like almost wanted to grab the hand and pull his sister into an embrace. To apologize for what he's done. He then turned his head and saw that they had reached the front door. Regaining some of his composure, Oswald turned to Zach and Athena. "Out the door. Now."The group shuffled out the front door and into the battlefield. Minerva gave Oswald a pleading look, but he ignored it. "This way," Oswald said, pointing. Sighing but not willing to give up Oswald just yet, she followed the rest of the group toward Oswald's destination.

IC:Commander Holly Vinyaya and Doctor Paulie Gonepus collided together fiercely. Vinyaya held off Gonepus's Maelaser as he attempted to point it at her while she, with her free arm, attempted to point the Cosmotronic Ray at her foe.Unfortunately, even with Gonepus's right arm no longer functioning thanks to a well-placed shot from a sniper, he still had one mechanical arm on his back. With that arm, he easily pulled the Cosmotronic Ray from Vinyaya's grip and tossed it aside like a toy. He then grabbed Vinyaya's neck and hoisted her high into the air."I'm thinking," Gonepus said, pointing the Maelaser at Vinyaya's right leg. "I take out ever limb you own as compensation for that limb of mine you took. Maybe jab out that other eye of yours for kicks. Then, to spare you of anymore pain, I'll blow your head to MegaBlokLand. How's that sound?"Vinyaya responded by kicking the Maelaser out of Gonepus's hand. Instinctively, Gonepus dropped Vinyaya and reached out with the tentacle to catch the weapon. Vinyaya quickly stood back up and punched Gonepus hard in the face."Remember, Gonepus?" Vinyaya hissed with a cold smirk before punching Gonepus again. "I took out your other robo-limb. No more circus acts for you; you're back to only two arms."Gonepus quickly recovered and smacked Vinyaya hard in her midsection with his mechanical arm. "Perhaps." Gonepus snarled as he walked toward her, cracking his knuckles on his left hand. "But I think this one arm has enough before to break you into ten different pieces rather easily. Eleven if you count the epaulets."Vinyaya was quick to notice that Gonepus had ignored his Maelaser completely. She assumed he was suffering a borderline Villainous Breakdown at this point and his only concern was harming her in as many ways as possible. She could use this to her advantage.She quickly rolled out of the way as his mechanical arm curled into a fist and smashed down into the concrete, creating a small dent. Gonepus roared in anger and smashed his mechanical fist several more times into the concrete, missing the quicker Vinyaya each time. Gonepus then picked up a chunk of rubble and tossed at Vinyaya like a Frisbee.Vinyaya ducked to dodge the blow as the rubble shattered into the building behind her. She spotted her Cosmotronic Ray nearby and started to move toward it. Gonepus hurled more pieces of rubble. One piece flew at Vinyaya's feet. Vinyaya jumped over the piece and stumbled slightly as she hit the ground. It was enough for Gonepus to charge at her and pin her throat against the building with the mechanical arm.Vinyaya gasped for air as she stared into Paulie Gonepus's mad eyes as he grinned. She kicked her body upward and wrapped herself around the tentacle. She briefly saw a look of shock on Gonepus' face as she kicked underneath his chin.Gonepus screamed and clutched his face, dropping Vinyaya hard on the ground. She stumbled toward her Cosmotronic Ray. She picked it up, turned, and fired three consecutive shots at the XERRD scientists. Each shot was off by at least three feet.MegaBloks. She had used her right hand. Gonepus spat out a few teeth in anger and lunged at Vinyaya as she switched arms. She dived to the side as Gonepus's mechanical arm tore through the side of a building. Before Vinyaya could pull off anymore shots, Gonepus turned and kicked her in the shin. She gasped in pain, giving Gonepus enough time to go and punch the right side of her face.Vinyaya screamed in agony as her acidic scars created a burning sensation across her entire face. Gonepus chuckled darkly and attacked again. Vinyaya collapsed to her knees, her eye watering from the pain. Gonepus prepared to attack again when Vinyaya's hand shot upwards and grabbed the arm. Gonepus gasped as Vinyaya twisted his arm sharply. She ducked as the mechanical arm snapped at her head viciously. Fighting through the stinging pain, Vinyaya rose to her feet and kicked Gonepus in the stomach before punching him in the nose.Vinyaya turned to pick up her Cosmotronic Ray when Gonepus's mechanical arm grabbed her heel and lifted her in to the air upside down. Vinyaya felt all the blood rushing to her head as Gonepus grinned madly. He punched her hard in the face again.Vinyaya suppressed a scream as body swayed from the force of the hit. As her body swayed toward Gonepus, she wrapped both arms around his throat and squeezed hard. Gonepus made a retching sound and abruptly dropped her again. Vinyaya dragged her feet back into a standing position and kicked Gonepus in the thigh.As he groaned, Vinyaya released him and backed away. Gonepus glared at her and lashed out at her with the mechanical arm like a whip, shattering the concrete it brushed against. He lashed his arm out again before grabbing her arm and whipping her around into the side of the building, leaving a Minifig-sized crater in the wall.Despite her armor absorbing most of the shock, Vinyaya still had the wind knocked out of her and a weak grade of whiplash. She prepared for Gonepus to attack again when he heard her chuckle darkly. "Of course. I had forgotten about you."Vinyaya rolled out her neck briefly and her eye widened as she saw Gonepus once again had the Maelaser. "You know," Gonepus said, in a false calm voice. "You are more trouble than you are worth. I think I'm just going to finish this here." Vinyaya was already moving when Gonepus roared, "IMMA FIRIN MAELASER!" Where she had been was now only a gaping hole after the dark violet powers of the Maelstrom tore through it.Vinyaya was mentally punching herself. She had taken too long and now Gonepus had found the Maelaser. "You're crazy!" Vinyaya shouted without even realizing it.Gonepus shrugged. "Blah." Then another streak of Maelstrom energy shot out of the weapon toward her. Vinyaya combat rolled out of the way and into her Cosmotronic Ray. Picking it up with her left hand, she ran out of the way again as another blast of energy came at her. Aiming briefly, she fired the Cosmotronic Ray twice.The blasts struck Gonepus's remaining tentacle. His small eyes widened and he bellowed in horror as he watched the decapitated tentacle fly through the air almost in slow motion, gripping the Maelaser loosely. The Maelstrom weapon then slid out of the arm's grip and began to fall toward the ground.Gonepus was running toward it, hoping to catch it. Vinyaya lowered her shoulder and charged at Gonepus, throwing him back. Gonepus snarled and shoved Vinyaya away forcefully with his left hand. He ran and managed to barely catch the Maelaser in the cradle he formed with his left arm."You're finished, officer!" Gonepus roared. He turned around toward Vinyaya. "I'm going to-" He was interrupted with the sound of gunfire. Gonepus gasped and his body jerked involuntarily. He looked from Vinyaya, whose weapon was smoking from being fired, to his chest, where there was a small hole in his Space Marauder armor and where a small, red blotch was forming. Gonepus dropped the Maelaser in shock and fell to his knees, gasping for air.Vinyaya walked toward the XERRD scientist slowly, her weapon trained on his head. He looked up at her, a look of mad fury in his eyes. He weakly reached for his Maelaser, only for Vinyaya to kick it away."One more stake into your heart shouldn't matter," Vinyaya said coldly to the scientist. The Dino Attack Team already had one Maelaser in there possessions. And the more advanced copy that could corrupt Minifigs. There was no need for this one. Pointing her Cosmotronic Ray at the Maelaser, she fired.The weapon created a rather impressive, purplish explosion upon being shot that made the hair on the back of Vinyaya's neck stand up on end. When the smoke cleared, only a small pile of ashes remained. Gonepus looked at the pile in horror, what little color in his face draining away instantly. He then looked at Vinyaya with the most horrifying face of pure hatred that she had ever seen."You disgust me," Vinyaya hissed. Watching Gonepus breakdown over losing his mechanical arms and the Maelaser reminded the look of pure fury Michelle Glados had shown in the Maelstrom Temple after her teleporting device had been shot and destroyed by Minerva Fabello. "You care more for your pathetic little toys then you do for billions of innocent lives. The fires of MegaBlokLand are waiting for you, Gonepus."Gonepus snarled, his breathing becoming harsh and shallow. He was beyond saying anything comprehensible. He laid on the ground, a small pool of blood forming around him. Doctor Paulie Gonepus breathed one last, painful breath before moving no more.Vinyaya stepped through the hole Gonepus had created with his Maelaser and took shelter in the building briefly so she could catch her breath. She just barely brushed her hand against the ride side of her face, which was now only emitted a dull pain. Vinyaya let a small, celebratory grin form on her face. She may be half-blind, but she could still kick brick. And Pierce was going to keep in the headquarters. Pfft.Vinyaya reached for her radio and pulled put in close to her face. "Commander Vinyaya here," she said with just the barest hint of cockiness in her voice. "Paulie Gonepus won't be a problem anymore." She chuckled briefly as she heard several cheers and whoops of joy at Gonepus's demise. She pocketed the radio and stepped back out into the rain. Enough celebrating. Back to business. She glanced at the ruined remains of her Urban Avenger mixed with the remains of the Fire Hammer Gonepus had thrown at it. 'Suppose I should find a new ride. Shrugging, Vinyaya headed back into the battle, her Cosmotronic Ray over her shoulder, ready to find a few dinos that needed a good beating.

IC:Nazareno landed hard on the ground and looked at Cyrista's Bane. They had taken down this behemoth and now it was allied with the Dino Attack Team, which was reason enough to celebrate briefly, as things were only about to get worse. They would need a hundred Cyrista's Banes at the point to even hope to defeat the Typhonus-controlled Dr. Rex and his Mutant Dinos. Additionally, Blaire Darkling had still not called for a truce with the Dino Attack, so XERRD and Dr. Inferno's agents continued to be a problem. Additionally, he heard that the Fr-"Hey!" Zelda said, tapping Nazareno's shoulders. He flinched visibly, leading Zelda to snicker quietly. "We did it! Cyrista's Bane is ours!""Indeed," Nazareno said. He jerked his thumb toward Dr. Rex and his army of Mutant Dinos. "We still have them to deal with. And XERRD, Dr. Inferno, and possibly-""Okay, thanks for bringing down the mood," Zelda interrupted, rolling her eyes. "A small victory is still a victory. Might as well relish it while we can.""I suppose so.""So, listen. I wanted-" Zelda was interrupted as two Mutant Lizards charged at them. The two of them easily cut them down."We need to fall back!" Nazareno said. Even with Cyrista's Bane defeated, the army of Mutant Dinos had not been halted. "Wipe out as many dinos as we can on the way." Zelda began to say something before Nazareno turned and started running, swinging his swords at any dino that crossed his path.As he jumped on to a Mutant Raptor's snout, Nazareno turned his head briefly as saw Zelda close behind. She was jumping from Mutant Lizard to Mutant Lizard, make sure to slice open their backs before jumping to the next one. Nazareno quickly slammed one katana into the skull of the Mutant Raptor before jumping to the next one.He became aware that Zelda was calling out to him, but over the footsteps and roars of massive dinosaurs, he could not make out the words. He was about to turn back to her when a Mutant T-Rex's laser beam struck near his feet. Nazareno glanced up at the offending T-Rex, his eyes narrowing.He moved toward the T-Rex's feet and quickly climbed up the beast's leg and on to his back. The Mutant T-Rex bellowed angrily and tried to shake Nazareno off. Nazareno ignored the beast's frustration and climbed on to the T-Rex's head, where he quickly jabbed both katanas into its eyes.The Mutant T-Rex bellowed in anger and shook its head wildly. Nazareno's footing slipped and he found himself hanging on to one katana gouged into the T-Rex's eye. The beast opened its maw and tried to shake Nazareno into its internal furnace.Suddenly, the T-Rex bellowed again. Nazareno glanced downward and saw Zelda stabbing at its feet and legs. It stomped around madly, trying to squish the pest attacking its legs. Using this distraction to his advantage, Nazareno spun himself around on the katana like a pole and propelled himself back on to the T-Rex's head. Pulling both swords out of the beast's skull, Nazareno glanced down at Zelda, who seemed to be talking to someone or something. She looked up at Nazareno and gestured him to jump of the T-Rex. Nazareno quickly slid down the Mutant T-Rex's tail and started running.Nazareno understood why in a moment. It appeared that Zelda had called for help, because as Zelda started running toward Nazareno, the T-Rex was peppered with Cyrothermic Cannon fire until it was put out of its misery.Nazareno allowed himself to sigh in relief. "Thank you for your aid, Zelda.""No problem," Zelda said quickly. "There's been something-""No time," Nazareno interrupted. He started up back toward the headquarters. "We need to-""Kareem Nazareno!" Zelda snapped suddenly. "Will you listen to me?" Nazareno turned back toward her, eyebrows raised. Her checks were bright red and upon seeing Nazareno's glare, began to stammer. "I'm sorry, it's-it's just-"Nazareno raised a hand curtly, stopping her. "What would you like to tell me?" Whatever it was, its was clearly too important to wait.Zelda seemed surprised. "Oh. Uh..." Nazareno gestured for her to continue. She clearly wasn't expecting this response, due to how flustered she appeared. After several seconds of silence, Nazareno spoke up."We do have an army of Mutant Dinos stampeding toward headquarters," Nazareno said. "Unless you decide to tell me whats so important, I think it can wait-""No," Zelda said quickly. She tugged on her ponytail nervously. "It can't really wait. Since we could both be dying soon..."Nazareno stared at Zelda briefly. He had no idea what Zelda wanted to say, but now his curiosity was sparked. "Well, what is it?"Zelda let out one, nervous breath before continuing. "I-I...I like you, Nazareno."OOC: Gasp! How will this dramatic/romantic plot tumor cliffhanger end? Tune in some other time to find out!

IC:"Alright, so you'll be on standby. We'll give you a call when we need to get picked up," Zach was saying to Joike as he, Minerva, and Athena stepped on to the front step of Dino Attack Headquarters. "They need every hand they can get, so I don't want you waiting around for us."Joike nodded. "Will do. See you later." The Fire Hammer's engine revved and sped away as it rejoined the rest of the Dino Attack Team. Putting on his helmet, Zach tapped Minerva's shoulder, who was looking at her mother with a sad look on her face."You alright?" he asked. "You and her were kind of..." he drifted off.Minerva turned to him. "I'm fine," she said quietly. "It's just like when Oswald showed up on Adventurers' Island. I was surprised and I didn't know how to respond, so I responded with snapping at her."Zach patted her on the back in a comforting manner. "I get it. At least she won't hold it over your head."Minerva gave a faint, bitter smile. "I suppose she won't. But how did you get her to remember you?" Zach briefly explained what Blaire had told him. Minerva looked over at her mother again. "He really thinks Napoleon XIV helped her?""It kind of looks like it. At least in some areas. I'm not sure if she'd ever go back to normal, even if the institution had done more to help her." Minerva didn't respond, continuing to stare at her, a look of pity on her face."I-I suppose she's happy," Minerva said, trying to keep her voice under control. "In her little world. It would be cruel to bring her into the world we're in now." Zach looked at Minerva curiously. As opposed to Oswald's 'resurrection', she was handling Athena's return rather well, especially when Zach thought back to Minerva's slight outburst when discussing Athena after receiving the letter from Napoleon XIV."I don't think I'll ever forgive her," Minerva continued quietly, almost more to herself than to Zach. "For what she did to us. To Tod. Because her, I have no mother and have one less brother. But...it's not worth it. Holding a grudge. Nothing good would come from it. It just..." Minerva faded off. Zach wrapped an arm around her and squeezed her close. He wanted her to know he would be there for her, no matter what.Athena turned briefly and looked at Zach and Minerva. Minerva didn't seem to notice, but Zach watched the older Fabello woman with mixed interest. Athena seemed confused and shocked as she watched her daughter get close with some stranger. Zach thought he saw the barest glint of a tear in the mother's eyes before they grew wide."Let's go, you two," Athena suddenly said. Minerva pulled away from Zach's embrace and stared. "Your sons are waiting." Minerva turned her stare to Zach, who was completely lost."She...she thinks you're my dad," Minerva said, incredulously."Do I look like your dad?" Zach asked as Athena walked toward Minerva and grabbed her hand.Minerva paused, trying to remember her long-deceased father's appearance. "You both have glasses. That's really sort of it."Athena tapped Zach's shoulder and gave him a warm smile. "Let's go, Isaac." Zach shot a brief glance at Minerva, who only gave a weak sigh before pulling her hand irritably away from her mother. Athena gave Minerva a confused glance that quickly faded away as Minerva grabbed Zach's hand and raised an eyebrow as she looked her mother curtly.She may not totally despise Athena, but that doesn't mean she likes her. Zach reasoned. "Let's get going. They'll be wanting us back in the battlefield soon."Minerva nodded. She removed her hand slowly from Zach's and pulled open the front door. Then she, Athena, and Zach stepped inside the building. Zach could see the receptionist Elizabeth Wilma gathering papers from her desk in preparation to evacuate."Um, excuse me?" Zach spoke up.The receptionist looked up, a worried look on her face. "Yes?""We heard something about a teleporter evacuating people to Antarctica, correct?" Wilma nodded. "Could you direct us to it. We found a civilian-" he gestured to Athena. "-and she needs to get out of here.""Of course, if you will follow me..."

OOC: Fantastic work on Cyrista's Bane, avmatoran.Rest assured, Dr. Cyborg's command at XERRD may not come this week, but it will be hinted at/established so that when Blaire does reliquish the position, Dr. Cyborg will take over.Also, PeabodySam, upon rewatching The Lazer Collection 3 and The Lazer Collection 5 for this post, it is spelled "Octogonapus"IC:"Whoaaaaaaaaa, whoa, whoa whoa, for the longest time-""Take that, XERRD! ...or Typhonus!. Or...who exactly controlled Cyrista's Bane?"Doesn't matter. What matters is that he was our enemy, and now he's not. Defeat means Friendship, simple as that.""I'm pretty sure it's not as simple as that.""Friendship is pretty magical, though.""Bad news, guys. Gonepus is still kicking and he's basically destroying everything in sight with his little gun.""I reckon we should call him Hexapus as a catchy, military-like codename. Cause he's like an octopus, only with six limbs instead of eight""I think he's after some Urban Avenger."Wait, isn't that the Space Police officer that was taken out by a Mutant Raptor?"Holly Vinyaya's pushed her foot down hard on the gas as an enraged Paulie Gonepus pursued her, firing his Maelaser at her. Thanks to her Space Police skills, she managed to have her Urban Avenger evade every shot. Which clearly irritated Gonepus.While Gonepus was primarily targeting Vinyaya, anything vehicle that cross its path was obliterated by the Maelaser. Naturally, several Fire Hammer began to pursue Gonepus. The mad scientist turned his head back and scowled. His mechanical arms collapsed beneath him and he turned and faced the Fire Hammers. Vinyaya turned sharply to see what Gonepus was doing, only for her mouth to open in awe.Four Fire Hammers were surrounding Gonepus, circling him menacingly and calling for his surrender. Gonepus smirked and fired the Maelaser at the cab of one, disintegrating the driver. The Fire Hammer behind it rammed into the ruins and crumpled the engine block. Gonepus quickly blasted that Fire Hammer and, ending the lives of the passengers in it.Gonepus quickly turned toward the other two Fire Hammers, have breaking out of the circle and fired Xenon blasts at him. Gonepus charged toward one Fire Hammer and his mechanical arms pushed him off the ground and on to the hood. Gonepus killed the turret operator before moving toward the Xenon Launcher and aiming it downward at the cab and opened fire. However, the driver jumped out of the cab and rolled away before it exploded.Gonepus snarled and jumped down to the Dino Attack agent that had escaped her death. He grabbed her throat with one mechanical arm and pulled her toward him."So!" Gonepus bellowed. "You were not content with being cooked in your little jeep?" The agent desperately tried to pull herself away from Gonepus to no avail. "You would've been cooked to perfection. You know nothing of good food!" Gonepus bellowed as he quickly broke the woman's neck before blasting her with the Maelaser.Gonepus turned to the other Fire Hammer, which was now turning to flee. Like a spider, Gonepus quickly moved with his tentacles and feet toward the Fire Hammer's side. His mechanical appendages slide underneath the Fire Hammer's body. With a short grunt, Gonepus lifted the Fire Hammer into the air. He then turned toward Vinyaya, a malicious smirk on his face as he flung the Fire Hammer at her Urban Avenger.Vinyaya quickly detached the Cosmotronic Ray hanging on her rollcage and dived to the side as the Fire Hammer slammed into the Urban Avenger, destroying both vehicles. Vinyaya panted as she stood up and pointed the Cosmotronic Ray at Gonepus.Paulie Gonepus was quick. Using his mechanical appendages, he backflipped toward Vinyaya, dodging each attack before stomping hard on Vinyaya's chest, pinning her to the ground. "And now," Gonepus sneered, learning in close. "You will die! IMMA FIRIN-"Vinyaya didn't let him finish his battle cry, instead opting for punching him in the face. As he stumbled back, clutching his sunglasses, Vinyaya crawled to her feet, found her Cosmotronic Ray and managed to get one shot off before being knocked down by Gonepus' tentacle.Gonepus roared in anger as Vinyaya bit her tongue as the right side of her face stung with pain at Gonepus's attack. Slowly crawling to her feet, she saw Gonepus without his sunglasses, as they laid on the ground, split in two. His eyes were small and beady. But that wasn't what was making him angry. He was looking at the remains of one of his tentacles, destroyed by Vinyaya's Cosmotronic blast.Gonepus gave Vinyaya a look of pure fury. "You! You!" was all he screamed. He pointed the Maelaser at Vinyaya with his left hand and hoisted himself back into the air with his remaining tentacle. "Perhaps you don't deserve a quick and painless death. I was going to shoot you in the head. You would've been out like a light. But now..." Gonepus spun the Maelaser in his hand. "I'm going make sure you suffer before you die.Vinyaya fired another shot that Gonepus easily dodged. "Nothing you could do," Vinyaya hissed, firing repeatedly at Gonepus. "Could ever amount to what that Mutant Raptor did to me. Give me your worse."Gonepus bared his teeth at Vinyaya. "With pleasure." With that, he landed back on his two feet and charged at Vinyaya. Vinyaya scowled and charged as well, determined to have Paulie Gonepus see his end.

OOC: I'm back from a wonderful weekend of camping, rain, and cake (so delicious and moist)XERRD's leader, eh? I did have an idea that had Alvin Gadd taking over once Blaire gives it up (and he will. Maybe not as soon as I originally thought, but he will). However, I would much rather have Nicholas or Doc Cyborg take over as opposed to one of my one-off reference characters. I have come up with an idea on how to pass the leadership on that I'll reveal when we get back to Blaire and his antics.IC:Zelda charged toward Cyrista's Bane as fast as she could, striking down any Mutant Lizard and injuring any other Mutant Dinos that crossed her path. Nazareno was just ahead of her, leaping from dino head to dino head, only swinging his katana to knock down Mutant Dinos that attack him.Nazareno had said much on the subject, but Zelda could tell he was anticipating a confrontation with Matthew Vherestorm, now going by the name of Blaire Darkling. He wanted to achieve a final triumph over his long time rival. Zelda was determined to aid Nazareno's in his mission however possible.However, instead of looking for Darkling, who still had XERRD's operatives attacking the Dino Attack Team, they were taking on Cyrista's Bane. Despite Nazareno's grudge with Darkling, Cyrista's Bane was the bigger issue and annoyance plaguing them, besides an invincible Dr. Rex-puppet. She still wished to tell how she felt toward Nazareno, but the battle around continued to interrupt her.As she stomped on a Mutant Lizard's head, she saw a blonde-haired man with a torn up Dino Attack uniform and a Z-1 Kinetic Launcher being surrounded by Mutant Lizards. Zelda diverted her path briefly to go aid the agent. Zelda slammed her katana down on to a fire-breathing lizard's torso and kicked away an acid-spitting lizard. She sliced up three more lizards while the agent shot away two more. Zelda jammed her sword into the last Mutant Lizard's mouth before turning to the agent.His blond hair was unkept and messy and, although he might have been handsome once, his face was now sunken with bags under his eyes. His uniform was torn up, but it looked as though those tears were caused months ago. "Are you alright?" Zelda asked urgently, quickly glancing toward Nazareno, who was quickly approaching Cyrista's Bane."Yeah," the man grumbled, ruffling his hair slightly with a hand. Zelda stared for a moment until she realized who this was.""Verrat?" Zelda asked, extremely surprised. The man's eyes widened. "Is that you?""I...yeah. It's me, Verrat," the man said, examining Zelda more closely. "You look familiar. I just can't place my finger on it.""It's me, Zelda, remember?" Zelda continued. "We were both on LEGO Island. Before you went missing."Verrat nodded in recognition. "Ah, I remember now. Frodongan, wasn't it?" Zelda nodded. Verrat smiled weakly and seemed to reminiscing. "You had a red streak in your hair back then. And didn't use swords.""Well, a lot happened since LEGO Island.""I know." Verrat chuckled quietly. "I remember thinking you were a pretty-looking girl.""Oh," Zelda's face turned bright red. "Well, I...uh, thanks. Um...how did you get here? Where did you even go?""I was captured by XERRD," he said, looking around, becoming uncomfortable. "They...uh, let me go out here. Probably to get killed. But I found a Z-1 Kinetic Launcher and I've been trying to get to the headquarters.""Well, I can help you-""No, thanks," Verrat said quickly. He gestured to his weapon. "I think I can make it back."Zelda raised an eyebrow, but let his nervousness pass as simply not being with his teammates for a long time. "Alright, I suppose." She smiled at him. "It was nice to see you again, Verrat. I'm glad XERRD didn't kill you or convert you."Verrat's fingers tapped against his gun nervously. "Yeah...I...you too. Glad to see you again, Zelda." He shook his head briefly, as if to clear his mind, and ran past Zelda, his destination the Dino Attack Headquarters.Zelda watched him go briefly before looking back toward Cyrista's Bane. She would have to meet up with Verrat later. Now, there was a cyborg Mutant T-Rex to beat.

OOC: Alright, folks. I'm gonna be gone again this weekend and probably every weekend until the end of the RPG (just so you know).IC:Joike quickly turned the Fire Hammer out of the Mutant T-Rex's path and engaged much smaller dinos that were approaching the building.Zach pulled off his helmet and rubbed his head, now throbbing thanks to both the Maelstrom's influence in this battle and Blaire's attack."Are you alright?" Minerva asked, turning away to start firing at Mutant Dinos with a Cosmotronic Ray."Yeah," Zach grumbled. "If I hadn't had the helmet, I imagine I would be in a lot more serious pain. I think I left a dent in your Fire Hammer, Joike."Joike gave a half scoff. "I doubt it's gonna be the worst thing that happens to this ride today." Zach nodded grimly."So..." Minerva drifted off, turning her head briefly to glance at Athena, who was glancing out the window in awe. "Oswald put her with you?""That's what I'm thinking," Zach said as he climbed up to the front seat."What did he do to you, exactly?""We talked. Wanted a clearer picture of my relationship with you," Zach said as he started taking shots at Mutant Dinos. "I think once he figured it out, he knew I could take Athena to you."Minerva's voice became quiet. "How is he?"Zach grimaced. "I think he's losing it, personally. Looks like he hasn't slept in days. And..." He remembered what Oswald had said about Athena, now seeming like he revealed what he was going to do. "He mentioned wanting to kill Athena.""But...why hasn't he? From what Mom has said, it sounds he showed some of what XERRD does. Excluding the mass genocide. I mean, he hates her. Why would he pity her?""I don't know," Zach said, growing more uncertain of what Oswald was planning at the moment. "But your mom is in danger, both from Mutant Dinos and Oswald. We need to get her out of here.""Well," Joike spoke up. "From some of the radio chat, there is a teleporter in the headquarters that's a one way trip to Antarctica. That's probably your best bet of keeping her safe.""Can you take us there?" Minerva asked, a little hopefully."I can probably do it," Joike said, turning sharply. To a radio, he said, "Gypsy, we're heading back to headquarters for bit. We got a deliver a civilian.""We probably need to find someone to escort her back to Napoleon's," Zach said. "We'll deal with the whole 'lying about a patient's death' later.""Or not," Minerva said. Zach looked back at her with a confused look before realizing that she meant they could still both die in this battle."Minnie!" Athena gasped, pulling Minerva away from the window. "What are you doing?! You could hurt yourself!" Minerva shoved away her mom's arms angrily."Stay over there and be quiet," Minerva snapped harshly. "We're taking you home.""Do not use that tone of voice with me, young lady!" Athena shot back in a stern, motherly voice. "When I tell your father, you better-"Minerva turned her head quickly toward Athena, a look of pure fury on her face. "Shut up," Minerva hissed.Athena gasped in surprise. "Minerva Fabello! That is not something a four-year-old should say! Especially to your mother! I am surprised at you." Athena sighed and massaged her forehead. "What's wrong, honey?""More than you will let yourself handle!" Minerva growled."What is that...?" Athena sighed again. "Fine. Just go play with your brothers or something. Unless you're going to be rude to them as well." Minerva fumed silently as Athena turned away and muttered somewhat loudly, "I could really use a drink right about now."Zach looked back at Minerva, only to quickly turn away. Minerva' face was seething with fury. She almost looked like she had to prevent herself from attacking her own mother."Joike," Minerva said, her voice shaking with anger. "Could you please hurry up?""I think that can be arrange," Joike muttered, putting his foot down harder on the gas pedal. Zach imagined he felt awkward listening to a mother and her daughter fight with former not even aware that her daughter was an adult. Zach could only feel more awkward, knowing the full story about Athena's sanity slippage and how she fell to what she is now.The sooner Athena Fabello was back in Antarctica, the better.

OOC: I was insistent on getting Martinet to the front lines so I may use him later for something important. As of now, Martinet is free for anyone to use to solve their medical crisises (Shiller's, for example). Looks like Atton got it in before I could say it.Heh, yours and avmatoran's posts might be the only semi-bright spot in the battle, Andrewnuva199. Unless you both suddenly start punishing your characters physically, mentally, or emotionally. As for me, Brickhouse's death was only the beginning... Loling all the way to the bank.Time to put into action something I came up with a few days ago.IC:Holly Vinyaya's Urban Avenger turned sharply and opened fire on a pack of Mutant Lizards. So far, her eye (or lack of it) wasn't causing too much problems. The rain splashing against her scars caused mild irritation, but thanks to the painkillers she was keeping nearby, it wasn't too much of a problem.The so-called new leader of XERRD Blaire Darkling's revelation of him being Matthew Vherestorm stirred feelings only vaguely familiar to when Trigger called out Amanda Claw as Silencia Venomosa. While they never actually learned if Trigger's claims were true and the fact that Claw was now dead, Vinyaya had been willing to put behind her suspicions. Claw might have been a dangerous terrorist, but at least she was on their side. Blaire Darkling was of a near-equal level danger and as of now, he was an enemy. He could cause a lot of problem on his own if he allowed XERRD to continue fighting.Trying to calm her nerves, she turned up the volume on her Urban Avenger's radio so she could hear what was happening."There are dinos everywhere, man.""Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?""Thanks for the newsflash, Captain Obvious.""Don't be so hard on her, mate. She's probably just in shock.""But that is her name. Captain Jessie Obvious.""...Oh.""I wish I was a ninja will elemental spinning powers.""O...kay?""Hey, it's Verrat! I haven't seen you since LEGO Island!"Blaire Darkling? Sounds like some no-ranker who decided to takeover from Glados simply because there was no one else.""Watch yourself, Randal. Mutant Raptor coming up beside you!""Got it, I...oh no."Vinyaya turned her head and saw a blond-haired man driving a Steel Sprinter nearby, a Mutant Raptor closing in on him. Suddenly, a Space Marauder with red hair and dark sunglasses rose out from behind the Mutant Raptor, two mechanical appendages sprouting from his back. One was gripping the Mutant Raptor's top scale while the other was clutching a strange-looking weapon that was glowing a strange bluish-violet color. The scientist laughed in a deep, baritone voice and fired the weapon.A bluish-violet beam of energy shot out of the weapon and struck the Steel Sprinter, disintegrating the midsection and the agent's (Randal, Vinyaya presumed) legs. Randal screamed in pain as the Steel Sprinter split apart and he tumbled to the ground.The scientist leaped from the Mutant Raptor and landed precariously on one tentacle. The scientist wasted no effort in pointing the weapon at Randal and finishing him off. Vinyaya scowled and turned her vehicle hard so she was facing the scientist."Paulie Gonepus, I presume?" she called out.Dr. Gonepus turned sharply on his appendage and let himself fall to his feet. He pointed his Maelaser at her and starting walking toward her sneering. "Wrong move, space cop," he said confidently. As he walked, Vinyaya noticed part of the armor on his right arm was gone. A bloody bandage rested on his shoulder. Vinyaya also noticed his right arm sway slightly, as if he had no control over it."I see someone got to your arm," Vinyaya pointed out. Gonepus frowned."And I see a Mutant Raptor got to your face," Gonepus spat. "Blasted snipers. No matter. Another arm can be added to my back. Nothing has changed!""It will, because I'm going to make sure you're six-feet under before this battle is over.""Oh really?" Gonepus snarled and fired his Maelaser. Vinyaya was expecting this and quickly drove out of the coming blast's way."Because of you, Gonepus," Vinyaya hissed, circling the XERRD scientist. "We went to the wrong temple on Adventurers' Island and led to the unnecessary deaths of many agents, most notably Elite Agent Mur. And now, even after knowing what the Darkitect has done, you continue to murder Dino Attack agents. People like you, Glados, and Darkling make me sick. You all three seem perfectly sane (less so with you, you murderous freak) and yet you all continue a fight that will only lead to your destruction!"Gonepus fired another blast, this one striking a Mutant Raptor. "Shut up," he hissed as Vinyaya circled him. "Glados is dead and Darkling will be soon enough." Gonepus scoffed briefly. "Darkling isn't even a real scientist! He has no authority running this organization!""Surprisingly enough, I trust him more to make the right move than I do you right now," Vinyaya said in a matter-of-fact tone. "A former associate of the Brickfather and uses a weapon that, when its not incinerating its victims, can also corrupt its targets into Stromlings garner less sympathy than a ruthless ex-intergalactic terrorist?""Bah!" Gonepus exclaimed, lifting himself back up with one mechanical arm. "My new Maelaser no longer corrupts. I...we decided that we're sick of Stromlings. So only a quick, painless incineration for you. That's better than some of my other colleagues' weapons. Perhaps you heard of Dr. Provencal's staff?""I don't really care about Provencal," Vinyaya said. She turned sharply and fired a Cosmotronic Ray blast, striking the ground near Gonepus' tentacle. Gonepus roared with anger. Vinyaya fired one last shot before turning and driving away."You've asked for it, space cop!" Gonepus yelled. "You've incurred the wrath of Doctor Paulie-znapping-Gonapus! IMMA-FIRIN' MAELASER!" Vinyaya jerked her vehicle to the left and watched a blast of Maelstrom strike the ground where her Urban Avenger had been. Briefly looking back, Vinyaya could see Gonepus pursuing her on both of his tentacles, his Maelaser in his left hand while his right hand dangled uselessly. Vinyaya scowled and looked back ahead.Come and play, Gonepus.OOC: Today I relearned that Paulie's last name is spelled "Gonepus" not "Gonapus".I'm hoping that, since Gonepus is cannon fodder (which ultimately translate into redshirt), losing use of his right arm is okay.And of course, this wouldn't be possible had that guy hadn't decided to use Spy Clops instead of Gonepus. Which meant Sarah Bishop probably could've killed Gonepus, solidifying her moment of Awesome. Oh well.

OOC:Thing is, Atton, I never "actually" intended to do anything with Martinet. He's just out in the battlefield kicking brick and putting is back to better and would magically appear if I needed him. My primary focus in on "My" Fab Five (Zach, Minerva, Nazareno, Vinyaya, and Zelda), my members of XERRD (Blaire Darkling and Oswald Fabello) and our plucky cloudcuckoolander Athena Fabello.But...Consider Wade with Martinet. And I'd recommend sending him and Martinet over to Shiller and Wright, since the latter did call for a medic. lol. That's because Vherestorm only received one post in the limelight during Zelda and Nazareno's spar and one passing mention between Zach and Vinyaya during/after the shipping thing. Both these mentions are exactly one month apart from each other, which leaves almost one-two months since he was mentioned. A Chekhov's Gunman, if you will.But still, Kudos to the Dino Attack RPG Wiki!Version 2 guys. Go for version 2. Don't read it. Just choose it. I have to admit, I was in stitches over some unshaven, sweaty guy talking into some agent's ear. The mental image was just...lol.IC:Matthew Vherestorm smirked as Zach, Zelda, and Minerva back away upon hearing his name. Only Vinyaya and Nazareno planted their feet on the ground."Am I hear this right, Vhere-" Nazareno began.Vherestorm raised a hand. "Please. Matthew Vherestorm is dead. I only mentioned his ​existence for exposition reasons and dramatic effect. Please refer to me by my real name, Blaire Darkling."Nazareno raised an eyebrow. "Your real last name is an informal word that was used on this planet to refer to Stromlings?"Vherestorm laughed coldly. "I suppose so. I lacked a proper last name when I decided to start using my real first name again, so I chose Darkling with the thinking, 'Oh, that guy has the guts to use a name for the Maelstrom's foot soldiers as his last name? What a badman.'"Nazareno considered questioning why 'Blaire' didn't have a last name or his flaw logic, but decided again it. "So, Blaire Darkling, you've taken control of XERRD?""Indeed," Blaire said. "Dr. Rex is no longer fit to run this organization, and Michelle Glados has been killed. In the scramble for leadership, I have taken the reigns.""How did you get in with XERRD?" Nazareno asked. "Hired gun?"Blaire scoffed. "No. I reformed in 2007 and joined the Nexus Force and Paradox, hoping to redeem myself. My skills caught the attention of Dr. Rex, and I joined XERRD to aide in their quest for scientific advancement."Nazareno gestured to the battlefield around him. "I can clearly see your 'reformation' among all this chaos," Nazareno said sarcastically.For the first time, Blaire sighed. "No need for sarcasm, old friend. I do realize what I have helped commit." Nazareno didn't say anything. So if Blaire was aware that what he was doing was against his reformation, why did he continue with this? He had control of XERRD, he could align with the Dino Attack Team and its allies and possibly be redeemed.Blaire gestured to Nazareno. "Come, Kareem," Blaire hissed, a smile forming on his face. "One last fight, for old times's sake." Nazareno positioned his swords to attack. Blaire put the gun away in his trenchcoat and began to reach for something else when-Boom! A large Mutant T-Rex foot landed between Nazareno and Darkling. The T-Rex unleashed a loud roar of anger and turned to the Fire Hammers and Urban Avenger assembled beneath him."Attack!" Zach roared, over turning Nazareno's seize fire. Both Fire Hammer began to fire upon the Mutant T-Rex. Nazareno turned his head and saw Zach and Minerva quickly entering on of the Fire Hammer, which then turned and drove away. Andrew's Fire Hammer fired a few more shots before turning sharply and driving away. Vinyaya was running toward her Urban Avenger with Zelda close behind. Nazareno looked back at the T-Rex's feet. Blaire was gone. Disappeared into the chaos.Nazareno swore angrily and ran toward Vinyaya's Urban Avenger and grabbed on to her roll-cage with Zelda as Vinyaya sped away."We need to find him," Nazareno growled."Andrew, Zach, and Minerva will probably go on to the comms and tell everyone to keep an eye out for Blaire," Vinyaya said, taking a shot at a Mutant Raptor. "We'll take down every leader XERRD puts up until they put in someone who realizes the Darkitect will destroy them if they don't help."The full realization that his long time rival was now the leader of XERRD suddenly hit him. He had long thought Vherestorm to be dead. Now he was back, and clearly still wished to antagonize Nazareno.Vinyaya glanced up at Nazareno briefly. "I know you want to take him out," Vinyaya said quietly. "But he did say he reformed. He's aware of the evil he's helped commit. Semick sent out a message calling for XERRD's aide, right?" Nazareno nodded. "There's a chance he may have XERRD switch sides. You'll have work with him."Nazareno scowled angrily. "I suppose if the Alpha Team can work with Ogel, I can work with Vherest - Darkling."Zelda spoke up," Consider this. If we win, Darkling will probably make a run for it because of his past crimes. You'll still get your chance to take him down."Nazareno grinned darkly. "I suppose so." Nazareno then jumped from the Urban Avenger and landed on a Mutant Lizard's head. He signaled for Zelda to join him. She jumped off as well. Nazareno quickly signaled his thanks for the ride to Vinyaya before turning to Zelda."Now," he began, pointing toward Cyrista's Bane, which was moving closer to the headquarters. "Let's take that thing down."