>>C:\main_drive\Section_1: Events

[Krayzikk]

IC:

 

Behind his visor, Firen's eyes rolled at Kelken's commentary. To keep his hands busy, he began stuffing his gear back into his pockets as he watched the information on his visor, keeping an 'eye' open for any transmissions going in or out of the alehouse. He listened to Vailarin talk, and couldn't help but be mildly amused.

 

"Using my name is like putting up a big sigh saying 'Come find me'. And carving a word into a wall or making a flaming bird takes a while. Tell you what, if I ever do something interesting enough to be made into a song, I'll try for something flashy."

[Toa Levacius Zehvor]

IC: Vailarin / The Undercity / Artahka's Alehouse

 

The singer shook her head at Kelko. "If he wasn't already drunk, I'd dissuade him from that. This slimeball bartender likes leaving watered-down swill on the counters... but right now, I think this one might need something a little light."

 

"Still, as important as a sign or name is - and I'll think of one - that's not all. No tale's complete with a list of accomplishments. You've been helping with the gangs and all, but what about the Uppercity? You for the whole 'steal from the rich, give to the needy' thing? 'Cause that lot, they're worse than any gang. I... can personally testify to that."

 

Putting that memory aside, she slammed her fist into her palm and said, "Yeah, there's a lot of honest folk who wouldn't mind seeing someone give those lot what for. And dishonest folk. Pretty much all folk, really. You get what I'm saying, right?"

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor

Edited June 9, 2014 by Toa Levacius Zehvor

[sonyaxe]

IC: Zaak

 

"Change of plan! Vyns, follow me!" Zaak quickly gave chase to the fleeing Skakdi, forgoing the streets in favor of the rooftops. The Skakdi, apparently one of Plant Life, was armed with a Cordak Blaster. Zaak grinned. Clearly not a close quarters specialist he thought, already planning his attack. He vaulted a chimney, jumped a roof and leaped sideways, tackling the Skakdi to the ground. The Cordak Blaster went skittering across the street, but the blue-green Skakdi grabbed a pair of long knives and violently curled his body, which sent Zaak flying over him. The Toa landed on his back with a grunt, before kicking to his feet ninja-style and grabbed his staff off of his back, watching his opponent's eyes for a hint of an attack. Seeing this, the Skakdi's already unnatural grin widened further as his eyes started glowing. Instantly, Zaak found he couldn't keep his balance as he stumbled drunkenly backwards, trying to find a wall to support himself on as the Skakdi moved forward slowly, spinning a knife in its hand.

"Vyns! Any time now!" Zaak shouted.

[25K Now!]

OOC: It was a Vortixx. And the guy was inside the alehouse. Ara.

 

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"Zaak, Vyns!" barked Naona into the communicator as he took cover behind an upturned table, "wrong suspect!"

 

It was quite surprising how there were two blue-green beings wielding Cordak Blasters present in the alehouse, but Naona did not exactly understand how a Vortixx and Skakdi could be mistaken for each other. Then again, some of the blame could be placed upon him. He was not clear enough in his orders, which were for his fellow officers to stick with him as they engaged the possible Chains member, and the confusion may have lead to the current misunderstandings. Sometimes, the course of justice was quite a confounding one.

 

"This is going to look terrible on record," grumbled the Toa of Stone as the table exploded behind him, forcing him to quickly roll away from another shot.

 

With the constant barrage of fire from the suspect, Naona was facing some difficulty in keeping both the civilians safe and apprehending the Vortixx. He fired off a blast of laser vision from his mask, destroying two missiles in mid-air. He jumped forwards, hoping to move into close combat distance. He nearly lost his head, a lightning fast kick barely missing him, saving him from the horrifying death through decapitation. It would not do to misunderestima-

 

A Cordak missile exploded in front of him, sending Naona flying straight in a wall. He coughed in pain. His insides felt as if they were churning, and his back hurt as if a Makuta had decided to use him for Rahi experimentation. Even Extreme Eclectic Kolhii was less painful.

 

"Retreat from your current target," ordered Naona into the comm, voice hard as he pushed himself off the wall, eyes trained on the Vortixx. "Leave him a guarantee that the police will pay recompense, and come assist me. Now."

 

He blurred, dodging a missile as he moved closer. He needed to minimise damage to the alehouse and the civilians within. Collateral would not be tolerated.

[Perp]

IC: Kelko (The Undercity, Artakha's Alehouse)

 

BANG

 

"Woo!" Kelko cheered as he pulled himself up from behind the bar, raising the opened bottle in a mock toast. "This is some serious entertainment! Hic!"

 

He cheered more as other appliances exploded inside the Alehouse.

 

"Hey, visorface! Shoudn't you be doing something?" He took another swig of the cheap booze.

[sonyaxe]

OOC: In the future if I make a mistake like this can someone point it out before it us posted onif it was a confusig topic?

IC: Zaak

 

Zaak's foot bumbed the fallen Cordak Blaster, and it produced a hollow ring. Wait... Hollow? Zaak glanced at it quickly, the motion making his head swim from the Skakdi's vision attack, and noticed that it was dented way too much for it to have been a real blaster of Nynrah design. He moved his head back to the approaching Skakdi and focused on it neck, before noticing that where its armor had hit the ground, it was no longer blue green but dark blue. Zaak's eyes widened. This was a...

 

"You really are an idiot to have fallen for that. I mean, I expected to maybe give you people pause, but for one to chase me is just rich." He grinned wider. "I was a decoy, you dolt! And you completely fell for it. Have fun dying." Zaak was equal parts relieved and angry; relief for not tackling a random civie, and angry that he fell for such an obvious trick. He activated his comms.

 

"Guys, this guy was a legitimate decoy!" The decoy lunged with both knives, attempting to stab Zaak before he could finish his message, but was pushed back by a spin of Zaak's staff towards his neck, which forced the decoy to roll backwards to avoid decapitation. "Get that Vortixx! He may be a leader if he has a decoy! I've got this guy, get the other one!" Zaak finished and watched the Skakdi, avoiding his gaze and trying to anticipate his opponent's moves.

 

OOC: I think I managed to make that work out nicely. Forgive any spelling errors or typos, this was from my phone.

[Wade.]

IC:

 

Pain alone had become Volin’s world for what seemed to be an agonizing eternity. Every fiber of his being screamed in suffering as his muscles tore themselves apart, only to be rebuilt into something new, something stronger and his mind, seared into nonexistence, was reborn from the flames of salvation. In the perpetuity of his torment and the harrowing blindness of it all, something was gained, something precious that no one could ever take away from him.

 

Enlightenment.

 

The pain was gone. In its place, a vast hunger of infinite proportions remained, a voracious desire to swallow the world whole. He opened his eyes, beholding his workshop through a wide glare brimming with the crimson light of blood, radiating an insatiable appetite that was almost infectious. The same broad-chested Skakdi he spoke to moments ago gazed upon the terror that stood before him, black wings of the night spread wide to reveal a shadowy titan portraying the grace of death. The creature licked its massive fangs hungrily, tight skin hugging a skeletal frame deprived of any sustenance for what could have been eons.

 

Before the man could run, Volin fell swiftly upon him. His teeth sank effortlessly into the soft flesh, crunching through bone and metal with ease as he drank and drank, sapping his former boss dry of any life he once possessed. He could feel the man’s essence flowing into him, fueling his body so it could grow bigger, stronger, faster. When the source ran dry, he threw the corpse aside, but it wasn’t enough. His sinister gaze veered to the rest, and in a matter of minutes, he feasted on them too. He could feel their energy coursing through his veins, feeding his muscles until they turned into seamless slabs of raw strength, possessing no trace of any recent bullet wound.

 

The first sound he made was a sigh of satisfaction, disturbing in the sense that it still retained the distinction of a man and not a monster. The sweet taste of life upon his lips was a delicacy that left him wanting more, his appetite a bottomless pit that could not be filled, no matter how much he consumed. The building was empty, but that wouldn’t stop him. The city offered so much more, countless lives ripe for the taking, and by the sheer power that surged within him, they would soon become a part of him.

 

Black flames roared from his clawed hands, dousing stone and metal alike until it broke down into nothingness. Volin watched the building slowly disappear before his eyes, matter erased from the world, and as it could no longer support itself, he disappeared into the shadows.

[Constructelf]

IC Vynsehnt

I started to follow Zaak, but when Naona gave his order, I immediately turned around and headed back to the alehouse. Forcing my way through the door, I launched a force spinner at the Vortixx; at this close range, it wouldn't be that effective as a shield, but that probably didn't know what it did, so he would have every reason to dodge. Hand reaching for my pistol, I fired off another spinner to buy some more time.

[Toa Levacius Zehvor]

IC: Tuleron / The Undercity / Burning Building

 

In the flickering dark-light of the burning building - a mighty display, and the main thing which caught his attention - Tuleron stared. His eyes narrowed, as he began inspecting the site of the disaster. This flame, it was not something of natural origin. Stone did not burn like this. Metal did not burn like this.

 

The air reached through his mask. It was not meant to smell like this.

 

"Either the gangs have gotten awfully efficient," he pondered. "Or they have finally entered the main city. Which means my search is almost over..."

 

He was cautious. Though he had not seen the fleeing Volin, and the building was mostly burned, he quickly figured that whatever did this could not be far away. Though he very much wished to find and capture a Demon, being surprised by one was far from the top of his priority list. The pursuit if power was meaningless once one is with the Great Beings.

 

No tracks. No marks of blood or anything left. The creature, much like the building, was gone. Having figured that, so, too, was he; back down the alleys, and far away from where the police would inevitably arrive.

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor

Edited June 9, 2014 by Toa Levacius Zehvor

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

Vynsehnt had arrived - that meant well for their chances at capturing the suspect. Naona ducked and weaved past stray missiles that came his way, destroying them mid-air with stone pillars that rose from the floor. He leapt onto the first spinner that his colleague had fired, using it to propel himself onto the next spinner. Thoughts flew through his mind at rapid speeds - the Vortixx was distracted and firing a barrage of missiles towards the Toa of Stone's colleague - he needed to attack now.

 

A shadow fell upon the Chains gangster. He instinctively moved. It was a split second action, but it was one that saved him from excruciating pain, for the floor where he had originally been standing shattered as Naona slammed into it, the impact creating a small crater. If the officer was not so concentrated on the fight, he would have felt a slight amount of dread at dealing with his superiors and how he had once again damaged a building in pursuit of criminals.

 

He quickly rose to his feet, only to see a Firework Pistol pointed at his face. The Vortixx had moved faster, one hand holding the weapon to his face, while in other hand, a Cordak Blaster was pointed awkwardly at Vynsehnt.

 

"Ah," said Naona slowly. "This ... is a problem."

[Constructelf]

IC Vynsehnt

OH !!! FIREFIREFIREFIREFIRE-wait, Naona's being held up too. Drat. Good thing i wasn't that trigfer happy just then. But this is a problen. A fork. I let loose, and he gets shot. He messes up, and I get shot. Let's see... Firework projectiles generally move faster than Cordak rockets, but Cordak rockets have better propulsion. Naona's elemental power should work faster than my Rhotuka, and he can attack indirectly, unlike me... If any one of us does attack first, Naona would be the better one to do it. I can always duck; Cordak rockets don't arc, so if he aims high and I dive, I'm safe. I nod very subtly to Naona, then tilt my head slightly to the left, trying to convey my intent without blabbing it out.

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"Your gesturing is really obvious you know," said the Vortixx. "Whatever you have planned, I doubt it's goi-"

 

The Fireworld Revolver melted. Naona shut off his Mask and held his own revolver up to the Vortixx's head.

 

"Vyns," he said. "Please take out the cuffs."

[Constructelf]

IC Vynsehnt

I took out the cuffs. I edged towards the Vortixx, rhotuka ready to launch just in case he shot his Cordak blaster. If all went to plan, he wouldn't resist. If not, Rhotuka would start flying everywhere.

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

The Vortixx had understood that any movement could lead to his death, which made the cuffing quite easier. While Naona was not exactly someone who preferred to kill, it was obvious that the reputation of their police force was far more negative, which meant that in the suspect's eyes, he could shoot.

 

"Thank you for your cooperation."

[Constructelf]

IC Vynsehnt

"... That was easy." I turned to leave, but caught myself. "What else?" I asked.

[Perp]

IC: Kelko (The Undercity, Artakha's Alehouse)

 

Kelko set the bottle down for just a moment so he could loudly clap.

 

"Woo!" he cheered, watching the Enforcers arrest the perp. "Good show! Hic!"

 

He picked up the bottle again.

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"Return them to headquarters," ordered Naona. "I will ensure the safety of the civilians here."

[Toa Levacius Zehvor]

OOC: So time should be starting to readjust itself right about now...

 

IC: Romaln / The Undercity / Artahka's Alehouse

 

"More importantly..." the Enforcer said, bringing the Skakdi locked up in "Enforcer handcuffs" (i.e. dragging him by his spine), "We need interrogations. I'd suggest keeping this one asleep; the same goes for the Toa. Beings with powers are too unpredictable to make a field interrogation efficient."

 

"The Vortixx, though..." he mused, walking over to Naona. "That one, I can use. Hand him off."

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"What are you planning."

[Toa Levacius Zehvor]

IC: Romaln / The Undercity / Artahka's Alehouse

 

"An interrogation. What else?"

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"Very well," said Naona, nodding. "However, please do not be too harsh unless necessary."

[Toa Levacius Zehvor]

IC: Romaln / The Undercity / In Front of Artahka's Alehouse

 

"As is necessary." Romaln replied, taking the Vortixx and dragging him aside. The other advantage of this enemy was that they were still completely awake. The Wolf made certain that the Vortixx got a good, hard look at the unconscious Skakdi; something for him realize just what would happen if he were to cause trouble. He led him to one of the alleyways and threw him to the ground.

 

"Are you part of the Chains?" he asked the Vortixx.

 

"Well, I'm certainly wearing them."

 

A heavy punch, cracking the black mask. Romaln gave a sweep of his hand, knocking it off and onto the ground.

 

"Of course I'm part of the Chains you emotionally disturbed Mahi! And you... I know you. You're the one they call the Wolf. Yeah, the boss said you've been causing trouble. Said a few of our operatives have been found dead in the streets since you showed up."

 

"And so, too, have Demons been spotted. What of it?"

 

"Those mystical Matoran fairy tales? As if. The only Demon we have to put up with is an Enforcer who doesn't know their place. I give up a good part of my pay to keep you lot off our backs, and yet here we are. Do you realize what happens when this gets to either of our employed?"

 

Romaln said nothing for a few seconds, staring - not in confusion; simply an emotionless gaze. Finally, he said, "A simple criminal should know better than to accuse the Enforcers of accepting bribes. Doing so is treason. The penalty of treason, under Spherus-Magnan law, is death."

 

The cloaked-figures eyes went wide as Romaln raised his Scepter. The closed as he swung it. They opened again a few moments later, when he realized the Enforcer had stopped short.

 

"Fortunately for you, the Police want you alive. And while your Skakdi friend was my capture, you are simply a hand-over. However, there are things far worse than death, and such things may be inflicted if you refuse to talk. I will be asking you a few incredibly simple questions. With luck, even your simple mind will be capable of yielding answers."

 

Silence. But only for the moment.

 

"What is your name?"

 

"The Black Tunneler." the Vortixx hissed. "Nothing has ever worked on me twice."

 

Romaln gave a dry and dark chuckle. One of the few things which truly amused him was these gangsters ridiculous names. "So this is simply another addition to your ongoing list of romp-beatings? Interesting."

 

The look his captive gave was a stunned one, pledging death. Not that he could back that threat up.

 

"I think Xitak will work better for our purposes, of course." he continued. The Vortixx was taken aback; the world Romaln had chosen was a quite old anti-Vortixx swear, and a powerful one at that. Derived from Old Matoran, conversations with the word Piraka used casually could erupt into fight with such phrases tossed around.

 

"So, Xitak, tell me - how many members are in your little gang?"

 

"That depends on what you mean." he replied. "Around half of our number are just regular watchers as guards. Then you've got your dealers, maybe ten of them? Then there's us - around a score, but I've only met... maybe eight. The Catchers."

 

"And your base?"

 

"Hmmph. I don't know."

 

Romaln punched him once more.

 

"Okay, okay. Maybe twelve? You've got the boss, a few Catchers on break, maybe some Dealers. And the boss" The Vortixx neglected to mention that, at the current moment, a very special event was taking place, with easily twice as many people. The thought made him giddy inside, though he was hiding it well.

 

"You don't stand a chance against Seldron." the Vortixx said with a laugh. "If you try to act against the Chains, you'll all be dead. The Enforcers won't help... the police. What's one Enforcer and a few cops going to do?"

 

Romaln shook his head, chuckling once more. "Get more cops. Still, your information is quite invaluable... save that it's missing a very important piece. Where is the base?"

 

"What exactly am I getting out of this?"

 

"Your legs. Depending on the cops, a shorter sentence. Perhaps even isolation. I've heard interesting things about what happens to jailed slavers."

 

"Okay, okay. Point made. You know the Lurker's Web, right? To the south?"

 

"Of course. Your point?"

 

"It's there. We call it the Web of Chains, of course. Boss likes it when things match like that. It's in the very center... not that you could find it. Not without directions."

 

The Vortixx gave a dark, knowing smile. "Of course, directions can be false. Get you lost. But a guide.... you can keep pressing a willing guide. So long as that guide has a good offer."

 

Romaln just stared.

 

---

 

A couple minutes after that, he emerged from the alley with the Vortixx, and approached Naona. "This one can guide us to the Chains. But we'll need more... a lot more. This one estimates a dozen; I say fifteen. How many trustworthy cops can we gather up? Because we'll need a lot more for this than that last raid."

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor

[graggen2468]

IC: Sai'kun

 

From a nearby balcony, Sai’kun watched as the skakdi monologued and the officer (he believed his name was Zaak) comprehend his mistake. A decoy. How quaint. He did feel responsible for the situation. After all, he did start the fight with that freeze disk fiasco, and the police were trying to do their job for once. Their leader was probably still sprawled on the ground outside the alehouse. But now, he had to focus on helping the Toa. He removed a Ta-metru weakening disk, power level 5, from his pack. Since it was a Ta-metru disk, it would hopefully knock him down and make him too weak to get back up. Good luck fighting, filth, he thought to himself. Then he aimed the launcher and fired.

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

Naona looked towards his group (the Toa of Iron, the Vortixx, Vyns ... Zaak was still somewhere and had yet to reply), before turning back to Romaln. While he was sure of the competence of the small team he had gathered, he knew that attempting a raid on the Chains would be paramount to suicide with such little numbers. And he could only count the number of honest and trustworthy officers on one hand (although he was counting via his finger bones, leading to a total of twelve).

 

"I need a moment," said the Toa of Stone, nodding to the Enforcer and walking off slightly to the side.

 

He tapped his communicator, opening a line up back to headquarters.

 

"Dehkaz, this is Naona. I need your help in assembling a team."

[sonyaxe]

IC: Zaak

 

Zaak parried yet another blow from the decoy (a staff was no good against knives) when a random disk came flying out of nowhere. Noticing that it was slightly off course, Zaak ducked under a knife slash and swept the Skakdi's leg, forcing him to stumble backwards... Right into the path of the disk. It struck the Skakdi in the back of the head, knocking him over. Zaak took his opportunity and hit the side of the fallen fighter's head with the side of a blade, knocking him out cold. Zaak cuffed him then actvated his comms.

 

"In case you didn't get my last message, I have apprehended the decoy and am now back on my way towards the alehouse. Again if you didn't get my last message, he is a legitimate decoy, I confirmed it with my mask." Zaak hoisted his prisoner over his shoulder and started as quickly as he could back towards the alehouse.

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"Apologies for the lack of response, Zaak. Your messages were understood."

[Krayzikk]

IC:

 

"Tackling the Uppercity's a lot harder." The vigilante replied, after a long moment of quiet. Behind his visor, he scowled every so faintly. "Their tech is better, their numbers are higher, they're better trained, and they can fall back behind a point that we can't get through. I don't know what you've seen, but I've had a better look at what they can do than most. When they're down here... Down here I can handle them. Up there is an entirely different matter."

 

While Naona had been conversing with Romaln, unbeknownst to him, Firen had been monitoring his conversation both by ear and by bugging his communications devices. While he contacted his fellows, a message flashed across the screen;

 

If you're in need of help, I can lend a hand.

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"I will be glad to have assistance."

[Krayzikk]

IC:

 

"I'd rather you didn't try to arrest me, though. That would be inconvenient."

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona

 

"I will most likely not."

[Perp]

IC: Kelko (The Undercity, Artakha's Alehouse)

 

Kelko stepped out from behind the bar, satisfied that the situation at hand was, er, handled.

 

Bottle in hand and heavily swaying, Kelko slapped the envisored gray Toa across the shoulders as he passed, waddling further into the Alehouse. " fine job, son," he slurred.

 

Finding an intact table to sit down at, Kelko accidentally knocked over a chair.

 

"Apologies, ma'am," he said to the chair.

 

Kelko plopped himself down upon another, upright chair.

[Toa Levacius Zehvor]

IC: Vailarin / The Undercity / Artahka's Alehouse

 

"I've never been up top myself, not that many have." the singer replied. "But... I've been taken up to the Lock."

 

She left that thought to linger, as she began to take note of the cops and even an Enforcer milling about. "Something big is going down, isn't it?" she noted. "Take a group this big, and there's usually at least one cop being paid to capture vigilantes for the gangs. And the ones you fought... those aren't common thugs."

 

Looking about, she came to a realization, snapping her fingers. "Oh, you're working with them, aren't you? Like in the Ballad of Brutaka, when Lariska shows up to save the team and joins them in freeing Miserix, even though she was a Dark Hunter. But you're obviously not chasing Makuta, so... what?"

 

IC: Romaln / The Undercity / Artahka's Alehouse

 

"Unless my memory is failing with age - which it has not yet - that name is not the Chief's." the Enforcer noted. He also noted that Naona did not appear entirely there; something was distracting him, though he could not identify what. After a moment, he asked, "How aware is the Chief of the state of your department?"

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [The Undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"Our section is quite ... understaffed," replied Naona offhandedly. "I believe the Chief knows of this, but there are other departments in much more dire straits than ours."

 

He tapped his visor slightly.

 

"I am currently attempting to contact a member of the department who I highly trust. She is quite competent at organising people."

[Toa Levacius Zehvor]

IC: Romaln / The Undercity / Outside Artahka's Alehouse

 

"Then let us hope she has the people to organize." he replied. Turning the Vortixx captive to face him, he asked, "Any suggestions you'd like to make, Xitak."

 

"Just don't put me on Cell Block 15." the Vortixx said. Pressed by Romaln's stare, he elaborated. "I kidnapped the warden's daughter, so I can hardly expect good meals. Plus, it's far too easy to spring prisoners from there. It's important to challenge ones friends."

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor

Edited June 25, 2014 by Toa Levacius Zehvor

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"Sometimes it is highly frustrating to deal with the rest of the force," said Naona with a sigh. He really hated how so many of his fellow officers were so self-serving.

[sonyaxe]

IC: Zaak

 

With a final grunt, Zaak lugged the Skakdi around the final corner and dropped him on the ground, ignoring loud impact in favor of massaging his arms. After a few moments of recovery, and making sure he attached the handcuffs to a convenient light post, he approached the two convening law enforcement agents.

 

"So... Something I miss?" He asked.

[25K Now!]

IC: Naona [undercity: Artakha Alehouse]

 

"Not too much," replied Naona, looking over towards his colleague. "So this is the decoy?"

[Void Emissary]

IC: Kotanna ~ Lowercity, Outside Artakha's Alehouse

 

Current round of patrol; news of an altercation on intersection AA-37-B, gang violence. Short distance from my then-current location, proceeded to investigate. Lowercity dangerous and confusing to travel; between finding alternate routes and disposing of petty criminals who believe that I am either: a) idiotically violent due to my species or b) physically inferior due to my sex. Neither is true, and these beings were swiftly and meticulously instructed on the falsity of their beliefs. Their bodies (still alive, as a footnote, since the term bodies carries improper connotations), were left in locations where Enforcers or coppers would be able to find them for prompt incarceration.

 

My arrival to the scene of the battle was, therefore, late enough that the battle was no longer in session by that time. A brief word with one of the witnesses pointed me in the direction that a number of my compatriots had gone in the aftermath. Among their number was a being whose description matched that of my colleague, Enforcer Romaln, as well as a member of the Lowercity police department that I had a great respect for, one Sergeant Naona. Thanking the witnesses, I proceeded in their general direction.

 

A string of clues guided me to find these beings outside of one of the local watering holes, whose sign read Artakha's Alehouse, though its state of disrepair suggested that Artakha, should he have existed (doubtful), was not a frequent patron. Besides Romaln and Naona, I noted a number of other coppers, as well as a captive Vortixx (most likely criminal: impromptu interrogation perhaps? possible connection to AA-37-B altercation?), and a captive Skakdi. My presence had not been noticed yet.

 

"Romaln," I said, approaching the group, "I trust your use of racial slurs can be justified by the past or future presence of a particularly heinous crime on this Vortixx's criminal record? Because if not, I assure you that I will not tolerate the usage of such vulgar language."

 

- - -

 

IC: Mar ~ Lowercity, Entrance to Web of Chains

 

It was real quiet out 'ere. Always was.

 

Around these parts, you don't get all that hubbub and godawful noise from either the central metroplexapopolis of Lowercity or the folks down in Seldron's party den. It's quiet out here like it is when one of 'em Shallows Cats comes and starts a-stalkin' ya. That's why I love it out here; even if someone's moving real quiet, like a mouse when a cat's around, they'll sound like a marching band to me trained ears. Years at this 'ere post, I trained meself up, made meself stronger. It's the way of me people, to be strong; Skrall are strong, the Chains are strong, and that's what gives us the right to rule the weak. The coppers, they just don't get that; they defend the weak according to their laws, but they neglect the one true law of nature, that of natural selection. They forget that we're all animals, and we're ruled by the distribution of power.

 

But I've never forgotten. Never.

 

So I make meself stronger, strong as I can, so that I can rule someday. I reject them pieces of societal morality that weigh me down in favour of me own, which raise me up. I mean, , why should I let meself be subjugated by a world that 'ates me? 'Ow does that make any sense, I ask ya?

 

And I ain't the only person 'oo thinks so.

 

...

 

OOC: Mar open for interaction.

 

-Void

[Krayzikk]

IC:

 

"I've been up top." The Toa of Data replied, quietly. The words hung in the still air as he watched the law enforcement officials from his place on the floor; he could see multiple Undercity cops, he knew a few of them, and that one Enforcer. He didn't need to consult his records to see what he knew about Romaln, as the Glatorian was one of the few Enforcers who still paid much of any attention to the state of the lower city. The Wolf, they called him. Accurate, even if a bit played out. His reputation gave pause to anyone who wished to chuckle at it, regardless. There was Naona, one of the few good cops left in the force. Zaak, as well; he knew that one's name, but he wasn't all that familiar with the cop. Certainly not enough to say he trusted them.

 

Yet here he was, helping them out, when their job, technically speaking, was to see him behind bars. Rather ironic, given their mutual goals, but his methods were a bit more direct. And a bit less legal. In answer to the singer's question, he broke his silence once more. "They're going after the Chains. As I'd much rather see them off the street, I'm lending a hand."

 

Alright, Firen. Time to see about standing. He coaxed himself mentally, pushing against the bar behind him to aid in his efforts to stand. The Toa of Data stood successfully, and without too much effort, but it wasn't exactly a pleasant process. The bleeding had slowed on his ankle, but it was by no means comfortable to utilize the joint. The bandage was bound as tightly as he dared make it, and that was really the best he could do. His thoughts drifted briefly to the painkillers he kept in his coat pocket, but he knew their use would be unwise; for one thing, they were expensive, and he was starting to run low. For another, it was better to know when something had gotten worse than it was to be more comfortable. His musings were interrupted, however, by the appearance of another being.

 

Skakdi, of the Water element, based on a first glance. Enforcer, based upon her greeting to the Wolf. None outside of their ranks, he suspected, would greet the Enforcer so informally. With a thought, he consulted the data he had collected on the Enforcers known to walk the lower city. More specifically, the ones that frequently did. Keeping logs on all of them was impossible, but keeping an eye on the few that spent any considerable time in the hellhole that was the lower city was much, much easier.

 

He didn't have much information on her, but he did have a name; Kotanna. That was something, at least. He was tempted to try and get into the Enforcer records again, find out more about both the operatives present and the Chains, but the temptation was struck down as suddenly as it appeared. Getting into their files was incredibly difficult, and certainly not something he could handle whilst inside an alehouse with an ankle that hurt like Karzahni. So he'd have to settle.

 

"Officers," He greeted, tone neutral. He wasn't worried about being recognized by voice; he was careful to vary his voice while at work, and when he was active in his nocturnal activities. Not that he likely would anyway; the very idea of the police force's IT department (Some days, he really wished he had more help.) being out fighting crime was laughable to anyone who could even come close to recognizing him anyway.

 

"I don't believe we've yet met face to face. Or rather, visually."

[Toa Levacius Zehvor]

IC: Romaln / The Undercity / Artahka's Alehouse

 

Romaln turned to face the  newcoming  Skakdi, his eyebrow raised as he did so. U pon seeing her, though, a wave of recognition hit him, and his thick white beard moved to the tune of a grin. It was rare to meet another of his colleagues in the Undercity for a purpose other than simply pummeling the residents, but he knew Kotanna to be one of the few who seemed to actually give a 'karz about the residents.

 

Fortunate, then, for her to show off. "No need to defend this one, Kotanna. Our friend here has quite the record, just from this nights testimony alone. Resisting arrest, destruction of public property, and battery, just to name those which I would write down."

 

"Don't forget public intoxication." the Vortixx replied, rolling his eyes as he did so. "No 'karz, one of your buddies gave me a beating for that after dragging me out of a bar."

 

The Wolf pinched the back of his captives neck on just the right pressure point, forcing him to keel down and go down to his knees. Having more than one person at eye-level in any given moment never really worked for him. "More importantly, he can lead us to the Chains. Up for shutting down some slavers?"

 

With the appearance of the mysterious grey-cloaked figure, he nodded his head and asked, "So, you're the one to give this scarabax a good thrashing? Congratulations for that. Civilian assistance is far too uncommon, and unappreciated when it does occur. Since you insist on the mask, you care giving us a name, stranger?"

 

IC: Vailarin / The Undercity / Artahka's Alehouse

 

The singer watched as the swordsman walked away, tapping her finger on the bar for a moment. Once he stepped outside, she immediately sprung to action, rushing over to Kelko and shaking him.

 

"Hey, wake up! You here this? They're going to bust a full-on gang! Come on; get up; we need to hear all of this!"

 

-Toa Levacius Zehvor