Geartopia : The Case of the Assassination Plot

[cityship]

||Attention, Attention. Would the following personnel please report to the Observation Deck. Please bring with you any weapons and tools you might need. Attention, Attention. would the following personnel please report to the Observation Deck:

Allenby Beardsley
Maridian Gladespring
Ellyn Vitner
Red Robin
Sam Winchester
Dean Winchester
Kanoe Zouichi

Attention, Attention, would the following personnel...||

Stacy's voiced called the entire crew, until all of them were gathered at the Obs Deck. Then, a dossier appeared on the screens, along with the image of a rotating planet.

Planet Designation: Geartopia
Status: Terrestrial, H-class.
Non-sentient life: Extensive flora and fauna.
Semi-Sentient Life: Yes.
Sentient Life: Homo Sapiens, Homo Animalia, Machina Erectus.
Water: 20.6% of the planet's surface.
Climate: Earth-like, Arid desert
Landscape: 70% Desert..
Air: Normoxic concentration.
Air Pressure: 101.3 kPa (kilopascals) = 14.7 psi (pounds per square inch)
Sky: Blue
Sun: A class G2V, yellow star.
Warnings: Wildlife, humanoids and plant-life can be hazardous.
Mission: Find out of town mayoress Nomalanga's suspicions of foul play are correct. Full shore leave will initiate once this is problem is resolved.

Once the entire team was ready, they were whisked of to the planet with little fanfare, their ship landing close to a town, where a woman...well not quite a woman, but a cross between a woman and a hyena dressed in a strange outfit, greeted them along with three other figures behind her. They had arrived near the end of the day, and the sun was beginning to set behind them, staining the sky a deep orange color.

She greeted them with a bow and a wave.

"I think you for coming 'ere just barely an 'our after I send out my distress signal." She mentioned for them to follow her, while the three other figures remained behind.

"I will make this quick, as we are short on time. My name is Nomalanga, and I'm mayoress of Utorian, 'ave been for the past five years. We have asked for a small team to aid us cause some of Snidley's damn dogs have been trying to upsurge the town from my grasp. "e's was the mayor before me, but was removed for having no 'onor. He still has control of some sections of the town due to loyalty and fear, and some townsmen still suspects I threw 'im out to get more power. Now 'e's trying to regain it all, but I have no proof except for a tip I was given by one of my own that says the attack's in two days and there's enough clues stuffed in the 'aunted cave to get the entire town behind me."

She pointed to a cavern on the far left, covered by the dunes of soil and desert sand.

" 'Alf the townsfolk believe the place to be filled with ghosts at night so no one enters unless they have to. But during the day we go in and get our supplies of underground water. The entire place is a maze. I wish I could 'ave send the distress beckon sooner, but we had problems with space pirates recently."

"There is also another problem...the tip also told me one of my own three is a spy. If you could also find out which one, we could end the terrible man's grasp on the town and myself. I am pretty sure they already suspect that I have doubts, but you may find clues inside the cavern. You can also speak to them and ask a few questions, but you should get into the cavern as soon as possible, as not to get too many ghosts attacking you. And there are also men-eating bears spotted inside. My people are strong, but our technology is nothing compared to yours. Once we have more time I can explain to you how I was able to contact you at all. But for now, I can supply you with guns and torches, if you don't have any."

She seemed like a truthful woman, even if her speech was strange and spoke of someone who had lived a harsh life, despite the clothing she wore.

"My three don't trust you at all, due to our stance with outsiders and our last distress signal falling into pirate ears. I understand if you refuse, but if you accept I will make it worth your while, and the rest of your comrades on your ship will be welcomed with open arms one justice and truth is brought to light. My people do not have much but we can offer clothing and animals from our lands in exchange for your services."

[And done! There is no posting order, feel free to all start you own threads to ask questions, or butt in each other's threads while they talk back and forth]

Comments

[combustible_me]

"Ya know, I think yer boss'd look much better on fire. An' that goes fer th' two o'ya mooks as well. So ya really got a choice. Ya c'n either warble like yer li'l canaries now, or we c'n have a weenie roast, an' you two are th' weenies."

Ellyn shrugged, and looked at her little bat buddy.

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

"Seriously, my bat will attack you if you don't talk. Again." He pointed helpfully at his bad comrade.

[nobel-berserker.livejournal.com]

"Aw now, that just ain't nice. And I dunno about you, but I don't see Snidley anywhere around right now--but all of us are riiiiight here."

She let go of the henchdog and put a hand on her hip, shooting Ellyn a grin. "I always love a good cookout!"

[cityship]

"You inhuman shrew! Witch!" he yelled at Ellyn. "But it still don't matter. You could burn half my body off and Snidley would do worse."

Judging from the look of fear in his eyes, he believes it too.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi picked up the fallen robot arm, but said nothing. He was perfectly content to let the others interrogate the henchmen and make arm jokes wait in case they needed someone to really hurt these guys.

Hopefully it wouldn't come to that. They could dissemble all they wanted, but no one could escape the long arm of the law.

[battorch]

Tim is perfectly content to let the others batterogate work the intimidation angle. He'd worked with Bruce for years-- this was nothing new to him. Intimidation was how they rolled.

"You certainly seem worried about what Snidley is going to think if you spill anything," Tim said, watching the thug. His voice was completely level and calm, with a good dose of his darker voice. "Of course, you already did. Not to mention you screwed up enough to lose your leverage," a pointed glance back at Ellyn and the child. "And we have recordings of your earlier conversation.

"So let me ask you this-- how would you like to experience some slow pain, while we start breaking bones, and then have to face Snidley for your failure? Or would you rather talk now, spare yourself some hurt, and have some protection from your cowardly boss?"

[cityship]

He paused for a minute. Thinking about something before speaking again. He glances over to his robot partner, who nods at him, before speaking. When he does, he's got a sort of half grin, even if the fear is betrayed in his eyes.

"Alright. Wadda ya want."

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi looked up. "Answers, for starters. I'm assuming this child here is Allard's, correct? What is Snidely planning? And who else is involved?"

[cityship]

"Allard stuck his nose where he didn't belong. Tried to pin something on one of our own and discovered our plans here. The boss was just making sure he was cooperating...Oh and sure I'll tell you all about the plans...when I'm in hell! And we'll take all of you with us!"

"Final Activation Code Red and Blue," the robot added.

There was the sound of something clicking from inside the man's body.

[battorch]

It didn't take the code or the clicking for Tim to start reacting. He swore, quickly whipping out his grapnel gun and tossing it to Allenby. "Everyone, get out of here," he shouted over the robot and the clicking. They didn't have much time, but he had to do what he could. He had to do his part to save them. "Allenby, get you, Ellyn and the kid out of here," he said, "My cape can protect her from the worst of any blasts." And, conveniently, he remembered Ellyn's earlier explanation of her powers being useful in instances of explosions. In the meantime, he knew Mar had protective magic, and Zouichi had his own gadgets to get himself out of there. He'd have to trust them to be able to handle themselves.

Tim dove for the bulldog goon, hoisting him ungracefully up. No matter what his feelings were, he was going to get this guy out of here as well. Surely he could get them both out of the way fast enough, right?

[cityship]

"Ha ha ha. Stupid, pathetic pieces of flesh. Thinking you can be the big heroes. Snidley's thought of everything. We die, we take you with us, and we alert the accomplice. I think you've failed to realize...I've got one to...."

"...Code Red and Blue."

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

In the instant after the robot said the activation code, Zouichi unholstered his gravity gun, leveled it straight at the sound of the clicking noise, and fired a single shell directly at the robot. The effect of the gravity shell's impact would be almost immediate, instantly coring out any conventional matter in a three-foot radius.

Expected effect: everything of the guy but his far extremities would be instantly gone.

That done, he dashed for cover.

[cityship]

The expect effect was almost as expected. Almost. But first they got a good view of its insides as the gears came undone, and they could see the core of the beast; a metallic beating heart and what looked like a veil of purple liquid bubbling dangerously, before it too disappeared. The entire creature was engulfed in by both the powder and burst aflame and the gravity gun doing its job.

A single burning hand and two feet were all that was left and they were quickly turning to ash.

"...damn" his partner said. "Guess I'm next."

[combustible_me]

Ellyn didn't wait to hightail the kid further out of the cavern where the mooks were. She didn't have to be too close for her powers to work. Well. She knew that, not that anyone else did.

If any happened. It'd be a good surprise, right?

"Hey, y'awright back there?" she called.

[cityship]

The ticks continued to count down...

The bulldog made this odd face like when you have terrible, terrible stomach acid.

...and it's also eating your insides.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi made sure everyone was clear of the bulldog, aimed, and fired. Hopefully Tim was not going to hassle him about this because I mean come on, the guy was going to explode anyway.

[cityship]

Well the shot got most of his face. For a brief second, a hand raised into the air before falling as limp as a doll to the ground.

At least he wasn't suffering anymore!

But now there was blood and a chemical reaction still in there. Better make a run for it.

[battorch]

The string of curses from Tim was almost completely silent. Because damnit, he didn't have a choice here. There was supposed to be a choice and he was supposed to save everyone.

For lack one, though, he made a run for it. He didn't have much on him, to use to get out of there, but he could rely on sheer speed and distance, going for any cover he could get to get away from the blast to come.

[combustible_me]

"Take the kid! If there's a 'splosion lemme handle it!" Ellyn thrust the baby at Red Robin and was trying to shoo everyone else past her.

Well, she wasn't that familiar with chemical explosions, but on some level, fire was fire, in her mind. She'd done more with less.

With any luck she'd be able to smother the blast, at the very least.

[battorch]

Tim could do that. He snatched the baby up in his arms, holding her closely and carefully to him, as he moved as quickly away as he could. He ducked under cover, curled carefully over the child to shield her from any heat and noise that might still escape.

Oh, and he really, really hoped Ellyn wasn't overestimating her capabilities.

[cityship]

The baby died again.

[cityship]

Ellyn overestimated her capabilities and was burned into a nice crisp. IRONY.

And them something real happened.

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

"FIRE IN THE HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLE!" Mar bellowed, as he selflessly leaped forward, arms spread, to fall onto the bulldog like a soldier taking a grenade. Wearing plate armor and still carrying a shield, he ought to be a very good damage sump.

Which would probably be bad for him, but as he dove he activated Divine Protection for eight seconds of total damage immunity. Oh yeah, and the bubble it formed around him ought to soak up even more of the blast.

Lolimmune.

[cityship]

AND THEN MAR DIED

The fire exploded from the headless body in a swirl of flames around Mar, not touching him, but reaching out, thankfully damped by his selfless but pretty dumb heroic act. The blast near instantly burned up bulldog, and turned the nearby sand into glass and melted the rock.

Now then, Ellyn, how were you feeling about all of this fire coming towards you?

[combustible_me]

Like Bre'r Rabbit in the briar patch, if you must know.

Ellyn had sucked in a lightning cloud bigger than this, and skyfire was worse--it had to be convinced that it was a part of her, assimilated like good energy. As big as the oncoming fireball was, it was still fire. And so was she.

"Ya might wanna hide again. Or run, 'least fer now," she told the bat. Obstinate little thing--it had brass ones bigger than it was, even. Ellyn could appreciate that sort of thing.

She was cutting it close, but she flashed to fire just as the onrushing explosive wave started to blow her hair back. Heated air still blew past where Ellyn had been, but it was apparent that the explosion itself was getting smaller as the moments passed.

Eventually, she stood there as if nothing much had happened, giving a satisfied, wordless grunt, before turning.

"Y'awright back there?" Hopefully the paladin hadn't had his buns toasted.