Saving a Cripple (Sider/GM/Request)

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Rai looked to where Delilah and gang where going wanting to join them but hesitated he wasn't yet strong enough to join them... He stood there for a moment before going to the truck and stood next to it anxious to see what would happen next. If he was needed he would be ready.

[Malcomb Warhazzard]

a large white van.....curious

Sider would stand up and slowly walk over to the van,

"Oh well look at this, a white van that showed up with two well armed men, i wonder, have to ask.....Do they have candy?"

Sider looked down and allowed his chin to touch his hand showing a moment of deep thought.....wait no....they probably dont....

"SHOTGUN!!!!"

Sider dove towards the front seat

[Delilah A. Black]

((OOC: MYTURNMYTURNMYTURNMYTURNMYTURN. Spoiler contains summary))

SPOILER: Click to show

DELILAH moves in with Birch and Sergei to extract Asiv and finds him in a situation that greatly unsettles her. Worried about losing the men she brought with her, Delilah orders them to leave and fall back. Then she throws three irritating/concealing smoke pellets into the room before diving for Asiv with the intent of either dragging or carrying him to safety on her own two legs.

EVERYONE ELSE Leave, after Nigel punches Sider in the face for trying to sit in his lap. I found this personally immensely hilarious. Headed to a Crow Safehouse for debriefing.

---

DELILAH, SERGEI, BIRCH

---

The mechanics eyes widened as they continued their pace forward through the destroyed parts of the facility. The signs of battle were obvious...and chilling. There was a fair amount of blood on the walls, the floor...the CEILING.

"Ooh...I simply MUST get the name of his decorator." Birch grinned as they stalked deeper into the facility.

He was ignored.

They rounded a corner and came to an abrupt halt at the sight of the two men before them, both severely battle worn. Delilah's eyes widened slowly as she took in the scene, alarm bells going off in her head and made her hackles raise. Something was not right.

It was possible it was just the intent she was feeling radiating from both men, the urge to kill, to destroy. It might have been the fact that the man she hated most was in this room, and the desire for revenge was strong indeed. But the steam coming from between their lips, the strangely EUPHORIC expression on their faces did not sit well with her.

Something was very, very off and it felt like a trap. It bothered her enough that she forgot her limitless fury with Barker as she worried about preserving her own life and that of her team.

But she was out of time.

She exhaled softly, muttering to her men out of the corner of her mouth. "...fall back."

Birch and Sergei snapped their heads around to look at her, opening their mouths to protest. Delilah only had to turn her head at a slight angle to give them a look before they fell silent, nodded, and ran back the way they came to the van.

Delilah would handle the extraction of Asiv by herself.

The mechanic took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she was about to do. Oh, it was a bad idea, such a bad idea. But it had to be done.

She pulled three of her little smoke bombs out of her pocket and threw it forcefully into the room. As they hit the floor, they would burst open, producing a concealing and irritating cloud of concrete silt and powdered chilies. Delilah would dash in, aiming to grab Asiv by the wrist and direct him out the door to safety. If he was unable to walk, she would pull him onto her back and carry him piggy back style, her strength more than enough to carry the bigger man easily.

---

EVERYONE ELSE

---

Lucien and the Dragon known as Raikotsu would be helped into the van and given room to sit. Poor Sider, on the other hand, as he lunged to the ALREADY OCCUPIED FRONT SEAT would get a face full of the big, black man's fist. Palming the younger man's head like a basketball, he would silently push him into the panel doors of the van and settle back into his seat as though nothing ever happened.

Meanwhile, the rest of Delilah's team wouldn't say anything for until they saw the shapes of people running towards them from inside the facility. Their smiles faltered as they realized Delilah wasn't with them.

"What happened to the First?" Heather demanded, blocking Sergei's entrance to the van with her arm.

The Russian man gave her a hard look and a grimace. "...Orders are to fall back."

As she stammered, Sergei pushed past her and into the van, Birch close behind, unsmiling for once.

Cain, in the driver's seat, ground his teeth in irritation. "Let's get the fuck out of here," he put the van in gear and put the accelerator to the floor. The van took off like a shot, up an alleyway and through several side streets as they aimed to get out of Barker territory unscathed.

Nick, the wiry skin-head would be frowning at the three younger men in front of him. Despite the sombre mood of the rest of the Tengu present, he seemed eager to talk. "So. Whaaaat was that all about, brah?"

He was asking everyone, not any one individual.

[Lucien DeChain]

Lucien stayed quietly in the van until he saw the shapes of his comrades running out of the building. As he counted the heads, he immediately noticed one was missing. Delilah.

As Tengu company clambered into the now crowded van, Lucien wondered why she would send the others back. What had they left behind? But, on the other hand, he trusted his superior officer to take care of herself, and if she said for her team to fall back... Well, there wasn't anything he could do, anyway.

A sudden wave of emotion hit him, a backlash of his adrenaline high. He felt awful, his world spun. And Delilah's in life-threatening danger because of me. When Nick asked what had happened, Lucien stayed silent, but looked up at him with a face that said I'd tell you, but you'd just keep hitting me in the face.

He kept his eyes front as they sped away from the compound, refusing to look back. He knew the way home from here, and it wasn't exactly the scenic route.

[Zack Asiv]

Zack and Sean stared at each other for a short moment, while Delilah ordered her people to leave, Sean's arm slowly mended itself and snapped back into place. Neither Zack or Sean showed much interest in moving, someone was meant to die today. As the smoke pellets filled with the spices of annoyance exploded and Delilah grabbed Zack's arm a form would burst through the smoke, tears forming, but the smile never wavering, Delilah's tug helped Asiv dodge the incoming blow which plowed into the near by wall.

Asiv's grabbed hand would twirl to pry his arm free and push the hand that grabbed him away as he lifted his knee into Sean's stomach and sent his free hand backwards into the back of Barker's head, an explosion of air coming from the point of contact. Asiv wished John Ong where here to make the room hotter. Though this was fine.

Asiv would move quickly enough to follow Delilah, yet keeping most of his attention behind them.

"Lead the way out, I'll handle any resistance coming our way."

~But once we are free of this, I'm going to need your help getting around for a bit.~

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

Rai looked around as the conversations, or lack there of, started around them. The missing Delilah was upsetting, but he didn't show any emotion instead he calmed his mind and tried to meditate that way he could take his mind off of things, but then a man asked them a question Lucien looked sick... well more sick than usual, and the expression on his face was that of worry and fear.

"That was our attempt to save Asiv, gone south. Barker showed up. His goons we could handle but unfortunately none of us are strong enough to even make a bruise on him. Now we've put our friends in danger because we are weak, its shameful."

Rai bowed his head angry that he could do nothing more.

[Malcomb Warhazzard]

Sider looked to Rai quickly.

"oh i could've handled that overgrown windbag, barker just a chump i could have taken him out just lemme go back there i'll show him what i'm made of!!!"

Sider would reach for the nearest door handle.

[Delilah A. Black]

---

DELILAH

---

Even with through blurred, teary vision, Delilah saw the hits Asiv dealt to Barker. She stared, wide-eyed, struck by the sheer power behind the blows, moving so quickly through the air that the lack of friction itself compounded on the impact.

Somewhere deep inside her, the Dark Woman stirred and smiled.

"Lead the way out, I'll handle any resistance coming our way."

Delilah gave her head a shake, pushing away the poisonous thoughts. "Yes, sir." But before she started to run, Delilah channeled her Qi to the surface of her left arm and to her forefinger in a long bladed nail. She scraped the nail down her opposite arm with a shriek, sparks flying...

...and igniting the powder within the room as she and Asiv left Barker behind.

That should slow him down.

She would gain speed quickly, letting her limited vision guide her as well as her memory through the ruined interior of the facility. Once they made it out into the open air, Delilah would immediately bank to the left, running for the entrance the van had created when it made it's appearance. This was to ensure that, if she and Asiv were followed, that they would be traveling in the opposite direction the van was traversing.

"We just have to make it to the department store a few blocks from here," she called over her shoulder, "Once we're there, we can get out of the area without being seen!"

That is, if they weren't accosted on the way out.

---

EVERYONE ELSE

---

The look on Lucien's face was almost answer enough for the bald man, but it was good Raikotsu had spoken up.


"That was our attempt to save Asiv, gone south. Barker showed up. His goons we could handle but unfortunately none of us are strong enough to even make a bruise on him. Now we've put our friends in danger because we are weak, its shameful."

Cain jerked the wheel in his surprise, causing the van to jostle a little harder than it already was as he rolled the tires over the curb. Nigel looked up in the rear view mirror with a hard glare on his dark face. The rest stared openly at the three young men in front of them, agape.

"You did VAT?!" Sergei hissed.


"oh i could've handled that overgrown windbag, barker just a chump i could have taken him out just lemme go back there i'll show him what i'm made of!!!"

The thus unnamed young man went for the handle of the panel door. Heather pulled back the hard rubber of her sling shot and released it, smacking it painfully against the bone of his wrist. She batted her long eyelashes at him and gave him a wink. "I'd just enjoy the ride if I was you, sugar~." she purred. Though she smiled, it had a feral, hollow appearance: she wasn't amused.

"And I SUPPOSE that we thought that this war was a little game we like to play with squirt guns, running all over Long Beach and playing TAG!?" Birch demanded, not at all smiling, which was very unlike him. "What did you think you were getting into?! You willingly walk into the lions den and expect not to be bit?!"

"Enough, Birch," Talon sighed, running a hand over his ruddy face. He leaned forward in his seat to look at the young Dragon. "We can't blame them for what Barker has done or might have done. We can't even blame them for leaving Mr. Asiv and First Black behind."

He gave the three a tired smile, looking twice his years. "The thing about people like them is that they're always willing to give their all for whoever needs them the most. 'The most sublime act is to set another before you'. Remember that."

"...that said, ve von't be to blame ven the commander skins your hide." Sergei said to Lucien with a grimace.

In the front seat, Nigel chuckled darkly, as if he would very much like to see it.

"We'll be at the safe house in a bit," Cain grunted from the driver's seat. "If the First and Asiv don't show before daybreak, we'll get you guys back home."

[Lucien DeChain]

"And I SUPPOSE that we thought that this war was a little game we like to play with squirt guns, running all over Long Beach and playing TAG!? What did you think you were getting into?! You willingly walk into the lions den and expect not to be bit?!"

"Enough, Birch, we can't blame them for what Barker has done or might have done. We can't even blame them for leaving Mr. Asiv and First Black behind. The thing about people like them is that they're always willing to give their all for whoever needs them the most. 'The most sublime act is to set another before you'. Remember that."

They were both right. Lucien seemed to sink deeper into his chair. He deserved it fully, but was surprised that Talon was defending him.

"...that said, ve von't be to blame ven the commander skins your hide."

Aaaaaaand there it was. He knew it was coming, and from the chuckles coming from the front seat, he assumed everyone else was thinking it, too. Yep, Delilah will have my head for this.

"We'll be at the safe house in a bit, if the First and Asiv don't show before daybreak, we'll get you guys back home."

Home? Where is home? The Crows Nest?

Lucien tried to shake himself out of his new mood, and sat up in his chair, breathing slightly labored. There wasn't anything left for remorse. Now, there was just the mission. If Delilah and Mr. Asiv made it home on time, or contacted them, Lucien would make things right. Until then, he would stay focused.

{OOC: Shorter than usual post is shorter than usual.}

[Mr. Kaar]

Asiv would nod, knowing the flames would only slow Barker, if he really wanted to chase them he'd catch them. Though after a few moments it would feel like they where being let go, Delilah and Asiv would make it to their destination rather easily.

[Raikotsu Sudeki]

(Ooc: Assuming we have been at the wait spot and have been waiting.)

Rai would see Leon and Delilah show up and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hey guys, they're here and their alive!"

Rai would go up to the door to let them in.

[Malcomb Warhazzard]

Sider sat with his arms crossed

"well, this is my seat, y'all can sit in the back"

[Lucien DeChain]

{OOC: keeping it short to begin wrap up. hopefully only one or two more rounds for this, it's mostly just denouement now.}

Lucien would breathe a sigh of relief as the door opened and he saw Delilah and Zack Asiv running towards them. Though, Lucien noticed that Zack Asiv looked not so well, almost like he was struggling to walk. Like his knees would give out at any second..

Once they were within speaking range, Lucien would say to them, "Good to have you back. Were you followed?" He tried to avoid Delilah's gaze as best he could.

[Delilah A. Black]

Once they made it to the department store, Delilah would take them through the winding shelves and aisles until she found the side door marked with a feather sticking out of an exit sign. From there, she would take Asiv through a sheltered walkway carved out of collapsed buildings until they arrived at the drop zone where the rest of her team was waiting.

Every one of Delilah's team would have been various arrays of sullen until Raikotsu told them the people they were waiting for were approaching. She would help Asiv in through the door first, before bolting him behind him and slamming it shut. Her breathing was heavy and she glistened with sweat. She turned, slumping against the door with her back, just breathing for a moment before lifting her head and looking out at the occupants of the room.

She was relieved to see everyone was okay.

"Good to have you back. Were you followed?"

"Thanks. And no."

She was also not very amused.

After a moment, she pushed off the door and took a couple steps into the room, making sure her knives were now in their respective sheaths and her Qi was melting back into her skin. She folded her arms across her chest and looked at the three young men they had come in to extract.

"Explain."

((OOC: i think one more post from everyone at least just to wrap up, yes?))

[Mr. Kaar]

Asiv would find a place to sit and plant his happy ass down for a few moments. Taking off his suit top, then his dress shirt to begin cleaning the blood off his face and head.

He was not happy though. His plan was completely thrown into a new realm of "OMGWTFBBQLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!"