Plot Thread 1.3: Stand By Me (THE TRUTH)

[Andy Jammer]

Andy opened his eyes...it was dark, dust blew through his vision and he had a hard time focusing for a moment. Then finally his vision returned, it was night now...the town was still damaged and he was alone.

He coughed and slowly stood up, feeling his sides ache he slowly began to walk through the quiet town.

"Gah...must have been out for hours..." Andy groaned, leaning against the wall as he walked. "Hope Jas is okay...she's either looking for me or with the others."

He fell to his knees for a moment and coughed, "Hoping its the first one..."

He moved through the town a bit, trying to rest himself and find Jasmine...or a doctor or another healer. Instead he found worse: it started as a growl but then it was accompanied by more of them. Soon several left overs of the enemies from earlier came from the destroyed buildings.

"Duo Know What You're Getting Into?"

Andy stopped, his breathing hitched to a gasp and as he feared the enemies noticed him. They twirled their arm blades and walked to him, Andy forced himself to stand straight and draw his blade. He was weak though...he was gonna need help.

[Dios Sarvo]

Suddenly leaping from the shadows behind the creatures, Duo reared his daggers backwards before plunging them deep into the skull of one of the mannequin-like creatures, the drawn wound giving way to the viscous black sludge that seemed to fill them. Turning to retaliate, the creatures bladed appendages carved through the air towards Dios, his visage seeping back into the shadows, leaving the keen blades only the crumbled remnants of building to sink themselves into.

Seemingly distracted from Andy, they plod around, almost cautiously, their featureless faces twisting and swinging back and forth, trying to find their would be assailant. Popping out by Andy, Dios gave him a firm slap on the back, as he offered him a hand up.

"Come on, kid, time to hike up the big boy pants and get back to it," Dios commented, his smarmy tone belying his genuine efforts to help. Still keeping his sharp eyes focused on the creatures as they turned to spot the two, Dios called forth several humanoid shades to charge and engage the slowly encroaching forces, hoping they would distract them long enough for the spiky haired boy to get his bearings.

[Andy Jammer]

Andy shook his head, gaining his focus, "I can't leave the town with this many enemies out, I can fight its just..."

He looked to his side that his left hand covered, swelled bruising and some small amounts of dried blood - he couldn't afford to take another major hit.

"Watch my back and I'll be fine alright?" Andy asked, he didn't know this guy well but he did remember seeing him at the wedding and he hasn't tried to kill him: and now would have been the best time to so it was time to trust him.

He stood up completely now, sword out and ready, he moved forward managing to ignore his pain and hold his sword. As some of the mannequin-like enemies noticed him they began to head to him (as well as try to fight Dios' shadow beings), Andy heaved the great sword and sliced one down - going for the other but it had blocked his blade. With great effort his raised his leg and kicked it back, managing to turn the great blade and slice the third that was coming for him.

[Dios Sarvo]

He was driven for a younger guy, and it brought a genuine smile to Dios' face to see Andy rise to his feat, blade at the ready to quell the remnants of creatures that still hid in the crevasses of the city.

"Alright then, if the name of the game is extermination, then let's play to win," cheered Dios as he loosened his collar. Figuring it was best to let Andy take the melee role with his rather large sword, Dios hung back, aiming to best utilize his control of the shadow plane and it's creatures to keep the humanoid foes out of his young ally's field of vision at bay.

With a crackle of green energy around his hands, Dios began to twist the shadows with in the area under his will, shifting them to an fro, it's form switching from a razored fin as it swam across the ground, bifurcating several of the creatures, before exploding from the land as a mass of black tendrils, hurling and slamming any of the creatures that dared tread close enough.

While Dios focused his attention on offence, his humanoid shades offered Andy defence, allowing themselves to be hacked at and impaled before gripping the creatures and forcing their forms into any open crack or orifice they could find, seemingly gaining control of the mannequins before taking their bladed appendages to their own allies.

[Navarre]

"Why does every event I go to seems to end with some sort of war or battle?" Navarre said as he used his sword to block one of the monster's attack. He quickly pushed the blade away, and slide under the mannequin. As he slip under it, he managed to cut it's leg and made a quick escape. As he got up he saw his friend Andy, and another man fighting the mannequins.
"Andy, what is going on?" He asked as he bolted to him, holding his sword up.

[Monthu]

One intake of breath...

Tighten the fingers around the string...

Pull back...

Creak.

Exhale the breath, and hold it...

Make sure your target's in sight...

Release.

Thwack!

A slight pause of silence...

Thud.

One of the mannequins suddenly dropped to the ground with an arrow lodged into it's 'face'. Shortly afterwards, another two fell swiftly behind it. The slight glint of a nocked arrow could be seen in the shade of an abandoned building, before it launched out and landed straight into the 'face' of another of the monsters.

Monthu gave a small sniff as he reached to his back, and confidently pulled an arrow from his quiver, and rested it against the string. With one small tug, the nocks locked against the string and he was pulling back, closing his right eye and looking through his dominant left. He didn't use a sight on his bow at closer ranges, and instead used the arrow to judge his positioning. Making sure he was on target, he released the three fingers holding the string, and held his breath until he heard the reassuring thud of another target falling to the floor.

"Bull's eye..." He whispered as he reached for an arrow and nocked it. "One arrow can change the world..."

[Andy Jammer]

Andy learning how to use Dios shadows to set up combos when Monthu and Navarre arrived, Andy launched one in the air and summoned enough strength to leap up and launch an aerial combo - finishing with a Helm Splitter. When he landed he groaned in pain, he couldn't keep doing moves like that. He looked at the arrows fired and he nearly groaned again.

Monthu... Andy thought, the archer was...okay, but he had a long standing axe to grind with him and...nevermind, not important. Navarre had arrived and he was grateful to see him, he and some of Dios shadow warriors finished the last of the attacking group and Andy breathed in relief.

"Think we got them..." he began to stumble, fighting took some of his energy.

[The Other]

Slipping past the rubble strewn about the empty streets, The Other strutted slowly down an alleyway and turned onto one of the main thoroughfares. Empty too, another disappointment. The snarling rage that had lead him down this way had faded suddenly, leaving him directionless in the abandoned city and somewhat lost. As his eyes wandered up and down the mostly intact buildings, he strained to hear anything remotely thrilling.

Suddenly he stopped in his tracks. A familiar ringing echoed down past him and he leaned in eager to confirm it. There was only the briefest moment of silence before he heard it again. The sound of clashing steel caused him to feel a jubilant thrill and quickening his pace he hurried towards the sound.

Rounding past a small hovel with a hole punched through the roof the clear sound of battlefield chatter indicated he'd arrived at last. What luck he thought to himself! Not only had he escaped the doldrums of the empty streets, but he'd arrived to witness a battle royal that contained the shadow plane user. Leaning in plain view of the various heroes and creatures he watched with curiosity. Were any of the beasts drawn to him it would be a simple matter to dispatch them, but right now their aggressors seemed to be drawing most of their attention.

How charming, they seem to be trying so hard to aid each other. To think how much it takes for them all to conquer such odds. It's almost...endearing to watch them try not to let anyone die.

[glitters]

Andy sliced down the creatures fine enough, though as another made its approach on him any interaction between the boy and the monster was harshly interrupted by a raging ball of crackling green lightning blowing the creature away.

And immediately after that creature went down the area around Andy lit up, a sphere of a pale blue colour about six feet all over that paused for only a second or two before it exploded outwards, knocking over anything that was within fifteen feet or so. With the area temporarily secured Jasmine stepped in close with a cocky grin on her face, deep relief in her heart (after panicking Andy might be dead for the eighth time this week), and a bottle of sparkling blue liquid in her hand lightly shaking by his cheek.

"It's going to sting," she warned, "it'll fix the superficial now, act as a bandaid for the worst of it, partially reduce swelling and numb some of the pain until I can get a better look at you. I'll be your defense but you have to promise not to die."


((damn you kids finishing everything while I'm writing. I'm not changing my post now lol))

[Andy Jammer]

Andy gave a tired sigh and let Jasmine do her work, he grunted at the stings but did not protest. When one of her hands were free he reached over and gently grabbed it, he interlocked his fingers with hers and smirked. "If you keep showing up like this I might think I am invincible."

He looked over to Dios and nodded, "Thanks for the help by the way, probably couldn't have taken them all without you."

He paused and then called out, "Or without you Monthu, come on out already!"

While he waited for the archer to show himself - if ever - he turned to Navarre, "What have you been up to?"

[Monthu]

Monthu wrapped his bow over his shoulder and clambered deftly from the window, before dropping down silently. He had ditched his cloak for this mission, deciding it too cumbersome for any real high speed movement. He wandered towards the heroes with his arms held down by his side, a long, thin knife visible at his waist as he reached to his face and pulled the monocular up from his eye and slipping it around his neck where it hung peacefully.

"We heard that there was a party going on, about some Duo guy..." He explained as he approached. "'Tami filled us in for the most part and it sounded like scary stuff... He's gone off to say hi to some Archangels or something... Said you guys would probably get along better with me rather than him..." He chuckled humourlessly. "Either way, he knows something's going down and sent me to help, I'm to follow any orders that contribute to whatever it is you're all doing, and ignore any that don't make use of my skills." He gave a smile.

"So... How are we all?"

[Navarre]

"Pretty good, Andy. I've been practicing using this." He holds up his sword, the blades glistens in the light. "And how about yourself? You have been doing good after our last run in?" Navarre looks over at Monthu, and gave him a nod, "How are you, Monthu?"

[glitters]

Jasmine beamed holding Andy's hand.

"Just the effect of us working together. You're always there for me, showing up when I need you the most. It's only fair I do the same for you," she added a wink as she spoke, "let me know how you're feeling, we'll go from there."

[Dios Sarvo]

Dios gave Andy a quick tip of his hat in recognition for his thanks before quickly retracting his shadows with a similarly quick gesture. Perhaps it was the sound of battle, or simply like-minded mentalities that drew people here, but whatever the cause, there was quite the congregation amassing within this once desolate Roccian street. Dios couldn't help but snicker at the subtle irony of the situation as he took a quick look as his surrounding to account for all the bodies present.

Holding his hands up skywards, Dios started clapping loudly in hopes of gaining people attention. He felt like he was a little out of the loop on the current happenings, and figured it was time to put his investigatory skills to proper use and get a clue on the situation, so to speak.

"Yes, yes, warm hugs and salutations to all, but I'm afraid I need to do a little questioning, seeing as how everyone seems to be on the uptake regarding this situation save for myself," Dios called out as he reached into his coat, searching for a few of his implements. With a flourished motion of his hand, he brandished his badge before pocketing it in a similarly slick motion, quickly arming himself with his notebook thereafter.

Dios Sarvo, licensed Private Investigator from Crepusuculum Kingdom. So first and foremost, what exactly is going on here? And please, save such sardonic answers as, "well there were things falling from the sky," or, "well there were creatures attacking," as such answers will force me to arrest you for willful participation in stupidity," Dios remarked, his tone still carrying that almost strange admixture of snide and upbeat.

Dios didn't particularly care who answered, he just needed to know what was happening so he could plan his next move. Scanning around he waited for a response, but couldn't help but linger his sight on the hulking black figure that was The Other.

"What the hell is that thing... it's got such a similar feel to the shadows, but theres something distinctly different...something tells me I need to look a bit further into this particular character," Dios pondered to himself, as he readied his pen for any answers.

[Monthu]

Monthu looked across at Navarre, one eyebrow raised in curiosity.

'Is this guy actually addressing me normally..? I mean, I was a part of Falcon Recon... He should hate me right..?'

He quickly put the logic together. He had been a part of Falcon Recon, but he and Bast had pulled a quick side switch at the last minute after they'd grown weary of the groups heavy-handed ways, and the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right? So I guess in theory, it made sense that Navarre shouldn't hold too much against him. I mean, he does currently work for Itami, which sort of makes him a criminal, but he understood the man he worked for, just as Itami understood him... Then he realized he was spending so much time thinking about it, that he hadn't even answered the man from Earth yet.

"Oh? Me..?" He asked, scratching the back of his head and giving a shrug. "I'm fine! I've been keeping myself to myself mostly, travelling, getting used to this planet..." He looked around at his surroundings. It was weird, in a sense, this place was a lot like home for him. China embraced it's past and history, so sights like small villages just as this one were not all that uncommon. He attributed that to how easy he had managed to fit in with this place, that it was, in essence, a lot like just travelling across a larger version of his own home. "But generally, I've been alright, sharpening my skills..."

Then Dios spoke, asking questions which earned him a sardonic look from the archer. Was this guy genuinely trying to approach this whole situation almost like a detective..? It took him a moment to compose his thoughts before he spoke.

"All you need to know is this. A friend of mine thinks the world is screwed unless we do something about it... So we're going to do something about it, I'd assume..."