The neon lights make me numb (Ch. 5: Day 3)

Sheff · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 12:12 am

When Geoff rounded the corner to witness Archer already in position to bring all sorts of pain to the hedgehog's face, his alert body was kind enough to provide the necessary reaction. Muscles stiffened as he jerked back, feet scrambling on the gravel as he twisted his body back where he came; behind the safety of the wall he just turned from. As he moved, he could feel the miniscule breeze the arrow produced barely an inch away. In short, it had been close.

With his back flat against the wall, Geoff took one deep breath as he realized how close he'd been to taking an arrow to the face. Despite this, he still had the gall to turn right back around the corner, his feet moving fast now as he tried to keep low, seeking out the deer yet again, waiting for the first sign of movement.

He opted to be silent this time.

Rachel · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 12:46 am

The Llama's head tilted a bit when the cat went mad. For a brief moment she was confused but realized he'd been bluffing. Too bad. When the chair was airborne she swatted it away with little in the way of effort.

"Please no fighting in ho-ZZT." The robotic cashier started, turning towards the pair. Only to have a chair smash into it and knock the top half of the robot off and take the cash register with it.

Then the serval was on her. Tracer didn't really have time to defend against his pounce he was rather fast in comparison to herself. So he did managed to get on her, she staggered a half step when he landed on her; but she did not go down. Even with a helmet getting socked in the head sucks. Tracer wasn't going to put up with much of that, so she swung immediately, both fists moved to punch either side Ace's rib cage. Since he was at an awkward angle the cat wouldn't be getting the full brute of the Llama's power. But that still left more then enough to put a hurting on the angry feline.

psikeout · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 12:55 pm

The portly pig still wouldn't catch his breath for a few, but it didn't stop him from pursuing the action. He wasn't as well-equipped for it as he would have liked to be, with his ammo box somewhere downstairs, but maybe he hoped it wouldn't really come to that, anyway.

Okay, no, there were arrows firing. That was pretty dangerous. *Cl-clack* went the cocking lever as Casey huddle-walked to take cover behind an AC duct (which actually didn't fully cover him too well, but it'd have to make due). When he peeked out, he thought he saw a sliver of something move near the helipad, but certainly couldn't draw a bead on it or react quickly enough to fire; the bowman was a slippery sort.

A couple warning shots went off with bone-quaking report, and at least one distant "spang!" noise off the concrete corner.

"Don't make this hard!" he shout-wheezed breathlessly. "Just... come out!"

Seafarinhare · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 5:18 pm

When the sound of ricochet gunshots went off, Archer instinctively lowered his body with his hands over his head...even though it didn't seem like he was even in line of sight. In terms of danger, it seemed that the boar stood out with his gun arm.

He took a deep breath, and kept moving. Right now, the helipad was his best cover, but it probably wouldn't last long if they decided to do something clever. He readied the arrow that he'd drawn, pulling it back as he inched toward the opposite end of the helipad. He wasn't exactly sure where the boar was, but he was a big guy. He'd be pretty hard to miss.

He peered around the corner. but it didn't look like he was on this side, because he certainly didn't see any portly individuals attempting to use an AC unit for cover.

With Geoff hot on his heels, though, he made sure to keep an eye out behind him as well.

Sheff · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 6:25 pm

In a bizarre way, Casey's gunfire proved to be Geoff's guiding light. Yes, he did flinch at the sudden explosion of noise, but seeing where the bullets impacted at least gave him an idea of which direction to take next. Now, as he ran for the helipad, he could only hope the boar was capable of distinguishing hedgehog from deer in the light of the night.

It wasn't long before Geoff was circling around the helipad, shoes digging into the gravel. He didn't seem all to concerned with keeping the noise of his crunching feet down, his approach probably heard before being seen. Eventually, though, his fast pace allowed him to turn the next corner and catch Archer in full sight, the hedgehog charging forward despite the weapon the deer held.

Seafarinhare · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 6:52 pm

The sprinting footsteps were quite a clue that someone was coming, and to top it off, Archer was watching for him.

In the midst of Geoff's bull rush, Archer aimed at him..then down, several feet in front of him. The arrow stuck into the ground as Archer retreated, keeping his head low as he moved across the rooftop, moving to cover behind another AC Unit.

As for the arrow; Due to the darkness of night, and none of the rooftop lights giving the base behind the helipad any priority, it'd be really hard to spot. Once Geoff got within several feet of it, it exploded. It was a low-powered explosion, but it certainly would be enough to knock him around for sure.

Greens · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 9:43 pm

Even with all the adrenaline rushing through him, not feeling a double-rib punch from a suit of powered armor was a fairly tall order for the alleycat. He didn't drop like a ragdoll, though by all means he probably should have. He let out a (masculine) yelp, reeled back, and delivered one last vicious haymaker to Tracer's faceplate, before finally recognizing the pain in his sides and awkwardly collapsing on the spot. He spent a moment or two gritting his teeth and sucking in the pain before scooting back with his feet, trying to get space between him and his assassin.

No way... all this time spent on this green Earth, and she would be the one to do him in? In a Chunese hospital, buck naked, sneak attacked in a frickin' shower? Unbelievable. Unbelievable.

Zaka51 · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 10:29 pm

Over the noises of the serval and the llama assaulting each other, it was likely hard to hear the rapidly approaching footsteps coming up from behind the pair. Mako, being stuck to the floor, was probably the first to notice the appearance of yet another party in the hospital cafeteria when they leaped directly over the paralyzed shark. There were three very eye-catching details about her: her pinkish-purple fur, her bright orange trackjacket, and a bright red fire extinguisher in her hands that was raised in preparation for a nasty downward swing. By the time Ace hit the floor and the new player's rush was audible to the both of them, she was only a few feet away with no sign of slowing. Her target: the back of the llama's head.

The only thing more unbelievable than being sneak-attacked in a Chunanese hospital shower: an unexpected rescue attempt(?) out of nowhere in a Chunanese hospital cafeteria.

MuffinUnsane · Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 10:53 pm

"Keep hanging around us and you're sure to see anything and everything."

Not bothering to call on the money, Ember had done worse before, she simply trailed along after the loris. There wasn't much else for her to do; no cash and no language skills left her stuck in the hospital.

"No offense, but dang your hometown sounds boring. Like, seriously dead. I would wither up and die if I had to stay in a place like that."

As if to drive her point home, her eyes rolled up in the back of her head as it lolled to the side dramatically.

Sheff · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 7:38 pm

Sudden light and shrapnel soon greeted the hedgehog shortly after seeing Archer vanish around the corner. Already having been puzzled by the lack of the deer's offensive, this clearly answered the questioning thought. There really wasn't much time for it, however, seeing how a miniature bomb was going off right at his feet. An exclaimed obscenity shot past Geoff's lips, his arms instinctively being thrown before him as he was knocked to the side. The amount of light had, indeed, made the projectile nearly unnoticeable, and he was now paying for it.

The hedgehog went a-stumblin' away from the point of the explosion, having fortunately not wandered exactly above it. Still, the relatively few feet between him and it was only a minor cushion, Geoff quickly sporting a few cuts. Gritting his teeth in frustration and shaking his head in an attempt to overcome a suddenly dazed thought process, he hastily regained his focus and kept striding forward, now much more wary with what was before him.

psikeout · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 8:05 pm

Meanwhile tromp tromp tromp tromp.

There was nothing stealthy about Casey, so he didn't even try. No, he wasn't the biggest bruiser on the block, but subtlety was least on his list of favorable attributes, and from the sounds of it, things were already getting loud anyway (see: explosion), so what was the point? With renewed vigor, he chased the action. Rather than going down around the base of the helipad, however, he instead went up the ramp onto it.

Was it the best idea to put himself up on a pedestal, on the highest, best-lit part of the roof? Maybe not, but as far as he could reckon, that deer was the only bogey present, and the vantage point could be useful. So, with some caution, he approached the edge, crouched down as low as he could, and peeked down around the general vicinity of where all the smoke was coming up.

He saw a smoldering Geoff easily enough, but it took some scanning (and squinting, his eyes trying to adjust to the comparative darkness below) to spot Archer. If the thief was astute, he'd see the hog's silhouette pretty clearly as he rose up and lined up his shot; if he delayed any, he'd find AC unit he was hiding behind to be a smoking heap of bullethole-laden scrap.

Seafarinhare · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 8:16 pm

"I appreciate the handicap Rocky," Archer said from cover before moving around the AC unit as Geoff drew closer, "But I'm also a little insulted."

Perhaps his talking got the better of him, because he didn't even notice the boar had closed in already. Far too focused on his green buddy.

"$%#@!" He blurted, ducking low to his cover, hoping the boar didn't have vantage enough to hit him

And once there was a break in the fire, he did something crazy(see: desperate). He lunged from cover toward Geoff, and threw a firm set of knuckles at his stomach as he went low to catch his chest. If it was successful, he'd used that stunned moment to spin him around with an arm around his neck to pull him in as a bullet shield.

Like I said: Desperate.

Rachel · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 9:45 pm

The Llama was getting pretty miffed at the cat. Why couldn't he of just flopped off. When he went to strike her visor she actually jerked away, the blow still hit running a crack up the mask. The cannon on her shoulder shifted once more as it began targeting.

She however didn't pursue the cat, though he was primed for another blow. She instead turned sharply; it was very difficult to get behind the llama without her HUD notifying her first, and running at her wasn't the way to get it done. She shifted back, leaning away from the blow raising a hand to catch the canister. Which she would immediately regret given the HUD didn't tell her the attacker was remarkably strong. The force of the blow dented the canister and caused tracer to slide back, her whole arm throbbing from the blow. Tracers overconfidence cost her this time. Without delay she let out a grunt that was nothing shy of a growl she shoved it back into the new attacker and her shoulder cannon fired at it.

Regardless of what the exploding canister of fire retardant would do it its wielder should the shot hit its mark, it would certainly coat the Llama and the nearby shark in frothing white foam.

Mie · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 10:29 pm

Rounding the corner on the first landing, Latika spared a quick glance to the fiery fowl, and grinned.

"None taken," assured the loris with a laugh, shaking her head dismissively, as she mounted the steps, dragging her hand along the railing.

"Really, not all terrible like it seem," she digressed. "Is good people there; very close, very kind." The inevitable, "unlike others" hung in the air unspoken as she pushed open the stairwell door a bit more tersely than doors typically needed to be pushed. Her tension ebbed with a sigh, however, as they neared the cafeteria.

"We just really need hobby not involving yak—"

Her jaw slightly agape, and her face the epitome of confusion as she took in the naked cat and (thankfully) separate shark, covered in sticky foam, one feebly, barely on his feet, reeling, and the other laying paralyzed on the floor, while a wolverine with a fire extinguisher engaged in mortal combat with a walking... tank.

"...this is kind of thing you were talking about?"

Zaka51 · Posted: Sat May 19, 2012 10:59 pm

The attacking wolverine certainly seemed surprised when she found her two-handed swing caught and halted like that. But before she had the chance to voice her sudden disbelief, the llama launched her counter-attack. The push sent the less-armored girl stumbling backwards with the extinguisher above her head, which promptly exploded from the beam and showered all three of them with its contents.

Regardless of how tough a person is, the first response to a fire extinguisher bursting in-hand and spraying its agent in all directions is to drop it. The shredded canister fell and hit the floor, while the now-foam-covered wolverine was forced to back off a number of steps to regain her balance, almost stepping on the hapless also-foam-covered shark.

She didn't notice the two other girls emerging from the staircase, as all of her focus was on Tracer. With grit teeth, an angry grunt, and no time to think of a good idea, the wolverine once again charged at the llama at a low angle; it seemed she was trying to tackle the fully-armored, very heavy llama.

The neon lights make me numb (Ch. 5: Day 3)

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