[Story] Birds of a Feather

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.29 | ~4p.m.
Location: Winter Battle Ball
Wearing: Black pants, black tee, black puffer jacket, running shoes and pack of supplies. Weapons as per CS
Tagging | Mentioning: @Rainbae /Koko , Paige, Gwen |
Note: Friends in Low Places
The unknown factors made his mind vibrate a bit. The convoy would stop about there and there were probably things to worry about. He blinked in the face of it. It made his tail dance sporadically. But a moment later and Chee's mind caught up with him. Paige wasn't being vague because she had no plan. She had a plan and was allowing for the vagaries of the world. A plan lasted until contact with the enemy. He smiled and nodded at her.

Then his eyes tracked Gwen moving to hide in the underbrush. He and Koko were squires, champions in the making. Just passing muster to get into Hammer meant they were already in the tenth percentile of people. Gwen and Paige might be remarkable in other ways, but they were trusting Chee and Koko to back them up. He inhaled deeply then et it out. The breath shook a bit as it rattled out of his lungs.

"Alright. Military, not OES. Headed away from Onyx Prairie for unknown reasons. Unknown compliment of security. All tings go smoothly. dey don't know dey were robbed until dey get dere..."

He frowned deeply. "They goin ta know it's you, Paige... and it's not like you keep your face a secret. You're gunnin ta be a public figure and all." He looked at the arch in the stone then back at the leader of the Freebirds. He wasn't one to question someone's resolve. If Paige had factored what he was saying in, and was cool with it, so was he. People were allowed to make their own decisions. "You tell me you want your face on dis. I'll go hide near Gwen ta keep her safe and such and be your backup. You don't want your face on dis, den I can try ta rig da arch ta... I don't know. Collapse? Wish I had some green Arcanite. Heh. Da irony, ya?"He wondered if Koko could manage something like that. Did she still have rockets in her gauntlets? He should have asked. He still could.

"You got any tricks like dat, Kiki? Explode da arch or stall out da truck wit none da wiser?"

[Rainbae]

Character Name: Koko Gero
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Outside Onyx Walls
Wearing: Band Shirt, Fishnet Top, Black Cargo Pants, Heavy Boots, Cropped Black Aviator Jacket
Tagging | Paige, Chee, Gwen
Nodding along Koko’s ears were on the woman leading this mission but her eyes were still surveying their surroundings. She was trying to see if there were any good spots she could use to give them an advantage. And more importantly any places that might need to be watched in case the convoy had backup. “Huh, yea I reckon I’d like to know as well.” Koko rubbed her chin with a curious look as Paige spoke. She didn’t like the sound of that one bit. Koko had been spending plenty of time in the Eastern quarter as of late. Whether it be visiting with Estelle or helping out cook some meals for people with Chee she’d seen a fair share of the place recently. She knew just as well as Paige did that there were plenty of folks who could use that Arcanite. She could level with it being needed for Military purposes to defend the city or otherwise. But bringing it out here, that didn’t sit well with her.

Koko didn’t quite catch on to the breadth of logic behind keeping this hit out of Onyx but she could always agree about keeping any kind of fighting away from the common folks. She appreciated that Paige seemed to always be on that wave length with her. Despite Paige’s less than legal proclivities Koko had yet to see her logic fail on something she believed in. That made her more confident this was going to work. She turned to Chee and blew air through her bangs. She took a few steps and then wracked her knuckles against the archway a few times. The sound that came out was heavy and solid. There was barely any reverberation like something hollow might have. “With ‘bout half-a that shipment we’re tryna procure I reckon I could. But there ain’t no chance this baby’s comin’ down with what we got on hand.” She crossed her arms across her chest, trying to think. The foliage nearby was pretty good cover. But what if…”Hey Pip you reckon you could pull ‘em soldiers a bit further on down in the passage than you were thinkin’?” Koko bounded over nearby the mouth of the arch and knocked on a nearby tree. The sound was much less hearty than the stone. “I figure we ain’t gon’ take the big girl down, best we can do is trap ‘em inside her yea?”

Without really needing the acknowledgement of the others Koko picked up a stick from the ground and started drawing out ideas in the dirt. Her mind raced as she tried to make her idea into reality with what she had on hand. She wrote out a few calculations and more importantly a small diagram. The diagram was less for her and more so that the others could glimpse into her mind. “We take them trees, there, there and there.” Koko pointed around her with the stick and gestured from the real life trees to her diagram to match them up for everyone. “Have ‘em rigged to fall on my command. If they try to high tail it on outta here when you pop on up I drop the big boys and a good ol’ road block stops ‘em from backin’ outta there? How’s ‘at sound?” She tapped the stick on her shoulder as she stood up and smiled. “I won’t go smushin’ no one with the falls as well. If it goes wrong I can catch ‘em with my shimmer need be.” She dropped the stick from her chest height and then caught it mid air with her shimmer to prove her point. Several heavy trees was a heavy weight for her to stop but she’d been training her shimmer plenty. She believed in herself to be able to do it.

[Envious]

Character Name: Thessa
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Onyx Prairie | Urban  - Earth Resonance
Wearing: Uniform
Tagging | Mentioning: Apple, Estelle, Yridan |
Thessa responded with immediate attentiveness at Estelle’s body language, leaning forward with her forearm on her knee. She hadn’t known what to expect, but Ocean being responsible for the death of Estelle’s father wasn’t it. Thessa opened her mouth, closed her mouth, and then realized she must look silly. She certainly felt silly. Why would Apple tell such a lie to Estelle? The convenient manipulation didn’t sit well with the elf who had intended to slowly help her partner realize both what she was and what she wasn’t. Adding in this new layer of deceit only complicated an already fragile and convoluted undertaking.

”We is gunna have plenty of time fer chattin’ with ‘im iffin’ we find ‘im, Estelle. We is gunna be the ones bringin’ ‘im in.” That seemed to be enough to soothe her partner, but now Thessa had questions. Who was her father and who had been the man to kill him? When had it happened and how would Ocean know the perpetrator? Why send Estelle down a vengeful path? But Yridan’s voice also caused Thessa concern. For someone who had been bummed about the idea of being unable to socialize, she was suddenly wishing this was a silent mission.

”Mine partner leery of bein’ in places we ain’t wanted,” Thessa volunteered. A grain of truth hidden in the quicksands of lies. ”Didn’t know them Freebirds was thought ta be stealin’ arcanite, did I?” There had been so much on her mind lately that she couldn’t recall. She sat up, lacing her fingers together and resting them on top of her head. ”Not surprised. Met one when doin’ some volunteer work… Rock? Ferget her name. All about spreadin’ the resources.” Meena was gone, but Chee was still around and had taken a liking to their cause. Thessa didn’t volunteer that her Squad mates were sympathetic to the Freebird cause to Yridan, but she wondered if Chee had heard anything about Freebirds distributing Arcanite.

”Am sure you got this, Lieutenant. You too high strung ta miss the details.” She grinned. ”Recover the Paladin?”

[Dove]

Character Name: Estelle Dawn (Android #16)
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Onyx Prairie - Hammer Crater Military Base
Wearing: Black vest, wide leg jeans, white tee and white kicks.
Tagging | Mentioning: Thessa, Yridan
Estelle nodded curtly, but brows furrowed subtly and she let herself fall back into her seat again. Thessa was right. They'd have time to talk if it came to Ocean showing up here. But what were the odds of that anyway? Stella drifted into her thoughts for a moment, eyes flickering back and forth between two random spots on the floor of the transport as fingers picked at a fray in her jeans. Tongue swept over her lips, wetting them after they'd gone dry.

Did she even know what she'd say if she did get some time with Ocean? She hadn't even considered how she might convince him to give her the information she desired. If he was as much of a monster as she'd heard he was, he certainly wasn't going to just turn on a dime and lead her right to Kim'Blee. It didn't make sense. 

But she shook these thoughts off for now. It wasn't the time. Once again, she had to put the mission first. And Yridan - while cranky or stubborn to let them all the way in - was providing them some valuable information on the other transports of arcanite that had gone missing or fallen into the wrong hands. Her lips pursed, recognizing some of the players like the OES and the Freebirds. But Paige Turner was nothing more than a name to her that she may have heard before. How were all of these things connected? 

Thessa seemed to be trying to get on the Lieutenant's good side, and that was probably not a bad idea here. She leaned down to rub at her face some before throwing her own two cents in. "Is it really possible that all of these incidents were separate? I wonder if there's some kind of through line. Some way they're all connected or linked. Like a mole or an informant or... I don't know, something?" she voiced. Elbows propped on her knees and face was cradled in her hands. "What arrangements were made in the other shipments? This one seems to be far more discreet and quietly managed. I'm assuming the others were less so? How many people knew about each of them?"

[Aethyrium]

Gardal Yridan

Paige Turner

S T O R Y T E L L E R
December 29th, Late Afternoon (~4pm) | Onyx Prairie | Urban  - Earth Resonance
Next Post: 2.18.25 | Thessa, Chee, Koko, Estelle

Thessa & Estelle…

While some information was fine to share, Yridan wasn’t about to detail the totality of military situations to these two unknowns. Apple had placed them here, so that suggested they were trustworthy, but if they didn’t know these things and the General had wanted them to, certainly she would have had them briefed. “Well, there’s no proof.” Yridan said, but he wasn’t convinced. In the front he folded his arms and peered out the front window, “But that Turner is a clever one, likes to play games.” She was guilty as far as he was concerned - they all were. “That’s what they say, but they’ve got no idea what they’re doing. They’d see Onyx defenseless, and us all Hollow food to stop some imagined tyranny. As if their very lives haven’t been made possible by the military.” Yridan huffed. “No. He’s still got two. One of them was recovered the night of the Azkaban break out.” The one that Meena, Lyra, and Kiba had encountered.

“If you’re asking if I think Paige Turner is above working with someone like Ocean Specter? No, I don’t.” Yridan watched as the gates to Onyx were opened for them. The truck bumped over the edge and hit the rougher terrain out beyond the wall, “I think she thinks that she’s real smart, and I wouldn’t put it past her to think she could use a guy like that to satisfy her own agenda, and then take him down.” And Estelle was right about the difference in precautions. “Well, like I said, the rest of that was handled by the OES.” This was an actual military operation, and they were not comparable. “No way to know, though. That sort of information doesn’t get spread around, but more than I’d have let in on things to be sure. And the reclamation projects weren’t secret at all. Well, enjoy the ride. We’ll be a couple hours.” Yridan said, flicking off his side of the intercom system.

And then began a lengthy transit. The truck kept moving at a fairly steady pace. It was bulky enough that unevenness in the ground didn’t impact it much, but every now and then there’d be a little rumble and jostle as it moved across bumps and more. They kept going for well over an hour, but not long enough to have reached a destination as distant as Apple suggested when…

* * * * *

Chee & Koko…

As far as she was concerned, them knowing her face was for the best. She was someone with enough voice that what they said - what they did - they’d have to be accountable to. It had paid off before too, when they had taken the recollected Arcanite. They couldn’t just take her down without evidence, and so long as there was no evidence that she was involved, there wasn’t a lot they could do to her. Presence alone wasn’t evidence. And here, if they fed her some bullshit, and she was able to unravel it, then she had more ammunition. “Don’t you worry about that,” Paige reassured him, tossing a gesture up on the arch where he had originally indicated, “But you should probably be up here. If there’s going to be an issue, I’ll need you closer than further. Want as little going on in back as possible.” Besides, bringing down this path would force any traffic in the future to need to go around, which was much more disruptive than she’d have liked. “The military has to answer to someone, don’t mind if it’s me. The more they try to ignore me, the worse this gets for them.”

While she appreciated the enthusiasm, she wasn’t sure what either Koko or Chee were trying to accomplish here. They didn’t need to trap the military - in fact, they didn’t want to take any specific action against them at all if possible. “I don’t know if you’re going to have time to set all of that up, Koko.” Paige said, glancing at her watch. “Should be any time now. You should both get hidden, and be ready. Somebody is going to come out and talk to me, whomever is in charge. Drop anyone who isn’t an Artemis unit, or the leader.” she smiled, “I want to talk to them.”

And Paige’s warning wasn’t without merit. It wasn’t even three minutes after sending them to their places that lights appeared in the distance and rather quickly got larger and brighter. Paige, as promised, stood right in the truck's path. It got closer and closer. The wide beams of the lights illuminated the whole space, casting a long shadow behind Paige and the gap she was blocking. She dragged on her cigarette slowly, staring the imposing vehicle down as it slowed and slowed before…

* * * * *

…The truck came to a stop. There was a brief pause of non-action, before the passenger side door opened to the cab and lieutenant Yridan dropped to the ground. The tall silenus strode out around the transport, back to the heavy lights, and stared at Paige. “Congratulations Mrs Turner,” Yridan called across the twenty-or-so-foot gap between them, “You just got Nathaniel Horcus court martialed and imprisoned in Azkaban for treason.”

Paige blinked beneath her glasses and paled a bit. That had been entirely unexpected. But it wasn’t sufficient to cause her to back down, “Seems you have me at a disadvantage, I don’t know your name.” She called back.

The lieutenant chuckled and folded his hands behind his back, “And you don’t need to,” his left ear twitched, “What you do need to do is step aside, and move out of my way, before you get yourself, or others,” he glanced around into the darkness, “Put into a similar situation. Of course, now that I know about Nathaniel, it’s only a matter of time.”

She pulled the cigarette from her mouth and flicked some ash to the ground, “I’ll step aside, once you tell me what the military is doing all the way out here with a truck load of Arcanite.”

Behind his back, discreetly, Yridan pushed something. Inside the cab - and the back of the truck - a light turned green. The driver side door opened, and the driver, armed with a rifle, dropped into the light snow and started around. Not visible from either vantage for Chee or Koko, the back of the truck hissed open on its own. In the back, a series of eight Artemis units that had been silent and resting along the inner walls came to life. They jerked to motion in unison and turned promptly to file out the back door as the ramp extended to the ground for loading. They spread out, four on either side, and began to advance up the length of the truck. “Well, Mrs Turner, fortunately neither I, nor the military answer to you.”

“You work for the people of Onyx, and I represent a number of them. So I ask you again, on behalf of Onyxian’s, what is the military doing transporting a load of Arcanite out to the middle of nowhere? Where are you going? What is the meaning of this?”

The driver lifted his rifle, training it on Paige. The Artemis units found their way around the cab and slightly spread out to create a covering half circle, each lifting their own weapon and taking aim at Paige. “How we allocate the resources available to us to best protect Onyx is not your concern, nor that of the people of Onyx. Our actions are taken in accordance with our mandate, and those who need the details, have them. But that does not include you. So, Ms Turner, this is your final warning. Step aside, or I will take you down for interfering with a military operation here and now. And you can kiss your chances at becoming a counselor, and maybe someday actually being important enough to know these things goodbye.”

[Envious]

Character Name: Thessa
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Onyx Prairie | Urban  - Earth Resonance
Wearing: Uniform
Tagging | Mentioning: Apple, Estelle, Yridan |
”Uneventful as promised,” Thessa said, standing up to stretch. Elbows out, she twisted at the torso and bounced twice to the left and twice to the right before taking the shield off of her back and sliding her hand through the holster. But between the short distance, the idling of the truck and Yridan’s silence, she was starting to wonder if she had spoken too soon. She looked to Estelle; the look on her face told Thessa that her partner had jumped to the most worrisome conclusion first.

”But it don’t hurt ta be ready fer anythin’.” Then the light switch on and Thessa huffed a little sigh that caused her shoulders to droop before rolled them back and squared up.

”I is stayin’ here iffin’ he calls ‘til you call fer me. Do recommend you take position outta sight behind da cargo ‘til then. Yous gunna be a fine surprise fer anyone comin’ in. Me distract ‘n you take out whatever poor soul comes in when they ain’t lookin’. ” She didn’t need to explain the logic - they had fought enough together by now that Estelle understood it. The location played to Thessa’s advantage. In this confined space the attacker had to come to her. The white light of the outdoors started to fill the area as the doors opened. The floor vibrated with the synchronized stomping of the Artemis units as they evacuated out of the tube and out of sight. Thessa reached out with a toe to press on the taught straps securing the cargo down to the floor and looked to the wide-open space outside of the vehicle. She positioned herself in front of the crates, body deceptively relaxed.

”Mission first. Ocean second.” It was unclear if Thessa was saying it for Estelle or herself. Her partner may have wanted answers for her father, but Thessa wanted justice for her friends. She didn’t know what to expect when that door opened - if it was Ocean, Paige, or someone else, but she knew where her priorities were at. She pulled a small cylinder from the holster on the inside of her shield and leaned against the crate.

[Dove]

Character Name: Estelle Dawn (Android #16)
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Onyx Prairie - Hammer Crater Military Base
Wearing: Black vest, wide leg jeans, white tee and white kicks.
Tagging | Mentioning: Thessa, Yridan
It was all super curious. Ocean seemed to be interconnected with several issues that Estelle had heard about in her short time at Hammer. It made her wonder what his bigger game plan was. What was his goal in all of this? Surely someone like Apple had to have some idea. Another name dropped in the hat, Paige Turner. Estelle had so many questions, but she had allowed herself to fall silent as Yridan flipped off the intercom and things fell quiet save for the even hum of the transport's engine.

The ride went by with little if anything said between the two squires in the back. Maybe purging about what she knew about Ocean and Kim'blee was best left for another time. They had to be on their game as much as possible. So she kept herself quiet, alert, and focused.

When the transport came to a stop, her brows furrowed. She recognized immediately it was far too short a time for them to have reached their destination. So as Thessa stood up, she reached out a hand to catch her forearm, steadying her and meeting her gaze. "Wait," she murmured quietly. Her eyes peered left and right but with the back door still closed at first, there was nothing to see. The voices outside were barely audible, but she could recognize Yridan's just enough. The passenger door opened, the sound resonating down the metal of the vehicle's siding. Estelle closed her eyes, willing her ears to work harder, but there was still nothing. Not nearly enough information to understand what was going on. But no gunshots, no explosions, no yelling even. "What is this?"

As if on cue, the green light was illuminated and the Artemis units were met with some level of surprise. Something was clearly not right. She sat back in her seat further as they filed out the now open back of the truck. The chill air of the night slipped through and around the back cabin, and she unbuckled and stood up. This wasn't the signal, and she couldn't help but wonder if Yridan might be being a bit stubborn in his ways. Maybe he wanted to prove to himself and Apple that he could take care of this mission on his own without the help she had arranged. But ultimately, she trusted Thessa and her judgment. She nodded her head, swallowing hard and taking a step back. "Let me know if you can see anything. Hear anything," she pressed, her brows rising. But she took a few steps back to the small space between the very back wall of the transport and one of the crates of arcanite. 

If Thessa were to look back, it would seem she'd disappeared entirely, but she was now ducked behind the crate, eyes fluttering closed. Her body was folded in a crouch, ready to spring up with her hands full of knives. The element of surprise was in their favor. And she and Thessa had time to sync and get to know each others' strengths and weaknesses. Not to mention the unspoken link they shared... they were a force to be reckoned with.

So she waited. And listened. And held her attack. 

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.29 | ~4p.m.
Location: Winter Battle Ball
Wearing: Black pants, black tee, black puffer jacket, running shoes and pack of supplies. Weapons as per CS
Tagging | Mentioning: @Rainbae /Koko , Paige, Gwen |
Note: The Waiting Is The Hardest Part
Chee shifted where he crouched. After the last exchange with Paige, he'd understood well-enough. He was still unsure how this would work. His ears flicked angrily. He looked left toward where Gwen had hid herself. He'd followed the other Silenus into the brush and helped her with some Squeakers to aid her stealth, but Paige had asked him to be near her for support He wished that this was better planned, but it was what it was. This was something they had done before, Paige and Gwen. He believed in them. He watched Paige suck air through the tube of her cigarette, the cherry lighting up her face. Was she worried or was he projecting. Then it was time.

He watched the truck rock to a stop. His breath caught in his chest. They were in it now. There was no turning back. The only option left was to watch, wait, reveal himself if needed or stay hidden if not.

He bit his lip as the muscular rabbit-born got out of the truck and walked towards Paige. His ears flicked and he frowned. His lips silently formed the name: Nathaniel Horcus. That must have been the source Paige had used. His brow furrowed down.

The rest of the conversation played out and Chee got the distinct impression that this was not exactly how things had been planned. Still, the basic plan was delay while Gwen did her work. He was just squeezing his eyes shut to wish Gwen speed and good luck when a loud sound made him almost bolt upright. Chee's eyes widened as Sentinel units marched out. He sucked in the hissed breath, his heart leaped into his throat, and he looked for Gwen. Was she already moving from her hiding spot? The military had come to play hardball; they'd expected something. He felt a chill crawl up his back. Eight sentinel units and the Silenus: was that all that was in store for them? It was already a lot.

He whispered, "Be extra, extra, super, duper careful Paige. Please?" He found himself actually directing his thoughts at Paige. he was actually praying.

Chee then returned his attention to the conversation. He grinned. If things went according to plan, then she was fine. Eventually, she'd do just that: step aside. But not until the cargo had been surreptitiously liberated. They could suspect her, but there'd be little proof of what happened. An electric energy built up in him. He felt his thighs bunch and unbunch. He was ready to act at the drop of a pin. His eyes flicked up to where he thought Koko was concealed and wondered what she made of those Sentinels. How did one disable them easy peasy anyway? Chee grinned?

[Aethyrium]

Gardal Yridan

Paige Turner

S T O R Y T E L L E R
December 29th, Late Afternoon (~4pm) | Onyx Prairie | Urban  - Earth Resonance
Next Post: 2.25.25 | Thessa, Chee, Koko, Estelle
“I’m not concerned with being a counselor right now. I’m concerned with your actions, and the struggles of the people of Onyx. Maybe the people don’t need to know every move the military makes, but that is far cry from the actions of the military actively being hidden.” Paige puffed her cigarette and shifted it to the corner of her mouth. “This can all be resolved right here without any issues, for me, or for you, if you just tell me what you’re doing out here. Where are you going?” Paige looked around, “How does this serve Onyx?” While she did want to know, the truth was what she needed moreso was to buy Gwen time. The answers she’d get eventually, one way or another.

“My orders come directly from General Blossom, and they do not include telling you anything. But they do include ensuring this delivery gets where it needs to go, and I’m going to do that.” Yridan declared, taking a few steps forward toward Paige, slightly ahead of the nine guns trained on her - but not into the line of fire. “And if I get to put down your silly little movement in the process, so be it. Paige Turner, you are in violation of Onyx code three-seven-alpha, which prohibits any citizen from interfering in military operations. Under the authority given to me by the military charter, I am placing you under arrest. Put your hands behind your head and get on your knees, or you will be shot.”

Paige laughed quietly and pulled the cigarette from her mouth, “You know my name, but you apparently don’t know that I’m not intimidated by bluster.”

Yridan looked back at the Artemis units and driver with weapons, and then back at Paige, “I’m not blustering, I’m ordering. You are out of line, and frankly all alone.”

“Is that so?” Paige smiled, dropping her cigarette and giving it a small stomp, crushing it into the snow. “Are you sure you wanna do it this way?” With a small gesture, one more likely seen by Koko than Chee, she indicated the driver - the one individual who would be easily knocked out. But without the ability to directly communicate, she could only hope that the squires would understand the spirit of her message. This was about a show of force, rather than necessarily taking specific action against the military.

Thessa & Estelle…

There was stillness after the Artemis units left the truck. A quiet with only the vague sounds of conversation ahead of them blurred with the chilly wind of the night. But the light still didn’t change.

In the brush away from the truck, Gwen watched as the Artemis units got ahead. She waited just long enough to be sure that she could get in undetected and then crawled forward slowly. The squeakers provided extra cover - and were neat, beyond the idea of getting Chee’s white goo on her - and she was thankful for that. Some might not appreciate the difference between the OES and the military, but Gwen certainly did. Getting caught here and ending up in Azkaban was not a fate she was eager to explore. And to her credit, she was small and stealthy. So as she gracefully climbed up into the back of the truck, she’d definitely gotten away her infiltration, had the two squires not been right there.

The small silenus was silent, and she went unheard at first. Unseen even! But then in the quiet there was a small pop, and when Thessa looked forward, down the length of cargo, the line was somehow… Shorter than it had been. There was something missing. And then, right in font of her eyes, coinciding with another shallow quiet ‘pop’, she watched another crate just disappear. And then standing behind another set of crates, only visible because the one that just went missing, was this young silenus woman - probably no older than Thessa herself. And she watched as Gwen reached out and touched another thing, and it blurred, swirled, and then pop, was gone.

[Rainbae]

Character Name: Koko Gero
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Outside Onyx Walls
Wearing: Band Shirt, Fishnet Top, Black Cargo Pants, Heavy Boots, Cropped Black Aviator Jacket
Tagging | Paige, Chee, Gwen
There was a confidence that Paige had that struck Koko more than ever before when interacting with the woman. She knew that Paige could handle herself and she also knew the woman was driven more than almost anyone she knew. That being said the amount of belief she had in her position was powerful. She wasn’t scared in the slightest but there was more than that. She exuded an energy that almost seemed to claim that she was the one these people had to be answering to. Her voice carried more weight than just her own that was to be sure. Whether that was the folly and foolishness of a drunk on the street or actually truthfully a chorus of the wants of the people of Onyx Koko wasn’t entirely sure yet. Either way she was determined in a way that the squire could be energized by. She nodded at her assessment.

“Right on Pip, if you reckon we’ll be good as is I ‘spose it ain’t a thing. I just had to ask an' all ya know.” She offered her a fist bump before moving off to the side of the opening to hide in a bush. “Don’t get run over now!” She added with a wink as she made her way off the road. There was a silence that overcame the area only broken by the regular sounds of nature. Now more than ever Koko was a bit worried about Gwen. She leveled that Chee had gone with her so she was probably reasonably safe but once they separated and she went around for the back of the trucks when they arrived she was worried. It had almost been a joke earlier but it was true that a Hollow could appear and attack her at any moment. Koko just hoped that would be the least of their problems tonight.

She watched the light of Paige’s cigarette moving back and forth from her mouth repeatedly in the darkness. It became the central thing she focused on as the trucks appeared in the distance. Something about the air didn’t make her feel good but she kept those feelings locked down. Now it was time to work. Koko tied her hair back as she watched the military man drop out and the conversation begin. She was paying attention but only enough to make sure she spotted Paige’s signal. Instead Koko’s sight was set on the surrounding area. She wanted to act almost immediately upon seeing the show of force the leader made with the Artemis units. She held herself back however and tried to spot any other operatives hidden nearby. They were ambushing here, she didn’t want to get counter ambushed. Still, she locked her weapons out and ready. Her gauntlets over took the flat of her hands and the handles extended out to slide neatly into her palms.

She didn’t like how the conversation was going. She had never been a fan of men like this. Those who just did what they were told and didn’t question anything. Koko needed to understand logic to do something. She came to her own conclusions, that was just what she had done for a long time. A lack of curiosity rubbed her the wrong way. She tightened her grip on her weapons as the man stepped forward. Things were getting really dicey here. She looked to Paige more intently now, almost wanting her to drop that cigarette and give them the signal. She felt herself almost bouncing. She wasn’t sure if it was Paige’s influence or if she really just didn’t like this man but she felt some of the anger Paige had. For the misuse of power that was clearly evident here. But more so for just being a bully and refusing to answer any questions.

She almost felt it coming at the soldier’s words. Koko saw the light fall. Even in the bright lights of the truck the cigarette’s smolder stood out. And Koko’s eyes caught the glint and acted before it even hit the ground. Without even breaking out of her spot in the darkness her lashers came shooting out of seemingly nowhere. They snapped in with the crack of a whip and wrapped around the neck and torso of both Artemis units that were flanking the driver. She quickly spun the small turn wheel on the handles and pressed the firing button. Immediately Devotion sparked to life and a trail of lightning zipped down the length of the whips. 

The bots sparked and creaked as several thousand volts went straight through their systems. The lights on their front flashed repeatedly until both units failed and crumpled to the ground. She pulled them to the ground as their bodies surged with electricity. Being stuck in the middle the man almost got shocked on both ends as the bots came falling down around him causing him to yelp and fire off his weapon into the air. A few shots rang out in the wilderness and birds and a few other creatures could be heard rushing off away from the sudden noise. She retracted her lasher as she took a step out of the darkness. The bots lay smoldering on the ground, sparking from the shock and destroyed. She took a few steps until she was just behind Paige now and stood tall. She wasn’t one for stealth anyways so going for intimidation factors seemed like a better idea.

There was a part of Koko that was worried about being recognized here. That was partially why she had put her hair back. She doubted that it would help very much. With her weapon being so distinct it would be pretty difficult not to pick her out of a lineup. Even still she wasn’t in her usual attire and her silhouette was different with her giant mop of hair more contained she figured like Paige said it would be her word against theirs. She didn’t act further nor did she say a word. Koko just nodded her head to the man. Both to have him acknowledge her and to let him know she was ready to do exactly what she just had again.

[Dove]

Character Name: Estelle Dawn (Android #16)
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Onyx Prairie
Wearing: Black vest, wide leg jeans, white tee and white kicks.
Tagging | Mentioning: Thessa | Yridan, Gwen
Keeping quiet wasn't an issue, though as minutes ticked by, she could feel a swell of anxiety in her chest. She tried to stay as hyper focused as possible. From this far back in the truck, the voices outside were even more muffled and she could hardly make sense of what was happening. All she could make out was that Yridan was one of the voices. The other she could not recognize, but it maybe sounded more feminine. But there was no other insight she could gather from that. 

Instead, she turned her attention to the back of the truck and Thessa. Their connection was still not something she could completely understand, but it sure did come in handy when in moments of need. She wasn't so tuned in that she could feel her heartbeat or even hear her breathing, but she felt like she could feel her energy on the other side of the cargo towards the opening of the back of the truck. 

Pop. What was that? Estelle's brows furrowed, and she found herself curious. It wasn't a violent sound. In fact, it was quite subtle. But then there was another one, and Estelle peeked around the crate to try to catch a glimpse of what was going on. While she didn't see anything at first, she did notice that the line of crates of arcanite did not stretch as far from her as they did before. She couldn't see the culprit the way Thessa may have been able to, but as she was peeking down the line, she caught sight of one of the crates disappearing from view. She knew Thessa must have noticed, too, so she popped up. "Hey!" 

As if on cue, the screams from outside the truck pinged through the air and echoed off the walls of the truck. What the hell was going on? She could only hope that Yridan and the Artemis units had a handle on whatever was happening at the front of the truck. She shouted for Thessa, needing her to make some move to make this person visible for her. And when she did, Estelle wouldn't hesitate. Without knowing who was responsible for this interference or why they were doing so, she would try to avoid lethal attacks. But she and Thessa were here to support Apple and Onyx.

With knives at the ready, she'd be ready to whip her hand forward, aiming for the hands or feet of the one responsible for this witchery.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.29 | ~4p.m.
Location: Winter Battle Ball
Wearing: Black pants, black tee, black puffer jacket, running shoes and pack of supplies. Weapons as per CS
Tagging | Mentioning: @Rainbae /Koko , Paige, Gwen |
Note: A Decision
The conversation was just close enough to where Chee hid for it to stir his brains. He nodded as Paige spoke of the people; he frowned as the Silenus commanded obedience. Chee stared at the Onyx Military emblem emblazoned onto the truck, the uniform, the Artemises. It was not a symbol that Chee questioned. He didn't think Paige distrusted it either, exactly. He bit his lip.

What this was, really, was watching a runaway mammoth charging a stubborn rhinopeed. Neither was going to move, the collision was inevitable, and the result was going to be messy. Chee pulled his hood up and tightened the strings. He knotted them under his chin. He worked his lips against the fabric where it came up and covered his lower lip. He was just tucking his white hair in when he saw the cigarette drop.

His heart leaped into his throat.

But Chee didn't break promises; he didn't back down. He was already up and moving when the darkness lit up with electric blue light. He caught the driver convulsing in his peripheral. He felt bad for the guy, but that wouldn't stop him. The sound of gunfire broke the night. Chee hoped Gwen knew enough to keep moving forward. His right hand flicked toward Darklash; the left tore his pistol from its holster. His vision was locked on to his target. Something big, something impressive, something that told this guy that fighting was a bad choice. None of them wanted to hurt military personnel. Chee didn't want to hurt people just doing their jobs, not even this guy. Not even the jerk defying Paige's heart-felt concerns.

Then the two units he was eyeing lit up like fireworks. He faltered a half step. The things went haywire, twitching and lights blinking. Then they collapsed. Chee could smell the burning plastic and hear the sparking systems. He grinned past them to where Koko was stepping out. That new weapon of hers was impressive.

Something went whizzing by his ear and he hissed. Refocusing, he noted the driver was still standing. The man looking at his gun like it was a live serpent. Chee poured more into his legs. The man's he snapped up, but not toward Chee. Instead, he turned at the motion coming from Koko. The gun was coming up, too. Chee growled and felt a protective surge shoot through his chest. Koko was his sister in everything short of blood. But even that, they'd shared enough. The idea of someone targeting her made his world narrow.

His speed was one of his signatures, so he'd been planning to hold back. Nothing here was really a threat to a squire. But he poured everything he had then into his legs. His form blurred. One second he was bent low, almost parallel to the ground, then he was skidding to a halt by the man. Chee noted his eyes flare wide. The muzzle of the gun tried to retrack to the new threat. Chee's grim smile shifted against the inside of his hood. His fist, wrapped around Darklash's hilt, collided with the man's stomach. The driver doubled over as his breath fled him. Chee kicked the gun from his hand toward Koko. Then he brought the butt of his pistol down. The man collapsed.

Huffing a breath, he turned to nod at Koko. Then he looked at Paige and nodded again. He made sure not to look to the truck. Finally, he looked at the officer and cocked his head to the side as if to say 'what idiot thinks Paige Turner shows up without a plan and backup?' His pistol came up aimed at Yridan. "Soooo, I recommend answerin da future councilwoman's questions, dumbass." He slid Darklash home.

[Envious]

Character Name: Thessa
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Onyx Prairie | Urban  - Earth Resonance
Wearing: Uniform
Tagging | Mentioning: Estelle, Gwen |
Note: Thessa kicks at Gwen, getting her to break cover so Estelle can attack. 
Thessa tilted her head in an effort to gain extra context for what was happening outside. She could hear people speaking - Yridan’s voice was clear and terse, but distant enough she couldn’t make out everything. The tone gave her everything she needed to know, though. ”He gunna arrest whoever out there,” Thessa said quietly, alerting Estelle to the small bit she could understand. ”They ain’t come all the way out here for arrestin’ though, so be ready. Somethin’ comin’.” She bounced on her toes, itching to do something. Patience was not a skill she cared to practice though she forced herself to recognize its importance. She stared at the open mouth of the vehicle as curiosity ate away at her. What was happening out there? Would Yridan switch the lights?

Feeling the threat of impending attack, Thessa retreated to the west side of the crates and took a knee to be out of sight. That brief moment of a broken line of sight was all Gwen had needed to infiltrate the vehicle. She heard the pop as Estelle did and rose up in alarm. Then there was the gunshot. Electricity. An attack. Thessa felt a heaviness permeate her body as she realized the line of crates was shorter. How? And then she saw Gwen.

Thessa snapped into action as Estelle shouted at her - so much for stealth - and darted forward. It only took a few steps before she was lunging with her shield-arm first for her fingertips to catch the edge of the cargo and Thessa was twisting her body so her legs were running along the wall. ”Now!” she shouted as her momentum and grip brought her legs around the crate feet-first, directly towards Gwen’s body. The Silenus broke her crouch to dodge Thessa’s attack, giving Estelle a brief moment to react as Thessa’s legs dropped to the floor and she used her core to come to a stand and jump on top of the crate.

”What you do, woman? Where the crate?”

[Aethyrium]

Gardal Yridan

Paige Turner

S T O R Y T E L L E R
December 29th, Late Afternoon (~4pm) | Onyx Prairie | Urban  - Earth Resonance
Next Post: 3.5.25 | Thessa, Chee, Koko, Estelle
It wasn’t the attack that surprised Yridan, it was the firing of the driver. His attention snapped away from Paige to the distant shots, and he lifted a hand to signal the remaining Artemis units to stay their engagement - a normal response, once gunfire began. And the driver got the punishment deserved for such a lapse, as Chee took him down. Yridan scanned the silenus and his defiant attitude. “You seem confused. I don’t answer to random citizens, even potential future councilors.” Yridan shot back. This belief that somehow they were entitled to this information was as baffling as it was infuriating. The military did their due diligence and was operating within the scope of their authority here, there was nothing to answer for.

Even slightly flanked by Chee, Yridan turned his attention back to Paige. “I’ll look forward to adding assaulting a military officer to the list of charges. You’re going to Azkaban for the rest of your life, Ms Turner.” Hand still raised to hold the Artemis units in check, “The only question is if you’re going to make it there. You kids don’t understand what you’ve done here.” He glanced at Koko. They were faces he wouldn’t forget. “You have attacked a military convoy. Even if you thought you had good questions, you’re on the wrong side of the law here. Whatever she convinced you of? It’s made you criminals.”

Paige took a few steps forward, prompting the Artemis units to also advance a step - signal to not fire be damned. “No one wants a fight,”

Yridan chuckled and looked to Chee and the three downed, “It seems to me that you came here looking for one. But for your sake, I sincerely hope you brought more than a couple of well meaning kids.”

“These well meaning kids brought down a third of your forces in three blinks. You think a couple more of your tin soldiers are going to change that?” Paige shook her head.

The lieutenant smiled, “Maybe, maybe not. But only a third of the forces you’ve seen.” Yridan’s hand shifted subtly in his left pocket. “You’re not dealing with the OES anymore, Ms Turner. So this is your final warning. All of you. Lay down your weapons, and come peacefully. Or you will be subdued, by any means necessary. But make no mistake, this convoy is going where it is intended to go, and you are not going to stop it.”

Thessa & Estelle…

Gwen was quick, but not trained. Not like them. And she was decidedly not expecting anything to be back here in the truck. Even if she had envisioned that there might be, she’d think she was dealing with an Artemis unit. Not a squire. Let alone two! The shock of it left stunned, and barely able to stumble out of the way of Thessa’s attack. Gwen’s eyes were bright and wide with shock. The real problem was that she could flee an Artemis unit and lose it, probably. Worst case she could pop it away! But a person was a much better tracker, and not a problem she could just remove.

And while consumed with the sight of Thessa, and the thoughts of what she was going to do, Gwen had no perception spared for the possibility of Estelle. So when the first two knives came slicing through the air, Gwen was entirely unprepared. Almost in unison the blades sank into Gwen’s form - there was no Soul shield to carve through. One knife cut through the back of her hand like butter and erupted through the other side, ripping a panicked shriek from Gwen. The second blade cut a gash across the back of her calf, causing her to drop into a crumpled pile at Thessa’s feet, grabbing at her leg with her one good hand.

Which was also when the light in the back of the truck changed from green to blue. “I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Gwen choked out.

[Dove]

Character Name: Estelle Dawn (Android #16)
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Onyx Prairie
Wearing: Black vest, wide leg jeans, white tee and white kicks.
Tagging | Mentioning: Thessa, Gwen, Yridan
Thessa jumped up on the crate and Stella leaned forward on the one in front of her to stretch and see what damage she'd been able to do. Truth was, though, she didn't need the visual as the sound of pain bounced off the walls of the inside of the transport. Stella frowned, brows furrowing atop concerned eyes. While fighting Hollow seemed natural and even heroic in some ways, she didn't really know who she was attacking here. There was an element of mystery and even the potential of guilt to rear its head. Stella took massive steps towards the truck's opening to come alongside Thessa. And there, crumpled up on the floor, was the Silenus responsible for the disappearing crates.

It was not a face that Stella recognized. But the girl looked... sweet. Innocent even? Pretty, too. And young. But as many emotions and thoughts flooded Estelle making her think that this must all be some understanding, the girl's deflective response was beyond frustrating. "You can't be serious," she spat, fingers twitching but resisting the urge to grab at another knife. Eyes flickered down towards where her hand covered the wound caused by her second knife. Blood was visible dripping between her fingers. "I can help you with that if you just tell us where the crates are. I could have aimed higher, you know." The words may have read as something of a threat, but the intention was more to convince the Silenus that they were reasonable people. Thessa and Estelle were here to protect the transport and arcanite, not determine what repercussions or consequences might be inflicted upon anyone that tried to tamper with it.

The green light illuminating the cabin turned blue then, and Estelle looked up towards the lights with a shift in her expression. Perhaps whatever was happening outside was the distraction for this seemingly unarmed and small girl to try to make haste with the arcanite. Stella clenched her jaw, arms winding around herself as she turned towards Thessa. She had a million questions and ultimately they were being summoned outside while also having this issue at hand. But Thessa insisted that she could handle the Silenus. And so Estelle would nod.

"Give me a boost?" she asked, casting one more sideways glance at the girl before making her way to the edge of the transport's opening. With Thessa's help, she'd be able to hoist herself up onto the top of the truck, really hoping to keep some kind of distance and decent vantage point on the scene. She'd crawl, trying to keep herself small, towards the front of the truck, hoping to get a look at what was happening before taking action without immediately being noticed.

[Envious]

Character Name: Thessa
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Onyx Prairie | Urban  - Earth Resonance
Wearing: Uniform
Tagging | Mentioning: Estelle, Gwen |
Note:   
Thessa retreated from the Silenus’ grasp for balance with startled eyes. She knew having a Soul was a rarity, but being surrounded by classmates with abilities far beyond the normal physique had made her forget it. For a moment, the elf almost looked sympathetic for the pain she had caused, but it was fleeting. Whoever this person was, she had made the decision to attack the Onyx military and this was a natural consequence of the action. She looked at the Silenus as Estelle questioned her; she might have looked helpless in this moment, but she was skilled enough to enter undetected and Thessa assumed she must have some shimmer available to be able to take the crates.

”Move,” she commanded, forcing the Silenus backwards and further away from the crates so she could answer Estelle’s request for help. She didn’t look away from Gwen as she braced herself and offered Estelle a hand up to climb from floor to thigh to shoulder to the top of the truck. ”Tell ‘im ta get Artemis units back here; can’t leave the arcanite. Don’t want any more sneak-thief's hidin’ comin’ in.” Out of the periphery she saw Estelle nod, but before her partner disappeared Thessa cried out - ”Wait!”

She had been considering her choices silently. A mobile enemy who could disappear the cargo was a liability. Thessa had no use for a prisoner, either. How badly injured was she? Golden eyes had trailed Gwen’s bleeding form and - that’s when she noticed it. The white goop coating the bottom of the attacker’s shoes.

She felt an itch start to spread across her scalp as recognition made her blood turn cold. ”Chee’s squeakers.” That factoid sat heavy in her heart and she didn’t know what to do with it. Why on earth would Chee be part of an attack against a military operation? It didn’t make sense, but she couldn’t deny what her eyes were telling her. Or the fact that he had been a hired courier for the enemy upon their first meeting. Stress caused her jaw to tighten as she kept the confusion off of her features. ”Go,” she said, forgoing further conversation. With the light on, Yridan needed them now and he was still only getting one until there was coverage on the cargo.

She took a half-step backwards towards the cargo, hand outstretched towards Gwen. Something in the way Thessa looked at the Silenus transformed. It was as if the elf realized that Gwen’s usefulness had immediately diminished with Chee’s existence just outside the vehicle as a second option to question. Hadn’t he gone to some Freebird rally with Lyra and Koko a while back? How did that connect back to Ocean? Did it? Was this just the Freebirds stealing arcanite? Yridan said he was certain Paige had done it not too long ago even if it couldn’t be proven. Her heart started to harden.

”Bring it back now ‘n you can limp ‘way ta fight fer yer justice another day. Do not ‘n this is where yer fight ends.”

[Rainbae]

Character Name: Koko Gero
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Outside Onyx Walls
Wearing: Band Shirt, Fishnet Top, Black Cargo Pants, Heavy Boots, Cropped Black Aviator Jacket
Tagging | Paige, Yridan
Koko knit her brows as she stared down the large Silenus man before. And despite her lack of being a Silenus she felt a growl ruminating in her throat. She did not like this man one bit. His self righteousness and smug indignance made her blood bowl. Koko hadn't been a big fan of most of the Onyx military people she'd met so far but this guy was taking it to a whole new level. She grit her teeth as he spoke. Paige might be outside the law by stopping the truck she was sure but his refusal to even give a shred of information on what was going on did not sit well with her. If anything it was incriminating. It told her that he was doint something nefarious with the arcanite, if not why be so defensive? She hated the holier than thou ‘need to know’ attitude so much that she broke her silence.

“We ain't attacked nothin’. And I ain't remember when standin’ in the middle of the road became a crime. You ‘member that law gettin’ pushed through councilwoman?” Koko looked to Paige with a raised eyebrow and a quizzical look that was then turned on Yridan. “And Military or not I reckon we got the right to defend ourselves when a rifle is pointed our way.” Koko shrugged and looked amused. She smirked at the man and sauntered closer to Paige. She put an elbow on her shoulder and locked eyes with the Silenus. “And anyways, I can assure you this ain't what an attack oughta look like. If we was lookin’ to attack you well uh let's just say you can bet your sorry ass you ain’t would’ve got the chance to bring out the ol’ rust buckets. That's for damn sure.” Under normal circumstances Koko would've left the talking and negotiations to an expert like Paige. She Paige was good at that, shit she'd even seen it firsthand before once or twice. But as she'd been listening so far she was sort of picking up on what Paige was doing. It was true she really didn't want a fight Koko knew that. But if she had to have one she wanted Yridan to start it. And that was the one social scenario where Koko felt keenly qualified to speak in. Pushing someone's buttons.

“Go on now and listen to the councilwoman, tell 'er what she's rustlin' to know. ‘Fore that scowl you for there gets stuck on that face-a yours.” Koko chuckled a bit. “Not that that's gon’ do ya no good anyways” The shit eating grin on Koko’s face was superb as she spoke. She figured that if he wanted to be a punchable prick she should return the favour. Meanwhile Koko was trying her best to keep her eyes searching their surroundings. The Silenus could almost certainly be bluffing but no reason to let herself get caught off guard here. She figured more than likely though if he had any more forces they were still tucked away in the truck.

Her thoughts drifted to Gwen then. This was getting dicey and although she knew Paige could handle herself she feared for Gwen if it became a firefight. Not that she was too concerned. Short of there being an entire team of champions in the trunk Koko was confident the three of them could take out whatever came out of there should it truly come to that. Still, she made a mental note to find Gwen and keep her covered if a fight broke out.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.29 | ~4p.m.
Location: Outside Onyx Walls
Wearing: Black pants, black tee, black puffer jacket, running shoes and pack of supplies. Weapons as per CS
Tagging | Mentioning: @Rainbae /Koko , Paige, Gwen |
Note: Watching
A tightness rose up in his neck. He felt his eyes trying to bulge out of his face. The accusations of criminality hit home with him. He flushed; he'd been worried about it when Paige asked. Laws helped people live in harmony, or they were meant to. "Bein legal and being right are different tings." But the words weren't really meant to go far. They didn't exactly calm him either. Chee wanted, with everything he was, to be a champion. And he'd also promised Paige to help with a cause he believed it. And those two things seemed possibly in conflict.

Chee watched the two verbally spar while his eyes trailed to the automatons. Then they drifted to the truck. Had Gwen and Paige agreed on a time period, a signal. He grimaced as he realized he should have asked.

His eyes went back to Paige. Whatever the case, they needed to keep the guy talking.

He sought to meet Paige's eyes with questioning eyes. They were remote so, even if the guy had signaled for help, it would take time. Then the words hit him and he mentally counted the allies the men had. A third that they'd seen? Chee chewed the inside of his cheek and sent a bit of panic at Paige. It was obvious the man was underestimating them, 'kids,' and Chee wanted to keep information that would identify them under wraps. It was bad enough, as he feared, the man knew Paige. He felt his fingers flex around the pistol's handle.

But no, he was a warrior and a champion now, not a mercenary. He wasn't a killer. He thought of the conversations he'd had with Lindon, Thessa, Doya, and others. He listened as Koko moved into the conversation. His ears flicked and his face went blank. That wasn't a bad idea. Other than him hitting the driver and her damaging military property, which could be defending themselves kind of, could they make those arguments? He recalled the man declaring quite firmly they were obstructing him, a military man on military business. Didn't that sort of make them in the illegal column? He'd leveled an obvious weapon at him in a pretty blunt threat. He also recalled the mention of a name. He bit his lip, Nick? Nat? Nacho? "Paige?"

No, the man was too calm. He'd made strange assumptions upon seeing Paige. Chee's tongue clicked as something settled into place. They had been expected! Paige had done this before, she as much as admitted, and he knew that Ocean had hijacked several shipments as well. The military was going to be paranoid. His eyes went to the truck. How many more. There? The cab or the back? His head came back around to glare at the Silenus. Another peg fell into place. Who was buying time here? A breath hissed out of him; they should have just knocked the guy out, but that hadn't been the plan. Or had it once the cigarette fell? His ears tried to flick under his hood. He worked his lips against the fabric.

And Koko was being uncharacteristically abrasive. She was irksome at times, but usually not deliberately so. It was part of her charm. But she was egging this guy on. Was she trying to start a fight? Chee bit his lip. Then he started to move, smoothly, to put the guy between him and Koko if possible. If a fight started, this guy was eating dirt first and fast. Chee wasn't sure how the other four Artemis units worked exactly, but they might be less effective if the man was down, right? This put him close to the cab of the truck. Hopefully, it would increase the guy's tension and cause him to act rashly. Chee hoped this idiot didn't know how to use his Soul. "Paige, whatcha wanna do?"

[Aethyrium]

Gardal Yridan

Paige Turner

S T O R Y T E L L E R
December 29th, Late Afternoon (~4pm) | Onyx Prairie | Urban  - Earth Resonance
Next Post: - | Thessa, Chee, Koko, Estelle

Thessa & Estelle…

One part frightened, one part confused, Gwen wasn’t sure what to do as Thessa manhandled her forward. She didn’t resist though, she knew better. It didn’t stop her teary eyes from taking in the two, memorizing them. Who were they? Not military, she thought, no uniforms. Except Thessa was wearing a uniform. Not a military one, but the uniform of Hammer. Students, then? But why were they here? Another overstep from Apple, no doubt.

Gwen clutched her hand, cradling it to her chest as blood ran down and started to drip to the floor of the truck between her feet. She looked at Estelle and recognized that, yes, she could have done that. But she hadn’t. There was a big difference between attacking an unknown and mercilessly killing someone who was effectively captured. She didn’t believe a Champion-to-be would do that. But she also recognized that she didn’t have a lot of leverage here. Maybe she could escape one of them, but certainly not both. Gwen’s anxious eyes flicked to the light as it changed color. What did that mean? “Nowhere you can get them.”

Mention of Chee surprised her, and Gwen glanced down at her feet. She doubted that someone passingly familiar with the boy would know this about him and be able to recognize it at a glance. That must have meant they were close on some level. There was her leverage. And as Thessa boosted Estelle up, sending her away, Gwen saw an opportunity slowly opening.

Thessa

As soon as Estelle was gone, Gwen met Thessa’s gaze and saw the turning of thought in her brain. “You’re not going to kill me,” Gwen whispered, faking confidence to a sentiment she believed to be true but couldn’t be entirely sure was accurate. “Chee wouldn’t be around someone like that.” Gwen rolled her head against the wall and looked out into the dark, “Why are you doing this? You’re supposed to help people. Like Chee,” she hesitated, but if that cat was out of the bag then maybe there was more guilt to pile one - more chance to create an opening, “And Koko. They’re not going to let this go sideways.”

Gwen looked back at Thessa, brow slightly tightened. “We’re trying to do the right thing here. You… You made the same promise as Chee, right?” She nodded at Thessa’s uniform, “To protect people? Well this Arcanite is being stolen from them. Go help your friend, she’s gonna need it. Do the right thing, like your friends. Just go, forget you saw me. Please.”

[Aethyrium]

S T O R Y T E L L E R
December 29th, Evening (~8pm) | Onyx Prairie | Urban  - Earth Resonance
Next Post: 3.12.25 |
Gwen finished her pleas, but Thessa had no sympathy for them. The please left her mouth, and the elf knew what she had to do. A combination of rearing back her fist and yoinking Gwen forward, saw the silenus take a blow that immediately made her crumple into unconsciousness. What she had for Chee and Koko's behavior here wasn't respect, it was god damn fury. Grabbing the girl by a horn, Thessa dragged her sorry ass out of the back of the truck and dropped to the lightly snow covered ground. She hit a button that saw the back of the truck close up - without remote opening, it would require a code to get in. While she'd have preferred cover, this would have to do because apparently she had renegade ass to beat.

Dragging Gwen - relatively effortlessly - through the snow, Thessa marched up the right side of the truck. She passed the Artemis units and came to Yridan's side, dropping the unconscious girl to the lieutenants feet. "You both got some nerve," she chided - her glare as pointed as Azir's lance, passed between both Koko and Chee, but landing on her teammate. Her god damn team mate. "You askin' me to tell you what to do, well now I tellin' you and I only gun tell you once. You gon drop that weapon and quit this foolishness, and I ain't gon' hear a word out them lips or so help me..."

[Rainbae]

Character Name: Koko Gero
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~8pm)
Location: Outside Onyx Walls
Wearing: Band Shirt, Fishnet Top, Black Cargo Pants, Heavy Boots, Cropped Black Aviator Jacket
Tagging | Paige, Yridan, Thessa
Koko was shocked at what she saw as Thessa came out of and around the truck carrying Gwen. The way she was dragging her through the mud made her angry. The fact that it was by her horn no less made Koko’s skin crawl and anger rise out of her. She knit her brows and matched Thessa’s glare. That was demeaning no matter the circumstances. She took her elbow off Paige’s shoulder and squared herself up with the Elf, letting her attention drop from the Silenus commander. Koko was so confused. Why was Thessa here, and why was she helping this flagrant misuse of power. She knew Thessa had a strong relationship with Apple. And her respect for her had never been something she’d kept quiet. Still, Koko thought that the elf was always willing to do the right thing, just like herself. She’d always seen Thessa as a kindred spirit. They were both women of action, ones who hit first and asked questions later. Not people who bowed down to their masters when they were told to.

“So do you Thess, thought you were a champ not a little soldier gal. That ain’t right what you’re doin’ there.” Koko pointed down to the very unconscious Gwen who was being yanked by the horn and scowled. “You ain’t no push over wussy tryna ‘just follow orders’ so why in the hell you helpin’ this punk? I ain’t clock you for a dog who goes woof on command. Tell me Thess, you even know what in the hells you doin’ out here?” Koko crossed her arms and met Thessa’s eyes. There was anger in them yes but also pain. She really didn’t want to fight her friend. Spar with her yes, and they had before. But fight her for real, never. “Let’s not do this Thess, I ain’t wanna fight you but there are people out there who are hurtin’ an’ you only makin’ their hurt worse like this. Just go on an’ cough up the info ‘bout what y’all doin’ out here in the sticks and this don’t gotta be a whole thing.” Her voice had lost the tinge of vitriol she had been spewing toward Yridan before. It was softer now and more sympathetic. She wanted her friend to remain her friend, no matter what. But with the way things were going it didn’t seem like that was going to be true.

Koko turned Paige and whispered to her, “I reckon this oughta be more than you bargained for eh? Wanna split? What’s the play? I ain’t lookin’ to fight a friend today.” Her eyes wandered back to Thessa. She looked at the glint of her shield in the narrow light of the truck. She remembered watching Thessa block an entire landslide with that shield before. Koko knew she was an impressive opponent. Probably one of the last squires she wanted to fight against. That being said Koko considered herself always held back by classes. If she didn’t have to worry about hurting her opponent or the collateral she might inflict then she could go all out. Did she really want to fight Thessa like that though…could she even do it? The answer to the first question was certainly no. But how far did her morals reach? That was the question she was having to ask herself and conundrum she had to dissect, and quickly. She turned back to Yridan, “At least get her on outta the mud now. Even in conflict show some goddamn respect!” Koko spat at the ground. The way the pair of them were treating Gwen was the thing upsetting her the most here.

[shengami]

Character Name: Chee Tortious
Date | Time: 12.29 | ~4p.m.
Location: Outside Onyx Walls
Wearing: Black pants, black tee, black puffer jacket, running shoes and pack of supplies. Weapons as per CS
Tagging | Mentioning: @Rainbae /Koko , Paige, Gwen, Thessa/ @Envious |
Note: The World Comments
But before Paige could answer Chee or the soldier could say anything more, the world interrupted. The sound of footsteps had the skin along his back crawling; his head turned to see the reveal of the 'allies' the man had spoken of.

He frowned deeply. The form, the shield, the ears, the voice: he recognized Thessa instantly. Cold fear spiked into him. This was what he had been afraid of. His tongue darted over his lips. Not this specific moment, no, but the choice. He would need to choose between Paige and Thessa. His guts drained out of him. His legs wobbled.

His gaze flicked down to Gwen.

His blood boiled. His mouth came open, but then Koko was talking. He listened as his ears rang. Not only had Thessa just gone back on their agreement, to be equals, but she had Gwen by her horns. Chee ground his teeth and a glare leaked out of him. All the stuff about soldiering and whatnot was small potatoes to Chee. He expected that Thessa was doing what she thought was right. She did have that relationship with General Blossom. Chee eyed the tall brawler and edged toward Paige and Koko. He looked from Thessa's angry face to Koko's and felt his torso vibrate.

He didn't didn't want this.

Slowly, his hands came up and pushed his hood down. His bare glare shone out at the elf, the foreigner. "Dat ain't no handle, Tessa." The words hissed out. Chee had spent mot of the last two months working in the Eastern District trying to help his people. He'd seen them abused, harassed, degraded by strangers. Those assholes who'd cut off Thomas' tail. A Silenus' animal features were core to their identity. He couldn't imagine someone trying to drag him by his ears or tail without vibrating in anger. But seeing a person he considered a friend do that; his ears flattened and his tail lashed. He looked to Gwen again trying to discern if she was ok. He backed up more toward his best friend. But not too far, he wanted to be able to get to Gwen as fast as possible if needed. "We doin what's right for our city, our people. Cause we're champions, not soldiers." Was this the type of thing Lindon had been commenting on when Champions served nations not Toil?

Then he looked at Paige. This was still her op, that was her comrade, and he didn't want to fight Thessa even now.

[Dove]

Character Name: Estelle Dawn (Android #16)
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Onyx Prairie
Wearing: Black vest, wide leg jeans, white tee and white kicks.
Tagging | Mentioning: Thessa, Koko, Chee, Gwen, Yridan
As she crawled up the length of the truck, she couldn't get Thessa's realization out of her head. The squeakers. They'd both clocked that hint. Estelle had seen the recognition and shift in Thessa's demeanor. She almost felt like she could feel the swirling of emotion in her own gut. This was a surprise to say the least, but she knew that Thessa had a stronger relationship with him than she did. They were on the same team, weren't they? But she and Chee had their own history of sorts and even she was thrown off by his sudden appearance here. Unless she had somehow managed to steal the squeakers? Wishful thinking...

Reaching the front of the truck, she looked out over the scene but only for a split second before Thessa came trudging along its side with Gwen literally in tow. Stella's eyes widened and she let out a soft sigh, pressing her lips into a thin line as she realized just how angry she must be. Turning her head, that's when she saw Koko was also present and another wave of discomfort washed over her. What the hell was going on? This was Paige. Yridan and the Artemis units looked formidable. And now that Gwen was down and Estelle and Thessa showed face, she thought it was clear that they had the upper hand here. But it didn't mean she wanted to fight. Wants would have to be pushed aside, though.

Brows furrowed further as both Koko and Chee spoke out to Thessa and she found herself jumping to her feet, a knife in each hand as she found herself incredibly defensive of her friend. "You have a lot of nerve talking to her that way," she spoke out, venom practically dripping from her lips as she stared towards Koko. "You two have no idea what you've gotten yourselves into. And who are you--" She pointed one of her knives at Chee. "--to decide what's right for your city? None of us are champions yet." Eyes flashed between the two of them then. "You two are on the wrong side of this fight. I don't know what she's been telling you, but it's not too late to come to your senses."

[Envious]

Character Name: Thessa
Date | Time: 12.29.1322 | Late Afternoon (~4pm)
Location: Onyx Prairie | Urban  - Earth Resonance
Wearing: Uniform
Tagging | Mentioning: Paige, Koko, Chee |
Note: 
Angry Thessa was nothing new to Chee and Koko. Her dramatic outbursts fizzled out as fast as they came, usually with a laugh and a slap on the back to show all was right in the world with no hard feelings. There were signs of that here. There was a red flush to her cheeks. Her back was straight, bringing her to her full intimidating height. Her brows were furrowed. But there was something different to her eyes. That golden gleam had turned molten and mean as she slowly looked from Chee to her left and Koko next to Paige.

Thessa would have forgiven it - the Brothers knew she had no issue following her heart over the law - if they had spoken reasonably to her. Instead, they had the audacity to look at her as if she were the one at fault here. Did they think she was stupid enough that they could gaslight her into submission? That she could be bullied into seeing this as something more than the blatant criminal activity that it was? Had she not participated in illegal robot fights with Koko? Went with her as partners to make deals with the Steel League? Had she not sat with Chee as they promised favors to the criminal Scarecrow in exchange for self-serving information? Not to mention the long list of shady shit she had done without them! Thessa was no stranger to doing what she wanted, consequences be damned! She would have forgiven it! She couldn’t forgive their attitude. Perhaps it was because of what had happened at Haymurk. Perhaps it was because her friends were dropping like flies out of the Academy. Perhaps it was because she had failed to keep a third partner. Perhaps it was a combination of that and more. Whatever it was, she was more sensitive to the aggression from a person she considered a friend and the lack of defense from a person she considered a partner. The three of them had been through too much together! So she couldn’t take this attack on her character as anything more than a grave insult. She had burned right through anger and into rage.

”Know exactly what I is doin’, Koko.” She didn’t shout; her typical loud response was noticeably absent. Her voice barely rose above conversational to cross the distance between them as she stood her ground. Koko and Chee clearly didn’t know what they were doing, though. It was evident in Koko’s question but it became obvious as their conviction wavered at the first unpleasant obstacle. Whatever moral high ground they were currently perched upon was crumbling beneath them as they began to realize the lengths they had to go to - or in this case, through - for succeeding.

Whatever hesitations they had, Thessa didn’t share them. Their clear discomfort was not mirrored; where they now seemed skittish about the idea of an altercation, Thessa seemed not only wholly unconcerned, but quite confident in the outcome. Her gaze finally settled on Paige as Estelle spoke. Where Meena and Eloise would have absolutely been a problem here, Estelle was a stark contrast of unwavering support on a clear side and Thessa appreciated it more than she could ever vocalize. She let that warm her heart as she watched the leader of the Freebirds. While the woman was unfamiliar, she wasn’t unknown. Thessa followed the news and knew her public image. She also saw how Koko and Chee deferred to her, so rather than debase herself by addressing the minions, Thessa ignored her supposed friends and spoke to Paige before Yridan had a chance to.

”They,” the way she said the word implied a separation from Chee and Koko versus Thessa and Estelle, ”ain’t Champions." She quickly glanced to Yridan and said "academy students" for his benefit before looking back to Paige. "But ya know this, ‘cause ya know what they doin’ ain’t the work of Champions.” Champions didn’t tout their status as the reason they committed rebellious and unlawful acts. Moreso, if Chee and Koko were truly interested in helping the people of the city, they would have joined the organization that supported those aims - the military - who may have answered to Apple, but the General was beholden to the Council who was the voted voice of the people. Thessa would have thought that two locals would have understood the governance of their city with more clarity. If they didn’t like how things were operating, there were procedures and protocols already in place to address it. Like the Red Fang, the Freebirds felt entitled to steal resources that would diminish the military that served and protected the entirety of Onyx because of a difference in how those resources were allocated and Thessa wasn’t about to hear it. She might not have understood the political pulse of humans and silenus, but she did understand that voices mattered and if the majority cared about what the Freebirds and Red Fangs were saying, change would be occurring.

”They doin’ the work of idealists. ‘n we ‘bout ta see if them ideals is more important than they place at the academy, ‘cause chances are they ain’t see past today’s good deed ‘n think ‘bout tomorrow.” Thessa would unravel those good intentions to help them see the larger consequences of their actions. They might have been working under the assumption that they wouldn’t get caught, which was fair, but they had been caught and Thessa wasn’t in a mood to be fair. ”’cause if they is gunna cross mine line here, then they ain’t gotta home ta go back ta. They move forward - you move forward - then this turns from conversation to attackin’ the military ‘n ain’t noone want that.” It was a clear warning from Thessa who was certainly lying. She was angry enough that she wanted the attack and an opportunity to beat sense into these two idiots. Their next choice couldn’t be blamed on naive optimism or noble intentions. If they acted against Yridan, which clearly they already had but Thessa was willing to overlook it, they were unquestionably enemies of Onyx. After her spat with Auguste, Thessa was painfully aware of General Blossom’s zero tolerance policy when it came to the safety of the citizens of the city.

She did a quick scan of the perimeter as Estelle kept her eyes on the scene unfolding in front of the truck. This couldn’t have been the extent of their forces… but they hadn’t attacked with force. They had used stealth and the unconscious silenus’ shimmer had been key. Thessa resisted the urge to look down. There was a flicker of hurt that caused her ear to twitch as she thought of Koko and Chee taking Gwen’s side as if Thessa had started the conflict. All she had done was finish it and what was she supposed to do? She couldn’t leave the kid unattended. Grabbing her by the horn was far more merciful than pulling her by leg or arm to let her face drag through the mud and snow and hit every stray rock on the ground. Did they think she should carry her attacker and put herself at risk?

The hypocrisy bristled. It was okay for them to hurt people for their version of the greater good - evidenced by the downed driver - but Amnesty forbid Thessa stop a thief from looting what wasn’t theirs. ”Lieutenant, do believe this woman has a Shimmer that can move things from here ta gone. She needs an eye kept on ‘er. She got a crate.” Maybe knowing they had something for their efforts would cause them to stand down. But it also might incite Yridan into action. She wasn’t here to make the choice, though - the burden of responsibility was on the Lieutenant and Thessa had the blissful obligation of following orders.

She moved forward the three steps needed to reach Yridan and then dropped Gwen to the ground. Thessa had no interest in keeping prisoners and made the unconscious woman his charge. She thumped quietly and Thessa kept her palm over the woman as she looked at Chee. He was what made this moment feel like betrayal. She had forgiven his part in the death of her Orym. She had forgiven his abandoning the team in Haymurk. She had forgiven so much from him and instead of treating her like the friend and comrade he begged her to be, he had the nerve to lecture her about what he thought was right. She was tired of being forgiving. Let him come. Let them attack! They wanted to talk about people hurting? She’d show them pain! Trust in her teammates was everything and at every opportunity he was doing something to break it by partaking in this criminal activity and acting like she was the one on the wrong end of the law.

There was a flicker of brass as she tossed an object from one hand to the other faster than the eye could track. The hurt of Chee and Koko’s action’s cut deep. ”Don’t care 'bout the why y'all is doin' it. Ya wanna fight fer change, fight fer change. Take the streets. Get yer votes. Take the seat 'n make it happen.” She looked back to Paige. She was giving them the opportunity to back down and retreat gracefully, but there was no mistaking it for mercy. Thessa was ready to attack and vent out all of her disappointment and anger and confusion. But satisfying her hurt feelings wasn’t the mission and while some of the cargo had been lost, they currently had a prisoner. It wasn’t the best exchange, but it could be valuable if they kept Gwen in custody. She didn't know what the Lieutenant would do. It had been clear from the start that this mission was of the utmost importance to him. Despite all of his planning, he had still been caught. She hoped he didn't blame her and Estelle. ”Or step forward and find out what’s what.”

[Aethyrium]

Gardal Yridan

Paige Turner

S T O R Y T E L L E R
December 29th, Late Afternoon (~4pm) | Onyx Prairie | Urban  - Earth Resonance
Next Post: 3.18.25 | Thessa, Chee, Koko, Estelle
Yridan tilted his head at Koko and her declaration. How was she going to try and rewrite reality like that? He glanced at the two artemis units and the downed soldier - all of whom they had attacked. “Then you’re as clueless as you are guilty.” He made a passing gesture at the three, “Because interfering with military operations is a crime. And just so we’re all clear,” he leveled a point at Paige, “She’s not a counselor. And even if she were, unless she were the General, she still wouldn’t have the authority to interfere with a military operation.” Yridan pulled his hands behind his back and folded them, “Oh, and for the record, no, that does not give you the right to defend yourself. But go on, keep digging your hole and threatening me. I’ll look forward to using all of it to put you away where you belong. Azkaban. For a very, very long time.” His ears twitched, hearing the slow approach - and an unfamiliar… dragging? What were those two up to. “I don’t think I’ll be telling that citizen anything.”

Unlike the two squires and their outrage about how Gwen was treated, Paige was more concerned with the fact that she had been discovered. And the fact that they seemed so centrally focused on that was more irritating than anything. And that was made worse by Koko being, well, she didn’t even know what the girl was doing. Running her mouth. Drawing hard stances. There were reasons Paige remained focused on what she had, rather than defending the action. Now it seemed like action, there was an intent behind it. Koko was making this worse, and with Gwen captured it was already very bad. There were differences between lawfulness and righteousness. She started formulating how to handle this, when the elf who brought Gwen forward noted her two companions. And they knew her! More squires? Her attention danced up as Estelle revealed herself. What were squires doing here with the military?

There was some kind of comedy to be had that Koko had the audacity to ask if Thessa knew what she was doing out here, when Koko was out here without a clue. Yridan remained calm. The fact that these squires knew one another was, perhaps, going to work out in his favor. If they could be talked down, he could focus on Paige. That was a career maker. He wouldn’t hesitate to go through the squires if he needed to, but… “Respect?” Yridan looked down at the girl at his feet, “I don’t respect traitors.”

And the best part of all of this was, Estelle and Thessa were doing a fine job of explaining the situation. The lieutenant almost didn’t even feel the need to chime in. Instead he watched Paige. What was she going to do? He was at work trying to anticipate. He looked at Chee, “The only thing Ms Turner has been right about here is that the military serves Onyx. What we’re doing is for the city and the people. Just because you don’t have a birds eye on the hows and whys things are happening. We serve the city, you’re preventing that. You’re not the heroes here, you’re the villains.”

But honestly the worst part of all of this was Koko’s insinuation that they should leave. Paige tilted her head and flashed a glare at the girl from behind her glasses. There was nothing, nothing, that would make her leave Gwen behind. “Then leave,” she hissed quietly, effectively losing all respect for Koko. When the going gets tough, the squire looks to run away. That’s what she learned. Paige held up her hands and took a step forward away from Koko, “Let go of the girl, and take me to Apple.”

Yridan smiled. There it was. Another glance toward Gwen and then a simple, “No.” Stiffness built in Paige’s neck, and Yridan could feel it.

“We didn’t come here to fight,” Paige offered, no matter how much Koko leveling threats at the lieutenant undermined that position and tried to close the door on her. “The girl isn’t important to you. Nothing has happened here that can’t be walked away from.” At least on that she agreed with Thessa.

The offer wasn’t even given a moment of consideration. But then, Yridan had all the cards here, so why would he? “I don’t believe you did,” the lieutenant agreed, but he shook his head, “I think you came here to be a distraction while stealing this shipment of Arcanite. How long do you think it will take me to link this girl to you, Ms Turner?” He smiled and gave Thessa a small nod of approval. She had already confirmed the girl had taken a crate. That was finally evidence. “But you’re wrong about one thing. I’m very interested in this girl. I’m interested in all enemies of Onyx. Stealing Arcanite? She’s…” he made a sweeping gesture at the three of them, “You’re no better than Ocean Specter. Thinking you know better, thinking that you can behave and do whatever you want without consequence, no matter the repercussions to the people.” He raised a hand, two fingers extended up in the air. The Artemis units locked their weapons, training them variously on Koko, Chee, and Paige, and took a step forward preparing to engage. “So here’s my final offer, the three of you can surrender yourselves, and I will say this happened peacefully.”

If this was going to be a fight, Paige didn’t want to be outnumbered. Plus, if there was going to be a fight, what she needed was word against word - no electronic evidence. And a stomped foot might just give them the negotiating power they needed. This whole thing was about the Arcanite, not challenging the military. That ship had sailed. All that mattered now was getting Gwen - and getting out of the situation. Paige lifted her own hand and flipped it upside down, stretched in front of her, fingers together. Her thumb slipped off her middle with a pop, and a wave rolled off of her. The lights of the truck went out - it shut off - leaving them all in the dark of the night with only shattered moonlight to guide them. The Artemis units seized, twitched, and collapsed as their bodies went rigid. “We don’t ha–” Paige began, but an unfamiliar noise stopped her.

Two thuds. One louder than the other. Chee, looking forward to the situation, saw Estelle seize up and stop and collapse forward. She fell from the front of the truck, landing on the ground right in front of it, unmoving, with an impossibly loud thud. And Thessa, staring forward from her vantage, saw the same thing, Koko tense and then stop moving, only to slump forward as well.