Neopolis Academy Mods (neopolis) wrote in neopolis_ooc, @ 2010-01-07 13:54:00 |
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Entry tags: | !plot: neopocalypse |
gladiators!
Hey guys! This is being posted a little bit earlier in consideration of timezones; it's not complete, but thus far this is one battle that goes down today at 5 PST! Watch this space for the other battle to come. now complete!
In Neopolis, the battle rages on. Somewhere, a clock strikes, sending five strangled-sounding peals over the city in chaos. 1...2...3...4...5....
With that, two teachers in a palace are forced to pick names out of a hat, and seven students are teleported away.
The first battle brings whole new meaning to 'battle' - for it well and truly is a battlefield. Facing each other are two pseudo-armies, ones that Mason Marbury-Millsap and Natasha Tinks will know well: on one side, three giant mechas (Remington, Pemberton, and Mortimer). On the other, a battalion of modified toys that Tash is so well-known for. And off to the side, in a brand new twist, is a viewing station -- protected, of course, by a forcefield. Within his protective bubble sits Caesar, with popcorn, soda, and the two hostages he's taken for today: Harvey Hachette and Dante Decarabia, bound and gagged and looking rather unhappy.
"Well, well, well! I must say, I am very excited for this show! You're both quite the little inventors!" he smiled widely, waggling his eyebrows. "My companions are just as excited, aren't you, boys?" Any response was angry, but a jab in the side from two henchmen forced them to nod.
"I'm sure you know the rules by now -- fight each other, and win, or else one of these two gets it. Let's go!"
The sight of the two young men whose well-being was held over their heads sent both Mason and Tash into a fury. Mason, fists balled and jaw set in determination, went straight to her mecha, Remington, and started to get into the pilot seat. Tash, however, threw herself at the foot of the forcefield and began to cry. While Caesar looked on with undisguised delight, Tash sobbed and begged and pleaded. "Take me instead! Punish me instead! You don't even have to make me fight, I'll just take it." He only smiled. "I'll join VILLAIN! Forget Neopolis!! You won't regret it, just please - PLEASE - don't hurt him, just don't!" He only laughed. "I'll make you rich! My daddy has so much money, I'll give it all to you..."
"Enough!" Caesar bellowed, standing up and pointing to the battlefield. "To battle, or neither you nor your friend will live to see tomorrow."
And so it began. Both girls desperate to win, with their own creations at their disposal.
But there was something Caesar didn't tell them. Not two minutes into the fight (Remington's engines revving, Tash's fingers dancing wildly on remote controls) -- the unused mechas and toys began to stir. They weren't only fighting each other -- they had to fight their own creations as well.
It was a long, hard, insane battle. Only 25% of the mechas and toys were under Mason and Tash's control. Tash was in a frenzy, running back and forth, using remotes, chucking things, and tying wires while holding toys trying to attack her with her teeth. Kangaroos with titanium fists bounded about, alternately punching the mecha or attacking Tash or one of the non-traitorous toys. Mason, meanwhile, split her attention between attacking Tash's toys, avoiding her other mechas, and trying not to reciprocate attacks on the other gundams. They were her babies! She didn't - she couldn't damage them!
It was chaos, until, half an hour in, Natasha cried up to Mason, "Truce! Truce. Let's... let's just take out the rogue toys and then fight, okay, this is impossible." Grudgingly, Mason agreed. She didn't want to, but with the other suits attacking her and Remington only doing what she wanted about half the time... she had no choice. From his stand, Caesar was displeased... but he didn't say they couldn't do that, so he merely glared ominously.
Painful though it was for Mason, they did it. And so it finally came down to them - Mason in her on-the-fritz mecha, and Tash with her small army of toys. With Harvey and Dante still in the stand besides them, their determination and fire hadn't burned out in the slightest. They were tired, yes. They were weary. They were sad. But they would fight until it ended. The arena exploded with blasts from the mecha, and Tash ran around - falling, getting back up, flinging toys with guns and shield and lasers at Mason with shrieking battle-cries. The fight raged on, until... click.
Mason had run out of ammo. There was a pause that seemed to go on forever. Harvey's eyes were wide, and they got only wider when he saw what she did next -- reach for the sword. Mason was no pilot. She only built these suits. But she was determined to win. With a great roar, the mecha began to swing the sword around -- taking out a line of toys, nearly toppling Tash. It flailed and nearly went off balance more than once. Tash adjusted. More lasers and toy ammo flew, rattling and banging against the suit.
And then, finally, they were too tired to do any more. Mason could no longer wield the sword. Tash was down to her last few working toys. They moved in for close combat. WHAM! BANG! Remington took massive hits; he was on his knees! Wires exposed, joints crumbling, a terrible blow to the chest! ...and then, outraged, Mason found the strength to make the mecha swung a mighty fist... and Tash was down.
Remington fell with a deafening crash not soon after.
"BRAVO, BRAVO!" Caesar cried, leaping up and clapping enthusiastically at the scene of destruction. "Now, come along, boys..."
And everyone teleported away.
Meanwhile, Kaori Ito and Jessi Evans had found themselves in a makeshift abandoned city. A soundstage of epic proportions, with building frames, alley ways, dumpsters, basements and all sorts of places to hide.
When they arrive, they're seemingly alone. Kaori, true to her ninja instincts, immediately blended into the shadows and waited, while Jessi stood around, angry and confused. In their pockets, their PDAs buzzed -- text messages.
WELCOME TO MY VERSION OF HIDE AND GO SEEK, CHILDREN
THE OBJECTIVE IS SIMPLE: HIDE FROM YOUR SEEKER
SEEK THE HIDER
TAKE THE OTHER PERSON OUT OF THE RUNNING
OR ELSE
Accompanying the text messages were separate picture messages -- on Kaori's phone, a picture of her beloved school, Mochizuki Academy. On Jessi's phone, a picture of none other than Anderson Asimov, with the caption: WHAT A CURIOUS STUDENT! MY ELECTROMAGNETIC FRIEND AND I ARE EAGER TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH HIM.
The battle was the most quiet one yet. Kaori, grim with determination, slipped in and out of the shadows, stalking her prey. Jessi, frustrated with the set-up, crept about as best as she could -- but she was built to be a powerhouse, not a ninja, and without her meds she was feeling distinctly unwell. So it was easy enough for the other girl to find her, crashing into things, cursing to herself.
In and out of the shadows Kaori darted, careful to be fast in her attacks - hit and run, avoid getting caught by the super-engineered Capes girl. Again and again, Jessi felt the brunt of her lightning-swift attacks, getting hit from behind and whirling about... only to see nothing there.
After a while, she learned to listen with her supersenses, and pay attention to the way she was being attacked.
When she finally caught Kaori mid-strike, the other girl didn't stand a chance. One punch, and she was out.
Later that night, the standard PDA message came. Natasha, previously without a PDA, woke up with one in her hand - a parting gift from Caesar.
WINNERS: MECHANICAL MARVEL & AMAZON
LOSERS: TINKERER & KUNOICHI
And on Natasha's newfound PDA, a video message was sent: Dante Decarabia, swathed in magical fire, screaming in agony though the flames left no mark on his skin. At the same time, Kaori received a video message showing first her school, utterly peaceful... and then a figure coming into view, raising his arms with a great grin and stomping. The earth shook, and the buildings began to crumble, sending students and teachers flying out, screaming and trying to help each other survive the earthquake.