Doing it right...

[Sgt. Howard]

The commotion outside of the safe room had dropped to negligible- Annie figured it was worth a risk to see what was going on. Through the tunnel she went, coming up to a scene directly from the pits of hell-
Bodies, blood, ice, flame... webs of magic and roots and vines... it was hard to believe just an hour ago there was a wedding here.
Either the gang lost enough people or they simply called off the fight, right now there was no way to tell. Annie turned back to inform those in the safe room of the circumstances when she found herself facing a huge fellow, still intent on harm. He had been somewhat carved up and was bleeding, but there was still plenty fight left in him. Whatever he had as a firearm was no longer with him- what he had in his hand instead was what looked like the leg of a table. Sneering, he raised it to strike...
The Ruger Super Blackhawk popped out of it's holster and presented itself to the miscreant with cocked hammer and steady grip faster than most eyes could follow. Annie had lived a goodly part of her childhood on a mountain without electricity or running water... but there was never a scarcity of bears.

Annie was good with bears.

One twitch of the trigger sent the massive .44 magnum round into the man's face. The head basically exploded, like a water jug hit with the same bullet. Slightly annoyed with this diversion, she scouted around some more to see what other damage needed doing before heading back down the tunnel.


Nodaki had already drawn the circle and written the ancient glyphs to make the summons when his men brought in the two women- May looking numb with shock while her pregnant daughter was completely terrified.
"Good," he thought to himself, "that is as it should be-"
"Why hello Mayahuel, " he opened with a oily voice, " long time no see, eh? How good of you to make it,"
"What do you want?" she deadpanned.
"Oh... I think we BOTH know what I want, don't we? And seeing as how I will have... unfortunate... things happen to you pregnant daughter if you do not comply, I think it might be something YOU want as well... am I right?"
"I cannot do this without the salamander, the one called 'John'- only HE has the fire needed to cure the clay. Without him, I can do nothing,"
"Ah, yes, I had assumed there would be needs... that is why I prepared a 'delivery service' that could bring those things I need- this 'John'... he is at the Hall, no?"
"He is there... but..."
"Bah! he will soon be here... one little scribble here, and ... voila!"
The circle at their feet illuminated, throwing up a sheet of astrial fire. In the midst of this, Thymbris rose up and turned to the half-baked golem.
"Again you summon me? I tire of this..." she said in a weary voice.
"There is one you will bring here- the one at the 'A' mill called 'John', who is a salamander,"
Thymbris looked around the structure they were in- wood framing, paneled walls, organic materials in the carpet... eminently flammable...
"You are certain you want to bring him here? This place can burn, you know,"
"I will have control over that, you need not worry... just bring him here,"

Greg approached John at the Mill- "You ready for what's about to happen?" he asked.
"Hmf! Does it matter?" he replied, "I get tired of being jerked around because of things I cannot control and never wished for, I get tired of people's attitudes... how do you do it?"
"Practice, m'boy... practice... now we really don't know how he might do this, if he will send someone or phone you or... hmmm?"
Thymbris appeared right next to John- "I need you to come with me," she stated flatly.
"Huh- well, THAT simplifies things," John muttered as he stepped up to her and vanished.
Greg pulled out his cellphone and dialed a number- "Neil? You in one piece? ... 'fire in the hole'... right... they backed out, what was left of them... yeah... the AAR on this will not be pretty, I can tell you right now... how are you for elixir?... right... I'm on it," and hung up.

From there, Greg started the blood tally...

[Dave]

My cell phone vibrated in my pocket - fortunately I'd remembered to keep it in my coat. A new text message appeared - "BAIT HAS BEEN TAKEN. FALL BACK."

I simply replied with an "OK", and hit send.

Tsk. What if Nodaki had some form of communications intercept working (paranormal, or a Stingray)? Mentioning "BAIT" in the clear would have let the catfish out of the bag.

Kirk: "By the book! Regulation 46A: If communications are being monitored during battle..."
Saavik: "... no uncoded messages on an open frequency".

Would perhaps have been better to SMS a message like "DO YOU NEED A LOAN? 3% NO CREDIT CHECK" or "GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY FOR YOUR $3000000 ATM CARD!", with a response of "Narf!"

[GlytchMeister]

Glytch was cornered and quickly running out of room. The... armored thing (whetever it was)... Wasn't stopping. His arrows kept glancing off of its armored hide, and the Puke Ray did nothing to it. The creature climbed over the pile of writhing, disabled criminals, kicking the more troublesome ones out of the way as it searched for footholds... It was within striking distance - Glytch swung his bow at its neck in a last ditch effort... The wood bounced off without effect. The creature raised the crooked, dented, rusty pipe it was wielding... Just as he swung, Glytch jumped backward.
Too late.
With a sickening crunch, he felt his shin shatter mid-jump. Glytch howled and scrabbled back, his leg dragging along behind him, useless and twisted. Then, a strong hand grasped his collar and began to drag him away. Glytch took one last look at his enemy and watched as Emerauld impaled it from behind with both swords, a terrible, barely controlled joy shining bright in her eyes.
The enemy finally opened its own eyes, and Glytch saw they were white - stone blind. Looking around, Glytch spotted an arrow sprouting from a prone body - he yanked it free as he slid past, nocked it, and fired it at the closest living enemy he could see as he was being dragged away, taking him in the groin.
"Walk it... Offff... shith...head..." Glytch muttered before falling unconscious.

...

Fighting is the last thing you should do, Jack... Block and run away first. Don't fight...
But what if fighting is the only way to block? What if I have to fight just to run away?
Y'know, being a coward has advantages... Not least of which, you tend to live longer...
What good is a long life when I spend it alone, because I left behind everyone to die?
You'll just get yourself in trouble, Jack... Fighting back hurts yourself more than anything.
What is pleasure without pain? Pain is weakness leaving the body! I'm here to fight to block for others, so that they might run away!

...

"GUHHH-RRARGH! OW! SHIT THIS HURTS LIKE-m mmthmrfmckmmm cmcksmckmmm pmssdmmmkmmm... Wmmt?"
"Are you done yet?" A woman with long, black hair and reptilian eyes said, her voice almost a hiss as she held her hand on Glytch's mouth.
"Dmnm mmth wmmt?"
"Done cussin' like a freakin' sailor, that's what! Pickle's in here, you dunce!"
"Ymmh, mk... M'm dmnm... Buh... Well, excuse me for for complaining about my leg bones looking like crushed... Oh. Huh. That's weird. I coulda sworn -"
"You are quite stubborn for someone who calls themselves a coward."
"Tor... uh... Eme'! What do you mean, stubborn?" Glytch had to focus... He almost used Emerauld's other name.
"You didn't go for the extras! Now your leg is injured!"
"Did you take care of that?" Glytch looked down and rotated his ankle, wincing as his leg protested.
"Yes, but only so well. It's still going to painful - wait!"
Glytch rolled and slowly got on his feet. "I'm not waiting... Erg... Not while these people are in danger... Aargh..."
"Glytch, you hurt too-"
"Pain is weakness leaving the body!" Glytch rounded on Emerauld, and he felt himself baring his teeth as a mad laugh climbed up out of his chest. "You know... That's something my old man loved to say... the bastard..." he closed his eyes and took a breath. "I'm not stopping until I'm dead or they're safe. I don't know about you, but I have a feeling my bow is needed in battle. Let's g-"
Glytch stopped and listened, cocking his head.
"It's over. They retreated. There's nothing left for you to do."
"Bullshit." Glytch forced himself to ignore the host of Cobras that sprang from her head. "There are wounded I can help now. ...Are you a Gorgon?"
"Yeah, I'm Stheno. Get going if you want to help."
"Huh. Ok."
Glytch looked around and found his pack, pulling out both his own first aid kit and the one Eme' gave him. "Time to clean up." With that, he limped away, finding the nearest wounded person and began to distribute gauze, tape, band aids, wraps, and disinfectant to anyone who needed it.

[GlytchMeister]

My cell phone vibrated in my pocket - fortunately I'd remembered to keep it in my coat. A new text message appeared - "BAIT HAS BEEN TAKEN. FALL BACK."

I simply replied with an "OK", and hit send.

Tsk. What if Nodaki had some form of communications intercept working (paranormal, or a Stingray)? Mentioning "BAIT" in the clear would have let the catfish out of the bag.

Kirk: "By the book! Regulation 46A: If communications are being monitored during battle..."
Saavik: "... no uncoded messages on an open frequency".

Would perhaps have been better to SMS a message like "DO YOU NEED A LOAN? 3% NO CREDIT CHECK" or "GET BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY FOR YOUR $3000000 ATM CARD!", with a response of "Narf!"

Glytch and Stan have already been screwing with all the communications of club Alexander... Glytch is funneling all internet traffic through three separate encrypted Tor pathways... Stan and Glytch have all hacked encryptions into everyone's phones.

[Dave]

Glytch and Stan have already been screwing with all the communications of club Alexander... Glytch is funneling all internet traffic through three separate encrypted Tor pathways... Stan and Glytch have all hacked encryptions into everyone's phones.

Works for me!

[Just Old Al]

Glytch and Stan have already been screwing with all the communications of club Alexander... Glytch is funneling all internet traffic through three separate encrypted Tor pathways... Stan and Glytch have all hacked encryptions into everyone's phones.

Works for me!

We have technomages - why did you even need to ask?

[DinkyInky]

Glytch and Stan have already been screwing with all the communications of club Alexander... Glytch is funneling all internet traffic through three separate encrypted Tor pathways... Stan and Glytch have all hacked encryptions into everyone's phones.

Works for me!

We have technomages - why did you even need to ask?

Technomages! Love love love. Technomancy...the greatest magic since shake and bake!

[Dave]

Technomages! Love love love. Technomancy...the greatest magic since shake and bake!

But that's Shadow technology

[Just Old Al]

AN: I hate me right now....

The butcher’s bill on this one was going to be considerable, thought a very shaken Al. To his hearing the firing had slackened and stopped. When he could count to 100 without a gunshot, he turned to an equally shaken Cinnamon and said “Change. Get dressed. Get your brothers back up here. Now.”

Turning away, he addressed the same sentiments to the equally numb dam, still on the floor. “Get up. Get dressed. You four need to be elsewhere right now. The humans are going to have to deal with the cleanup on this – anything paranormal needs to be very much elsewhere right now.”

Dressed in the remains of her suit and barefoot, Daisy reholstered her Walther and tried as quickly as possible to grab as many of the weapons still lying about.

“LEAVE IT.” Al said, rather testily. “You and the kids need to be somewhere else – you do NOT need to be connected with this. Thankfully we had half the force here so the question of who started this fight is not going to be in question – and the gang-bangers will get the blame.

“On second thought, leave the conventional weapons – we can always replace them…we need to get the Maxi-14s and the ammo cans out of the building. Rifles of that design are going to make people ask some VERY awkward questions. Leave the shell casings – we can blame them on the gang-bangers.”

“No. Walther goes, Webley goes, the Colts go - pistols with centaur prints on them will cause questions.” Daisy was as adamant – the mind that ran a corporation was ticking over again, and Al saw she was absolutely right.

“Grab that cart – we’ll wheel this stuff out to the ambulance and we’ll get it out of here.” Between them they had the weapons and the ammunition cans stacked on the cart in moments.

A few moments later, Buck, Rowdy and Cindy returned. Grime smudged,drooping and bloodied the two male centaurs looked more likely to drop than to survive. Al was immediately concerned when he saw the blood running from Rowdy’s hindquarters.

“Are you hit?” Al had to reach up and grab him and shout to get his attention – he was numb.

“Yes.”

“Can you change back and get dressed? Daisy, tear up a couple of those cloths – we can pad out the wounds till we can get him treatment.”

Rowdy changed, and suddenly sat down on the floor. Looking at him, he was a mess – bloody, shot and getting ready to shock out.

“EME! EME, I NEED YOU! EME!”

In less than a wink the elf was there, and examining Rowdy’s wounds. “He has arrows…bullets in him as you did – I’m not sure what a heal is going to do with that but hopefully it will be well. I can but try.”

“They and you need to be elsewhere – anything you can do to get him back on his feet will do till we can get him to a healer.”

With that, Emerauld went to work. Breaking a crystal wand, she absorbed the wild energies stored there and cast a heal. Before their eyes the wounds closed, the bullets popping out – driven out by the healing flesh.

His cuts and bruises started to heal, but only went so far. “I have done what I can for him. He should be able to stand for the moment, but needs rest.”

Buck had changed and redressed in the meantime. He was as rocky as the rest, but at least seemed functional. He and Daisy got Rowdy dressed, though all three of them cringed from the blood-soaked clothing – the blood of his last dance partner.

“Eme, please find Safyr if you can – both of you need to hide from the law officers that will be her in minutes. Please hide until we can get you out of the building - if you have a way to disguise yourselves do it.

“OK, you all need to go – straight down in the elevator, out and get to the Tesla and get the hell out. We will meet you back at the farm-“

“No. NO! DAMNIT, NO!” Rowdy roused from his numbness wildly. Buck grabbed him by the upper arms and held him till the wildness faded. “Come on, Rowdy – Al’s right – we need to be out of here.”

“No. I am not leaving till I make sure…she’s taken care of. She was one of us and needs to be properly taken care of.”

Al walked up and put his hand on the young man‘s shoulder. “Rowdy, there was nothing you or anyone else could have done. That much blood was a death sentence – she was on the other side of the veil before we got to the staircase. A thoracic team could not have saved her.”

Rowdy shook it off, angrily. ”How the hell do you know? She could have lived – but YOU jerked me away. I need to see her. I need to see.”

“You will, lad. Let’s get out of here, people – you all need to be somewhere else.”

With the loaded, covered cart and five people the elevator car was crowded, but time was of the essence. On the ground floor as the doors opened the carnage and stench struck them all like a hammerblow.

The dead and dying were strewn everywhere. Shell casings littered the floor and patches of blood and less identifiable fluids were splashed and splattered everywhere.

The living were attempting as best they could to attend to the wounded, but the effort was just beginning. Al saw they had time, and chivvied his charges toward the service bay where hopefully the ambulance still stood.

Halfway across the floor Rowdy pulled away from Buck and turned toward the spot where the young woman lay. Buck tried to grab him, but Rowdy shook him away and continued on.

“Buck, Cindy – go with him. Your mother and I will deal with this” he said, indicating the cart. “When you get done drag Rowdy out to the Tesla if you have to and take him home. I will have your mother meet you at the car.”

With that, Al and Daisy were gone, and the three younger centaurs walked across the floor to where she lay.

The body was still there, twisted in the awkward contortions that the dead do not care about. Her blood stained the floor around her, and her still-gay formal wear provided a macabre bright note in the carnage.

Rowdy knelt by the body and touched her cheek. She was already cooler than when she was alive, the abandoned shell shut down for eternity. Rowdy’s hand came away stained, and he absent-mindedly wiped it on his already stained vest…and came up short.

“What?”

He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a slug. His clothing above that spot was badly damaged, and the cloth of his protective vest soaked with blood and torn as well.

The slug was a 7.62 round – but not one from one of the old bolt-action rifles. This was an expended slug – it had been deformed by passage through flesh and bone, and was still covered in it. Rowdy realized that when she was..killed, he’d felt an impact at the same time.

This was the last straw for the poor young man. Finding that slug in his pocket brought the entire horrible show to a head, and he collapsed on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. He touched the still young girl’s hand, and then clutched it like his hand pressure might bring her back to life.

Seeing this, sister and brother knelt with him in the blood and held him tightly from both sides. After a few minutes Rowdy’s distress eased, and Buck and Cindy were able to get him to his feet and away.

“I didn’t know anything about her…she was a party crasher from Vermont. She said she came here to see…me. I’m responsible for her death. If I hadn’t let her in she would have been gone from here before the fight started.”

“Rowdy, it would have been you instead of her. The vest wouldn’t have stopped a 7.62 slug – it would have killed you. There was nothing to it but chance.”

Only time and rest would help from here, Buck realized, so after planting that seed he kept his silence. Together, brother, sister and wounded younger brother made their way to the door and toward the car.

[Sgt. Howard]

"Now... let's make sure we do this right.... after all, my men will ...party... with your daughter for some time before killing her if you screw this up," Nodaki mentioned casually as Mayahuel ran through the process in her mind.
"Your threats are not helping," she dryly commented.
"Threats? Promises, my dear, promises... and I am good for my word, right boys?"
His goons agreed ruefully.
"Very well... I have to open you up to inscribe the proper glyph..."
"Eh? How's that?" he asked.
"You're a hollow shell- same as me," she explained as she turned and popped the catch on her own abdomen to demonstrate.
Amazed, he opened his shirt and fumbled with his own torso until he found it... and was astounded when his belly popped open!
"So... now what?" he asked.
She reached inside and blindly scribed a glyph into the yet moist clay- "Now, we need you to be fired- if you like that suit, you might want to take it completely off,"
"Very well," and he disrobed, leering at her the whole time. Just then, Thymbris appeared with John. John looked at Nodaki and asked,
"Do I really have to see this?"
"Don't get mouthy with me, firedog- you're here to do a job... and if you want your little friend to stay in good health, you'll do it properly," Nodaki snarled.
"Yeah... whatever... what do I do?" he looked at Mayahuel.
Suddenly a puddle of wet sploshed between Jin's legs- "MOMMA!" she squealed.
"MUFFIN CRUMB!!! NO!!! IT'S NOT TIME!!!" Mayahuel screamed in response.
"GET ON WITH IT!!!" Bellowed Nodaki, "I AM LOOSING PATIENCE!!!"
Mayahuel turned to John- "You need to fire his clay from the neck down... I need to keep the head unfired until I know what is going on with that glyph- do you understand?"
With Jin collapsed in the corner screaming in labor, and four goons ready to gut her at the slightest provocation, John turned his attention to the naked man before him. Using his hands and face, he threw a torch of flame around the body, avoiding the head. while he was doing so, the four goons, one at a time, keeled over out cold onto the floor. Nodaki tried to react to this, but found his body could not move. John held the fire for a goodly amount of time until Mayahuel held her hand up-
"Dammit! I KNEW I forgot something... Phoenix blood! And it so happens I KNOW somebody with phoenix blood on board... but... oh, wait... well, damn... I'm supposed to use that BEFORE I fire the clay, aren't I? Hmm... yes... I thought so... this is irreversible... your body WILL last forever, and you will NEVER die... but you are now a ridged statue, a lawn ornament... except your head... hmmm... I COULD make another body and plaster your head on it, but I really don't like you at all you see, so I guess you're just S-O-L on that..."
Nodaki was furious- "GUT THE SLIMY BITCH!!! GET OFF THE FLOOR, ASSHOLES!!! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!?"
Jin stood up and turned towards Nodaki, the shell of her pregnant belly swung open on hinges, "They are all quite drunk," she calmly stated.
"WHAT?!? HOW?!?"
"... that would be me- Hi there, oh useless one, how goes it?" answered a small, blue golem.
"But... how...?" Nodaki was suddenly aware of his circumstances, but not able to accept them as real.
Jin walked over to him, closed her belly and removed an amulet from her neck... and became Bud.
"Hi there, shitwad- remember me? When you cut my tendons, it got you so exited you decided to be my first 'date'... of course, the fact that I didn't want to be raped was not an issue to you, was it? The fact that I had been kidnapped, tortured, raped, starved, beaten... then burned alive... that never bothered you, did it? I am curios, though- can you feel anything I do to your ceramic body?"
She knelt by the genitalia that had caused her first violation-
Looking up into his eyes, she purred, "How about a little head?"

With one deep breath, she focused a flame onto the area in question- Nodaki screamed the torments of the damned. Once finished, there was only a charred pit where once his manhood proudly sat.

John looked it over- "You'll have to show me how you do that," he stated while Nodaki continued to scream and howl...

[Just Old Al]

The word was passed – paranormals needed to be elsewhere.

As the smoke diminished and the atmosphere cleared of the stench of smokeless powder the totaling of the cost of the battle began. Those who could help, helped. Those whose very appearance would see them killed, disappeared.

The sphinxes either stayed in humaniform or returned to it. The centaurs wisely left. Ursines, fae, merfolk, anyone who could conceivably be caught out vacated the premises, either straight out through the grain elevators or back out and through the scene of the battle.

Soon those who could be in danger from the unaware humans were gone - leaving the humans and better masqueraders to help pick up the pieces.

MIB was called in rapidly – and took control of the situation. Everyone was interviewed, checked and if necessary mind-modified against revealing things that should not have been seen.

There were, however, anomalies that took some explaining away – the ice wall containing some dozen of the assailants being one of them.

When pushing the cart toward the ambulance in its bay, Al and Daisy passed the wall, neither recognizing its significance until they were practically on top of it.

A smooth, clear wall of ice greeted their eyes, and embedded in it were…people.

People in the process of slipping, people trying to escape being stuck, people in comical poses. All of their faces were clearly visible – and spanned the range from oblivious to their fate to full-blown panic stricken WTF!

This absolutely reeked of elf.

“Emerauld? Let them go. We can’t have the police seeing this. Let them go.” Daisy just goggled – this on top of the rest of the day was simply overload.

“You never let me have any fun.”a slightly disgruntled voice uttered into his right ear. “Very well, but I will leave them frozen enough in place for the police to handle them.”

“Very well…but let them go now.”

“No. Greg needs to see my…creativity.”

“Very well – but see he sees it soon. We are going to have enough to explain away from this mess without this making the newspapers.”

The old couple continued onward, reaching the bay and the ambulance. Al sent Daisy to meet her children, and he took on the job of loading the remaining weapons back into the ambulance.

That done, he reached for his phone (thankfully not in his pants pocket, which was no longer there) and dialed Greg.

“It’s Al…yes, the centaurs have left the building. You seen Stanley and the barista?....Good – get them to the bay – this ambulance needs to leave and leave NOW. Stan can drive it if he can handle that stupid Tiger. Keys are in it…tell them to just move out and meet us at the farm. I’m coming out – tell me where you need me….OK, meet you there.”

Keys in the ignition he left the ambulance and headed back for the main floor. Greg would need him as would Neil - and between all of them they’d need to handle the fallout from this horrid event.

[Sgt. Howard]

Neil was seeing to the wounded... of which there was plenty... when his cell rang. He opened it and responded- then he hung up.

"That was Bud- It's over,"

Tears and cheers erupted through the hall. Kathy, still bandaged from two bullet wounds, started down the tunnel to inform those in the safe room. Alan and Jin, both unscathed, held each other and cried without shame. Greg went from one body to the next, checking for signs of life. Phix, wincing with each step, helped to gather all paranormal evidence. She paused at the body of the young girl- yes, there were dead from both sides all around, but this one- Phix had seen her get hit. She was dancing with Rowdy to something slow and romantic when her life was taken.

Such a stupid, senseless waste...

Over in another corner, Sally Laval couldn't shut up- she had cornered Justin and was apologizing all over herself, freely admitting that she was getting paid by the Reverend Al Sharpton to say everything she had been saying, that she had been told that he was some cold-blooded killer and deserved to die, and that she was wrong, wrong, wrong about everything... and poor Justin couldn't get away until Shelly, holding together the mortal remains of her dress, told her, "I'm sorry dearie, but THIS one is Mine..."
"You damn lucky you gots him 'fo AH could!!!" she replied with teary eyes.

After leaving the safe room, Atsali pulled Nadette aside and started where she left off-
"You almost ruined the ceremony!!! HOW COULD YOU?!? That was the DUMBEST... DUMB DUMB DUMBEST thing I've ever seen!!! And you KNEW what that might do to me!!! IN FRONT OF ALLTHOSE PEOPLE!!!"
Nadette, tears still streaming, snickered, "Kinda like when you blurted out "OH! YOU WANT ME TO TOUCH YOUR BOOBIES" in the theater..."
Atsali came to a dead screeching halt... then she snickered in spite of her own tears- "Yeah... something like that... BUT YOU KNOW BETTER!"
"Not really... I'm just about as hormonal as you are, you silly doof. I just wanted to... to ..."
"YEA, I KNOW WHAT YOU WANTED... goshdarnit!... but NOT in front of a WEDDING..."
"Well... the wedding is over, right?"

The heat was building again...

[FreeFlier]

"Now... let's make sure we do this right.... after all, my men will ...party... with your daughter for some time before killing her if you screw this up," Nodaki mentioned casually as Mayahuel ran through the process in her mind.
"Your threats are not helping," she dryly commented.
"Threats? Promises, my dear, promises... and I am good for my word, right boys?"

. . .

Jin stood up and turned towards Nodaki, the shell of her pregnant belly swung open on hinges, "They are all quite drunk," she calmly stated.
"WHAT?!? HOW?!?"
"... that would be me- Hi there, oh useless one, how goes it?" answered a small, blue golem.
"But... how...?" Nodaki was suddenly aware of his circumstances, but not able to accept them as real.
Jin walked over to him, closed her belly and removed an amulet from her neck... and became Bud.
"Hi there, shitwad- remember me? When you cut my tendons, it got you so exited you decided to be my first 'date'... of course, the fact that I didn't want to be raped was not an issue to you, was it? The fact that I had been kidnapped, tortured, raped, starved, beaten... then burned alive... that never bothered you, did it? I am curios, though- can you feel anything I do to your ceramic body?"
She knelt by the genitalia that had caused her first violation-
Looking up into his eyes, she purred, "How about a little head?"

With one deep breath, she focused a flame onto the area in question- Nodaki screamed the torments of the damned. Once finished, there was only a charred pit where once his manhood proudly sat.

John looked it over- "You'll have to show me how you do that," he stated while Nodaki continued to scream and howl...

One approves. )()()()()()()()()()()()()()( <== tailwagging

Yessss . . .

--FreeFlier
edited to reduce size

[lake_wrangler]

One approves. )()()()()()()()()()()()()()( <== tailwagging

Yessss . . .

--FreeFlier

I second the motion!

I have to admit, I had forgotten that Bud had received a transformation amulet... Of course, it was never stated, at the time, with whom it had been primed...

That was quite the emotional roller-coaster you guys took us on... And I bet the cleanup will be just as interesting...

Bravo. Bravo!

(Encore, encore! )

[DinkyInky]

The sound of barely contained mirth came from behind the elf, along with several flashes of light.

"Is that where the saying, 'Paint pictures, it will last longest' comes from?"

Chuckling, Greg replied, "It's 'Take a picture, it'll last longer.' But yeah, that'll do just fine kid, that'll do."

"Kid? Kid? I am well over a thousand years old, I will have you know."

Smirking, Emerauld drew her swords. Time for the quick thaw method.

"Hey Dalhar, you may wish to cover your ears."Child,

"Huh?"

Bringing them together, they droned deep and clear, like a bell, cracking the ice, reducing the walls into a pile of fluffy white snow, which began swirling, then gently drifting into the hall, covering parts with a crisp, white blanket.

It also released the people from the ice, yet left them immobile. More flashes and less restraint on the laughter.

"Do not worry," she said, sheathing her swords. "Once Justin's fellow lawbringers arrive, they will be free to move...call this(gesturing to the frozen figures) a gift for attempting to acquaint me with modern entertainments."

Walking toward Emerauld standing in the shadows he said, "Let's go before the cavalry..."

"...arrives."

Mouth agape as he now found himself back in the hallway he started from.

Smirking, Emerauld turned toward the crowd, broke a crystal wand, allowing the wild energies to flood her senses, sending a prayer of thanks for the safety of her...family.

Golden warmth answered, singing in her heart, enveloping her hands and wrists now glowing brightly, then coalesced on her ring finger, then flying out as she cast a shower of healing on all gathered there.

"Udos ph'delmah."We are home.

[Sgt. Howard]

"Where is she? She was with us just a moment ago... this place is still secure, right?" Katherine asked.
"Near as I can tell- but she's a little... I don't know how to say this... flighty..." Annie replied.
"Tell me about it... when I get my hands on her..."

"It's all over, it's finally all over... now we just have to pick up the pieces and figure how many we've lost," Neil spoke to no-one in particular,
' Al and Daisy , Rowdy, buck all took wounds... several police officers dead... four of the guests as well... one of them apparently a gate crasher... Jin and Alan came through alright... Justin hit twice, Shelly ruined her dress, Kevin must be beside himself... Stan and Tina... has anyone seen them? Greg seems alright, but with him you never know..... There will have to be an accounting... and what about our Drow Elves?... I so despise warfare..."
"That is precisely why you're the best one to lead us," came the reply of a dark, slender woman in black dreadlocks.
"Lily! You're looking good," her replied.
"One of the advantages of being a vampire- bullets are an annoyance at worst. One idiot kept firing mag after mag into me... ruined my blouse... you would think..."
"Girl, people go into crime because they are too stupid to hold honest work- you know that,"

[lake_wrangler]

Just like I said: the cleanup, dénouement and tying up of loose ends will be just as entertaining as the rest of the story has been so far...

[Sgt. Howard]

The Westboro Baptist crowd lost three members to gunfire with five wounded, two critical. They had seen the whole thing... but they did not have any clue exactly what they saw, for they saw things that did not exist, things that were supposedly evil mythology, things that were magic, things that... well... things that shouldn't be...
And yet they were.
The woman they scorned as 'Harlot', as 'Adulteress'... popped out white wings of an angel... and then collapsed at their insults... or was it because of their hatred?... they saw centaurs, they saw a small girl turn into barbed wire, they saw one rather portly fellow turn into a full-grown Grizzly Bear and saw him destroy at least five assailants even as they shot him- in fact, every bullet made him that much angrier. A skinny Black girl in dreadlocks got chased into their corner by two goons- she turned into a monstrous black panther and ATE one assailant after she broke the neck of the other... then she again became human, started to walk back to the fight until she let rip with an ungodly BELCH that rattled the walls- she then demurely said, "excuse me," before heading back into the battle.

Not one word of this did they report to the police.

[FreeFlier]

One approves.

--FreeFlier

[Sgt. Howard]

"Poppa, you could have gotten yourself KILLED!!!- What were you thinking?" Berdine wailed at her Father.
"Those bullets are designed to kill humans... they are not particularly good on bears... ow... but they DO hurt..."
"Well, you big numbskull- we have to dig them out before you DARE turn human or they just MIGHT kill you... Bernard Gadenyuva, you have the common sense of a stone, sometimes... charging out there... IN FRONT OF ALL THOSE MUNDANES, I MIGHT ADD!!!... you were glorious, of course... some of those trash piles soiled their pants because of you,"
"It was a proud moment... where's Nadette? Is she alright?"
Ursine Gadenyuva paused with her efforts- "not yet..."