[Nexus] Inside 40

[Halae]

[Wayren Pub]

Jakus nods, "I get what alcohol I drink at the Black Dragon's Den, but my other time eating out is all spent here. I have a running tab here, by the way, so I'll cover your meal. If you like sweet things, you'll like this, I think. Just remember, the milk is there for a reason." He grins

[Gullara]

[Mallside Parking Lot - Back of RE]

"You got it." Suddenly a portal to the Yellow Road opens under anyone that wants to come along, and Gus too. This may or may not include Maniac.

*will post HT's Plots next*

[Darklord Bright]

[Wayren Pub]

Trix smiles awkwardly in response. She's not really sure what he means at all, but she's not going to give that away. Does he mean the milk is there for drinking, or that it's for some sort of use with the drink he's getting her, or something else? She just continues her awkward smile as if she understands.

The half-demon shifts uncomfortably in her seat.

[Halae]

[Wayren Pub]

Eventually, Cassie returns with their orders, and about half a roast is placed in front of Jakus, who grins before digging in. He's at least polite enough to eat with a fork and knife, though.

In front of Trix is placed... what looks to be a yellowish pudding thing, with light brown lumps. A large glass of milk is also placed next to it. "If you start feeling something in your throat, just drink, Dearie. It's a house special, but people who haven't had it before sometimes find it a bit odd." Cassie waves goodbye to the pair, heading back behind the counter.

"It really does taste amazing." Jakus says.

[Darklord Bright]

[Wayren Pub]

Trix is a little curious of the pudding laid down in front of her. It vaguely resembles part of an Ochre Jelly or something, but those are just piles of stomach acid, so that probably not what it is.

She prods at it with a spoon, making it wobble amusingly. Well, if he says it's good...

She grabs a spoonful and carefully puts it into her mouth.

[Halae]

[Wayren Pub]

It's thicker than most Jello, but wobbles like it at least.

when she puts it in her mouth though, Trix will likely find one of the best meals she's ever eaten. It just tastes amazing, as if someone was making your taste buds dance with joy all at once. Once swallowed, it leaves a sort of furry feeling in her throat, which feels pretty weird. a swig of the milk though washes it all down, leaving nothing but the divine taste of limda in her mouth.

"Like it?" he asks, between bites

[Darklord Bright]

[Wayren Pub]

She nods her head a couple times, an expression of pleasant surprise on her face.

"Mm!" she responds, taking another spoonful. It is a bit odd going down, but that's nothing a swig of milk can't fix, and it tastes great!

A few more spoon-and-swigs later, she asks him a question.

"You asked me earlier if I was from the Nexus, so... what about you?"

[Halae]

[Wayren Pub]

He chuckles at her response to the limda. He had much the same. Of course, he's cringing inside due to how expensive it is, but oh well, seeing Trix here enjoying herself with the food is good enough for him, and he has enough money not to worry in the slightest.

"Not as such, no. I've been here about eight months now, mostly just doing joe jobs and working at a moving company for a while, before I decided to get back to fighting and joined NO. Before that though? lived in Hierall, a country essentially built on a glacier. not a lot of ogres out there, but they were friendly with the human tribes. I'm what happens when they get really friendly." Jakus shrugs, speaking about it casually.

[Darklord Bright]

[Wayren Pub]

Trix stops, brow furrowing in confusion.

"But aren't ogres really big?"

She doesn't elaborate any further, trying hard not to think about it as she puts down her spoon to pick up the mug of milk. Having only one hand to work with is a bit of extra effort, but it's not so hard.

[Halae]

[Wayren Pub]

Jakus looks off to the side, his brow furrowing a bit, "Yeah, they are," he says. It seems that's a sore spot from his past right there. something he doesn't want to talk about

[Darklord Bright]

[Wayren Pub]

She pauses, not really sure what she said wrong, and continues to eat her food. Trix really isn't all that good at casual conversations, so it's not all that surprising that it's gone down a direction that amplifies the awkwardness.

There's a brief silence.

"Um. Well, what do you want to talk about?"

[Halae]

[Wayren Pub]

Jakus thinks for a moment, trying to decide what to say, "Well, how about your name? is Trix short for anything?" He puts on a smile to show he's trying to get away from the darker topic.

[Darklord Bright]

[Wayren Pub]

Trix emits a short, awkward laugh.

"It's, uh, heh. It's a long and stupid name. Just, um... 'Grimaultrix'. Y-yeah. Ha. I know..."
She rubs the back of her neck, looking down at her food. What a silly name to have, isn't it? No wonder she calls herself Trix.

[Gullara]

[Bask's Animal Shelter]

And it's about time Arel arrived back here. She's still rather put out by Rein's behavior, but he's allowed to explain himself. She knew something was wrong and all, it's just... bleh.

The fallen seraph steps inside the building and goes looking for Rein.

[Halae]

[Wayren Pub]

"I like it. It suits my delicate ogrish sensibilities." He strikes a dignified pose, a hand on his chest. It looks absolutely ridiculous.

[Darklord Bright]

[Wayren Pub]

Trix giggles. Not an awkward laugh, but an actual giggle, and it's adorable. She quickly realises that she did it, however, and tires to pretend it never happened, going back to eating her strange but delicious pudding jelly.

"Well, um, I always thought it was a silly name."

[Halae]

[Wayren Pub]

"I like it, honestly. Way better than Jakus. I mean, honestly. My name means 'big' in Ogrish" Jakus rolls his eyes, "It's terrible, really. Some people are so uncreative."

[Darklord Bright]

[Wayren Pub]

"Well, it sounds okay, uh, to me. But I guess I'm not an ogre." she smiles a little, happy that the conversation is out of the bad place it was in a bit ago. She might figure out this whole 'Chatting' thing after all!

[Halae]

[Wayren Pub]

Jakus shrugs his massive boulder-like shoulders, "Different cultures, I guess."

He's just about finished his roast, only a few bits left on his plate, "Anything you want to do after this? we could always just stay here and chat, if you like. It's a nice place."

[Darklord Bright]

[Wayren Pub]

"I, um, I dunno... I probably shouldn't be away from NO for too long, but CB, uh, probably won't be ready for a few days, so..."

She shrugs. She's not good at deciding things.

"I'm kinda new to this whole, um... socialisation thing."

[horngeek]

Red Zone - Streets

Naitiri walks the streets with Shrike and Zamira. All she seems to do is talk with people in a cordial and polite manner. Not precisely charming, just... friendly. She asks about their health, the state of the neighborhood, anyone residents with disabilities, any sick or weak individuals. She passes out cards, documentation, cute little pamphlets packed with words so small they're almost illegible. The neon girl's obviously looking for candidates - cloning or augmentation, it doesn't matter. In fact, she may well run into a Red Zone PC or two.

At one point, Naitiri turns her attention to the Exalted. "You're probably wondering how I expect these people to pay for what I'm offering."

"Sort of. Or I could be assuming you do charity work."

[Quinsar]

Why? Is there something you have against me?

It reminds me too much of mom. I can't take it...

[Neon Knight]

[Grey Zone - Baker Street]

Baker Street was a peaceful row of worker's housing along the edge of the Grey Zone, near the borders of the city (or as close as one can get, what with the fluid nature of the city). It was a place that workers returned to after a hard day at work to recover from their labors and spend time with their families. Crowded apartment buildings overlook crowded, grey streets. Most days, it is pretty peaceful, but today... today the odd and the tragic visits Baker Street.

[Stampede!]

It begins with a ominous thundering sound in the distance, steadily growing in volume and intensity, and then the road shakes as dozens upon dozens of huge cattle rumble down the way, an avalanche of clashing horns and hooves. Each steer is almost six feet high at the shoulder, massively huge and heavy, bulldozing through anything and anyone that gets in the way. Cobblestone breaks under their weight and strength. Carts splinter and shatter as they are shouldered aside or torn underfoot.

Just at the edge of the city, a small knot of people watch the herd. A hobgoblin in strange armor, a large bugbear in a heavy coat, and an ogress in loose cloth stand beside a pair of humans in black clothes. The heavily covered Vire peers at the dust from the herd. "They're in. It was lucky that we found that herd in Yellow Dog. Fine cattle; a pity to spend them this way." Modarmaskin snorts. "We'll get more stealing valuables than we will rustling cattle. Come on, let's get in there." The small and large human black hats spur their horses onward, followed by the longcoat wearing bugbear. The hobgoblin and ogress watch them, remaining just outside the city.



((By mandate of Wolfy, Ghost Riders in the Sky as performed by: Spiderbait Johnny Cash The Outlaws Marty Robbins and Riders in the Sky. Vote on your favorite in the OOC. Personally, mine is a toss up between Marty Robbins and The Outlaws.))

[UncleWolf]

Gray Area - DMC

"I don't mind. After all the people here just escaped the zombie attack."

Gray Area - DMC

Bugs takes a moment to call back to base for an APC and nods when he gets a reply. "It'll be coming from the west, from the second Mobile Hospital. It'll take a few moments to arrive though." He admits before ordering the soldiers with him to take positions outside to watch the area.

[Heading to Barricade 2]

The group of Remnant soldiers will come across a drowess dressed in heavy armor of blued steel limned in gold. The spider insignia of House Xar'Cha was clearly emblazoned on her chestplate. A large, two handed maul was strapped across her back, and a writhing whip of snakes hung from her belt, marking her as a priestess of Lolth. A pair of male guards flanked her, dressed in armor, though not as fine, just as heavy as that which the priestess wore.

"I heard you boys could use a little help."

Heading to Barricade 2 => Barricade 2

The officer in the lead nods, and one of the others starts to say something snarky about how he'd definitely use her help, but gets thwapped before he can get halfway through by one of his buddies. "We've got a large infestation up ahead. Undead, biological means. Think you could help us, Priestess?" The officer asks before turning the corner and arriving at Barricade 2.0

Barricade 2.0
Pew!
One of the beast's massive tentacles has been shot off! It falls towards the ground where it likely hits with a meaty slap. Another one of the beast's tentacles goes down to pick it up.
Missy might notice that its tentacle isn't growing back.
The goober rounds do not have any effect on the beast yet as it has stopped moving.
Lt. Jone knocking down the powerline towards it is a different story.
The power lines sink into the beast's body, not showing any effect on the outside. But on the inside it's getting hot...
Its mouth opens wide and it unleashes an unbelievably loud roar.
---
Gray Zone
Every T-Virus Zombie(around 600, they've been supplementing their numbers with Gray Zone Citizens) in the Gray Zone turned their heads in the direction of the roar. They began to shamble towards it, completely ignoring any tasty humans. This includes 10 Chainsaw Majins(who are traveling across the rooftops towards the roar) and two Executioners(who are at the back).
---
Barricade
Elena nodded again.
"We should probably get out of here."

Barricade 2.0

"Get to the Beam Cannon!" Lt. Jone shouts to one of her men as she opens fire at what she considers to be the eyes of the creature, using her last two Hammer slugs. The remaining three Peacekeepers get off the ground and sprint towards the weapon, firing backwards as they go. Their weapons might be ineffective as a whole, but they'll cause at least minor damage to the living zombies inside of the creature.

This is Cerulean. Be advised, there is a large horde heading your way. Estimates are at least four hundred individuals in size. Thunderclap is on the way, ETA 30 seconds.

Saintspeed to you all.


Barricade

Sue will attempt to grab both of the Umbrella workers by the cuffs to stand them up, then lift them over the barricade as another squad comes along to reinforce it all. "It'll be a few minutes before pick-up arrives."

The male looks at the female. "What did he say?"

"'Decon'. Sounds [interesting?]! Let's [experience?] it!" The female looks eager. Always willing to try something new!

"What are we supposed to do with the [Specimen?]"

Mobile Hospital 1

"We'll take it through Decontamination as well." The guard says, gesturing them to step through an air lock type device that's been set up.

"The spell itself is safe. But since you seem to think she'd be better off with poison blood, I was offering to change her back." Jack reiterates, turning his head to make sure Aluskal doesn't see him roll his eyes.

Masks Temple - Infirmary

"Either way, we have to wait." The daemonette says. "Was there anything else you were going to do to try to help out around here?"

Well, I'd forgotten how nice it is to recieve flowers. She had never actually recieved flowers, because they tend to be hard to get underground, but it's the sentiment that counts. I'd also never experienced a massage before. I didn't know what I was missing.

Wolfy's Dance Studio

Wolfy smiles a bit as they dance. "If you want more of either of those from me, all you have to do is ask and I'll gladly grant it to you." He tells her sincerely.

[Morty]

[Stampede!]

Six combat bikes are approaching the stampede of cattle. They split up, two bikes heading towards the cows and the remaining four splitting into twos and flanking them, on lookout for whoever might be herding the cattle.

[Wolfy's Dance Studio]

Well, I certainly wouldn't mind another massage, Reelshka responds. It made me feel really good last time.

[happyturtle]

Barricade 2.0

Hearing the radio call, Missy runs a perimeter around the beast, again using her 3x human speed*, tossing monowire grenades. Any zombies who approach the beast will slice themselves to ribbons.



*still fleshing out character capabilities: Missy's wired reflexes allow her to keep this speed up for extended periods, or 5x human speed for short bursts. Her suit is feeding her body glucose and stimulates to fuel this speed, but there's a hard crash when she comes down.

[AmberVael]

Gray Zone
Every T-Virus Zombie(around 600, they've been supplementing their numbers with Gray Zone Citizens) in the Gray Zone turned their heads in the direction of the roar. They began to shamble towards it, completely ignoring any tasty humans. This includes 10 Chainsaw Majins(who are traveling across the rooftops towards the roar) and two Executioners(who are at the back).

[Gray Zone]

The thundering of hooves marks the entrance of Soldier Girl riding a white horse. While a rifle is packed on one side of the horse, in her hands is a powerful compound bow. Drawing a single wooden arrow, she fires it upon the gathering crowd of zombies, imbuing it with her magic. Growing rapidly, it splits into a much wider volley, each shaft erupting into plantlife as it strikes. Leaves and vines will sprout out any zombie struck by it as it drains nutrients from their decayed and ruined flesh. Even if one survives, it will likely be incapacitated.

Riding towards the head of the zombie crowd, she attempts to pick off those at the front to slow it down.

Working with a similar tactic, the group of peacekeepers she came with (having driven their van ahead in an attempt to cut the crowd off) set up in wall pattern to try and cut off the street level, parking their two vans accordingly, and deploying riot shields to form an almost solid line. Almost. They leave a notable gap in the center for the zombies to aim towards, angling their weaponry to make what would look like an opening to the unintelligent a killzone.

The group is relatively small, but hopefully use of tactics will allow them to significantly stem the onrushing horde.

[Halae]

[Wayren Pub]

"I, um, I dunno... I probably shouldn't be away from NO for too long, but CB, uh, probably won't be ready for a few days, so..."

She shrugs. She's not good at deciding things.

"I'm kinda new to this whole, um... socialisation thing."

[Wayren Pub]

"That's odd," Jakus says, "With what you're like, I would have imagined you'd be very good at socializing. You're certainly well more than pretty enough for it." Blatant flattery is blatant!

[Mindfreak]

Spoiler

Show

[Gray Zone]

The thundering of hooves marks the entrance of Soldier Girl riding a white horse. While a rifle is packed on one side of the horse, in her hands is a powerful compound bow. Drawing a single wooden arrow, she fires it upon the gathering crowd of zombies, imbuing it with her magic. Growing rapidly, it splits into a much wider volley, each shaft erupting into plantlife as it strikes. Leaves and vines will sprout out any zombie struck by it as it drains nutrients from their decayed and ruined flesh. Even if one survives, it will likely be incapacitated.

Riding towards the head of the zombie crowd, she attempts to pick off those at the front to slow it down.

Working with a similar tactic, the group of peacekeepers she came with (having driven their van ahead in an attempt to cut the crowd off) set up in wall pattern to try and cut off the street level, parking their two vans accordingly, and deploying riot shields to form an almost solid line. Almost. They leave a notable gap in the center for the zombies to aim towards, angling their weaponry to make what would look like an opening to the unintelligent a killzone.

The group is relatively small, but hopefully use of tactics will allow them to significantly stem the onrushing horde.

Zombie Horde
Drain the nutrients?
That's not that effective!
Zombies don't need nutrients to live, and the draining of the live ones just kills them and makes them into the dead variety!
And then they begin trying to break through the vines...
Her trying to get to the head isn't going to work that well as zombies reach out to grab at her horse!
---
Barricade 2.0
The giant beast roars again as its eyeballs are actually taken out by Lt. Jone!
It stays perfectly still as it tries to listen for the faintest sound...
And the zombies have yet to arrive to the barricade!
---
Barricade
Elena is hoisted over!
"Got it!"
She waits.

[AmberVael]

[Gray Zone - Zombie Horde]

Bones and decomposing flesh are nutrients. They might not need them all to live, but they probably do need them to continue functioning. It's hard to walk, move, or accomplish anything serious when you're being perforated and having your bones cracked and shattered by plant matter that is swiftly consuming your entire body.

Tearing at the vines will likely just result in the growth spreading to their hands as well, even if they manage to snap the growths off.

However, there are hundreds of zombies, and even shooting multiple arrows at once (which is a difficult feat even for Latas) will only affect the smallest fraction of their number. While the plants will probably be incredibly effective, it is not something that works on such a large mass.

The zombies ignoring everything to get to their location that attack Latas's horse will either be wrenched away from, kicked, or trampled under the relentless steed. Not made of weak flesh or bone, nor truly an intelligent creature, it shows no fear and obeys each order that Latas gives it, even if it means its death. For her part, Soldier Girl fires arrows at any zombie that manages to latch on to it.

She does, however, keep her distance from the main group as she tries to circle around it and meet up with the Peace Keepers, who begin opening fire with their longer range weaponry, such as rifles, aiming for heads and joints in an attempt to kill or disable.