NoW Round 2: Tannis Green vs. The Clockwork Man

[Skallagrim]

FIRST POST: Tannis Green
SECOND POST: The Clockwork Man

Start:3/4/2013
End: 3/25/2013

BATTLE GROUND: Undermel Ruins, Pangremal Jungle.

Bracketed Rounds
1: Rounds are scheduled in 21 day intervals. You have 21 days to complete the fight.
2: You have 48 hours before a connection post.
3: You have 48 hours after a match to file for dispute resolution.
4: There MUST be a winner/judgment at each match. A judge will be assigned to the match.
5: Winners will advance and face the winner of the other match in their bracket.
Combat is to be conducted following

This is a T1 fight-If you are unaware of what it is here are the most basic of rules.

Type 1 [T1] combat is a type of textual combat designed with logic, precision and detail in mind. It’s a turn-based style, allowing every player involved equal time and space to post their character’s move. There are four types of ‘turn’ that a player can make in a T1 fight: Prep, Attack, Defense and Connection. The fight is split in to 'tiers' which often consist of some/all of the aforementioned turns. A turn begins when a prep or attack is posted and ends when either a successful defense or connect is posted.
Prepping
A 'prep' is a turn in which the character prepares to launch their attack. Some special abilities require a certain amount of prep's before an attack can be successfully launched. As a player, it is your responsibility to be aware of which abilities require preps and then to adhere to these rules. Missing a single required prep will probably result in Eden's combat judges voiding the applicable tier of the fight.
A prepping move should state clearly what ability is being prepared for use and provide some imaginative description of this process, whether it be an elaborate ritual or a intense concentration etc.
Special abilities that do not require maintained focus/concentration can be combined with another turn. For instance, whilst a mage is launching a non-magical attack with his sword, he might be muttering an incantation in preparation for using a special ability later. Specifics must still be provided.

General Size

The precise size of the ruins are unknown, as it's infrastructure has long been disbanded. Although unknown, it is obviously colossal in stature, yet it is concealed by lush vegetation deep within the heart of the Pangramal Jungle. The surface environment of the ruins is filled with overgrown terraces and smaller structures, many of which are in shambles. Debris liter the area, said debris include tarnished jewelry that appeared to be either forgotten, or a failed expedition as discovered inside a glorious fifty-meter high pyramid in the center of the ruins. At the pyramid's summit, an eerie emerald light ascends vertically to the heavens, choking the sunlight above and giving the atmosphere a sickening green hue.

Skeletal remains, both humanoid--and not liter the innards of the pyramid. Several more piles of tarnished jewelries and faded tapestries is scattered in the labyrinth-like maze of the pyramid, which coincidentally (and unknowingly to combatants), stretches many miles, and descends deep within the earth, into subterranean tunnels beneath.

At the origin of the gloomy green light an immeasurable cache of emeralds and gold reside littered around a swirling vortex of nature's essence.

A pack (8-10), of powerful Girallon make their home in Undermel; they are vicious and savage--and most notably carnivorous. A girallon is hostile and will attack on sight. Girallon's stand approximately 12-foot tall, and weigh 1800-2200 lbs.

Participant Limit
Any.

Magical Properties

Several magical properties, advantageous; and disadvantageous exist within Undermel. Users of both life and death will find a keen advantage within, as druidic magic is strongly increased within the proximity of the swirling vortex. Necromancy is not increased, but easier to perform as several corpses await otherworldly command. Divine magic however is tainted and weakened considerably as the wild, pagan entities that once existed within cursed the grounds before their dismissal from the material plane.

Restrictions

Mobility may be the largest restriction of the Undermel Ruins, as the thick overgrowth on the surface, and the various booby-traps within the pyramid make for a dampened footfall. Also, as the entire ruins are cursed--any living creature will find that its wounds will fester and become infected much easier than normal.

Suggested Character Level: 3-6

SPECIAL: Each player- after the third total post, may introduce the Girallon. Each player may control up to 4 Tier 1 Girallon and one tier 4 Girallon to be used to attack their opponent.

[Sikako J]

*SCANNING.... REPORTS SHOWING SIGNS OF STRONG ORGANIC LIFE IN AREA...
STARTING SECONDARY SCAN... NO ELEMENT ZERO DRIVES RUNNING...
Assessment: AREA CONTAINS A LEVEL OF DANGER, POSSIBLY TARGET.......
RESUMING SENTINAL SCANS..CURRENT TEMPERATURE REMAINING AT 31.7 C*

“It is hotter than Quarian stripper out here!” Tanis said aloud as he scanned the read outs ARIA had provided him.

Quickly followed was the odd chime that ARIA made when she didn’t understand something he had said, “Apologizes Collector Tanis, I am unacquainted with the concept. Are not Quarian’s required to were their envirosuits at all times for fear of infection? An Asari stripper should appear the more sensual to your race.’

He huffed, “ARIA it isn’t logic that runs that statement, it would be interesting to see a Quarian stripper BECAUSE they are rarely seen outside of their suits. It is the items forbidden that drive organics.” He paused waiting for a response, but he knew she was busy processing the data for later use.

His simple statement now explained, he looked about the area with a sense of déjà vu. These ruins reminded him of Tuchanka, the Krogan home world. It was jungle like, with ruins of a people that had long been absent or had become long forgotten. The eerie light in the distance gave a slight green glow to the area, projecting a feeling of a haunted location that would make any playwright proud.

“ARIA, adjust the SWEEP visor to filter out this green, don’t want to overlook our ‘Clock Work Man’ if his skin is a simple shade of green.” Tanis said with a grin on his face. ARIA while useful sometimes had to be goaded into running scans she thought were unrequired. His poke at her initial scans set off a field of probes that ranged from x-ray to ultraviolet.

Tanis shifted into a squat testing the ground, his black and red multi-plated Mantis combat armor plates pale from the green lighting reflecting off the clear coat of the ablative ceramic chest pieces. It often wondered why he could have color adjusting or cloaking devices on his armor, but the tech wizards said it would interfere with his amp. They all knew that would be enough to shut him up about the constant nagging and questioning. The ground was firm, not what he expected from the initial look of the area; however it seemed that there was an underlying roadwork of stone beneath the dirt that had gathered.
He lifted himself up from a the crouch, patting his pistol at his side. Mentally he went over his payload the next target would face. His Pinnacle T-23 Heavy Pistol, his Storm Blade, his element zero shield, five compact grenades and his newly acquired Accursed Blade. He wasn’t quite sure he knew how to use it correctly, but he would be damned if he wasn’t going to try.

He took in a deep breath, listening to the light whirr of his visor, “ARIA show me who I am facing once more.” She quickly responded filling his visor with clear blue text.

**************************
Name: CLOCK WORK MAN
Race: AUTOMATON
AGE: UNKNOWN
Occupation: INVENTOR
Appearance: UNDETERMINED
Wavelength Operations: 21.4 FPK
Reasons for Capture: CLASSIFIED TECHNOLOGY
*****************************
He blinked a few times, taking in all of the information once more. Automaton, like a reaper husk or like a rogue A.I.? An inventor at that, he cringed behind his visor remembering the time he tracked down a Salarian mech tinker. Awful experience, nearly lost his left arm in the process.

“Alright ARIA, shift the scans to my flanks, I guess we are going on an old fashioned hunt.” He began to take simple strides forward, seeking out the Clock Work Man.

[MelonHead]

“Green hue caused by refraction of light, magic in nature, source is summit of the pyramidal structure, final analysis is this; these ruins are a grim place.” The Clockwork Man finished his quick verbal summary of the surroundings as he crouched, cloak draped towards the ground twenty five feet below. He had used his grappling hook to reach higher ground near immediately, resting on the far end of an arch strewn with moss and vines. The relative darkness of the ruins, cloaked as they were in a dull green, went some way to obscuring his Victorian styled form. However, stealth was never his strong suit as a whirring clanking sound of clockwork accompanied even the slightest of movements. His best bet was to locate his opponent quickly, and that was just what he had done.

The telescopic sight of his eye whirred outwards as it focused on the form exuding small quantities of energy, which had been picked up by his glowing blue one. He quickly summarised it was some form of advanced technology, far beyond anything he had ever seen. Needless to say, it intrigued him, as would be expected from one who took the form of an automaton and the profession of an inventor. Whoever this curious ‘Tanis’ fellow he had to fight was, he was not to be underestimated.

With a closer look, Clockwork acknowledged that he was seemingly heavily armed. He had a form of plated armour which looked incredibly sleek, but still reminded him of medieval armour of the past. It likely held many secrets, secrets George would love to uncover. When his foe was a mere fifty paces away, moving closer at a cautious speed, the Clockwork man summarised his technology should it be sophisticated enough would have likely picked him up, if not before, now. Therefore stealth was no longer an object, and with a few final checks battle could be joined.

He made a slight move, the telescopic sight whirring to normal proportions and allowing him to study the satchel at his side. Good as new, fastened over his dark Victorian cloak. Where-as underneath the mechanical spider clung to his nobleman style shirt and at his trouser leg attached to his belt was his holstered clockwork pistol. He quickly judged he was fully equipped, the satchel’s weight bespeaking the four small grenade like explosives and the two incendiaries. Along with a significant quantity of ammo for his pistol, two smoke grenades and his most effective piece of equipment for dealing with pesky mages, the magical inhibitor.

Noting Tanis was just approaching an effective firing range, around about forty feet away, the Clockwork man decided to introduce himself. It seemed the polite thing to do, and as of yet he felt no reason to break away from good manners. He studied the height and dropped onto the stony moss covered ground below with little incidence, clockwork momentarily protesting at the impact but otherwise causing him no harm as his metallic body sprung to full height once more.

His opponent had been moving towards him down the main path, but may stop now the Clockwork Man was in clear sight. Regardless, he made no overly hostile moves as he walked up towards what looked like a fallen pillar beside a statue. Provided his opponent didn’t run away immediately or attack, George was willing to have a little chat.

“Good evening, Tanis. I see we are to fight in this grim place, best of luck friend.” The Clockwork man called across the gap in his dry but otherwise normal voice. He decided to use his opponent’s name, for after they had both completed a battle it had been far easier to study and learn of the other competitors. Especially as this was a tournament, and he had been told before hand that it was Tanis he had to fight.

[Sikako J]

ARIA’s scans of the foe where working quickly to break down just what was before Tanis as his foe spoke up, his display was lighting up like a Christmas tree with information. He made quick mental notes, firearm most likely protruding from a holster…but there was no getting around that get up, gears and pumps buzzing and moving about, a gleam of metal from his skin that shown through the openings from cloak he was wearing. He looked a creation out of a mad scientist’s journal, his calm unnerving as his very body issued noises.

“Ah a gentleman, such a nice adjustment from last collection.” Tanis said in an even tone, a smile cast behind his SWEEP scanner. He surveyed that area around the two with his enhance field of vision, it appears that there was no intended ambush that had been set up. He tilted his head slightly as an unlikely image came to mind, his right hand shifting to his belt to withdraw two small discs. He made no aggressive motions.
“You seem lively enough, I have to ask you. Have you seen westerns? Or been present at a draw at high noon?” His left hand moved down to his own magnetic holster. “I can’t help but feel like we are squaring off in the middle of town, pistols at the ready. I mean even your name reminds me of the town’s clock town striking noon…”

But his scene setting was interrupted as ARIA asked a most unusual query, “Collector Tanis, may I voice a question to the target?”

It was absolutely mind boggling, after two hundred and thirty four targets, this one in particular had caught her interest. ’I suppose so, what do you wish to ask?’

’I wish to know if the target was once organic or has always been automatonic.’ She spoke without missing a seconds time.

“Ah it seems that my…protégé wishes to ask you a question. She wishes to know if you have always been an Automatonor if you were once…human is the word she is looking for...” Tanis questioned with a sense of equal curiosity.

Regardless of the answer he began to charge his biotic AMP, coating the two discs in a static mass effect feild and readies himself to pull his pistol to fire in defense. Might as well let ARIA have her question, after all how many times does your onboard A.I. becoming curious about someone you have been sent to collect for scientific purposes?

[MelonHead]

The Clockwork man paused just to the right of the fallen pillar and statue, with clear space in front and between him and his opponent. He waited tensely for Tanis to make a move, expecting an immediate attack after his words left the crystal. However, none came; instead an almost civilised reply met his quiet greetings. He had not expected that, yet it was gratifying to know he was not fighting a complete monster. There was no honour in defeating a beast.

Interesting replies from an interesting individual, but the Clockwork man had not seen ‘westerns’ in his timeline and only Tanis’ suggestive move towards the holstered pistol suggested what he intended. The Clockwork Man was more than willing to oblige as he brushed aside his long cloak at his right hip, and brushed the trigger mechanism to set the pistol whirring.

“I can’t promise a clock’s chime, but none-the-less I will join you in a duel.” His right hand hovered over the pistol at his side, his telescopic eye protruding out to watch for minute movements in Tanis’ hand as he drew. Even with such intense focus, he listened to the man as he spoke on his protégé’s behalf.

“And why, I wonder, can she not ask herself?” His head nodded slightly in quiet amusement. “Still, I will indulge her curiosity, once I was of flesh and blood, but no longer.”

The pistol at his side began to whir itself into a crescendo, although by no means audible from anything more than ten feet away, the energy stored within it was becoming more substantial with every second. The issue, as far as the Clockwork man could tell, was that his rounds may not be powerful enough to pierce the metal skin his opponent wore. Likewise, George had similar protection against bullets, but something of Tanis’ gear suggested he would not be likely to strike at him with simple pieces of metal or lead. No, he expected something far more interesting, and deadly.

Despite the quiet and ever-present whirring of Clockwork, the scene in front of him was one of tranquillity seldom seen in such dark places. The Clockwork man could only assume they had chosen to face each other in nothing less than a graveyard. He wondered silently how many had been lain to rest here; and more importantly if this was where he himself would meet his end.

[Sikako J]

Tanis couldn’t help but smile, this Clockwork man reminded him of a Turian he had to acquire once…well minus all the gears, pumps, and whirring. A duel would be a nice change of pace from his normal ‘collections’. It was nice to know the target was aware of the challenge and actually looked forward to the battle, not just simple prey fighting for its life.

As for his target’s question, a little added mystery couldn’t hurt right? “Oh she is observing us right now, but let’s just say she is disinclined to show herself unless I come into dire straits.” That should add a little spice to his foe’s wonderings. Needless to say the information gathered was wondrous, if he was once flesh and blood he should have a more human outlook on attacks and defense. He wouldn’t be fully logic driven, that could leave holes in his defense.
ARIA spoke internally once more, ‘Collector Tanis, further study of this foe could prove most helpful to enhancing your armor. Suggest you keep this one in mostly functioning pieces.’

Interesting, I wonder what she really wants from study of his body. he thought to himself as his SWEEP visor locked onto his foe’s holstered weapon. “Well then Tick-tock man, I bid you luck. Let’s see if man or machine will win this duel.”

As his words ended he threw up his right hand, letting the two discs jump skyward from his throw. Unlike a simple toss upward, the two separated into a ‘V’ like pattern from his current location so that one bullet wouldn’t be able to hit both. His mass effect fields around them, they seemed to hover more than arc skyward from a tremendous throw.

At the same moment he pulled his Pinnacle T-23 Heavy pistol out with his left hand squeezing the trigger as it came up in an arcing motion. He was thankful ARIA was able to alter the rounds in his pistol to his desired requirement, (sometimes even altering them to a different manner with her judgment). This time the rounds had been altered to a heavy hammerhead round, made of a lead and solidified mercy designed to flatten on impact to increase the amount of physical force transmitted into the target. The metal block inside was sheared off, thrusting the metal into the alteration chamber imbuing it with desire alloy, then plunged into the mass effect accelerator causing it to fire outward at a high velocity.

With his foe either made of what appeared to be an extremely dense form of bronze or wearing an exo-suit made of the stuff he had hopped the tremendous force of the projectiles could help dent or distort the clockwork mechanisms running along the body. Three quick blasts issued out, one meant for the left knee joint, the second aimed just above the crouch area, with the third on track to strike where the right collar bone would meet the ball and socket join of the shoulder.

His chest now freely exposed to the foe’s counter attack Tanis mentally called out to ARIA, ’ Stem a good portion of power to front facing kinetic barriers, I don’t want to go down from one well-placed shot. Continue to charge the AMP!’

[MelonHead]

“Interesting, I look forward to meeting her.” The Clockwork Man’s head tilted as if he were listening in on their conversation, but gave no outward signs of knowing the collector’s secret.

“And to you too, may you find what you seek then.” The Clockwork Man nodded once as he also wished his opponent luck in the coming conflict. His gun continued to whir as it charged hitting the ten second mark with a dull clanking noise. His hand twitched at his side, his vision narrowed and blurred so he only focused on one thing. Slowly, his left hand brushed open the satchel in such a careful, deliberate motion that it was unlikely to be noticed in light of the seriousness of what the other was doing. Brushing the handle of his gun almost tenderly, he waited for the right moment to make his move.

His opponent threw two disc like objects skyward, but although he noted they were charged with energy the Clockwork Man did not sense the tell-tale signs that they would prove an immediate threat to him. No, the man would be true to his word, it was guns only to start with. George could appreciate that, but seeing as he had employed another secret weapon the Clockwork Man was hardly going to leave it at that.

The tiniest movement in Tanis’ hand was enough to provoke a reaction from the Clockwork Man. Although his pistol was not as charged as he would like, it would still fire its fairly small calibre round with the force of a modern day sniper rifle. He drew fluidly in a single motion as his left hand seized an explosive from the satchel. Noting he had drawn faster than Tanis, but only just despite his mechanical advantages, he pulled the trigger as the barrel pointed at centre of mass ensuring the hardest dodge. Sadly, it would also likely be faced with the most of his opponent’s armour, but it would be an interesting learning experience all the same.

Judging that the draw speed was not significant enough to save him from return fire, the Clockwork Man side stepped to his left in order to employ the cover he had drawn level with. As he did so, he activated the small explosive in his left hand and threw it skyward; his magic would direct it as close as possible to both discs and cause it to explode with a radius on par to modern day fragmentation devices. His legs and lower body were protected from the rounds as they shattered against the thick pillar, noticeably almost forcing their way through the dense material. Less fortunately the final round destined for his upper body scraped the metal away from his arm as he was not quite quick enough to fully evade the attack. It was superficial damage at best, rubbing away about half an inch of the protective layer over his right shoulder joint, but it was mute testament to how close he came to significant damage incredibly early on.

Provided the discs were unable to protect themselves, the explosive he launched with swift mechanical strength would detonate in between the two, or if impossible it would direct itself in mid-air towards the most accessible and hopefully ensure it destroyed at least one. Meanwhile, on the ground, the Clockwork Man would continue his deft side step as he turned a full 180, with his back to the statue. It would provide enough cover to protect his entire body, and give him opportunity to see how his opponent and his discs had fared.

[Sikako J]

Tanis’s SWEEP visor flared a dull red as the Clockwork Man began his sidestepping dodge into cover, it then altered to a brighter hue as a device was flung up a device that looked to be intended to intercept his own discs and finally became a near pink when the strange pistol was leveled and fired at him. Immediately buzzes and beeps sent his mind into a focus, as he had been trained to respond. His attention now divided between the incoming round and the protection of his own devices. And despite ARIA’s blatant rejection of his decision, he focused on the safety of his device.

His mass effect fields about them kept a minor lift to retain them in the sky, however he could push on those fields if required. He studied and committed to memory that the device seemed to be homing in to his own discs, if this was the case he would have to wait for the most opportune moment. ‘Not yet…not yet…’ ARIA was still blaring warnings as the foes device began to exploded with a resounding boom, shrapnel was flung outward. ’NOW’ Tanis forced the discs to repeal outward away from each other with a centralized push. One was completely free of damage, however the other took shrapnel to its frame and fell to the ground with a thud.

Sadly he didn’t get to see where it landed due to his kinetic barrier flaring to life in a bright display or oranges and yellows that contrasted greatly with the green shade of everything about him. However even with the shield the round struck against his chest plate cracking the clear ceramic coating, sending a ‘thwoop’ of force into his chest that would surely leave a bruise. Air partially escaped from his lungs as he moved to a fallen pillar not far from his standing location. With a standard roll he placed himself in firing position and gave himself partial cover.

‘Damnit ARIA! I told you to boost the frontal kinetic barriers, not let me take a shot to the chest! You didn’t even draw extra power, that pistol hit like a rifle blast!’ he snarled inwardly.

ARIA replied with a chart across his visor and an audio reprimand ’Collector Tanis, 110 percent of kenetic barriers were pulled to the frontal regions. As my warning indicated, the pistol he is using is able to charge the rounds to give of a much stronger kinetic force than usual.

Tanis quickly reviewed the chart, arrow, Krogan spear, pistol, shotgun, submachine gun, {sniper rifle}, Collector particle beam… ‘It hits as hard as a sniper round!?’ He rubbed his chest, he would have to find a way to avoid those if he was going to stay in one piece.

His foe was still behind that pillar using it as cover. ’ Good that means he can’t fly around as supersonic speeds! ARIA any idea what this guy is using for optics?’

The robotic voice echoed out in his head, ‘Still reviewing; however it appears he has telescopic abilities.’

Alright then, it was settled. Next course of action was underway.

Once disc was lost to the ground, coded for his use, but still lost to his touch. The other disc was still hanging in the air above the two. Well only fair if he used his now. With more of a ‘feel’ then a metal command, his biotic abilities let him touch the field around the disc. It now placed under his influence he command a downward push with incredible force, its targeted impact area a foot or two behind that statue his foe was using for cover.

However he wasn’t planning on letting his foe just escape cover, he alter the rounds of his pistol into thermal laced impact rounds. He fired two directly at the statue, hoping to draw attention of his target as the thermal paste would eat into the stone like salt into a slug. With the sizzle and crackling near his foe he hoped that he would be unaware of the incoming danger, but just in case he threw a little surprise into the disc with his biotics and called out.

“Hows the scenery out that way?!” using his suit to boost the audio to make his voice echo in the ruins.

[MelonHead]

The Clockwork Man swiftly reloaded his weapon as his back hit the statue, rolling across it to quickly glance at his opponent. The explosion in the air suggested he had been partially successful, and the round he had fired had produced some form of effect on his opponent. Good news all around, but he quickly jumped back behind the thick stone statue before he could be punished for his observations.

As Tanis prepared a vicious counter-attack, the Clockwork Man considered his options. His strategy forming as if by magic, his intense thought was disturbed by a faint growl somewhere in the distance in front of him. He allowed himself another glance, and his blue eye caught the traces of ‘space magic’ which were his opponent’s biotic abilities in use. One disc was highlighted against the darkness of the sky, a difficult target perhaps for a normal man, but he was no man.

To confuse his opponent, he bounced off the cover back into the open where he had stood before with his pistol aimed, rather than coming out the way he had been glancing around the statue. However, he remained there only briefly as he fired each round in quick succession, with far less force than before due to the lack of charging, but luck had it that despite the speed of the disc his second shot clipped the strange device. George hoped it would be enough as he quickly ducked back into cover and reloaded his pistol, with just enough time to spare that the incendiary rounds burst through the statue and began to do their terrible work.

The Clockwork Man summarised the statue could withstand the incendiary rounds burning through them, having some familiarities with such weaponry as he carried some himself.

“The scenery is just fine, shame about the company.” George called back.

However despite the confidence in his words and earlier summarisation, he was beginning to think the incendiary rounds might be capable of burning his cover down. He was about to look for a new position when the growl he had picked up on earlier echoed louder than before a few paces in front of him. He saw only jungle claiming the ruins, but the shaking of the bushes alerted him that something big was coming. Things were about to get awfully more complicated.

“What in” his curse was cut off quickly as three huge apes with too many arms for his liking burst from the tree line. Behind them an even larger Girallon whipped them forward with a massive log clutched casually in one meaty hand. George took the initiative, his cover was soon to be useless and the creatures would engage him regardless, he might as well use them to his advantage.

He burst forward running towards them as fast as he could, they looked surprised by his sudden charge but the three smaller creatures met him quickly as he jumped up and over the closest, rolling across its shoulder and back to land neatly on the floor behind it. He delivered a quick shot to the back of its skull with his pistol before the others could turn around and the larger beast roared as it collided with him. Knocked back, he had only seconds to react as in mid-collision he kicked up and over, escaping the creature’s powerful grip with a swift kick to the face and throwing his arm out to shoot his hook skyward.

He had jumped up onto the arch earlier and his run forward and across had brought him within range once again as his grappling hook made purchase on the far side of the arch and he activated it, causing it to whip him forward and away from his ape-like enemies. The three remaining creatures roared in frustration as he quickly escaped their grasp, but his lethality and unnatural nature had not been lost on them even with their primitive minds. They continued to run forward across the ruins, where they would inevitably run into Tanis.

Meanwhile, the Clockwork Man collided with the closest side of the arch and pulled himself up, deactivating his hook for it to zip back into the device fastened to his left hand. He watched from up high, crouching low to present a harder target, as his opponent faced off against the beasts.

[Sikako J]

ARIA calculated the speed in which the ‘Tick-tock Man’ was able to move into and out of cover, giving a good baseline to adjust trajectory for future attacks. Tanis was mildly surprised that the foe leapt from cover to blast his pistol at the disc that was hurling his way, but in a fashion it gave him a sense of gratitude that he had placed further defenses on the device.

The clockwork pistol rounds fired outward as ARIA took measure of their strength, two shots one miss and one striking true. However when the round came just millimeters from the device, the small biotic field around it became dark purple in color deflecting the round. Tanis was thankful the pistol hadn’t been able to hit as hard as the round that struck him, otherwise the biotic barrier he had placed around the device would have surely been penetrated. Instead of exploding from the impact, the disc was sent in the opposite direction with its payload intact.
“Oh!? I find our chats enjoyable!” Tanis called out.

Tanis grinned behind his visor, still behind that fallen stone pillar as he watched as the statue was being burned through. But the smirk was cut short as his target moved away from the burning cover, Tanis was quickly lining up a shot when some sort of creature that looked like a spider and a gorilla came barreling after him. It was a moment of shock, something that he rarely felt any more.

The ‘Tick-tock Man’ dispatched one of the foes with a skilled shot that reduced one of the creature’s heads into red mist. Three more creatures seemed to fall into position as his foe delivered a massive kick that sent the largest of the three reeling from the blow. As if this wasn’t astounding enough, the target then produced a grappling hook that shot outside of an interesting contraption.
’ARIA, please tell me you recorded that!’ Tanis asked hurriedly as he ducked down.

The robotic voice called out quickly, “ Yes Collector Tanis, this will be used for future attacks..’

‘No no…I just want to watch it over and over again!’ He said through chuckles.

He then quickly moved up once more and with a flick of his wrist the explosive device was hurled back to the Clockwork Man’s location. With the brilliant display he had just witnessed and data collected, he knew the foe would be hard pressed to deal with the unsuspecting disc he surely though he had dealt with previously. The device would smash into the archway, releasing a blast of liquid nitrogen and a gaseous mixture meant to snap freeze all around it in within ten meters.

With that dealt with, Tanis turned his attention to the creatures. Tanis had never met these things before, however ARIA had been gathering all the extranet for information and had wonderfully displayed it on his SWEEP scanner. Girallons apparently, hyper territorial pack hunters that deferred to their pack alpha.

“Thank you Volus bestiary research.” Tanis said under his breath. It was one thing to know about a twelve foot tall, multi ton creature it was another figuring out how to put them down. And they were on their way towards his location. Tanis took a deep breath and stood, no reason to hide his information told him they had enhances hearing and scent tracking. His pistol could be used, but it would cause it to drop into an overheated state. No telling what had happened to Tick-Tock Man just yet.

Tanis growled, “Gunna have to risk it.” He whipped the pistol up firing at one of the smaller beasts, the round striking it as it burst into flames. He then ordered the round altered into a shredder round, meant to shatter on impact tearing and embedding itself into muscle tissue making every movement wash with pain. It took two more blasts to halt the second of the smaller beasts, one to the leg another to the neck area that left it screeching in pain.

The leader however took the last shot to one of his left arms and kept on coming, Tanis’s pistol beeping in alarm to the overheating. “Just perfect…”

He still had the charge on his AMP, but he would be damned if he was going to use that on this beast…no it was meant for his target. His pistol still in his left hand, be brought his right arm to his front as his left extended to vertically to make a cross with is right.

The bluewire tool activated as the four nodes of element zero expanded outward, spilling liquid iridium to meet the center node. It glowed with a strange hypnotic orange and yellow that seemed out of place among the ruins. He similarly activated his night blade as the dual blade extended outward to a length of three feet, electrical current hissing over the blades. He charges the beast using his shield to absorb the mighty blow, landing a raking attack on the beast’s left leg. The smell of burnt hair filled the area as the beast began to circle away, rage still filling its eyes but it kept to the tree line now.
Tanis took note of the injury and positioned himself for another pass, but more importantly he waited in the cover of a ruined archway his shield still in front of his chest.

“Oi! You didn’t tell me you had brought pets!” he shouted out, adrenaline high in his blood stream he actually felt joy as his lungs gave a hint of a work out.