[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/ad2ae6e3-c51a-4bbe-8590-205e4def547a.png[/img]

[color=c9272c]"Miko are just weeby versions of nuns, you know?"[/color]

[color=888888]— Elroy Bates[/color][/center]

[@Ponn][@Majoraa]

And why would Elroy talk with Ashley? Each faction had its own slander. Freelancers were a bunch of dumb money grubbing wannabes, Maverick Alternative were monster loving terrorists, and GEMINI was a collection of murderous sociopaths. If this was just a payday for him, then “saving innocents” was just an excuse to see some guts splattered all over the wall.

The Bates brother's shield had a well documented ability to absorb impacts without letting the wielder feel any of it. Ashley was reminded of this when her techno blasts smashed into the shield with no visible change in Elroy's momentum or trajectory. As she had surmised earlier, they would need to get around him if they were going to neutralize him. 

Elroy barreled forward like a train himself. Raven took a deep breath and rushed him. But he was hidden behind his shield, which was spewing flames out the side. With a hop, Raven rolled off to the side and fired at Elroy. This wasn’t anyone’s first rodeo. The legendary freelancer shielded the side of his head with his gauntlet, and the bullet rebounded off of Elroy’s fist. She wouldn’t have time to fire again before he rolled a ball of magma at Raven. She hopped out of the way just as it popped into a puddle of lava.

Taking advantage of the opening Raven indirectly provided, Cereza opened fire on Elroy, saving one arrow specifically to shoot a piercing melody at his arm; an attempt to disarm him of his shield. But a sudden twitch of his arm pulled the shield in front of the projectile. While such a melody would pass through most defences, the obsidian esper was exceptional and the projectile stopped at his shield. He pivoted off course from Ashley and slammed into Cereza hard enough to roll her onto her back. Without missing a beat, he lunged for Ashley, leading with his gauntlet. 

Meanwhile, Cerise quickly moved to follow after Raven. Ashley had her own shield, she’d be fine without hers. The scarlet haired miko tossed her own melody at Raven, one of crimson light, and one to keep her shielded from Elroy’s attacks for a little while. Though Elroy wasn’t who they had to worry about presently…

A flame appeared on the end of Bobo’s gun, which was now leveled at Raven and Cerise. With a gasp, Raven grabbed Cerise by her collar and hopped back just as the napalm was fired in their direction. 

Finn and Mika both had the same idea of taking on Lexi, though while Mika preferred a straightforward approach, Finn placed himself behind her. Her eyes went wide, and her mouth opened once she realised she was surrounded. Finn and Mika swiped at the same time.

Their attacks hit nothing but air. 

The nun before them shriveled and waved, like a mirage vanishing in the summer heat. Just as the agents were starting to assess the situation, a projectile flew out of the darkness. It looked like a lamp with four feathered wings. It smashed into Finn’s back and sent him skidding off the edge of the train. The train was only a few feet off the ground, but at the speed it was moving at, the fall would be near fatal to a normal human. Moreover, he wouldn’t be participating in the rest of the operation. 

But Mika didn’t care about that. She looked to see where the projectile had come from and noticed the shadows melting off of Lexi in the distance. It was like she had never moved from her spot, provided this too wasn’t some kind of illusion. She renewed her resolve and scuffed her way towards Lexi, weary of what getting hit by her melodies could do.

Meanwhile, the spirits were no longer just orbiting around. Shovel brandishing specters howled before charging the length of the train towards the Gemini agents. They only had a few seconds to act before they were set upon.