[center][h3]Dead Zone Hinterlands - Curien Mansion Courtyard[/h3]
Harry’s [@Eviledd1984]  Amaterasu’s [@DracoLunaris] Chosen Undead’s [@Simple Unicycle] Level 11 Big Band (24/110)
[b]Word Count:[/b] 1468[/center]

“HM!” The moment Band regained his feet, mere inches away from the partner in crime of the zombie he’d unceremoniously dropkicked, the undead wretch lunged for him. All it got for its efforts, however, was a mouthful of beige cotton gabardine so densely woven it barely even tore. It couldn’t even get its infectious jaws around the detective’s broad metal frame, much less bite off a pound of flesh. Of course, Band barely even noticed–while normally one to respect the dead, he hadn’t the slightest bit of pity for corpses like these. He had already crouched down, and now two [url=https://i.imgur.com/WkYcd4z.png]trombone slides[/url] shot out like straight punches to soften the hapless cadaver up. Then, while it tried to catch its balance, Band unleashed a [url=https://i.imgur.com/IzHBd72.png]massive tuba[/url] that walloped the zombie with a heavy slam, then blasted it away in giblets with a deep, almost flatulent blast of sound. [I]BWAAAAAAMP![/i]

With the first two shamblers taken care of, Band took a quick look around to check on the others. He did not expect to see a medieval knight, well-armed and armored, expertly decapitating a zombie as he approached the embattled detectives. The stranger didn’t look like a member of Martira’s guard corps, so Band could only assume him to be some sort of drifter or sellsword. Either way, he clearly knew what he was doing, so while he didn’t think he needed help against rabble like this, he wasn’t going to object. “Hello yourself, sir knight!” He called back, a tone of mild, metallic amusement on his voice. “Knock yourself out, but don’t go thinkin’ you’re gonna get paid for it!”

The far bigger surprise, as it turned out, was the Icebreaker. After ditching a few articles of clothing, he unveiled a hidden blunt instrument and drowned out the zombies’ ravenous groans with an almost bestial wail, as if his very soul had given vent to its turmoil. He then vaulted over Band -a very impressive feet given their height difference- and charged straight into a mob of zombies with reckless abandon. Holding back nothing, he went to town with an onslaught of brutish bludgeoning and theatrical special techniques, as if working his way through all the signature moves he’d ever seen on the silver screen. It was a jaw-dropping display, especially because  his nonsensical fighting style somehow seemed to be working. Zombie after zombie fell to his feverish assault, astounded by feats of acrobatics that not even Band could emulate. Taken aback, the cyborg could only glance over at Amaterasu to confirm that she was seeing this too, only to release a burst of helpless laughter when he found the wolf as slack-jawed as he was. That settled one thing, at least: that this wolf was at least as smart as a person.

Amaterasu didn’t just stand idly by and gawk, though. When a couple zombies came at her, the first few seemed to fall apart on her own, and for the stragglers the white wolf unleashed a handful of unnaturally agile kicks. Not once did she attempt to use her canines’ crushing biteforce like a normal wolf might, perhaps sensing the deadly contagion lurking within these monsters’ failing frames. Band nodded his approval, his expectations thoroughly exceeded. In fact, he was sufficiently distracted by Amaterasu’s antics that he didn’t react to another zombie coming his way until it had already pounced, sailing through the air with claws extended.

Of course, Big Band wasn’t one to be caught unawares. He tilted his body and extended two halves of a [url=https://i.imgur.com/RAAmA5d.png]titantic tambourine[/url] to catch the wretch mid-leap in its vicelike clasp. Once he’d caught his prey, Band rattled the instrument, shaking the zombie to its bones with the reverberation. “Beat…Extend!” Stricken by Sound Stun, the monster felt nervelessly from Band’s grasp, a sitting duck for a definitive double honk from his [url=https://i.imgur.com/wV3R8X1.png]bike horn[/url]. Its head popped, and Band disdainfully scattered its ashes as it slumped to the ground. “Hmph! Deadbeats!”

By then, the combined efforts of the detectives, the dog, and the plate-mailed interloper had put the little horde to route. Whether or not the zombies had ever been alive, they were definitely dead now. As the action dwindled, however, Band became aware of some stomping noises that were quickly getting louder. He turned toward the front doors of Curien Mansion, brows furrowed, and a moment later they burst open to admit a huge [url=https://i.imgur.com/I7s9C6f.jpeg]multi-limbed horror[/url], a brute seemingly fused together from multiple corpses. Band inhaled sharply, then stepped forward, his stance wide. Two Brass Knuckles deployed from beneath his coat, and with his head tucked in, Band put up his dukes. “Stay back this time, y’all. This one ain’t goin’ down to cartoon super moves or puppy paws!”

The juggernaut roared, its chains and armor pieces clanging normally, but when it stopped the rumbling kept going. When he realized where the new sound was coming from, Band blinked, then looked back over his shoulder. Through the gates thundered a war machine the color of barley corn, its design somewhere between a tank and a high-tech train. Green lights shone all over its chassis, and as the turbine in the front of the [url=https://i.imgur.com/JQmg3nl.png]vehicle[/url] rotated faster and faster, the same light built up inside. For a second Band thought it was going to shoot at him, but the Atom adjusted its aim and belted out a [url=https://i.imgur.com/2Imewe1.png]gigantic green laser[/url]. It smashed into the abomination and melted it away, blasting what remained back through the mansion’s front door to leave the whole entrance in shambles. Then, just as quickly as it came, the beam disappeared, and the train came to a stop. A hatch on top popped open, and none other than the big, muscular gray conductor [url=https://i.imgur.com/SrYj0kL.png]Stein[/url] climbed out. The sight of the others’ stunned expressions brought a big grin to his face. “You guys look like you’ve got something to say. Maybe…’wow, thanks for the save Mr. Stein, you’re so cool!’ …Somethin’ like that? Heheh!”

His daughter, [url=https://i.imgur.com/9BS34HL.png]Tesset[/url] climbed out beside him. “Um! Is everyone o-okay?”

“...Uh huh.” Band shook off his bemusement and raised an eyebrow at the unexpected pair. “Just wonderin’ why ya’d go to the trouble, after what happened in the Friendly Arm.”

Stein hefted himself out of the Atom, landed on the ground, and turned to help Tesset down before patting the dust off casually. “Well, after hearin’ that you’re out to solve the missin’ kids’ case, I couldn’t turn a blind eye.” He patted Tesset on the head, prompting her to adjust her hat with pretend indignation. “Not with a kiddo of my own, y’know? So with my help, I figured findin’ this Heismay guy would be a cinch.”

Band nodded, his internal opinion on Stein shifting from ‘jerk who loves his daughter’ to ‘good day with a tough exterior’. “We probably had it handled, but thanks. Monsters like these ain’t much of a challenge, but…” He narrowed his eyes, kicking at a nearby pile of ashes. “Urgh. Sometimes it feels like I can’t go anywhere without the dead rising.”

Stein crossed his arms, a wry smile on his face. “Whaddya expect, comin’ to the house of the dead?”

“You sayin’ this place got some kind of resident evil?” Band gave the newcomer the side-eye.

He shrugged. “Just sayin’ there’s probably evil within.”

“Yeah,” Band turned back and began to approach the front door. “I bet there’s evil within, too.”

He led the way toward the yawning, dark opening that Stein’s laser left in the front of Curien Mansion, with the man himself plus Harry in tow. The wolf could do as she pleased, and now that Kit knew what his new acquaintances were up to, he could make introductions and tag along if he liked as well. Tesset retreated back into the Atom and locked it up to provide support from afar as the team set out to explore the mansion. With the light of day behind them, the newcomers could look forward to plenty of dark rooms, tall bookcases, and nooks and crannies where any number of unknown entities could be hiding. Finding Heismay in here would be like finding a needle in a haystack, and there was no way the fugitive hadn’t heard all the commotion. Still, Big Band was determined to see the expedition through.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/hmP10nl.png[/img][/center]