[center][h2][color=BFBFBF]Zenkichi Hasegawa[/color][/h2]
Paved Wilderness- North-Northeastern Road
Lvl 9 [color=BFBFBF]Zenkichi[/color] (12/90) -> Lvl 9 (14/90) 
Word count: 917 words [/center]


To say Zenkichi was disappointed in the situation with the Gears would be an understatement, but given the confusion surrounding the battle, along with the fact that Juri and Edward (he saw the drones) had decided to rob them, he couldn’t argue much. The trio decided not to bother with following them to fight Sweet Tooth, and proceeded onward to Hightower instead. 

Zenkichi ditched his Chopper and instead took control of the Prowler hoversled, the damage to its front having ultimately been fairly minimal. It would need to be looked at when they returned to the Avenger, assuming he was able to keep the vehicle intact that long, but otherwise was still in working order. He offered the turret to Blazermate, the medibot readily accepting the position, if not the weapon. She was more focused on keeping him overhealed and charging her own weapons, at least on the ride there. 

As they passed through the Oilwell Basin, Zenkichi got a good look at the environment around them. It was filled with some strange lifeforms, as well as what Zenkichi could have sworn was one of the weirder Pokemon, but he did not stop to get to know the locals. The Prowler sped along, hovering a scant few inches off the ground and performing remarkably well in the uneven terrain. Finally, though, they crested the hill and reached Hightower, a massive series of battles unfolding before them. [color=BFBFBF]”Oooohhh that’s not great…”[/color] Zenkichi muttered, driving them closer and skirting the edge of the battlefield. The imposing figure of the Flame Clock loomed over the battlefield, and Zenkichi got a chill down his spine. Would a Consul show their face here. 

Deciding to err on the side of caution, he lifted his fingers to his temple to contact Sandalphon. [color=BFBFBF]”Sandalphon, this is Zenkichi with some good news and some bad news. Good news is, I’ve located a Flame Clock. Bad news is…I’ve located a Flame Clock, and there’s maybe five of us here. If a Consul shows up, we’re gonna need immediate extract. I’m still running on low, and I’m not sure where Juri and Edward ran off to. I’ll keep you updated. Zenkichi out.”[/color]

[color=BFBFBF]”Alright, with that out of the way…let’s figure out where we’re going here…”[/color] he muttered, driving slowly around a tank desperately fighting off a half-dozen light vehicles, turrets all spewing lead at the heavy vehicle’s armor while speeding around to avoid being blasted to bits by the high-explosive rounds that the armored vehicle was firing. It was apparently equipped with more than just that, however, as one shot from the main gun launch a spread of vicious shrapnel, catching one of the lighter vehicles off guard and turning it into a pile of scrap and Spirits. 

Being very careful to avoid being turned into his own Spirit, Zenkichi found a quieter area to start an incursion into the pitched battle at the base of the tower. He eased the vehicle in, looking around and witnessing the Psychos going all out, launching hatchets, saw blades, and using all kinds of weapons to attack the mercenaries they were fighting. He even saw a couple throw themselves carelessly into the line of fire, primed grenades in their hands as they tackled their enemies, blowing themselves up in the process. So, be careful getting close to them, he made a mental note.

[color=BFBFBF]”Alright, let ‘er rip!”[/color] he called to Blazermate, who scrambled to put away her medigun and grab the turret, turning the weapon onto the Psychos and cutting a pair down with high-intensity plasma blasts before they even realized what was happening. The rest scattered, finding new cover from both the massive vehicle and their previous opponents, who took no chances on whether this new group would help or not, and immediately split to turn their weapons on the Prowler. Bullets and a couple of rockets flew their way as Zenkichi let out a quick [color=BFBFBF]”oh, shit!”[/color] and pulled back on the controls of the Prowler, sending the hoversled jolting backwards and throwing off Blazermate’s aim. 

[color=BFBFBF]”Looks like it’s a real Mexican standoff, now!”[/color] he joked as he pivoted around towards the better-armed mercenaries, silently directing Blazermate’s fire their way. She obliged, firing plasma blasts at the few open soldiers she could, the pair using the maneuverability of the Prowler to circle around spots of cover and hit their enemies from behind. After being directed to drive over a sinister-looking crack in the ground, Zenkichi piloted the Prowler over it, a red ghost appearing to chase down and detonate on one of the mercs. A familiar-looking beam of energy attached to another of the mercenaries as plasma burned away at him and his cover, and the grenade-launcher wielding Scotsman leapt from cover and began unloading everything he had their way.

Zenkichi had to bank hard to the right, throwing off Blazermate’s aim again, but he managed to evade the grenades coming downrange and get his gunner back into a good spot. She focused the medic hard, plasma burning right through his flimsy lab coat and sending him running screaming. The demoman yelled and rushed forward to pull aggro, but a Psycho tackled him to the ground and began hacking away with his saw blade machete. 

[color=BFBFBF]”Yikes.”[/color] Zenkichi grimaced, a sigh of relief escaping him as a trio of Antlers joined the fray, Sectonia’s distant aid finally arriving. The Psychos split their forces further to attack them, however, which left Blazermate and Zenkichi facing down the squad of mercenaries.