"Oh character, sure, sure." He gave his friend a thumbs up before they stepped into the elevator.

The ride was pretty much peaceful, but when the doors opened they were greeted by absolute chaos and Lisette. Guards and bros were scattered across the floor while others continued to duke it out. Thankfully neither he nor Dylan were physical fighters, because if they were he was guessing fighting in a dress and heels would be really difficult. "Uh, this elevator music sure is relaxing, yeah?" To be honest he wanted to hit the up button and was that Moira, sailing through the air?!

Lucien's eyebrow twitched and he cleared his throat, in an attempt to stay calm.

"Li--" He froze when a giggle reached his ears. Mordie was standing right behind the archer. What were they supposed to do now? Breaking their cover would be bad, but if Mordie went for their friend then it'd be necessary. "Oh Mordie, this is so...frightening!" He gave Lisette a twitchy wink as a signal of sorts. He didn't know what to do. Should he keep pretending or were they supposed to charge at her? He gave Dylan a nervous giggle and raised his eyebrows in question.



Moira was sent flying...and so was Syed, just how strong was that guy?

Xan stared at the scene, watching as things went from bad to worse. Were they okay?! She let out a relieved sigh when Moira and Syed got back on their feet. Xan looked away for a moment to survey her surroundings and noticed a guard rushing towards her. He threw a punch, he had probably lost his weapon in a scuffle with one of the bros. "Sorry," the metallurgist muttered as she sidestepped out of the way and punched him in the face. He staggered back hands pressed to his now bleeding nose and Xan wiggled her fingers. Her prosthetic arm slowly took the shape of a hammer and she dashed towards the man and swung the hammer into his stomach. He fell back the wind knocked out of him.

Not long after, a large boom resonated throughout the lobby.

Xan spun around, this time to see a door flying through the air. The pride sure was something...

She stared at the yelling berserker and watched as she charged towards their foe. An idea popped inside her head and quickly, she grabbed a plate and threw it like a Frisbee at Bart. Hopefully, that would distract him and make it easier for Moira to deliver a solid punch.

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Ground Floor Lobby

“Huh?” Bart’s head cocked to one side, as he looked with no small amount of incredulity to Moira and Syed re-emerging from the Grande Diamond’s main party hall, a room filled with such chaotic din from the still screaming patrons, non-stop buzzing of machines inside and the quickening music played by the jazz band inside. Bart knew he had hit her, and hit her hard. And to see the fat woman come back out, and try charging at him again… he was impressed. And excited.

"OI!" Moira bellowed, grabbing a hold of the other door and pulling that off it's hinges and flinging it at Bart too. "You've right pissed me off! What the fuck was that for?!"

Bart’s body leaned to the side, the piece of wood harmlessly sailing past inches to his side. His gaze followed it briefly, noting the auburn ponytail wearing girl attacking a guard behind him, before shifting his gaze back to the loud blob in front.

"Well, we did kind of break in-"

"I DON'T CARE!" she yelled. "We're in the middle of something! You're in our way, motherfucker! Move!"

She charged forward, fist ready to uppercut the fucker right up to the next floor. She was upon him like a bull in a china shop, his fist lunging underarm, aimed towards the underside of his chin, but with remarkable litheness Bart stepped back, avoiding the blow as a miniature shockwave hit the air above. The miss didn’t deter Moira, however, who kept on her attack, swinging her fists again and again with the aim of smacking the man in the face. But each time he narrowly dodged it with no seeming effort whatsoever. And that just made Moira even madder.

“Goddamn it you shit, stay still!” She swore, this time pulling all her power into her next punch, and swinging it again. This time, however, Bart had vanished. And before Moira could properly look to find where he went, something crashed and shattered against her face. Fragments of china plating fell to the ground and her forehead started to bleed. “The fuck?!” Moira looked up, spying Xandra across the lobby, the metallurgist recoiling in horror at her unintentional error.

“Man, you are fucking slow and dense, huh tubby?”

A voice shocked Moira from above, and her head snapped, to see her mysterious enemy perched on her raised left fist. She hadn’t noticed him at all. Hadn’t felt anything. In fact she couldn’t. He didn’t seem to weigh anything at all.

“Don’t know who the fuck you are, but you made a mistake coming here. Fuck off.”

Before Moira could reach and grab Bart, the man had moved again, his left foot a swinging blur. It collided straight into Moira’s face again, and the weightlessness that had been on top of her had vanished without a trace, this time replaced with sheer power and force. It was a blow more powerful then anything she had ever felt before, more powerful even then that abomination Frank, and it smacked her straight in the kisser, sending her flying back into the party hall again, with Syed despairingly being yanked back again.

“Oh… oh no…” Xandra muttered, watching Moira and Syed being thrown out of sight again. Who on Ddaear was this man? She had never faced anything like this before in her time with the Guild. How could a man move like… !!

Her eyes widened like a frightened deer in headlights, as Bart jumped off the ground, somersaulting slowly, almost gracefully in the air, to land in front of Xandra. Bart snatched her metal arm, and his body turned, spinning the metallurgist around and around and throwing her too into the party hall. His feet kicked off the ground to follow. There was no real rhyme or reason why Bart had thrown his adversaries there, other then he thought it’d be easier to contain them.

And fun.

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: ???

Heather turned and started rushing up the stairs, taking them two as a time as she ran towards Lord Dumont’s office. She had just arrived on the floor when Kenneth voice barked in her ear. “Heather, change of plans. Hunter’s rabbiting, and he took one of the women with him. Leclair.”

“The singer? How interesting.” She stopped in her tracks, pulling the special contact lens case out of her pocket. Quickly she put them out, standing still while her sight adjusted to Mordie’s tags; the girl did have a couple of great toys.

“Heather, Mordie, Bart. Subdue everyone who isn’t a friendly. Take them all down.”

“As you say,” Heather replied, watching the the forms move below her. Now how to get at them in the most efficient manner? Elevators would take too long, and she didn’t have the kind of endurance that Bart did so a multistory jump would be inadvisable. Back down the stairs then.

She ran quickly, thankful that she did not need to wear heels for this job. It would have mad things that much harder. By the time she arrived it the lobby it appeared that Mordie had a group of them under control, keeping them charmed by the elevator. And Bart....was sitting on a woman’s arm. She looked like a beast of a woman, and the idiot was toying with her. Thankfully he sprang into action, kicking her back into the party hall. Strangely though, when the woman flew backwards a twig of a man flew with her, yet there was nothing holding them together.

This day was just getting stranger and stranger.

There was another stranger near Bart, staring at him like a terrified child. Wait a minute, wasn’t she one of the girls that had been interviewing? She studied her as Bart moved on, grabbing the girl by her...metal arm? And launching her into the room. It was enough time, though, she was certain, even though the girl changed clothing. “Kenneth, Mordie, I think those interviewees of Vasco are in on it. Do. Not. Trust. Them.”



Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Elevator

The elevator slowed to a crawl at the first floor and Dylan muttered a curse under his breath. No, no, no, they were trying to avoid the fighting! But when the doors slide open it revealed...Lisette? He nearly called out her name, but then caught himself. He was in character, dammnit, and he was not about to loose it so easily.

"Uh, this elevator music sure is relaxing, yeah?"

Dylan quirked an eyebrow at the summoner. How has that supposed to help? He was about to pull Lisette into the elevator with them when he saw her behind the archer. Thankfully, so did Lucy, which prevented the summoner from blowing their cover. "Oh Mordie, this is so...frightening!"

“Yes!” Dylan cried, jumping on what Lucy had started. “Please,” he begged, doing his best to sound demure and about all terrified, “please take us somewhere safe. You’re security, right? You can do that?”

The Grande Diamond: Ground Floor - Casino
Fuck!

Moira once more found herself airborne, although she was far too dazed to really click that much. All she knew was that the blow hurt, it hurt like hell! All she could do is brace for impact.

For Syed, however, only one thing was important in the few seconds they were airborne. If he missed Moira... if he hit the wall at the velocity they were going at? Well, he wouldn't be getting up. He was nowhere near as durable as she was.

Electricity arced across his body, striking the ceiling and the floor and carving charred paths in their wake. His eyes glowed in that brilliant yellow as he reached out to every metal object in his range, to the metal supports in the walls, ceilings and floors. Magnetising himself in a desperate attempt to slow his - and by direct association Moira's - velocity.

And to a small extent it worked, as he managed to lower his trajectory enough for him to hit the floor. He gave out a cry of pain as he was sent tumbling alarmingly fast across the floor after his partner, his electricity immediately fizzing out when his concentration broke.

It wasn't enough for Moira. She crashed into the wall opposite with enough force to crack it and cause a crater in the brickwork. All she could do was allow herself to fall forward once more, landing with a dull thud on the floor as Syed too struck the wall, although with a thankfully much lesser force. What... what the fuck...? She coughed, pushing herself up...

Only to dive to one side last second, dragging Syed with her to narrowly avoid the punch which blew a hole in the thick wall altogether. What the shit?!

Syed's eyes darted around them, wincing as he pushed his bloodied grazed elbow into his side in an attempt to lessen the pain. There were still people in here of course, screaming and cowering. Along with the ballsiest band ever on the stage, performing the perfect soundtrack. They were going to get hurt, staying here. They were going to get hurt or worse!

"Hey!" he shouted as loudly as he could through gritted teeth across the hall, hoping Clive would hear. Oh, what was it with this job and excruciating pain. His old job never involved excruciating pain. Well, when he wasn't having an accident with a pair of safety scissors and a crayon anyway. "Don's bro! Get everyone ou-!"

He was suddenly pulled once more as Moira threw him to one side, the pair of them narrowly avoiding getting hit once more. It was nothing but dodging! Dodging and avoiding and-

And Moira was hit once more. He was too fast. Too fast for Moira to even react. The pair were once more sent flying, crashing into some more tables as cards and chips scattered everywhere.

Moira spat on the floor, her spit stained red. Urgh, and that was on top of the blood pouring from her head. Damnit. Damnit to hell. How the hell was he doing this?! How the hell was he moving so fast, hitting so hard? He weighed nothing, yet hit like he weighed a tonne! She couldn't figure it out! Where was he now?!

"Xandra!" Syed yelled as he staggered back up, his hands moving in large movements as fast as he could. Bart was like a blur, heading straight for Xan. She didn't look like she could take a hit like Moira could, although there was no way to really know at one point. And he really didn't want to find out like this!

Great, brilliant masses of electricity erupted from his body, leaping out from his outstretched fingers and flashing across the hall with a ear-ringing crack. Instead of aiming at Bart himself, Syed decided to aim slightly in front of Xan - hoping, praying, that it would compensate for Bart's speed and that his shout would give her that extra split-second warning to avoid Bart's attack.

Please let this work. Please.

Moira knew better than to pull at Syed when he was trying a spell like this, as pulling at him could disrupt his magic. So instead she grabbed a hold of a nearby statue - a massive, heavy and stupid looking thing which she couldn't figure out what the hell it was supposed to be. Heaving it up, she prepared herself to swing it at Bart if he headed for them again.

Whatever Xan did, she hope it didn't involve throwing fucking plates at her again.

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Elevator

Lisette fidgeted with her fingers. Was this the slowest elevator ever or what? It must have been coming from the top floor or something...

"Hey girlie, looks like ya got lost again. Still need my help?"

"...!" Lisette spun around to see an ample bosom at her eye level. Raising her chin, she instantly recognized the giggling woman, who was leaning forward slightly with a hand on her hip. "Oh, um, hi Miss...!" she smiled nervously, pretending like there was absolutely nothing going on all around them, as if it were pure coincidence that she was standing there.

The elevator finally pinged to signal its arrival, and Lisette turned slightly to see Lucien and Dylan, still in disguise, looking understandably surprised to see both of them. Their surprise quickly turned into what was apparently fear, and Lisette understood that they were still trying to maintain their cover. Their acting was pretty good, too. But in the same breath, she found out that the seemingly-nice lady was "security", and thus was exactly the person who would have a problem with Lisette poking around.

Unconvincingly, Lisette sheepishly tried to sidle around Mordie, palms up. "My mistake Ma'am, I am lost! I um, I'll just be leaving the way I came, okay?"

Los Paraisos : the Grande Diamond, 9th floor

Despite the lack of people on the upper floors, it seemed like deciding to keep up her illusion up to hide herself was the right choice. As a door slammed above, followed closely by footsteps quickly descended the stairway leading up to the top floor Aria ducked behind a nearby pillar, peeking out cautiously from behind her hiding spot. Although she was currently good as invisible, it never hurt to be cautious.

Finally getting a good glimpse of the man, Aria blinked in recognition at the suited figure of the rather serious faced blond. So Rugged Handsome Gambler Man really was working here, just like Mordie said. Did he work in security too? She couldn’t really see him all made up and in a dress serving noblemen, so he probably did. Then again she had thought the same of Chirps… She twitched before shaking her head in an attempt to drive out any lingering thoughts of cross-dressing men. Focus, girl, focus!

She held her breath as he passed by her, releasing it only when he continued down to the lower level and out of sight. The sounds of battle were still increasing, shouting and crashing getting ever closer as the guilders battled their way up top. She gave a small but determined smile. With Kenneth gone it meant that that there was less firepower upstairs, and it would make things quite a bit easier for her to go in, distract the rest of the room with some illusions and nab Marcus and Selan out of there so they could focus on rescuing the missing girls.

Yes, that was the best plan she could think of at the time. She slid out from behind the pillar and moved towards the stairs. What kind of distraction should she-

“Now, now, sweetheart. Where do you think you’re going?”

She froze, heart leaping into her throat as she whipped back with wide eyes to face the blond suited man. When had he...? She could have sworn he had left for the lower levels. She hadn't heard any footsteps approaching from behind at all, not to mention- how had he seen through her illusion?

Despite her panic, she managed a sheepish albeit shaky smile, body tensing in preparation of whatever might happen next.

"Would you believe me if I said I was merely looking for Marcy and Selan so we could evacuate the premises like we're supposed to be doing?"

How could someone move like that? How was that even possible?

Before Xan could react Moira was sent flying and Bart was right in front of her. Everything had happened in the span of a few seconds and her logical mind found the situation a little hard to comprehend. Her first instinct was to raise an arm to distance herself from the speedy attacker, but Bart grabbed onto said arm and the next thing she knew she was thrown back and sent crashing to the ground. Xan winced as she pushed herself up and onto her feet. There was no way she would be able to move as fast, but together, the three of them would hopefully be able to do something. When in dangerous situations the girl tended to over analyze, and think of possible plans but at the moment there was no time for that and what she really needed to do was pay more attention to her surroundings.

"Xandra!" She snapped out of her thoughts, the severity of the situation sinking in.

Xan jolted upright only to see a blur or a person racing towards her, followed by a crackle of electricity and a bright flash. Xan scrambled to the left, her real hand clenched into a fist and her prosthetic in the shape of hammer. She didn't have time to calculate positions or think things through but Bart had been slowed down by Syed's attack. The sudden surge of electricity had caught him off guard and caused him to shift his direction a little. As a result Xan was able to move away and ready her own attack. She dashed towards Bart, feigned a charge but sidestepped to the left just before they could collide. Swiftly, she turned, hoping that he'd have his back to her, but Bart was ridiculously fast and she didn't know how fast he could go, so the moment she turned she swung the hammer at him.

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond - Second Floor (Elevators)

As if on cue, the elevator door dinged open - and there stood Diane and Lucy, giggling and whimpering amongst themselves like genuine terrified women would be in this situation. Diane begged to be moved to somewhere safe, and with Mordie being security, that should not be an issue. At least the two bros standing at Mordie's sides said nothing in response to the cross-dressed boys' pleas.

But Heather did.

"Kenneth, Mordie, I think those interviewees of Vasco are in on it. Do. Not. Trust. Them."

Mordie's grin had reached its limit. She clapped her hands together. "Hun, you've stumbled upon the right gal! But ah'm afraid ya can't go back down there. Ya see the fight going on ground floor? Much too dangerous. Dearies?" She glanced to both Tom and Cid, both of whom looked right back at her. "Let's escort these lovelies ta somewhere safe, shall we?"

The woman motioned for Lisette to enter in, followed by herself and the two bros after - just enough space inside to fit all six of them. Once the door shut, Mordie cancelled the first-floor order and instead pressed a different button. "Up we go, ladies!"

---

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond - Fourth Floor

Amy panted, glancing over the balcony to see how the ground floor battle turned out. ... Which didn't look remotely the same as when the crew burst into the lobby the first time. Everything was shattered, thrown, or otherwise broken - splayed with chunks of blood here and there, but luckily from Amy's height, nothing was in too much detail. In other news they seemed to have taken the fight to a different room. She bit her lower lip. Would they be all right, fighting one guy alone down there? Then again - Selan and Marcus were taken to the top-man, weren't they?

"Shit." If only she could be two places at once.

Trixie nudged at her companion. "Hey, Ames! We need to keep going!"

Amy hesitated, glancing over her shoulder to the elevators. "Trix, hang on a sec. I don't... have the energy you do. Come this way."

"What!? Why, what's over there?" The prankster skid to a stop, u-turned, and hopped over to Amy, careful to avoid the large hole Crimson Justice had punched through earlier. The woman had already backtracked towards the fourth floor's elevator. She mused over the two doors, pondering which way to go: up... or down?

Ding!

Before Amy could call for the lift, the door before her propped open, revealing the two bros inside, who then stepped out to reveal Mordie and three other familiar faces. Trixie gasped - but Amy pulled her close, hand over her mouth. Silently she watched as everyone departed from the elevator, Mordie leaving last. What an imp - Amy highly disapproved of the grin on the white-haired woman's lips, but she wouldn't dare risk injuring whatever plan the others around her may have thought up. At the very least, if that woman was an enemy, she was vastly outnumbered: one to five.

Only when the group was further down the aisle did Amy push Trixie inside and jammed the door-shut button. Even inside the lift they could feel the floor rumble from the chaos downstairs. Hopefully Moira and Syed were not alone with that brute. "Gods. Sorry Trixie, whatever's going on upstairs will have to wait."

It wasn't long before they arrived on the ground floor, and Amy immediately took off towards the casino - marked by its door-missing doorway and hole blasted into the wall from Bart's earlier confrontation with Don. Upon reaching the room, she noted as Xandra and Bart were locked in combat; Moira and Syed were further away, both roughened up and bloodied. Amy grit her teeth and held out her gem in their direction, casting a quick spell. The duo were encased in a familiar golden aura, a healing warmth that soothed their aching joints and helped slow their bleeding points.

Another woman - Heather - was in the room as well, but neither Trixie nor Amy recognized her. The former outstretched her guns. "Where do I shoot!?" she cried out, announcing their entrance. If Bart looked their way during his combat with Xandra, he would see her double barrels aimed right down at him.

Amy however ordered otherwise, watching the berserker arm herself with some statue. "Go to Moira and Syed. See if they have any suggestions or--"

"Ay-ay, capitan! Leave it to me!" Without hesitation, Trixie dashed their way.

---

"Aaaand here we are! Into this room please, ladies!"

The three Pride members in front cautiously pushed open a pair of double doors, revealing an indoor pool. Having been completely evacuated, it was almost eerily empty, with wet footprints all along the pool's ridges and abandoned bags, clothes, towels, and the like scattered all over both the seats and the floor. Myriads of children's floaty toys bobbed in the riveting water, rhythmic to whatever haphazard miniature quakes the lower levels were causing. Locker rooms were further in the back, perhaps linked to other doors down the floor's aisle as well. The shallow end was closest to those locker rooms - and the deep end, the entrance.

Mordie entered last, requesting the two bros to remain by the entrance as she followed the other three further inside. "See, Lucy, Diane honey - ah told ya the pools here are nice. Safe too, innit? At least, there's no other folks freakin' out here. Freakin' out, runnin', slippin', knockin' us 'round - like so."

Suddenly Mordie turned to Lucien, who stood closest to the pool, and shoved him right into the pool waters - right into the deep end.

"Hope you can swim, Lucy-baby!" She turned to see the others - 'Diane', Lisette, Tom, and Cid - before resting one hand atop her hip and tutting them with her other. "Ah may not be from 'round 'ere, but ah'm not dumb. If ya wanna play fool with me, ah'll play too."

Mordie snapped a finger in Dylan's direction, locking her eyes with his own. "Lemme see what ya got, hun." With a smile as impish as ever, she winked at the artist.




Tom and Cid merely cringed at watching Lucien fall over, but immediately snapped to attention following Mordie's wink at Dylan. "Bro!" they cried out simultaneously for Lucien, running towards the water. Cid with his baton held high, and Tom with his pistol readied awkwardly. This woman - she had done something to them - and now that they were free... they couldn't let the others fall into her trap! If they could knock her into the water too (and help Lucien of course) - that should slow her down and give the others a chance to ditch.

"Oh my," Mordie cooed. She remained in place. "They're comin' right after me, Diane, darling..."

The Grande Diamonde: 10th Floor - Grande Suite
“You can look after her, right?”

Kenneth's words echoed in Iliana's head, although the man was long gone. Ordinarily she would have the upmost confidence in herself, but... she had failed. She had allowed that... that snake to escape with Selan when she hesitated. She shouldn't have allowed either of them to escape! Looking back to the live screens, she searched somewhat desperately for any sign of the pair. Many of the cameras seemed to have been destroyed, fustratingly enough - most of them around the lower levels of the main lobby area. Enough of them still worked to see most of the scenes though. The dark skinned woman from earlier heading towards the pool room - as recognisable as ever despite the quality of the pictures. A gods damned superhero. The somewhat destructive fight in the casino. No sign however of Neil or Selan.

She clenched her fists, tight enough that if her nails were any longer she probably would have drawn blood. No. No she couldn't allow herself to fail again. She wouldn't allow that to happen. She sighed and slipped seemingly effortlessly back into her usual composure.

Marcy. The woman had remained very quiet throughout the proceedings - in fact, the only time she ever seemed to speak was when directly spoken to and to shout out when her friend vanished. Iliana turned to her, noticing that for the first time Marcy's expression had shifted from before. Well, since Selan was no longer in her range, she may as well focus her the full extent of her Magic Null on the blonde instead.

"You are concerned for your friend," Iliana spoke softly. "That is understandable. However."

She began to stride forwards. "I am no fool, I have never been the sort to believe in coincidence. You know something. So did Little Miss Superstar, her clamming up only made her look even more guilty. So tell me..."

Her arm shot out, grabbing a hold of Marcus under his chin, her fingers gripping his cheeks in a vice-like grip. Her hands were deceptively firm and a little rough, despite their perfect appearance.

"Why are they here? Is Mr Hunter involved? What do you all want?!"

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Lobby:- Ninth Floor

“Now, now, sweetheart. Where do you think you’re going?”

"Would you believe me if I said I was merely looking for Marcy and Selan so we could evacuate the premises like we're supposed to be doing?"

Standing a short distance away from the beautiful illusionist, the rugged blonde man in the sharp suit took a long drag of his cigarette, blowing smoke up into the air as his other hand rested nonchalantly in his pocket. His eyes were fixed on Aria, and his expression was unreadable, as he paused and considered the woman in front of him.

“Hmm. Evacuating your friends is one thing, I s’pose.” Kenneth replied. “Bit funny to have been changing your outfit first though… especially into that.”

Kenneth’s body shifted to the side a little, as he continued to look over and consider how to respond to the woman.

“Hmm… I do believe I recognise you, don’t I? We met… at the casino. Ol’Kenny doesn’t forget a pretty lady like you, that’s for certain.” A smile flashed across his lips, and his body’s shoulders seemed to sag, his chest deflate, as if any form of hostility or apprehension vanished. He began walking to the side, to the edge of the balcony, lazily resting his arms on the railing’s banisters and looking over. “Didn’t quite expect to meet you here of all places. Anyway, sorry darling, but you can’t go up. Too dangerous, you know? Don’t worry about your friends, none. We’ve got some of our guards to help escort the lovely ladies down and out of the building already. Really isn’t safe for you to be here no more. C’mon… let’s get you out of here.”

Kenneth’s eyes rolled back to Aria, looking at her with his charmingly coy smile. There was no doubt to be had… despite Kenneth’s words, he knew Aria’s defence was a lie.

You can’t con a conman.

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Ground Floor:- Casino/Party Hall

Xandra’s arm swung out with frightening speed, her metal prosthetic arm shifted into a hammer, ready to connect and strike with Bart’s face and return the generous gift he had given Moira already. However, at the last second, she found her attack unable to strike true. Her hammer hit something, certainly, but it wasn’t Bart.

Her hammer stopped inches away, connecting and struggling against something invisible hanging in the air in front of him. She could see and feel a crack of energy at the point where her arm and this invisible force met, small sparks of light pulsating outwards, before her hammer was propelled backwards by a sudden lurching force, and she tripped over her feet.

By now, of course, Bart had gotten his sights set on Xandra, and a wide smirk graced the mercenary’s lips.

“Well, well, if it isn’t my girl Heather. Much obliged, beautiful,” Bart raised his head, to look over the scattering of casino equipment:- poker, roulette, craps tables, slot machines, the works, to see Heather standing a small distance away, her eyes opening after her brief need for concentration. “I definitely owe you that green tea now. As for you.”

Bart refocused his attentions on Xandra, bending down and scooping her up into the air, holding her by the wrist of her hammer transformed prosthetic, eyeing it with peculiar interest.

“This is a fancy toy you’ve got here, huh?” Bart stared up and down. “What else can it transform into? How about… nothing?”

Suddenly, massive amounts of pressure began to curl around Xandra’s wrist, an intense vice like grip like never before from Bart’s fingers snaking around and crushing it. A small whine left Xandra’s lips, before she found herself hurtled through the room again, barrelling towards Moira, Syed, and the racing prankster who even now was darting throughout the machinery to join her companions (Bart had yet to notice her or Amy behind him, however).

“Yo, boys!” Bart leapt onto a roulette table, bending down to grip the wheel by its central, metal turnstile, his fingers gripping it as tightly as Xan’s arm, and then with tremendous strength ripping the wheel out from the table. His eyes were focused on the jazz band still nestled in the corner of the room, who really should have fled already by now, but continued to perform regardless. “Give us a song to really play to!”

The band members nodded back, with their fingers deftly gliding over their instruments, their bodies bouncing as their music started to play.

Tank!

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Pool Room

Why was Mordie leading them into a pool room? Was there a secret exit around the back? The chatty security officer was going on about how nice and safe the room was - though Dylan didn’t feel particularly safe - before she suddenly turned and pushed Lucien into the pool. “Lucy!” he cried out as he hurried over to the pool’s edge. Dylan glanced over his shoulder. “What was that for?”

"Ah may not be from 'round 'ere, but ah'm not dumb. If ya wanna play fool with me, ah'll play too." Mordie snapped a finger in Dylan's direction, locking her eyes with his own. "Lemme see what ya got, hun." With a smile as impish as ever, she winked at the artist.

Something in him...changed. In that instant his sense of the fight, of the mission, of loyalty, shifted so quickly that he didn’t even notice it. He slowly got to his feet, act and summoner forgotten, as he reached for his slate and chalk. He had to protect Mordie, because that was his job. Protect the innocent and the helpless - be a good Guilder.

The Bros had abandoned Lucy to his fate and were now approaching Mordie. He began to sketch on instinct, knowing nothing aside from the fact that he must protect her.

"Oh my," Mordie cooed. She remained in place. "They're comin' right after me, Diane, darling..."

“Diane?” He asked, confusion evident in his now masculine sounding voice. “It’s Dylan...” he muttered, the whole infiltration, act, and secrecy gone from his mind. That was another mission, another goal, another story. He shook his head, feeling a bit sluggish of mind, and noticed that his hair was far longer than it should be. “What on Ddear?”

He would deal with that later, now he had to protect Mordie. Finishing his sketch, he imbued it with power and willed it into life. In his hands he held a glass bottle of oil, which shattered when he threw it at the Bros feet. The grease-trap spread along on the side of the pool, making the already slippery ground unwalkable. He grabbed Mordie around the waist and pulled her back. “I got you.”



Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Casino/Party Hall

Xandra’s arm swung true, but with closed eyes and a bit of concentration Heather was able to stop the attack before it connected. The hammer hit one of Heather’s shields, pushing against the invisible barrier of magic that she created, before she filled the shield with energy and forced the blow backwards before the magic dissipated.

“Well, well, if it isn’t my girl Heather. Much obliged, beautiful,” Bart raised his head to see Heather standing a small distance away, her eyes opening after her brief need for concentration. “I definitely owe you that green tea now.”

She rolled her eyes at his quip. “Just finish her.” Bart stepped forward, crushing the girl’s metal wrist in his hand before flinging her across the room towards the others. Stepping beside him, she threw up a shield that blocked them both. It was a thin line of rippling energy, barely visible to the naked eye, but strong enough to resist the heaviest of blows. At least for a little while.

“What now?” She asked as she stared at the most beaten group. Bart had managed to beat them up pretty roughly, but he had yet to take a single one of them out. “Stop screwing around and finish it!”

She was taking them someplace safe, good, good. "Oh thank you! All this fighting is horribly scary." He hugged his arms to his chest and feigned a shudder. "We're so thankful." He followed after the woman and Dylan, letting a relieved smile tug on the corners of his face. The three guilders, Mordie, and both bros entered the elevator, and as soon as the double doors slid shut they zoomed up, all the way to the fourth floor and away from the brawl that was taking place down stairs. It had been an explosive fight, but he trusted his friends and besides, the boss could handle whatever anyone threw at her!

The doors slid open and Mordie went ahead, leading them to a door. As soon as they were pushed open they revealed the indoor pool, it was pretty though towels were strewn about and one of the benches had fallen over, but aside from that things seemed orderly. It was also empty, so that was good, yeah? They'd get to arrest Mordie, run out and search for the others. Plus, even if he and Dylan were in dresses, they had the bros to back them up.

He turned to look at Dylan. Did the matter artist want them to keep up their little ruse?

"Oh very sa--arGHHG!" Suddenly, the summoner was pushed into the deep end of the pool, purse and all. How did one swim in a dress? He flailed around, realizing that he was beginning to sink. No, no, no! Lucien always imagined his death to be a little more...cool? Badass? He wanted to go down in a heroic blaze, not drown in a pool with mascara dripping all over his face. "Help!" He practically squealed as he reached out to grab at the floating blue purse. His cards! He had to save his cards!

"Bro! We got you!" Before he could look their way a lifesaver was flung at his head. He swallowed a mouthful of water before finally hugging the flotation device, tight. Cid held onto the rope connected to the life ring and gave it a tug. Lucien collided with his purse before the bro pulled him out and placed him on the pool side.

"I-I don't need CPR," he wheezed, "all good."

They gave him a thumbs up then returned their attention to Dylan and Mordie. The summoner remained lying on the poolside before he picked himself up and staggered towards the group. "Okay! It's really rude to push a lady." He stated, though most of his makeup had been washed away. "You ruined my lipstick!" He half-joked before Dylan threw something at the ground and tripped up the bros? What? WHAT?

"Dylan, what are you doing?" Lucien fumbled with his purse and pulled out a soggy card. Crap...no, these were worth so much gald. Thankfully they weren't torn but they had been in perfect condition and now! He narrowed his eyes at Mordie, looking genuinely upset. "I smell something fishy...and it isn't my wet stockings."



There was a spark followed by a sharp crack and a collision.

Xan's eyes widened as her arm met with a barrier of sorts. She couldn't see anything there...but something resisted and for a fraction of a second she stood still, eyes wide and locked onto Bart and the hammer that was inches away from his face. "What...?" Her gut told her to jump back, retreat and strike again but before she could do any of that an invisible force sent her flying back and tripping on her own feet. Xan stared at the ceiling in a daze only to be lifted up by her arm.

“I definitely owe you that green tea now. As for you.”

She needed to stay calm, if she willed her hand into a knife then he'd have to let go...but he was crushing her wrist and the pain made it impossible to concentrate. She froze, waiting for the blow that would end it, if he broke her arm it would be over for her.

“What else can it transform into? How about… nothing?”

Xan screwed her eyes shut a yelp leaving her lips as he squeezed harder. She expected a crack but it never came and instead she was thrown effortlessly towards Moira and Syed. Thankfully, she didn't crash into them but in front of them. The girl managed to lessen the blow by stretching out her arms, but it still stung and when she came into contact with the floor, she curled up into a ball and groaned, the wind knocked out of her. She was nowhere near as sturdy as Moira, but wasn't what one would consider fragile either. She remained that way for a moment before recovering and staggering to her feet. Blood was trickling down a gash on her real arm, but the adrenaline rush did a good job at numbing the pain.

"He's...tough," she winced before turning to look at Moira and Syed. "Do we have a pla...oh, Dyn." Her eyes locked on Bart as he lifted the roulette table like it was nothing. Her prosthetic went from hammer to normal and she began strengthening the metal, perhaps, the best offense was a good and solid defense?

The Grande Diamond: Ground Floor - Casino/Party Hall
While not much of a plan, it seemed to be working anyway. Xan had successfully sidestepped the attack, swinging her transfigured prosthetic towards Bart...

...Only for it to be suddenly blocked by something, sparks leaping out from seemingly thin air. Moira snarled a little with an exclamation of "oh come on!", while Syed's eyes widened in shock. He knew what that was well enough. It was in his own arsenal of moves in fact, although electricity really did not lend itself to it that well.

It was a shield. This woman it seemed could create real, legitimate shields. Well.

Shit. This did not look good at all.

Right on cue he felt that familiar warm glow wash over his body, his aches and pains easing and lessening as his scrapes clotted. Moira too was encased in that telltale golden aura, a somewhat intimidating grin spreading across her lips when she put two and two together. Syed couldn't quite believe it, so he whipped his head around in suprise.

Amy was at the door looking slightly out of breath, with Trixie and her guns shouting about where she should shoot. They... they'd come back to help them? They must have, last he saw them they were running up the stairs. Why... why would she do that? After what he had done to her, after her reaction, after her slap? She was the sort of woman who you fully well knew when you had scorned her. It didn't make sense to him, just like how Amy never made sense to him ever. Wouldn't they be looking for Estelle and Josette?

Although to be fair he certainly appreciated it - in fact these two were probably the best people to arrive. He mouthed a 'thank you' to Amy, before the nasty sounding thud and clunk before him brought him back into what he really should have been paying attention to in the first place. Xan, her prosthetic arm damaged and her already suffering from some nasty looking cuts and scrapes. Bart was tearing a bloody roulette table clean from the table it sat on, and Heather stepped beside him.

And Syed did not trust that one bit.

"He's...tough," Xan winced. "Do we have a pla...oh, Dyn."

"Beat the shit out of them both," Moira snarled. Well. Okay. Sort of.

"Trixie," Syed muttered urgently, crouching down and turning his head away from both Bart and Heather so they couldn't lip-read. If they could lip-read anyway. "I need you to do something very important for us, yeah?" He patted a hand on her shoulder and gave her a wink. "We need to get the woman away from the man, and you are the best at distractions. Can you focus on her for me?"

As for the rest of them? He clicked his tongue with annoyance and decided to keep it quite short. Every second they wasted here the chances that something might happen to Estelle and Josette increased. "Attacking them front on probably won't work." His eyes met with Xan's. "We need to think creatively."

Then without warning, he quickly gestured and threw his hand out and... did just what he said wouldn't work. Another blinding, powerful bolt of electricity flashed across the room and struck Heather's shield, although by that point Syed was already leaping forward towards the pair with his gaze warily on that roulette table, hands ready. Moira was caught a bit out actually, before she realised what she needed to do.

"YEAH! Fuck you arseholes!" she wooped, charging forward herself. She still didn't really understand how both Xan's and Sy's attacks didn't hit just now, but she didn't care. They weren't going to get anywhere discussing stratergy she didn't care about. She surged forward like a rampaging bear, past Syed who had slowed to allow her to take the lead again, and swung the large statue violently towards Bart's legs. She was gonna knock him off that fuckin table she didn't give a shit!

Los Paraisos : the Grande Diamond, 9th floor

Looks like he didn’t buy into her little lie. Then again, she hadn’t expected him to, what with her being suspiciously dressed and having been even more suspiciously cloaked in an illusion. She gave a small sigh. It was worth a try, right?

Aria watched as Kenneth moved over to the balcony, slightly confused as to why he was being so relaxed despite the fact that she could potentially attack him while his back was turned. Had he not realized she was part of the infiltrators? No, she was sure he knew.

” Anyway, sorry darling, but you can’t go up. Too dangerous, you know? Don’t worry about your friends, none. We’ve got some of our guards to help escort the lovely ladies down and out of the building already. Really isn’t safe for you to be here no more. C’mon… let’s get you out of here.[i]”

My, wasn’t he smooth? She couldn’t help but give a soft laugh, stance shifting to mirror his more relaxed pose but ready to move in case he decided the time to talk was over. A hand shifted over to where her fans were tucked securely, bring one up to tap against her cheek.

“I’m flattered, really,” She gave an alluring smile of her own in response. “ unfortunately I can’t leave just yet. I’m not calling you a liar,” she gave a shrug. “but I don’t quite think you’re being truthful about the whereabouts of the two ladies Lady Vasco whisked away earlier, and I’m certainly not going anywhere until I find [i]all of my friends.”

Her eyes hardened, sultry smile now a tense smirk. She wasn’t sure how willing she was to fight this man who had managed to break through her illusions so easily, not to mention she was more used to fighting in a pair with Xan than by herself, but then again she might not get that much of a choice.

“What if I just take a quick peek into the room just to make sure they aren’t there? That should be fine, right?"

Marcus and Selan had better be trying to get information on Estelle and Josette out of the big boss up there.

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Pool Room

Splash!

"Lucien!" Lisette cried, as Mordie gave him a rough shove into the deepest part of the pool. Luckily, Cid came to his rescue, and Lucien was poolside, wig askew and sputtering water. The weaponless archer looked at Mordie questioningly.

"Hope you can swim, Lucy-baby! Ah may not be from 'round 'ere, but ah'm not dumb. If ya wanna play fool with me, ah'll play too."

Mordie gestured to Dylan, who in turn immediately became protective of the woman for some reason. Lisette was becoming increasingly-more confused by the second; she was pretty sure she was standing right next to him when Dylan turned down Josette by telling him he preferred other men. And now he was holding her by the waist, to shield her from the bros who were rushing toward her?

Slipslipslip--- THUNK!

Tom and Cid were running one second, but were now lying on their backs, facing opposite directions and seeing stars.

Lisette stepped around the slowly-spreading oil slick to approach Dylan. Forgetting what their fake names even were, she called out to him. "Dylan, what are you doing? She just pushed Lucien!"

She made a move to grab his arm, to pull him over to her side.

"Beat the shit out of them both,"

That was their grand plan? Well, at the moment it didn't sound bad and what other choice did they have? The only thing they could really do was persevere, but that woman, she could create shields? That would be troublesome and would they have a way to break through or run past it? There were so many questions and uncertainties, and they wouldn't be able to answer most of it unless they tried to attack the speedy man or the woman with the force fields.

Xan's prosthetic arm slowly began to take the shape of a sword. It was lighter than the hammer and would allow speedier swings.

She was just about to follow after Moira. Maybe they could strike simultaneously or take turns in an attempt to tire him out? However, Syed suddenly began talking to someone and she spun around to see Trixie. She hadn't noticed the prankster at first. The electricity mage gave her instructions and she had to admit it was a good plan.

"Attacking them front on probably won't work. We need to think creatively."

"Understood," she stated as Syed launched another one of his electrical attacks. The mage rushed forward and Xan wondered, if the girl's shield was occupied, did that mean she wouldn't be able to shield the man from their attacks? If that was the case, then now was the time to strike. She raced after Moira, ready to dive in for a second attack if the berserker's didn't hit. If they took turns charging in and retreating maybe, just maybe, they could land a hit.

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Lobby:- Ninth Floor

Kenneth’s brow raised in extraordinary incredulity at Aria’s next set of words. He silently listened to her say her piece, declaring what he had just said as a lie and defiantly making a stand not to leave until she had checked on the safety of her friends. He rested his chin on one palm, supported by the banister’s railing, as he took another long drag of his cigarette, leaving Aria to wait in anxious trepidation at what Kenneth’s response might be. And still, he just stared. Blowing another plume of smoke out, he said nothing before taking another drag, and another exhale of smoke. He could see how tense and tetchy Aria was feeling, but also knew she wouldn’t, couldn’t, risk to try and move away. To turn her back on him was a risk she couldn’t afford. Only to wait… and the wait was agonising. Was he going to do something or keep them standing like this all day?

“Not being quite truthful, huh?” Kenneth repeated, looking away from Aria and towards the chaos erupting down below, that only seemed to ever get worse and worse. Most of the noble patrons had fled by now, their screams replaced by the sound of music and fighting below, but he could still hear the sound of some fighting creeping its way further and further up the lobby. He shrugged, taking another deep inhalation of the cigarette, before casting a wary eye back towards Aria. He smiled. “Now, that’s not very nice, is it? You make ol’brer Kenneth feel hurt.”

He laughed, standing back up from his bent position and lazily stretching his arms out with a yawn, straining his back to its fullest length, before settling back down again.

“Anyway, unfortunately, I’m afraid I can’t let you do whatever you like, miss.” Kenneth continued. “Honestly, Id love to, but as security, I have to, well, maintain the security and safety of the people inside of here. I can’t let you run around freely. I wouldn’t want you to have your life in needless danger, do I?”

And that’s when Aria’s eyes widened in disbelief. Before her, Kenneths body vanished, melting into the air and disappearing from sight completely. Before she could have a chance to react, a hand snatched her mouth, and a body from behind shoved her to the ground, with them on top, their knee pressed against the small of her back. Her right arm was pulled, harshly, behind her back by her assailant’s own right, whilst reliquishing her mouth he then pulled her left straight in the air above her, making escape all but near impossible. Straining her head, she turned to spot the person who had attacked her…

…and saw Kenneth’s grin beaming back at her.

“Now then, miss. There’s an easy way and a hard way. The easy way is you telling me how many of your little Guilder friends there are inside the building, and I escort you out with a slap on your rear and we’re done with it, or we can do this the hard way, which… well, truth be told I don’t like harming women, Mordie being the exception but then she kind of likes it, however in your case… well, a guy’s got to do his job, yknow? And I’d hate to hurt a pretty face like yours.”

“So, how do you say we be good?”

---

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: First Floor: Party Hall/Casino

“What now?” Heather asked as she stared at the beaten group. Bart had managed to beat them up pretty roughly, but he had yet to take a single one of them out. “Stop screwing around and finish it!”

“Yeesh, yeesh, don’t worry Heath, I’ve got this. Just watch my back, alright? I’ll beat the shit out of that fat bitch.” Bart snidely grinned, dashing forth from his perch on the roulette wheel and spinning his body around, launching the wheel towards the charging trio of Moira, Syed and Xandra, before then pushing his body off the ground towards them. Using his magic to innately transform his mass, and lessen his weight, he was able to use his strength to push him off far further and faster then what should have otherwise been manageable. And then, closing it on his adversaries, he used his magic to shift himself again. Growing heavier, and heavier, and heavier…!

As he did, a streak of lightning shot through the room, a quick gestured spell invocated by Syed, aimed towards Heather in an effort to distract her and her shielding spells. At the same time, Trixie was scampering around the room again, dashing in-between tables and roulette machines, reaching for a vantage point to flank and distract Heather as well, leaving Moira and Xan to focus on the muscle-bound monster Bart.

“FUCK OFF!” Moira bellowed, swinging the statue down to smash the roulette wheel away. However, as it and the statue crumbled apart, she saw him there, jumping in the air again towards her, a fist fuelled with over 300kg of power barrelling towards her. Moira threw her hands in front of her, as Syed quickly cast a defensive shield over them. Bart’s fist connected, and the agony and power needed to resist was simply… unbearable. Moira’s teeth grit tightly, pain shooting through her forearms, and a sheering backlash of pain into Syed’s mind, but they held their ground. Just barely.

Not that Bart cared. His left fist had failed, but his right was already swinging, and there was no way the pair could defend in time. However-

His cheek felt as if it caught fire, as sharp, agonising pain streaked across his face. He was thrown off his attack, stumbling to the floor and landing on his back, clutching his bleeding face. Towering over him was Xandra, her prosthetic arm transformed into a blade, dripping with blood along its tip. She had managed to catch him off guard, shadowed behind Moira’s back, and attack whilst he wasn’t prepared. For his partner…

“Bart!” Heather yelled, her head snapping towards him. She had been busy defending herself from an onslaught of gunfire across the room from a certain trickster, and wasn’t able to defend him in time. Now though…

---

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Sixth Floor: ???

The centre of the extravagantly furnished restaurant’s white ceiling shimmered a peculiar lavender colour, a mass of energy wafting out in a spiral and growing bigger and bigger from its initial tiny spot to one much larger, before finally stopping, throbbing and pulsing, before something then suddenly emerged from it, dropping from the ceiling and landing on the wooden floor below in a crouch.

Rising up amidst two lavishly decorated tables, their tablecloths pristine white with candles, flowers and cutlery neatly arranged with perfect precision atop, the messy gray haired man adorned in his dirty, scruffy suit rose from his knees to his feet, his eyes darting around the room and making sure, with a satisfied smile, that the room was indeed empty. There was only he, and her, and as the pulsating violet portal above throbbed and ebbed, shrinking back into nothing, he cricked his neck from side to side, satisfied with how well he managed to perform his escape, and how well he managed to move from the tenth to the sixth floor in little to no time.




Carrying another person with him made the task more arduous then it usually was, but it was still no great matter for Neil Hunter. No wall, door, ceiling or floor meant anything to him. Where against other people they might have proved formidable obstacles, for Neil it was like as if they didn’t exist, nothing could stop him or cage him. He went where he wanted to go. And right now where he wanted to go, was back to his men, back to their truck, and as far, far away from here as possible.

The job was scuttled, now. The intention had been for him to sell his wares, the five young women he had managed to get a hold of the night before. Lord Dumont had been the latest in his prospective clients to buy high priced, valuable goods, but after the travesty that had just occurred, that was off the tables now. But it was okay. For now he had Selan Leclair - gripped tightly in his right hand around her mouth, his grip smooth to the touch so as not to mark or harm, but incredibly strong enough that resistance was impossible – and she was worth a hundred times more then the price he would have gotten for those five girls. Five girls he could later sell to someone else. No, Selan Leclair… she was definitely a prize alright. Especially one with such magics as Iliana Vasco claimed she had. The boss… the boss would certainly want to meet with her.

“Quit squirming,” Neil ordered as he walked forwards, dragging the pawing Selan behind him. “Seriously, we’ll be done in just a moment. Quit fidgeting and mumbling and things will just be easier for you. Got it?”

Neil’s left hand reached over to one of the tables and their plates, pulling off a piece of chicken, left by the noble diner in their madcap dash to flee the building, to then begin happily munching it himself. Well, he had to admit these rich bastards definitely had nice food.

“Hmm? What’s the matter?” Neil suddenly looked down to Selan, noticing she was no longer resisting so fitfully and just looking up at him, staring indignantly. Those eyes made Neil frown, and for anger to rise. “Don’t you look at me like that, you little sh–”

Suddenly, a rattle and a bang from the wooden doors that served as the entrance to the building's restaurant. Neil's face perked up, frowning as the distant doors, and he cautiously began to weave and stalk through the tables, closer and closer. Whatever was happening on the other side of the door, however, with all the rattling of the gold handles and banging on the door, it seemed as though they could not get it. The doors were locked, impossible from the inside, so perhaps by a member of the staff as they were evacuating? To prevent anyone from coming in and... what? Stealing their high class customers food? Ha. A locked door was meaningless to him, of course, but-

The room then reverberated with a tremendous shock, as the ceiling unexpectantly above suddenly exploded. Pieces of concrete and plaster showered onto the ground in a smoke filled haze, and Neil had to drop the chicken and raise his arm in front of his face to shield his eyes from all the dust. What the hell was that?!

But he didn’t have time to speak. Before he could move or summon a portal to flee through, he caught the fleeting glimpse of a blur moving through the smoke. And then, from there, agony.

A white boot struck his face, colliding with his cheek, his skin rippling outwards from the tremendous force and shockwave. In the brief second before he was sent flying, his grip released from Selan, and then… then his body went sailing through the room, crashing into and destroying dozens of tables and chairs, sending the plates, drinks and food atop to be sent flying all about the room.



From her fallen position on the floor, Selan groggily lifted her head, her hands stroking and soothing her aching mouth, cheeks and chin. And then, she saw him. The figure clad in crimson, black and white knelt down on one knee before her, his head held low, one fist pressed against the ground. Amidst the smoke, the roiling embers of orange and red sparks that surrounded him, she realised the smoke came from him, and his foot which even now seemed to glow red hot.

“…Don?”


A Hero Appears
“NOBODY TOUCHES SELAN!!” Crimson Justice bellowed as he stood up. His finger then dramatically swung out, pointing towards the floored Neil at the far end of the room, who using his glove was wiping the trickle of blood dripping from his nose, his eyes rising with their frosty glare to face the costumed lunatic.

“What the fuck are you supposed to be?”

Crimson Justice didn’t answer, instead his body shaking with building rage and fury.

“TELL ME WHERE MY SISTERS ARE!!”

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond - First Floor (Party Hall/Casino)

"Hey! HEY! I'm over here! Not there!"

More gunfire wafted over Heather, causing her hair to flock over her shoulders as if a wind blew by. Like Moira, Trixie too had no idea about what was going on with this woman or how important she was to the man called Bart. But Syed had given her direct orders that only a little twerp as annoying as her could pull off, and it was her job to follow through.

As she reloaded her weapons, she plopped her uzi into her back pocket; ammunition was more than limited this time, as she only had a few clips more worth of bullets previously plunked from an unconscious body. Whatever the case was with Heather was, Trixie knew she had to be separated from Bart at all costs. The prankster reached for her waist with one hand and - her eyes filled with preliminary tears.

Her pouch was still missing. No smokes this time. Just her two guns, a piece of chalk, and some lousy animal-card in her butt pockets. Those were even more useless than bobby pins and paper clips!

"Graaah! Raggagraga!" Trixie let out another battle cry as she continued firing in Heather's direction with the stolen pistol. Many of the bullets went astray, enough were close calls to disturb her peripherals, and others buried themselves into her uniform. Until she gave chase or attacked back, this would have to do for now.



In the meantime, a soft green glow encased Xandra's body as she struck Bart with her metallic hand-sword. At any second the man could whirl around and strike back the poor girl; Amy wasn't aware of how injured the metallurgist may be from before she arrived, but better be safe than sorry from upcoming attacks. The cleric made a mental note to ask about the interesting arm later.

Once the aura dissipated, Amy took in another deep breath and focused her next spells on Moira and Syed: another defense buff. Sending constant heals would drain her quickly if they weren't able to take hits to begin with - and with this bull rampaging about, they would be taking in a lot of hits. She could only pray her and Trixie's support would help end the battle quickly.

---

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond - Fourth Floor (Indoor Pool)

"Charmin'."

The fight had been going accordingly. Mordie had plucked Dylan from the opposing side to join her, causing some confusion and hesitation from the guilders. The two men she had charmed earlier - Cid and Tom - rushed her way to stop her after realizing what she had done with them earlier. Dylan caught their ploy on time to manifest a bottle of oil on time, to which Mordie ooed and cooed. That specialty of his was... quite something!

Tom easily flopped over, flinging his pistol forward as Cid instead rushed to Lucien's aid, before too meeting the same fate as his bro when he rushed back towards her. The bubbly joker was no longer bubbly now, and the little girl that was also with them had eased her way to Dylan's side as he clung onto Mordie.

"Ooh! You've got soft hands, boy!" the woman chirped as the artist wrapped his arms around her protectively. What a gentleman. Luckily he held her safe with just enough leeway for her to shift around; she flung Tom's pistol skyward with her foot and snatched it mid-air. Readying the next shot with her thumb, she whipped the barrel in Lucien's direction. He seemed distraught about his soggy cards, which looked more peculiar than just generic playing cards. Just how special were they to him? They couldn't be anything more than some game, if not merely for good luck.

"Quite frankly, ah dunno how to fight. But ah know how to make things hurt." Mordie beamed, relishing in the protection of the guilder's own teammate. "All ya gotta do is just surrender - n' ah'll boot y'all out the GD with no more trouble. That's all there is to it! But if that's not appealin' to ya, then..."

WHAM!

"BROOOOS! SIIIIS!"

Suddenly the double doors burst open, and a shaded, afro'd figure lobbed himself inside, arms outstretched before him and mouth wildly agape. The doors swung lazily behind him like floppy cards until they closed on their own. The man panted heavily.



"Watch out, bros and sis! She's got some crazy love magic going on here and--" his shielded eyes met with Dylan's, and his mouth must have dropped an extra ten feet at the disturbing sight. "Oh no! Broooo!" He took a step forward, ready to charge in to help his teammate, but stopped himself. Oil had been spilled between him and the pool, and he would wound up fallen like his two other bros if he rushed in any further. His fist clenched around his pilfered baton.

Mordie giggled at the lifeguard's anguish. "More fun for me, ah s'pose. Girlie," she cast her eyes towards the archer, who stood off to Dylan's side. The woman brought a finger to her teeth, almost biting on it seductively - and she winked the moment Lisette looked her way. Her gun's barrel never left Lucien's direction. "Please, help me! Dylan baby, you too? Ah'm surrounded by big, strong, scary brutes, n' ah don't think ah can protect myself..."

Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Pool Room

Mordie reached down and snatched up a weapon for herself, much to Dylan’s relief. He was quite capable with his magic, but it always helped when he worked in tandem with a partner rather than as defense.

"Quite frankly, ah dunno how to fight. But ah know how to make things hurt. All ya gotta do is just surrender - n' ah'll boot y'all out the GD with no more trouble. That's all there is to it! But if that's not appealin' to ya, then..."

“Good, good.” She was offering them an out, that’s what the good guys also did. Dylan nodded his approval, his head bouncing vigorously, when all of a sudden his hair fell to the floor. For a moment he stared at the blonde wig, trying to piece together what was happening. Why was he wearing a wig? Why was he wearing a dress? There was something nagging at the back of his mind, a repressed memory and a nagging sense of urgency, but he shoved it aside as Jerry busted in.

Mordie giggled at the lifeguard's anguish. "More fun for me, ah s'pose. Girlie," she cast her eyes towards the archer, who stood off to Dylan's side. The woman brought a finger to her teeth, almost biting on it seductively - and she winked the moment Lisette looked her way. Her gun's barrel never left Lucien's direction. "Please, help me! Dylan baby, you too? Ah'm surrounded by big, strong, scary brutes, n' ah don't think ah can protect myself..."

The need to protect her suddenly seemed...less encompassing. It was startling to him, going from a complete and unstoppable need to a strong inclination. But still...it was Mordie. “Of course,” he pulled her backwards, pushing her towards the dressing rooms. “Let’s get you somewhere safer, Lisette cover us!”



Los Paraisos: The Grande Diamond: Casino/Party Hall

Bart leapt forward, eager to take down the trio, but Heather was forced to stop protecting him as Trixie came about, guns blazing. Luckily, her bullets weren’t that strong, but they were shot so erratically it required all of Heather’s concentration to repel.

Bart gave a cry of pain, causing her to whip her head over. He was sliced from behind by the metal-armed girl. “Bart!” she called, as she glanced around the room, surveying the enemies. There was the pistoled child, the large beserker, the metal-armed girl, an electricity mage, and..the blonde woman. She was clearly casting spells on the others. Could she be aiding them?

Raising her had to her ear, she called out on the radio. “We need aid in the casino room.” Spinning around, she dismissed her shield and ducked under a table and out of Trixie’s line of sight. What she was about to attempt would be hard, but if it worked...

Heather slid out from under the table, she caught the prankster in her sights. Taking a deep breath, she summoned around shield around the young girl. If she fired her guns the bullets would rebound right on her, but more importantly, she was completely surrounded. What air was in there was all she had left, and the more she struggled the quicker she’d use it.