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Post by bobby on Dec 22, 2010 0:33:33 GMT -5
Hang in there, Ian, we're on our way.
Bobby smiled when the helicopter took off, ready to head towards the island for his friend. The trip took longer then expected, but pretty soon they were approaching the island. He looked to Merfonde as she suddenly stood up, opened the window and aimed her rifle at the island. He watched as she fired shot after shot, Apocalypse also having his eye on her. When she sat down in the helicopter and commented about the motion sensors, it took him a bit to realize what she did.
"Wow...nice ."
He knew she wouldn't think much of it, but he couldn't help but compliment her. He had to admit the more he learned about bounty hunters, the more he wanted to know. He looked out the window and noticed a part of ocean moving more different then the rest. It wasn't long before he saw Cain rising from the waters and heading into the base.
"Uh oh, looks like we got more company to deal with." he looked from the window to the others, "I hope Ian and Crystal can hang in there for us. Otherwise it'll be more trouble then we first thought."
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Post by mero on Dec 22, 2010 0:45:25 GMT -5
The compliment didn't go completely unnoticed. Actually, Merfonde cracked a smile. It wasn't often that you were complimented in her profession, if only because you were expected to be able to do something like that, it wasn't an uncommon knack. A moment passed and she forced the small smile to vanish, shrugging and becoming completely serious once more. "It wasn't much. They weren't hidden that well." That well.... Considering most people wouldn't spot them just what would Merfonde consider 'hidden well'?
She spotted the odd motions in the water just like Bobby, her gaze watching the form of a man forming from the water before entering the only entrance on the Island, the mouth of a cave. "Would you like me to deal with him?" She didn't speak with overconfidence. She knew going against Cain was insane, but she knew a hell of a lot about him, and he didn't know a single thing about her. Perhaps that was one reason why they'd brought someone completely foreign on the mission. None of the Nightmares would be able to mount a proper defense against her, if only because none of them had any idea what she was. The same went for Rose, but it wouldn't take them that long to figure out who she was.
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Post by bobby on Dec 22, 2010 1:00:40 GMT -5
"Ah, so she can smile after all."
He couldn't help himself as she smiled, smiling himself. When she made her comment and was acting serious again, he didn't stop smiling. He knew he had finally managed to say something that got her attention in a good way, at least in his mind. When she asked if he wanted her to deal with Cain, he couldn't help but smile at the thought.
"A human beating down the "all powerful Cain". Now that I'd pay money to see."
He watched Cain enter the island, but couldn't help but smile. He could only picture Cain trying to use his powers on Merfonde, and the horrified look on his face when he realized that his powers were not only useless, but they were gone as well. The thought made him chuckle, but another thought popped into his head. What was Cain like before he got his powers? Was he just your average guy, or was he just as cruel and ruthless as he was now.
"Be careful, ok? I'm not sure what he was like or if he knew how to fight before his powers." he looked to her, obviously concerned.
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Post by mero on Dec 22, 2010 1:11:21 GMT -5
This time, Merfonde scowled, flipping her rifle around to ram the end you rested on your shoulder to his head. It wasn't a hard whack, but it wasn't exactly painless either. It didn't annoy her that she'd smiled, it'd annoyed her that he felt the need to point it out, as if embarrassed by it.
Finally though, she was smirking, pulling her hair back into a pony tail, using the rubber band around her wrist to keep it in place. She didn't want her hair getting in her face after all. With her dark hair clear of her face it only made the strange but elegant tattoo that ran from her left cheek to her forehead even more visible. Not to mention with the tattoo leering in your face it only made her seem even more intimidating. "Save your money, the show is free after all. If you do feel the need to pay strongly though, I wouldn't mind taking some off your hands." She even had a little sense of a humor, though somehow it seemed like she was completely serious.
His warning only made her look at him with an eyebrow raised. "I'm always careful. In battle, the one who isn't careful is the one killed." He was right though, very little was known about Cain's life before he came to power. The only thing she knew about Cain's childhood was his murdering his own parents. "You don't need to worry. The musician with only one instrument will always be better then the one with many." It was unlikely anyone would understand the phrase... Except for maybe Rose.
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Post by Rose North on Dec 22, 2010 1:17:52 GMT -5
As the Island came into view, Rose fell silent. Her gaze going unnaturally dark as she stared at it. She'd never wanted to come back to this place, but at least this time... She intended to destroy it. She wanted to make the place a hunk of ruins, a scar in the Nightmare's history. A place they would never go near again. Only when the shots were fired did she tear her eyes away to watch Merfonde's stunt, then as she and Bobby conversed.
Only when she heard the phrase did Rose smile, chuckling softly. She could only imagine how confused someone might be to hear a metaphor like that out of the blue, and then to hear absolutely no explanation from the speaker. Grinning a little she shrugged where she sat, deciding to explain herself. "She means that no matter how long Cain's been trained in unarmed combat, she'll have the upper hand because she never had to learn how to control a power, so her time was never split between two skills." It wasn't unheard of for a mutant to completely abandon physical strength because of their power. The Nightshades specifically thought physical strength was pointless and never bothered to teach their young how to fight with anything but their power. Not to mention Merfonde had been trained since birth to do exactly this. Cain had probably lived a 'somewhat' normal life for even a small amount of time. And he couldn't be much older then Merfonde...
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Post by bobby on Dec 22, 2010 11:08:09 GMT -5
"Ow, hey."
He rubbed his head a bit as the butt of her rifle bumped his head. He smirked when she did though, glad to know they were at least getting along. When she ed a joke about keeping the money, but willing to take some off his hands if need be, he couldn't help but laugh a little bit.
"I'll keep that in mind."
He gave her a curious look when she spoke of musicians, but Rose's explanation made him smile and nod in understanding. As they circled the island, he scanned the surface for any spot that could be used for a landing that would at least give them the element of surprise. There wasn't much to it unfortunately. The island was a flat surface except for the large mound that represented the entrance.
"From what I gather, we have a few choices. We can land in front of the entrance and go in, or judging from the cave entrance, we can either land on top of it, or have two on the side and two on top. Catch them by surprise when they come out." he looked to the two in the helicopter with him, "What do you think?"
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Post by mero on Dec 22, 2010 14:42:29 GMT -5
Merfonde actually snickered when she heard his reaction to being whacked in the head with her weapon. "That didn't hurt. It was just a tap." She did seem like the time to take anything you threw at her with out even a wince...
Everything was serious again though, the helicopter circling to find the best place to land. Deep in thought on what Bobby said, she finally sighed. "If anyone is going to be waiting to ambush on top, I say it's Rose. They think she's dead. If she charges in there first, it'd cause a whole mess of problems." She paused for a moment. "Though we can't just wait for them to come out. I took out the motion sensors, remember? No one would even know we were there." Another small pause as the helicopter started to fly in lower. Merfonde moved from her seat, crouching down in the still open window, holding onto the seats with one hand as she leaned out. "I'll need to get the entire place filled with my neutralizing gas, Otherwise their sheer numbers will be our downfall. And perhaps... We can lure out a few by just firing a few rounds into the entrance."
She lowered from her crouch into a sitting position, pulling out the ammunition from her rifle and tossing them onto the seat she'd been occupying previously. Reaching for different bullets on her waist, she held one up to the light, examining it. "Since they're so small, they won't last long, maybe ten minutes, but it'd give me time to get the real ones out there." Smirking she loaded the gas filled bullets into the rifle, lifting it once more and taking aim for the entrance. Three shots rang out, and when they made contact with the stone inside the entrance smoke burst from the spot. Tossing her rifle onto the floor she looked up at Rose and Bobby with a stern look. "Do not touch that." She meant her rifle she'd left. With out any warning, she rolled back to her feet and leaped from the helicopter right when it was over the entrance, a fifteen foot drop. When she hit the roof of the cave she rolled, to lower impact, and got up as if the jump had been absolutely nothing.
Hazel brought in the helicopter, low enough that the two remaining occupants could jump out, and when they were out she steered the flying machine clear of the island, waving a 'Good luck' as she left.
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Post by bobby on Dec 22, 2010 14:55:03 GMT -5
He smiled a bit, glad that the two were actually getting along. He even smiled when she took his suggestion into consideration. He nodded in agreement, thinking that Rose would be the best option to form the surprise attack. They wouldn't be expecting her, and as Merfonde prepared to jump, he watched her with growing interest. His look followed her down to the island and he couldn't help but smile.
"Man, she sure has style that's for sure."
Apocalypse landed next to Merfonde, and as the helicopter began to lower closer to the ground, Bobby jumped out with Rose, then jumped down to join the others. He smiled and waved back to Hazel as she waved at them, looking back towards the cave entrance.
"I hope Crystal and Ian are alright."
"This island will sink to the depths of the ocean once I am done with it." Apocalypse said then.
Bobby looked to Apocalypse, seeing something he wish he'd never see on that mans face again. Apocalypse had the look of pure anger and hatred, no doubt from the fact Crystal was down there. He wondered if Rose had the same feeling that Apocalypse had. If they did, he knew that there might not be anything left of this island to even call it one after tonight.
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Post by mero on Dec 22, 2010 15:06:24 GMT -5
Bobby's remark about Merfonde only made Rose laugh. Once the helicopter went in low enough for the 'normal' pair to jump off, Rose positioned herself on top of the entrance. No doubt the shots of gas earlier would attract someone's attention, and seeing as Cain had only entered a minute or two before, he seemed like the most likely culprit.
Merfonde prepared herself, pulling out a handful of what looked like little beacons, but if only they were. These were the devices that created the neutralizing gas. Oxygen that went through them would go through a metamorphosis of sorts, changing the make up just enough when it was released into the air again mutant powers wouldn't work. She set about putting two at the entrance, one on each side so the smoke would keep the entrance completely covered in gas. Once they were out of her hands they actually cloaked, blending into the very stone they were set against. Even when you knew they were there they would be dang near impossible to spot. "Well? Should we go tell say hello or wait for a welcome party?" No doubt any who had heard those shots would be on their way this very moment.
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Post by cain on Dec 22, 2010 15:23:10 GMT -5
Bobby and Apocalypse waited while Merfonde did her work around the entrance, neither one moving until they were sure things were set up. Cain was half way down the entrance when he heard the shots ring out and saw a strange gas moving into into the hall. A few of the Nightmares came running up the hall. Cain held out a hand, signaling for them to stop.
"I'll deal with these intruders. They think they can infiltrate this island and live?" he looked at the others, "If any one comes down here besides me, feel free to do what you wish."
He smiled, hearing a few chuckles as he turned and headed up through the gas, coming out of the cloud to see Bobby, Merfonde and Apocalypse standing there. He counted three, paying no mind that the most powerful of the group was right behind him.
"What have we here? The rescue committee? Do you really think the three of you have a chance against me?"
At this, it was Bobby's turn to hold back a laugh, causing Cain's eyes to focus on him. Apocalypse smirked, nodding his head upwards at Cain, who turned around and saw a standing on top of the entrance.
"You! Didn't you have enough sense to stay gone when I took that Ian brat?" Cain took a closer look at her then, and suddenly his eyes widened. He recognized the look in the eyes, the ful and angry stare, and the stance she took over the entrance, "No. It can't be. You're !"
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Post by Rose North on Dec 22, 2010 15:50:58 GMT -5
Merfonde had stepped back when everything was set, crouching on the ground, waiting for something to happen. She wouldn't go in until Cain was dealt with, and whether Rose wanted to deal with Cain herself, or let Merfonde have some fun with him was entirely up to Rose.
Rose waited up on top of the entrance, waiting for Cain to come and investigate, her furious, angry, and horrifying dark stare focused on the space below her. Finally he appeared, and she couldn't help but smirk. He underestimated them already. He'd recognize Apocalypse, and he might know Bobby, but Merfonde would be a mystery to him. And only when Apocalypse directed Cain's attention to her did she smile. It wasn't sweet, it was definitely a Nightshade smile, but it was a little strange to see the expression on someone 'not' of the family. It took Cain only a few moments to realize just what was going on.
"Do you believe in second chances, Cain?" She crouched, her dark gaze still focused down on him as she smirked. "I think you know exactly how this is possible. Next time you see your Grandmother, thank her for me, will you?" Dark matter covered the entrance, blocking Cain's escape when he noticed that he stood in the middle of power neutralizing gas.
"I'd deal with you myself, but you're not worth the effort. Not yet anyway. But since you know who I am now... We can't exactly have you ratting me out to everyone inside." She lifted her gaze just enough to look at the rest of the rescue party. "What do you guys think we should do with him? Bobby, didn't you say something about paying to see him fight Merfonde?"
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Post by cain on Dec 22, 2010 16:04:15 GMT -5
"Dam that woman."
He growled as he looked up at Rose, then stumbled back out of habit as a black barrier blocked his path back to the base. He looked back up at Rose with anger in his eyes as she spoke. She dared to toy with him like some common doll? When Rose addressed Bobby, Cain looked directly at him, then to Merfonde.
"Yeah, I think that would be an interesting show. Don't you think, Apocalypse?" Bobby asked, looking up to En.
"I believe the human term is...paybacks a bitch?" Apocalypse said with a smile, looking to Bobby and then back to Cain.
"Fools." it was Cain's turn to speak, "Do you have any idea who you are dealing with? My powers have increased to the point of perfection. I'll destroy all of you!"
He growled and concentrated, using the islands surface to change his form once more. Unfortunately, he just stood there in a normal form, nothing changed or moved around on him. It didn't take long for him to realize that his powers weren't going to help him. He stared at himself in stunned disbelief, then looked to the others.
"You idiots! What have you done to me?"
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Post by mero on Dec 22, 2010 17:44:09 GMT -5
"....." Merfonde stared almost threateningly at Apocalypse when he made the 'human term' remark. "Don't you mutants use the term?" Her eyebrows raised a little in a questioning way but a smirk was dancing on her lips. "But sure, why not. It'll be fun to put him in his place." She shrugged then, rising from her crouch and fixing Cain with an emotionless but heart dropping look.
Cain realizing what was going on only made her smirk even wider. Finally the rest of the group would see exactly what a bounty hunter was capable of. "Idiots?" She took a few steps forward, each step reminding those watching of a predator stalking prey. "You think I'm an idiot for knowing exactly how to neutralize your annoying powers so they aren't getting in my way? If anything that makes me far smarter then you." She paused for a moment. "Besides, if your really as almighty as people say you are, you shouldn't need your power, now should you?"
She stepped even closer. "You two might want to take a few steps back. This won't take long, but desperate men are bound to do some pretty crazy things sometimes. I don't want either of you getting in my way."
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Post by cain on Dec 22, 2010 17:59:50 GMT -5
"This should be good" Bobby said as he stepped back, Apocalypse following along.
"Indeed it should." Apocalypse agreed.
Cain watched as the two stepped away from Merfonde. He then turned his eyes onto the walking towards him. She neutralized his powers, but how? It didn't take long for him to figure it out, seeing as how he was able to use his powers before walking through the gas, and now it was useless. It was so genius it actually made him laugh slightly.
"Clever. Gas that neutralizes powers." he chuckled as she continued to walk forward, his hand moving behind his head and down his coat, "Foolish human. Do you really think I need powers to kill you?"
He reached into his coat, his hand closing around something. As he drew his hand out, a mysterious looking sword came out with it. It looked remarkably like a katana blade, but it was different. The hilt was red cloth, and the blade extended almost down the length of his coat, yet he wielded it like it was as light as a feather. He chuckled as he brought the blade up and swung it down into the rocky surface. The blade sunk deep into the rocks and came out, as if he was slicing through air. He held the sword in a defensive posture and smiled at her.
"The joys of adamanium. It's amazing what such metal can do to a person, just ask your friend Wolverine. I enjoyed taking the metal from him, as well as that know it all scientist. Sentinels were just a toy for it, but this? This is how to truly use the material. Allow me to show you."
Even with his powers gone, the machine had still managed to improve him. He waited until Merfonde was close enough, then ran towards her faster than any normal human. Within a couple feet he lept over her, twisting around until he landed on his feet and faced her back and swung the blade.
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Post by mero on Dec 22, 2010 18:18:27 GMT -5
Merfonde just shrugged, with that same predatory smirk on her lips. "You tell me. You depend on your power just as much as everyone else. Most of you can't even fight with out it." Spotting his sword she had absolutely no reaction. There'd been a chance that this could happen, so why should she be surprised? Not to mention she'd been trained to never be surprised. When you were taken by surprise you were dead.
"Sorry, I'm no friend of his. Never even met him in person." She smirked. It was true. She'd never encountered Wolverine before in her life. But she had more respect for him then most mutants, if only because he didn't always rely on his healing and claws. As she'd heard he was unmatched in a brawl.
Cain moved faster then she'd expected, but it wasn't a concern. He might have above average speed from enhancing his strength with one of Apocalypse's machines, but he had no idea what he was going up against. She didn't even move from the spot as he charged her, leaping over her head to swing at her back. "Only a coward goes for what they think is a blind spot." She spun around with a speed that rivaled his own, only hers had been taught from years and years of practice. She ducked low enough just to avoid the blade, using as little effort as possible, before sweeping out with on foot to try and knock him off his feet. that wasn't where her own attack ended though a split second after she pushed off of the ground on her one foot, swinging it around with just as much speed as before to kick him right in the chest. If either kick hit, he'd know one thing. Her bite was even worse then her bark. One strike from her at full strength having enough force to break bones.
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