Post by GoldenKitten on Jan 17, 2012 23:44:22 GMT -4
Channel 13, the monopolitic conquerer of international news broadcasting interrupts the current programs of over a dozen different channels for whom it is the financial backer. A montage of images and shots of dialogue pepper the familiar industry giants introductory opening, except with the bolded red words “EMERGENCY REPORT” scrolling across instead of the time devised system of titling typically associated with such things. As the title drops away a similarly familiar face of the long-time newsladies whom everyone knows by looks if not by name; aged now, but cleanly cut, and giving her best serious look though as is often the case, its doubtful its genuine.
Most of the world is ignoring the broadcast by now, bothering themselves with something of no importance or wishing they would get back to todays game or soap opera already. But no matter how impatient the viewership the anchor continues on with professionalism, and it isn't long before everyone is paying attention again. The potential entertainment value in mass death has a way of doing that.
“This is Georgia Elliot with Channel 13 International News with an emergency report. Though details are scare at the moment it is my sad duty to report that today may be the worst act of terrorism in many years. As of forty-one minutes ago at 07:37AM at their local time an explosion was reported in Johannesburg, South Africa that rocked the downtown province and toppled a number of older buildings there-in. The explosion came in the form of what has been described as a “pillar of fire” and initial reports suggest it decimated a several square block radius, already placing the predicted death toll in the thousands. The true severity and maliciousness of the threat however did not make itself known till several minutes later.”
Images of the city far off in the distance crossed the screen; it looked deathly still for such a bustling metropolis, a thick pillar of black smoke rose from behind several buildings, presumably where the initial explosion has come from.
“While nobody wants to comment on possible agents or results at this time, the South African government has acknowledged that for the first time in the new millennium, some form of biological weapon was released in a major population center.”
She paused with a half-serious, half-sad look on her face to try and drive home the point.
“While no known group has taken credit for this act yet there is no doubt in the minds of officials that this was a hostile action by some force. The explosion was set-off in such a way that all forms of grid electricity were taken down at the same time, and while engineers work tirelessly even now to bring it back it has served its purpose. Chaos and anarchy have gripped the streets of Johannesburg, a calm not likely to be soon recaptured in such a large city”
Disappearing once more and images of troop transports and helicopters began entering and circling the city, she continued speaking over them. While many of the vehicles and troops in the photos were of military build, there were quite clearly a number of black vehicles bearing the 'Y' holding the Sun insignia of the Yager & Sun Corporation amongst them.
“While the government already has troops on the scene along with the firefights, police officers, and task response forces of Johannesburg the spokesmen for the President came forward just moments ago. This was when the presence of hazardous chemicals or biological agents was conveyed, and at the same time admissions were made that none of their emergency response forces were equipped for such a threat. Thinking quick on his feet the president Dekandi Zambari reached out to the leadership of the Yager and Sun Corporation who have a large facility in nearby Pretoria where testing on bacterial agents for medicinal vaccines is safely tested. Possessing the necessary countermeasures for a biological outbreak the Corporation has agreed to lend the government specialized hazmat suits, and the people who know how to use them until the crisis is over.
At the time neither group was willing to comment on the nature or severity of the situation, instead stating the the peoples safety comes first and foremost. Without knowing the type of chemical in play, though it has been confirmed as airborne having already listed a number of casualties near to the initial explosion, they are instead seeking to remove all locals from the surrounding area before conducting any form of investigation. A quarantine has been set up around the entire skyline district as civilians are being safely evacuated after inspection to ensure the chemical element cannot be transferred, while those in the surrounding suburbs are removed from the city entirely. It is, without a shadow of a doubt, the largest mass exodus from a modern city in history.”
After the images of troops cycled three times during her speech it finally settled back on her.
“But while that's all that is known for now we will remain on air, providing any new updates on this story at regular intervals and as it surfaces. Several governments including the United States, the United Kingdom, and consulate of Russia have stepped up with offers of assistance. But with the situation urgent and imminent it is clear that for the immediate threat the people of Johannesburg are on their own.
And so I believe many of you will be with me when I say our thoughts and prayers are with the people of South Africa. And with the men and women of both the South African military and the Yager and Sun task force who are risking their lives to save millions of innocents.”
It was safe to say, the people waiting for Days of Our Lives to come back on were in for a substantial pause. As the news broadcast continued a live image of the scene followed a number of black helicopters flying high above the outside of town where it was being taped, headed for the skyline before it panned around to more local goings-on. Briefly showing that while dozens of news vans were on site, none were being allowed inside the line of APC's that were hastily constructing a quarantine around the town.
As soon as the helicopters had passed over the quarantine line and there was no danger of being caught on camera anymore one of the soldiers that was hanging out of the the transports open doors holding on only with a single hand reached up and removed his gasmask, tossing it back into the helicopter. Jager stepped back inside some and ran his hand through his hair before turning his red eyes from the city below to those in the helicopter with him. Though he himself could have heard over the noise of the whirling blades he knew his human “companions” weren't so advantaged and so reached up to the radio in his ear before speaking.
“Adam, has anything changed?”
One of the many similarly outfitted men and women behind him, though this one with a white mask and arm-sleeves that marked him as a scientist turned toward him. He was fiddling with a datapad and scanning a great deal of information that was constantly being monitored by their mobile research stations out at the quarantine line. He took several seconds to respond, it was something nobody else in their right mind could or would do with Jager, but despite himself and for reasons he'd never understood Jager didn't get angry or impatient with Adam. Finally reaching up to his mask and turning it back to expose his youthful face though he didn't toss it off to the side since there were still possible chemical dangers for a normal human he half-stood to look around the nearest soldier into Jagers eyes.
“Nothing serious. There have been several psychic fluctuations, and the reiatsu creep is progressing out at a steady rate of several meters an hour after the initial explosion. But so far things are as they were before take-off, the psychic signal might have grown slightly stronger for those afflicted, but it currently doesn't seem to be moving in an offensive manner. Its just a guess but I'd say if we're dealing with a sentient being and not just a psychic machine or beacon then its shoring up, building defenses before continuing its offensive push.”
As Adam lowered back into his seat Jager nodded his head before looking down into the empty streets again, “Good to see we're on the same page, was thinking the same thing. The way its moving I don't think there's any real question its an organic or spiritual being anymore, a machine wouldn't move like that without an incredible amount of programming. Even we don't have that good a grasp on such things, even Richard whose powers make him suited to that type of research hasn't progressed far in the field. I highly doubt Hollister knows how to do it.”
Adam simply nodded and Jager went back to contemplating his own thoughts. Hollister Advanced was the worlds premier manipulator of various energies and was the first company to create a working and field capable “laser” gun. The technology was new and it would take several years for people to begin trusting its reliability, but at their rate they could have become a heavy hitter in the next few years. Jager had actually considered dealing with them to see if they could use their energy expertise in the psychic realm, it appeared he was not the only one who caught on to that fact. It was a shame actually, if they'd worked together they could both have come out on top with his expertise in controlling these things, but alas that was the past now. Whatever happened, at the end of the day Hollister would be taking the fall for this incident, but perhaps he could acquire some of their remaining files when the public witchhunt was over? It was something to think about at least.
More on topic they had no idea what they were up against yet, but whatever it was Hollister had made a beast of a psychic monster. They knew it was on Hollister as they'd been monitoring the companies assets for some time in preparation for the business Jager had been considering. Along the way they'd come across their psychic program, but what they'd known, and what was reality were greatly different. They knew the company was looking into working with spiritual energy and psychic control, they had no idea they were working on a prototype, much less one of this strength. There was no doubt it was them though, when the “bomb” had gone off it had been directly beneath the Hollister Advanced headquarters and a reiatsu signature the size of a small country had been emanating from it ever since.
The danger was greater than that though, it wasn't its power that was the problem, it was the kind of power. Psychic control, Jager was all to aware of the dangers this possessed, his own experiments into the power had run into more than a few bumps though even he had been careful not to let it go to this level. The energy being emanated produced a draining effect, anyone who touched the ground where it had settled in would begin being drained of reiatsu, they weren't sure if there was a limit or if it would actually kill you after a while but that was why they were flying in. Perhaps worse, and why they had to come up with the biological chemical cover-story at the last minute were the psychic “episodes” for lack of a better word. Every once in a while a wave of psychic energy wracked the minds of anyone in range, most normal people were brain dead in moments, and if Jager was really unlucky this thing was smart enough to control them.
There was no getting passed it, this was going to be a PR shitstorm for everyone in charge, luckily his own company was in a perfect place to be seen as both saviors and victims themselves. Johannesburg was dead, or it might as well be, there would be few if any survivors. It was of no great concern to himself as they were nothing but humans after all, he was here for the psychic research, and if possible acquiescing the creation responsible for it, though he'd settle for advanced research if there was simply no way. Still he was not oblivious to the fact that they could use this situation to their advantage, there was much to gain and almost nothing to lose as long as Richard or the Shinigami didn't decide to intrude, but he'd take the research first and worry about turning the situation into a heroes payday if the situation allowed later.
He was brought out of thought when Adam spoke interrupting two of the soldiers who had been exchanging banter they probably thought was quiet enough not to be heard beforehand though they shut-up quickly enough, “I just can't believe Hollister would try this without proper research first...”, he said it while still looking at his datapad so who knew how much he actually cared.
Jager turned and looked at him again, stating his real thoughts, “You humans will do whatever it takes to acquire power. And there's nothing wrong with moving past your station without permission, but there is danger involved. Do you think what we do is without risk?”, he smiled wryly knowing that their own work could implode upon them any day...not that Jager actually considered himself weak enough to see that happen.
Adam simply shook his head, knowing the dangers too, having been the mastermind behind a number of their advancements, though namely mechanical in his case. When the conversation died down and obviously came to an end he allowed his eyes to travel over the rest of the group, the Fabled they called themselves. The elite spec-ops team of the Whitehills mercenary group Jager had employed from the start of his little crusade, though they'd become his personal army since his assets exploded. He couldn't say he thought much of them, but he tried to remind himself he couldn't be everywhere at once, and while they hardly seemed a threat to him they were quite capable of dispatching other humans. The Predator program was in effect now, but he couldn't afford to employ them in mass without further research, just one more reason they wanted to infiltrate the city and see what Hollister Advanced was up to.
Even with his eyes on them he noticed the flash of motion out the corner of his eye, though it took a split-second to long. By the time his eyes were out the door the helicopter traveling next to them was a flaming husk, dropping like a load of dead-weight groundward. In its place a large ethereal string of black energy twirled in the air before retreating to the ground below. Though most couldn't see it, Jager could make out the forms of several bundles of energy coalescing in the hollowed out shells of buildings below.
Even as Adam yelled out, “We've got psychic aggression on the sensors!”, and the pilots filled the coms with chatter Jager moved to another line and spoke, “Lin, are you there?”
The almost always pleasant voice of the young girl called out, “Yes daddy!”
“Good, do you feel it?”
“Yep, feels a lot like cousin Bunny, but stronger.”
“Mhmm. Remember why you're here Lin, you stay close to our soldiers, if it decides to go after their minds you are allowed to fight back understand sweetie?”
“Yessir!!!!”, she responded in a bubbly manner suggesting she was mimicking the soldiers way of addressing him for fun.
Jager was about to communicate with the rest of them when motion shot out at them again. Two dark tendrils this time, one exploding from the roof of a building and another hiding somewhere in the side-streets. The first came for the helicopter he was in and even as the Fabled moved up to shoot at it he pushed them aside, pulled reiatsu into his hand and then ejected it just as the attack approached. The released reiatsu acted both as a shield and a blade, cleaving the attack in half and splitting it away from the helicopter. While the aircraft was forced with a sickening lurch to the side from the wind pressure it had avoided any real damage, the same could not be said for the other aircraft however as they heard cries of panic on the radio. Jager leaned outside the door with his whole body just barely hanging on and looked around the front side, gritting his teeth in anger as he realized the one that had been hit was the one carrying Lin.
Unlike the first it had not been wholly destroyed but as the calls on the radio warned it was losing altitude quickly and was going to crash in the city below them. Looking out front to their target, the epicenter of the explosion, it became clear they were still many miles away and if there were more defenses which seemed more than likely they would be taken down before that. Weighing his options Jager felt his rage building though he tried to control it, knowing this was neither the time nor place.
Pulling himself inside and turning to the group he switched his radio to the command frequency all could hear, “This is Lead 1, all aircraft are to land immediately, we will progress toward target on foot. Pilots you will remain with your aircraft until our return, airspace is to hot for flyby insertion. All ok, and descend, we are in their firing range without a proper way to retaliate.”
Jager watched the ground below but for now the tendrils retreated, perhaps like an injured animal recoiling from unexpected danger. Regardless he could see several buildings twisting with energy, it would only take a few moments for it to reformulate an attack strategy.
A voice yelled behind him and he placed it as Adam, “But Jager, we've no idea whats down there, not to mention the draining reiatsu, who knows what it might do?”
Without looking at him instead keeping his focus on their attackers as they began to descend Jager responded, “Maybe, but I know what will happen up here. I can protect myself just fine but that means nothing if I don't get you and the other scientists to the site with me. Its a chance but there's no cover and entirely to much unknown about possible air-defenses it has now that we see it can produce them.”
He could feel the trepidation from all of those in the craft with him, especially the scientist, but also a sort of silent agreement. At the same time he let out a low growl as he spotted three new tendrils making themselves known for the attack. He looked down to X who had been sitting in a chair next to him blissfully unaware of things though he thought he saw the boy react some when Rins chopper went down. He was still playing with the pockets on his new soldiers outfit that they'd donned to avoid being photographed. But then the pockets had been Jagers selling point when convincing him, 'Think of all the fun things you can hide, in fact ill hide some stuff in it and you can look for them'...that had been three hours ago, X hadn't found anything yet, but Jager was pretty sure he'd try until they found something to do down below.
Grabbing his shoulder he got X's attention and pointed below, there the flaming wreckage of Lins helicopter could be seen. It had crash landed in an alley but had remained mostly intact as it had slit forward instead of on to its side, after he'd seen it Jager made sure X was looking into his face and was getting the point. The boy followed orders, but he also had a tendency to miss them if you didn't force it into his ears.
“After you land you find Lin! You get her and you keep her safe, I'm also expecting you to keep Adam alive until we meet up again. Once you've got Lin continue toward the explosion site, we'll meet later. This is important X, do you understand!?”
The moment he got a confirmation he backed up to the other side of the helicopter and braced himself against the door handles. Adam barely had time to ask what he was doing before he shot out of the helicopter with a roar, his energy exploding the moment he was a safe distance away. As several of the soldiers and scientist moved to the door to see he slammed into one of the attacking tendrils, completely vaporizing it on the spot. Spinning mid-flight he ripped a hand through the next like the sharpest of blades and it too disappeared into the psychic energy from which it was built. Before the third could even attack Jager collided with the ground near where the majority of the tendrils seemed to be housed. In an instant the ground exploded into a plume of smoke before ripping in a line, multiple apartment complexes collapsing as Jager ran along their length and then disappeared into the murky storm of dirt.
That was the last thing they saw as the buildings began obscuring their view. The four men and two women of the Fabled around them quickly began prepping any equipment that wasn't already prepared. As the helicopter descended all the way to street level it became evident that even with the early morning sun and clear skies there was a certain amount of dark shadow setting in amongst them. And as the soldiers exited the aircraft and set-up a perimeter, waiting for the gyros to die down another fact became clear as the final whinnies of the machine cleared. The town was deathly silent, there was not a soul to be seen, and despite the many skyscrapers surrounding them and the city streetlights still changing and looping on their backup power there was nothing to suggest that anyone living had been here even five minutes prior.
Unsettling surroundings aside the Fabled eventually called an all clear and the scientist, two others in total other than Adam, disembarked as well. After they too got over the strange aura the place gave off Adam walked up to where X was standing and drew his datapad before speaking, his voice slightly scruffy through the helmets filter, “Lins aircraft landed to the South. I'm receiving transmissions though they're distorted for some reason, I'm going to assume its the psychic power. In any case that suggests there are at least some survivors.”
With a sigh he pointed, “South, would be that way...of course...”, he said it like he almost didn't want to, and the answer became clear soon enough. Whereas a large open plaza laid out before them with several towering but widely spaced skyscrapers towered over, the direction in question immediately turned into a cluster of dark back-alleys. Though everyone (save maybe X) probably shared this feeling nobody voiced anything further, the group instead making their way in a coordinated fashion toward their target after convincing the pilot he would in fact be ok protecting the craft. And after taking a few stock moments of their surroundings, they began to progress into the alleys.
Most of the world is ignoring the broadcast by now, bothering themselves with something of no importance or wishing they would get back to todays game or soap opera already. But no matter how impatient the viewership the anchor continues on with professionalism, and it isn't long before everyone is paying attention again. The potential entertainment value in mass death has a way of doing that.
“This is Georgia Elliot with Channel 13 International News with an emergency report. Though details are scare at the moment it is my sad duty to report that today may be the worst act of terrorism in many years. As of forty-one minutes ago at 07:37AM at their local time an explosion was reported in Johannesburg, South Africa that rocked the downtown province and toppled a number of older buildings there-in. The explosion came in the form of what has been described as a “pillar of fire” and initial reports suggest it decimated a several square block radius, already placing the predicted death toll in the thousands. The true severity and maliciousness of the threat however did not make itself known till several minutes later.”
Images of the city far off in the distance crossed the screen; it looked deathly still for such a bustling metropolis, a thick pillar of black smoke rose from behind several buildings, presumably where the initial explosion has come from.
“While nobody wants to comment on possible agents or results at this time, the South African government has acknowledged that for the first time in the new millennium, some form of biological weapon was released in a major population center.”
She paused with a half-serious, half-sad look on her face to try and drive home the point.
“While no known group has taken credit for this act yet there is no doubt in the minds of officials that this was a hostile action by some force. The explosion was set-off in such a way that all forms of grid electricity were taken down at the same time, and while engineers work tirelessly even now to bring it back it has served its purpose. Chaos and anarchy have gripped the streets of Johannesburg, a calm not likely to be soon recaptured in such a large city”
Disappearing once more and images of troop transports and helicopters began entering and circling the city, she continued speaking over them. While many of the vehicles and troops in the photos were of military build, there were quite clearly a number of black vehicles bearing the 'Y' holding the Sun insignia of the Yager & Sun Corporation amongst them.
“While the government already has troops on the scene along with the firefights, police officers, and task response forces of Johannesburg the spokesmen for the President came forward just moments ago. This was when the presence of hazardous chemicals or biological agents was conveyed, and at the same time admissions were made that none of their emergency response forces were equipped for such a threat. Thinking quick on his feet the president Dekandi Zambari reached out to the leadership of the Yager and Sun Corporation who have a large facility in nearby Pretoria where testing on bacterial agents for medicinal vaccines is safely tested. Possessing the necessary countermeasures for a biological outbreak the Corporation has agreed to lend the government specialized hazmat suits, and the people who know how to use them until the crisis is over.
At the time neither group was willing to comment on the nature or severity of the situation, instead stating the the peoples safety comes first and foremost. Without knowing the type of chemical in play, though it has been confirmed as airborne having already listed a number of casualties near to the initial explosion, they are instead seeking to remove all locals from the surrounding area before conducting any form of investigation. A quarantine has been set up around the entire skyline district as civilians are being safely evacuated after inspection to ensure the chemical element cannot be transferred, while those in the surrounding suburbs are removed from the city entirely. It is, without a shadow of a doubt, the largest mass exodus from a modern city in history.”
After the images of troops cycled three times during her speech it finally settled back on her.
“But while that's all that is known for now we will remain on air, providing any new updates on this story at regular intervals and as it surfaces. Several governments including the United States, the United Kingdom, and consulate of Russia have stepped up with offers of assistance. But with the situation urgent and imminent it is clear that for the immediate threat the people of Johannesburg are on their own.
And so I believe many of you will be with me when I say our thoughts and prayers are with the people of South Africa. And with the men and women of both the South African military and the Yager and Sun task force who are risking their lives to save millions of innocents.”
It was safe to say, the people waiting for Days of Our Lives to come back on were in for a substantial pause. As the news broadcast continued a live image of the scene followed a number of black helicopters flying high above the outside of town where it was being taped, headed for the skyline before it panned around to more local goings-on. Briefly showing that while dozens of news vans were on site, none were being allowed inside the line of APC's that were hastily constructing a quarantine around the town.
As soon as the helicopters had passed over the quarantine line and there was no danger of being caught on camera anymore one of the soldiers that was hanging out of the the transports open doors holding on only with a single hand reached up and removed his gasmask, tossing it back into the helicopter. Jager stepped back inside some and ran his hand through his hair before turning his red eyes from the city below to those in the helicopter with him. Though he himself could have heard over the noise of the whirling blades he knew his human “companions” weren't so advantaged and so reached up to the radio in his ear before speaking.
“Adam, has anything changed?”
One of the many similarly outfitted men and women behind him, though this one with a white mask and arm-sleeves that marked him as a scientist turned toward him. He was fiddling with a datapad and scanning a great deal of information that was constantly being monitored by their mobile research stations out at the quarantine line. He took several seconds to respond, it was something nobody else in their right mind could or would do with Jager, but despite himself and for reasons he'd never understood Jager didn't get angry or impatient with Adam. Finally reaching up to his mask and turning it back to expose his youthful face though he didn't toss it off to the side since there were still possible chemical dangers for a normal human he half-stood to look around the nearest soldier into Jagers eyes.
“Nothing serious. There have been several psychic fluctuations, and the reiatsu creep is progressing out at a steady rate of several meters an hour after the initial explosion. But so far things are as they were before take-off, the psychic signal might have grown slightly stronger for those afflicted, but it currently doesn't seem to be moving in an offensive manner. Its just a guess but I'd say if we're dealing with a sentient being and not just a psychic machine or beacon then its shoring up, building defenses before continuing its offensive push.”
As Adam lowered back into his seat Jager nodded his head before looking down into the empty streets again, “Good to see we're on the same page, was thinking the same thing. The way its moving I don't think there's any real question its an organic or spiritual being anymore, a machine wouldn't move like that without an incredible amount of programming. Even we don't have that good a grasp on such things, even Richard whose powers make him suited to that type of research hasn't progressed far in the field. I highly doubt Hollister knows how to do it.”
Adam simply nodded and Jager went back to contemplating his own thoughts. Hollister Advanced was the worlds premier manipulator of various energies and was the first company to create a working and field capable “laser” gun. The technology was new and it would take several years for people to begin trusting its reliability, but at their rate they could have become a heavy hitter in the next few years. Jager had actually considered dealing with them to see if they could use their energy expertise in the psychic realm, it appeared he was not the only one who caught on to that fact. It was a shame actually, if they'd worked together they could both have come out on top with his expertise in controlling these things, but alas that was the past now. Whatever happened, at the end of the day Hollister would be taking the fall for this incident, but perhaps he could acquire some of their remaining files when the public witchhunt was over? It was something to think about at least.
More on topic they had no idea what they were up against yet, but whatever it was Hollister had made a beast of a psychic monster. They knew it was on Hollister as they'd been monitoring the companies assets for some time in preparation for the business Jager had been considering. Along the way they'd come across their psychic program, but what they'd known, and what was reality were greatly different. They knew the company was looking into working with spiritual energy and psychic control, they had no idea they were working on a prototype, much less one of this strength. There was no doubt it was them though, when the “bomb” had gone off it had been directly beneath the Hollister Advanced headquarters and a reiatsu signature the size of a small country had been emanating from it ever since.
The danger was greater than that though, it wasn't its power that was the problem, it was the kind of power. Psychic control, Jager was all to aware of the dangers this possessed, his own experiments into the power had run into more than a few bumps though even he had been careful not to let it go to this level. The energy being emanated produced a draining effect, anyone who touched the ground where it had settled in would begin being drained of reiatsu, they weren't sure if there was a limit or if it would actually kill you after a while but that was why they were flying in. Perhaps worse, and why they had to come up with the biological chemical cover-story at the last minute were the psychic “episodes” for lack of a better word. Every once in a while a wave of psychic energy wracked the minds of anyone in range, most normal people were brain dead in moments, and if Jager was really unlucky this thing was smart enough to control them.
There was no getting passed it, this was going to be a PR shitstorm for everyone in charge, luckily his own company was in a perfect place to be seen as both saviors and victims themselves. Johannesburg was dead, or it might as well be, there would be few if any survivors. It was of no great concern to himself as they were nothing but humans after all, he was here for the psychic research, and if possible acquiescing the creation responsible for it, though he'd settle for advanced research if there was simply no way. Still he was not oblivious to the fact that they could use this situation to their advantage, there was much to gain and almost nothing to lose as long as Richard or the Shinigami didn't decide to intrude, but he'd take the research first and worry about turning the situation into a heroes payday if the situation allowed later.
He was brought out of thought when Adam spoke interrupting two of the soldiers who had been exchanging banter they probably thought was quiet enough not to be heard beforehand though they shut-up quickly enough, “I just can't believe Hollister would try this without proper research first...”, he said it while still looking at his datapad so who knew how much he actually cared.
Jager turned and looked at him again, stating his real thoughts, “You humans will do whatever it takes to acquire power. And there's nothing wrong with moving past your station without permission, but there is danger involved. Do you think what we do is without risk?”, he smiled wryly knowing that their own work could implode upon them any day...not that Jager actually considered himself weak enough to see that happen.
Adam simply shook his head, knowing the dangers too, having been the mastermind behind a number of their advancements, though namely mechanical in his case. When the conversation died down and obviously came to an end he allowed his eyes to travel over the rest of the group, the Fabled they called themselves. The elite spec-ops team of the Whitehills mercenary group Jager had employed from the start of his little crusade, though they'd become his personal army since his assets exploded. He couldn't say he thought much of them, but he tried to remind himself he couldn't be everywhere at once, and while they hardly seemed a threat to him they were quite capable of dispatching other humans. The Predator program was in effect now, but he couldn't afford to employ them in mass without further research, just one more reason they wanted to infiltrate the city and see what Hollister Advanced was up to.
Even with his eyes on them he noticed the flash of motion out the corner of his eye, though it took a split-second to long. By the time his eyes were out the door the helicopter traveling next to them was a flaming husk, dropping like a load of dead-weight groundward. In its place a large ethereal string of black energy twirled in the air before retreating to the ground below. Though most couldn't see it, Jager could make out the forms of several bundles of energy coalescing in the hollowed out shells of buildings below.
Even as Adam yelled out, “We've got psychic aggression on the sensors!”, and the pilots filled the coms with chatter Jager moved to another line and spoke, “Lin, are you there?”
The almost always pleasant voice of the young girl called out, “Yes daddy!”
“Good, do you feel it?”
“Yep, feels a lot like cousin Bunny, but stronger.”
“Mhmm. Remember why you're here Lin, you stay close to our soldiers, if it decides to go after their minds you are allowed to fight back understand sweetie?”
“Yessir!!!!”, she responded in a bubbly manner suggesting she was mimicking the soldiers way of addressing him for fun.
Jager was about to communicate with the rest of them when motion shot out at them again. Two dark tendrils this time, one exploding from the roof of a building and another hiding somewhere in the side-streets. The first came for the helicopter he was in and even as the Fabled moved up to shoot at it he pushed them aside, pulled reiatsu into his hand and then ejected it just as the attack approached. The released reiatsu acted both as a shield and a blade, cleaving the attack in half and splitting it away from the helicopter. While the aircraft was forced with a sickening lurch to the side from the wind pressure it had avoided any real damage, the same could not be said for the other aircraft however as they heard cries of panic on the radio. Jager leaned outside the door with his whole body just barely hanging on and looked around the front side, gritting his teeth in anger as he realized the one that had been hit was the one carrying Lin.
Unlike the first it had not been wholly destroyed but as the calls on the radio warned it was losing altitude quickly and was going to crash in the city below them. Looking out front to their target, the epicenter of the explosion, it became clear they were still many miles away and if there were more defenses which seemed more than likely they would be taken down before that. Weighing his options Jager felt his rage building though he tried to control it, knowing this was neither the time nor place.
Pulling himself inside and turning to the group he switched his radio to the command frequency all could hear, “This is Lead 1, all aircraft are to land immediately, we will progress toward target on foot. Pilots you will remain with your aircraft until our return, airspace is to hot for flyby insertion. All ok, and descend, we are in their firing range without a proper way to retaliate.”
Jager watched the ground below but for now the tendrils retreated, perhaps like an injured animal recoiling from unexpected danger. Regardless he could see several buildings twisting with energy, it would only take a few moments for it to reformulate an attack strategy.
A voice yelled behind him and he placed it as Adam, “But Jager, we've no idea whats down there, not to mention the draining reiatsu, who knows what it might do?”
Without looking at him instead keeping his focus on their attackers as they began to descend Jager responded, “Maybe, but I know what will happen up here. I can protect myself just fine but that means nothing if I don't get you and the other scientists to the site with me. Its a chance but there's no cover and entirely to much unknown about possible air-defenses it has now that we see it can produce them.”
He could feel the trepidation from all of those in the craft with him, especially the scientist, but also a sort of silent agreement. At the same time he let out a low growl as he spotted three new tendrils making themselves known for the attack. He looked down to X who had been sitting in a chair next to him blissfully unaware of things though he thought he saw the boy react some when Rins chopper went down. He was still playing with the pockets on his new soldiers outfit that they'd donned to avoid being photographed. But then the pockets had been Jagers selling point when convincing him, 'Think of all the fun things you can hide, in fact ill hide some stuff in it and you can look for them'...that had been three hours ago, X hadn't found anything yet, but Jager was pretty sure he'd try until they found something to do down below.
Grabbing his shoulder he got X's attention and pointed below, there the flaming wreckage of Lins helicopter could be seen. It had crash landed in an alley but had remained mostly intact as it had slit forward instead of on to its side, after he'd seen it Jager made sure X was looking into his face and was getting the point. The boy followed orders, but he also had a tendency to miss them if you didn't force it into his ears.
“After you land you find Lin! You get her and you keep her safe, I'm also expecting you to keep Adam alive until we meet up again. Once you've got Lin continue toward the explosion site, we'll meet later. This is important X, do you understand!?”
The moment he got a confirmation he backed up to the other side of the helicopter and braced himself against the door handles. Adam barely had time to ask what he was doing before he shot out of the helicopter with a roar, his energy exploding the moment he was a safe distance away. As several of the soldiers and scientist moved to the door to see he slammed into one of the attacking tendrils, completely vaporizing it on the spot. Spinning mid-flight he ripped a hand through the next like the sharpest of blades and it too disappeared into the psychic energy from which it was built. Before the third could even attack Jager collided with the ground near where the majority of the tendrils seemed to be housed. In an instant the ground exploded into a plume of smoke before ripping in a line, multiple apartment complexes collapsing as Jager ran along their length and then disappeared into the murky storm of dirt.
That was the last thing they saw as the buildings began obscuring their view. The four men and two women of the Fabled around them quickly began prepping any equipment that wasn't already prepared. As the helicopter descended all the way to street level it became evident that even with the early morning sun and clear skies there was a certain amount of dark shadow setting in amongst them. And as the soldiers exited the aircraft and set-up a perimeter, waiting for the gyros to die down another fact became clear as the final whinnies of the machine cleared. The town was deathly silent, there was not a soul to be seen, and despite the many skyscrapers surrounding them and the city streetlights still changing and looping on their backup power there was nothing to suggest that anyone living had been here even five minutes prior.
Unsettling surroundings aside the Fabled eventually called an all clear and the scientist, two others in total other than Adam, disembarked as well. After they too got over the strange aura the place gave off Adam walked up to where X was standing and drew his datapad before speaking, his voice slightly scruffy through the helmets filter, “Lins aircraft landed to the South. I'm receiving transmissions though they're distorted for some reason, I'm going to assume its the psychic power. In any case that suggests there are at least some survivors.”
With a sigh he pointed, “South, would be that way...of course...”, he said it like he almost didn't want to, and the answer became clear soon enough. Whereas a large open plaza laid out before them with several towering but widely spaced skyscrapers towered over, the direction in question immediately turned into a cluster of dark back-alleys. Though everyone (save maybe X) probably shared this feeling nobody voiced anything further, the group instead making their way in a coordinated fashion toward their target after convincing the pilot he would in fact be ok protecting the craft. And after taking a few stock moments of their surroundings, they began to progress into the alleys.