Brother Beast Guzma (Semi-Open)

[golisolation]

WHO: Nihilzma + Those coming to save the day!
WHERE: Industrial district of Maurtia Falls (Shady Factory)
WHEN: 10/11 midday
WHAT: Your Boy needs rescuing!
WARNINGS: Violence, swearing, etc, etc.


[With Tupp's cry for help, the rallied troops are making their way. With a good number of the grunts holed up in Guzma's personal room, the second floor on fire (those shitty beds that TUPP lit on fire sure are burning good), the smoke from which can be seen from quite a distance, and with a good number of Nihilego floating around outside of the factory, as well as inside of it (though avoiding the fire), the situation isn't looking great.]

(ooc: There will be top levels posted for each part of this, please refrain from posting any of your own until those are up, thank you!)

Comments

Grouping up! (OTA)

[golisolation]

[As those who have answered Tupp's pleas (or even those who happened to notice some shit going down in this area), they'll find themselves in the industrial district of Maurtia Falls. It's a poorer area, run down and dilapidated, most buildings are less whole than not, and are in horrific need of restoration. The factory that's currently billowing out smoke from a sizeable hole busted through the second floor floor certainly stands out. If the smoke wasn't enough, there's those Nihilego floating about near aimlessly.

The factory itself is surrounded by a brick wall that's roughly 10ft tall. It also surrounds a sizeable concrete area where a good number of motorcycles are parked in the front of the building. Besides scaling it, there is a metal gate, but it might be locked (it is).

There are some grunts around the areas outside of the factory. Many hiding behind cars or in alleyways, watching with horror as the factory burns and is infested by these transdimensional creatures. Too cowardly to do anything, yet too loyal to run away and not look back. It seems with enough distance, the Nihilego aren't noticing the growing numbers of those about to lay siege on their newly claimed turfed. Making it possible to group up and quickly plan the best course, before jumping headlong into the fray.]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Thanks to Tupp's cooperation, Darin arrives on the scene with little trouble and boy is he glad he got here when he did. He'd never seen the place from the outside before, but even he could tell the place had seen better days.]

[He's not worrying about taking cover. If anything, he wants to stand out; draw the attention of those Nihilego away from the poor kids.]

Any imPorts inbound?! This is Darin Altway of Aegis Force and I'm gonna need some help containing this situation!

Re: Grouping up! (OTA)

[by_candlelight]

[ Ruby has shown up with one of her larger backpacks on. She's instantly moving to scale the wall and get over to the grunts. It takes a couple tries due to the extra weight of the bag, but she's quick to dart off into the area and help some grunts. When she gets to where one is hiding she speaks. ] Any of you need medical care that you know of?

[ If there are any imPorts she's not noticed them yet. ]

Nihilego Wrangling (OTA)

[golisolation]

[As much as the grunts need to be saved, there's no saving them without someone handling these shitty jellyfishes! Any who approach the factory will find themselves targeted by these white, semi-translucent, glass-like scyphozoa. However, they seem less aggressive, than they are curious of those around them, attempting to grab onto those who get too close. There's an interesting lack of aggression as they approach, but this quickly changes when they are attacked, or sense danger of some kind.

Acting more like the threat they are, using various poison and rock type moves, some even attempting to more aggressively wrap their assailants in their tentacles to pump them full of venom. There's no sapience to be gleamed from them, seeming to act more on instinct alone. Pure reaction, there's no reasoning with them, nor winning them over. These are creatures running purely on the need to survive.]

Nikolai - OTA

[namesaquestion]

[Predictably, Nikolai is here with his feraligatr, all focus and skill like the trainer he is. He'd seen the call for help and skimmed the replies just enough to know what he was dealing with. Something like pokemon but not. Stronger, too.

But that was fine, as long as he kept his wits about him this time. Which he would. He wasn't in the thick of things- he was dealing with anything that came his way, but not actively seeking them out.]

Surf!

[With a bellow, Oda conjured up a literal wave of water that crashed into two of the jellyfish things. For good measure, Nikolai sent several darts towards the pair as well, eyes glancing around, alert for incoming threats or more jellyfish - or those who seem to be struggling.

Just because he only has Oda out right now doesn't mean he won't send out another of his pokemon.]

Saving the Grunts! (Closed to the grunt rescue team)

[golisolation]

[Those tasked with busting the grunts out while the others handle the Nihilego, will find that the factory is of a pretty simple floor plan. Only really the first two levels are accessible, the third floor stairs being blocked off by rubble. However, as the fire that Tupp started was left unattended, the flammable wooden furniture and fabrics in the communal bedroom for the grunts has picked up in size and strength.

The only reason the grunts haven't suffocated is likely because of the giant hole in the wall that's allowing a good portion of the smoke to escape. It's not looking promising still, as no situation where Tupp has to make the decisions ever would be. What Nihilego are within the building have moved to the lower level. If the fire isn't contained, it could easily spread down below, there's plenty of kindling! Tables, chairs, couches... There's some seating area in front of a giant aquarium that holds some giant isopods, as well.

However the rescue is played out, it needs to happen quick before that fire makes its way to the grunts, or the smoke eventually suffocates them. A dire situation brought to you by Tupp! Thanks, buddy!]

[fauxmarth]

[upper level. something about a throne? she made out only a bit of what the panicked boy said, but he'd also said no windows, so...]

URAAAAAHHHH-!!

[she makes her own, bashing through the concrete with her bracer, having to make a few more swings than she'd like, lacking her armor and gauntlets. she's strong, but not invulnerable, after all.

once the hole is big enough, she floats in, squinting through the dust that's rushing out into the open air.]

Aegis incoming! I'm here to help! [she broadcasts her call back out to that network feed Tupp has open while she makes her way inside.]

Tracking Down Guzma/First Attempts (Closed)

[golisolation]

[After the grunts have been saved, Guzma still seems to be nowhere to be found. Wherever he is, he's not at the factory (for now). Likely he's gone off towards more populated areas, better places to cause chaos and wreckage. He's traveling, and quickly. If the team has chosen to split up to track him down, they'll find themselves having a one on one confrontation with him in various parts of the industrial areas. Once in the right area, he's certainly not hard to spot, not when he looks like what he does. His features twisted with a near hysteric smile, yet there's an almost manic look of fear to his eyes. Something distant and unfocused about them, even when he looks right at you.

Even if groups approach, he'll be more than a handful without a unified and planned out assault, but it's hard to make such a plan when you don't know what you're dealing with. Particularly when he has no qualms with releasing all of his Pokémon to handle perceived threats. They radiate with a red glow, the look in their eyes much like Guzma's—distant, unfocused, yet there's some primal with raw emotion behind it. As if lacking greater thought, running purely off the need to survive.

However, those who do not jump straight to an aggressive approach might find themselves not immediately attacked. He's still able to communicate, though he seems like a cartoon of his most extreme traits. Far too easy to anger and likewise scare, yet twisted with delight at the destruction and pain of those around him. Regardless, he is able to interact with those who address him and approach with enough disarming caution.]

(ooc note: Guzma won't be defeated here, these threads will end with him eventually retreating back to the factory, where the final showdown will happen.)

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[With Shady Factory 'handled' and he uses that classification loosely,it was time to track down Guzma. Rather than stick to the streets, Darin's taking the rooftops, using his incredible athleticism and strength to cross large areas of Maurtia Falls in several bounds.]

[It isn't long before he spies Guzma; or rather, what Guzma's become. He stops on a rooftop antenna a good one hundred feet away, overtly familiar with the man's ability to cancel out powers. He needs a plan of attack here. Something hard, fast, and decisive. He can't handle Guzma's team alone this time and he doesn't know what Nihilego's gonna be able to do with Guzma's powers.]

[He switches his comm to a broadcast frequency. Any imPorts in the area should be able to hear him.]

Guzma's spotted and it's not looking good. I'm gonna need backup on this one for sure.

semi-closed; It's just tupp being stupid but feel free to peek in

[salandidiot]

[Somewhere in all this chaos Tupp manages to find Guzma again. He's not strong or powerful and he's not even that quick on his feet which sucks when most of this seems to be chasing the Boss down in his path of destruction. Still though, he's here and he refuses to just leave the Boss even though realistically he can do nothing to stop him. His stupidity has carried him this far in life so what's a little more.]

Boss!

[He calls out, still trying to even catch up to him as he send out all three of his Salandits. Thankfully they've been fully healed one way or another (whether that was Archie or Mizuki) and they're ready for ROUND TWO.]

Y-yo... [Huff.] Come on, this ain't you! [He wheezes out tiredly from all this running.]

Finn, Poe, Guzma (closed)

[hatejakku]

[ Trying to track him down should have been a lot easier than this. He and Poe had been chasing the destruction, always seeming to be one or two steps behind, no matter how fast they flew or teleported around the area.

The power nullifier tucked safely away, Finn looked down on the streets from above, hesitant to call him out but thinking about it. ]

We need a better idea than this. [ But what, he didn't know. If only the sneak approach could work for literally once in his life. ]

closed, pre-takedown

[fauxmarth]

[Aether is a many-faceted thing, but long-lasting is not one of them. the surge of energy it's given her is quite the second wind, yes, but it's not for good and Lucina knows it. enough of that energy she siphoned from Darin's raging form had to be used right away to throw him as far as she could. it might've been unwise to send him out of sight, but...but neither she, nor any of the people here can handle being stampeded by his power, the creatures, and the form Guzma's taken! maybe splitting them up will even the odds; she has to hope there's enough strength to spare among all those who've come to make it through this.

that said...]

Guzma!

[she gives Falchion a shake to get her grip back, wiping dirt and sweat off her jaw with the back of her hand before pushing back up into the air, her eyes fixing on the consumed man.

work first, emote later. she keeps telling herself that, having to keep her feelings at bay. it's easier when there's no familiar face attached to the things she fights, when there's a clearer moral line. zombies, Risen, violent strangers, yes...

but this?

if she hesitates too long, she'll get caught up in the fear of not knowing how better to help them. Darin. Guzma. she's not a tactician, not a mage...she's a warrior. she can only do her part in wearing them down and pray it's enough.

work first, feel later. just a little longer...]

[golisolation]

[The emotions surging through Guzma are immense. It's all chaotic and overwhelming, fluctuating at every new piece of stimuli. Anger, fear, sorrow, there's so much at once it's twisting together like a maelstrom and he's being crushed at the bottom. Yet, he can't stop himself, part of his mind is still there, still intact, but it's drowned out against the Nihilego's influence.

With Darin being knocked away, and the ever increasing number of threats coming at him, his toxin-filled mind cried out for one thing and one thing only: run.

It's what he had done before, it's what he's always done when things got too much. When the anger and hurt grew too immense and there's nothing his fighting would do to make it all go away. So then he would. Having rose razor sharp stalagmites from the streets to make a treacherous terrain for his pursuers, on top of spewing a shallow lake's worth of toxins in his wake, he's sped off towards the factory.

Towards the place in this world that registers as safe in the deepest recess of his mind. Everything in him is pounding with terror and the need to survive, so when he hears his name, his reaction isn't a desirable one at all. His head whips around to look through the semi-transparent bell of his jellyfish prison to see his aerial pursuer.

The four tentacles that protrude from the back of the Nihilego body bend and aim their spikes at her with obvious aggression as he calls out, his voice frantic and unnaturally loud. Almost more a roar than anything more human.]

BACK OFF!!

[That's the only warning she gets before the points of those tentacles light up and fire off what look to be beams of light directly at her. They're quick, yet they can be evaded with enough prompt reaction. However, he seems stalled for the moment, his retreat halted as if he's internally struggling with whether or not to stay and fight, or flee once more.]

Aftermath, open

[continuousgroaning]

[If you'd rather do brackets/actionspam I will match!]

Tina had stayed far away from Skull HQ during the rampage; she knows she'd be terribly outmatched, and one less person needing to be rescued was definitely a plus.

When the fire has died down, she can be found helping to search the rubble, using her intangibility and water manipulation powers to put out hotspots, help rescue any trapped Grunts, and do what she can to help salvage the team's few scrabbled posessions. She wears her Skull cap and the bandana over her face during these efforts, not knowing how people she knows might react to her being in a gang.

In the days afterward, Tina sets up shop at the Endeavor Center, selling burgers and some simple baked goods... ostensibly for helping the kids who come to the Center, though a portion is mentally earmarked for her fellow Skulls. There are several grunts she's bullied/guilted into helping her cook and watch the sale table when she needs to take off for her daily horse care duties, though she has to beg for them to not make it obvious they are from Team Skull and top stop eating all the wares. Her menu board might betray her true purposes:

Tupp It How You Like It (top your own)
Kraut Of Order (topped with sauerkraut)
Bhut of the Joke (served w/bhut jolokia pepper relish)

search the rubble

[by_candlelight]

"Hey there! Do you need medical attention?"

Ruby hadn't recognised Tina, having only seen her from behind as the girl stood up. The teen had been doing her own work, seeking out people who needed help much as Tina had, though her method involved using the mice in the area to get in between the hard to reach spots and lead her back to them.

Taking Down Guzma (closed)

[golisolation]

[After running into several familiar faces, all attempting to take him down or thwart him in some manner, Guzma's flight instincts were kicked full throttle. He had gained an ally in the form of Darin going rage murder beast, but lost him almost as quickly. Once Lucina practically baseball batted him the hell away from Guzma, he lost that potent bodyguard. That was when he chose to flee.

After a nasty delay caused by Lucina trying to stop him, he otherwise was able to return to the Shady Factory. Heaping mess that it is. Holes in the walls, half burned down, he couldn't see the water damage caused by Archie extinguishing the flames, but it's definitely there. He doesn't even know if Team Skull is still within the factory, if they're alive or dead, and while he's like this, robbed of morals and ego, he doesn't care.

All he cares about is surviving.

When the group arrives, he'll be in the front of the factory, beyond the gated area, his Pokémon—his full team—released from their balls as they stand guard around him. What damage they took earlier? All healed up. He's got eyes on all sides, and not just his and Nihilego's. Masquerain is flying around the perimeter, while the others stand vigil around Guzma.

Here he waits.]

Poe & Finn Round 2!!

[hatejakku]

[ Finn stays crouched behind cover some distance away, keeping an eye on the situation. He's not so sure they can get the jump on him since he's in front of the factory like that and he's really not sure they can take all of those Pokémon in a fight. Maybe if they just rushed him, they could be faster... ]

Okay. [ He turns back to Poe, probably still flagging from that previous injury. ] We can try to rush at him and maybe not die or we can switch up. I talk to him and draw him out while you get the thing on him?

Aftermath Hospital Time!

[golisolation]

[What a fucking mess all that was.

The separation robbed Guzma of his consciousness, and what memory he has of the time between then and getting to the hospital is all distorted, hazy, and not at all linear. At best, he was in and out during it all. Brief images, pieces of conversations, but otherwise it's all disjointed.

Even his memory while being possessed wasn't completely together, but in time, as the toxins work their way out of his body, they'll better cement themselves. What he said, what was said to him, what he had done. Even now, a few days since that terrible event, he struggles to stay fully conscious for longer than a couple hours at a time. However, he's lucid enough to have brief conversations, though those toxins are still messing with him.

His entire body is worn and weak, pain coursing through him any time he tries to do much more than lay there. How the mighty have fallen, huh? Those who come to visit might get intercepted by Tupp, who thinks himself some sort of guard dog, but he's thwarted easily enough. After all, he's kind of a weenie.

One thing's for certain, though: Golisopod is always nearby. Refusing to leave, refusing to get into his ball. The giant bug looking on at Guzma with a regretful and somber expression on his buggy features. He only looks away to see who's coming in at the door, tensing up each time as if he's ready for a fight, before relaxing and silently looking back at Guzma.]

[fauxmarth]

[when the superficial cuts have healed and the bruises set enough to let her move, Lucina doesn't wait long to get on her feet. this pain? the stuff on the outside, anyway...it's nothing. nothing compared to the scarab in her spine that laid her up last year. this hurts more in her heart, and laying about does nothing to heal that.

she doesn't get the opportunity to walk up to an information desk to ask, because passing by the room and hearing the unhappy sounds of Golisopod tells her where to find them. yet she doesn't barge in right away, not upon discovery.

when she eventually does decide to approach, it's by lingering at the open door and rapping her knuckles along the frame, a little take-out box of donut holes in her other hand. her attention fixes right away on the Pokemon as opposed to the bed, her expression a pained smile -- one that's traded out for surprise when she sees the hunched over lump of Tupp at the foot of the bed on the floor.]

...Excuse me...?

[krookedcop]

[Nanu knows he has the right room when he sees the enormous isopod hunkered in there. Not to mention the stinky idiot on the floor. He nudges Tupp with his foot.]

Heard the nurses discussing calling the police to remove you. Be a good boy and go eat this ham sandwich in the waiting room, hm?

[He nods to Golisopod, in a 'Hey buddy, you know good ol' Nanu' sort of way.] You awake, Guzma?

[moonlitpath]

[She's likely not welcome here but... she just can't not. Not after everything that happened.]

E-Excuse me, Tupp? Golisopod?

[Her voice is soft and unsure.] C-Can I come in? I-If you want me to go, I will. I just... I want to make sure he's ok.

[fursleuth]

[Pikachu looks exhausted from the fighting, even with his wounds healed and everything shaken off, he still looks like death warmed over and buttered. But he's here. He takes one look at Golisopod and sort of nods at his.] 'Sup.

[And then he looks to Tupp.] How's the big guy doin'? That was pretty rough. I mean I was like sixty feet away at all times, but you can see a lot from sixty feet when you're lookin' at a... giant horrible... Yeah. Anyway. [Coughs.]

[salandidiot]

[Tupp has indeed been with Guzma the whole time he was in the hospital. Well as much as possible, it's been a dumb wild ride of picking fights with the hospital staff and dodging getting kicked out while being an absolute menace on the hospital. At least he chills out for the most part when they stop trying to get him to leave.

He's exhausted, hungry and honestly probably a little stinky, but still he stays with Guzma. With the Team Skull base in the state it's in it's not like he has anywhere else to really go after all. He would be here even if that wasn't the case though. He cared about the Boss, he was his family. Even when things got rough... even when Tupp fucked things up and got on the Boss's bad side. He would always stick by him. He was kinda a fucking mess about all that still, but whatever. Even if he got a beating for reaching out for help like that... he would accept that if it meant the Boss was ok.

Right now though he was sitting at Guzma's bedside, leaning over on the bed with his arms crossed as a makeshift pillow. He had fallen asleep watching Guzma again, his lack of sleep catching up to him.]

[flightforfreedom]

[ Poe is pretty tense himself as he steps into the hospital room, a plastic bag dangling with something heavy in it as he approaches. He softens a little when he sees Golisopod, murmuring a quiet ‘Hey, buddy,’ to him before walking up to Guzma’s bed.

He clears his throat loudly to see if the guy is awake. ]

for luuuu

[h2no]

[it's been a rough couple of days, following everything. too much destruction, too much blood, too much anger. between wanting to try and deal with the other ultra beasts, archie hasn't had much time to really... process everything.

it's when he has an appointment at the hospital himself he finally visits, then sits outside the rooms on those uncomfortable fabric chairs for a little while, head in his hands.

what a fucking mess.]

[fauxmarth]

Archie...?

[standing at the entrance of Guzma's room, Lucina's stopped, caught by surprise at the slumped shape ahead of her, and moreso when she recognizes it. she only hesitates for a moment, of course, because she has to make sure he's not in danger: she gravitates over, putting a hand on his shoulder as she slips into the seat beside him.]

Archie, are you alright? Do you need me to fetch anyone?