Scene #4265: CoH Issue #1: Undead In The Big City Pt. 1

Owner	Pose
War Witch	It's evening in Steel Canyon. The weather is warm, and made warmer by all the tall buildings that act like a man-made canyon. Heat radiates off of the windows of skyscrapers, off of the concrete, and off of all the other artificial products of human civilization in the area. The sound of traffic, construction, and busy lives echoes through the streets, bouncing off the walls that surround the center of the zone, and up into the stored and houses on the ground-level area that covers its borders. While Steel Canyon, like just about every single other zone in Paragon City, has its problems, one of the newer ones comes in the form of... Well... Zombies. Right now, while out on patrol, two heroes have come across these zombies in some back alleys in the upper section of Steel Canyon, and are currently going toe to toe with them. Flashes of fire illuminate the sides of buildings, throwing a nearby warehouse into stark contrasts of light and dark. The sound of impacts as bodies are hurled into walls and trashcans, and the groans of the walking dead as they charge back into the fray... These sounds, and the sounds of battle banter may all draw attention to the conflict. Doubly so for anyone who was already accompanying War Witch and Apex in their patrol in the first place, and thus was there from the start when they came across these things. Apex is a guy in a red and blue uniform, with boots, gloves, and a head-covering mask that leaves only his eyes and lower-face exposed. He's in the process of slamming a corpse-creature into the ground by its throat while complaining, "No one said there's be ZOMBIES. They smell SO bad." War Witch is dressed in black, silver, and green, and is turning to shoot one of the enemies into one of those mechanically-operated heavy metal shutters for cargo loading entrances with a beam of magical ice with one hand, while holding a sword of flame in the other. "Are you SURE these are zombies?" she asks incredulously. She turns and slashes the arm off of one that was attacking her while she was facing the other way. "I kinda thought they were ROBOTS of some sort." Apex jump-kicks another of the 'zombies' in the jaw, sending it flipping backwards through the air. "They smell like ZOMBIES to me. Plus this guy looks familiar. I think he was in a gang I busted last month."
Reinhardt Wilhelm	A beat up, old semi truck, mid-2030's in design, pulls up not far from where the battle is. Reinhardt and Brigitte stirred a hornet's nest of attention with their little show last night, which means they took their chances with the portal and floored it before the police could make it there. The semi stops in place, and Brigitte glances to Reinhardt, in the middle of her sandwich. "You can't be serious about going there. Imagine the headache this world might get if the UN finds out we're here? If YOU'RE Here punching people?" Reinhardt just gets on out of the truck, laughing as he claps the cab. "Brigitte, Brigitte. We were just over this! No matter where we go," The truck's trailer opens up, and a glowing light emerges from inside. "We must ALWAYS be vigilant for trouble. Get the suit ready, I think it is time we did us some good for the city." A FEW MINUTES LATER The ground almost shakes as if a T-Rex is in full sprint, and Apex and Witch can see a silvery shape jogging towards the brawl. Of course, they hear Reinhardt coming well before they see him. "TAKE HEED, HEROES OF PARAGON!" He calls out, the German giant laughing with delight as his suit's boosters engage. Reinhardt is much faster than he looks when the thrusters begin an angry roar, sending him spiraling towards the throng of undead. He aims for the biggest concentration of them, his hammer swinging and hopefully avoiding collateral damage as he makes contact. "You will not fight alone, this day!"
Cirra Constantine	The final confrontation continues to approach. Causing anxiety in those who must prepare for, for they cannot, MUST NOT fail. For failure will bring with it dishonour, tragedy, and for those with the least luck failure would bring... Summer School. Fortunatly, Cirra Constantine isn't know for depending on hapless luck. So she's come to Paragon City to earn the 'Multiversal, independant study of mixed powers and tactics' credit. ...It's a new addition this year. So Cirra, has been walking behind War Witch and Apex, having been rather non-chatty. Until the zombies start. "It's always zombies." She mutters, and summons her crystal longsword into her hand, slicing it through one of the shambling creature. "And where there are zombies, there is someone, or thing MAKING zombies."
Athela Valemore	There are those that are on constant virgil for wrongs to right and justice in need of dispensing. Distance is of little meaning (especially thanks to these marvelous warpgates), the strong and courageous often have a knack for finding themselves a way to wherest they be needed, to find whatever evil lurks to prey upon the innocent, and put an armor clad boot firmly up it's evil buttocks. "TALLY HO!" It's not as thunderously loud as the rocket-powered German giant blitzing into the fight, but a giant armor-clad sealionesque creature charging headlong into the horde upon its own hydroplaning wave still makes an inpressive crashing entrance. As several zombies are bowled down beneath his bulk the young woman leaps from his back, watery effects swirling through the air as she brings her sword crashing down upon another with all the force of a Waterfall behind it. Crouching briefly with the landing to absort the impact's shock, Athela drew the weapon back to her and pushes back to her feet, just in time to kippup back from more zombies trying to close in on her again. "Sorry we are late!" she shouts in the direction of War Witch and Apex. "We returned as sooneth as the sound of fighting breaking out reached thine ears!" All too willing to help allies with their duties, Athela and her pokemon had branched off earlier to cover more ground in the patrols, only to hurry back when the battle became evident elsewhere.
Bahamut	When the call went out for assistance, the great defender dragon Bahamut answered. So, when Apex and War Witch encountered these...whatever they are, Bahamut lept into the fray with them. The big metal dragon is currently slashing and stomping as many as he can, but usually zombie swarms are not easily defeated. They just seem to pour out of every building, grate, gutter, and alley. "Perhaps we should attempt to follow these foul creatures back to their creator, if possible." he says as he fights. Bahamut would be pretty easily visible to anyone approaching, since he is nearly 15 feet tall, a dragon, and seemingly made of metal with bright purple and yellow plumage on his wings. He lets out a heavy grunt after a double-slash, then hmms. "I wonder if Phoenix Downs and Potions would destroy these zombies as it does zombies of my home?"
War Witch	"Really? Was he a zombie when you nabbed him?" War Witch asks, as she scans for more threats while Cirra slashes one in half, and Bahamut stomps and slams a couple more. There doesn't seem to be a true horde of them, just a small group. And they don't appear to be going back to whoever made them, or showing any sign of fleeing, so following them probably isn't an option right now. That doesn't mean they can't be traced if they can look at them more carefully, but in the middle of combat... "Nope. Just, you know, a ganger type. I think he looks better this way to be honest. SMELLS about the same," Apex remarks as he realizes they've just about run out of enemies to face. These zombies were pretty mobile, and capable of a range of physical attacks, rather than just staggering corpses. They had human flexibility. Apex knows the human body from all his training. These things were definitely made to fight on the same level as people. Then, right as the fighting seems to be dying down, War Witch turning to look at Bahamut and Cirra, the door of a warehouse behind them explodes in a shower of wood chunks and splinters. One of the pieces of the door hits Apex in the back of the head, while War Witch shields her face with one hand and summons her fire sword back into her hand. "APEX!" she yells out. The source of the explosion? A really BIG zombie that has just come bursting through the wall. Apex, rubbing his head and getting up, says, "He's... Really... Big." And lurching out of the darkness behind the Abomination, there's a bunch more Cadavers -- the more human-sized zombies -- as well. And right then, Reinhardt comes barreling through, smashing into the huge zombie's chest with his hammer and launching it down the alley. It might not be a true 'horde' still, but there's still a lot more enemies than was initially expected to be encountered in a random street patrol. Two of them charge at Cirra, while three more run towards Reinhardt's back, and others begin leaping down from the rooftops towards Bahamut, attempting to land upon him! ...And then Athela comes sweeping in upon a miniature tidal wave that washes some of these undead reinforcements away and slams them up against walls. War Witch calls out gladly, "Late is better than never!" Then she attempts to intercede as the Abomination gets back up surprisingly quickly for the titanic blow it received from a rocket-powered hammer, preparing to counter-attack against Reinhardt. She slashes it across its chest with her fire sword. "Back off!" she yells. But the damaged zombie with the practically caved-in chest punches the squishy Blaster hard enough to hurl her into the air and hit the corner of a building right on her spine. She lets out an, "OOOOOF!" as the wind is temporarily knocked out of her. The big zombie is apparently going to take more hits than the smaller ones, though more of THOSE are pouring out of the damaged warehouse and going after everyone as well.
Reinhardt Wilhelm	Reinhardt has an amazing sense of timing, especially as he targeted the most pressing thread of them all upon arrival. His hammer should've reduced that zombie to pulp, but it gets back up and charges in time to send Witch flying. Reinhardt sighs, lowering his gauntlet to remove the shield he'd just formed to protect the squishier heroes with. "Young people these days." He grumps, before he shrugs a titanic shoulder and charges, giving a running knee strike to one of the zombies that engages him! It is a very bad day to be a zombie, as Reinhardt seems to regard them as nothing more than target practice. He even grips his hammer, and smacks one with it as if it were a golf club, working on his drive as it were. Flinging that zombie against the big guy he'd aggro'd, Reinhardt charges with a hearty yell, giving the big zombie a stiff strike from his rocket hammer. "Have at thee, beast! Hahahahah!" One can never say Reinhardt doesn't love what he does, that's for sure.
Athela Valemore	The timing of her own arrival gives Athela an exemplairy view as a towering armored man barrels through the zombies that were ambling towards her in his braisen charge towards the gigantic corpse flinging poor War Witch about. This causes her brows to raise a bit in visible amazement. He was larger than many of the milita knights of the Alpis mountains, and Terrakion's Order tends to attract very large burly men indeed. However she quickly snaps out of the revel as there is still a tremendous fight to deal with. "Lancer! Detain the hordes; doth not let them mob the downed!" In other words, keep them away from War Witch and Apex. Then Athela dashs after Reinhardt towards the towering zombie. Her Samurott nods in acknowledgement, and turns to face the hordes still streaming out of the broken building. With a challenging roar that could rival any human warcry he rears up, using his broad tail to balance on back limbs. Forelimbs cross over his plated chest to grab what look like prongs on the ends of the opposite limb's bracers. Prongs that are revealed to be hilt-like forms as he pulls them free and flips the objects around into a proper grip. Then whips his forelimbs to his sides, blades of elemental water energy forming from the hilts. You can almost hear that roar being a 'NONE SHALL PASS' moment as he makes sweeping arcs with the elemental blades to cut down any zombies foolish enough to just try and charge past him. Athela meanwhile is hot on Reinhardt's heels, though she veers a bit to the side as he stops to swing his massive hammer at the behemoth. He swings high so she jukes and goes low, using a technique similar to Aqua Jet to charge from the side and assail the giant by slashing at its legs with her own blessed blade.
Cirra Constantine	Two of the fast moving Cadavers storm for Cirra, and she mentally upgrades them to Ghoul-like levels. THe Judge spins her sword around as she steps into to the first charging Zombie, hooking her left arm underneath it's and spinning around, swinging herself - and the zombie around as she swings her sword for the second one's back, attempting to plung it straight through it's heart. "These are faster then normal undirected roamers." The first zombie swipes it's free hand at her and she ducks underneath it, releasing the arm as her swotrd transforms into a two pronged rail-gun like weapon, splitting the second zombie in two and firing a crystal shard into the first's head. "Caster down, medical!" she shouts out as she runs, the slides over to the downed War Witch to check on her.
Bahamut	Zombies land atop Bahamut! The big dragon roars and bucks a few times, then spins quickly in place to try and dislodge them, and finally holds up a claw before several arcs of lightning fire from it and over him, striking any zombies that remain atop him. Though it is not a true horde, Bahamut's ability to deal with groups of enemies is limited. Limited to powerful spells! He raises his hand again and aims at the incoming mini horde, and there is a spark of fire amongst them before a large explosion of powerful flames engulfs them as he runs in to establish himself as a living wall between the incoming undead and the two heroes. And...is he grinning? The big dragon seems to be enjoying himself as he slashes into more zombies with those giant claws and long, metal-plated tail. "I suppose it does not matter who the creator is if we destroy every last one of you!"
War Witch	The big zombie's head is practically taken off by the hammer, and then knocked down by one of its allies being launched into it right as Athela blasts it in the side with a powerful water jet, destabilizing an already-unbalanced monster so much it is swept right off its feet. It doesn't get back up after that combination of attacks. The Samurott takes down the reinforcements coming out of the warehouse, and Apex kicks one of the remaining smaller ones in the belly as it tries to leap down from a rooftop onto the pokemon. "The lady said BACK OFF!" he yells out. As Cirra cuts down the Cadavers that came at her, and rushes to War Witch's side, the stripe-haired super heroine gets back up and says, "I'll be fine. Nothing a little directed meditation and ibuprofen can't handle." She does accept a hand up if offered, but is quickly back in the battle, freezing the heads of a remaining zombie to blind it and then leaping forward with a battlecry and her flame sword held in both hands overhead. "IIIAAAAAA!" she yells out before bringing it down on the zombie and bisecting its skull. Then Bahamut unleashes a firestorm upon the remainder, clearing the rooftops and putting an end to any reinforcements amidst immolation that thankfully spares allies or combustible trash in the area. And in the aftermath, with all the zombies put to rest in one way or another, a quavering voice speaks from within a dumpster, "Is it... Is it OVER...?" Apex mutters a little bit about getting hit in the head with a door, but seems otherwise okay as he heads over to open up the garbage container, while War Witch checks if everyone is okay. "Whoever's in there, it's okay. Don'y worry. We've taken care of this situation." "The ZOMBOTS are all cut up now. And burnt up. And smashed up. And washed up." War Witch confirms as she looks around at all the various ways the heroes have taken down the enemy. She hasn't met many Multiversal heroes yet, so names are fleeting, but she is grateful they got that back-up when they did and came here with a group. Obviously, she and Apex have met Cirra and Bahamut already since they arrived with the two of them, but Reinhardt and Athela are still unfamilar.
War Witch	A blonde woman in a torn blue dress is sitting inside the dumpster amidst trash and smashed soda cans, looking rather dazed. She sounds dazed as well. "I was... I was on my way to a doctor's appointment and they attacked me... I threw them my purse, but that's not what they wanted. They... They..." She swallows a bit as she looks at the variety of armored figures and the... Huge... Dragon. "...One o fthem said... It said it needed my ARMS." Apex helps the lady out of the dumpster and says, "It's going to be okay, ma'am. We took care of them. Don't worry. We'll make sure you get home safe. Are you hurt? Do you need to see a doctor?" "Oh, no... I'm fine... I was going to Doctor Henderson, anyway... His office is right up the street. He can, um, check me out and stuff..." the lady answers, apparently deciding that a hero is a hero no matter what they look like, and smiling bashfully at having to be pulled out of a pile of garbage. While War Witch looks around, feeling like this whole situation is just... WEIRD somehow, though she is equally impressed by the powers displayed... Apex continues paying special attention to the lady they've rescued. "Sounds good. My name's Apex, by the way. I'll give you my card. If you ever have any problems, call me right away." "Um... Okay. Thanks." War Witch says, "That was some powerful magic you used, Bahamut." she remarks while rubbing her back where it got hit with bricks. Then she looks towards Reinhardt and Athela and says, "War Witch. You sure got here at the right time. Thanks." And of course, the concern Cirra showed was appreciated as well. Having someone who can pay attention to what one's allies are doing and their condition is always a bonus in missions like this.
Reinhardt Wilhelm	Reinhardt grunts in satisfaction as the big zombie falls apart, and he follows it up by wandering towards the downed beast. "You can never be too careful with these things, you know!" He says, before he lifting his hammer up in his arms. The knight grunts with effort, and brings the weight down upon the zombie's remains to ensure it stays dead. After that...messy finisher, he strides towards War Witch and the others, chuckling as he removes his helmet to reveal GLORIOUS MUTTONCHOPS and a mustache/beard combo to go with it, as well as a bad eye and a big, broad smile. "I am Reinhardt Wilhelm. Merely thought you lot could use some assistance as we drove up! You fought well today, there is no doubt of that." He looks to Athela, Cirra, and the others with a nod, before he nudges the remains of a zombie. "I take it these hordes come around often?"
Cirra Constantine	Cirra looks impressed as War Witch freezes, then cleaves a zombie's head in twain with a fire-ice combo. Another half alive zombie tries to crawl towards Cirra, but stops and gurgles as her boot heel comes down on the back of it's neck with a crunch "I don't think we were properly introduced." she rolls the now motionless zombie corpse over with her foot and stands up straight. "Cirra Constantine, Judge of Ramuh and student of Alexander Academy."
Athela Valemore	"It was fortunate our splitting up had not strayed far yet," Athela replies as she resheaths Resolute Blade at her side. "Other than that," she pauses to give one of the redead corpses a kick in the side with a metal shod boot to turn it over, as if making sure it was going to stay down, "All in a day's duty for a knight." Speaking of which, she turns to Reinhardt, doing her best to not let amazement over his age becoming apparent with the removed helmet. He has got to be older than her uncle, and yet here he was in the thick of things, despensing justice via hammer like any soldier a third his age. "It is grand to see another skilled warrior of justice upon the field." She makes a polite bow to the much taller and even much older knight. "Dame Athela Valemore, Knight Errant of the Sword of Tides, at thy service." With the rest of the horde dispatched Samurott dismisses the elemental swords, restows the hilts to his bracers, and lowers back to his usual quadropedic stance to amble over to Athela's side. Though it takes a moment for him to nudge her for the lady to realize he was at her side, standing up and motioning a hand to the Samurott. "And this is mine steed, Lancer." A very peculiar, if effective, mount even by Pokemon standards. How many noble steeds can -also- wield swords. Two of them. Three even, if you count the blade on his helmet.
Bahamut	Bahamut notices the look from the woman and bows his head respectfully. "You have nothing to fear from me, my lady." he says, then backs away so she may feel more comfortable. He lets out a deep rumble at War Witch's comment and grins. "I know." he says, a bit haughtily. "And your powers are quite impressive as well. Are zombie hordes something your people face often?" He then looks around at the others that had joined the group. "Is everyone alright? I trust my Firaga did not harm anyone?" he says to them all before looking at Reinhardt. "I must say, that is a nice suit. Are you as large outside it as you are inside it?"
War Witch	War Witch shakes her head in response to Reinhardt and Bahamut, nodding in greeting to as everyone introduces themselves, including the allies she came here with. Good thing to know one's team mates' names. "No, these are pretty new. I've never even heard of zombies in Paragon City until now. I think there was something about Astoria I read once, but these are..." She squints as she walks over to the arm she cut off of one of the zombies. Apex, meanwhile... "I mean it. My partner there is named War Witch. You see any of these things again or have any problems, please, just give us a call. And if you'd like, I can escort you to your doctor's appointment." "No, no... That's okay. Like I said, his offices are right up the street. Thanks though. I really mean it. Thank you." the rescued lady says, sparing a smile and a grateful wave to everyone as she begins making her way out of the area. "Of course, no prob," Apex remarks as he moves over to greet everyone else. He was paying attention to names when they were offered despite his distraction, so he just reintroduces himself to the other heroes. "Apex. Nice to meet you." War Witch is kneeling over the severed arm, which is... Wiggling. She calls out, "Hey... This part's still moving. That's so WEIRD looking! I don't sense any magic in it though. It looks mechanical to me. See, I was right about them being robots. Robots with flesh. EWWW." Apex is still looking after the departing lady as he says, "She seemed nice. Poor thing." Then War Witch reiterates, to get Apex's attention, since she doubts the others are as distracted as her partner. "This part's still moving. We should take it." she has a very grossed out face as she reaches for it, the cross-section of where she cut it from the botter revealing some kind of metal rods or motors or something forced through the putrid, chemical-stenched flesh. "What?" Apex asks as he pays attention again. Then he sees it and seems similarly grossed out. "Yeah, okay, fine. Take it, but let's head home. Right now I need a shower." War Witch looks around at everyone as she picks up the severed arm, muttering again, "This thing is so WEIRD." Then she stands and says, "Thanks again, everyone. We're going to call it a night, but hopefully you'll stick around and keep helping out Paragon City. It could always use the help. With all the heroes coming back, you'd think the problems would be going away faster, but it seems like they're only getting worse."
Reinhardt Wilhelm	Reinhardt for the first time all day finally realizes Athela's words, and his eyes light up with joy. ALl those stories of knights fighting valiantly to protect others, and he's just fought alongside one to do just that, AND complimented by said knight! Woman or no, Athela will have Reinhardt bending his knee to her, the gigantic rocket knight bowing his head reverently...in spite of his back audibly cracking here and there. His poor spine is /really/ bad about acting like at the worst moments. He ignores the pain, and he focuses on Athela. "I am Reinhardt Wilhelm, of Stuttgart, Germany. Colonel of the Bundeswehr, formerly of Overwatch." He introduces, before he raises his head. "Lady Valemore. The honor is MINE. I have heard many a tale of knights of all walks of life slaying beasts that preyed upon the innocent, and always sought to live up to the standards they themselves upheld...to be able to say I have fought beside a true knight is no greater honor, my lady." His words are warm and true, and he stands after a bit of struggling with his own sore joints...this used to be so much easier for him. "In any case, I suppose that is that. War Witch, Apex, you can count upon me any day for assistance in vanquishing evil." He gives Athela, Cirra, and Bahamut a wide grin, "As can you all, of course. A hero's job is rarely finished, and so we must remain vigilant for whatever may rear its ugly head to menace the good people we protest."
Athela Valemore	Athela does her best to retain her composure as the elderly knight, despite his age, gets down on his knee in respect. But it's impossible to hide a bit of a blush to her cheeks. It was so rare that she got this sort of acknowledgement despite her position (or in spite of when it comes to some nobles) especially from another knight. Fortunately she has been around the Multiverse long enough to realize much of the meaning to Reinhardt's words, and that he is from a world that would be far beyond that of the Dark Ages-esque world she comes from. She knows the sentiment though, the desire to live up to such expectations, and in return graces him with a smile. "From what I hath seen this night, Sir Wilhelm, you have done so admirably throughout your time." And then War Witch comments on the true nature of the zombie arm, jerk her attention back to what had just happened. "By Keldeo's Horn! It is an unliving abomination of machine as well as flesh. Like those accursed mock pokemon of Team Golem almost." There's an audible grind of metal against metal as she clenches gauntlet fingers at that. "Why must fiends always make such mockeries of lifekind?!.. Rest assured Miss Witch, ye shall have all support thy needs in dealing with these menaces should they surface once morrow."
Bahamut	Bahamut can't help but smile as the two knights talk. He would engage with them, but he is not one to intrude on others' conversations when he has nothing to contribute. He just bows respectfully to both knights the looks to War Witch and Apex. "My world did not have such monstrocities. Our undead are divided between unsent, fiends, and those stricken with Zombie. Zombie is easily cured, but unsent and fiends are the spirits of those who have passed and yet have not made it to the Farplane." He then nods in agreement with Athela. "My claws and magics are at your disposal if I am available. My world is one of constant turmoil as well. We fight everyday to keep death from overtaking us."