Scene #7150: Casino Royale

Owner	Pose
James Bond	The Watch's dragnet is beginning to close in. Amelris has followed Vesper Lynd into the hotel, which is under the surveillance of Outer Heaven's Silent Jackal. Jackal has been able to trace her steps from the harbor to the hotel. She seemed sad, as she left Bond's company. Nova discovered a dossier on Lynd, revealing a plot to blackmail her in exchange for helping the now-deceased Le Chiffre. She also discovered two tickets to a concert in Bratislava. The salvaged Ellipsis was thereafter shoved out to sea, where it will sink beneath the waves, beyond the notice of anyone in town. The hotel has only two exits, both of which are on the ground floor, and one of which is restricted to employees. Amelris can see that Lynd is heading, at quite a brisk pace, to the floor where her room--and the late Mathis'--is located. The same floor where Deelel is snooping. Deelel, meanwhile, recovered a tracking device. It's very advanced compared to the usual technology of this world, at least ten years ahead of its time--but there is no branding visible, whatsoever. Of greater interest is the device's monitor, which shows a blip advancing towards her--or rather, towards Vesper's room. James Bond pushes through the doors on the ground floor. His expression is utterly absent any of the warmth or charm from the game. It's like looking at a waz figure--his expression imitates life, but fails to convey it properly. His fists, however, are clenched to the point of his knuckles burning white. Amelris might have felt like he was out of his element before. Bond might have the appearance of a statue. But... as a native of Limsa Lominsa and an adventurer besides, he can easily suss out that, no matter the reason, Bond is pissed, and it's probably to do with Lynd. That determined gait--his white-knuckle grip, his eyes locked forward... this is someone who's about to raise hell, and there are but precious seconds to go before he gets to raising. That's not the only complication. In addition to the risk that Deelel might be caught in the act, Stalker and Nova will now see a handful of complications. It doesn't seem like much at first, but both of them are trained assassins. Both of them know how the pieces fit together. Here and there, spread out across the block surrounding the hotel, there are people who don't quite fit in. Their clothes are right, their expressions are right. But the way they carry themselves is wrong. They're far too aware of their surroundings to be tourists--and besides thar, they're getting into position. Some of them pretend to loiter outside of the ground floor. Some disappear into buildings, only to emerge on rooftops. All of them are packing--and they're beginning to take up positions. This is going to be a firefight /very/ soon.
Deelel	Deelel is trying to make good use of the tracking device she located she gets the era they are in and just how advanced this thing is for the time. he will be trying to make use of it to go check out Vesper's room. She will take means to do her best to use the cleaning routine she did to get the device if she can pull that off, to slip in and snoop hoping the maid at work sign will keep most people away from it as is. There's a good chance she might be caught too and the program knows it. If she has a chance to try and get the proper clothes she'll do that but not at the cost of exposing her self, she might hit up the staff laundry though to see what she could find there before she makes for the room.
Amelris Belthrone	Being a native of Limsa Lominsa means several things. For one, boats aren't a problem. For two, you don't mess with the Rules of the underworld, if you're into that shit.. For three, everyone have a bad day and it's important to recognise to not be in the way of the ones that are having said bad day. Also fourth: The establishment The Missing Member don't mean what you think it means. This, is one of theses moments. Amelris, from his vantage point, is getting a good view of a man that's about to go on the warpath and, by the sound of it on the radio, he's not going to be alone in this very densely packed hotel with tons of people around them that might get hurt into this upcoming firefight. It is to be noted, once again, that while Amelris is a good investigator, he is a very terrible spy. The Miqo'e peers out from around into the corridor, watching Bond go and desperatedly looking around for anything. They've got to get folks out. At least, he feels he need to, before firefights begins. his eyes sets on a fancy, red, chromic thing on the corner of the corridor that he was leaning against. A big tube is there -- a fire extinguisher -- along with a sort of strange lever. On it, it says: 'En cas de feu: tirer.' in bold, white letters. It even have a nice, helpful little flame drawn on it. Without skipping a beat, Amelris grabs it and pulls it down.
Nova Terra	The information that Nova has found does not paint a pretty picture for the one called Vesper Lynd. It's quite damning. Blackmail or not... She's a problem. Though thanks to Amelris's tracking, they know where she is. And apparently that MI6 agent is going after her. Nova considers that it might be an opportunity to handle both of them at the same time. Which is why she has made her way from the docks towards the hotel. However upon reaching the general area of the hotel, Nova quickly notices an issue. Some of the thoughts floating around from the vicinity do not reflect the average citizen or tourist. They're far more intense in nature. Professional. Lethal. Blue light washes over the Ghost, turning her invisible as she slips into an alley. With boosts from her suit and her telekinesis, Nova uses a series of leaps against the opposing walls to climb upwards, the final jump sending her up into the air and back down onto a roof. Quickly moving up to the edge overlooking the hotel and surrounding area, Nova takes the Canister Rifle from her back and then settles down on one knee. Raising the rifle's scope, Nova begins to scan the surroundings for signs of the professionals she's sensing. And sure enough she's starting to spot them. As her headset whispers into her ear, Nova moves a hand to touch it and reports back, "We've got an additional issue in the form of a number of unknowns getting into position around the hotel." Nova focuses her sights in on one of those unknowns taking position on another nearby rooftop. She then waits for the hotel fire alarm that she expects will be coming soon.
James Bond	BRRRRRRRING It's an older model of fire alarm, which means that it's essentially just a mechanical arm rigged to repeatedly strike a bell. It does exactly what Amelris wants, in that it makes a lot of noise immediately. The patrons of the hotel begin filing out, such as they are--there's not a lot of them, but none of them seem enthused about staying in a Victorian era hotel as it (potentially) burns. It's just as well. Pushing past the fleeing patrons with cold abandon, two hitmen step into the lobby. Bond wheels around--first, to gauge whatever threat Amelris presents. Then, his attention shifts to the exits. For a moment, he makes eye contact with the assassins. Without a word, his gun is out--a compact Walther PPK. He doesn't bother acting the hapless rich playboy, as he did in Le Chiffre's hideout. Here, pretense is stripped away, and he is as much an assassin as the two struggling to level their weapons amidst panicked vacationers. Amelris' ploy has bought both Bond and himself some time. Some time. Eventually, the assassins fire, each one using a handgun of his own preference. One aims for Bond, the other for the Miqo'te. From her vantage point, Nova enjoys a tactical advantage only for so long. She receives no warning that she's been made--not from her allies, anyway. A flash briefly whites out her scope--a fluke, a reflection from the scope of an enemy sniper. It's all the warning she gets, before the zip of a hollow-point bullet. Deelel's warning is similarly terse. Holes appear in the aged walls of the Splendide, tracing an uneven line straight to her position. It's unclear whether the fire is aimed at her, or at the blip approaching her location, but someone is out there, with an automatic, and they're not concerned about precision.
Amelris Belthrone	Amelris steps out from around, his ears flattening at the sound of the roaring, ringing bell to give the hitmen on the other side a glance. He shares a glance given at Bond, the Red mage's eyebrows lifting at his look, his rapier brought up into his battle stance. His gem floats above his open hand behind him, rapier brought forward. "Seems like trouble follows you, ser." The Red Mage comments, in this brief moment before the shooting starts. The pistol's bullets hits home, Amelris lifting his cape to deflect most of the brunt of it. Unfortunately, they are not magical bullets, like Garleans uses. This is just pure, ol' ballistics. THAT goes right through, making the Miqo'te stumble back for a brief moment, gritting his teeth. Gem and Rapier are brought together, dark wisps of energy gathering around him as he casts as spell. He thrusts forward his weapon, unleashing a large blast of wind that explodes into a small cutting circular area. Then, he starts dashing to the left to get himself into cover behind a plant, spinning his weapon to unleash his second spell: a bolt of electricity to spread between the two hitmen.
Nova Terra	The fire alarm goes off. Nova moves her finger to the trigger of her rifle. She's just about to pull the trigger when she catches sight of that familiar glint. It's one she's all too familiar with! "Shit!" Nova drops to the rooftop, the resulting sniper shot slamming into her shoulder instead of her chest. The bullet flattens against the Ghost's suit, but the impact still causes her to grunt in pain as her cloak fades, her concentration disrupted. Nova swears under her breath as she begins to crawl across the rooftop, using the cover of the raised edge to keep her out of view. As she crawls, Nova muses into her radio, "They're probably here for the MI6 agent. Possibly Lynd as well. Anyone got eyes on her?" Once she has moved to a new position, she swings her rifle around to rest on the edge, raising her head just enough to look through the scope as she focuses in on where the shot came from. Sighting in on the opposing sniper, Nova fires off one of her large 25mm rounds at them.
Deelel	Deelel is trying to be careful she really is. Before she can act Deelel hears a warning of some sort a fire alarm? Is it something else? She's not sure but that doesn't matter someone is firing through the walls and she's not quick enough to get out of harm's way. Rounds catch the program digging into her body causing not blood but broken cubes to fall out of the wounds and for light to bleed from them. Any illusion she's made of flesh and not voxels is utterly shattered now. Deleel is now in a good deal of pain as well. She'll pull her ID Disc off her back. She ill star to move and power the disc up which she'll throw with enough force to punch through one of the holes and hopefully get at whoever is shooting at her.
James Bond	Bond's eyes briefly flick towards Amelris--there is recognition, but none of his usual banter. His mind is on his opponents. He makes a break for a couch in the lobby. The sprinklers go off, never properly installed--Bond slides, just as Amelris' spell goes off. Lightning arcs between the assassins, electrocuting them. One drops his gun, the other throws his arms wide involuntarily--a half second later and the force of shock has knocked them to the ground. Bond rises the moment inertia allows, popping over the meager shelter of the ruined couch two plant a bullet in each assassin. There is a moment of tension wherein he surveys the now-empty lobby. Soaken wet, black hair matted to his face, Bond tries in vain to use the elevator before being forced to take cover by a stray bullet. Descending down the stairs, there comes another two assassins, each with compact automatics. Bond takes a bullet as he scrambles for cover, wispy ribbons of red briefly staining the wet marble floor. As he disappears behind a column, they turn their attention to Amelris and open fire. "Where is she?!" It isn't clear whether Bond is asking Amelris, or demanding an answer from the assassins. Upstairs, things are no less chaotic. Deelel's disc crashes through a bullet hole. There is an eruption of old treated wood, plaster and paint, mixed at some parts into a blinding cloud of dust. A half second later, there is a wet smacking sound and a grunt a split second later. Thump. Whoever he was, she's got him--but that wasn't the only set of eyes up here. She can hear sets of heavy footfalls running down the hallway to the source of her attack. They grow closer until they intrude upon the room next door. From that room, Deelel hears a scream--the tracking device shows a blip in that very room. High caliber handguns bark their vicious rapport as Mathis' room is further ruined. Whoever is in that room knows that Deelel is next door. Nova finds herself on the wrong end of a scope. It probably isn't the first time. From her new firing position, it's initially hard to find the other sniper. The wind betrays them, however, and not in the way she might expect. Scanning the beautiful landscape of the resort town, Nova's trained eye spots a hat, blowing far too high in the air for someone on the ground to have lost it. That kind of mistake is telling, and the other sniper knows it. He cracks, after a tense few seconds of silence, trying to find a better position himself. Nova domes him--but she knows she's been made. She knows this, because of the incoming hail of small arms fire. Usually that'd be of no concern--but there's a lot of it. It might be a good idea to find a new position soon.
Amelris Belthrone	It's fortunate that none of Amelris' capabilities cares about water or being soaked wet. It sucks, certainly but in middle of a deadly battle, this hardly matters. "Tch!" The Red Mage comments, rolling off behind the plants and keeping on the roll, staying in movement. Some bullets grazes him, making him wince and almost lose his balance and search for cover. "Still in here!" Amelris calls out, feeling that he WAS being asked about this, scowling as he finally find some cover behind one of the pillars. A quick spin on his rapier rod is given, then slammed down point-first into the luxurious floor, Amelris throws a spell over at Bond as he feels he's got hit. An effect that he must feel familiar from that last battle, a healing spell. Then Amelris leaps out of cover, soaring at the two machinegun assassins like a blazing arrow, his blade glowing with light. "ENOUGH WITH THE FIRECRACKERS!" The Red Mages shouts, gracefully leaping to delive a wide, swift swing of his enhanced blade at both gunners, aiming for their guns and general arms.
Nova Terra	Nova takes the shot. And she takes off the sniper's head. The victory is short lived though as the gunfire from the other killers starts up. Nova quickly scrambles to her feet as the bullets whiz around her. She starts running. Many of the rounds dig into the roof around her. A few manage to strike Nova herself, causing her to wince in pain and throw off her stride for a moment. But she manages to reach the edge of the rooftop, planting a foot against in and launching herself off it. Nova lands on the sloped roof of the next building, beginning to slide down it. As she does she reaches for the small container attached to her arm. She pulls a spherical device from it and presses a button on it. The pulse grenade is primed just as Nova runs out of roof. She leaps off it towards the hotel across the street, twisting in the air as she does so. She throws the grenade towards the source of the gunfire, before bracing herself. Nova crashes through the window she had jumped towards, hitting the floor in a roll inside one of the upper level rooms. Meanwhile, the pulse grenade arcs through the air before landing in the rough area of its targets. It quickly explodes in a blast of blue energy.
Deelel	Deelel has no idea who the attacker is, she doesn't really care for the moment. The program is focused on staying the heck alive right now as the attacks could be stepping. She has hit someone and the disc bounces back through the wall. She catches it and seems to think things are over for the moment, at least she hopes, she is wrong there's a scream from the device now and more high calibre weapons, she'll take a moment to pull a light charge and set it up near the front door fo the room to be remotely detonated if she needs to and she tries to get back looking for another way out, She'll also make use of the disc again calling out. "SO YOU WANT TO DO IT THE HARD WAY? USERS?" She's already been shot up fairly bad and is in pain, weapons like guns are not the normal order of the day on her homeworld. She's more adapt to coping with slashing or blunt injuries than this.
James Bond	Amelris leaps to the stairs. His rapier cuts a swatch through the air, the point cleaving through one of the guns, and through the arms of the other assassin. Each utters a cry, the one suddenly forced to hold a lump of molten metal, and the other bearing a smoldering gash upon both forearms. The weapon of the latter falls to the stairs with a clatter. The other, well enough to attempt to flee, is struck down. A knife protudes from his back, thrown by the British agent. Bond callously steps over the body of one of them to pick up the automatic. "The elevator's out," says Bond with cold professional detachment as he strides briskly up the stairs. That's as close to an invitation for teamwork as Amwlris is likely to get. They'll need it. The two men have just made it one floor up--with one to go before they can reach Deelel and Vesper. Standing in their way is what must be over two hundred pounds of muscle in a cheap suit, barreling down the hallway towards them. Their bearded assailant lifts Bond and Belthrone alike, one to each hand, and slams each upon his back. When Bond stabs him in the arm, all it seems to do is piss him off. Nova's grenade causes a star pattern to erupt beneath it as her assailants scatter. As she nimbly turns in the air, the sound of several pained cries from below is her indication that she's nailed a good number of them. Trails of smoke billow up from the street below as she crashes through the window. She's crashed into more than that. The room in which she lands is adjacent Deelel's--bullet holes line one of the walls, and Deelel's disc comes crashing through that very same wall to strike one of the culprits in the chest. He's knocked over. Caught halfway out the door of his hotel room, one of the assassins turns and levels a blocky-looking handgun at her, covering the escape of his companions--and their hostage, Vesper Lynd. Maybe that handgun a Browning--she doesn't have time to scrutinize, when it's being fired in such close quarters. Deelel, conversely, is barged in on. There are no exits in Mathis' room but the window, which is a three story drop, or the door. The door, as it happens, is kicked down by a squat, barrel-chested man without any sort of vacationer disguise. They must be getting desperate. Standing in the doorway with a shotgun in hand, he pulls the trigger.
Nova Terra	Nova ends up crashing into a bigger mess than she expected. As she rises, she takes note of the situation. One hostile down. Another in the doorway, raising that pistol at her. At this distance, it's likely to be more trouble than the shots she was taking outside. Meanwhile, yet another assassin is retreating with the captured Lynd. Maybe she was the primary focus after all? Nova will have to ponder that further later. Right now the Ghost needs to act. The assassin in the door gets his shot off. The bullet strikes Nova in her gun arm, managing to penetrate the tough artificial muscle fibres of her suit and embed itself in her flesh. Blood begins to seep out of the hole. Nova cries out, her rifle dropping and clattering to the floor. But she doesn't let that harm go unanswered for long. Raising her other hand in the gunner's direction, she moves to grip him with her telekinesis. But not his entire body, just his head, her wrist quickly snapping around in a twisting motion. The same probably happening to the assassin's head, assuming the Ghost isn't interrupted. Once she deals with the one trying to block her path, Nova moves to give chase on Lynd and her captor. She quickly pulls a combat knife from her boot and sends it flying ahead of them, to try and make the assassin rethink his escape path, if only for a moment.
Amelris Belthrone	There is no question that Amelris is, himself, a killer. He's killed people in war and fights, often for his own life. Still, he never truly managed to reach that sort of detachment than Bond is displaying. Still, the Red Mage nods at him and runs up the stairs after him, not giving the assassins another second glance. Then they have another problem. A big, huge, muscled problem. The Miqo'te lets out a cry, trying to leap out of the way but that only give the Big Sod all the more energy to slam him straight into the ground. He gasps out, bouncing off the ground, breath escaped straight out of him. Gasping, he rolls up to his hands, springing himself up to launch himself up in the air. His blade flashes, running up the large man, dig his blade against him to spring himself backward into an acrobatic backflip, skidding on the ground as he lands. An arc of crystaline blades followed his leaping arc, seeking to home on their assailaint. "They've got her." Amelris comments with a wheeze in his voice, taking that brief moment to get a full breath and looking around for an exit... or at least, a sort of shortcut.
Deelel	Things are getting dicey the attackers keep coming and she's trapped like a grid bug or is that a rat? It's close enough for it to be a bad situation she could pull her light jet out and flee. While that is true but she would be open to being gunned down. This idea just vanishes as the shotgun guy blasts her. More cubes chunk off and she's looking more than a little bit freaky. She's on the ground she looks at the attacker near the door. "Howse.. Buzz your game?" She asks and then as she lays there she sets off the light charge she left by the doorway. The alien device ticks down and explodes in a burst of energy. Not enough to vape someone there's a chance someone might live but it's going to suck if they do.
James Bond	There is a muffled, frightful grunt from the man Nova's caught in the doorway. Maybe he's fought someone with her powers before, or maybe he hasn't--but he locks eyes with her and realizes what's happening all the same. His neck snaps before he can get another shot off. Rushing into the hallway to give chase to Lynd and her handler, Nova's knife does more than distract. It kills, striking him dramatically in the back. He crumples, leaving Lynd to turn and give a bewildered look. She is, in that moment, as a deer in headlights. Clearly, she didn't expect anyone to intervene, and she clearly also doesn't recognize Nova from the game. She spends a moment frozen, uncertain of whether to flee. Deelel's light charge not only vaporizes the assassin with the shotgun, it sets aflame the expensive carpet and treated wood beneath, a gaping, smoldering crater now burnt into the room and hallway alike. A flurry of crystalline blades buffets the form of the huge assassin wailing on Bond. His breathing grows labored as the blood loss begins to get to him. Almost immediately, he shifts his focus to Amelris. One hundred knives is worse than one, of course. Bond doesn't allow it. The agent catches his ankle, sending him to the floor in a heap. In Le Chiffre's hideout, Bond had displayed an unusual resilience. Here, after being beaten on continuously by a man twice his size, Bond displays it again, having enough energy to catch his legs in a scissor lock as he rises. The assassin gasps his last, but there's still another set of stairs. Bond and Amelris are greeted by the sight of two more gunmen, not attempting to attack, but to retreat, to cut losses, barreling down the stairs. They don't make it past the entry to the stairwell before a burning support beam crashes through the ceiling and crushes them. Looking up through the hole in the floor, Deelel's room is visible. Stepping over beam and the two dead, burning bodies beneath it, he utters, "I guess they needed a little support." Coming up the stairs, the two end up blocking Vesper's sole means of escape. She turns, as if to gauge her options, only to find her way barred by the spy and the red mage. Bond doesn't bother leveling his gun at her. "Why?" It is as neutral as he can manage to make it--but there is a flaw. It's hard not to hear a little shred of something in his voice. She doesn't answer.
Nova Terra	Nova steps over the remains of the assassins in the hallway as she moves towards Vesper. Bond and Amelris soon arrive to help cut off Vesper's possible escape paths. And at the bewildering look, Nova simply crosses her arms and smirks. Why. Nova knows enough to guess the context of the question and also the likely answer. Though as Vesper says nothing, neither does Nova. She doesn't actually owe Bond anything. And the truth might actually complicate the situation. For Nova steps forward once more, trying to close the distance to Vesper. She warns the spy, "We're taking you in. There are some questions you'll need to be asked. I suggest you don't try and resist. You're not so valuable as to be considered indispensable. Besides. Given this whole attack seems to have been focused on you, you're probably safer with us." Nova reaches for Vesper's wrists to try and restrain her.
Deelel	Deelel is lucky to be alive when the dust settles from the light charge. "Umm opps sorry about the mess." She's more concerned that any other guests or staff might have been harmed, but she's alive. She knows the cops will be coming she's going to try to do her best to bind her wound and see if she can find the thing the tracker was homing in on. With confirmation that Nova and Amelris are alive, and they seemed to have captured a person of interest. She looks down the hole to see James Bond and Amelris and peeks over at them. "I'll be there in a sec!" She'll make a last attempt to find the items, however, with this mess the Cops are on their way and they should get out soon.
Amelris Belthrone	The good side of wearing red is that blood is easy to hide. That is, until it dries off and becomes brown. Then it's a pain in the ass to get off. The Red Mage follows, covering his face with his arm when the pillar collapses, stepping in over to get into the room. At Bond's sudden quipe, he gets a brief snort out of Amelris. He wasn't expecting a joke like that right after what just happened. Then, they corner their quarry: Vesper Joyd. "A very good question, is it not?" Belthrone comments, looking and acknowledging the other two coming in. His rapier is lowered, not intent to use it yet. "The white clothed man with the octopus lapel. Was it not?"
James Bond	Vesper doesn't run or try to fight. There is a brief moment where she ponders the window. Something dark flashes across her eyes--dark and hopeless. With a sigh, she abandons the thought of ending it, and resigns herself to her fate. She nods at Amelris. "They have someone that's close to me," she explains. "Let's go... you can ask me whatever questions you like." She sounds tired. Hoarse. If she had the energy, those expressive eyes of hers might be welling with tears. "He's probably dead anyway," she bitterly muses. "Wait." Bond doesn't make any motion. "Her necklace," he says to Nova. "An Algerian promise knot." Vesper is still wearing it, even now. "That's how they're tracking her." It was clearly an expensive thing, a gift not given lightly. It's one of few things to remind her of someone special, and the Octopus Group, as Big Boss calls them, is using it against her. Counting on the emotional connection to give them an easy means of keeping tabs on her. "Your man," says Bond--and there can be no doubt who he means. "Seems to think we should work together. Find me in Bratislava in a week's time if you agree." He turns to leave, but pauses. Bond makes an observation, cold and detached. "This kind of response, just for her... We must be close to something. Whatever it is, must've scared the living daylights out of them."