Scene #9610: For Those We Have Lost

Owner	Pose
Skipper	Welcome to Bramble Hollow! It's Fall here. It'll always be Fall here. Blame the Pumpkin King. Things are big here. Or maybe you're just small. It's not quite Pikmin Planet Proportions, but that's a good starting point for picturing how strawberries are as big as volleyballs and bramble bushes are as big as old growth trees, and the trees... don't exist, the size tops out at what would be waist-high bushes in any other world. The assembled Elites have been brought here by request, one that's been carefully relayed at a moment when Skipper is away from their radio. Flash back to about an hour earlier. "Skipper's home got vandalized while we've been away," says Jonquil, hedgehog, 5'4", stage directions read 'the not-dad who stepped up'. "It's not a lot of damage... some windows broken, some damage to the gardens, and some paint on the house. Nobody's hurt and we've already got someone who's offered to pay for the repairs." "But Skipper's grandma is living there alone right now. She's said she's fine, but she's agreed to let someone come home and check on her." "The thing is..." Jonquil trails off and smooths out the quills on the back of his head, in what has to be a poker tell of anxiety or nervousness. "This ain't something Skipper needs to know about. That was the condition Thistle - I mean, Skipper's grandma had, and honestly I kinda agree. They're trying to do far more than enough without having to worry about what things are like back home." "If any of us leave, Skipper's gonna ask why, and might find out. There's also, maybe..." - quills are smoothed out again - "Maybe some reasons why this would be better handled by someone from outside the world." "Anyway, it's no big thing, just go check on her and make sure she's alright. Really appreciate it."
Skipper	Back to now. The Whiskersmith Farm is a ways away from Thorn, enough to make a casual visit hard. The dirt road winds along to avoid several obstacles, goes over a makeshift bridge made out of oversized branches lashed together, crosses paths with a set of gigantic footprints (even an uninformed examination can tell these tracks are several days old) and then finally passes by Whiskersmith Farm. It looks like a nice place, a three story farmhouse includintg the ground level cellar, thatched roof, and a stone fence that admittedly has seen better days. Visible behind the house and around it is what has to be the 'farm' part of 'Whiskersmith Farm' - giant wheat stalks, strawberry bushes, and scattered mushroom patches, among other plants, most of which dwarf the farmhouse in size. The idyllic picture is somewhat lessened by the broken windows and the uprooted plants. The windows have already been boarded up, and about half of the plants have already been gathered to salvage what food can be gained from them, but the last element from this morning's events hasn't been touched yet. why didn't you save us?, written in red letters, across the cellar wall next to the steps. Thistle Whiskersmith (or at least someone who matches her description) is standing a short distance away from it, staring at it. It might be hard to determine from a distance, especially given the unusual scale this world unified at, but once up close it's undeniable that Thistle is a tall, at least seven feet (not including the ears) and has a prominent scar on the bridge of her nose to go along with her wrinkles. "I'm fine," she says, without turning around to face any arrivals. "The farm's fine. Nothing that can't be fixed." "I'm just trying to... work out how to handle this."
Riku Asakura	Riku meets up with the other elites and Jonquil about what he asked them to meet up at Bramble Hollow for. It sounds serious because of the hush-hush nature of the call and how convenient it was to leave Skipper out of things. As Jonquil explains things, Riku frowns. He understands this, actually. The problem for him is that he never gets to live in ignorance of it. Public opinion at his home is split because of TV pundits talking about his eyes in Ultraman form and how similar they are to Belial's. Of course, no matter how much good one does, there are always people trying to tear you down for some reason or another. Sometimes it's personal, like this seems to be. "Right, I'll check in on her and see if there is anything we can do to help figure out who did this. You worry about Skipper and make sure they're distracted with trying to find a hero trainer, right?" The walk to the farm was a long one, but Riku wanted to take a walk today anyway. The bridge is the worst thing for Riku, which looks rather unsafe but turns out to hold his weight just fine. The giant foot prints are old, so that's not such a problem! Coming up on the far, Riku spends a moment taking in the sights. It's a nice place, so different than the city he grew up and currently lives in. You could go hours without seeing another person out here, as opposed to the very busy city. Of course, the boarded-up windows take away from the sights, as Riku takes in a breath and walks up to the house itself. He notices Thistle and walks up to her, about to ask if she was alright when she preempts the question and answers it for him. "Jonquil sent us over to check in on you," he says calmly. "My name is Riku Asakura by the way. I'm a friend of Skipper." He lets silence follow that for a moment, looking around and at the red letters on the wall. He takes in a breath before continuing. "It's hard to face people whom you couldn't save or are hurt because of your actions," Riku thinks back to the City now, and the dark days because of his inexperience in handling the situation, and the choices he made hurt a lot of people. "Or in this case, I guess because of the actions of a loved one." "Did you catch a look at those who did this?"
Holly Asturias	It's imperative, for Holly at least, that her Partnership, and her partnerships, not be one-sided affairs. She cannot bear the thought of taking without giving, and can generally trust her staff to run a tight ship while she's indisposed. "Oh my! Everything is so big here!" She's as energetic as ever at least. The tall, darkly garbed and gold-adorned vampire might stick out just a bit, amidst giant colorful bushes and berries, but attitude-wise she's got the spirit and some. "This ain't something Skipper needs to know about." "No?" Hm. Holly has to consider that for a moment. She's not sure she likes the idea of her staff keeping An Event similar in vibes to this from her, were it to occur. Regardless of how overworked she is! But then that'd be why, isn't it? "Anyway, it's no big thing, just go check on her and make sure she's alright. Really appreciate it." "Well, if that's all it is, I suppose it's no trouble. But I think you should tell them the truth, once we've returned! Were they to learn that their own kept such a thing from them, if it were me, it might make me question loyalties for a long time." Or a short time. It really depends. But she'd hate it. THE ROAD TO THE FARM. Holly spends an appreciable portion of the trip remarking on the overgrown wildlife and stating Fun Facts about them. Did you know that wheat used to be buried with ancient kings? Or that wheat alone can provide over one fifth of a human's daily nutritional needs? Okay well these are fun facts to HER, anyway. THE FARM. What a quaint little place, she thinks, acknowledge it's only little in proportion to the nearby flora. She can't help but wonder what makes it grow so big. Could she ask Thistle for tips? Maybe even take some oversized seeds home to try planting them? Suddenly this trip is about more than just helping out, it seems! Until entering, and blood. No, not blood. "My, who would waste perfectly good jam like that?" You can trust the vampire to know. Of course, she doesn't stay staring at the written words for long. She's quick to get close to Thistle, and fret over her health. She SAYS she's fine, but the Revenant isn't having it. "Hold still one moment, please." A little trick of light, golden, at her raised fingertip. Scribbles and golden letters circle it, a faint glow that hums and then dies back down, and Holly nods with a smile. "It appears you are indeed quite fine, if stressed. I'm glad. Water and rest will do you wonders. Now, could you tell us what happened? Who might these 'us' be? And why such a dramatic display?" Oh right. "Oh but my poor manners! I'm Doctor Holly Asturias. It's a pleasure to meet you. It's so rare I meet someone taller than I." And neither human nor Revenant, too! Always a pleasure to see more of those.
Skipper	BACK THEN > "But I think you should tell them the truth, once we've returned!" "Aye, maybe you're right. Once things have... worked out." NOW > "My, who would waste perfectly good jam like that?" Vampires don't exist here. But Holly knowing what type of 'paint' was used is noticed. > "Jonquil sent us over to check in on you," "I didn't need checking in on. But... I suppose his heart is in the right place." She turns around at that point. "And of course Skipper's already making friends outside of the world. Of course." She pauses. "Sorry, that was uncalled for. I'm glad they're getting out and meeting people, but it's like they've gone to a full-on run from standing still. It felt like since they started being a hero a month ago, every single week they've been bringing home some new ally." Pause. "Or a bunch of snails, once." > "Hold still one moment, please." "Can you not?" She holds still anyway, but clearly isn't sure about this. Her frown deepens when Holly announces her diagnosis and then her introduction in that order. "Ah, a doctor," said in the tone of someone who has established an opinion on doctors. > "Or in this case, I guess because of the actions of a loved one." "Mmm." > "Did you catch a look at those who did this?"> "Who might these 'us' be? And why such a dramatic display?" "I have a guess. But... a pretty good one." "There was a trading caravan that came through here yesterday to do business. There were refugees from Dewdrop Haven on board." There's the requisite pause of just long enough to remember that the people she's talking to have likely never even heard of Dewdrop Haven, let alone what had happened to it. "There was a Beast attack two months ago. It was... bad. They had scouts on guard in case a Beast got close, but word didn't get back in time for everyone to evacuate..." Thistle trails off. "... They had a little girl with them. She was giving me odd looks when people were talking about Skipper. My best guess is she snuck out and doubled back after they camped for the night..." "... I'm not sure what to do about it, assuming I'm even right." Thistle turns back to the literal writing on the wall. "I understand her anger, but... I'm not really fond of her taking it out like this."
Holly Asturias	"Ah, a doctor," "Quite! Perhaps not the traditional kind you are used to, but I will do my best to meet your needs. I do apologize for thrusting myself onto you as such, I'm a bit overfamiliar with patients saying 'I'm fine!' as they casually bleed out. Though in your case it was quite unwarranted." It's almost an apology. "And of course Skipper's already making friends outside of the world." "They've offered to help with matters on my own world. I could hardly turn a blind eye to matters on theirs." Riku. Holly even turns to face Riku, smiling wide. "This quite reminds me I still haven't booked your physical! We truly must make some time, when you have any." "There was a trading caravan that came through here yesterday to do business. There were refugees from Dewdrop Haven on board." "Oh." How... unfortunately familiar. "And... was there any way those people could have been saved, in your opinion? Could her anger have a kernel of truth, or is this a case of there simply not being enough hands on deck to ward off such attacks in time?" Holly taps her chin, pondering as the hanging decorations on her headdress rattle just a bit from the movements. "No, rather... in the first place, why take it out on you or Skipper at all? Was this in any way their fault or yours? It doesn't sound like it could be."
Riku Asakura	On the road. Riku smiles and nods along with Holly as she shares her facts about the wildlife. These are interesting facts, and Riku is glad to have someone to talk to. He didn't know about wheat being buried with ancient kings. Now it's everywhere and feeds a lot of people! "Wow, Dr. Holly, you sure are knowledgeable about a lot of things!" On the farm. 'This quite reminds me I still haven't booked your physical!' Riku forces a smile at Holly and scratches the back of his head. "I guess we haven't. We should do it soon so we can hopefully help you with your studies." 'I didn't need checking in on.' "Of course you don't. I just wanted to see the farm too. I had to know where all the large food comes from. From where I am from, strawberries don't grow to be that large," he says with a smile. "Well, if you don't mind the company, I'd like to at least help with cleaning up." 'I have a guess. But... a pretty good one.' At this, Riku looks at Holly before turning his gaze back to Thistle. He listens to the destruction of Dewdrop Haven, about what happened to it, and the lack of time to evacuate. Riku knows this pain very well, being a refugee before he became Ultraman Geed. '... I'm not sure what to do about it, assuming I'm even right.' "I think we should talk to her. It's not good to carry around that pain in your heart without a way to release it that's good for the soul. Though I know what this young lady is going through. Before I became a hero, a large monster destroyed my town, and I was a refugee without a home until I found my powers." "Maybe you should come too, it'd be good for someone who was affected by her actions to be there. I'm assuming this attack on Dewdrop Haven was before Skipper even fought and won against his first Beast, right?"
Skipper	> "And... was there any way those people could have been saved, in your opinion?" "Maybe. Used to be, there were a lot more heroes. People foolish enough to fight. Not so many now." "Most of those who fought either came to their senses and retired. Or died." > "Was this in any way their fault or yours? It doesn't sound like it could be." "Mmm. If it's my fault, then it's the fault of a lot of others, too." > "Well, if you don't mind the company, I'd like to at least help with cleaning up." "Lord Dandelion's people are coming by to take care of things," says Thistle. "But if you want to help, I won't stop you." > "I think we should talk to her." "Privately, if we can," Thistle agrees. "If I'm right... I'd rather she not get in too much trouble for not knowing how to channel her feelings productively." > "I'm assuming this attack on Dewdrop Haven was before Skipper even fought and won against his first Beast, right?" "A month before, yes. Though it's 'their' first beast, if you don't mind." Thistle gestures toward the road. "They went northeast, further down the same road you were taking. Shouldn't be too hard to find if we follow their trail, wherever we end up."
Riku Asakura	'Privately, if we can,' Riku nods to this. "That makes sense to me. Privately, it would make this medicine a whole lot easier to swallow. I know it's not going to be easy for her to come to terms with losing your home and then being confronted with the only release she's had in the two months after. 'Though it's 'their' first beast, if you don't mind.' "Oh! Sorry. Their first beast." Riku says with a slight blush of embarrassment over misgendering Skipper. He doesn't linger on it, though. "So it's not fair to you or Skipper that she's blaming you for what happened." Riku looks at the road and nods. "Alright, we just gotta travel back the way we came and find the caravan. Shouldn't be too hard..."
Holly Asturias	"We should do it soon so we can hopefully help you with your studies." Holly clasps her hands, evidently satisfied with that. "Wonderful! I intend to have the lot of you over again soon, to discuss matters, so we can check your availabilities then." "I think we should talk to her." "Privately, if we can," "Let's! If we already know who to speak to, then there's no sense waiting. Especially since this is someone reasonable enough to only cause a little ruckus, not cause any lasting harm." "Mmm. If it's my fault, then it's the fault of a lot of others, too." "If that's so, might you mind telling us on the way? Though I can't speak for my friend here, my own outlooks on your world are quite non-existent! Anything you can tell us that might help us contextualize this would be greatly appreciated." The chipper vampire very much appreciates 'talk it out' as an option. She'll follow happily, back onto the road and towards where Thistle feels they might find her. And hopefully, just her. "OH! But as we walk, I must know. The plantlife here. How does it get so big? Might you be terribly inconvenienced if I were to ask for some seeds, along the tips and tracks?"
Skipper	@emit Onto the road. Despite her age, Thistle doesn't seem to have any issues keeping up (assuming nobody's doing anything at above human-equivalent speed, at least). > "OH! But as we walk, I must know. The plantlife here. How does it get so big? This is the easier question to answer first. "I don't know. I know we've got good soil here, but it's always been this big everywhere. If you want some good seeds, I can give them to you when we're back. It's not as if I'm worried about you starting a competing farm." > "If that's so, might you mind telling us on the way?" And then to the harder question. "The Beasts have been a problem for decades now. I'm old enough that I can remember when there weren't Beasts, when there were people thinking we could fight against them." "You can fight one, and maybe you can win, but there's still more. And more. And more, and they keep coming." "So it's just easier to move. Easier to leave and evacuate if one comes to your home. Easier to ignore the problem instead of trying to address it, especially if the problem is happening to someone else instead of you." "And the handful of people who tried to protect everyone, who raised their swords to fight back... people called them heroes. Started depending on them to try to fix everything instead of trying to fix it themselves. Started blaming them when things went wrong, when they couldn't be in more than one place at a time and had to prioritize who they could save." "And then they all acted surprised when the heroes just... disappeared, one day. There are no heroes left." Thistle falls silent for a moment. "... Well, one now. Despite my best wishes." "But I'd blame a lot of other people before I'd blame anyone at our farm. Anyone could do what Skipper's doing. Or at least try. I'm not saying they'd be smart to do it, mind, but they could." "And I think..." Thistle glances down at the cart tracks in the road. "I think they've sped up," she observes, with some concern.
Holly Asturias	"I don't know. I know we've got good soil here," Holly nodnods with all the enthusiasm this deserves. "Good soil, right! I will have to bring a sample back as well. It's much appreciated! Food can sometimes be difficult to come by back home. Not impossible, and most people get to eat, but if this can safely tip the scales a bit..." No, more importantly, it'll give her a bit of leverage on the Bureau. It's the small things sometimes. "You can fight one, and maybe you can win, but there's still more." "What a familiar song and dance." "And then they all acted surprised when the heroes just... disappeared, one day. There are no heroes left." "And yet what an unfamiliar one at the same time. So there are no sparks left? No flames except Skipper's?" Even her world is still, grimy as its surface is, filled with people who yet fight. Even the doctors without any aspirations to be war-decorated. "I think they've sped up," "Chased?" She's no tracker, and certainly no survivalist. She couldn't tell much from these tracks if she tried. At best, she could sniff out blood, fresh or dried, if there were any drops that hint at something bad happening.
Riku Asakura	Riku knows most of what's going on. The beasts came back mysteriously; nobody knows how or why. People aren't doing much about it except defending their own homes or evacuating to avoid the beasts. It wasn't much different at home, except nobody COULD do anything except for him and the other Ultamen. 'And the handful of people who tried to protect everyone, who raised their swords to fight back... people called them heroes.' "Yeah, this is similar to my own world," Riku says, shaking his head. So few heroes, so many enemies. So many giant monsters that want to cause problems. "I guess it's why Skipper wanted a hero trainer. They really were hoping someone from the Multiverse could teach them how to be a better hero. Sadly, it doesn't work like that." 'I think they've sped up,' "What would have caused them to speed up..? We should hurry after them."
Skipper	> "And yet what an unfamiliar one at the same time. So there are no sparks left? No flames except Skipper's?" "Maybe they've ignited some, but only a few. Jonquil, Paprika - again despite my best wishes, and Lord Dandelion..." "... I don't even know how Skipper got it in their head to fight in the first place, I know they didn't get it from me... if it's something spontaneous, or if someone pushed them into it..." There's no blood, but there is a familiar scent up ahead... Strawberry jam. The same sort that was on the side of the farm... ... inside boxes of goods that look like they've been hastily tossed by the side of the road. Perhaps to lighten up a cart that had to go fast. And then a bit further up the road, another set of tracks joins theirs. Or more accurately, overwrites theirs. Gigantic, cat-like bestial footprints, each one as wide as the road itself, going in the same direction as the carts.
Riku Asakura	"Skipper is doing a good job then, lighting the sparks of heroism in others. They just need more confidence in themselves. Being out in the Multiverse will certainly teach them well, but it'll leave some scars too..." he says, hoping that Skipper doesn't go through what he did. They reach the tracks, overriding the caravan's tracks. Riku takes in a breath and grips his Fusion Riser. "I think you should go back to the farm, ma'am," he says to Thistle. "You go!" he calls out, pulling out an ultracapsule. He activates it, causing the illusion of a giant of light standing next to him. "I go!" This time, he activates the capsule, and a giant of darkness appears on his other side. Each capsule is slid into a capsule holder as he brings his Fusion Riser down across the top of each capsule. "Here we go!" He then lifts the Fusion Riser into the air. "It's time to get ready!" he shouts out, before he brings the Fusion Riser over his chest and pulls the trigger. "GEEEEEEEEEEEED!" he shouts, before a white-hot flame pours out of his body. ULTRAMAN ULTRAMAN BELIAL ULTRAMAN GEED PRIMITIVE Then, bursting out from the space he was in a second ago is a giant of light. Red and silver with strange eyes that are full of white light. Riku becomes Ultraman Geed and immediately flies up and over at full speed towards the caravan and the monster following it.
Holly Asturias	"Maybe they've ignited some, but only a few." "How sad. To lose hope and wither in the face of adversity. To hide because it's all you have left. I would think... heroes are never born that way. They're made by circumstances. Something as small as an inspiring phrase you hear as a child, or as big as the sight of the previous generation's deeds. People are good, but even good men need a call to adventure sometimes. Maybe Skipper will be that for others." The slight scent of strawberry in the air makes Holly's nose perk up, and she walks up to the discarded boxes, just a bit sad. "Another waste.... but on the right track, then." And then big cat paw prints. "Though perhaps we're not the only ones. We should hurry." "I think you should go back to the farm, ma'am," "I'm quite in agreement with Riku. Please go back, or at least stay a safe distance away from us until we signal you that it's safe." Then Riku-- transforms and zooms! Holly doesn't have anything quite that flashy, so she'll just run and try to keep up!
Skipper	> "but it'll leave some scars too..." Thistle absently rubs the bridge of her nose. > To hide because it's all you have left. "Sometimes it is because it's all you have left." > "I think you should go back to the farm, ma'am," "You're right. I should." Read: She's not going to. "Go. I'll catch up." Holly, on foot, can see a few things on the way... the caravan tracks veer off the road and into the brush, likely in an attempt to evade their pursuer. This hasn't entirely worked, given that the brush has a big hole in it where the Beast barreled through anyway. Hopefully it was at least slowed down a bit. She can also see someone else - a critter of indeterminate fuzzy species (gerbil?) hiding in the nearby brush, sitting and clutching his knee with one arm and his sword with the other hand. Holly doesn't need to use any fancy analysis to tell he's got a broken leg at the very least. And the critter doesn't recognize Holly, or even what Holly is, but he recognizes someone coming to help. "That way," he calls, pointing with his sword, and wincing. Maybe some chest bruising as well? That's not the important thing right now, though. It's hardly necessary. Soon enough Holly can smell blood in the air. Ultraman can see the Beast straight away from his higher vantage point. The Shard Strikertooth is in a clearing that he can get to with a single flying bound - the eccentricities of Beasts might be familiar by now to Riku, but not so much for Holly. They're composed of gigantic clusters of crystal-like shapes (in clear, red, very red, and metallic black colors), separated Rayman-style but still moving in unison as though the free-floating body parts were connected by invisible tissue. Right now, the Strikertooth has the caravan cornered, with their backs up against a rocky outcropping. The carts have been flipped over and set up as makeshift barricades, and their previous occupants are cowering behind them. There's a collective groan as Ultraman makes his appearance - they must assume he's another monster. Holly can likewise get a clear line of sight on both the Beast and the caravan, though neither has seen her yet.
Riku Asakura	Ultraman Geed flies in and then flips in midair, aiming to KICK the beast's head from behind as he tries to put himself between the beast and the caravan. The first order of business on Geed's mind is to try to push the beast backward. Trying to get it away from the caravan and focus its attention solely on Geed himself. Then he goes into attack mode, aiming to put another first across the center of mass of the giant monster, each punch trying to drive it back step after step. All the while making Ultraman sounds with each punch. He only turns his head back for a second to take a look at the caravan itself. "Get away if you can, I'll handle the beast," he says to the group of people, before punching the creature again. "Dr. Holly, we have to break the various parts of its body before we break its center of mass. This one's different than the first one I fought, so it might have a trick I don't know about."
Holly Asturias	a critter of indeterminate fuzzy species (gerbil?) hiding It's not hard for Holly to find someone who's so injured. With concern, she approaches-- and the critter warning her emboldens her to consider it safe. "Will you be alright? I can treat you once it's safe." He's conscious, that's the basic triage passed. He's not in a massive pool of his own blood, so unlikely to be actively at risk of bleeding out. There's time to deal with-- BLOOD. Holly rubs the bridge of her nose, frowning. Ah, so they must have been out of jam, it seems. Terrible. It's easy enough to follow after an Ultraman, at least, even if her nose wasn't guiding her. Cat. And now a squint. Holly's not sure what she's looking at; floating... rocks? Crystals? It's... not what she expected by 'Beast'. She expected an animal, especially so from the paw prints. Well... no, maybe this IS an animal. "I suppose I'll have plenty of time to ask later," she muses. She finds a nice perch, from which she can clearly see Riku aiming to kick the thing's head, and then shout instructions at her. "Very well!" BLOOD. It isn't at all like human blood, except for the streak of red going through it. It spirals and splashes out of Holly's hands, forming into her trusty rifle, Snowdrop; long, purple and gold, affixed with a long blade at the end, which she hopes not to need for this. She takes aim, without much delay. Pressing the trigger releases a flash of bright blue and white light, then another and another, four in all, streaks and beams of cold ice and energy making for the beast's paws with uncanny precision. The gun only has one barrel; the extra three shots just materialize around it like frosty reflections. "Keep it away from me, I'll pin it down for you!"
Skipper	The not-cat's head is hard, made out of what Skipper had described as 'shell'. That seems to be the first new trick on display here - the foremost part on the Beast is also its least vulnerable. The kick gets its attention, but doesn't do much actual damage. The punches to its central mass work better. Each one that lands strips away a layer of crystaline shards, shattering into nothingness and exposing the ruby-red Vital Core underneath for follow-up hits. This works quite well, briefly, until the Beast adapts and blocks punches with its nigh-indestructable head and the ablative shards and cores on its limbs. > "Get away if you can, I'll handle the beast," "Wait that's a person?" "It's friendly?" "I don't care if it's friendly or another Beast, getting away sounds like a good idea!" They gather themselves and go, squeezing out through gaps in their makeshift barricade to get away. It's slow going - many of them are injured and have to help each other along. "Wait, where's Holly?" One of the critters starts casting about instead of leaving right away. "I can't find Holly! Has anyone seen Holly?!" (She probably doesn't mean Doctor Asturias.) "We'll have to find her later! Go!" yells another, yanking on the first's arm to hurry her along. The Beast roars with an animal-like noise as Holly's rifle pins all four paws. The pieces move around wildly, briefly becoming disconnected from each other in its agitation as it tries and fails to take a new position, instead reforming where it was a moment ago.. It's likely not going to be pinned for long, but in the moment, all four limbs are immobilized. All four limbs... but not its head, which winds up for a massive headbutt into Ultraman's center of mass, nor its tail, which swishes around before going to slam into Holly (Asturias)'s position like the end of an oversized whip! Help is here now... but the Beast is tough, it's strong, the caravan members aren't out of danger yet, and there's someone missing... can the multiversal elites put down this new foe before they or someone else gets hurt? --= TO BE CONCLUDED =--