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Post by Oliver on May 27, 2009 4:59:57 GMT -5
Upon their return to the skies around Lindblum, Iole and Oliver are met with the sight of the air battles, smoke filled sky, and a waiting squadron of ShinRa fighters that immediately open fire upon the beast. Circling in and around the dragon, explosions rocking about the beast, knocking her and Oliver about.
From the ground, once over the wall, a volley of gun-fire and tracers pepper the sky around her, all sides, booms and clouds of smoke choking and blinding both of them. It feels as if the entire city has turned against them.
"Go down!" Oliver yells, clenching tightly to Iole's back. "Iole! We need to get low!"
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Post by Iole on May 27, 2009 11:00:33 GMT -5
But I can't see our men! I might take us right into enemy territory! Gosh dammit, why in the hell didn't I change?!
::Another explosion forces Iole lower, and the shock from it messes her flight pattern terribly. The ground rushes up to meet her and the massive dragon skids along the street, tearing up cobblestone and cement in her wake. Then just as she's about to skip along the street like a stone again, she shrinks, becoming her natural form again where Oliver rolls off her back. They both tumble in different directions, neither of them in decent shape. But at least they're alive. Iole staggers to her feet, the knees of her jeans ripped and bleeding. She spits out some of her own blood onto the street and tries to see beyond the dust that surrounds her::
Ollie, where'd you go?!
(OOC: That's my post until I get back)
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Post by Oliver on May 27, 2009 17:21:40 GMT -5
"Iole!" Oliver yells, already on his feet, this time able to use his natural agility to avoid any major injury and land on his feet. He's sore, but fine.
Suddenly, out of the dust, someone grabs her around her waist and ushers her along. "Iole, is me. We got'o run, are ye ok?"
It came to Oliver's attention that they had landed in the utilities sector of Lindblum, an area still under strong Regent control. It would only be a few minutes before the place where they landed will be descended upon by ground forces to survey the scene.
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Post by Iole on May 27, 2009 17:26:06 GMT -5
::Iole dusts herself off::
How did you land without a scratch and I end up looking like hell?
::The old scar on her stomach begins to throb and she starts to wonder if she might have opened it again. Feeling her torso reveals that it's fine. But she's still pretty scratched up::
I'm alright though. I can walk at least.
::Oliver can feel that her walk is a little off, and a glance at her ankle tells him it's twisted. Her arm doesn't seem much better. She won't be able to fight in this condition and changing her shape might only make things worse::
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Post by Oliver on May 28, 2009 0:35:20 GMT -5
"Grin an' bear it." He exclaims as he supports her in their brisk pace down the street, his arm around her, other hand clasping hers.
In the skies above, the sound of planes and the distinct sound of a helicopter's engine start to close in, like carrion birds to a dying animal.
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Post by Iole on May 28, 2009 0:40:16 GMT -5
How far are we from the encampment?
::She winces with every step. Her injuries were a lot worse than she was letting on, but they can't worry about that in their position. She'll just have to suck it up. Something else that starts to bother her oddly enough is that she's suddenly very hungry. Why would she be thinking about that at a time like this? But sure enough, her stomach gurgles loud enough for Oliver to hear. Oliver gives her an odd look and her face reddens::
I know, not the time nor the place. Lets just keep moving.
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Post by Oliver on May 28, 2009 0:51:30 GMT -5
"Far... too far." He mutters, his eyes staring skyward, watching for enemy eyes in the sky. "An' here." He takes one of the goodies Lillith had given them from the sack around his neck and hands one to her. "Eat, ye gonna' need it."
They're in a desperate situation, and without anyone knowing where they are, there's no chance for rescue. They're on their own, behind enemy lines.
Suddenly, a spot light washes over them from the sky. A helicopter, one purchased from ShinRa hovers in the sky above them, it's light shining brightly upon them. Oliver curses and the two dart down a nearby alley, the light still trailing them. "Iole... I'm gonna' hav'ta do somet'in an ye gonna' hav'ta do w'at I say. Ok?"
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Post by Iole on May 28, 2009 0:53:49 GMT -5
::Iole stumbles to keep up with him::
It doesn't sound like I'm going to like this.
::But she doesn't argue. She knows the desperate situation they're in and that without being able to use her powers, Oliver was their best chance::
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Post by Oliver on May 28, 2009 1:06:59 GMT -5
"Ye not."
They come to the end of the alley, before them another street that snakes it's way through this cold and dirty industrial sector, beside them, a drainage pipe with a grate. Oliver let's Iole go, letting her rest against the wall beside it as he grasps the grate with his fingers. He clenches tight around it, straining as he pulls, and with a loud rattle, the grate flies off, pulled free.
He rushes over to Iole, places his hands on her shoulders and looking her in the eye.
"Ye nee'to get in an' hide. We can't 'ake it 'ike t'is. Hide in here, I'll try'an draw t'em away."
He helps Iole to her feet again and ushers her into the wet and grimy pipe. Throwing the sack of food items in with her. "If I'm not 'ack by nig't... I need ye too get out'a here. Get 'ack to our side." As shes hoisted up, Oliver not letting her object or get a word in edgewise, he hugs her hard. Breaking away, his hands now clasping the sides of her head, he kisses her deeply, a loving but sad kiss. Turning then, he takes up the grate and replaces it loosely back into it's spot. He reaches through the grate once more for Iole's hand.
"I love ye." He says just as the sound of the helicopter approaches. He looks to the sky then breaks away, not moments before the spot light sweeps past the front of the grate.
He runs into the nearby street, the helicopter overhead, and is followed by the peppering blasts of machine-gun fire.
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Post by Iole on May 28, 2009 1:19:02 GMT -5
::Oliver had to pry his hand away from hers, but Iole couldn't hold him there. Her strength has left her. What's wrong with her? She can't even cry out as the gunfire sounds around her, echoing in the small crevice she's hiding in. Her entire body is trembling yet she can't make herself move. Tears start sliding soundlessly down her face, but inside she's screaming. It's all she can do to press her face against the bars, trying to catch any kind of glimpse of Oliver that she can. Where had he gone?::
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Post by Situation on May 28, 2009 1:28:10 GMT -5
Time passes, how long Iole is uncertain, but it has been some time since she last heard the helicopters overhead. The roar of military vehicles passing in the streets, and the marching of enemy soldiers. Sirens have long since waxed and wained and now she sits, alone and cold, in that miserable place.
It appears to be nearing sunset now, several hours having passed, when a familiar bird song echoes in the alley. A second later, a tiny sparrow lands at the opening to the grate, it's Emily and this sign doesn't bode well.
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Post by Iole on May 28, 2009 1:34:51 GMT -5
E... Emily.
::Still feeling very weak, Iole can barely call for the bird. And again her thoughts drift to the sack of meat pies at her feet. This time its overpowering, and she decides that if she has time, it would be stupid not to use it to regather her energy. She lifts it to her mouth, taking a bite out of the flaky crust and the juicy meat filling. Then another, and then another. With each bite she feels her strength return as well as her pain vanishing. She finishes it off, and then grips the grate with her fingers. With one solid push it comes free, falling to the ground with a resounding clang. She hops out on her now healed ankle and lets Emily perch on her finger::
Emily, where's Oliver?
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Post by Situation on May 28, 2009 1:39:15 GMT -5
Emily jumps around her finger, chirping and singing in a flurry. She appears too frantic to clearly get the message across she wishes too and frustrated, she tries a new tactic. Jumping from Iole's finger, she land on the ground and hops to the grate on the ground, which leans against the opposite wall. She passes through the bars and hops around on the other side, pacing back and forth.
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Post by Iole on May 28, 2009 1:50:16 GMT -5
::Iole gets the message immedieately, dropping to her knees. Her long ponytail of black hair falls over her shoulder and brushes the ground::
No... no.
::She beats her fist against the ground fiercely with each no, growing angrier and more frustrated each time. He knuckles leave cracks in the ground where she punched it::
No! No! No! No! NO!
::Then she stops. A voice in the back of her head is screaming at her to get up::
This is no time for crying. Crying is for the weak. No one is going to fix this but you. Now get up and start moving ahead.
::When she looks up, her eyes are no longer wet but angry. Her hands quiver not with fear but with rage. Her jaw is set. She gestures with her head for Emily to come out from behind the grate::
Come on Emily.
::A second later, two birds soar over the streets of Lindblum who's skies have been devoid of everything but jets and smoke for a long time. The first is a sparrow and the second is a white eagle with blue eyes and black tipped wings. Not long after, the eagle lands in the LPA encampment after spotting Connolly and Sid. Iole changes back in front of them. They both open their mouths, but that fierce determination that flooded her being isn't gone yet::
No time to explain. Captain, where would someone captured on the streets be taken?
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The LPA
Experienced Novice
?Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.?
Posts: 142
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Post by The LPA on May 28, 2009 1:59:05 GMT -5
"Well you're late, mind explaining that." Exclaims Connolly, who appears more distracted with the mountains of paper work in his hands then anything else. "And where's Oliver?"
"Iole, vhat are you going on about?" Sid chimes in, sitting near Connolly, resting his rifle across his shoulder. "If anyone is captured on the streets, they're lucky if they're taken anyvhere before being shot." He gestures with his hand, making it into a gun and putting against his temple and firing. "Regent doesn't take prisoners."
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Post by Iole on May 28, 2009 2:08:07 GMT -5
Ollie's gone. We were ambushed on our way in and we got separated. If I can believe Emily, they're holding him somewhere. And I'm getting him out with or without your help.
::She stands there unflinchingly, waiting for the message to sink in. She has a strong feeling Sid would help her. She's seen him with Oliver enough to know he wouldn't leave his friend out to dry. But the ever-dutiful Connolly was one she was unsure of. He had surprised her before by allowing her to take point in the last battle, but usually when it came down to it, it was loyalty to the party first::
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The LPA
Experienced Novice
?Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.?
Posts: 142
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Post by The LPA on May 28, 2009 2:17:35 GMT -5
Both Sid and Connolly looks at Iole dumbstruck, hardly able to believe this non-sense. Connolly is the first to react by walking over to a nearby table, tossing his papers upon it, then proceeds to bang his head into its surface a few times before returning to his usual military baring.
"Alright, I'm ok." He breaths in and out. "I'm just a dead man for letting you two leave in the first place, that I could deal with. Now, I should just go suck start my .45 and save Reynard the trouble, but here's what we're going to do instead."
"Internal Affairs office?" Sid chimes in, standing up with his rifle in hand, chambering a round. "I'm ready."
"Exactly, Iole, you and Sid are going to sneak back into enemy lines and infiltrate the central Internal Affairs office, in the royal quarter. I don't want you back here unless it's with Oliver, understand?" He grabs a nearby radio and tosses it to Sid. "If Oliver is DOA, radio back so I can make good on that suck starting before Reynard gets word of this horrible f*ck up. Now go, quickly before I snap."
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Post by Iole on May 28, 2009 2:22:37 GMT -5
Understood. I already have a plan. But first I'm going to need someone else's help.
::She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. This next part takes more than she's willing to let on::
I'm going to need help from Violette.
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The LPA
Experienced Novice
?Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.?
Posts: 142
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Post by The LPA on May 28, 2009 2:29:31 GMT -5
Connolly starts to smile a most troubled smile, like that of a mix of the sudden onset of insanity and madness.
"Oh of course." He nods. "Oh Violette!" He yells out, spinning around. She sits atop an artillery gun barrel with a rag, wiping it down. "Get off that thing and go with these two, you've just been field promoted. Congrats."
Violette slides off the gun and approaches the three, tossing the rag aside to ???a lowly soldier who passes by. "Finish up for me, will you?" She says in passing. "What is it now, Captain? I don't work pro bono."
"Iole, explain as you three get going. I need to find a bottle of something and take a long sip from it before I realize exactly what I've just ordered. Good luck."
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Post by Iole on May 28, 2009 2:33:31 GMT -5
Violette, we're going to the club. How soon do you think you can out on a show?
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