A Game of Gods: Infinities

"I'm sorry to hear that," Fluttershy said to Cletus. "I'm sure there's someone special out there for you," she assured.

It was then Fluttershy noticed out of the corner of her eye something out in the short. Something with horns......

"Oh my, there seems to be a cow over there!" she said before taking flight and flying over to where the horns were......

You're cue Anura.

Scorpion decided to leave Snake Eyes to his training. He teleported, finding himself back with Cletus. This reminded Scorpion of something.

"Excuse me," said the ninja, "Wanderer, there's something I've been meaning to tell you since Cybertron..."

Grey found himself none the wiser to what was going on. He could catch snatches of conversation from the group with Jail in it, the scientist making more than a few unnerving gestures as he talked, but he didn't particularly feel like poking into their affairs*

Just as he consigned himself to hovering awkwardly around outside the castle until he could work up the courage to talk to someone, he heard a familiar noise - the sound of a portal opening. Whirling around, he noticed there was something strange about it. Intricate glowing patterns, like those of circuitry, seemed to pulse inside the gap between the Crystal City and whatever lay on the other side. Stranger still, it made no attempt to suck everyone in, aside from a gentle tugging sensation. Entranced, Grey walked over to it.

"...Nothing for it, I guess..." muttered Grey, stepping inside. Within moments, the 14 year old was gone.

Snake Eyes spotted the portal, and remembering Grevious's explanation, quickly hopped through.

Mehir whirled around, his cape fluttering in the wind. "A portal!" he said. "A new challenge awaits us."
He turned back to Jail and Erio. "Well, I was going to ask for a demonstration of your magic, but I guess that I'm getting the next best thing... a live battle," he said and sighed. "Go forth, and fear no darkness!"
With that, he turned around again and walked into the portal.

Tick was swift to enter his gateway.

Erio sighed, and ran for the portal.

The Doctor walks to the portal. "Well Skyla...Gernomino!"

Jack had hoped to have more time to talk, but time was never in abundance here. And as always, he could never abandon the others to whatever lay beyond that portal. Preparing himself for battle once more, he walked into the portal.

Heading outside, Xigbar sees his fellow champions enter a portal not far from him. Sighing, he runs towards the portal and dives in.

Shotaro sees the portal before him, then chuckles. "Let's go... Partner." Shotaro said to Dubix as he jumped into the portal.

edited 6th Jan '12 12:16:48 PM by Psyga315

Those who entered the portal were momentarily blinded by a bright flash of light that slowly began to fade to reveal a somewhat grimy and weather-beaten row of large, square shaped buildings, their front facades crossed by large struts that formed a "X" shape. A thick maroon bar curved around each building at roughly head height, contrasting sharply with the dark grey paint of the rest of the buildings. Painted in faded white on the walls were a series of numbers - "01", "02", "03", and "04". Large chunks of debris lay nearby some of the buildings.

Just behind the group was a truly gargantuan wall of concrete (or at least a similar material), which was replicated on the other side. Set into these walls (and the buildings) were white doors, small red lights indicating that they were locked. To the group's left and right were chainlink fences, behind which appeared to be a slew of open hangars. Stored in some of these hangars were ruined aircraft. It was hard to tell, but they appeared to resemble giant blue, gold and white sharks with a panoramic windshield and wings holding jet engines.

Grey could hardly believe it. He was home. More important than that, however, were the five men charging toward them, their pea green uniforms and red visors an unusual sight, especially with the grey of the guns they were carrying◊. In front of them ran a young woman◊, her long ponytail moving wildly with each step. Her shirt was as blue as the sky, and her eyes carried a certain determination about them. Coming to an abrupt halt, it was one of the soldiers who spoke first.

"What the...?" he muttered, his mouth hanging open in a gormless fashion.

The brown haired girl spoke next, her face the very picture of surprise. "Grey, who the heck are these people...?"

"Aile, I can explain. They're... my friends. People I've met while I was travelling around," replied Grey, feeling somewhat tense. The girl - apparently called Aile - seemed to calm down somewhat. The guards also seemed more relaxed. Guess I dodged a bullet there... mused the reploid.

"I see. You keep some really strange company, y'know that? Well, I guess I might as well introduce myself. I'm Aile, leader of the Guardians. These guys..." she said, nodding toward the soldiers. "...Are the Hunters. You all have some pretty good timing - Master Thomas is coming over here to discuss something important."

"Really?!" exclaimed Grey, the surprise leaking into his voice. This must be important. "What is it this time?"

"I don't know... well, I was meant to meet him at the train station anyway. How about you all tag along while you introduce yourselves?" said Aile, smiling warmly. "Relax, guys, I think they're not going to harm us."

"That's a relief," commented one of the Hunters as the small group turned and began walking toward the door at the opposite side of the courtyard. "I thought there was a major Maverick attack for a few moments, there."

Grey, for his part, ambled along in silence. Was it a dream?

edited 6th Jan '12 12:24:20 PM by Flanker66

Mehir crossed his arms. "Well, 'tis an honour to meet you, Aile, Hunters," he said and bowed. "I am Mehir, the Last Summoner." He paused. "And no, I'm not a Maverick... Whatever they are."

Cletus walked into the castle to Metaluca's door. He knocked, before he heard the portal opening in the distance.

"Are you alright in there? ...Ah, seems there's a portal if you feel up to it. I'll see you when I get back... er, if that's okay?"

Rey had been asleep for a bit, but he came outside, looking a little bleary-eyed and unsteady, seemingly looking around for the others. Upon catching sight of the portal, he hesitated, clearly thinking hard about simply returning to the castle and staying there, but finally, with a sigh, he turned and headed into it, jumping through in silence.

He observed the strange world they'd landed on, and took in Grey's friends, all of this still without comment, though since he was wearing his armor, all he had to do was put down the front visor of his helmet and hide his face to keep any emotions hidden. When they began to walk, he followed, still in silence, only when the woman asked for introductions did he speak.

"Rey," was all he offered, in a dull, apparently uninterested voice.

Jack, grateful that they would not be plunged straight into battle, as had so often happened before, took a moment to look around the world they had entered. It seemed that war had been here some time in the past, and if the approaching group of soldiers was any indication, would be here again. The nature of the place was familiar to him, but seeing that the soldiers recognized Grey, his spirits improved. It was always a good thing to have at least one person who was familiar with the world.

"They call me Jack," he said, moving swiftly along with the natives as they headed off. "We are here to help, yes, but we are not familiar with conditions on your world. If you could provide a short summary as we walk, it would be most helpful."

Shotaro entered, holding his hat as he introduces himself. "I am the detective who cleanses the streets with a silvery wind. I am Hidari Shotaro." Shotaro said, as he puts gives Aile his hand.

"...REALLY CHEEKY..." Dubix muttered.

"I am the Tick, and we are here to help you with whatever ominous threat you face at this moment! Or I am, anyway!"

Fluttershy flew over to where the horns were, seeing they actually belonged to Garland. Though slightly disappointed it was not actually a cow, the pony trotted over to the warrior. "Um.....Mr. Garland....?" she asked. She tapped him gently with her hoof to check if he was awake.

And then the portal appeared. "At least this one is not sucking us in," she said. The pony turned back to Garland. "Mr. Garland, a portal opened up!" she said. "Um, I'll see you inside," she said, before flying off and into the portal.

On the other side, after the blinding light dissappated, Fluttershy looked around. She gaped at how different everything looked. Her surroundings somewhat reminded her of the more improverished and gritty areas of Manehatten she had heard and read about, but somewhat more.....bleak, and possibly oppressive.....

She was nervous when the large group of humans came upon them, but calmed down when the girl, Aile, said that she knows Grey personally. The other human turned out to be Grey's friends as well.

As she trotted forward following the group, the pegasus introduced himself. "Hello, my name's Fluttershy," she said to the Hunters. "Um......what's a Maverick?" she asked.

"Nice to meet you all," said Aile, giving Shotaro a firm handshake. She seemed somewhat alarmed by Rey's dullness, however. "Is he okay?"

"Uh... thanks," replied a Hunter, clearly staring at the Tick despite his visor. "We always appreciate help, even when it comes from someone as weird as you."

This earned a quick glare from a second Hunter, who hissed " Don't say that! "

Grey felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. Was this really the first impression his friends were going to make? If that was so, then it didn't bode well at all.

One of the other Hunters, meanwhile, decided to explain things - sparing only a quizzical stare to Grey before he talked. "A Maverick is a machine - or someone - that's gone nuts. We've had a lot of trouble with 'em recently. The only real safe areas from the Mavericks is the cities, such as Inner Peace, or small enclaves like this, our camp. There's these powerful gadgets known as Biometals, too. Grey's got one, and so does Aile. There's others, though. Master Thomas is a member of the Sage Trinity, which leads the government named Legion. Got all that?"

When the group approached the door, its' light suddenly switched to a cyan colour and the door split in half, each section receding into the floor and cieling respectively. Stepping through, they found themselves in front of a series of ramps. Off to their left the fence had given way to a series of freight cars attached to trains, although the locomotives themselves were out of view. The nearest one was hidden away in a train shed. There was also a dense forest nearby.

A nervous looking backpacker stood behind a decrepit looking train signal that was bent at an unnatural angle. Evidently, something had damaged it in the past. The train station was also visible; a flat screen showed an image of a snub nosed train running along some train tracks, while a door stood nearby, an orange light illuminating the passage.

"Hey, Grey!" exclaimed the hiker, his face lighting up. "Who're those guys?"

"My friends, Jarke," said Grey, perhaps a little too hastily.

"Really? They're kind of cool... but also kind of intimidating. And is that a horse? Anyway, are you guys heading to the train station? I heard something major was coming up," continued Jarke.

Grey simply nodded as the group moved past him, although the others were welcome to talk to Jarke if they wanted.

edited 6th Jan '12 2:18:08 PM by Flanker66

Xigbar arrived not long after the others, although for the first time in awhile, he has his hood on. Due to previous events, he stood away from the others to somewhat avoid association. He wasn't willing to cause grief during the challenge, that could wait.

Snake Eyes followed Grey, as he had no idea what was happening.

Cletus didn't bother waiting for a response. He was too nervous to continue the conversation. Hopefully, Metaluca wouldn't mind if they could still be friends. Soon, he was following Grey along, pistol drawn.

If Rey had even noticed Aile's comment, he didn't give it any recognition. He followed the group, staying off to one side slightly, looking around at everything without so much as a word.

Cletus walked up to Rey.

"Uh... Rey? You feeling okay?"