2017-09-13 - Day 8...probably

Day 8'ish

Cir-El 0/10 -DEAD- Spice 10/10 Anachronism - 9/10 Bloodstone - 8/10 Cammi - 9/10 Juston - 8/10 Aquagirl - 10/10 Red Raven - 0/10 -DEAD- Kid Briton - 10/10 Deathlok - 10/10 Vanguard - 8/10 Starfire - 9/10 Batwing 9/10

Roughly three days ago Vanguard was attacked by the Sentinel that Juston runs. Badly hurt, he and Aquagirl and Spice went down to the ocean to help him recuperate. Spice returned recently, saying that there was nothing she could do and that she was 'in the way'. She's a medic, there's not a lot she can do without bandages or access to a hospital. And they seem to be bonding. That's how she put it, and smirks abounded.

Food supplies are low. Anachronism, your resident viking hunter, has managed to find exactly one rabbit today and he's concerned that there's no more to be had. Which means this is the last real food in the area.

Kid Briton has decided not to be around Juston anymore, even though Starfire insists that he's not a threat, so there's actually two camps now. Starfire keeps insisting that the Sentinel they fought couldn't have been real; it went down too easily, she says, but nobody else is sure what to think.

And Bloodstone still isn't doing anything at all. Anachronism has started hanging with him and Juston though, given that they're all fairly quiet and low-powered folks they seem to be hanging together.

Spice pokes Deathlok gently. A reminder that the two of them failed to save Red Raven, who's dead three days now.

Michael Collins aka Deathlok has been in a mood since Red Raven died, still convinced that he should have taken charge and removed her wings. It would have sucked, but he knows about someone who endured similar. The villainess Dragoness with her cybernetic wings. He looks down at Spice and offers a little smile, but doesn't say anything at the moment. He's been making it on water, not needing much in the way of sustenance. He normally thrives on gatorade and ensure, thanks to his scant organics.

Deathlok rises to his feet and exhales. He offers,"We need to move on. One rabbit isn't going to cut it for you guys, and I'm going to need some fruit or something eventually."

Batwing has been scarce in the camp spending most of his time wandering alone. When Deathlok speaks he looks up from he sits and stares at the creature from under his hood. So far Deathlok, despite his fearsome appearance, hasn't proved much of a threat. He gives him a nod and rises. "Agreed, we should move at the very least to get out of this snow. I vote we join Vanguard and Aquagirl on the beach."

Anachronism nods in reply. Kid Briton, passing overhead, says, "I was about to say the same thing. Scout food." Arcade says, "Definitely." Spice nods, looking tired and hungry. Starved actually. Juston says, "I can't leave my robot. I'm sorry, I just can't." Starfire is in the other camp, but will agree certainly. Bloodstone just stares, narrowing his eyes.

Michael Collins cuts his one eye at Arcade, not liking anything to do with him. Even him voicing agreement. He folds his arms and looks to Batwing, suggesting,"Good idea. Fish."

Deathlok looks to Juston then and shrugs in a somewhat forlorn manner. Not much to do about that at the moment.

Wait. Arcade? Batwing turns at the sound of the villain's voice and reaches back for one of his blades. "What are you doing here?" he demands.

The hologram of Arcade says, "Boooring. You should all be at each other's throats by now." He's visibly wavering, as in you can see through him slightly. "Well I'm sick of it. This is supposed to be a war, not an extended peace treaty. You want food? You can have it."

He grins evilly, then rubs his hands together. "You probably noticed that this area is split into four basic ecosystems. Each one will have a safe zone, and ONE of those will have a food drop in it. You guess which one. But this doesn't come for free. I'm bored, so for the next twenty-four hours things are going to be more interesting."

Then he vanishes, and the ground starts to shake. Earthquake!

Michael Collins will pick up Spice when things start to shake, rattle, and roll. He doesn't want a second on his hands. Looking to the angry looking Bloodstone he yells,"Stop your glowering and help someone!"

With that, Deathlok nods at Batwing emphatically. He understood the sentiment. All the same, this earthquake takes precedence. So does Spice, who looks too weak to fend meaningfully at the moment.

A batarang flies through the space the hologram stood a second after it vanishes, and when the earth starts to shake he curses softly and turns towards the rest. "Let's move, stay in the open," he says since the shaking ground is less of a threat than things falling on them.

Kid Briton snorts at the groud-bound people, flying down to scoop up Bloodstone. "Don't worry, I've got him. Useless twat."

Bloodstone actually starts hitting Kid Briton, not that it does any good against the mighty flyer's invulnerable skin. "I don't need your help, you great ponce." The whole situation would be worse if anyone were in a place they could fall from, but mostly people are on the ground and the worst thing they have to deal with is falling snow.

Then there's a sound in the distance, kind of like an oncoming train mixed with falling snow. And Arcade's voice says, amusedly, "Ooh, this is gonna suck."

As an avalanche starts, coming this way.

Michael Collins starts to sprint, snatching up Juston whether he likes it or not. He can mope at the beach with Spice and Mike.

"Batwing, RUN! AVALANCHE!"

Mike can move. He can run roughly one hundred and ten miles per hour at full tilt, and he presently has no intention of being engulfed.

Batwing hears that rumble and glances back over his shoulder. "Run!" he echoes when he sees what's coming for them. It's probably useless but he runs anyhow sprinting at full tilt, or full tilt in 6-8 inches of snow anyhow.

The avalanche comes, with Anachronism and Batwing trying to run through the snow to get away. And, given the distance they are down the mountain and the amount of snow...it's rather underwhelming. It mostly sends another few inches of snow through the camp, putting out your fire, and tripping anyone on the ground. Anyone further up the mountain is likely in trouble, but this one was just getting everyone wet and cold.

The other camp is further up, but Starfire was in it alone at the time and she can fly.

Michael Collins squints at this realization, slowing his roll as he takes note...

Computer: The voluminous snow drift missed your camp by approximately 98 percent.

Mike: Really. That much, huh?

Computer: Yes. My margin of error is three percent in this situation.

Mike: Sounds like you should recalibrate.

Computer: Recalibrating...99 percent.

Mike: ...

Mike doesn't put Juston or Spice down. He'll lock his arm around Juston if he objects to being moved from the life threatening situation.

The low wave of snow knocks Batwing off his feet but he doesn't stay down for long, popping back up and shaking snow off his cloak. He looks around at the others to see if they're okay. "Is everyone alright?" he asks.

"My robot!" shouts Juston as he's moved, definitely squirming to be let go. And considering the fact that the situation is about as life threatening as falling on a skating rink and then being hosed down, he's not being totally unreasonable. Aside from his desperate need to save his robot from the snow.

Spice, for her part, is just holding on with both hands and trying not to swallow her own hair.

Anachronism apparently weathered the snow just by planting his feet. When it settles, he says, "I don't know about you folks but that was a little low on the danger scale."

Bloodstone gets dropped into the snow by Kid Briton, who apparently reacted poorly to being bitten on the arm. "Little brat anyway," he says, then flies off to check on Starfire.

Michael Collins grumps at Juston and looks around,"Who was down the mountain? Just Starfire?"

Mike will then put Juston down once things are settled. He'll huff and state,"We can fix the sentinel when the food situation is resolved. Priorities." Batwing shakes his head. "No, there was someone else," he says. "Mike, come with me, we need go check on her," he says to Deathlok before sprinting in the direction of the woods.

Juston, looking stunned, stands there for a moment. "My robot was up the mountain, and he was my friend," he says. Then turns and walks into the woods after giving Mike a glare. Fine thanks for saving his life.

Bloodstone is sputtering and shaking his fist at the place he hopes Kid Briton is at, since the treeline makes seeing any distance nearly impossible. At least he's doing something for a change. Anachronism moves to give him a hand and maybe warm the kid up. it's odd, Anachronism hasn't had a shirt on this whole time. Must be the magic. Michael Collins doesn't bother replying to Juston. Instead, he'll move down the mountain with Batwing. He keeps Spice in tow, putting her on his back so his hands are free. He imagines the situation down there is either really bad or just fine, given where the snow was going.

The trio passes Juston quickly, who appears to be trudging off in the direction of his fallen robot. He says nothing as they pass.

It gets harder to move as they travel though, as the snow and debris from the avalanche becomes more difficult to traverse. Deeper and more potentially lethal, til it's literally shoulder-height in a very short time.

The location that Batwing is aiming towards is in sight though, with no signs of anything and a few trees ripped out of their roots by the avalanche. No sign of anything human, except for the hilt of what appears to be a gun sticking out of the snow.

Batwing is shorter than most so shoulder height for others is chin height for him. Finding a downed tree he pulls himself free of the snow and uses his new vantage point for a look around. "Careful," he warns Mike and Spice. "There were mines here last time. Mike can you scan for them or any life signs, there was a girl living here named Cammi," he says before he spots Cammi's gun. "Cammi!" he calls out. "Are you here?!"

Michael Collins will don his helmet when the snow starts getting deep. He's heavy, being mostly metal so won't be able to easily be atop the snow. The cushioned adamantium encasing his noggin preserves his organics against the cold to an extent.

A mechanical voice will emit from the helm in reply to Batwing,"Give me a moment. Mines are easy, people will take a bit."

With that, Mike's cybernetic eye will visually cut through the cold, scanning for heat variations even as his cyber ear tunes to amplify all sounds given his imminent proximity to the snowbank. Radiation and electricity is filtered as well as he takes note of where possible explosives are in his search for any potential survivors buried or otherwise within this cataclysm.

There are explosives. LOTS of them actually, but they seem to be inactive. Small, potent mines all around the area, mostly swept downhill by the snow. Not all, but most of them are downhill quite a significant amount.

Which is when it clicks that if there's a girl in this, she's probably downhill a bit too, and Mike's cyber-eye picks up a hint of heat radiation that shows a very small amount of heat, about the size of a human head. About four feet under the snow, downhill a bit. Just the head though, there doesn't appear to be a heat signature for a body.

Batwing watches as Mike scans the area, "Anything?" he asks the cyborg. Until he knew where the mines were he didn't want to just surge forward recklessly. Michael Collins will announce up,"I think I see something, I'll check it out..."

Mike draws his plasma pistol and sets it low to cut a small swath through the snow. He's careful to avoid the explosives, stopping short if need be to dig through manually. He doesn't take chances, just because they seem inactive doesn't mean they can't be set off somehow with all the jostling they've experienced. He'll tell Spice to get off and go join Batwing to make sure she's clear if it looks necessary. He's confident he could survive an explosion fairly easily. He's not so sure about the other two.

Spice nods to Batwing, smart enough to get the hell out of the way. She doesn't look hopeful though.

No mines go off as Mike digs.

The torch cuts through the snow quickly. It's just snow and rocks and debris and crap like that, so it's no hindrance to the robotic juggernaut. When he digs into the right place though, he quickly sees a hint of orange. Then a hand. An orange hand, which was not registering on his heat sensors. The head is close by, and he quickly finds that it IS still attached to the body. Just that the body wasn't giving off any heat. Advanced space suit, right.

Michael Collins didn't want Spice there if that was indeed all it was, just a head. He'd work to dig the person out carefully. If there's no explosives around the person, he'd set his pistol to the lowest setting to melt the surface of the snowdrift around, preferring a hard frozen surface to something that could collapse down and rebury as he works to free the person.

Mike calls up when he's made a bit of progress,"Batwing, could use a hand here!" When Mike blasts away the snow he moves over to join Spice, remarking "And they say the Bat Family has all the best toys." He doesn't linger there long, when Mike calls, he comes running and when he sees the girl in the space suit, he confirms, "That's her. Can we get her out of there?" he asks.

The girl isn't moving, nor is she breathing. She'd been under a while, if the time of the avalanche is any indication.

Spice is coming up behing as quick as she can, but she lacks anything like medical gear. So she's got in her tool bag a working knowledge of CPR and a worried expression.

As Starfire appears in the sky overhead, looking concerned.

Michael Collins will work to get her out of the space suit first, then rest her atop it. No need to make matters worse by letting her body temp drop further by sleeping on top of ice. Once that's handled, he'd check for a pulse. His cybernetic eye would make that easy once she's free from the suit. He can simply look at her heart and see if it's functioning. As he does that, he says,"Batwing, you and Spice handle compressions if you please."

If there's not a pulse, he'll offer to shock to fix that.

Batwing moves forward when he's called, his expression grim. "I'll go first," he says about the compressions, then adding to the others. "I have my medical kit with me if it will help."

Spice looks at Batwing, then says the first on-screen thing she's said in days. "Well that would have helped earlier," she says, letting him have the first round, wondering what she could have done with an actual med-kit for Dedrick.

The heart seems sound, she's just suffocated under the snow. So clearing her lungs, getting breathing going, is the order of the day.

The thirteen year old girl, laying on her orange space suit, begins to breathe. It takes a while but with assisted ventilation she probably won't have much brain damage. She isn't waking up yet, but she's breathing. Starfire has landed nearby and gotten a fire going, and she's trying to keep things warm.

And another earthquake hits just about then, hinting that Arcade hasn't gotten over the boredom thing yet. Michael Collins looks to Batwing and Spice, them being likely the closest at hand, and asks,"Are you sure noone else is here?"

Then the earthquake hits and he looks up in case of another avalanche coming their way. He'll snatch them up overhead if there is, trusting to his strength and armor to see him through it personally.

Which is when Deathlok's gun goes active. Without warning, and without him telling it to, it clicks into attack mode and fires, directly at Spice.

Batwing sinks down, relieved when Cammi starts breathing on her own again. He was tired, cold, and the prisoner of a psychopath but at least he'd helped said psychopath from claiming another life. "No, I didn't see anyone else," he answers Michael before the ground shakes again. "Damn it, Starfire, how many can you carry?" he begins when he sees Michael turn his gun on Spice. Batwing, acts fast reaching to his belt and throwing a charge towards Michael, "What are you doing?!" he demands as he charge goes off blasting the surrounding six feet with EMP.

The pistol is the closest at hand, and Deathlok had been weighing his options in case of another avalanche. His organic eye widens when he senses his own hand move with snakelike quickness to draw and fire at the very girl he'd been working to keep alive.

Computer: Imminent danger, threat level alpha. Pacifist Protocol Deactivated. Engaging.

Mike: No!

Mike's pistol fires once.

The EMP goes off just as the bomb does. Starfire flashes into the fight, taking the pistol hit just as it fires and crossing her arms to protect herself and Spice both. Who, by the way, looks like she just got poleaxed and faints, falling to the floor herself. Completely unhurt.

Deathlok however takes the full hit of the EMP and gets systems scrambled, enough to return full control of his body to himself. When he gets up out of the snow, that blast was enough to turn him off for a moment or two.

As a minor detail, his clock seems to be malfunctioning. Seems to be flashing twelve for some reason.

The EMP goes off just as the pistol does. Starfire flashes into the fight, taking the pistol hit just as it fires and crossing her arms to protect herself and Spice both. Who, by the way, looks like she just got poleaxed and faints, falling to the floor herself. Completely unhurt.

Deathlok however takes the full hit of the EMP and gets systems scrambled, enough to return full control of his body to himself. When he gets up out of the snow, that blast was enough to turn him off for a moment or two.

As a minor detail, his clock seems to be malfunctioning. Seems to be flashing twelve for some reason.

Michael Collins has a look of frightened confusion the whole way through this circumstance, even after he drops like a sack of potatoes from Batwing's EMP.

Mike: Computer, diagnostics right now godammit!

Diagnostics and systems scan commencing...

Mike remains on the ground for a long moment with a look of utter confusion frozen on his face beneath his helmet. His attentions are focused inwards, unconcerned with what goes on around him except that he just nearly broke his cardinal rule for some reason that he himself doesn't know.

When Michael goes down, Batwing looks to Starfire, "Are you alright, can you get Cammi and Spice out of here?" he asks as he assesses the state of his teammate's wounds.

With Deathlok rebooting successfully, Starfire pulls Spice back. Just in case, though he's given no reason to think that he was hostile til this point. "I shall be alright in time, Batwing person who is small." She's not great on the names thing. She seems a bit hurt, but not murdered.

Spice opens her eyes, looking up from the snow. She slowly sits up and has the grace to look embarrassed. Cammi isn't so lucky yet.

-

"So we just leave her already," he says. Kid Briton isn't as much a hero as his 'brother', Captain Britain, though he's supposedly just as invulnerable. He's already harangued everyone into getting ready to go. Even Bloodstone.

Floating up in the air, Starfire snaps lightly, "We must watch one another's backs. We are the only ones looking out for ourselves. We have to take care of one another as best we can." She is otherwise towering over Kid Briton, trying to make him calm down along with the rest. "Is she capable of travel?" To the hurt Cammi "She would be the first to say we're stupid for taking her with us," Batwing says sternly. "But, I still think we should do it. I'll do it if I have to," he volunteers. He was tired and starving but he was made to be the perfect human, he would manage. "Our fliers should be used to get to the safe zones and find the food." When Starfire asks about Cammi's status, he looks to Spice. "Well, is she?"

The hurt Cammi says, "She'll make do," as she lays there. Apparently more conscious than she's been giving indication of. She pries her eyes open as another quake hits, refusing any offer of help to get up. "As long as none of you managed to damage my suit, or that great flying lummox hasn't shared his stupid. I think it's contagious." She clearly needs help, but the glare she gives anyone offering it is almost weaponized.

Under her breath, Cammi says, "Stupid...weak...slow..." almost like it's not meant for anyone to hear.

Opening and closing his mouth, Kid Briton hovers in view of Cammi. "I don't hit women, especially not hurt ones, but close your mouth girl."

He says it to the sound of snickers, as the rest of the crew seems to appreciate Cammi's wit a bit more than he does.

Starfire goes to put herself in front of Kid Briton, her eyes flashing. "Stand down." It is a command. Not a request. An order. WIth all her fire and passion. "Get in line. And shut your mouth."

Koriand'r has all the authority of a princess and a warlord behind her. She might not be either. Not anymore. But she still has the voice. And all it's promises of brutality if her will is ignored.

Deathlok speaks up, adding, "You lay a hand on her over your own dead body, buddy." He doesn't talk a lot, but what he does say is usually pretty to the point.

Batwing scowls at Briton as he moves to stand next to Cammi. "Agreed," he says to Deathlok his hand resting on the hilt of one of his swords.

Kid Briton however says, "I might just ask you who put you in charge of me, Princess. Oh yes, I know your history." He crosses his arms, then stops floating over everyone and lands. "Given the situation, I'd think you would all be happy of a firm hand that was getting us moving."

Cammi, the one for whom everyone's standing up, looks around. Confused, not sure exactly how she got here. But not breaking, and not giving up. She does, however, say "Nobody's going to listen to this, but we do not want to touch that food drop." First thing she's tried to say to the group in weeks, and it's that we don't want the food.

Starfire glances to Kid Briton. "Get in line. This is your warning. I -expect- you to obey as a good soldier." Her hand flashes with fire then as it glows. Her going for the intimidation route. "We all must work together to survive. I amm the firm hand we need if you insist upon it." Her hand flashes with fire then, but otherwise does not raise up to strike. "You answer to -me-. Do you understand that?" Koriand'r has a brutal, firm presence as her innate persona is the cruel, brutal ruler that she has rarely had to be.

Batwing looks down at Cammi when she mentions not touching the food. It surprises him and his stomach pangs with disappointment at the thought of leaving it. "Hold that thought," he says to the space-girl before he steps forward. "Briton is right, we need a strong hand leading us, but I for one do not want it to be Briton's. I support Starfire as our leader, what do the rest of you say?"

Anachronism and Spice are going ahead a bit, leading the way to where Dedrick and Aquagirl are recovering. It's a bit of a trek on foot, but possible and more likely to offer food. It's also in a different quadrant of the Arena, and might have the food drop.

Kid Briton, however, faces off against Starfire. Bloodstone is here, Juston has wandered off earlier and hasn't returned, nor is it looking like he plans to do so. The group is limited.

Deathlok grunts, then shakes his head without comment. Cammi however, says, "Seriously? Voting? People will follow you if you earn it, and frankly I'm done here. This is why I was staying out of it, politics in groups gets you killed. Can we get over ourselves, both of you, and get moving before Arcade decides to drop us into a hole and leave us there? Because I for one am not looking forward to cannibalism yet. I didn't bring the right spices."

Kid Briton was opening his mouth to mouth off to Starfire, hard, and gets a little distracted. TWO strong women might be a bit much for him, as he settles back a bit to think on things.

Starfire takes a breath, "Good. Batwing, secure the campsite. Check it over for traps or observation where wem ight be watched. Deathlok, go after the group on reconaissance and be ready to support them if they need it and stay in touch." She closes her eyes and glances ou tand over. Then turns to Cammi. "you are injured. If you depart us you are likely not to survive." Her tone is crisp and firm. "And I do not wish to earn leadership. I wisht o keep us all alive until we are rescued. That means we stay together and cooperate." She is of a different mind on leadership.

"Leadership must be agreed to. I iwll not give orders or enforce them by strength. I can only lead those that wish to go with us. I will not force any to. But we have to stay together to stay alive, and that means we have to support one another and do things by consensus."

Batwing for his part turns back to Cammi and shakes his head. "It's either that or squabble all day," he retorts about voting. "Besides, you almost died on your own, like it or not you need us."

Cammi looks at Starfire, then at Batwing. She grinds her teeth, then says, "I'm good at surviving. It's what I do best, frankly, and I've managed it through some major shit. Worse than this, if you can imagine. So believe me when I say, that food drop feels like it's not worth the effort. We need to find food another way." She stops, breathes and closes her eyes, then opens them again. With effort, she adds, "But you're right. I'm in over my head. I offer you my survival skills, you offer me enough firepower to get through this, and we all cover each other's backs."

Kid Briton for his part says, "Bat boy had a point. I can fly and find where the food stash is. Then we can choose what to do with it once we know what direction it's in." Mangnimanimous of him.

Starfire nods to Kid Briton, "Good. Be cautious. I doubt that our abductor is going to make anything remotely easy. Locate it and stay out of range. When you do, come back to us and we'll send in a group to see what it is. The rest of you, see to securing the campsite. Inventory supplies and salvage and tend to those who are hurt. If you need it sleep."

Batwing nods. "I can test some of it for poison with what I have on my belt," he says about the food. "Besides, I don't think Arcade is going to poison us, he seems pretty intent on us killing each other, so if there is going to be a trap it's going to force our hands towards that end, not kill us outright." At least that's the thought anyhow. He turns to Cammi, "Your skills are welcome," he says simply before reaching to his belt and removing her gun. "Saved this for you, so you'd still have some fire power of your own," he says and then turning it butt first he hands it to her.

Starfire nods to Batwing, "Yes, but that does not mean he would not try and play games of it. I do not trust whatever he has laid out ofr it. Once you have secured the campsite and that Kid Briton has located it, I would like to have you fly out with him or myself to inspect whatever he has left." She presumes there's a trap or something to it.

Kid Briton flies up and away, but the look he gives Starfire is not a pleasant one. Arcade's little game isn't failing exactly, it's definitely turning the weaker members against each other. But he's just the most obvious one. Who else is hiding it better? Is anyone?

Cammi takes the weapon from Batwing, looking him in the eyes. She looks like she's hiding the damage of being in the snow well. "I'm going to go see if that robot kid is still alive," she says, raising an eyebrow to see if anyone objects. "Alone." To forestall any offers.

Deathlok spreads his hands, not one to argue with anyone today apparently. Unless it matters.

Deathlok however does start making the camp ready. Though it's mostly covered in snow from the avalanche, so there's not much to do.

Batwing meets that look, his own eyes masked behind the white filters of his mask, but he does take stock of her condition as she passes over the weapon. "It might be a good idea," he says of finding Juston. "If anyone's caught stupid from Briton it's him." He looks to Starfire for her judgement.

Starfire nods, "Go find hi and check on him and make sure that he is all right." She takes a breath. "Presuming Kid Briton returns, Batwing, go back with him. I will remain here for now unles syou believe you require assistance." Cammi doesn't wait for orders or permission. She's here as a member of the team, but she's also antisocial and something else. If you didn't know better, she was embarassed. So when she stomps through the snow in her warm orange outfit she's gone quickly. There's clearly more that she's going to do than just a trip to check on a moron.

Bloodstone says, "That is one pissed off lady," as she gets out of earshot.

Looking around after Cammi has been gone for a minute, Bloodstone says, "So is nobody going to follow her?" kind of out of the blue. "I can't be the only one who needs to know if she's the one who's been causing us problems lately. Someone in the woods reprogrammed that robot."

Batwing rubs the bridge of his nose. "I trust her," he says to Bloodstone giving the kid with the skull shirt an annoyed look. "But the decision belongs to Starfire," he says before turning and stomping away to help Deathlok with the camp.

Starfire nods to Blodostone, "I trust Batwing's judgement ofr now. If you believe that thereare other things you can do, go help search for Justin. Or help when it comes to salvaging what equipment we have."

Bloodstone stares. Then he shakes his head. "You all trust too easy," he says, getting up to help wherever he can. It's just the four of them now. "And I've been watching you for over a week and nobody's even tried to figure out what my deal was. I'm starting to think that nobody other than me has seen what Spice is doing." Batwing stops in the snow. He turns and makes his way back to Bloodstone, "And what is she doing?" he asks. As for who Bloodstone is? He still doesn't care. A stone. That bloods.

Starfire turns to Bloodstone, "Because if we do not trust then we all die. If some of us are not trustworthy, then we will dela with it. Otherwise.. Paranoia will consume us and we will kill one another soon enough and the survivors be picked off."

Bloodstone looks at Batwing. He slowly shows his teeth, and says, "Figure it out yourself." That kind of response is exactly what drives him back into his shell. He turns away from Batwing, then looks at Starfire. "Some of us have reasons you shouldn't trust them. I'm one of them. But I'm not trying to kill anyone." And then he turns to follow Cammi into the woods, doing what he was told to do if he didn't trust her. He's going to see if Juston is alright.

Deathlok looks like he'd rather not get involved, but instead says, "Did we miss a memo or something? I swear we asked everyone for their data on day one." Starfire just quirks a smile at Deathlok, "PErhaps some ofus do not have the best memories then. Regardless, when you are done with the camp I want a supply inventory done and waht you think we can make out of the surrounding area."

Batwing's eyes close behind the mask. If the exhaustion and hunger weren't already giving him a headache this business would. "Don't turn your back on me," he snaps at Bloodstone as he reaches out to grab his shoulder and spin him around, already shifting his stance to prepare for any couter-moves. "If you're so smart, tell us what you've seen!"

Bloodstone gets spun, falling over on his butt. He's not super coordinated, but he automatically pulls his hands in close to his body. Then slowly starts to get up. "Sure, attack the guy who tried to help," he says, using his left hand to get up. the other is tight in a fist. "Watch her around anyone powerful. She sidles up close, stays right in their vision all the time. It's like watching someone who needs to be seen as helpless, as a victim. She's making you protect her, like you're all her servants!"

Starfire floats along otherwise at the campsite, hovering up in the air and using her telescopic vision to try and sweep the area. Trying to keep the remainder of the spread out team in view, letting her eyes wander as she tries to lookf or anything out of the ordinary or that might be a threat.

Batwing backs off when Bloodstone falls instead of countering. "And you, what do you do?" he asks the boy as he watches him get up. "And what Spice is doing, is what anyone weak does in this situation, they find protectors. You might want to give it a try if that-" he nods at where Bloodstone fell in the snow. "-is all you've got."

Bloodstone's threat makes Batwing scoff. "Or what? You'll fall again?" he asks and shoves Bloodstone's shoulder. Not hard, but enough so he feels it. "I'm trying not to kill you all!" Bloodstone screams into Batwing's face, shaking his right fist at him. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep this safe? Fuck you, you little poser! You have no idea what pain is or how much I want to help! NEVER touch me! If this ring comes off you all die, do you understand that?!?!" He's red in the face, but steps back, trying to get control of himself.

Poser?! The fist is moving before he's even really aware he's punching, and if it lands he follows it up with a kick to the chest. "Who's the poser now?!" he demands. "If you want to help, DO IT! Don't just sit there and whine about it!"

She's able to catch sight of what looks like an impending brawl. And Starfire is flying towards Batwing and Bloodstone. SHe's not sure what exactly is up, nor can she read their voices at this range. But she's flying towards them at a low speed - it will take her a few precious moments to arrive, however, by which point the melee has started.

Thing is, that's the reason that Bloodstone keeps from moving. Keeps from doing this exact kind of thing. The ring doesn't quite fit, and it comes off easily. Like, when he was being dropped into the snow by Kid Briton, KB was actually taking a bigger chance than he knew. Bloodstone tries so hard to keep from getting jostled around. So he won't fall to the ground, with his ring falling off of his finger.

It lands in the snow someplace a ways away, and Bloodstone screams.

Arcade, watching in his bunker, says, "Game on," and smiles.

Bloodstone's back erupts. Tentacles come out of him like Cthulhu is coming, and very quickly one sees that isn't too far away from the truth. A demon follows it, and Bloodstone's body dangles from the THREE STORY TALL MONSTER that's summoned when his ring is removed.

It roars with the sound of hell, because the Bloodstone family are demon hunters. And one lives in their youngest son, waiting to be freed. it looks down at Damian with horrid eyes and grins with a thousand teeth, then tries to eat him.

Koriand'r says a not nice word. She's rocketing through the air over towards the giant monster. "BATWING!" She doesn't know what is going on. But suddenly the heay restraint of Bloodstone makes a terrifying amount of sense as Koriand'r goes to fly to him at full speed, trying to punch him across the face.

"Deathlok, support fire!" HE's the ony one around that would have weapons that could -hurt- this thing, and Kid Briton is still far, far away

Batwing follows Bloodstone down to the snow arm raised to lay into him with punches but he didn't expect the screaming, at least, not yet. "What? What in the hell are you screaming about?" he hansn't noticed the ring being missing, he was too focused on his rage and pounding Bloodstone's face into the snow.

If Batwing hadn't expected the screaming, he REALLY didn't expect something Lovecraftian to explode out of Bloodstone's back. He gets to his feet and staggers back looking up at the monster with a sudden terrible horror. When it lurches towards him, Batwing responds on animal instinct and just flat out runs, trying to escape it, he'll think later, if he survives.

The demon with Bloodstone hanging from it's chest misses Damian, but it's close enough that he feels the thing's breath on his hair. It smells of brimstone and sickness and death, the smell you get from real demons. Starfire's punch makes it lean back a little, which is why Damian is still alive; she struck it in time to keep him from being decapitated by the first bite.

Then Deathlok's plasma blasts are going off, blasting into the thing's hide with enough power to raze the forest.

Damage negligible. Recommend alternate attack.

"Thanks, I'll try that," Deathlok says to his computer realizing that the thing appears to be immune to fire. Hellbeast, right. makes sense.

Then the thing swats at Starfire with a thousand pound arm, trying to knock her through the trees! It appears to be mostly physical. and teeth, lots and lots of teeth!

Batwing has never been this terrified before. The League and his Father had prepared him for a lot but it did not prepare him for this. He rolls as the creature's jaws snap closed just inches above his head and then forces himself to his feet. The obvious course is retreat and Batwing takes that chance when Deathlok lays into him with the plasma blasts, he moves trying to get out of that thing's line of sight long enough to gather his thoughts and strategize.

Starfire is flying at it at high speed, and then she goes to take the full on blow from Bloodstone full on the chest. She lets out a howl of pain as it slams her. And with the concussive force of several thousand tons of power, she slams to the ground. Leaving a furrow in it that blasts her through the trees a hundred meters. Right again in agony she is getting back up. Going to fly at him at full speed once again to smash it to give Damien enough time to get to cover.

Unfortunately Starfire doesn't get to get up so quickly, the THING jumping into the air. It lands right on top of her, driving her six or seven feet into the earth as Damian hears a voice.

"This way! Bring it this way!" Cammi is calling from the woods, in the direction of her camp. And her land mine spread. She's waving for his attention, as Starfire and Deathlok try and engage the thing.

Deathlok gets it's attention for a moment, letting Starfire get up, by hitting it with a tree. Mostly pissing it off though. No noticeable damage. Long distance to Starfire: Zack isn't going to off you instantly. I have plans for you, my victim.

The terror still grips Batwing while he forces himself to breathe but when he hear's Cammi's voice he looks up and nods. "Time to redeem yourself,' he says before standing up and turning towards the monster hurling a quartet of batarangs set to explode on impact. "Come on, let's finish this!" he shouts before bolting for the tree line.

Starfire hears the calls of Cammi, maneuvering over to fire quick starbolts over to the face of Bloodstone. She knows that this is not the child in control of themselves- this is them having thier worst fears thrown into them. Starfire dances and weaves, firing energy bolts to the face of the entity, trying to shoot it and fall back to give cover.

Anachronism steps into the area. He somehow managed to make it in time, slashing at the beast with his axe. Which, of all things, manages to do some damage! Magic axe probably. But the damage is still not enough to stop the thing, barely making it bleed, and it kicks the guy with a shriek into the woods. Shortest combat ever.

Starfire's star bolts actually seem to drive it back a little, their energy being painful to the beast. The batarangs also seem to annoy it, and the thing lumbers QUICKLY after them! Nothing that big should be that fast! It tries to take off Starfire's head with a snap, missing it due to her dancing and weaving, but it seems to be eying Damian more than Starfire. The easy target first.

Then it steps on the first mine, and loses a toe. As Cammi gets the hell out of the way.

Seeing where the mines are, Starfire goes to try and keep on giving quick energy beasts to the -thing-. She calls out, "Bloodstone is not doing this of his own free will! Try not to hurt him.." Too badly? It's hard to tell - whether theres' anything of him left in ther eor just what. But the intent is there.

She fires along, calling out, "Deathlok, herd him! Anachronism, target his legs and joints! Stay out of the way of the blasts!" Trying to coordinate the team as Starfire tries to do quick hit and run attacks to keep it away from Damien.

Batwing runs hard into the woods keeping his eyes focused on the ground as much as he listens for the monster behind him. Where he can he leaps up, bounding off trees, leaping one from the next parkour style. "Come on, " he grunts as he's forced to step across the ground and then jumps once more. "Come and blow yourself up."

It isn't going between the trees. It's ignoring them, uprooting them if they get in it's path like a rampaging freight train. The mines are pissing it off, definitely, and as Deathlok comes out of the woods with Anachronism's axe, there seems to be a slight bit of hope. But nobody is doing enough damage, and it is apparently healing.

The thing turns, fast, and decides that a mine is a reasonable loss as it goes for Damian, one more time, the gigantic foot coming down toward him.

As Cammi's orange suit slams into him, tackling him out of the way.

Unnoticed, back at the beginning. When all were gathered by Arcade, he decorated the area with statues of fallen heroes. Ant Man. Nico Minoru. The Grey Ghost. Those known to have given their lives in the service of the light, though at least one was misunderstood most of their life.

One of them cracks, then a light shines through it. And then, the stone falls off and someone rises from the darkness. An aura of purple shines over her, and someone unexpected shows up on Arcade's monitor. "Oh, that's interesting. Computer, data on new entry."

The computer chimes in with, "Mystical threat. Calculating new parameters."

"You do that. I want to see what happens."

Nico Minoru has arrived.

Flying towards the thing with desperate speed and raw power, Starfire is going at her utmost now. SHe knows that they cannot really hurt this thing. But she has to try. She should have tried to be firmer earlier and include Bloodstone in the group. TO have grasped he isolated himself for a reason. That he was holding back his own monster.

Starfire is looping at high speed. Each circle of her going barely below supersonic in a figure eight. SMASHING the head of th thing on one side. Flying at a reverse angle to try and SMASH it from the other end.

"Oof," Batwing grunts as he's slammed into and sent rolling into the trees. He springs to his feet quickly, turning to see what hit him. When he sees who it is he shouts, "Cammi come on!" and throws a rope and batarang out to try to yank her to safety.

Flying towards the thing with desperate speed and raw power, Starfire is going at her utmost now. SHe knows that they cannot really hurt this thing. But she has to try. She should have tried to be firmer earlier and include Bloodstone in the group. TO have grasped he isolated himself for a reason. That he was holding back his own monster.

Starfire is looping at high speed. Each circle of her going barely below supersonic in a figure eight. SMASHING the head of th thing on one side. Flying at a reverse angle to try and SMASH it from the other end.

"Oof," Batwing grunts as he's slammed into and sent rolling into the trees. He springs to his feet quickly, turning to see what hit him. When he sees who it is he shouts, "Cammi come on!" and throws a rope and batarang out to try to yank her to safety.

"Ring?" Cammi asks, looking at Batwing. She knows it's on his mind, and has to be the way to stop this thing. And all they need is time to go find it. Starfire might be able to give them that.

The demon is at least noticing Starfire's attacks, but mostly it's getting knocked about by them. She is a worthy opponent, and it decides to focus all of it's attention on her. Kicking Deathlok away, it gets the axe in it's leg again for the trouble, it shrieks at Starfire with a noise so loud it makes her slow from the pain. Then finds both of it's huge hands grabbing her and slamming her down with unholy force.

As a purple glow appears in the air, and a young lady with a staff on one hand seems to appear in the air.

"Cool off," the girl says, and the demon is suddenly encased in ice. That'll do too, hopefully.

WHAM! Starfire hits the ground, brutalized and hammered hard. Her ribs are giving out then as she hits the ground. The innate fire of her has gone out, and she is slammed itno the ground rough. Brutally. Powerfully. Slammed. Again and again then. She may or may not be moving at this point then as she is down and crumpled hard then over in a crater.

Batwing nods "Ring," he says to Cammi and starts sprinting towards the ruins of the camp. When the creature freezes in place Batwing only runs faster figuring it was only a matter of time before it broke free but it does leave someone open to help them "Deathlok! Can you detect metal?" he shouts. "We need to find the ring!" Starfire's plight for the moment is unnoticed while he focuses on the ring.

Deathlok is torn between helping, but his computer and his active mind come to the same conclusion quickly and the cyborg is on Cammi and Batwing's trail in seconds. Then picking both of them up under his arms and sprinting! They arrive at the old camp in a hurry, hoping that the new purple girl is going to do what they couldn't. Keep it busy a little longer.

"There!" Deathlok points to a snowdrift behind Damian, directing the search.

Sounds of explosions come from the fight, as mystic fights demon in epic combat. Off screen. Batwing all but dives into the snow drift to look for the ring, his hands moving swiftly but methodically through the snow looking for the ring. He knew he didn't have much time.

Batwing all but dives into the snow drift to look for the ring, his hands moving swiftly but methodically through the snow looking for the ring. It doesn't take long to find it and when he does it is removed carefully from the snow and he grips it hard, careful not to let it get on his finger. "Deathlok, take us back."

Cammi is already on the way, but not toward the fight. She's going up a tree to see if she....well, why she's doing it is anyone's guess, but her skills so far have been pretty spot on. Deathlok shrugs and grabs Damian and the two of them are back at the fight faster than ...Starfire can lay on the ground and bleed.

The place is a war zone, with craters all over. The floating girl looks like the demon has gotten it's hands o her a few times, and she's clearly bleeding and hurt. But holding onto her staff with what appears to be a broken arm she fires bolts of energy at the thing, knocking it back with magical force. "Shooting Stars!"

Doesn't look like a good place to go, but how else do you get the ring to it but...going up close?

Starfire is slowly getting up, her hand going to brace at her gut. SHe is aware that she is badly injured, but seh does not show it. She focuseson hovering up a few inches then, her eyes sweeping the area as she gets up and over and slowly goes to force her way up then. She points over at hte new arrival, her own blood preventing her from seein properly.

"Help.. Her." She groans, not ble to follow what is going on..

"Put me down," Batwing says and when his boots touch snow he runs over to Starfire. "Can you fly?" he asks the alien. "We need to get the ring back on Bloodstone's finger."

Deathlok nods. "I'll try and keep it busy for you. Actually we all will, at this point." He knows that they're basically there to make a hole for him now. Unfortunately the thing looks if anything stronger than when it started out! He moves in, giving up the plasma for his fists, and does what he can.

Starfire can't fly. She can't even walk upright. Damian isn't getting help there, and the thing tries to stomp him as he's talking to the alien girl forcing him to evade. It's too fast and too powerful to climb and seems to have a dislike for him, but keeps getting distracted by the spells thrown at him from above.

"I can't keep this up for long," the spellcaster says as she spins in low, getting swiped at by the beast for her trouble. "Avast!" she says, slamming a barrier into the way. Incidentally, also protecting Damian from danger for a minute. Force field goodness.

Starfire is on the other side of the foot, as the thing looks down at her. And grins.

Starfire goes to quietly get up, closing her eyes. SHe looks up and over at the other. "I am sorry." She goes to quietly take a breath. And she speaks. "Get out of here. I am sorry that I have failed you all."

She takes her stored energy. Her solar reserves. They ere not going to last her forever. She whispers to herself, "One last time.. I am sorry Raven." That she will not get to see her best friend again. "I am sorry Nightwing." That she will not get to see him once more and hold him.

Her body glows then, the bright orange of her skin lighting up. SHe is a scarlet, crimson cascade of fire. Shooting up and over then, a glowing fireball that is erupting like a supernova. Too bright to look at. Too bright to see directly. Too bright to look away from.

She is a bright flare, the lightning of a new star that just for a few moments is erupting.

She is a Solar Flare. Her rage. Her hate. Her failure. Her passion. Her protection. She turns it all inwards. Takes all her emotion. All hwer willpower. All her experience. All her focus.

She turns it to make one last grand gesture of protection and defiance as she turns all her fire up and out. A massive all of light energy erupting in every direction, blasting out with a massive energy bolt far and wide in a massive bubble that burns away all the darkness. Imprinting on it with light. Washing away all there is.

It is always darkest before the daylight. Nothing's going to stand i thier way.. Not tonight.

And then there is nothingness. Just the empty void.

The demon is blasted into the force field. It lasts for all of five seconds before it cracks, splinters, and then the demon is forced THROUGH it and the feedback knocks the spellcasting girl to the ground with a flash of purple fire. She falls, landing in the snow, probably alright.

The demon actually looks hurt. Half of it's body is gone, which is technically impossible. Fire doesn't hurt it, yet it was burn half to death. The front half, the half with Bloodstone, just looks like it was put through a wringer. But it's mostly accessible if someone were to try and put a ring on the boy. Assuming there's any way it survived that.

Oh, and the forest is on fire.

Batwing leaps backwards as the foot smashes down between him and Starfire. He sticks the landing gripping the ring for dear life and the shield snaps in place. He turns towards the monster, how does he get the ring up there-

He barely registers Starfire's words at first, but as she begins to glow he understands with sudden terrible clarity. "No," he breathes but then the light and heat grows too bright and he's forced to flee and crouch until the both it and Starfire are gone. Damian rises from now bare ground his cloak burnt away and he turns to see what's left. Starfire is nowhere to be seen but the demon, or half of it, remains.

Gripping the ring Damian rushes the demon, intent on one thing, putting the ring on Bloodstone's finger. This was all his fault and Damian was going to make it right.

He leaps towards the demon when it's close enough and grabs onto Bloodstone desperately with one arm while with the other he grabs Bloodestone's hand and tries to maneuver the ring back onto his finger again.

It works. Bloodstone's eyes close and he slumps into Damian's arms, as most of the group needs help now.

Not much else registers given the events that have just happened. Anachronism is picking up his axe, trying to figure out how to deal with this. The demon vanishes, sucked back into Bloodstone's back, and the darkness fades, as everyone tries to get their wits together. How do you recover from this. How do you even begin to do so. Even Deathlok looks like he'd like to be in shock, but is trying to get people to gather and get away from the fire.

As Kid Briton finally shows up, the fire having drawn his attention. And the flare that took someoe's life. "What's wrong with all of you? And where's the bitch?" And he actually has what appears to be crumbs on his face. He's been eating something.

Which is when Anachronism turns and decides he's had enough. And without even thinking, yells "No more!" and swings.

And Kid Briton's head lands next to his body, looking stunned.

And Arcade smiles.

End day 8.