[Event] Operation Arizona

[soul_mods]

Characters: Those who signed up for Mission 128: Operation Arizona. List of participants here.
Location: Horseshoe Bend, Grand Canyon, Arizona
Rating: PG or higher, for death, destruction and the like.
Time: November 25, late evening for the pre-mission posts, then November 26 at 00:00 hours all the way until the whee hours of the morning of the

Comments

Okita + Takasugi & Katsura + Gintoki

[mumyo_ken]

[It's strange how familiar this is, given the foreign terrain, but for Souji it feels not unlike the last big fight he'd involved himself in, back home. This one, however, held the promise of much more danger than a few Choshu rebels could have presented. Strange, also, to be working along side versions of those self-same rebels as they began their assault. He had one spare moment to wonder what Hijikata and Kondou would have thought before he turned his whole attention to the fight.]

/tracks this like a boss

[alastinglight]

[The kishin eggs had started swarming out to their side almost immediately. The creatures looked hellish and moved fast, sweeping over the ground, taking down whatever was in their way.

Oddly, Takasugi felt right at home.]

This should be interesting.

[In as much as he wanted to be out there with a blade himself, there was something nice about resting within Okita's grip as a Weapon, knowing that they could take down pretty much anything that stood in their way.]

/tracks this like a mid-boss?

[novelvision]

Mmm. Interesting as it is, it would be in our best interests to be cautious. [Katsura stood for the moment, but he was poised to strike at any time. In a way, it was nice knowing that a friend- no, comrade had his back in more than one way.]

/tracks this like a mini-boss, the ones that make you use up your MP and items before the real thing

[silvershamurai]

[Gintoki doubted he could ever get used to the way he could still 'see' despite not having any sort of visual organ. Not that he was complaining; he could at least offer an eye over Katsura's back at the very least.]

Cautious like that time with Giriko? If something like that happens again, I'm throwing out all of your DVDs.

[That aside:]

Here they come. Get ready you two.

[mumyo_ken]

[The banter was enough to make Okita crack a smile for a moment--did they always work like this?--before the enemy got close enough to become a threat.]

Take care of yourselves.

[And then he was dashing forward, diving into the fray. There was no shortage of creatures to fight here--he simply had to hope that he was up to the task and that the faith that had been placed in him was not mislaid.]

[alastinglight]

[The first kishin was a wolf-like thing that attempted to leap right at them, going straight for Okita's throat.

Takasugi's mind was clear and sharp, focused on the singular task of running possibilities and angles of attack through his head. Would Okita move in and take it mid-air? Would it be clean and flawless, as always?

Another kishin, in the meantime, was lumbering towards the other pair, ready to gut them with its tusks.]

[novelvision]

I'll kill you if you dare to throw out my DVDs. Take care of yourselves too. [Katsura feels strangely clear-headed and energized this time, perhaps because he actually has his comrades fighting alongside him this time. The kishin is too slow to be of much harm; he moves out of its way and then moves in for the kill, ever mindful of the other kishin inhabiting the battlefield.]

[silvershamurai]

[Gintoki snorts, not the least bit off put by the threat. How many times had those exact words been uttered to one another? Probably around the amount Katsura keeps insisting he isn't Zura.]

Yeah, just like the time you killed me for ripping your Hana Yori Dango poster.

[He's not at all concerned that Katsura would be distracted by Gintoki's taunt. He knows, without a shadow of a doubt, that Katsura would never be defeated by the likes of such a lowly foe.]

[mumyo_ken]

[With the attack truly underway, there was nothing on Okita's mind but the fight, watching and anticipating, moving at just the right moments. It wasn't even conscious movement anymore, just skill and instinct. When the Kishin leaped at him he was already moving so as to avoid it's attack, the blade in his hand catching it neatly across the throat. He didn't have time to play around--there were too many adversaries to contend with.]

[alastinglight]

Don't worry about us.

[Takasugi's voice might have sounded like it was coming from a totally different person at that point. He was one for the fight; his comrades' banter, though, was refreshing in its own right.

The next kishin was rounding in, trying to get an attack from below.]

[novelvision]

[Katsura notices the kishin, getting out of its way before striking viciously back at it. The technique is a little less refined than what he's used to doing, but the reason why he's sacrificing some style for speed is clear: With more enemies coming in, every second counts.]

[silvershamurai]

Zura. Incoming. Three o'clock. [It wasn't so much a command as a forewarning to the kishin rushing towards the pair. Being blind to enemy movements was one of the worse things to succumb to when outnumbered.]

[mumyo_ken]

[He began to lose count of the enemy as they kept approaching--he simply struck them down as they approached. But he was starting to wear down, himself, though likely not enough that it showed quiet yet. He swung his Weapon hard into the abdomen of yet another kishin, grateful for the way Takasugi got stronger with each kill, making it easier for him to keep fighting.]

[alastinglight]

[Slicing through the creature was much like slicing a hot knife through butter, only much, much bloodier. It was quickly replaced, however, by another wolf-like creature.]

Nine o'clock as well!

[That was more a formality than anything else. He and Okita could take this.]

[novelvision]

I heard that! [It's a simple gesture so that Takasugi and Gintoki both know that he's heard their calls since the battlefield can be deafening at times; now, Katsura moves to engage the first kishin, slicing clean through it before turning around to engage the next.]

[silvershamurai]

Just covering your back.

Two more. One left, one behind. Back's closer. [He's keeping his words succinct on purpose. With all the battle cries, the inhuman screeches, the metallic scrapes, Katsura doesn't need any other background noise restraining his senses.]