Clash with the Berserkers!

[Kami-Gaz]

Cynna wasn’t surprised when the man opened up about a marine officer wanting to use this as a political chip to further his career instead of just getting on with it and helping the people as his job should have been. It was that kind of game that Cynna wanted to avoid by turning down her promotions to a commissioned officer of the organisation. She nodded to the man and turned her attention to Bobble who was pouring a set of shots for the three of them.

“Attacks happen on the whims of the idiots shooting that crap up.” Bobble spoke frankly as downed the shot and looked over her shoulder to a man who was bringing out two boxed breakfasts and a plated one. “A basket of doughnuts, chocolate dipping sauce for the kid.” She spoke before turning back and giving the meals to the people that requested them.

“I heard a rumour last night that it’s being sold in a warehouse not far from here for a quite a lot of money.” She shrugged as she watched Cynna down her shot and then slider her own plate of breakfast over to herself.

“So It’s being sold to random people to spread chaos and make a profit?” The marine asked as she picked up a fork and poked a sausage that was on her plate. “How long has it been going on?” She asked, knowing that Magnus was going to ask that question too.

“About a week, they change the spot they sell every night to stop people they don’t want knowing from coming down on them, they don’t sell much too unless you are stinking rich like that brat was.” She said with a annoyed sigh at the end. This was a pain.

Cynna virtually inhaled the sausage with very little chewing and sighed in agreement. This was a damn good breakfast. It would be best to eat it while it was hot. “I have the feeling this is covering up something bigger, letting a little of the supply out to get a reputation and when the actual bad guys want it there’s going to be a war to get a hold of it.” The woman had been on islands where substance was used and abused and in her time had seen some things… This was going to be a war zone on the base’s doorstep.

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #9

The white-haired veteran turned to the door half expecting another trouble, but it was only Samson, who couldn´t control his sweet tooth anymore and so came to find his donuts.

“Didn´t I tell you to stay on ship?”

Magnus asked but there was no anger in his voice, only tired resignation that was met with completely innocent look coming from the creepy looking young man.

“I am hungry.”

He muttered, sitting down on an empty bar stool to eat his breakfast. Eating it was actually pretty smart idea and so started eating as well, while listening to Bobble´s story.

“Yeah, you are probably right.”

He muttered when Cynna shared her assumption with them.

“It seems like these guys are either trying to market their product and show it´s effectiveness to potential buyers or they are trying to test its effect on as many people as possible, or both…either way we should stop them as fast as possible.”

He paused as his companion finished his donuts and looked at Bobble with an expression of sad puppy that ate it´s favourite treat too fast.

“Are you…is there more?”

He asked, pointing at his empty box.

Seeing how sad he was, Magnus just rolled his eyes and reached for his wallet to pay him second serving, before continuing.

“The problem is, we don´t know if it´s the same group that was running it back in my city or not. Because if yes, I can not go into the streets and ask questions, they would immediately know what´s going on and disappeared.”

He said, obviously upset about it as nothing would make the former marine captain happier than bashing skulls of the responsible ones in the streets.

“Cynna, how well the locals know you? Do they know you are marine or can you ask around without raising suspicion? With me and Samson as back up of course.”

He patted the young man´s back so hard, that the poor boy almost fell from his stool.

[Kami-Gaz]

Bobble looked at the empty basket and shook her head when she saw the man reach for his wallet, leaning back and pressing a bell that made someone from the kitchen repeat the last order. It was very handy to have. “Keep your change.”

Cynna watched Magnus as he responded, he didn’t know if it was the same group as the one he had faced before, or a completely different group. Which limited his options of investigation, severely. She nodded and leaned back against the bar for a moment as she poked a sausage with a fork of hers. She has been gone for nearly twenty years; most people will have moved on but she as a person was extremely memorable. With a long sigh she shrugged before pulling the meat to her lips and taking a hefty bite.

“If they do then they do. Most thought I would bail from the marines in a year so they might think I’m just another civvie.” She mused; it was the best she had. Bobble remembered her but that was because her and the bartender got close when she was initially stationed in the base here. She shrugged lightly before digging into her food, making the plate empty in a few moments of concentrated speed eating. Cynna was a big woman and packed with muscle… she needed all the fuel she could get.

“Slap a fake moustache on yourself, wear some sunglasses and raise your voice an octave. That works for me when I’m doing some undercover investigations.” Cynna suggested, entirely earnest in the suggestion. She looked over to the man with her large amber eyes and grinned, her horns catching the light to glint. “And if it works for me, a woman who sticks out like a sore thumb I am sure a boring old man like you can pull it off easily.” She teased.

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #10

The white-haired veteran looked at Bobble for a second as if he was thinking whether he should insist on paying for Samson´s food, or not, but then decided to not push the little devil with a shotgun and hid his wallet again.

“Thank you…”

He muttered, turning his attention back to Cynna. And if anything, he had to agree that the woman was right. Her appearance was way more unusual than his, making it very hard for him to imagine, that she could really manage to successfully mask herself with a fake mustache and sunglasses. Although overly her idea wasn´t so bad. Actually, it was spot on making him wonder why it wasn´t he who came up with it. Was he really civilian for too long? Was he losing his edge? Well, that were questions that could wait until this mission will be behind him.

“Sounds good actually.”

He muttered, looking back at Bobbeh.

“I didn´t have much time to take a look around the city so, is there any place where a guy like me can get a wig? Because I don´t suppose I would be so lucky, and you actually had one from the last masquerade ball.”

He grinned with a hint of sarcasm on his face. Going undercover was never his style. He preferred direct action, kicking doors and smacking faces, and judging from the look of things Cynna was the same as him, making this whole investigation even more interesting.

“I can sit on your back, long hair for both of us…you…can…carry me or something”

Samson tried to help him a bit, prompting the large veteran to smile.

“Yeah, but I think I would raise some suspicion if I walked around with another guy on my back.”

He grinned at the young man.

[Kami-Gaz]

Cynna nodded as Magnus said her idea was a good one, a grin came to her face as she shook her head. A chuckle escaped her before she let out a content sigh. “I don’t have any wigs on me, but we can take the top off of a mop and put it on your head. The little guy is small enough that if I swaddle him in enough blankets he can look like an overgrown baby…” The tall off duty marine suggested as she looked up and down young Samson.

She looked to Bobble and then back to Magnus and nodded, a plan forming. “Bobble, do you still host costume parties every harvest festival?” The tall woman asked to of shortie with a shotgun. All she heard in reply was a hearty laugh as said shortie vanished into a back room. “Perfect. It might not be a wig but we can make do with costume stuff.” Cynna spoke before hearing a heavy thud, the sound of a box weighing more than three people hitting the bar.

“Twenty years of lost props and costume bits! I was it after every party so it should be nice to wear…” Bobble said from behind the box that was almost as big as she was. Poking out from the top were wooden swords, and other weapon like props. Standing up and peering in Cynna spotted a massive variety of wigs, dresses and jackets. At the very top was a fake nose, moustache and glasses combination. “In a range of sizes… I get rid of any costume underwear… so no I don’t have anything.”

Cynna barked a laugh as she picked up a long pink wig and pushed it towards Samson. “Try it on doughnut boy.”

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #11

"Well of course she isn't carrying around a box full of wigs and other costumes"
Magnus muttered to himself with a wide grin on his face, when she mentioned carrying Samson as an overgrown baby.
"Now that would spook a fair share of locals"
He laughed, imagining Cynna, carrying the young man, wrapped in his own hair, around as a baby straight out of some horror story.
Fortunately, as it turned out, they had another option in the form of a box full of lost props and costume bits brought by Bobble.
"Now, that's definitely something, thank you."
The white-haired veteran nodded in appreciation, before bursting with another round of laughter when the off-duty marine pulled out the pink wig. Not because of the image of Samson wearing it, but because of the face the young man made, which was a near-perfect copy of the face a small baby makes when offered something green to eat.
"No, you don't have to wear it."
Magnus smirked before the young man found the proper words to verbalize his disgust.
"Actually, I think it would be better…"
He didn't finish a thought as he noticed something at the very bottom of the box. A short with the logo of the Iron Slayers, another metal band he was a fan of, and a leather jacket with metal studs, spikes, and chains on it.
"Was there some large concert or something too?"
Magnus asked while taking off his shirt, only to realize it was too small for his size. Fortunately, the jacket did fit perfectly, so he decided to go shirtless, passing it to Samson.
"You wear this, it works well with your hair…speaking of which…"
He reached for a shoulder-length black wig, putting it on his head.
"How do we look?"

[Kami-Gaz]

Cynna looked down at herself and shrugged, in a quick root around in the box of old props and lost items she found a pair of sunglasses. A pair that she donned without hesitation and grinned an even broader smile to the group. “I’m set here!” She announced before looking to the punk rockers that were just finishing their preparations.

Magnus asked for her opinion on how they looked, and she nodded in satisfaction. “You look like a stereotypical band roadie! Perfect.” The tall woman spoke with a smile to them, one that curled and showed her fangs. This was going to work for the three of them, Cynna was only known to some people so a simple disguise and time was enough for her to change… and with this the guys should do the trick.

“Right, lads. I can sniff us out a lead in minutes. Follow me!” The horned woman looked back and nodded to the bar woman Bobble. “Thanks Bobs, I’ll pop back in before I head back to base.” She promised and then left out of the door they came in earlier with a swagger… why did Cynna always get involved with antics when she was on a holiday, the do gooder inside her could never turn a blind eye.

“Mags, tell me everything you know about this rage drug and who is supplying you, I want to know so I’m not caught off guard by anything the dealers or potential supplier does.” She spoke, looking back just a bit as they walked along the sea front towards what she knew to be the shadier part of the island.

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #12

They were a really strange group. A large horned woman and two guys who were looking as if they arrived at a punk fest. Hardly a group you would expect to conduct some serious investigation, which was exactly what they needed to get what they wanted.

Saying goodbye to Bobble, they headed outside and into the city to hunt down the dealer, whoever might it be.

As they were walking through the city, Cynna asked for more information about the drug and the dangers they might soon face.

“Well…”

The white-haired veteran growled.

“To be honest I don´t know much more than I already told you. Whatever it is it has to be injected directly into your body to take any effect and from there it works almost immediately, raising your aggression and strength while robbing you of reason and the ability to feel pain. The guy who ran the experiment on my island was probably one of the guys who put it together, or at least he was acting as he was. A quite young fellow, in his early thirties, I think. Tall, but scrawny, with short dark hair, and blue eyes, probably walking around with some burn scars as the last time we saw each other, I dropped a burning house on him.”

He grinned slightly despite the fact that it was far from the proudest moment in his life. If anything, it was a painful reminder of how his original skills deteriorated. If he was in the same form he had as a marine captain, that guy wouldn´t be able to run away, he was certain of it.

“Well Cynna, you are local here, so where would you go if you needed to buy something not really legal?”

Magnus asked, when they arrived near the town square.

[Kami-Gaz]

Magnus’ reply to the very valid question was… about as enlightening as it could be. He didn’t know all too much more about the drug itself, but he did know backstory. It is this backstory that held another vital piece of information. The appearance of a key figure in the production of this substance. The fact that Magnus dropped a burning house on the lout brought that same predatory grin to her face.

Then a question came up about her being a local… she wasn’t a local, but she did frequent this place at one point in her life. “It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been here, Herr Magnus.” She spoke, not pausing in her step to ponder.

“Things have changed here since I was last really stationed here.” She replied before turning the group down a dark and dingey alleyway, one that smelled as bad as it looked. “I know a spot some low life’s used to use as a base… it’s a good start and if our target isn’t there, a low life can give us the right clues we need.” Cynna spoke, one of her hands hovering over her mask as it dangled by her thigh.

It wasn’t far from the city square, it was only a few more minutes of walking but it got the group to a rundown industrial estate not to far from the base. The best place to hide questionable activity was under the noses of those who were looking for it, hide it under something far lesser. The old abandoned looking series of factories and warehouses. If one knew where to look, they could see lookouts and those who lived and worked here milling about in the shadows and hidden enclaves… this place was as good as any to get a lead.

“Looks promising.”

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #13

Cynna revealed that Magnus´s assumption was only half correct and that she in fact wasn´t local and was only stationed on the island in the past which still made her more knowledgeable, than either the white-haired veteran or his “nephew”.
She led them into the industrial area near the city center, a place full of workers, beggars, and other questionable existences that looked like an ideal place to buy or sell all kinds of questionable stuff.
“Yeah, looks perfect.”
Magnus muttered, walking around the place for five minutes before his trained eyes singled out tall, unkept individual, that was leaning against a wall that was surrounding one of the local factories.
“Wait here.”
Magnus whispered to the other two, taking a short walk towards him.
“Hey bro, how are you doing.”
That guy raised his eyes towards the former marine, jaw dropping to the ground.
“H…hell no! Dude! Say Freak Eye Bill I paid everything! I gave it to his brother I swear on my mother´s life dude!”
He jumped at his feet, looking for a possible escape route only to notice Magnus raised his hands up to his chest in a universal peaceful gesture.
“Easy bro, easy, I don´t work for Freak Eye, actually I am not even from here. We got here with the last big ship. Our captain heard that there is some good stuff for sale so send us to look around.”
The scared homeless paused, his terrified expression slowly shifting to a suspicious one.
“Yeah, well, I don´t know what you are talking pal so…”
Magnus smiled, reaching into his pocket for a thousand Beli bill.
“You sure bro? My captain has it from a very good source. It´s supposed to be good stuff, that would make us party harder when Seagulls are around you know?”
The homeless guy looked around before snatching the banknote and nodding.
“Yeah, well, there is a place. In abandoned socks factory two blocks away from here. Ask for Barbarian, that´s all I know.”
Magnus nodded.
“Thanks bro.”
He turned around walking back to Cynna.
“Abandoned sock factory, you know that place?”

[Kami-Gaz]

As Magnus made his way to get the information the group needed the Warrant Officer looked to the nephew and sighed. “How did you get involved in this, kid?” Though there was not much time for him to answer this question as nearly as fast as she asked it, she noticed the band roadie disguised Magnus making his way back after leaving the homeless fellow with some change. “Tell me later…” She whispered before stepping out from the shadows and meeting Magnus’ eyes.

“Sock factory?” She asked, there was one that she knew back when she was stationed here was in full swing operation. They crafted socks that went all over the world, not just the north blue. If that one closed down that was a big loss. They made the comfiest socks.

“Ja, I know it. If that place has closed down, then we lost a king of the sock industry.” She spoke, half joking as she walked ahead and took the lead again. She led the pair of disguised men through more streets and alleys to find the front gate to this abandoned sock factory.

As they arrived, she held a hand up and blocked the pair from moving forward anymore. This place was far more overt with its security. People dressed as if they were homeless, but concealing weapons sat in certain places. Figures in some of the windows actively watching and a still surprisingly well-maintained fence. “Yeap… this is the spot boys.” She whispered before leaning back and looking over the two, this was going to be harder to get into without a fight.

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #14

Samson, who was too distracted by a small black bug that was running across the street in front of his feet raised his eye, startled as Cynna asked him about his role in this craziness.

"Uncle…"

He stuttered but was immediately cut off by Magnus's arrival.

"Excellent, let's go."

The former captain nodded, following their guide towards the abandoned factory. Well abandoned really wasn't the right word as the experienced fighter immediately noticed how many of the "homeless" people around glared at them reaching for weapons hidden under their rags.

"Yeah, looks like it."

He growled, taking a few steps forward to address the undercover guards.

"Hey there, no need for the tension. We would like to do some business."

He said hands slightly up, palms against the nearest group in a universal peace offering gesture.

"Oh is that so?"

One of the homeless guys asked as he jumped at his feet, pulling out a long knife.

"Then why don't you start by giving me your wallet?!"

The veteran reacted with a swiftness that was born from countless hours of training, which transformed his response into an automatic reflex. He reached forward, grabbed his assailant's wrist, and squeezed. He didn't even have to bother himself with a proper lock as the long and fragile bones of that swift but slim man were no match for his inhumanly strong grip.

That guy's face turned blue and then purple as he cried out in pain holding his broken wrist with the other hand, his weapon uselessly hitting the ground.

"You f*cker!"

Dozen or so of voices cried out in anger, moving towards them with a wide variety of weapons ready to take revenge for their injured comrade.

Cursing, Magnus took his stance to defend himself just as Cynna and Samson but there was no need as another person appeared on the stage. He was tall, nearly as tall as the Exorcist himself, with a large heavy set body and incredibly muscular arms that were telling stories about hard physically active life.

"Hey, hey, hey that's how we welcome our guests?"

His deep voice boomed through the street as its owner opened the gate and walked out to the open sun reflecting on his bald head which was accompanied by a square jaw and a pair of dark eyes. He wasn't old, maybe in his late thirties but looked much older thanks to several scars that were running across his head, face and arms. As for the rest of his body, one could only guess as it was hidden in gray cargo pants, heavy boots, and a leather jacket.

"Apology for these people, they became quite desperate since the factory closed. What can I do for you? I am afraid that no socks are made here anymore."

He showed surprisingly healthy white teeth in a wide grin, looking almost as if he was expecting very specific response. Some code perhaps? Magnus didn´t know but he didn´t want to let this opportunity pass.

“Yeah, but I have from a very good source that you can buy other things here. Things my captain would be willing to pay with gold for.”

The bald man tilted his head to the side.

“Is that so? And what´s the name of this captain of yours?”

“Irongate.”

Magnus responded without batting eye, using the surname of the only member of M.A.R.I. who he know was involved in all kinds of shady business.

“Never heard of him.”

The bald guy replied making few of the eagerly homeless guys to take step forward.

“Really? Well that will surely hurt his pride. But if you don´t have what we need, then we´ll take our leave.”

As he started slowly turning around the jacket wearing man stopped him.

“Wait…what´s the thing your captain is looking for?”

The Exorcist shrugged.

“When s*it hit the fan last time we had some…morale issues among our crews and he heard there is something on this island that could…solve this problem.”

The guard or whatever he was paused, almost as if he was thinking about something, before nodding.

“Well if that´s the case follow me.”

With that, he entered the gate and gestured on his subordinates to let them pass.

[Kami-Gaz]

Cynna followed the lead of Magnus as the group walked up to the factory, it was impressive how quickly went from zero to eleven with the snapping of a man’s wrist. It did however get the attention of a boss of sorts from the gang that was running this abandoned factory, one that looked far healthier than the dosed-up guards that must have been paid in illicit substances to keep the place somewhat protected.

Cynna just played a part of a large, horned bodyguard, there to look imposing and dangerous. It wasn’t a hard thing to do as just offering a sharp look to some of the creatures that pretended to be humans caused them to cower away more than the man who had snapped an arm like a twig. “Tch, you need better security. This lot look like they couldn’t stop a water gun.” The large muscular woman quipped as she followed the group into the facility.

Once past the gate the security was upped more, instead of drugged up homeless folk just doing this to get their next fix the people in here were armed. Some looked trained and others looked to be somewhat experienced. It was something Cynna had picked up in her many years of service, the ability to gauge the relative skill and strength of a person with just a glance. People who had seen genuine battle and survived carried themselves in a way that people who had only trained never could. They had eyes that reflected the horrors of battle, analysed the world like she did… like how she could tell Magnus did.

It was only a short walk until they were actually entering the factory proper, and the blonde warrior cracked her neck with a satisfying noise. “So, this stuff you got. What does it do?” She asked with a bored tone, conveying how she was likely just roped along for the job.

[Mr. Moon]

Magnus #15

The Exorcist and his peculiar companions were following their self-appointed guide inside, with Cynna doing her best to look as a menacing bodyguard, while Samson was hopping around, switching between walk on two and all fours like a strange pet, or perhaps a mascot of their team.

“Maybe…”

The bald man growled in response to the marine´s question with amused tones ringing in his voice.

“But since we are on governmental territory you have to understand that secrecy is very important for our security too.”

He lead them through the courtyard, with several other people on it, mainly armed and this time experienced guards, who were giving them cold looks as they passed by, towards the main part of the factory. A large industrial building with big double leaf door.

For the whole time, Magnus was keeping an eye on his surrounding, feeling deep inside, that something was amiss. And the closer they got to the factory the stronger the feeling was, especially with the guards they met moving so they would stay very close to them. The alarm definitively rang when their guide opened the door, revealing the whole factory was dark and empty except for another eight armed and dangerously looking guys standing in a half circle behind the door.

“What it does? Well, nothing really. It´s just an synthetical anger. That substance will shut down all emotions and triggers pure, unfiltered rage so strong it can supress even things like self-preservation or pain. That´s why we call the long time users a mad dogs. But your friend Magnus should probably already know that am I right?”

The former marine cursed, clenching both of his fists as he realised that this whole thing was a trap prepared for him.

“What? Did you think we´ll let someone like you sniff around for too long captain?”

[Kami-Gaz]

Cynna followed along, listening to the explanations as she grew more and more uneasy with how this was presenting like it was a trap. One that they had all waltzed right into! In the same breath that Magnus had used to Curse the warrant officer did as well, reaching for her weapon in a swift motion. There was a satisfying click as the safety was removed and the holster loaded live ammunition.

“So, we’re doing this the hard way?” The off duty marine asked in a whisper as she shifted her position to find the biggest threats in the room and put her back to Magnus’, the entire time the man was monologuing. This was going to be a rough fight but one they could handle. If magnus was a former Captain of a division then he should surely have those skills.

With a soft growl her eyes flicked between some of the heavily armed guards, normally traps like this ended in a blood bath and it was usually those who acted first who came out the best. The guy who had been leading them monologued and that was going to be the downfall. In a snap the woman had surged forward and made her first attack as the talker asked his question.

A slash was made and at the apex of the swing a trigger was pressed, and buckshot was fired to the side into another man. The recoil giving her attack extra bite as it made purchase. Her free hand plucked the half demon mask up from her belt and pressed it to her face, covering her mouth with it. As it clicked into position she laughed.

“You call this an ambush?!”