A T O N E M E N T

[Deleted]

Big black billowing smoke took to the sky like campaniles. Melty had shifted uneasily on his feet as the fumes crept closer and dropped to a low crouch. Over the squeak and clank of pressing gears, the unseen Rogue sang, mocking them. The genetic experiment then growled threateningly at cerulean lights leered at him through a sea of smoke. 

"Feeboogoo, trog," he spat though his whole body tightened with fear.  

Then the smoke dissipated.

It was as though a boulder had dropped in Melty's stomach. His antennae dropped. He had seen cyborgs before being deactivated and smuggled to Earth, but none of them were anything like...that.

But it was never a choice. Melty could melt metal.

He spread his wings and took off, flying straight for the cyborg's face. 

"AGGABA!"

[Clopin]

Before Facilier had the chance to shoot another blast of magic towards him, Aurelio called for him to sound the retreat.
"I know those are the Vizier's crows! They're annoying, that's what they are!" Clopin exclaimed, as he began to back away from the witch doctor, allowing Aurelio to stand in for him and attack. He gave his brother one last look, before taking off to sound the alarm. He just hoped that for all of their sakes, they'd be able to get out fine.

The strike from Aurelio's staff was sudden, leaving Facilier no time to prepare. And, had he been in his right mind, he would've had the sense to jump. His lanky legs buckled under him, driving his knees into the floor, as his shadow rushed to keep the rest of him from collapsing completely. He rose once more, shakily, and lowered his staff towards Aurelio, violet eyes narrowing as he met the seafoam green of Aurelio's eyes.

"You...and your bastard of brother...will be the first ones I sacrifice to the Loa. I can promise you that much, for what you've done to Mortaray." Facilier growled. His shadow moved to scatter the metal caltrops that Aurelio had dropped mere moments before, as the witch doctor rushed to the body of his friend. He knew that this was a fight he could not win.

Not this time.

Facilier and Mortaray disappeared into a cloud of thick lavender smoke, leaving Aurelio to his own devices.

---------------------------------------------------

Nasira was fast, but Taylor was much faster. She leapt a few feet off the ground, as the magic blast just narrowly missed her leg. With a pivot in midair, she landed expertly back on the ground, dagger glinting in the moonlight.

What she wasn't expecting was Shiloh's weapon, and that thing was far nastier than any other weapon she'd had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting. She could feel the blood rushing to the newly formed wound, as she hit the ground from the force of the whip. Her left arm was completely out, leaving only her right arm to attack with. Luckily for her, she was right handed, but she wasn't sure if she could only fight with one good hand.

Taylor snarled, and she silently begged for Clopin to raise the alarm. She came to the slow realization that even with her all training, there was no way in hell she could fight these two off and come out alive.

Another mad dash, but with less accuracy, she struck something with her blade, but she didn't know what. She yanked it back out, hopping backwards quite a length to avoid any immediate lashback. Her left arm throbbed in pain, and she winced, as her adrenaline dipped and rose.

[Nasira]

Bouncing back from the brunt of Shiloh's whip, the sprig-like assassin gave a savage snarl and charged.

"Oh screw that." Nasira seemed to have lost all sense of logic and caution. Without even giving it a second thought, Nasira dematerialized and reappeared behind the Rogue. Pulling a long, vicious-looking dagger from her sleeve, she then used her right hand to grasp the Rogue's shoulder. It was time to pay it forward.

"Let's see how you like it."

The point of the knife punctured the small of the Rogue's back. Repulsed, Nasira quickly shoved the blade through the Rogue's skin and kept pushing until the dagger was almost to the hilt and would not go in any farther. Blood spurted on her hand as she ripped it free and practically stumbled back. 

Now, Shiloh!

[Shiloh]

Blue eyes flashed as the blade of the little rogue's knife slashed at her skin. Looking down, she stared at the wound for a moment or so, before looking back up and locking eyes with Taylor, raising a brow,

"Was that supposed to hurt?"

She didn't wait for a response, because only seconds later Nasira had teleported behind the girl and stabbed her with her own blade.

Fangs glinting in the moonlight, the vampire let out a low chuckle, gripping the hilt of her weapon tightly before swinging her arm, the bladed whip striking cloth, flesh, as well as the stone floor. She wanted this little Rogue to be a warning to the others, this is what happens if you mess with the Legion. 

She'd make sure to leave her alive, but definitely not unscathed. 

[Shanty]

”AGGABA!”

Machinery whirs sharply as optics snap to a new target. Something small, something red, something... coming right at her. Unidentified. Not Shenzi, not Khan, not Clopin or Taylor or anyone else she knew. A threat. Neutralize.

Only a few feet from reaching Nil, the monster’s head snaps at an unsettling angle, turning instead to intercept this new creature. Teeth clamp shut like a bear trap, and the beast takes a careful step back, curled low like a predator with new prey. Steam hisses as she shakes her head violently a few times, before.. an unpleasant sound.

The sound of flesh and bone on a rolling grinder.

The creature sits up a bit, posture strange. It’s impossible to tell if it’s a grim show for the enemies in front of her, or a subconscious choice. Thankfully, its over fairly quickly. Only a handful of seconds, or so, but it feels like an eternity.

Hard, unblinking optics staring forward as maw sits open, allowing a macabre view as Melty disappears into the wildly-spinning grinders ahead of fire, leaving nothing behind but blood and thankfully-unidentifiable mush.

The smell of burning flesh and blood begins to fill the courtyard, followed by a low hum. A contemplative noise, from the beast.

“What an unpleasant interruption.”

[Clopin]

A searing pain spread from the small of her back and through most of her organs, as Nasira pushed the dagger through Taylor's thin body like a skewer. She gasped loudly at the sudden shock, and as Nasira pulled the dagger out, Taylor began to collapse, her mind going blank as she fell. Her world slowed down to a crawl, and she barely felt Shiloh's whip as she hit the ground. Her dagger dropped from her hand, scattering away just a few paces from her.

"TAYLOR!"

Clopin's yell broke through the cacophony of crows, as he pushed as much of his energy into his hands, sending out a magic blast that would be enough to toss Nasira and Shiloh away far enough for him to grab Taylor. His scythe dematerialized, allowing him to throw her over his shoulders as he took off running towards where they'd come from at the beginning.

When he came to a relatively "safe" spot within the courtyard, he lifted a gilded hunting horn to his lips, and blew into it three times, in an effort to collect the rest of his assassins that were still standing.

Their job was finished, but gods knew he wasn't going to let Taylor die on his watch. They had to get back to Paris before the entire Legion came to the aid of their fellow soldiers.

"Just stay alive..."

[Clopin]

A T O N E M E N T IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE DO NOT POST REPLIES.