RAIDERS of the LOST BOOK
OPERATION: BIBLIOPHILE
DIMENSION: Gallimaufry then 257P
LOCATION: Plotline All-Stops to Alexandria, Egypt
TEAMS: MU
RotLB
Sandy returned his attention to the tips of the pincers: the lizards were closing in from both sides, turning and climbing as best they could, easily visible -- if indistinct -- in his wide peripheral vision. We can win a turning fight easily enough. You’re going to feel, uh... very heavy... for a little while as I cut inside the right one’s turn. Sandy’s intent was clear in his mind’s eye: a tight, climbing turn… and his mind’s kinesthetic sense: the weight of a large man on his back and along the span of his wings. The others had a few seconds of warning before Sandy made his move.
He beat his wings for three powerful strokes, surging upward with each one, then rolled to his right, wings straight out, the g-forces increasing steadily as he banked into turn. Sandy held that position until he was practically wing-tip to wing-tip with the lizard, heading in the opposite direction, as the group out-turned the lizard. Got ‘im! Triumph! The chase was the fun part of the game; the kill unfortunately necessary. Our move!
Reaching out across the short distance Sandy had given Primordial was incredibly easy and the Baron closed his eyes reaching deep inside himself for the enhanced knowledge of reality. But he stopped himself at the last moment remembering that this entire scenario wasn’t real. Merely a simulation of events to transpire in the future. There was no need to waste precious soul excrement on these mirages.
“Computer simulate the Almighty Fist of Yog-Sothoth,” Primordial said.
It took the computer a moment to process the request just like it had with the Yuggothian weapon. Not only was it a very unique set of conditions but it radically alter the rules of physic and space time around it making it something difficult to properly simulate. Primordial used the simulated power to reach into the depths of the creature's stomach and twist violently hoping to liquify some important organs and drag the entire creature towards the ground.
The lizard roared, bellowed, and made a horrible gurgling sound, then plunged in agony. Sandy winced as it fell; that was a cruel winning move to the game. The beast smashed to the ground. Its scales may be impervious, but its bones didn’t seem to be: it landed practically flat, breaking its legs and ribs. It howled in pain. Sandy felt ill. Just put it out of its misery, Baron!
<Please?> Nick felt ill.
A bubbling sensation of annoyance came from the Baron before he flicked his wrist simulating the motion to sever several key portions of the creature's spine and brain in order to kill it. It was clear from the slight telepathic veneer Primordial was giving off he had hoped for a quality subject for the vivisection. Although if he needed to he would settle for a much less stimulating dissection.
“One left?” he asked audibly turning around to look at the third Lizard.
Oh, yes! A wide field of view was no good if not attended to, and Sandy had been focused on the opponent ahead of them. He picked up the last lizard almost behind them, then turned his head to get a clearer view of it. Oh, boy! While he had been playing follow-the-leader with this fire lizard, the other one had been climbing hard, and it was now just above them. It seemed to be making peculiar motions in its throat; Sandy’s eyes went wide with fear. Lean! Lean forward!
With no further warning, he reared up and climbed hard, powerful wings heaving the the group higher and higher. The ride was rough, but it was better than the alternative: the creature spat a flaming glob at them, which passed just below and to the left of them as Sandy added a sudden turn to his climb.
The lizard watched them closely, trying to line up a second shot. Both it and Sandy were clawing for altitude, but Sandy could climb faster. Nick! Get ready to jump! I’m going to go vertical as it passes under us; when I swing around, go!
The lizard pitched up and tried to catch them with another gobbet of napalm, but its best shot was easy for Sandy to dodge. It then tried to turn to keep Sandy in sight, but that was another lost cause. Sandy passed over its head as it tried to roll to keep them in sight, then pulled straight up for a moment. He lost all forward speed, and for an instant, he was motionless in the air, the wind complete still even on his mane and feathers. He dropped a wing to dive on the lizard, turning his altitude back into forward motion. The fire lizard was slowed from climbing, and was only slightly faster than the flying horse diving at it. Nick! Jump! Jump!
Primordial did his part leaning against Sandy and moving his body so that Nick could leap off of him as acrobatically as possible.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaa - Although he'd braced for the leap, being flung through the air at those speeds was...frightening. And exhilarating. I wonder if this is how fliers feel - “Holodeck simulate more rosinnnaaugh!” Landing with a squerch, Nick’s sticky paws clung to the scales.
The fire lizard shook like an immense dog, trying to fling Nick from its back. But it was no dog, and couldn't twist that quickly. Nor was Nick really in danger of coming unstuck, though advancing along the creature's back required deliberate effort. The lizard turned its head to glare at Nick and Sandy. It apparently caught sight of the cord connecting the two, and started pulling in its wings to dive out from under them.
Uh-oh! Sandy tucked his own wings, frantically shifting posture to try to land on the lizard's wings while he could. The lizards were far faster than Pegasus in a dive, but for the moment, he was descending faster and could out-maneuver the beast. He aimed for its elbow, but missed, catching one of its fingers. He felt a dull crack through one of his hind hooves as the finger-bone gave way under the impact.
The fire lizard didn't seem to mind -- it barely made a low growling sound as Sandy briefly overtook it on the way down -- and rapidly accelerated into a steep dive. Nick popped off its back as the safety line paid out, and briefly dangled beneath the flying horse before Sandy reeled him in. Sandy made no attempt to pursue the diving lizard: he couldn't catch it, and could only watch as it aimed for the convoy.
The convoy's guns went silent for a moment, followed by an odd silence as the first lizard's wings went limp. A simulated gunner had good aim or good luck, and had caught it in the eye with a large anti-aircraft round. As it crumpled on hitting the ground, the convoy's guns shifted to engage their new target. The water cannon came into play first, and the holo-gunner was pretty good, managing to hose down the fire lizard's face as the vehicles scattered.
The lizard tried to dodge the torrent, but the effect of its injury became apparent, then overwhelming. It turned awkwardly, aimed a gob of napalm worse, and finally found itself unable to slow its dive. It awkwardly rolled on its side as it tried, plowing into the ground like an overweight javelin. Its back shattered with a series of nauseating snapping sounds.
Sandy landed, and let the others dismount. He returned to human form, still wide-eyed and now shaken. "That was far too close. We'll have to do much better next time." He shook from head to toe from adrenaline, then rapidly wearied. He seemed to finally notice the convoy was still there, along with the bodies of dead lizards. "Holodeck, end fire-lizard and convoy simulation. Save... ummmm... all parameters... for future use." The room flicked back to its previous yellow-on-black grid.
He dug his phone out to check the time. "But we need to get ready. It's very late."
The group scattered to prepare for tomorrow's departure. Sandy snatched up what was left of the food, then hurried off with Nick.
[OOC: Yup, the end of the training collab. Thanks, Prim and Fvaar!]
