A Zone of Excursion [IC Thread / Closed]

[Legital]

Ten could make out the "How about in person, Me, you, and Anna" coming from Soloms radio. "You, know I still would not trust him. He may have killed that man in self defense, but something about him is not right. Maybe we could arrange to meet in a small clearing, where you two meet in the middle while I stay behind you and Anna stays behind Vince. Just you and Vince, and supposedly Anna is more than likely a trap."

[New Sheoth VI]

"Do we have a deal?"

Vin then noticed the two hulking dragons flying towards him.

"You little fuck. This is the last time im being honest to you."

Vin thrust the radio into Anna's chest before muttering a quick but honest, "Sorry." And began the walk back to the rest of the group.

"Anna, dont fight. We we'll lose if we do."

It only took him about 5 minutes worth of slowly creeping the landscape to end up right under the dragons.

"IM RIGHT HERE! COME PICK ME UP!"

[New Twinleaf]

Anna blushed when Vin put the radio back on her chest, and when he told her not to fight she shrugged and then proceeded to asked.
"Then what should I do while I am here?"

[New Sheoth VI]

"Stand and look pritty. Shouldn't be that hard for you."

Vin stoped and yawned.

"I need some sleep."

[Ruskarkand]

A heavy roar came from the sky, as a massive Dragon slowed it's descent from the sky before it landed on it's feet, creating some large Tremors as it did so.
It was not long until another Dragon joined the previous one, the two giants towering over the surrounding area.

Ferdinand looked down to see the Human who had previously called to them, and in the mind of the Dragon; some very sinister thoughts bubbled up.
"Misha, I think that we could make this a tad more fun."
The female Dragon turned and faced her companion, before replying:
"Oh, is that so?"

Ferdinand made a smirk to Misha, before he craned his neck around and opened his jaw, an orange glow beginning to form and grow in the back of his mouth, a massive blast of heat hitting Vinchenzo as the Dragon got ready to ignite the area.

---

The Squad Commander, 'Sickle', shrugged as the message stopped shortly afterwards, continuing the music that broadcasted previously.
"Nothing, I guess, the driver must of plugged a radio jack into the wrong socket or some shit in order to fuck up that bad."
He shook his head sarcastically as he turned around and stepped back over to the Dragooness.

Immediately, Nikolai took note that Lucy had sustained injuries, she was the only surviving Mercenary he had seen so far.
He sighed solemnly, before beginning to talk to her.
"Lucy, is it?" he asked, to make sure.

Lucy looked up to face the Freedom Squad Leader, and nodded.
The Demon continued.
"Well, you do realise that you are the only one who survived that onslaught? And from reports, you could as well be the only remaining official Mercenary in the whole zone."
He cleared his throat, before he spoke on.
"Well, excluding the breakoffs, but they do not count."

The Dragooness' eyes widened, before she decided to speak out;
"That can't be right, there are outposts scattered all over pripyat!"

In return however, the Squad Leader only shook his head to the Dragooness.
"All of them destroyed by either the Monolith, or Freedom, effectively, you are our last target; but I have no interest in killing you, from your looks, you barely survived the Monolith onslaught back there, and you look like you have done no harm to Freedom, otherwise you would of made a break for it."

Lucy breathed a sigh of relief, but was also somewhat dismayed of her position, she did not know what to think, or what to say.
All of this was becoming too much for her, she became rather discolored; she felt lightheaded.

[Yuktova]

"Vincho doesn't deserve to die. Not like this,"
Nathaniel asked Solom, "Do you have a radio where I can speak to the Dragoons?"

[Saurisisia]

The Squad Commander, 'Sickle', shrugged as the message stopped shortly afterwards, continuing the music that broadcasted previously.
"Nothing, I guess, the driver must of plugged a radio jack into the wrong socket or some shit in order to fuck up that bad."
He shook his head sarcastically as he turned around and stepped back over to the Dragooness.

Immediately, Nikolai took note that Lucy had sustained injuries, she was the only surviving Mercenary he had seen so far.
He sighed solemnly, before beginning to talk to her.
"Lucy, is it?" he asked, to make sure.

Lucy looked up to face the Freedom Squad Leader, and nodded.
The Demon continued.
"Well, you do realise that you are the only one who survived that onslaught? And from reports, you could as well be the only remaining official Mercenary in the whole zone."
He cleared his throat, before he spoke on.
"Well, excluding the breakoffs, but they do not count."

The Dragooness' eyes widened, before she decided to speak out;
"That can't be right, there are outposts scattered all over pripyat!"

In return however, the Squad Leader only shook his head to the Dragooness.
"All of them destroyed by either the Monolith, or Freedom, effectively, you are our last target; but I have no interest in killing you, from your looks, you barely survived the Monolith onslaught back there, and you look like you have done no harm to Freedom, otherwise you would of made a break for it."

Lucy breathed a sigh of relief, but was also somewhat dismayed of her position, she did not know what to think, or what to say.
All of this was becoming too much for her, she became rather discolored; she felt lightheaded.

Carl blinked several times at hearing the news that Lucy was the only mercenary left in the area. He noticed Lucy appeared disheartened at the news, which was not a big surprise to the Dinosaur. Sighing softly, he turned to the Dragooness and said to her "I'm sorry, Luce."

[Ruskarkand]

Lucy looked to the Ceratosaurus, before replying to him.
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
The Dragooness smiled to him, before she turned back to Nikolai, as he beckoned for her attention.

"So then Lucy." he said, twiddiling his clawed thumbs about, unsure as to what to think of the situation.
"I do not know what you will do now, you are as free as any other Stalker now."
He took a glance at the Dragooness' wound, and grimaced as he pointed it out on her.
"And if you want, I can get a Freedom Vehicle to take you back to the army warehouses, get that wound checked out if you have not got it sorted already."

Lucy began to think, as the Squadleader decided to carry on.
"Pripyat is no place for someone who has been wounded, plus the NPP is suicide in that condition, if I were you, I would take my proposition, because you seem like you are on your last legs."

The Dragooness stopped her train of thoughts for a moment, she had made a decision, but before she decided to say anything;
Lucy turned to face Carl once more.
"What do you think, are you willing to come back? The NPP will not be going anywhere, that's for sure."

[Legital]

Ten looked over to Solom, "Nathans right, we should not kill him. At least not yet."

[Saurisisia]

Lucy looked to the Ceratosaurus, before replying to him.
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
The Dragooness smiled to him, before she turned back to Nikolai, as he beckoned for her attention.

"So then Lucy." he said, twiddiling his clawed thumbs about, unsure as to what to think of the situation.
"I do not know what you will do now, you are as free as any other Stalker now."
He took a glance at the Dragooness' wound, and grimaced as he pointed it out on her.
"And if you want, I can get a Freedom Vehicle to take you back to the army warehouses, get that wound checked out if you have not got it sorted already."

Lucy began to think, as the Squadleader decided to carry on.
"Pripyat is no place for someone who has been wounded, plus the NPP is suicide in that condition, if I were you, I would take my proposition, because you seem like you are on your last legs."

The Dragooness stopped her train of thoughts for a moment, she had made a decision, but before she decided to say anything;
Lucy turned to face Carl once more.
"What do you think, are you willing to come back? The NPP will not be going anywhere, that's for sure."

Carl nodded at Lucy's thanks and he smiled back at her.

He watched as Nikolai asked the Dragooness on what she would do and the Ceratosaurus waited for her to answer. He watched as she turned to him and asked him a question. When she was done, Carl replied "Yeah, I am willing to come back."

[Goldsaver]

Solom watched the Dragons in the distance.
"They won't kill him, don't worry."

[Ruskarkand]

Lucy nodded to Carl, before turning back to face Sickle.
"Alright, I will take that offer, thank you."

Nikolai looked back down the hallway, leaning to the right so he could see the stairwell.
"Well, you OK for descending some stairs? It's not many steps, I can can carry you if you want."

The Dragooness shook her head, as she took a few shakey steps away from the wall.
"I will be fine, a few steps will not hurt." she said, confident that she could tackle the stairs without her wound giving her that much pain.

"Suit yourself." the Freedomer said, as he turned around and began to walk down the corridor.

Lucy sighed, she did not want to leave Pripyat, but she knew she had to go for the sake of her health, but what stuck in the back of her mind was a feeling of Guilt, what if Carl had wanted to venture further north to the NPP?
The Dragooness disregarded the thoughts, but the feelings of guilt still floated about as she followed 'Sickle'.

[Saurisisia]

"You're welcome." Carl replied with a pleasant smile.

He yawned as Nikolai asked if he could carry Lucy down the stairs, though she refused. As Nikolai walked away and headed down the corridor, Lucy followed him and he himself followed her. He was indeed disappointed that he was temporarily unable to venture north of NPP though he knew that with Lucy's wounds, it would not be safe for her to wander around a region so dangerous as the Zone, even if he would be with her. A wounded soldier was a vulnerable soldier, since a wounded soldier was not as able to fight or defend herself as much as a healthy soldier. Thus, he knew Lucy would have to go to that warehouse in order for her wounds to be checked out.

He sighed as he followed the others down the corridor and the stairs, happy to know that hopefully Lucy's wounds would heal though a little annoyed by the fact that he seemed to be the last guy in the group.

[New Sheoth VI]

When Vin saw the dragon's mouth start emiting a orangish color, he gabbed Anna's arm and started to sprint away.

"MISHA STOP HIM, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD THERE IS ANOTHER PERSON HERE! HE CAN KILL HER TOO!"

[Ruskarkand]

Ferdinand shot a bolt of fire which rammed into the ground before exploding into a massive pillar of flame.

Misha smirked at Ferdinand, who had just turned around to face her.
"Oh, I get it." she said to Ferdinand.

The Dragon nodded to her, before looking to where Vinchenzo was running.
"Remember Misha, don't actually hit him, I wanna see how scared he gets."

Misha nodded to Ferdinand before immediately taking flight, the other Dragon following her shortly after, both of them in pursuit of the Humans.

One of the two Dragons opened their jaw as they set flight, and from it; they unleashed a mighty roar...
...the hunt was on.

---

Lucy paused, simultaniously speaking out as she did so.
"Wait a moment."
The Dragooness began to scan her thoughts momentarily, thinking back.
A spark of hope ignited in her, as she turned and looked to the Ceratosaurus.

"Carl, do you still have that Artifact that we found a while back?"

[Legital]

After waiting around, Ten decided to head up the road to watch the unfolding action with Ferd, Misha, and Vince. "Solom, Nathan, I am heading up the road to see if I can do anything with Ferd and Misha concerning Vince." Ten said as he began to run down the road. He moved to the edge of the road along the bushes to keep hidden from anyone not so friendly. After a few minutes, Ten reached the outskirts of the Duty Camp and stopped to catch his breath. It did not take long to spot Ferd, Misha and Vince. He gritted his teeth at the sight of the Dragons chasing Vince and Anna out in the distance. "Well shit..." He muttered under his breath.

[Saurisisia]

Carl was following Lucy when he noticed her thinking about something before turning to face him and asking him if he still had the artifact from earlier. With a smile and a nod, he confirmed "Yeah, I think so!"

[Ruskarkand]

Lucy smiled, if she remembered correctly, it was a Firefly artifact.
Just what she needed.

"Is it possible I could borrow it for just a few minutes, please?"


[OOCloleditwtfisthis:] Accursed formatting.

[Saurisisia]

Smiling and nodding, Carl replied "Sure!"

He then dug into his pockets, searching for the artifact until he finally took it out and handed it to Lucy. "Here ya go, Luce!" He said with a grin.

[Ruskarkand]

Lucy took the artifact, holding the small crystal in her hands.
Nothing was happening.

Slowly, Lucy's hope began to shatter.
The Dragooness sighed, looking at the Crystal and holding it close to her chest as she spoke.
"Well, Thanks; it didn't work, but it was worth the effor-"

The artifact immediately lit up, a cyan glow illuminating the dimly lit corridor, the artifact glowing in an array of beautiful patterns.
The glowing grew extremely intense, as the artifact began to sprout auroras of light that curled around Lucy's arms and faded inwards, the apparations of light burrowing into her skin harmlessly.

The light could be seen travelling underneath her scales, rays of light shining from beneath the crevices, moving slowly all over her body, until the veins of light covered every single part of the Dragooness.
Beneath the bandages that ran from her abdomen to her chest, an intense; red glow could be seen, eminating from the wound she had sustained.
The glowing was decreasing at a rapid rate, slowly shrinking in size, whilst the light-headedness of the Dragooness almost immediately went away.

Lucy stood there, clutching the artifact close to her chest as it's energy coursed through her, it felt comforting, but it looked awe inspiring.
She closed her eyes, embracing the effect of the Artifact as it did it's job.

But, behind the wonderous veil, a more sinister effect was taking place.
On Lucy's belt, the Gieger counter began to fire up, the ticking becoming extremely quick and loud, the screen was constantly changing, the number on it growing by the second.


Behind Carl, Sickle looked on, focusing more on the artifact than on the effects it had on the Dragooness, he was deep in thought...

[Saurisisia]

Carl nodded as he watched Lucy hold it in her hands before holding it against her chest. That's when it began glowing, much to the Ceratosaurus' surprise. He took several steps back as the Dragooness was engulfed in the glow that seemed to enter her. He noticed the bandages covering her wounds began glow red, much to his surprise. He then watched as the glow began fade more and more, shrinking in size as Lucy held it close to her. That's when he heard the ticking coming from her Geiger counter. He muttered "The fuck?"

It was all simply too amazing for him to believe it to be true.

[New Sheoth VI]

Vinchenzo stoped and looked up.

"Anna, you NEED to run. Ill handle this."

He raised his rifle and aimed at one of the dragons wings and shot.

"YOU WANT ME DEAD? COME GET SOME!"

[Ruskarkand]

The bullet rammed into the wing of the Dragon, making a neatly placed hole in it, but nothing more, a bit of blood spilling to the earth.
Ferdinand screamed out in a roar, the wound was small, but the pain was still intense as the wing began to strain a lot, the skin that spanned across the wing stretching painfully.

Misha looked to him, a worried look on her face.
"Ferd, what's wrong?"

Ferdinand grimaced, before shouting back as the stinging from his wing carried on.
"The little shit shot me, right; that's it!"
The Dragon dived downwards, before ramming into the ground on all fours, kneeling down to absorb the shock.

Immediately, Ferdinand craned his neck down so he could get a good look at Vinchenzo, he was growling agitatedly, glaring right at the Human.
From above, Misha looked on; she whispered to herself.
"Please Ferd, don't overreact, Sasha wanted him alive..."

---

The geiger counter on Lucy's belt was ticking away extremely quick, reaching a large dose of Radiation, but the Dragooness found it difficult to notice, any adverse effects were being rinsed out by the Artifacts work.

Four more auroras of light breached out of the artifact, and the small streams of light embedded themselves into Lucy's torso as the last traces of the red glow disappeared.
The Dragooness tensed her arms, she felt her strength returning, strength lost from malnourishment due to the zone's harsh living conditions.

She opened her eyes, and looked to the hands which held the artifact.
The scratches and chips which once marred their dull appearence were gone, their natural color returning slowly to them, the Cyan color matching that of the artifact's glow.
Lucy inhaled deeply, rolling her head around and stretching her neck, it was an amazing experience, the Dragooness felt elated; like she had never been better.
The bandage around her abdomen began to constrict her, getting gradually tighter and tighter, before the tied area of the bandage snapped away, unravelling from her abdomen and reveiling no wound, not even a scar of what was once there.

Slowly, the glowing from beneath her scales began to deminish, fading away gradually.
Nikolai sighed, taking out a small medical kit from one of his satchels on his exosuit and opening it.
He reached into the kit, taking out a small packet of two large pills and walking up to the Dragooness.

Sickle pushed on the back of the packet, the two pills breaching the foil and going into his hand, he approached the Dragooness who was oblivious to him approaching.
Immediatley, he reached for her mouth and yanked it open, before placing the two pills in her mouth and shutting it.
The Dragooness had little time to react, and before she could, the Freedomer dug his hand beneath her Jawbone, forcing her to ingest the two pills before he snatched the artifact from her.

"That's enough!" he said harshly, as the artifact died down to it's previous, crystallised state.
He sighed moments after, seeing the Dragooness gag, but the pills went down, much to his relief.
"I will give you a moment to settle, before I explain." he said to her, as he gently held the artifact.

[Saurisisia]

Carl continued to witness the sight in amazement, hearing the Geiger counter ticking away like crazy though Lucy seemed to ignore it. He watched as four streams of light popped out of the artifact and embedded themselves inside the Dragooness' torso while the red glow on the bandages began to fade. He noticed her arms tensing before she opened her eyes and look at her hands, still holding the artifact. He glanced at them and to his shock, he noticed that the old scars on them disappeared and the hands themselves attained a more brightly-colored hue than before. He saw Lucy rolling her head around and stretching her neck. Finally, he saw the bandages on her torso snapping off, unwrapping her torso and the Ceratosaurus noticed to his surprise that there no signs of wounds underneath.

At last, the glow faded away, leaving no traces of the wounds the Dragooness had only just sustained, much to her Therapod companion's astonishment. Then he noticed Nikolai taking out two pills from a medical kit he had before walking up to Lucy and, to Carl's own surprise, forcing her mouth open and stuffing the pills in before closing it and then forcing the Dragooness to swallow them by digging his hand into her jawbone, at which point, Nikolai took the artifact from her hands. The quickness of his actions meant that Lucy had little time to react to them.

As Nikolai held the artifact in his hands, which Carl noticed had reverted to its previous state, he shouted, causing the Dinosaur to jump a bit. Then, to his brief horror, the Ceratosaurus noticed Lucy gagging a bit. He glanced back at Nikolai who said something to Lucy about briefing her later after she settled down. Meanwhile, the Dinosaur was breathing heavily, unsure of what the hell had just taken place.

[New Sheoth VI]

Vin was tossed into the air by the shockwave that the dragon had created, he hit the ground hard and droped his AWSM at his feet. He got up and then drew his storm looking at the dragon quizicaly.

"Misha? No. You look different. That must be Misha up there." Vin pointed to the sky with his free hand, he then lowered it and put his hand back on his gun. "Who exactly are you and why did you try to kill me and my friend?"

Vin bent down and grabbed his gun and aimed past the dragon. He could still slightly see Solom. He lowered the gun and waited for a anwser.