Echo Incursion 01 - Jurassic Gateway (August 10th, 2016)

[raisednpcs]

It's a particularly hot day in the Gateway City zoo. What else could you expect? It's not like it's not to be expected, it is the middle of August, after all. But there's plenty of things to see here at the zoo, and the visitors' center is air conditioned well enough.

Just a normal summer day in a typical summer vacation spot. Right?

Well, that's when things change. Those in the visitor's center would find the building changing around them. There's suddenly a dinosaur skeleton in the middle of the place, with the banner "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth" hanging from the ceiling.

That's not all. The animal enclosures are now different. What used to be a pen for the african elephants now has very large, very long necked reptiles in it. A gigantic, meat-eating dinosaur just tromped its way out of the lion habitat it's too much too large for, and unfortunately for the people around it, its vision is based on movement. The monkey house? Well, those are velociraptors breaking out of it. The aviary? Now filled with particular aggressive flying pterosaurs.

These are just some of the creatures making their sudden emergence, and it's not long until they spill out of the zoo and into the city proper. Dinosaurs are now walking the streets of Gateway City.

Yes, indeed. Just a normal summer day.

[OOC: The new event is live! Please see this post for npc information and just what characters will have to deal with.]

Comments

[speedpariah]

"Mmm, well, these are all smaller ones," he said. "They can be kept in something as simple as a chicken coop, and fed rats or mice, or even insects."

[sparklingscarlet]

He thinks for a moment, and looks a little worried.

"Is being Numbered a good thing or a bad thing? I mean, obviously, you're good. But... is it something to be proud of? And what about the stuff you said, that you were also going to talk about you? What should I know about being Numbered. About what's going on right now?"

He nods his head back the way they came, indicating the dinosaur problem.

[alilyinthemoonslight]

Moonlight watches as Twinkle's attack hits home, and the monster bursts into light. It's not the first time she's seen what a Precure's attack does to something made of evil - after all, she'd killed Jasmine's doppelganger herself. That thought tugs at her a little, but she manages a smile as she runs up to the yellow Precure.

"Good job, Twinkle!" she exclaims, and then quickly looks around. Their opponent seems to be... quite gone, actually. The smile quickly fades, as she continues to look around rapidly. "Do you.. know what was up with that girl?"

Just what sort of person was that? Why would any Numbered in their right mind summon something at a time like this?!

[radiantchicken]

"Point out that they eat insects, and the populace might be willing to deal with them for a bit longer," Torin says with a laugh. "People often don't think about the environmental impact of such things--just the immediate benefits of being bug-free."

[speedpariah]

"... Considering what we just stopped them from doing," Weller replied, "it may be more accurate to say their tastes are indiscriminate. Taking them someplace away from humanity seems to be in their better interests."

[knights_tyrant]

There was a scowl from the end of the 'knight', who lowered his sword. Irritation maintained itself on his face, before he shook his head.

"You're a person, because you act like one. Until they start acting the same as you--"

He pointed towards one of the unconscious raptors laying on a tarp.

"I won't see your point."

[knights_tyrant]

"Nothing out of the ordinary," He responded evenly, giving Weller a nonchalant shrug--as if what he was going to say really was completely normal.

It certainly was for him.

"I'll eliminate whatever's a threat and aid whoever's in danger of those threats."

[radiantchicken]

Torin laughs. "True enough." He's now shifting the dinosaur around in his hands, the better to try holding it comfortably. "Still, I'm rather attached to the idea of dinosaurs and humans working together, fighting as one."

[speedpariah]

"Mm. Best of luck with that. I'm going to continue trying to learn what I can."

And with that, he speeds off without further warning.

[speedpariah]

"Yes, well... if you want that day to come... we need to separate them for the time being."

[radiantchicken]

"Then it seems we've reached an impasse." For Torin will not back down. "I've found it's less one's shape than one's actions that define a being's level of being civilized. Of personhood, if you will."

[radiantchicken]

"True enough." Torin looks down at the squirming dinosaur and shakes his head at it. "And perhaps their featherless nature makes them a little less likely to settle down the way I might expect."

[speedpariah]

"They are certainly quite different from what science suggests," Weller replied. "In any case... should we be going now?"

[twinkletwinklesuperstar]

Twinkle, meanwhile, isn't sharing any of Moonlight's momentary angst. She's far too busy, looking up at the star-shaped sparkles falling around her, bathing the street in light after the darkness had been banished.

The elaborate ballroom gown vanishes in a pop of light, returning to her outfit's normal shape... and she gives a cheer, jumping a little as she laughs in excitement.

"Yes! Haha! That was awesome!" She's all smiles, beaming brightly as she turns to the people she'd just saved, catching the eye of a young girl among them and giving her a little wave. The girl just has time to smile back before an adult sweeps in to spirit her away to safety.

That doesn't seem to do anything to spoil her mood though, and her expression is just as bright when Moonlight joins her.

"No idea, she just showed up out of nowhere. But we sure scared her off, huh? I bet she'll think twice before trying something like that again!"

[radiantchicken]

"I think we should. If we can get this taken care of before the authorities arrive, that would be to everyone's benefit." Torin nods.

[knights_tyrant]

With that, Arthur pointed the invisible sword he carried right towards Torin's face, his expression lacking any sort of feeling. There had been rumors floating around that he ha been in shady places, taking out Numbered who took their echoes as a reason to steal power and torment others.

When he spoke, it was the same as confirming it was all true.

"If they're people, then they're accountable for their actions, even if it's out of fear. If they can't possess their own judgement properly, then someone has to assume responsibility for them. Will it be you?"

wrap?

[speedpariah]

"Mmm, yes, let's act quickly, then," he said, with a nod.

[scarlet_devil]

"I'm alright, Dani."

It really didn't look like the dinos were about to attack them anymore, leaving them open to being knocked out by Emi's danmaku shots... And she's firing a lot of them.

[radiantchicken]

"I will get them all to a place where they won't be able to hurt themselves or others," Torin says coolly, unruffled by the sword. "There are rather a lot of them, and they're frightened. Fear can lead to regrettable actions." Like threatening him with a sword. He snaps his fingers. "Come, Feather Edge!"

Because if it comes down to a fight, Torin wants to be armed with his own blade. His sword soars in from who-knows-where and lands neatly in his outstretched hand.

[knights_tyrant]

However many times Pendragon had settled himself into that situation--he could count the number of times it hadn't turned out bloody. Most would attack straight away, he recalled, rather than giving Arthur a chance to choose his actions. In the end, it all ended in blood--his warning turning into a moment that forced others to retaliate out of fear. Torin wasn't acting out of fear--or, if he was, he was suppressing it for what he believed in.

"If you can--"

He turned on his axis perfectly, the turn of his invisible sword coming the same as a war-hammer. The impact of Arthur's swing would have felt just as strong. It was the only time he intended to swing his sword, as if to test if Torin was physically capable of handling himself if things went wrong.

"--Then, I suggest you hurry."

[radiantchicken]

Torin's own sword came up to meet that invisible sword, and he braced himself for the impact. He was stronger than a human and in very good shape. The impact didn't rattle him much. "And I suggest you not act as though you're the one in charge here."

[knights_tyrant]

"I could say the same to you. If you're insistent on taking a risky stance like you are--then, be ready for the responsibility that comes with making a decision like that for yourself."

There were numerous reasons as to why he was called the Tyrant. Many of them were just, some were unfair and just as many were simply out of fear. Pendragon drew back his sword, dismissing it to nothingness before he turned to leave.

"What you're trying to do is take the stance of a leader, whether intentional or not. When you impose your beliefs like that--you're expecting people to follow them."

[radiantchicken]

"I've been ready for responsibility since the day I left the zoo," Torin says smoothly.

"We appear to be at an impasse--neither one of us is likely to back down." This too doesn't seem to shake him up. It's regrettable, true. But if it comes to a fight, it comes to a fight. "Are you prepared to fight for what you think is right, if we cannot settle this with words?"

[knights_tyrant]

"The issue isn't being prepared," Pendragon countered, albeit a little irritated with the question. He was already among the worst of them. He should have been branded a traitor, despite the fact that he was trying to save people. He was merciless and cruel in how he dealt with out of control entities.

"It's putting off the consequences of taking action as long as possible."

[radiantchicken]

"Then rather than stand here talking..." Torin rises into the air with a flap of his wings. "I have some dinosaurs to corral."