Land Ho [Chapter XVIII]

[Ayen]

Kari stood over the horizon as the vessel drew closer to the city. Already Tori could see the various skyscrapers and of course the Downward Spiral which has grown bigger and bigger the closer they came to the city. It was hard to believe that once upon a time this was the Crystal Expanse, with Crystal City right around the corner. Now? If Tori didn't know any better she'd think they were heading right for Isafaro had they not already pass it.

“Land ho!”

The vessel itself was already back to being visible once it was out of Isafaro's waters. They were already going to run under suspicion for coming in a Jherrazad vessel. It didn't help to suddenly appear right in front of their docks. Especially when there was a couple of Gun Boats near the docks set to fire upon any approaching enemies. They were then intercepted by the Kari navy, similar to Isafaro's ships only silver with a symbol of peace on the side of the ship and the sails. Tori could see a couple of people looking at them from binoculars as Tori looked around to the others in the ship before back at them.

“This is the Kari Navy. Identify yourself at once!” said the Navy's captain from the ship's speakers.

“We're not the Empire! We're a band of refugees with the Netherrealm's Resistance. We wish to regroup here.”

There was silence for a moment and then the captain spoke up again, “How many?”

“Just one over forty.”

Another moment of silence and then Tori watched as the Navy ships made room for the vessel to dock and she let out a breath of fresh air.

“That went better than anticipated.”

[Tenjou, Utena]

Utena had spent the rest of the ship in the lower deck with June before finally coming back up again at the call of land ho. Stepping out on the upper deck and looking out to see the futuristic looking city with the familiar tower up ahead. Her eyes looked towards it in awe as it was unlike anything she has ever seen since coming here. She understood what Isafaro was but has never witnessed it in person as she never ventured far from the southern region side of the continent.

Coming up next to Tori Utena would only catch the very end of the conversation with the Navy's Captain as they cleared a path for the docks. The former Champion of Ohtori was doing her best to prevent showcasing a frown on her facial features. So far they have lost Moon Valley, Jherrazad and there was still no word on the state of Aircano. If Kari was to fall where would they go? Hallowton was the only city left that would take them. Even then what would they do if the demons took control of the tower? She didn't want to think about it but at the rate everything was going it was a reality they may have to face.

"Do you... Do you think this will be enough?"

[DC Comics]

Sir Jeho only watched as the ship docked and the refugees unboarded escorted by Kari and Utopian guards to guide them safely into the city. The former god of Jherra would wait for most of the refugees to get off before he himself walked down onto the docks and grabbed the attention of one of the nearby guards escorting the refugees.

"Who's in charge here? We must speak with them at once. The demon army grows closer to Kari with each step they take."

[Miracle]

Miracle had been praying in the lower decks of the ship with Jehanne and the rest of the surviving forces of Aircano from the previous battle. It was all she could think of doing in the wake of everything that had happened. Solomon was dead and there was no way to bring him back. They were even robbed a proper burial as his body was lost along with his soul after the city was destroyed. Body or no body though the High Priestess fully intended on giving him a funeral. And if it couldn't be in Aircano where he lived then it would be right here in Kari.

As she got off the ship with the rest of her men her eyes fell upon the soldiers who were escorting the refugees into the city alongside the Kari soldiers. Recognizing their armor from the ones back at the fight for the tower when Maricul defended it against her own forces when she tried to finish what Aper had started. The High Priestess tensed up at their presence and gripped her hand firmly around the hilt of her blade at her waist as she looked at them.

"Utopia! Utopia soldiers are here!"

She yelled off to the rest of the ship as her soldiers followed her lead and prepared to raise their blades.

[Alex]

"Stand down your men. They're here to help."

Exclaimed Fukari as she got off the boat and walked pass the Aircano soldiers. If Miracle decided to persist and just creature more problems for herself and her country the Blind Assassin wouldn't think twice about running her through with her sword.

"Where's Edie? I need to speak with her immediately."

[Sailor V]

They had finally arrived at their designation and Sailor V hadn't taken two steps outside of the ship before a confrontation emerged between the Aircano forces and a force dubbed Utopia. Sailor V had heard about Utopia from the incident several months ago when they attempted to use the Downward Spiral to merge the realms together but not much was heard from them since then. Now they were allies? Minako's white feline friend Artemis was by her feet also watching the situation unfold as Sailor V remained where she was. If a fight broke out the Soldier of Truth and Justice had no problem with breaking it up. They needed to create new allies not make more enemies.

[Sparda]

It must surely have been a confusing sight for a convoy of ships to suddenly appear in Kari's bay out of absolutely nowhere. Demetrios had dispelled their cloaking as they approached and, with the vessels moored, disembarked close behind Fukari and Jeho.

"We need a meeting called. Defences must be marshalled against the demons approaching from Jherrazad."

[Aminee Starlight]

After everything that had happened time was lost on the Pop Idol. She didn't know what day of the week it was or what time of day it was other than the basic "the sun is up" part. It was a wonder how any of them were able to keep pressing forward at this point. At least the ones you would come to expect would have been drifted off into madness by now. Aminee simply shook her head. Now was no time to be questioning it but instead grateful they didn't have a ship full of mentally and physically broken soldiers.

Aminee came down from the ship just in time to catch Fukari turning her back on Miracle. "What is Utopia doing here?" She thought out loud before walking over to Miracle, albeit keeping her distance as she heard about how Aircano soldiers had treated outsiders such as herself in the past. She was of course oblivious to Miracle's change of heart since then. "Are you guys okay?"

[Kyrie]

"Sparda, give me strength." Kyrie said quietly to herself as she made her way out onto the docks. Her eyes looking up to the massive tower that overshadowed the entire continent. It was amazing how she could have missed that before the Dark Knight brought it up to her back in Aircano. The rest of the city was impressive in its own right but nothing compared to the tower that stretched up all the way into the clouds up above. She was curious to learn more about the tower and if there was a way it could help them ward off the approaching demon army. Kyrie stood next to Demetrios and looked around for any signs of an authority figure they could address.

[Jehanne]

Jehanne's hand barely managed to wrap around the hilt of her blade before Fukari was telling them to stand down. The trainee watched Miracle and waited to see what she'd do. The last thing Jehanne wanted now of all things was a battle with Utopian troops but it was not her place to say anything to the High Priestess. Her vow meant she would follow Miracle's orders no matter the cost. Many would call it foolish, perhaps it was. But Jehanne's honor prohibited her from doing anything that violated that sacred vow.

"Orders, my lady?"

[Ayen]

"Do you... Do you think this will be enough?"

“It has to be.”

They couldn't afford to be pushed back any further. Not when the security of the tower was now at risk of being taken by an opposing demon army on a scale such as this.

"Utopia! Utopia soldiers are here!"

"Stand down your men. They're here to help."

Tori turned her head in the direction of all the commotion. Concern now on her face as she saw the High Priestess and the other Aircano soldiers go for their weapons. This caused Tori to stay put right where she was until Aircano placed their hands away from their weapons and did as Fukari said. But knowing how Aircano had been in the past couple of months...

“Looks like we might have trouble.”

[Tenjou, Utena]

"But what if it doesn't? What if this is a fight we can't win?"
Utena waited to see how Tori would respond to her thoughts of doubt, they have stuck ever since losing Kara to death for a second time. If a god couldn't defeat Ranko and the demon army then honestly what chance did they have? Tori would become distracted by the situation on the docks however as Miracle yelled out about Utopia and Fukari told her to stand down. Utena prepared to draw her own blade just in case she had to help stop a fight from breaking out between Aircano and Utopia.
"Never a dull moment around here, is there?"

[DC Comics]

Jeho turned around when he heard Miracle's call and approached the child who was considering raising her blade against the Utopians that was at the docks. Not that he could blame her. What Maricul/Luca Valentine has done under the banner of Utopia was unforgivable. And the fact that they had to work alongside such an abomination was unfortunate but for now the elimination of the Netherrealm must come first.

"Miracle. Keep your weapons sheathed until the real enemy arrives."

[Miracle]

"Stand down your men. They're here to help."

"Help whom exactly?"

Miracle didn't order her men to stand down but she didn't tell them to attack either. They remained ready to draw their blades and the High Priestess herself kept her hand on her hilt. She didn't trust Utopia, if they were here it was due to their own selfish motives and nothing to do with the well being of Genesis despite what either Maricul or Luca Valentine would have you believe. While looking around at everybody else she would find Yahweh's gaze now fixed on hers.

"Miracle. Keep your weapons sheathed until the real enemy arrives."

Miracle relaxed her grip and reluctantly removed her hand from the hilt of her sword and looked to Jehanne and the others.

"Stand down."

[Alex]

The Blind Assassin didn't turn back to the situation with Aircano but her ears were listening to every word spoken and once she heard Miracle give the order to stand down Fukari left the docks to continue her search for Edie.