The Warehouse (Sparda/open)

[Cazador]

Trying to meet his attack? No it didn't seem sensible to try and punch an incoming kick. Legs were much stronger than arms and it would of hurt Sazan much more. Then he saw it. The punch wasn't meant for a clash of force, but rather to cripple the use of his leg. There wouldn't be enough time to dodge as the microseconds grew closer to impact. Instead Jean would shift his body in air just enough to avoid a direct blow with any pressure points. He could feel the punch breaking the skin under his pant leg. It was painful, but at least he would be able to continue the use of his leg.

After Jean at activated the Kakai Barrier, he could see Sazan trying to escape from her prison through the shadows. Jean smirked and merely had to wait. He slowly started to countdown from 10 to himself. As Sazan found herself on the outside attempting to use Scarecrow as a hostage, she would soon find several golden like wires around her limbs and body coming from the kakai barrier. The moment she moved out from the barrier, they had latched onto her. They dug into the shadows as if they were part of the same dimension. The barrier quickly pulled her back into the warehouse where Sparda and Jean were.

"I tried to tell you. Your presence is locked away in here. This barrier was originally made to keep creatures like you and Sparda locked away in hell. If the Kakai Barrier was so easy to get through then there would be billions of you roaming around."

He paused his talking for a moment as he slowly paced the room back and forth. In true villain form, he continued to talk. Not so much for being cocky, but to buy Scarecrow more time to get out with the men and drugs.

"However... you two are Queen's Bodyguard and Grand Duchess. As a warrior I have to respect that, but it would be foolish of me to think that you wouldn't try to use your powers in some creative way to shatter the barrier. Which is why I brought leverage."

Jean reached into his coat and pulled out a small screen. It had a live feed of the Castle. Jean slid it across towards his foes and continued to elaborate.

"Barrier... Execute Order Hostage 7."

The power source to the barrier began to make a strange noise before resuming its normal function.

"That there is a live video of your castle. If you even attempt to break out or follow us, then you will force me to blow up what you've dedicated to protecting. So many lives gone in an instant."

It had to of been a bluff. There was no way Jean could of managed to set up any explosives near the castle grounds. Let alone get past hundreds of guards and patrols without anyone noticing. But what if he wasn't bluffing at all?

"I would hate to have to do that. There are many fighting men and women in there and warriors don't deserve to be killed like sheep... but... respect must be taught... Lay down with your faces on the ground until we leave."

[DC Comics]

Scarecrow felt the arm around his neck and the cold hard barrel of the 11mm Blessing up to his head. He extended a hand up to his men to keep them from behaving rashly before spraying a clear white gas into her face from a secret device in his sleeve just seconds before the barrier pulled Sazan back inside it. Immediately after being touched by the gas would Sazan behold the area around her beginning to decay, her own hand's skin pealing off to reveal muscle and then bone as whatever she was hit with began duplicating the effects of the nightmare through a powerful drug of the mind.

And that was the drug being shipped. A way to cheat the end of the Waking Nightmare in this world. While it will never be as strong as the real thing it was more than enough to send Hallowton spiraling into chaos. The moment Scarecrow was released they resumed their work, leaving the warehouse and loading up the boxes in the truck as this time Scarecrow drew his pistol and kept an eye out for any more surprises.

[Sparda]

Without a word, Sparda peered down at the camera feed. Crafty bastard could probably have pulled this off, too, with enough planning and a stroke of luck. Mentally, the devil was kicking himself - he was responsible for letting this happen if it wasn't a bluff, and he couldn't afford to think that.

Nor could they just lay down and let Scarecrow get away. Odds were they'd never find him again, and he had to answer for his part in the uprising. Sparda remained standing for a long few moments, gazing across at Jean as if weighing up his options. He slowly raised a hand to Sazan.

"Stand down..." He had a plan. Across the city, his voice would echo in Queen Lori's mind.

"Your Majesty. Scarecrow's been located, but we have a potential hostage situation involving the castle. I need to you order a full evacuation into the escape tunnels, but do it quietly. No one outside can know you're on the move."

Next would come a telepathic instruction to Knight-Commander Ashlyn. "Amilia? Sparda. Gather your team quietly and stand by, I need you ready to move on the coordinates you were given. Wait for my go."

[Alex]

Sazan was hit by the gas before being pulled back into the kakai barrier with the others. What both Jean and Sparda had said didn't register with the Hybrid as all she could focus on were the area around them collapsing into ruins, both Sparda and Jean nothing but a skeleton to her as her own hands became nothing but bones. Sazan recognized it all by Amoura's description but there was no way, no way that they could have weaponized it in such a way. Sazan's hands latched onto her skull as she fell to her knees.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!"

Screaming in terrible agony.

[Cazador]

Jean stood by and waited for Sparda's response, but his patience was growing thin.

"Let me make this easier. You have until the count of three. 1..."

Jean was prepared to end the life of every person in that castle. They would never know what hit them.

"2..."

The devil was taking his time giving a response. Jean would have to wonder if Sparda was still thinking of someway to outsmart him. He wouldn't put it past the demon no matter how unlikely it seemed. Before he could even utter the letter 't' Sparda finally said the words Jean was looking to hear.

"Stand down..."

"Excellent... very good use of intentions. It's good to see you're not as gung-ho as Sazan."

Jean smiled under his disguise.

"I don't like to reveal my name often, but to be hunted down by a warrior of your caliber would be entertaining. Remember my name Sparda.... Jean Vilain."

Jean looked down to Sazan to see her writhing in her fears. No doubt, Scarecrow must of dowsed her with his new drug, but she was given fair warning not to try anything. With Sazan dealing with the weaponized nightmare, she wouldn't be much of a threat for awhile. As for Sparda, he still refused to lay on the ground even after saying to 'stand down.' Jean was prepared to leave the two and rejoin Scarecrow outside, but he was left uneasy at Sparda's stance. His eyes still showed much determination.

Many scenarios came rushing through Jean's head as to what he could of been planning. He slowly started to walk backwards, but before he would take his leave, Jean would have to make sure there were no loose ends. He quickly pulled out his .45 and with deadly precision, executed every wounded man that Sparda had shot earlier. A captured soldier was a talking soldier. Jean knew this well as the fact of the enemies being in the warehouse was proof enough that someone talked. With the wounded taken care of, Jean left Sparda and Sazan. He had doubts about Sparda following him just for the sake of the castle. Once out of sight he would try and radio Scarecrow.

"Scarecrow. I'm coming out. I don't think Sparda or Sazan will be following us."

Jean changed frequencies to make another call to an unknown person. Somewhere within the castle, an undercover sleeper agent would be there to respond and answer.

"I'll take it all is quiet on your end?"

[Ϟ Scar ϟ]

The Driter was able to get into the castle with the information and help to get inside of the building and so far no dangerous events had come close. He blended in perfectly with everyone in the castle. He went from cowboy to spy quickly. He had no idea how his ally was able to get such detailed information but a lot of people had done it where he had come rom and he had som personal training as a spy prevousily. This knowledge was able to help him move into the building disguised easily. Though the hardest part was making it not sound like he was cowboy which he had talked like that for his whole life.

He took his “post” Waiting to be given further instruction to his objective. He was given instruction to if people started moving to the tunnes he would blow them out and then release the gas which he was given time to flee beore the gas hit him. And he had all the needed gear to not be effected close at hand so he wouldn’t even worry about being hit by the gas. It was a weird thing, it was not a deadly gas but it was more of a weird serum. It would induce high amounts of fear and hallucations, even he would be messed p by it with all of his training and his twenty years o living in the wastes.

People started to move, silently but they began to move. He moved along seeing if he could find someone else to assist on getting out. He pressed a hidden detonater caving in the tunnels, he heard the explosion from there keeping them from fleeing that way . He quickly moved to get his things ready. He slipped on the mask and released the gas he got his other gear ready and activated his radio when Jean called in.

”Yeah everything was going to plan, the people tried to evacuate and I released the stuff, now I’m leaving.”

As everyone started being effected by the toxin he opened a window and slid out and opened contact with Jean once more. And left the castle ground. He entered into an alley and quickly changed into his normal clothes after knowing no one saw him.

”Okay I’m out, what’s next?

[Terry]

A blinding light of blue and violet shinned above Scarecrow's position on the street as the Ice Queen pummeled down from the opening right on top of him truly having no idea what she was dropping in on. Noticing that she had fallen on a living, breathing person Eve was quick to roll off him and get up to her feet in apology.

“Sorry! I am so sorry I did not mean to–!”

But before she could finish the Ice Queen found herself on the receiving end of gun barrels by masked men loading up a suspicious looking truck. One glance downward and Eve could see that the person she landed on was also wearing a mask.

“A little early for Halloween don't you think?”

[DC Comics]

With the barrier's interference out of the way Scarecrow was able to hear Jean and moved his hand to the radio to answer him until the light above led his eyes up to the sky only to find himself beneath an unidentified woman seconds later. The moment the girl got up and the rioters aimed their weapons at her Scarecrow returned to his feet and jumped in the back of his van and closed the doors behind him.

"Drive!"

The van began to take off down the road as Scarecrow grabbed the radio.

"I'm heading out now. Some stupid bitch just fell on me from the sky. The others have her at gunpoint go check her out make sure she's not a threat."

[Terry]

“Get on the ground now!”

“All right. Just settle down. You have a clear advantage over me. You have guns and all I have is–”

Eve interrupted herself to quickly draw the nunchucks hooked to her waist, spinning it around her front to deflect the in-coming bullets while charging at one of the thugs, knocking their firearm to the side with her nunchucks and then getting behind them. Holding two of the three ice sticks and pulling back the chains around the guy's throat to choke him while using him as a meatshield against the other thugs who fired at the same time. The man dropped to the ground and Eve picked up his rifle and fired it at the others taking them out before turning the weapon on the back of the van and unloading upon it. The bullets ripping through the back towards the man inside. Whether or not they hit Scarecrow wasn't important.

It was the bullets that broke through the boxes and released the gas stored inside while the van's windows were still up that was.

[DC Comics]

"Shit!"

Scarecrow managed to avoid being shot but the gas was released and quickly filled up the van. The mask worn by both the driver and himself kept them from being affected by a product of Scarecrow's own creation but it didn't help his supply one bit. Although the windows were up the holes left behind by the bullets allowed the gas to slip out. Moving the remaining untouched boxes to his right to the corner end of the van opposite of the back door he decided to give Hallowton an early taste, opening the back of the van and then firing on Eve where she stood with his 9mm while the gas leaked out into the streets towards her and the rest of this part of town before the van turned a corner.

[Terry]

Gripping the chains of her nunchucks Eve extended it forward and charged up a beam of ice that shot from the weapon and hit the van before the gas could leak out of the holes left behind by the bullets. Instantly freezing the van on the outside wheels and all stopping it dead in its tracks and sealing Scarecrow and the driver inside. The ice itself hardened by the charge of the queen to make sure it was impenetrable to the bullets in Scarecrow's possession.

“Stay cool.”

[Cazador]

"I'm heading out now. Some stupid bitch just fell on me from the sky. The others have her at gunpoint go check her out make sure she's not a threat."

"Consider it done."

For Jean, walking through the barrier was no problem. Whatever he was, he wasn't something the kakai barrier was designed to hold which allowed him free passage. With Sparda and Sazan well locked away within the kakai barrier, it was time to catch up with Scarecrow. Everything seemed to be falling into place well. Jean figured that the woman who got the drop on them, must of been the reinforcements. It had to of been expected that Sparda and Sazan wouldn't leave the castle without telling anyone where they were going. Then again, the agent in the castle, Drifter, would of made sure that no one else would come to help thanks to the sneak attack he just layed out.

”Yeah everything was going to plan, the people tried to evacuate and I released the stuff, now I’m leaving.”

"I wonder how they knew they needed to evacuate. They'd of had to of been listening to.... Sparda.... Clever demon. So that's why he still had that look in his eyes. No matter... we were prepared in any case. Excellent work."

With the escape route cut off, the weaponized nightmare gassing the castle, and the threat of the bomb destroying the castle, the only thing left to due was deal with whoever got the drop on Scarecrow. As he he prepared to exit the building, Jean started to hear gunshots coming from the outside. Rather than just jump in, it was better for him to get a look from afar as to what was going on outside. Jean slowly closed his left and let it sink into darkness. On the outside in the shadows, his eye would appear to see just what was happening. He caught a glimpse at the unknown attacker in action. She didn't look like someone from the castle. Perhaps she was just a 'good samaratin.' At least watching gave Jean an opportunity to gauge her skills, while he was radioed again by Drifter.

”Okay I’m out, what’s next?

"I'm almost done here. Just one last loose end to take care of. Meet us back at base, but be ready on stand by. Just don't stick around in the blast radius in case we do need to blow the castle."

Scarecrow was in trouble. He opened his eyelid and let his eye return from the shadows. Jean stood still for a few moments to weigh his options on how to deal with the new intruder. He descended into the shadows and quickly appeared on the other side of the building. He took a look at the size the semi truck in front of him. It wasn't very conspicuous. There was a goblin head on the front grill with colorful letters on the side of the trailer that said 'Happy Toys.' It would have to do for considering the circumstances. Jean opened the door and proceeded to hot wire the vehicle. The engine quickly came to life.



Jean started to drive off in the opposite direction of where Scarecrow and the others were. It looked as though he was just abandoning them. Far from it though. With barely any light available and it being night, Jean would be able to save his contract. Once he was far enough away from where all the action was, he parked the semi and got out. He stood and focused in on the shadows before melting into them. The hired gun quickly moved through them until he reached the location of where Scarecrow was. It was a perfect spot with hardly any light. Inside the van, Scarecrow and his driver would feel the shadows wrapping around them before being pulled into the darkness along with any drugs that hadn't been shot open.

Jean sank them back into the darkness before reemerging them inside the semi. If their foe attempted to look inside any of the vans, all she would find would be nothing more than empty vehicles. A neat parlor trick to be sure. With the drugs loaded up in the semi a few blocks away and Scarecrow and his driver ready to drive off, the only thing left would be to keep their pursuer busy. Jean would stay behind and do just that. He would reemerge himself on the second story of the warehouse just outside the range of the kakai barrier. Jean would slowly change his form into that of a small boy and approached the nearby. Jean in his child form looked down to see Eve with the bodies of her attackers laying around. If Eve were to look up, she would see a small boy banging on the window and crying for help.

[Terry]

Eve approached the frozen van and looked inside to begin what she believed would be negotiations from the enemy to be released. Whether or not that mask could block out the gas released by her bullets was irrelevant. He couldn't stay in there forever. Sooner or later he'd need to take off that mask or have to use the bathroom and he'd be screwed. However when she looked inside through frozen glass at the inside of the van, she saw he was gone. A surprised expression grew on the woman's face as she couldn't believe it. It was the greatest disappearing act in the world to her. How could he have escaped the ice?

Eve had no time to wonder. If she couldn't get answers from their leader then she would find what she can from the thugs. The Ice Queen was regretting killing them now but they gave her little choice and it was their own fault for not wearing any kind of protection. Eve knelt down by their bodies, removed their masks to see their face and then searched their pockets. Looking for wallets, names, anything that could put her on a trail but nothing. They had nothing Eve could have used. She should have known. Nothing was ever that simple.

Her eyes looked up and saw the kid trapped on the second floor of the warehouse surrounded by a strange gold fence. Whatever these people were up to it couldn't have been any good. Eve would have to track down Scarecrow later as for right now the innocent was more important. Eve was cautious when approaching the fence and slowly moved a hand to touch it. Expecting to be either shocked or blast back but to her surprise she phased right through it. Like it was nothing to her. Unbeknownst to Eve it was as the barrier in question had little effect to humans.

Eve kept the Cerberus at the ready in her hands while slowly entering the warehouse, proving to be remarkably light on her feet as she still didn't know who all, or what all, were inside. Eve scaled the walls and peered around corners, her eyes coming to a room up ahead where two people seemed to be trapped. One on their knees screaming while the other was still on his feet. Since Eve only had a back view she couldn't see their faces but circumstances led Eve to believe they were hostages as well. Getting to the kid on the second floor would matter little if they couldn't pass the barrier so the Ice Queen set her sights on finding the power source. Going to a large storage room next over and examining that before finally finding the generator in the next couple of rooms closer to where the stairs that led up to the second floor was. Eve struck the generator with repeated blows with Cerberus at lightning speed until finally it dealt enough damage to shut the generator down turning off the fence and releasing those who were still stuck there. Eve continued up the stairs and found the room the little boy was in, returning the nunchucks to the spot on her waist and going over to him. Kneeling down with a kind smile to let the boy know she wasn't going to hurt him.

“Hey there. Are you okay? I'm going to get you out of here I promise but first I need to know if anyone else is here with you.”

[DC Comics]

By the time it would have taken Eve to search the storage room and finally track down the power source of the barrier to disable it Scarecrow and the driver would have been long gone. The semi itself abandoned as the two took the remaining drugs to their designation knowing that the enemy was likely to follow the tire tracks left behind by the semi. Both men were wearing gloves so checking for prints would come back negative. They were careful to leave no evidence behind but Scarecrow would leave them with a parting gift. Scarecrow took out a detonator and pressed the little black button at the top. Setting the van back outside of the warehouse that was rigged off and releasing the gas that was otherwise trapped inside the ice before disappearing into the night.

[Cazador]

The disguised Jean dried his tears before looking up to Eve. With a blank expression he pointed behind Eve towards the window on the other side of the room. It had a clear view of the castle.

"They're all gonna die..."

When Eve would turn around to look, Jean would vanish back into the shadows leaving the area. He wouldn't have to worry now about Sparda following him. The demon would have more pressing issues to deal with. Eve's carelessness just cost Hollowton one castle. With the Kakai Barrier destroyed, the bomb with in the castle began to activate. With the demon's teleportation ability and speed, there was a chance he could still save some. His most likely target would of been the Queen. He would have to hurry. With everyone inside gassed, it was likely that they were all paralyzed in fear.

As the van outside the warehouse exploded and blanketed the area in with the drug, parts of the castle would start to crumble under the explosions. The blasts were causing large seismic activity through out the city. If someone were to look outside in the black night, all they would see is a bright orange light coming from the castle. The walls were crumbling and the towers were falling. The once proud landmark would soon be reduced to nothing.