Gathering Guardians

"That's one way to skin a goat. Let's see if we can find another one."

*Syrona quickly holsters her pistols and pulls out her sniper. She takes aim at one of the canisters and takes the shot.*

*Max slowly climbs out with his weapon, ready to attack at any time.*

"On second thought, Ark is a little busy bleeding. Why don't you go find the White Mage, Zephyr?"

*The other canister shatters as the Machina arches its tail again. It also raises its back 2 legs, firing at Max with twin machineguns.*

"Max! Get out of there!"

*Syrona starts running up to the boat to assist Max out of danger.*

"Done" Zephyr takes off to look for the white mage.

*Max rolls out of the way.*

Max: <Blizzard!>

*Max points at the Machina with his rod.*

*Ark finds Hitomi near the Sphere Theatre*

Ark: <H-Hey, are you the White Mage?>

OOC: Way to pay attention Tae.

*The machina falters slightly as the ice crystal attacks it. Another lightning bolt from Senthose destroys a 3rd canister.*

<You have Ifrit, correct?>

"Uhh...yeah."

<Use him.>

*Reluctantly, Luna waves her hand grandly, causing Valefor to fly back into the sky & disappear. She then touches the ground, causing it to turn to magma & thrust upward. As Ifrit emerges from it, he catches Luna & helps her to the ground.*

~Ifrit is controlled by Zephyr~

OOC: Fuck Harley.

OC: Hnnnnng fire ><

"Burn the shit out of that thing" was Zephyr's only command to the beastial aeon.

OOC: I chose Ixion so...

*Hitomi turns to this strange guy who apparantly enjoys talking to strangers.*

"Yes."

Ark: <I'm sorry, follow me!>

*He grabs her hand and takes off running, pulling her towards the dock at which the battle is occuring*

*Max finds a small crate to duck behind*

Max: <Water!>

*Max points at the Machina again.*

*Ifrit blasts an orb of fire out of his mouth at the machina. It bursts 2 of the canisters, another that was cracked earlier being shattered by the water spell. With only 2 canisters left, the machina begins to get desperate. It turns around, raising its tail at Ifrit & co. while blasting Syrona & Max with a jet of poison. It also raises its forelegs & backlegs, firing a barrage of bullets in both directions. Senthose leaps back from the docks, a wall of earth emerging in front of him & shielding him from fire.*
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*Before Hitomi can respond, Ark has dragged her past a few of the docks, so that she can now see them approaching the spectacle above.*

Ark: <Luna, I brought he--who the hell is that?>

*He points at Ifrit*

*Hitomi yanks her hand away from him and looks at him like "What the hell do you think you're doing?"*

OOC: Technically Yojimbo was going to be mine but w/e

Zephyr holds his sword out in front of him. and blocks the bullets with it. They ting harmlessly off the blade. He then holds it out again to the side, "Irfit, breath flame on to the blade of my sword. Luna, boost my speed, I'm going in for the kill."

*Max stumbles to the floor, breathing in a fair amount of poison.*

Max: <Gah...>

*Max's head starts spinning.*

*The machina manages to get off its big attack: A tail laser that destroys Senthose's shield & rips through the rest of the party, critically wounding all of them. Afterwards, a blue javelin comes whizzing past Zephyr's shoulder, blowing the machina to pieces.*

"Umm...sorry if I stole your thunder, I just thought that was the most cost-effective way of winning."

<I was wondering what race you would manifest as.>

"Umm...excuse me?"

*Luna turns around. Senthose walks forward, doing the Yevonite prayer.*

<Why, the next High Summoner, of course. I know A-material when I see it.>

"Oh...thank you. But we should probably find a white mage. Speaking of, where's Ark?"

*Ifrit leaps away, seemingly disappearing.*

OOC: The following are rewards for those who were involved in the fights.

~Sinspawn Alpheus~
400 Gil

~Lord Ochu~
300 Gil

~Mechanical Spider~
300 Gil

Ark: <Luna, over heeere! Bleh.>

*He grabs Hitomi again and runs to the group*

"Works for me."

*Hitomi pulls her hand away again*

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

*Luna whirls around, performing the Yevon prayer to Hitomi.*

"I'm very sorry. I saw you from aboard the S.S. Winno. I believed you were a white mage, so I asked my guardians to bring you here. We were attacked by a machina weapon, you see."

*She gestures to the smoldering wreckage behind her, & to the group's many wounds, including the poisoned Max. Soon, the Measters arrive, accompanied by their Warrior Monks.*

Senthose<You're late.>

Mika<You said you'd handle it.>

Senthose<Indeed. I did. But I'm afraid I'll have to admit that Yevon won this battle after all, in the form of Summoner...?>

"Luna. Umm...sir."

Senthose<Oh, but one of her Guardians is an Al Bhed. Let's call this one a tie, shall we?>

Zephyr rests his massive sword on his shoulder and resumes staring out at the waters.

*Max's dizziness goes away as he gets up. He looks around him and breaths a sigh of relief when he realizes that the Machina was destroyed.*