"So...ummm... Phil?" Brianna growled, the dark clouds overhead beginning to pour. "Now, would be a good time to wake up...."
Even as Phil and RoboSquirrel remained unconscious, the overwhelming odds of nine adversaries began to circle the Vanguardians. They were all silent, slowly encroaching.
"...something's not right..." Grissom mumbled, pistols held high, tracking their methodical movements.
"You've been saying that all day." Rama replied, Caliburne up in a defensive stance. "It hasn't helped us yet."
"Enough talk...." Ed interjected, the heavy rain beginning to drench everyone present. "....prepare yourselves.....they will probably strike as one...."
Lightning suddenly ripped across the sky, Brianna looking up nervously.
"You didn't exactly make it a comfortable arena for us flyers, you know..."
"...a little water, Bri...."
"Try a little lighting...." Bri countered with a cocked eyebrow.
"Why haven't they attacked yet?" Brute Force asked, back to the others, as well.
"What is going on?" the ragged stranger standing next to him asked. "Who are these people?"
"Old enemies....old friends...." Ed replied, watching with unexpressed anxiety.
Why weren't they attacking?
Grissom's eyes suddenly lit up with an idea. One of his pistols disappeared, as he stretched his hand out towards Larry Lance.
"Lawrence?" he asked pleasantly. "How are things?"
And with twinkle in his eye, Grissom flexed his teleportative abilities.
Suddenly, 'LLance' spasmed, and a chunk of circuitry appeared in Montag's palm....
"...thought so..." he smirked.
And, with that, his other pistol diappeared, as he threw he arms out.
One by one, they began to fall. 'Kristogar Velo'. 'Jackie Munroe'. Sparks flew, and the husks of simulacrums collapsed against the muddy ground.
'Gold Naecken'. All some form of advanced, elaborate......
"...androids..." Ed breathed with an almost sigh of relief.
Grissom smiled, as everyone began to relax. Montag ripped circuitry from 'Tobias Christopher', turning towards Aurochs next...
And nothing happened.
The dark mage smiled.
"What's the psychological threat....." he asked, raising his hands. "...and what's real?"
A sudden wave of disoreintation hit the Vanguardians. Montag was thrown from his feet hard, as Ed barked "GO!"....he and Brianna shooting into the sky.
"Oh shit..." Brute Force gasped. "...they're real?"
The stranger....the only one not tossed by Aurochs first wave of attack....stood there, briefly confused. It was merely an act of instinct that had brought his hands up into a defensive manner.
A defensive stance...that was beginning to reflect Aurochs' sorcery back at him....
Grissom, teeth gritted as he tried to sit up, saw the actual members of this Strikeforce-4 vault into action. He threw his arm up towards the lumbering T5 robot, ripping chunks of his innards straight out.
"Hit them hard!!" Rama yelled, running headling at one of the Scorpion Brothers, Caliburne coming around for an attack.
Aurochs. Johnny Omicron. The Scorpion Brothers. The T5 robot.
Strikeforce-4. The real enemies.
The battle had truly begun....
