[[ Cosmo Canyon - Cosmo Candle ]]

Spider walks in slowly, yawning.

Seikou is also yawning, leaning against a wall of the canyon in obvious exhaustion...

Signas is wide awake, and would even be cheerful, excepting the serious nature of the day! Today is a day of attack!

Spider walks over to Signas, his troops following behind. "So, how are we going to do this? Just combine our units?"

Signas hrms. "Since this will probably be a tough siege, we'll need everyone to work together. I'd say, yes."

A rather long stretch of spirited, possibly even -maniacal- laughter eminates from the general region of the Cosmo Canyon gate, and Axl darts up to the gathering around the Candle, holding a bundle of what looks like clothing...

Spider looks over at Axl, then his eyes narrow. "I told you I was -not- wearing the outfit!"

Seikou looks up, obviously confused.

Axl says 'Oh, don't worry, this isn't for you.'

Signas is totally oblivious to exactly who Axl means.

Axl tries to hold back the grin that's begging to be expressed, stepping up calmly to Signas. "There's one little thing I didn't mention last time..."

Signas tilts his head. "Hm? We need all the information we can get."

Axl cheerfully pushes the bundle of clothing in Signas' direction. "Someone has to go in and rescue the 'princess', or whoever it is they're holding." He manages to keep himself to just a smirk, though the strain to keep it that mild is obvious.

Spider smirks as well, perhaps a little more broadly...

Signas nods. "Good, good. But, what're these clothes for?" He looks at them curiously.

Spider says 'They're apparently traditional for the job.'

Axl says 'Yep! Call it 'historical accuracy'...'

Signas says 'Hm, strange. Who should I give these to, then?'

Signas peers back at his troops, looking for someone they might fit. They all look too small.

Spider says '...Yourself, captain.'

Axl struggles not to repeat what he did at the gate. "You're the only one they won't expect~..."

Signas sputters. "Wha-, Fuh-, Buh- But I don't have any experience in sabotage."

Axl smirks knowingly. "Who said anything about sabotage? You're just running in! I'll take care of the other part, and the rest of the force'll keep the fodder back."

Signas sighs. "You mean, you want me to infiltrate the Koopa Base, rescue someone, and return, all by myself with nothing besides what I'm wearing?"

Spider continues to smirk. Sei's starting to smirk a little as well.

Axl quietly grounds his foot into the ground to keep from laughing, maintaining some amount of authority. "That's all you'll need!" A smirk and playful nudge to Signas' shoulder, then, "-Trust me- on this!"

Spider says 'And besides, captain... As your commander, I order you to do it.'

Signas rubs his temple. "Now wait a minute, I haven't heard anything from the comma- Oh."

Signas looks resigned. At least Axl hasn't led him wrong yet. "Alright, give me a minute." He puts on a pair of blue denim overalls and a poofy hat with the letter S on it.

Signas admires himself, once he's got everything on. "Where did you get these, anyway? It's like you've had this planned well enough in advance to get these made specifically for me."

Spider is now barely containing his laughter...

Axl quickly turns around and clamps a hand over his mouth, looking almost on the verge of tears before he recollects himself and regards the 'great hero'. "I snuck into Truce and got it from this weird mushroom girl, but that doesn't matter!"

Seikou is kind of... staring. /If 3 years ago someone had told me that Signas would be dressed in blue overalls and a hat, I would've burst out laughing. I might anyways./

Spider says 'So, we ready to go now?'

Signas says 'I suppose you'll be absorbing my troops for the time being.. Good luck, sir!'

Spider manages a salute. "Same to you, Andre."

Axl nods and looks out towards the gate. "I'll hang near the back and--" The odd name catches him off-guard and he looks to Signas. "...'Andre'?"

Signas coughs. "Yes, that's my name. You didn't know?"

Signas gossips 'Having made their preparations, the northern division of the Truce Militia, stationed in Cosmo Canyon starts the march southwards!'

Axl shakes his head, but disregards the thought(not entirely forgetting it, however, he was sure he could do -something- with it) and returns his attention to the task at hand.

Signas accosts Axl. "I imagine you know more about what's going on than I do. Lead the way?"

Seikou falls into step behind Spider, still confused. And half-asleep.

Axl nods. "Sure thing, but you'll have to be in front of me." Another devious grin crosses him again. "You -are- the great hero, after all!"

Signas casts a desperate glance at Spider, who isn't even paying attention.

Signas says 'Right, well, tell me where to go, then.'

Spider makes no move to help Signas, instead smirking broadly...

"I'll have to go internal(tells) to make sure they don't know what we're up to." Axl taps at the side of his helmet, indicating his internal intercom. "Secrecy and all that."

Signas nods. "Roger."

Spider nods. "Sounds good."

Seikou says 'Having all-reploid troops is useful...'

Axl starts trotting towards the gate, grinning and readying his guns on the way. "Alright, let's get this party -started-!" /...Man, that was kinda cheesy. >_> I'll have to get a new line./

You tell Spider 'Oh, and you would've had one too, but they didn't have one your size. You better be grateful! *light snicker*'

Spider tells you '...You better be grateful I don't just shoot you anyways.'

Axl pauses briefly, looking towards the town looming in the distance. /Man, I hope I'm right about all this.../

You tell Spider 'Aw, you wouldn't do that to poor li'l me, would you?'

Spider tells you 'I very much would.'

Spider nods. "Here we are."

Axl stops again, standing near the back of the group(behind Signas, more specifically). "Alright..."

Axl says 'Commander, Seikou, go in and make sure the path's clear before 'Andre' and I go running in. Don't try to keep them all off, though, there's too many for that...'

Spider nods. "Sounds good. C'mon, Sei."

Seikou nods and salutes, stepping forward. The two head off towards Truce!

Signas says 'Wait, what, where are we running to? /Through/ the city?'

Axl says 'Well, yeah! How else are we getting there?'

Axl nods, seeing things happen just past the gate, jogging closer to the entrance. "Alright, that's our cue!"

[[ Truce - Northern Gate ]]

Spider is busily blasting away at the Koopas, while Sei is slashing.

Spider says 'Hey, guys!'

Spider says 'Hmn. Do we have troops to the west?'

Axl stands back-to-back a few feet from the good General Andre Signas Mario, picking off whatever stragglers might be trying to come from behind.

Axl says 'Don't worry about that, we're going straight south!'

Axl fires off a few more shots, nodding quickly and motioning for Signas to follow...

Signas takes off running, as fast as he can, just going straight south!

[[ Guardia - A Dirt Road ]]

Axl has his gaze trained to the sky just slightly southeast. "We should be getting there soon..."

Axl runs on further south, frantically looking around for -something-...

[[ Guardia - A Dirt Road ]]

Spider tells you 'H..help! attack... be... *the signal goes dead*'

Axl stops dead in his tracks, looking back north. "Damn!" He sighs and takes up his guns again, running back the other way. "Stay behind me, the others're in trouble!"

You tell Spider 'Spider... Spider! We're coming back, you'll be fine!'

Axl pushes and struggles, trying to get through far enough to at least see the rest of the group. "Hey! HEY!" /I can't leave them behind...!/

Axl takes a few reluctant steps back. /No... They'll come out fine. They -have- to. Focus~.../ He takes off south again, assuming the senior officer will follow.

Axl pauses, looking around yet again. /The road doesn't go much further.../ "There has to be something here.."

[[ Sulfataska Mountains - The Koopa Base ]]

Axl keeps looking around, then finally looks -up-, looking much more confident now. "There!" He points up at the blimp. "That's where she is! ...Or he, either way. But anyway!"

Signas stops, totally out of breath!

Signas says '*pant* I don't think.. I've ever run that fast.. in my entire life.'

Axl takes a few more steps back, doing a great deal of panting himself, but refusing to lower his aim. "You get used to it after a while."

Axl says '...I think it's more or less clear. You can go up later.'

Axl stiffens and turns around, immediately leveling a gun at the source of the voice. "...Wait, who're -you-?"

Elijah raises his hands into the air. "Uh... 0992-2-2-AC. I'm a fighter for Conclave. Not that you've heard of it, 'round here it don't exist."

Vasho says 'The paper, moron!'

Elijah nods, and shows off the paper with big black letters. It says: I'M KAMEK'S LACKEY'S LACKEY.

Axl peers at the note. "Kamek..." He sighs, still refusing to lower his gun. "Great. Well, I'll get you two go if you don't say a word about us being here!"

Elijah salutes. "Uh... Sure. 'Snot my job to kick your can. Shall we go?"

Vasho says 'Let's.'

Vasho skedaddles.

Elijah skedaddles.

Spider tells you 'I made it, kid. But that pantene pro-v dude? He's... a traitor.'

You tell Spider 'Oh great, that's the -last- thing I need to hear... *sigh*'

Spider tells you 'Sorry.'

Axl sighs and looks to Signas, trying not to look -too- defeated. "Seikou... he's jumped ship."

Axl looks towards the blimp again. "We'll have to do this fast." He runs a little closer to it, trying to find a way in. "But she'll be in there, it's always the same thing..."

Signas and Axl are at the base of the blimps. Signas looks upwards hesitantly, not sure of his role as a makeshift hero!

Axl looks back and forth between the path out and the blimp frantically. "Okay, go on ahead, I'll take up the back."

Signas peers upwards. "And she's in there?"

Axl says 'Do -you- see any other blimps around here? I didn't think so!'

Axl nudges Signas, still quite vigilant. "Get moving, 'hero'!"

Signas sneaks, as well as he's able, up ramp to the blimp..

[[ Sulfataska Mountains - Inside the Blimp ]]

Signas peers through the doorway of the blimp. He beeps Axl. "There's a pretty big Koopa in here. One of their commanders, I think. Are you sure I can do this?"

Tyro looks at Selrin.

Axl follows in soon after our intrepid hat-wearing hero, keeping a close eye on the ground below.

Signas is peering into the blimp, and notices Tyro as well.

Tyro paces around the blimp.

You tell Signas 'Just jump on its head a few times, you'll be fine.'

Axl finally looks -into- the blimp, still behind Signas.

Signas pumps his legs, getting ready to sprint.

Selrin just swings her feet idly, humming a little tune not unlike a certain boss battle theme, not noticing anyone else around...

Signas stops, he has a better idea, and it might just work.

Signas walks triumphantly into the blimp. The light from the door casts an imposing silhouette!

Signas shouts at Roy, seeing the only girl on board that could the princess. "Give back the princess, and nobody'll get hurt!"

Signas flexes his arm Dan-style, with his other fist on his hip, attempting to look threatening.

Tyro looks around repeatedly.

Roy snorts, and raises to his feet. "What are you, some knockoff Mario? Tyro, get him!"

Axl quietly lets his hand trail down the side of his face, turning red in embarrassment. /Yeah, nice pose, 'Andre'.../

Tyro charges towards Signas head first.

Signas gets caught face-on, and bowled backwards into the side of the blimp with a thud.

Roy says 'Gwahaha! That's what you get for messing with the Koopa Klan!'

Tyro rubs his head alittle.

Signas struggles to his feet. He beeps Axl. "A little help here, maybe? I can't take this sort of punishment.."

Axl mutters something and sends an unheard message right back to Signas. <Just jump on his head a few times!>

Signas says right out loud, staring at Axl's position. "What? On his head?"

Axl says 'Yes! Just do it!'

Tyro charges towards Axl.

Roy looks concerned, he didn't realize he was dealing with a /schizophrenic/ Mario clone.

Signas shakes himself off and takes an impressive flying leap towards Tyro!

Axl starts to urge Signas on, but notices the charge and easily hops up and over Tyro, staying in the air for a few seconds like he's good at doing.

Axl says 'Don't worry about this one, just go after Roy!'

Tyro curls up into his shell.

Signas lands /near/ Tyro. He hops a few times, then nods, and runs at Roy!

Selrin yawns widely, locking her hands behind her head. Kind of nonchalant for someone who's in the middle of an epic struggle...

Roy realizes that he might not be dealing with a complete amateur, and retracts into his shell as well. But there's a catch- Roy is covered in spikes!

Axl suddenly looks horrified and lands roughly on the ground, cutting off his Hover Boosters and yelling. "Wait not yet! STOP!"

Signas screeches to a halt, falling backwards, flat onto his back. "GAH- Ow, what?! What am I supposed to do here?"

Axl mutters mainly to himself, looking very worried. /Crap, that's right, this one always gave me trouble.../ "Uh..."

Roy peeks out from his hiding, and unfurls himself. "Haw haw, you didn't even manage to jump!"

Signas stands up, again, and tries to come up with a retort. "Oh.. oh yeah?"

Axl again stops and flips around his worry into vehemence, pointing again. "NOW!"

Tyro sobs quietly in his shell.

Signas nods, finally, and jumps, straight at Roy's head.

Roy doesn't have time to react, and gets kicked in the face by a big metal foot!

Roy crumbles to the floor, but gets back up: slowly. "You tincan, you're going to have to do better than that!"

Axl lets out a little cheer and switches back into interal communication again. <Just two more! It's always three times!>

Roy coughs up a ball of fire at Signas, who barely sidesteps in time! "You never said anything about three times!"

Axl stills, then lets out a nervous little laugh and turns a bit red. <Oh... Yeah, I probably should've said something about that. But you know -now-, right?>

Selrin starts to curl up in her little corner of the blimp, obviously not interested in the sight of a reploid in too-small overalls jumping on an oversized turtle's head...

Signas grunts, dodging a broad claw swipe as he leaps again, scoring a second direct hit! <If I was still your commanding officer, I'd.. I don't even know what I'd do, but you wouldn't like it!>

Axl recedes a little, the 'fins' on his back doing the same. <Okay, okay, I'm sorry! Just... keep it off the record, okay?>

Roy falls backwards again, obviously dizzy. "That's.... it! Game's over!" He pulls his limbs into his shell and begins rotating wildly, becoming a whirling ball of spiked Koopa shell!

Signas visibly freaks out, looking around for cover while Roy unintentionally grinds a handy table to splinters. <Now what! I can't jump on that!>

Axl curses a bit too loudly and huddles down near the floor! <Down, DOWN! Just get out of the way!> /Oh man~... I didn't think it'd be -this- different!/

Signas floors himself, and avoids becoming shrapnel.

Roy eventually spins to a stop, after grinding a few more pieces of furniture and boucing off a Bullet Bill cannon. His arms and head reveal themselves, and he is totally dizzy and disoriented. "Whooaaa.. Cadet Tyro! Did I.. get him?"

Signas realizes the UNSTOPPABLE JUGGERNAUT HURRICANE KOOPA (tm) has passed, and rights himself. "Hah!" He makes a running start..

Axl watches Signas run, still taking some form of cover just in case Roy decides to do -that- again, quietly cheering him on!

Signas leaps majestically!... And falls short. He glances at Axl, looks around, and down at Roy.

Tyro slowly keeps outta his shell and looks around.

Signas makes a tiny little hop onto Roy's head and off again.

Roy is DEFEATED!!!

A terrified look comes over Tyro's face.

Axl finally lets down his guard and stands, enthusiastically pumping a fist in the air! "Alright! I know you had it in you! Now then..." He looks down at Tyro, downright -evilly-...

Axl says 'I don't think I remember -you- having anything to do with this~...'

Signas stands back, with a deep sigh. He looks over at Tyro and smiles. He's got an idea.

Signas does a terrific running kick, sending Tyro in his shell hurtling out the blimp door!

Tyro goes flying from the kick.

Axl watches the Koopa fly, nodding in approval. "Huh. Not bad~..."

Signas nods. "Now.. about that princess." He turns to Selrin. "I've, er, come to rescue you!"

Selrin snorts and wakes up from her little nap, regarding her 'beloved' savior blearily. "Oh... Yeah, hold on..." She rummages around in a pocket, pulling out a rather sad piece of paper....

Selrin says ''Thank you, (insert name here), but your Princess is in another blimp!' ...Can I go back to sleep now?'

Signas sputters. "Wait, you're a decoy!?"

Selrin blinks, trying to look thoughtful. "...I dunno, am I? I kinda dozed off..."

Signas peers around. "Well, er, we're looking for a princess, so we can rescue her. Our information said that she was in a blimp, and this is the only blimp here."

Selrin pauses again, taking several strained moments to think, then suddenly brightens and stands, nodding happily. "Oh! Yeah, that's me! Totally Princess Peach, yep!"

Signas grins. "Ah, excellent! If you'll follow me, your highness, I'll have you out of here in no time."

Axl blinks, taking a closer look at the supposed 'princess'. /...Hey, wait a minute. Why isn't there anything coming up on.../ He cuts his own thought off, shrugging. /Eh. It's over, at least./

Selrin nods again, hopping over to Signas and latching herself to his arm. "'kay, mister hero!"

Selrin stops, blinks, then just kind of wanders over to the exit. "Actually, I think I'll just meet 'yall down there!" And she... jumps. Straight down.

Signas casts a broad wink at Axl. <I think I might have a knack for this hero business after a> "Did she just jump?"

Signas rushes over and looks down!

Axl rushes about as quickly, peering down with widened eyes. "Uh... yeah. I think she did."

Selrin yells 'C'mon! What're you guys waiting for?'

Signas looks at Axl, then shrugs it off. "I've seen stranger.. maybe." He tromps down the ramp.

[[ Sulfataska Mountains - The Koopa Base ]]

Selrin squeaks with delight and casually throws her arms around Signas! "Oh, I never thought I'd get out of there! It's so totally -boring- just sitting there!"

Axl averts his gaze, unable to keep from letting a little snicker out...

Selrin says 'Y'might wanna ditch the hat, though, it's really stupid-looking.'

Signas frowns, and looks at Axl for confirmation. "..Does it really look stupid?"

Axl immediately gathers himself, schooling his face to innocence. "Uh... no, sir, not at all! Really dignified!"

Selrin blinks, putting a hand on her stomach briefly. "...Hey, you two know any poor homeless guy that won't miss a few pints of blood?"

Signas looks fairly disturbed. "Uh, not.. off the top of my head, why?"

Axl -stares- at Selrin again, unable to find anything witty to say... or anything to say at -all-.

Selrin says 'Oh. I'm just kinda hungry, that's all. Oh well!'

Selrin shrugs and starts off on her way, waving happily. "Thanks again, you're the greatest~!"

Signas waves cheerfully back. <We just.. let her go?>

Signas glances around. <Not that I don't think she can take care of herself..>

Axl keeps staring after Selrin leaves, twitching a little. "She's.... she's..."

Signas says 'She's what? Out with it, man!'

Axl remains silent for several more moments before grabbing desperately at Signas' 'hero outfit', absolutely terrified. "She's DEAD!" /ohmygodwe'regonnabezombiesjustlikeherneedrocketlauncherswtf!/

Signas calmly puts his hands on Axl's shoulders. "She looked pretty good for someone who's dead, I'd say. I'm inclined to disagree, though."

Signas hrms. (although she was a little pale.. and cold.)

Axl shakes his head quickly, pointing straight towards where said 'dead girl' can be seen off in the distance, casually biting a cow's jugular. "No, you don't understand, there is NOTHING! No pulse, no heat, no... oh, you get it!"

Signas studies her for a bit, presumably looking at her in the infrared spectrum, etc. "I've heard some humans prefer their meat uncoo- great scott! You're right!"

Axl says 'See? I'm right, aren't I? AREN'T I?! Oh man~... I don't even know what...'

Selrin strides back in with a still-bleeding cow over her shoulders, grinning, apparently not minding the blood she's soaked in. "Hey, you guys want some too?"

Signas says 'That's.. that's not normal. Sounds like one of those 'Vampi- Greetings, your highness!'

Axl literally -screams- and runs behind Signas. "WE'RE NOT FOOD, GO AWAY!"

Signas coughs, and -attempts- to remain totally nonchalant. "Ah, no thanks, princess. You see, we don't eat. We're actually machines."

Selrin blinks, looking in particular at the trembling ball of black behind Signas. "...Uh... What's that supposed to mean?"

Axl refuses to say anything, somehow hoping that not making himself known will somehow make him invisible. /tock tock, we're all gonna die; tick tock we're all gonna die... T_T/

Signas solemnly taps his head with his knuckles. "We're plastic and steel, not flesh and blood, you see." <These.. "Vampires" only drink blood, from what I remember, right?> (there is a touch of nervousness)

Selrin blinks again, then sighs forlornly and nods. "Oh. Right, them. Oh well, I'll just leave you guys alone, then!" And once more, she strides off into the distance, her 'meal' in tow... and still bleeding.

Axl timidly peers out from behind Signas, making sure the oh-so-horrible vampire is out of sight before piping up. "...'s she gone?"

Signas sighs. "I don't suppose you had any idea about.. her, did you?"

Axl slowly stands, visibly calming. "Um... no, I guess. I don't know..." He's still trying to look off after her. /Man, this is just like that... oh, what's it called... Twilight Zone, yeah./

Signas coughs loudly.

Signas says 'So. We've rescued the princess. This conflict should wind down, right?'

Axl says 'Yeah... They're bound to run off soon.'

Axl mostly regains his sense of sanity, now that he's got something to think about. "I know it's not supposed to be -exactly- the same, but... I think something else might happen. Not sure what, but it just feels like something's -missing-..."

Signas nods. "We'll see. But I'm curious as to how the siege is going. Should we head back?

Axl nods in like, however hesitant he is to go in the same direction -she- went. "Yeah, we definitely have to check back with the others."