Class of heroes

[Zorolo]

Zorlo laughed as he flew through the air for a moment as the broken knife between his toes returned to its sheathe as he spun around and a powerful burst of wind erupted as he stopped himself and smiled at Trafalgar (not that Trafalgar would have known it was a smile). A secondary burst of wind rushed out from the Asura as it started to push everything in the sky away from him for a moment, effectively delaying Trafalgar. Zorlo had been impressed that he had broken the first knife blade, but the next bunch weren't going to be as easy.

Green energy and wind began to flow from the wind Asura as knives erupted from both of his heels with green blades, reinforced by wind magic, as green blades erupted from his forearms and took their place between his index and middle fingers. The blades from his arms were nearly two-feet long each and seemed to be made of green bone, having a flexible part towards the center that folded inwards, but was currently hardened by magical energy. The green being seemed to blur forwards as he seemed to move through the wind.

Suddenly, Zorlo appeared behind Trafalgar as a light cut spilled a small bit of blood Trafalgar's collarbone, between his shoulder and neck. Although very shallow and barely any damage was inflicted, Zorlo had only grazed him on purpose... to show him how to respond... and how incredible Zorlo's speed was in this form, and in the skies.

Scarlet rested her hand on Nephilim and Jess' shoulders as she walked over. "You two should be concerned, but all men are like this. They selfishly rush into battle and try to kill each other for no reason other than to stroke their own egos..." the woman said with a sigh. "Still, I can't say women are much better... we have the same basic instincts, we just apply them differently." It was in that moment that Scarlet looked at Nephilim. "You've never seen Zorlo transform, have you? He swore off using that form when he murdered me back in the Junkyard... but he's accepted that... if he wants to be able to defeat stronger foes, his technology won't be enough. He needs the incredible powers that we Asura Erdgeist possess... and that is the god-like powers sealed within the gas our personalities are born of, no matter how hideous or terrible it may seem to onlookers."

[Kaori]

"uh Seiko who was that woman earlier?" Rex asked Seiko, "who? Chef? No he's a guy, and he runs the cafeteria" replied Seiko, "NO not that guy! I meant the one carrying all the swords, she also looked like she's half Fusuo" replied Rex, "half fusou you say? Sounds like Mira, she's one of the Inquisitor's assigned to monitor me" She replied, "uh is it possible to talk to her?" asked Rex, "sure, lets go find her" replied Seiko.

"Suguri I need to check your systems then, could you turn around?"said James as Suguri complied, he inserted a cord into the back of her neck and was analyzing the data in his powered armour, "very interesting indeed...", "there you are you perverted lolicon!" yelled Mira as she threw her sword at James, "wait its not what you think!" replied James in shock, but unfortunately in order to dodge the sword he leapt down.... On Suguri, "it hurts" wailed Suguri, "MCLEOD!" yelled Mira in anger as she drew out another sword, this was not James' day.....

"a hippie jamfest, so this was the reason for all this!" concluded Drogan, now all thats left is to get James....

"battlesuits deploying!" yelled the pilot as they began to descend on particus...

[GamerKale]

"You misunderstand Trafalgar, miss chief, especially as he is right now. He has no ego to stroke, it would be like Zorlo's body but erasing what really makes Zorlo Zorlo."

There was indeed something different about where Zorlo had cut Trafalgar, but he wasn't bleeding; a line of scales had appeared where a cut should have been. All drakes were tough, but rapid reactive scale generation was a once in a generation kind of thing, it was hardly a perfect defense but it would mitigate some damage from both physical and magical attacks. Trafalgar maintained his altitude but made no move against Zorlo, "You're not even trying Zorlo. Am I really such a nonexistent threat?"

[Zorolo]

"No, you are my comrade, and comrades do not strike to kill each other. If you disagree, then I shall let you strike me down," Zorlo said as he floated down and transformed back to normal. "I challenged you because I want to see the same spark you had when we first met... Whatever happened, happened. Instead of feeling like your life is over, seek the truth and attempt to make right the wrongs committed against you. That is the way of a warrior. That is the way of honor. A true warrior would seek to overcome any obstacle, even if it means having to do things differently. I realized if I were to fight you to the death, you would kill me if I didn't transform... I haven't transformed since I killed my mate... the same woman who was the leader of my tribe... but I realize that, to defeat foes who are coming now... I will need my cursed powers. I will use them... to protect this, my new home, and all of you, my new friends and family."

Scarlet smiled at Jess. "No, you misunderstand... Nephilim knew Zorlo when he was like that. After the madness took our tribe, he killed everyone, including myself and our unborn child, which is a lot of explaining I don't feel like doing right now as to how that works, he sealed his emotions and his Atma, the two being linked by his spirit, into the crystals our bodies form to protect the gas that makes up our ego. Its something like the human heart and mind as one. When Nephilim met Zorlo, he was little more than a machine... if that makes sense. If your son doesn't have a desire to keep himself alive to succeed... then Zorlo fighting him seriously would be a waste. The two could fight, but nothing would be gained... at that point, only loss would occur.

[GamerKale]

"So I have to be protected. I understand." Trafalgar dropped to the floor and started walking away.

"It doesn't matter. It seems that how they work is different. I'll relight his flames myself." She pulled a screwdriver out and shouted, "Trafalgar, I challenge you." She seemed to disappear and reappear behind him, he turned just in time to take the screwdriver in the side. His eyes went wide with shock and he lashed out with the blade, it shattered on her neck. She grabbed him by the throat and began crushing his windpipe. "At least have the decency to die if you won't drake up." Trafalgar gasped for breath and tried to pry her hand off his throat, to no avail. He started to black out and let out a gutteral roar that shot flames into Jess's face as a last ditch effort. She threw his unconscious form onto the nearest table. She sat down next to him, her face in her hands.

[Zorolo]

Zorlo placed his hands into his pockets and moved over to Nephilim and Scarlet and looked at them as Trafalgar was laid out by his mother. "Thank you, Miss Jess. It seems my words didn't reach his ears, nor did my fists convey what I sought to," he said as he looked at Scarlet. "So... how're things?"

She smiled. "I"m well, thanks. I'm here to talk to you, not fight."

Zorlo nodded as he looked at Nephilim. "We shall talk, Scarlet... but first... I need to speak to Nephilim," he said, looking somewhat sad. "I'm sorry you had to bear witness to that... and I'm sorry I kept my other form a secret from you... it is my secret curse... my burden... my karma... I hope you can understand that I didn't mean to deceive, nor frighten you, but merely to protect you from my true nature. I am naught more than a beast at heart," he said, looking even more sad.

Scarlet rested her hand against her chest, her other hand over it as she looked away. Zorlo's pain... that same pain he had felt that while ago when he had slain her... it was hard to watch... but still, she needed to speak to him. They had to work this out.

[GamerKale]

"Zorlo," Jess looked up fighting back tears. "If he gets like that again, you challenge him and you try to kill him. Don't you dare hold back like you did a moment ago. Without killing intent it is no more than a sparring match and sparring will not suffice. If you're afraid you'll actually kill him push that aside and go for the heart or have somebody else do it. Words are twisted in the ears of a despairing drake, so whatever it takes, you make him fight to survive. But do not make me do that to my son again."

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

Saber stared in antcipation throughout the match, expectant to see how someone else could fight Zorlo. 'What the hell is wrong with Trafalgar?' He stood seperate from Nephilim and Jess throughout the match, but that was mostly because he didn't want to be distracted.

It wasn't until Jess completely locked down Trafalgar that Saber spoke out. "Damn it! What's been going on around here!" He said, completely lost continuosly, he was stuck in a loop that clearly wasn't this one, and was there all by himself. "Why is Trafalgar....like that?" He asked no one in particiular.

[nekoryuuha]

Nephilim stood in slight shock as she watched Jess step up and destroy Trafalgar, quite possibly a far worse outcome then the Celestian was prepared for when Zorlo had become a monster suddenly. It was all bit much to take in, so it was not all that surprising that she jumped slightly and stepped back when she noticed Zorlo there suddenly, not having noticed him walk up at first. But it was Zorlo's degrading talk that brought her back to her senses. With a frown, Nephilim walked forward... and slapped Zorlo. "What did I say before...?" she asked him, slightly annoyed. "What did I tell you? Stop. Putting. Yourself. Down! You are not a weapon, you are not a machine, you are not a beast! You are merely you, The Genius Erdgeist and my friend, Zorlo. Sure, I was shocked, but anyone would be if that suddenly came out. We've all got secrets we've buried from others that doesn't matter to me," she finished as Jess spoke to Zorlo, reminding her that Trafalgar was rather badly injured. "No. You won't have to worry. If Trafalgar becomes that way again, I'll challenge him. He's my friend too, after all."

[Zorolo]

Zorlo looked at Nephilim and rubbed his chin. "Yes... that is a solution I like indeed. Nephilim's powers are, unintentionally, massively destructive. The strength of her attacks would force him to have to both focus and fight with everything he has. If he doesn't wish to die a most painful death, fighting Nephilim with anything less than 100% of his strength would be his undoing. Still, I'm not sure that..." Zorlo paused and sighed. "Yeah, I guess it really is the best decision."

Scarlet sauntered over and rested a hand on Nephilim's shoulder and moved in front of her, hugging her tightly. "I was so distracted by the battle, but you're so adorable too!" Scarlet said as she held Nephilim tightly for a moment before releasing her. "My god, all of the girls in this school seem to be very adorable. They're so cute I can't help but squeeze them every time I see one!" the woman said, getting all giddy as she shook it off. "Anyway, we need to talk, Zorlo, so where is the best place to speak?"

[GamerKale]

"Right, that should be good. But Nephilim, I do ask that you make sure he has Vanquish before you unleash your trump cards. Speaking of, I'm going to find Jeorge we need to have words. Slap Trafalgar awake in a few minutes." Jess grabbed am orange in her way out.

[nekoryuuha]

"Um... Thank you...?" she said the the sudden hug and complement Scarlet gave her, flushing slightly. It had been quite some time since someone had called her 'adorable'. "And don't worry. I promise I will, if it ever happens," she replied to Jess.

"So, what now?" Reimu asked, making the pink jump high enough she winged down on Scarlet's other side, a few of her feather floating to the ground. "Oh, startled you, huh?"

Nephilim smiled. "A little bit." She looked at Zorlo. "So, Zorlo. What was it that brought you up here again?" she asked.

[Zorolo]

"I came here to find you and Saber. Jess and I finished rewiring the machine and it's ready to go. I wanted to see if it could handle your power," Zorlo said as he looked at Saber. "Your'e coming too. You're the guinea pig to test out just how much this battlefield can handle... and if you don't fight... you'll regret it," Zorlo stated flatly. Saber needed to be tested, whether he wanted to be or not. "Aside from that, I can talk to you while we oversee that battle, Scarlet," Zorlo said, looking at her.

Scarlet smiled and nodded. "Okay, let's get to it then!" she said as she threw her arm up in the air and jumped slightly, smiling. This was gonna be epic!

[Kaori]

"engaging target!" said the battlesuit operator, James narrowly dodged the incoming pulse cannon shots, he then activated his funnels to fire back, the battlesuit operators were beginning to die one by one to his lasfire, Suguri also drew out her beam rifle to fight back, Mira and Yuno went behind cover though since they possessed no firearms, after the shootout they then noticed the Tau airship in the distance, "looks like we'll have to take the fight to them if we dont want the academy trashed" said James.

"there she is!" yelled Seiko as she and Rex went to Mira, "Mira this guy wants to tell yo-", "not now Seiko we're preparing to board the Tau airship" interrupted Mira as she and the rest walked past them, "can I come along?" asked Seiko, "I'm afraid not, you'll have to stay here" said James as they proceeded into the hangar he had built, in it were all sorts of vehicles and devices, "you there boy!" yelled Mira at Rex, "uh me?" whimpered Rex, "yes you!" finished Mira, Rex blushed, "she actually talked to me" he whispered to Seiko, "everybody ready to go?" asked Jame as he appeared before them geared up, "not yet" said Yuno, "we'll have to wait for the others in case they want to join", "alright then we'll wait" said James slightly dissapointed, "I'll turn on the areal defenses just in case" said James as he flipped a nearby switch, miles away artillery cannons were aiming at the Tau airship...

"Mcleod! I need to borrow your drill!" yelled an irritated Drogan.

"fall back before those cannons destroy the ship!" yelled an operator, "fall back! Fall back!" yelled another, the Tau were making a full on retreat for now...

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

((Bah school D=))

Saber nodded, and responded sarcastically. “Thanks for having faith in me, no really, I needed that uplifting comment about my improvement Zorlo.” He shrugged it off and reached for an apple. “I need food though, cause I came here for breakfast and all.” He bit into the apple and looked around, “You know if they got any bagels aroun- Ah there they are.” He flew over to get a bagel to eat and sat in a seat, “Sit down Zorlo, you said I have to fight Nephilim? I don’t know if I can. Especially not on monitor.” He whispered to Zorlo, hoping no one would hear. It was most likely, however, that everyone heard.

[Zorolo]

Zorlo looked at him. "I do not comprehend. The actions you take to prove your improvement requires someone adequately strong to test against. My Asura is no such test, as most of your wind magic is a moot point against it. Nephilim's magics are more suited to adequate testing and training. I've even modified the battleground to make it more... valuable to your survival," Zorlo stated flatly as he looked at Saber.

Scarlet smiled as she rested her hand on Saber's head. "Don't worry, Saber, the worst thing that can happen is you be made a fool of... but I get the feeling that little girl would make fools of any of us. I feel a deep reservoir of hidden power within her... it's kinda cool," Scarlet said with a smile.

[Kaori]

"no need for that" said a static riddled voice behind the group, "I thought it would be more polite to welcome myself in" said Kais as he stepped out of the shadows, "Kais! How did you get in here?" asked James, "hiding your lab under the gardener shed would have been foolproof if not for the radar in my battlesuit" replied Kais, he then raised his arms and the rest prepared to attack except Suguri who went to shield him "No! Even though he's not my real papa you cant kill him!" exclaimed Suguri, but then they lowered their weapons when they saw that he raised his arms upward, he was surrendering, "I am outnumbered and outgunned and my forces deserted me so I hereby surrender, Suguri please get away I do not wish for you to be harmed" said Kais, "Drogan restrain him" said Mira as James had a sour expression on his face, "I know what you're thinking Mcleod but he can be used as a bargaining chip, Drogan contact the 478th Hochland regiment, tell them that we have a prisoner" said Mira, later on an armoured transport arrived to take Kais away but not before he bid Suguri farewell, "my daughter take this, my father gave it to me" he said as he handed her a display wafer, on it read
"My child,

No expansion without equilibrium.

No conquest without control.

Pursue success in serenity

And service to the tau'va.

With pride.

Shas'o T'au Shi'ur "
he was then hauled off and James simply cursed under his breath, but now a big question remains: If he was abandoned then who took his expeditionary force?

"can we focus on the real threat here now Mcleod? They just keep on-", "what the bloody hells so important?" snapped James, he was certainly in no good mood since his shot at killing Kais was gone, "I need to borrow your drill" replied Drogan, "take it! Here's the keys!" yelled an angry James.

[Zorolo]

The heavy sound of boots against the ground echoed out as Zachary approached where Zorlo and the others were. "WEll, it seems finding you wasn't nearly as hard as I assumed," he stated, smiling. "So now, let's do this!" the man said as his right arm transformed.

Zorlo spun around as his right leg transformed as the two moved to attack before the claws from Zachary's right arm met the dagger from Zorlo's right foot. A clang rung out at the two stopped their movements dead. "WElcome back, Zachary. Why are you here now?"

Zachary laughed as he looked at Zorlo. "Didn't she tell you? We've come to join you!"

Zorlo's eyes opened widely as he leapt back and retracted the knife-blade back into the heel of his transformed leg. "'Join me'? I do not comprehend."

"Of course you do!" Scarlet said as she rested her hand on Zorlo's shoulder and smiled. "We've come to join you here at this school!"

Zorlo blinked a few times. "Well... uh... I see," he said as he rubbed his chin for a moment before looking at them. "This is acceptable. Saber needs a while to rest before the tests can continue, so-" Zorlo started to say as Scarlet grabbed both he and Zachary, Zorlo by his hood and Zachary by his cape, and dragged them off.

"Well then, we'll need to look the part, won't we?!" she asked the two were slowly dragged away.

"Well that was certainly exciting," Bat said with a cackle as he looked at the silver haired man behind him. "I can't believe our good luck! They've all gathered together and-"

The man with silver hair lifted Bat up by his neck and began to strangle him.

"Enough foolishness. We still have use of Bat," a voice stated over a communicator on the silver Erdgeist's arm. The creature looked from the communicator to Bat before simply tossing him away.

"Th-thanks, boss. This guy sure is creepy. Why did you send him with me anyway?"

"For reconnaissance. He bears, to date, the most powerful Atma ever awakened. Even more interestingly, he can control it without use of his emotional functions or other inhibitors. He exists purely on Reason, and his Reason is whatever our orders are. For now, your orders are to keep an eye on them. Do not do anything other than that. Any unwarranted engagement in battle, Bat, and he will kill you without a second thought."

Bat shivered in fear at the thought. "IF this guy is as strong as you say, I'll remember that," the winged rodent said as he stood up and transformed, flying away.

"Ardha, keep an eye on Bat. He is a sneaky one, and I'd rather him dead than risk his betrayal. Any sign of betrayal and kill him." The Silver-haired Erdgeist nodded as he turned away from the school and started walking away. Bat would handle reconnaissance. He would wait until his powers were needed.

[Kaori]

"now I shall explain to you all the plan, hippies have been gathering within the peninsula to this very school because of this!" exclaimed Drogan as he presented a large slide of a band on stage, "I later learned that the governor signed a permit allowing them to have a jam fest, unfortunately he failed to realize the danger he's put everyone in so I started setting up precautions: 1.All students, faculty and staff are to be given gas masks, that I've already done, 2.Barricade the gates, wich I've also done so as to prevent those transients from getting in, 3.Disperse the crowd by uploading this Venom CD into the speakers, any questions?" finished Drogan, "are you insane?" asked James bitterly, "any sensible questions?" asked Drogan, "well if thats the case all I'll need now are an engineer, a scientist and a non human male to sacrifice himself in case things go wrong" said Drogan, "I'm your engineer, I used to be a mechanic back at Gensokyo, I learned from the Kappa's" replied Yuno, "I'm your scientist, years in the deathwatch sure helps" replied James still sounding bitter, "alright now all we need is a non human male to sacrifice himself in case things go wrong.... hmmmm....." said Drogan as he kept switching his gaze between Rex and an empty chair, "Fine I'll do it!" exclaimed Rex frustrated.

[Zorolo]

Zorlo's eye twitched. "My stupid sense is tingling," Zorlo said as he looked at Zachary and noticed his watch was missing. "Who has your watch?"

"That James guy," Zachary said as from the next dressing room as the two continued making modifications to their attires.

Zorlo sighed. He flipped open his wrist communicator and opened a com-link to the watch James had. "I sense someone is doing something incredibly stupid. Does it have anything to do with the large amount of THC, the main ingredient in Marijuana, in the air, and if so, why?"

Zachary laughed. "Oh yeah, that moron in the gas-mask has been rounding up hippies."

Zorlo sighed. "Has Drogan really been herding Hippies? If so, he's wasting his time. They're about as threatening as an unarmed human. Let the peace-loving, free-loving Hippies go, please," Zorlo asked, noticing his feed had cut out after his first thought about THC. The green haired man sighed... "Why?" he asked, feeling that something absurdly stupid was about to happen. "And if so, when?" he asked as he ripped the leg of his pants off just below the knee.