The morning was always peaceful, but that wasn?t her frame of mind today. Today was when they were going to the camp of the troop that Gem, Sita and her tagged. Gem was probably already hard at work, drugging the troop to make it easier to rescue the hostages. Aja hoped that worked, bad enough there would be lives lost but a smaller body count was preferable.
Aja Bird got dressed quickly, grabbed a quick snack and headed for Rhy'Din City and the Inn to meet up with those that would be going to take down the camp. She had loaded the car with weapons the night before. She had brought only what would be useful for the mission, compact but deadly weapons. Easy to carry but did high amounts of damage. Arriving at the Red Dragon, she saw Porthos and his crew outside waiting.
?Merde!?, Porthos yelled and pointed at the metallic beast which was making the most peculiar of sights and sounds as it headed towards their amalgamation around the Inn's tethering poles. ?They have caught wind of our plan! Musketeers! Ready your muskets!? Athos, Aramis, d'Artagnon, Pons and Porthos stood shoulder to shoulder as they lifted their long rifles and took aim, readying to fire off a round.
Gem was actually resting from about 4 A.M. 'til just a bit ago, and had made her way to join Porthos and Pons. She was all set to go in deep to the camp and start using lock picks and acid to try to break free prisoners. Someone would need to guard her back. As well, someone ought to bring in medical aids to help those too wounded to move without that first.
?It's okay, Porthos, that is a car.?, Gemethyst said, ?It is a metal contraption that carries people! Ack, don't shoot! That's Aja, I think!?
Pons was besides Porthos on his shooting bout. He lifted his own musket, almost firing a round until Gem spoke. He turned his eyes to Porthos before muttering, ?The beast has eaten her??
Aja threw the car into park and jumped out, putting her hands up. ?Dude! What the hell!? I ain't wearin' no snake head!?, she yelled.
Pons was baffled as he held his pistol at the ready. One hand on his rapier should it turn to attack them. He turned back in time to spot Aja leaving the car and nodded, ?We have shown the beast who is boss. It has delivered Aja to us.? Nudging Porthos proudly as he spoke.
?No, no?, Gemethyst was laughing as she put her hands up to stop the shooting. ?She but rides within it. It is at her command, see??
Aja saw they weren't going to shoot anymore and shouldered her bag with a grin. There were times it was dangerous to embrace new tech in Rhy'Din. This was one of those times. She moved to the trunk and opened it, quickly unloading the crate of weapons and slamming the lid back down.
?I brought toys!?
Athos, Aramis, Porthos and d'Artagnon were all awestruck by what had just happened and all four of them and , instead of saying a word, wandered off from the group and muttered amongst themselves in French as they gathered around the car; one or two of them pulling out their rapiers and prodding lightly at it as the others, seeing no reaction from the metallic beast, dared to peer through the windows. There was more softly spoken French followed by a group of four shaking their heads as they returned.
Aja stood and chuckled watching the men check out the car, not one to care about the paint job, she didn't throw a fit when the rapiers poked at it. "It's a car. Transports things."
"I love toys!!?, Gem looked eagerly at Aja, but she herself had a bag slung over one shoulder that was of a fairly large size. Aja turned to grin at Gem.
"I know how ya do."
"I have some, too, everyone. I have some sticky balls of acid, some caltrops that are four inches high, and I have poisoned them with a strong sleep agent. I have seen it pierce their boot armor, so feel free to sling them down, but be careful and mark in your head where you do, so that I don't walk on them!". Chuckling, she set her bag down.
Aja was about to add another sassy comment about the toys but the sticky acid balls caught her attention. "Sticky acid? This sounds potentially fun."
Porthos was the spokesman for the four and, with an assuring nod to Pons, he spoke.
?The beast is as they claim.? Pointing to the horses. ?Untether two of them and hitch them to the carts, Pons.? Indicating the carts brandishing one long nine cannon and a Hessian Amusette.
Pons was mumbling in French, lingering back until Porthos spoke. The young man moved for the horses, taking them off the side and turning for Porthos. He started to tie the horses to the cart, working on securing them before moving for Muse. He patted his honey mare, whispering to her in French and combing along her neck with his riding gloves. Readying her for the battle to come.
There were two extra horses in the small herd which was tied to the tethering poles in front of the Inn. Porthos looked to Gemethyst and then to Aja, whom the horses had been purchased for. ?Come, Mes Anges.? Glancing towards the horizon and then back to them. ?Our Little Brother awaits his freedom!? Shaking a passionately clenched fist, he spun around and headed for his own steed, mounting it swiftly after freeing the reins from the tethering pole.
Aja readjusted her bag and headed towards the horses, setting the crate down and took a couple plasma guns out.
"Who wants one of these? No reload necessary. Just aim and fire."
All five Musketeers scoffed, with no intention of insult, at Aja's request. Looking to one other questioningly before laughing softly amongst each other with haughty delight; for, what Musketeer needed anything more than a flintlock pistol, a long rifle and a skilled blade to overcome the enemy?
Gem waved over to Pons as she saw him, with a warm smile, before nodding to Aja. "Yes, it is a gel I make up, with sets and is sticky, but not so sticky you can't handle it. Throw it with force, though, and it sticks to whatever it hits, and this thins the wall of it enough to let the acid within eat through it. Otherwise it does not eat through. But you would not want to be having a bunch of these on you and fall over. It would be..bad."
Aja heard Gem's warning and nodded. "Duly noted. No falling down and going boom or goodbye appendages. Check." The thief put a little pouch of about ten of those in Aja's hands, Aja took the balls from Gem and stuck them in the pouch of her back next to her sling shot, grinning as the idea of a delivery system came to her.
Athos and Aramis each mounted the horses which had been prepared by Pons whilst d'Artagnon mounted his stallion of white and immediately took off from of the rest of them at full gallop without nary a word spoken.
Porthos looked to Aja and to Gemethyst. ?He has the best eyes of us all. He will find the best location for the cannon.? Explaining d'Artagnon's duty.
Gem finished donning her own goodies, before she headed for the steed Porthos indicated. "Thank you, Mon Ami." She smiled up at him and then mounted.
Climbing upon Muse he patted her neck and whispered fondly to her in French again. Arching his back again, he moved to the side of Athos and Aramis, pausing to wave at Gem and nod.
Aja watched d'Artagnon take off, two things going through her head. One, how he knew where they were going and two, desperately hoped the lad knew to dismount and walk the rest of the way to the camp or that horse was going to alert the Jaffa way too soon. Everyone else seemed to be ready to roll, she tucked a few extra pistols into her bag, in case a spare was needed by someone later. A box of Alec's sticky grenades and she mounted up on the horse Porthos indicated for her.
With a click of his tongue and a light encouragement of heels, Porthos' steed jumped in front of Athos, Aramis and Pons'. They heeled their horses to follow him and, turning to look over his shoulder, Porthos looked back to make sure Aja and Gemethyst were joining the group.
Gem was right behind him, eager to get this show on the road and save those poor, moaning, groaning prisoners she had been so close to before. She signaled to the Frenchman her readiness
Aja tugged out the box with the tracking signal. "Day lights burnin, let's get a move on." she grinned and urged the horse forward.
Pons was close behind the three leaders, his gloves gripping the reins while he raced forwards. He kept his eyes peeled, at the ready for what if anything was coming for them. His hose seemed built for the rise and fall of war,
battles, because she charged happily ahead, eager to take on what could be just over the hill tops.
~ One hour later, in the depths of the northwestern forest, the group reaches a clearing off of the beaten path where a rendezvous with a solemn d'Artagnon took place. In the horizon, the plumes of black smoke were a stark contrast to the hues of colors beginning to show with the break of dawn in the horizon. ~
"What is the smoke from...?" This asked as the Elfess moved up behind Porthos.
"Hell if I know, but if that dude did something stupid, I'm blowin' his head off." Aja was looking at the smoke with a frown.
A gloved hand signaled his cousins and Pons to dismount with him, all of them walking towards d'Artagnon for a hushed meeting. After some pointing from d'Artagnon, there was a hushed recital of the Musketeer's motto with gloved hands clasping at one another's shoulders before Athos, Aramis and d'Artagnon walked their horses into the fog swarming just a few feet away, the cannons were the last things which disappeared into it. Pons and Porthos returned, with Porthos studying Aja and Gemethyst, speaking in hushed tones. ?d'Artagnon has found a hill to fire the cannon and Amusette from. Ten minutes will be enough for them to be ready. The first shot will be their signal to bombard, Mon Ange.? A nod to Aja before looking to Gemethyst. ?Their campfires burning out, Mademoiselle. They slumber yet.?
Pons dismounted, patting Muse again and staying her before joining Porthos and the other Musketeers. He looked towards the camp, then turned his gaze to Porthos and he nodded.
"Ohhh...", Gemethyst chuckled. "I have usually only seen them at night. I did not realize."
Aja nodded hearing Gem. "And I must've rolled through after they were on the move." shrugs. "Well, we sneaking up and opening fire?"
Gem grinned over at Aja and nodded. "Indeed, time of day makes a difference." She was nervous, excited, and all fired up. It showed in the frequent grins.
?Pons..? Porthos locked eyes with him. ?You will go with the women. He wrapped a hand around his shoulder and, after a quiet moment of reassurance, he patted his cheek and smiled. Obviously, Porthos had discussed something with Pons earlier in the morning. With that, Porthos turned and blew a kiss to the ladies before walking his horse into the fog to circumvent the camp and wait for the first shot before he attacked from the rear. Of course, he'd left Pons to explain this to the women.
"Porthos, just remember there's hostages down there and us too, eh?" she gave the Musketeer a grin. "I got enough holes in me just as I am."
Gem was flushing at Aja, jaw dropping a little. Over the whole, you know, 'Holes' thing.
Amethysts tracked Porthos as he made off, and then returned to settle onto Pons. "Are we going to be informed of what he is doing?" Gem demanded.
Aja sighed as Porthos just took off and looked to Pons now.
"Yeah. Seeing as how we've been bustin' our arse on planning this fer a while."
Pons nodded, patting his mentor's shoulder before he walked away. He turned to look to the ladies, his fingers shifting and pushing at his feathered cap. Slowly he strode towards them, clearing his throat.:: We are to attack from the front while he mounts an attack from the rear. A distraction, for he will be looking for our Little Brother.? Sure to stir a reaction out of Athos and Aramis.
"What? Wait..." Aja blinked and looks at Gem. "Wasn't that yer job in this plan?" Gemethyst blinked in shock.
?Pons. You great lunkhead. PORTHOS!!? Bellowing over the distance. Gemethyst was very good at bellowing; even for so small a woman.
Pons winced and shrank about five inches as Gem bellowed.
?I am the one who has to break open the cages!! I have the lockpicks!!?, Gemethyst cried out.
Gemethyst's bellow broke the silence and so, too, did Athos, Aramis and d'Artagnon. The bombardment began, cannon balls and 90 caliber musketballs raining onto the small encampment. Somewhere off in the distance, they could hear Porthos holler back as he was rushed by who knew how many. ?Mon Dieu!!!? In fact, he knew that Gemethyst was to free the prisoners but that damn Musketeer's gallantry always got in the way of certain things.
"I'm just gonna shoot him." Aja muttered as she moves towards the camp. "If he don't get his fool head taken off by the Jaffa first."
"Phraktos phor lu' harl! Nesstren ph' ji zhaunus ulu complicate klezn! Belbau mina biu ul'hyrr lu' nind blow ol phor ulu natha jatha'la huge mess. Phraktos! Usstan shlu'ta kyorl Usstan tlun aluin ulu inbal ulu fridj inbau wun gaer lu' handle nindol. Vith!" The thief was a wee bit frustrated, as she stalked off towards the camp and the prisoners.
?He's in the cannon fire's path, we cannot waste time. Either we go with him, or we---? Pons grunted as the cannon fire begins and mumbles to no one in French. He watched the stalking thief a bit pale as she spoke in Drow. A small chuckle left him. He looked to Aja, ?Have any more grenades, Mon Fleur??
Gemethyst's hands were fluttering and gesticulating, just like a Frenchman, only in Drow, of course, as she slunk down to make a lower target of herself. She could hear the thudding of feet as the snakemen came charging this way.
"INCOMING, Aja!"
Aja dug out a smaller bag and handed it to Pons. "Enough in there to put a small country under. Use with great joy." She was about to say something else when she heard Gem, and motioned to Pons. "Take cover!"
She made herself very, very small and tiny, crouched down in a large bush, as a few of them ran past her towards Aja and Pons.
Aja scampered up the side of a pine and took cover in the branches, taking aim at the troop in case they did stop. If not, she'd be more than happy to let them fly by.
As they passed, Gem popped up behind them, and lobbed acid balls, one, two, three, four, a single one at each once they were past her. That should occupy them in trying to reach the now sizzling acid at their spines, and get them hopefully off Pons and Aja long enough.
Aja hopped back down and made her way to camp. Stopping long enough to booby trap the trail. "Have fun with that, Punks." She whipped around and headed campward, weapon drawn and ready.
Mind you, they were still very dangerous! They had their blasters, too, which was demonstrated as one of them, feeling that light tagging, turned to see Gem standing there in the bush. He brought that great long staff around to bear on the elf and she took a flying leap to one side as energy and ozone crackled.
Pons dug his hands in the bag and turned in time to go wide eyed at the group coming towards them. He took a few steps back, tossed Grenades and then fled as he chortled. ?Nous rencontrons encore, Mes Amis! Dansons!?
He leaned over, keeping them distracted as Aja did the cover part by pulling down his drawers, showing his pale moon, and then took off running away in case those that didn't go down the trail followed after him.
Did she just see Pons'...moon? ...No. Nononononono! That must have been a hallucination brought on by ozone-sniffing or something! She kept rolling and dodging and hiding behind trees until the grenades that Pons had tossed took care of the problem, and then Gem was hot on the trail into camp, as was Aja.
Pons was hot on the ladies' trail after another moment or so of scraping with a straggler. He wound up hiding a bit of a ways behind them.
Porthos, who had mounted his horse when the bombardment began, rode through the camp with cannonball explosions and percussions raining around him. Lifting up off of the saddle at full gallop, he shouted. ?For Mon Petit Mousquitaire, Scoundrels!? The great mountain of a Musketeer catapulted himself off of the horse and into a group of three Jaffa soldiers, knocking them clean off of their feet and in a baffled heap. Scrambling, he drew his rapier and attempted to thrust it into the heart of the one nearest him; when the blade failed to break the armor Porthos yelped and took off running with all three of them chasing after him. ?Athos! ATHOS!? He had barely even said the word when a cannonball made quick work of trio which was hot on his heels. Porthos spun around, slashing his rapier victoriously. ?Hah!! Ah-Hah!! Vivre La France!? He had no time to celebrate, for another one was rounding a tent and firing at him. ?Merde!? He was struck with the energy bolt and was knocked onto his back, writhing for a moment before scrambling for cover.
A dodge to the side hide her in the thick brush as she tugged a spy glass from her belt and took stock of how many were left. She waited till she sensed Gem nearby. Hoping Gem wasn't the sort to have mental blocks up, she sent her findings via the mental wave.
~Seeing about twenty left standing. Start with acid balls then move ta grenades?~
Not only did Gem not have mental blocks up, but she almost fell over at hearing Aja in her head
?...Gods..!!!" That exploded out of her, as she heard it. She tried to answer, but she did not have that skill. Could Aja hear her without it? "Aye, sounds good. Oh, look! Is that Porthos?!" Squinting in the direction of the camp. "We better hurry." She began to run flat out, fleet as a deer, using what cover she could; her hands lobbing acid balls left and right as she neared the hulking menaces.
Aja didn't need to answer that, she took off after Gem, firing as she moved, trying to be careful with the acid balls as she only had ten of them and wanted to make the shots count.
Pons was already on the move. His mentor was out numbered. He crashed forwards, his hulky body running like a line backer towards two Snake heads. As they turned he perked a brow. He grunted as one took a swing and knocked him back. Quickly he hopped up and fired off his musket, the Snake head who hit him being knocked back.
Another Jaffa, taking up the duty of its comrade who was now distracted by Pons, fired again but missed. Porthos turned and pulled his flintlock pistol and the Jaffa studied it before looking at the staff in his own hands. They fired almost simultaneously, but Porthos' shot struck first and directly into the helmeted face of the Jaffa. It caused only a dent, but it was enough to send the Jaffa's shot off course. Porthos, hollering a curse as he charged, tackled the Jaffa and after rolling about with him for a few minutes ended up wrapped around the Jaffa at his back, with treetrunk legs wrapped around its waist and arms around its neck. ?Pourquoi voulez-vous pas mourir?! Pourquoi?!?
With a mighty twist, he broke the creature's neck and was barely able to force the heavy heap of inanimate flesh off of him. He got up and began to run for cover before a thought struck him; endangering himself further, he rushed back to the scene he'd just left and swooped up the staff that had been used on him. A moment of confusion before he unleased a ball of energy which sailed past Pons' head and struck the creature who had been rushing at him from behind. With a grin that was worth a thousand words, Porthos waved a hello at Pons before thrusting himself into a tent.
A Jaffa fired in Aja?s direction, missing her but not the ground in front of her. "Son of a ..", Aja cursed as her foot hit the hole in the ground and came tumbling to the ground then rolled to avoid being vented by a second shot.
"Heeeey, you ugly troll's leaving's....!!!", Gem shouted and waved her hands at the ones firing at Aja, and then yelped as they aimed for her, a blast at her feet sending her flying in a wild arc to land behind a large rock. She was in the camp proper, and could see there were Jaffa laying around, unmoving, or groaning, and not getting up. She grinned as she figured this was the cause of her drugged water, but she didn't get long to enjoy it, as another crackle of energy fire landed far too near her. She lobbed a grenade in the direction of the firing ones, and counted to ten.
Dust and dirt flew as the second shot missed her but the debris hit her in the face, blinding her for a moment. Blurry figures in metal were fired upon, while Aja scrambled back for cover under a wagon behind some crates.
"Nice going!" Aja yelled to Gem, following up with her own sticky grenade which made a solid thud as it connected with one of the men in the suits.
He was grinning at Porthos, moving for the tent and keeping guard outside. His musket was his best friend at the moment. Black powder and all being used to fire away at the incoming Snake heads while they came. He actually chuckled broadly, keeping an eyes on the ladies while he awaited Porthos. His eyes scanned the area, searching for other captives as he spoke out to Porthos. ?Faster, Move! Aller! Move!?
Another scramble took Aja out of the blast radius and under another wagon, she kept firing shots at the Jaffa's legs; figuring if they couldn't walk, then things might go smoother.
Porthos emerged from the tent and thrust a staff he'd found into Pons' chest. ?Take it, Ami! Our muskets are not enough!? Just as he said that, he spotted a Jaffa running about fifty yards away and, by dispatching it with a shot from the staff, he also effectively showed Pons how to use the contraption. ?Aller!, Aller!!!? Making off to raid the next tent. He was going to search them all for Renne, it seemed. He entered the next one, yelling his name. ?Renne?! Renne?! Merde!?, that last curse spoken as a cannonball ripped a hole through opposing walls of the tent, narrowly missing him. Off to the next tent Pons and Porthos went.
Gem gave a wild thumbs up to Aja, though not sure the woman saw it. She was slinking, then, trying now to avoid notice, as she slipped past a guard or three at the outer edge of the area that held the cages. She moved with great care, pausing before the cage of one slightly moaning human man, and she pulled out her heavy set of specially made lock picks. She set to work on the thick metal of the lock.
Grunting as the staff was thrust into his arms, he dropped his musket in favor of the new weapon and followed after Porthos, using the weapon the best way he knew how; like a staff. He beat one over the head with it, lobbed another in the gut, and flailed it about while he could. It wasn't until it fired on its own, right into a wall, that he knew how it worked. His eyes had gone wide, shock taking him back before he aimed and fired at the next one.
The sticky grenade made one heck of a mess as it took apart the poor lad wearing the suit in short order. Aja made a mental note to remember to ask Alec what the heck he put in those things, but for now, she concentrated on getting a few more Jaffa a body blowing experience. A quick pop up from under the wagon and she practiced her pitching arm hitting four of the five Jaffa in the immediate area.
"Gods, glad I'm not on clean up!" She grinned as she made for another wagon for cover, firing to draw their attention from where Gem was. ?Hey, Ya Pansy!" she yelled at the Jaffa, "Come and get me!" Aja scrambled around taking cover and shooting at them to keep them busy. Crates and wagons used for cover were being hit with those staff weapons.
Gemethyst got one of the locks open, with the loss of one nail, and then she pulled a bottle of water and a ration bar from her magic belt. She thrust it into the hands of the captive, and moved on to the next cage, after instructing the captive to flee for his life in the direction of least fire. Another...and then another. Some were easier than others. They were just traps of some sort that needed either a bit of acid to break a chain, or a dagger to slice ropes for a really weak prisoner. She doled out water and bars like mad.
Aja made a dart for the tree line, just slow enough to keep the jaffa chasing after her and away from Gem while she worked the cages.
"Come on, ya couldn't hit the broad side of the Inn! Ya suck at this game!"
As the fruit of Gemethyst's efforts, a slow trail of fleeing captives should begin to show itself to Aja and the others.....and to the Jaffa. The strategy was working as their shooting got worse the madder they got. But she did have to dodge a fallen tree or two as they hit those. Always, always, she sought the sight or sounds of Mery and Renne.
Seeing Gem?s work starting to appear, Aja stopped and danced around waving at the Jaffa. "Look, I'll hold still even!"
?Porthos! Will you hurry up! Is he in there?!? Pons was watching the wave, doing his best to keep the Snake Heads at bay while he could. He lobbed a sticky towards one, knocking him out before lobbing a hit to another's gut.
Aja just hoped that Pons and Porthos had the ones on the other side of Gem and the hostages, so there was a clear path.
Aja dodged the blasts, getting hit with the debris and returning fire trying her best to keep them distracted and take them out if she could.
This was taking too long, Gem knew it was. Twenty prisoners, twenty bonds or cages to break into. She was sweating, working feverishly, or at least she was, until there was suddenly a very painful interruption. She felt a blast of energy hit her spine, and she was knocked several feet away from the cage she was unlocking. A shriek she could not help left her, as agony racked her body. She lay where she fell, dealing with the horrible pain of it. She could hear heavy boots approaching her and flung out a handful of caltrops around her, about the best she could do in those moments of agony. A cobra head was trying to stop the release of surplus.
Aja heard that shriek. "Gem!" No more screwing around with distractions. Sticky grenades were launched and she only stuck around long enough to see they hit their marks, after that, she high tailed it to the cages. "Gem!"
There were three, rather than one, as Aja could see, as she approached. The pain was fading enough for the elf to see, at least, and she lifted her head at the call of the other woman. The one that had shot the thief was stepping towards her to either shoot her again or capture her. The other two were turning towards Aja's voice.
The two hulking jaffa turned towards her and she skidded to a halt. "Oh, Crap!" A hasty grenade thrown at the one and she dove behind a tent. "Fire in the hole!" was yelled in case Gem was near the one that now was sporting a sticky grenade.
Gem heard the call, and went back down to the dirt, in time for the explosion that ripped through the area of tents.
Luckily, for Gem, the last three prisoners that Gem had released turned from their flight, and rushed the one lifting his blaster at Gem. They blindsided him, and at least made him stagger to the side, the shot going wide, as Gem rolled the other way and pulled herself painfully up to her feet. She moved and felt like an old woman.
The three captives were up and fleeing, now that the elf was not on the ground and helpless, and the jaffa was snarling and bringing his weapon up again.
Clamoring to her feet, she darted behind the tents towards the cages. Coming around the corner, the Jaffa was taking another aim at Gem.
"Hey! Nimrod! Over here!!"
The thief staggered right towards him, diving down between the giant's (to her) legs. He was further confused by Aja's call, and looked her way, as Gem dove between his legs. She managed to get an acid ball up at the apex of his thighs, as she scrambled onwards and behind a nearby tent, now that Aja had him looking her way. In a very short time, he was going to begin screaming unpleasantly.
"Nice shot!" Aja yelled to Gem and rushed forward to help Gem up and get them out of there. "That should keep him busy!"
?Still.....five more.?, Gem panted out, for she was still feeling the effects of that blaster shot.
"Party Pooper." Aja gave Gem a grin. "Can ya move alright?..? Aja was starting to ask if Gem was capable of moving decent enough when Gem interrupted with a timely warning.
Just about then, that screaming began, and wild shots of the blaster began to shoot from the weapon as the Jaffa went mad with the pain. "Duck!" Gem yelled.
?I'll cover the ...." she was about to say rear but then hit the deck when Gem yelled.
She went down, and tried to take Aja down, too, as two of those other five that were still captive were hit and killed by the random shots.
Aja rolled and fired the plasma pistol at their pursuers to buy them time. "We gotta make like geese and get the flock outta here!"
"....But..but the other three...I can't ..we can't leave them..." She was feeling better. She was sure she could get them free in time. Really. She got her stubborn look, and turned towards one of those three remaining cages.
Aja knew that look, she?d seen it on herself a time or two and called after Gem.
"Yer so buying the beer!", Aja fell in line with Gem and covered them as they made their way back to the cages.
Lock picks inserted, Gem worked the lock, eyes darting behind them, to see two more Jaffa coming at them, though they didn't look too steady on their feet. "Aja"..!
"On it." she covered Gem best she could trying to take the swaying Jaffa down. "Think that stuff is wearin off." Aja said as she saw more previously immobile jaffa starting to move.
"Aye". She heard the lock click, and yanked the cage open, trying to tug up the Dwarven woman inside. She handed her the water and ration bar, and hissed at her in Dwarven to flee for her life. The lass blinked, cringed for a moment, and then seemed to recover her Dwarven nature, nodding firmly and then shambling off towards the forest.
Staff in his hand, he left Porthos to his crazed searching and moved to help Gem and Aja where he could, firing from the staff as one moving for Gem.
He slid besides Aja and swung like a baseball player, a bonk given to one of the Jaffa's head, putting a dent into the head piece. Aja jumped when Pons came sliding in. The Elf beamed over at Pons as he helped save the day, before moving onto the second of the remaining three cages.
"Safe!" she gave Pons a grin as he stopped the slide, then took aim and fired with the acid balls again from the sling shot. Pons had no idea what Aja had meant by 'Safe' but he kept swinging away. He was trying to keep them off of the ladies. A whack given and a swat given.
Aja fired at any Jaffa that moved, hoping to give them the idea to stay down. Gem offered another bag full of the sticky acid balls to Aja, as she dealt with the two groggy Jaffa.
"Oooh. Toys." Aja grinned taking the acid balls. "I love these!" She loaded and fired those acid balls as quickly and accurately as she could.
Gem worked fast, springing this one faster than the last. A human child, some 10 years, crying quietly, lay within. She nudged her, but the girl did not move. Gem lifted her up, and turned to give her to the other woman. "Aja, can you take her while I get the last?" The girl was skin and bones.
With the last acid ball fired off, she tucked the sling shot in her back pocket when Gem spoke.
"One kiddie ride coming up!" she took the kid from Gem giving her a big smile. "Hey there, Princess. What say we get outta here?" The child merely stared at Aja who was already on the move after the other hostages.
He was swinging away and shouting out to Porthos. "Is he there or not?! Porthos hurry up will you!"
Muffled curses in French left the tent Porthos was currently searching in reply to Pons, for he was in the middle of a pitched hand-to-hand battle with one of the Jaffa who had taken refuge within it. The inside of the tent suddenly burst with wild, blue colors as a weapon was fired point blank. A Musketeer's riding boot helped the Jaffa out of the tent and onto his back, where a maddened Porthos exited after him and shot him again with the
Jaffa's own weapon. He spat down at the creature and moved off to the next tent, thrown to his side when a cannonball landed too closely and sprayed him with shrapnel. Wiping the blood from his eyes, which was pouring from a cut over his brow from the shrapnel, he got up with the help of that Jaffa staff and threw himself into the next tent, barely avoiding another bombardment from the hilltop where Athos, Aramis and d'Artagnon were raining death from.
Gem beamed, then, at Aja. The woman was magnificent. Then the thief turned to work on the last cage. She could see an big person inside, but what race it was she could not say. He moaned, groaned, cursed. Urged her to hurry in common.
"Pons, make fer some cover!" Aja tried making her way to the tree line with the kid without bouncing the poor thing all over the place.
?Oui, Madame!? Pons stepped forwards and did what he does best. Insult and distract. This time obscene gestures were made and a few shots with the staff were fired before he was seen running away with a hand full stalking after him.
Finally, the lock sprung, and the thief was starting to open up the cage door when it was swung violently open from within. It crashed into the thief and knocked her back as an ogre thrust himself out of the cage. He snagged the water and several bars from Gem's hands and took off without another word. She rubbed her nose, banged by the cage door, and then looked over at the others. "It's all clear, now, I think! Let's head out!"
"Anyone seen that crazy Musketeer?" Aja shouted back as she made the tree line.
Just as Aja said that, one of them might have perhaps sighted the bear of a Musketeer crying like a baby as he entered one of the last few remaining tents.
As Gem heard Aja, she paused in her running from the cage area. She looked back, and scanned the area. She could not leave him in there alone. She turned to head back into that area. "I will get him!"
Turning as she took cover in the tree line, Aja saw Gem heading back. "Ah fer the love of... Pons, cover Gem!"
Muffled cries came from inside of a tent. ?Renne?! Renne, Mon Frere?!? The tent, through such vehement rummaging, collapsed around the Musketeer within and, after a few moments, the shimmering blade of a rapier burst through the canvas and sliced it open enough for him to emerge with rapier in one hand and staff in the other. He looked after the departing trio and then hollered at Gemethyst as he sheathed his rapier. ?Aller! Aller!? By the motions of his hand, she could see he was telling her to go the other way. With that, he turned and entered the last of the few unchecked tents, inciting the name of his Little Brother with a voice that had gone hoarse from yelling it so many times.
Aja watched as Gem, and Pons went after Porthos then looked at the little girl she held and smiled brightly.
"Kids these days, huh?" The little girl just stared back at her blankly making Aja chuckle. "Not up fer the funny yet? It's ok. We're gettin' ya outta here."
Naturally, she did not listen to him, because he was going into more tents! She shook her head and hastened after him, unwilling to leave one behind. She had that stubborn look again, which Porthos had yet to encounter. Really, sometimes it was just better to knock her ass out.
Pons was still running as fast as he could and firing. A flail leaving him as he rounded a tent and BUMPED right into another two. The Frenchman smiled to him, took off towards the right only to be grappled with and held onto by the coat tail. He swung the staff and proceeded to start to bash and beat as he could, yelling in French as he did, trying his best to get them to let him go.
He was either crazy, or he was foolishly brave, but when Porthos emerged from the tent and entered another tears were streaming down his cheeks. An energy burst shot past him and was answered by cannon report from the eagle-eyed d'Artagnon. Once in the last tent and, seeing nothing there, he dropped to his knees and leaned his forehead against the staff he now held with both hands.
?I will find you, Mon Frere....Or I will die in the attempt.? It was a plea to his Little Brother, who most certainly (in Porthos' mind at least) was cursing the name of the man who had sworn an oath of brotherhood with him. He emerged from the tent, sobbing as he took the reigns of his horse, who was far from gunshy (given its rider) and had valiantly waited its master's return. He mounted the horse and with heeled encouragement, he rode by Gemethyst, indicating his approach with a whistle he reached out with an arm and snagged her up; a little acrobatics on her part and she would be behind him. ?Pons!?, he shouted. ?Aller!?
Gemethyst heard Pons, and seeing a discarded blaster on the ground, she picked it up and tried to figure out how to shoot it. A blast went sailing over Pons' head, rather too close, most likely, as she found the switch. "Uh..sorry, sorry..!" Then she was aiming and shooting with exquisite aim at the ones holding onto Pons.
Aja kept moving with the freed hostages though the woods, the rest would catch up as the hostages didn't move very fast. She kept looking over her shoulder and around to make sure they weren't followed by Jaffa.
Cannonfire from the hilltop dispatched what remained of Pons' problem via the 90 .cal Amusette which d'Artagnon was using as a highly pungent sniper.
Pons ducked at the shot and flailed. "Are you mad! Hit them not m-!?
Grunt! He fell and started to scramble away from the Snake heads. He even kicked one in the groin, wincing a bit but never the less. When the cry was given by Porthos he moved to his feet and raced for his horse. Soon climbing up on the back and reaching his arm out for Gem to take it. ?Come! We flee!?
Gem was already swinging up to mount the horse in front of Porthos just as Pons mounted the whinnying horse, who was being forced to stay still, from the back. The blaster still in her hands, she clung to the mane of his horse like a monkey, shooting at the remaining Jaffa that began to shoot at them as the horse, carrying more weight than it was accustomed to, took off at a full gallop.
Meanwhile, in the forest, the hostages were making their way back to town with Aja following along behind still carrying that little girl and keeping watch for jaffa that may have given chase.
"Me and you and a dog named Boo." Aja was singing as they walked along, glancing down at the little girl. "Ever heard such a silly name fer a dog?" The little girl shook her head. "Me either. It's like a dragon named Puff." grins at the girl. "I know a couple dragons. None of 'em are named Puff." She gave the girl a silly grin.
Pons looked over Porthos' shoulder at Gem and then turned as they hit the treeling, finding Muse and mounting her before riding off after Porthos, his mare racing after him quickly.
Gem smiled over her shoulder at Pons behind her and Porthos, and then shot a Jaffa off his feet who was aiming behind them all. "We are away!"
~ It was two hour's time after they had regrouped in the same clearing as they had before. The light of day would guide this motley group of Musketeer, Thief and Angel back to the clinic which Aja had insisted they lead the hostages to. It is here, at the door of the clinic, that the story resumes... ~
Porthos spoke to each hostage by the shoulder and interrogating (albeit a little coldly) of the possibility that they had seen any sight of Renne. The others would see him prostrating and showing the hostages about how tall Renne stood by holding his hand above the ground. Each hostage would shake their head no
?Door to door service, Princess." Aja grinned at the little girl. "Now these people here are gonna get ya better, don't be scared. Ok?? The little girl nodded and Aja kissed her head before moving to hand her off to the nurse, but was intercepted by Porthos. Aja made a face at him. He?d questioned everyone else on the way into town, what he thought a ten year kid would know was beyond her.
After a moment with her, Porthos was waltzing her around for a few, fleeting moments of bliss before setting her down, kissing her cheeks and ruffling her hair.
Aja picked the kid up immediately, considering whacking Porthos upside his dense head over twirling a sick, scared kid around. Instead, she handed the little girl off to a impatiently waiting nurse, who bustled the little girl inside.
Aja shook off the irritation at Porthos, figuring she have to cut the guy some slack as he probably didn?t understand kids that well, much less a sick on. She grinned as she turned to the group.
"Well, that was a blast."
A tired, limping Gem watched the hostages head inside with a content and, yet, sad look on her face. ?So many lost...and no Mery or Renne. Aja, you are amazing. Thank you.?
"Me? Yer the one making the huge rescue." she grinned at Gem. "Do we need ta send ya in there?" Aja motioned to Gem's limp.
?Oh, no, nononono.? She shook her head firmly. ?I am fine, Lass. Just a bit stiff. Nothing a good shot of whiskey won't fix. Or Vodka. Or both.? Gemethyst grinned.
"You drink those. I got dibs on the tequila." Aja grinned back at her and then looked at Porthos.
She gave a little smile to Aja, while watching the distressed Porthos. She wished so much she could have found Renne for the man.
Leaning his shoulder against the door, he doffed his plumed and bent-brimmed hat, wiping at his eyes which physically had no more tears to spill. Athos, Aramis, d'Artagnon and Pons, knowing that Porthos was not to be bothered at the moment, each took their turn at approaching their distressed comrade and giving him a reassuring embrace and a kiss to both cheeks before they spoke amongst themselves for a moment, bid adieu to the two women and then turned to make off towards the stables, first and foremost, dealing with corralling the horses and all the other duties which a battle's aftermath entailed.
Porthos looked up to the women. ?You, Mes Anges, go. I will stay here.? The golden staff that he had managed to use as a weapon was sticking out of his saddle, mounted in the holster which had been fashioned for a musket. He looked after it and his horse, which were being led away and donned his hat once more.
Aja took a lean against the clinic wall and thought about things for a bit. "Guess we're gonna have to rely on the Oobies to track Renne and Mery now." she sighed. "Since we didn't catch a break on this troop."
?Yes, Aja. I did not get a chance to plant a tracker, alas.? She mourned the lost opportunity. Inside, she was very worried about the other prisoners. Especially the two they sought. She knew what it was like to be held captive for so long, and under...very nasty circumstances. She did not know if Mery or Renne were....strong enough...to deal with the aftermath. She sighed and then she looked up at Porthos and studied him. She could see he was not to be argued with just now, and in truth, she did not have the heart to. He would do what he needed to do. She moved over to him, though, and looked up into his eyes. ?I will do my very best to help find him.? Nodding before she turned to move away.
Aja nodded and gave Gem a soft smile, trying to ease some of the elf?s guilt. "We kinda had our hands full with the whole being shot at thing. Luckily we have a plan B." Aja looked at Porthos then. "Ya make it out ok? No major holes added to yer person?"
Porthos had that look as if he was to go and do something pure-hearted and foolish. Staying where he was remained highly improbable. A dismissive motion of his gloved hand was all the answer the both of them would receive. His hopes of finding Renne there had been so high; only the little girl's admission of having seen him alive was the only thing keeping him close to sanity.
For now a tired Gem was already heading off. "I will by you a bottle of tequila later, Aja. Porthos, be safe. Farewell. We shall meet again for the raid on the big camp. There we shall surely find Renne and Mery.
Aja waved to Gem and took another look over Porthos to make sure he wasn't gushing blood from a head wound or something. When she was satisfied he seemed fine, she gave him a grin. "Alright. I'm.." she jerked a thumb towards town. "Headin' home. Ya alright here?"
Porthos smiled slighty for Aja's concerned once-over and blew her a kiss. ?Go, Mon Ange...I will wait for your angelic sister to be free before I see her.? It wasn't the shrapnel he was worried about, it was more from a need of wanting her company.
Aja nodded. "Such a flirt." she gave him a wink. "I got Parker ta look me over when I get back home. Tell Anya I said hi."Aja blew him a kiss and turned making her way into town and then homeward. They didn?t get who they were after, but they did save some people. It was a win in her book. Worth every scrape, bruise and gouge to her body. The wounds would heal, in time.
A nod and, as she turned to make off, he reached down and pulled a dagger, which he had found within the tent of the Jaffa that he had all but executed, studying it for a few moments with a sad shake of his head. ?You will have your rapier once again, Mon Petit Mousquitaire, and your revenge.? Tucking the dagger back into his boot, he lowered his face into his gloved hands with elbows propped up onto his knees after he dropped into a seat upon the clinic's doorstep. A heaving sigh and an hour's worth of meditation would transpire before he finally rose to make his way into the clinic. The last thing to be seen before the door of the clinic shut closed was the cross of golden thread which was emblazoned onto the cloth of the royal blue Musketeer's tabbard.
*Translations:
Pons: Nous rencontrons encore mes amis! Dansons! - We meet again, My Friends! Dance!
Porthos: Merde ? Damn
Pourquoi voulez-vous pas mourir?! Pourquoi?!? - Why won't you die?! Why?!
Mon Petit Mousquitaire ? My Little Musketeer
Ange ? Angel, Mes Anges ? My Angels, Mon Ange ? My Angel
Pons & Porthos: Aller ? Go/Hurry!
Gemethyst: Phraktos phor lu' harl! Nesstren ph' ji zhaunus ulu complicate klezn! Belbau mina biu ul'hyrr lu' nind blow ol phor ulu natha jatha'la huge mess. Phraktos! Usstan shlu'ta kyorl Usstan tlun aluin ulu inbal ulu fridj inbau wun gaer lu' handle nindol. Vith! -
Common: Gods above and below! Men are so sure to complicate things! Give them an idea and they blow it above to a big huge mess. Gods! I can guard I am going to have to just get in there and handle this. F..udge! -
]
Aja Bird got dressed quickly, grabbed a quick snack and headed for Rhy'Din City and the Inn to meet up with those that would be going to take down the camp. She had loaded the car with weapons the night before. She had brought only what would be useful for the mission, compact but deadly weapons. Easy to carry but did high amounts of damage. Arriving at the Red Dragon, she saw Porthos and his crew outside waiting.
?Merde!?, Porthos yelled and pointed at the metallic beast which was making the most peculiar of sights and sounds as it headed towards their amalgamation around the Inn's tethering poles. ?They have caught wind of our plan! Musketeers! Ready your muskets!? Athos, Aramis, d'Artagnon, Pons and Porthos stood shoulder to shoulder as they lifted their long rifles and took aim, readying to fire off a round.
Gem was actually resting from about 4 A.M. 'til just a bit ago, and had made her way to join Porthos and Pons. She was all set to go in deep to the camp and start using lock picks and acid to try to break free prisoners. Someone would need to guard her back. As well, someone ought to bring in medical aids to help those too wounded to move without that first.
?It's okay, Porthos, that is a car.?, Gemethyst said, ?It is a metal contraption that carries people! Ack, don't shoot! That's Aja, I think!?
Pons was besides Porthos on his shooting bout. He lifted his own musket, almost firing a round until Gem spoke. He turned his eyes to Porthos before muttering, ?The beast has eaten her??
Aja threw the car into park and jumped out, putting her hands up. ?Dude! What the hell!? I ain't wearin' no snake head!?, she yelled.
Pons was baffled as he held his pistol at the ready. One hand on his rapier should it turn to attack them. He turned back in time to spot Aja leaving the car and nodded, ?We have shown the beast who is boss. It has delivered Aja to us.? Nudging Porthos proudly as he spoke.
?No, no?, Gemethyst was laughing as she put her hands up to stop the shooting. ?She but rides within it. It is at her command, see??
Aja saw they weren't going to shoot anymore and shouldered her bag with a grin. There were times it was dangerous to embrace new tech in Rhy'Din. This was one of those times. She moved to the trunk and opened it, quickly unloading the crate of weapons and slamming the lid back down.
?I brought toys!?
Athos, Aramis, Porthos and d'Artagnon were all awestruck by what had just happened and all four of them and , instead of saying a word, wandered off from the group and muttered amongst themselves in French as they gathered around the car; one or two of them pulling out their rapiers and prodding lightly at it as the others, seeing no reaction from the metallic beast, dared to peer through the windows. There was more softly spoken French followed by a group of four shaking their heads as they returned.
Aja stood and chuckled watching the men check out the car, not one to care about the paint job, she didn't throw a fit when the rapiers poked at it. "It's a car. Transports things."
"I love toys!!?, Gem looked eagerly at Aja, but she herself had a bag slung over one shoulder that was of a fairly large size. Aja turned to grin at Gem.
"I know how ya do."
"I have some, too, everyone. I have some sticky balls of acid, some caltrops that are four inches high, and I have poisoned them with a strong sleep agent. I have seen it pierce their boot armor, so feel free to sling them down, but be careful and mark in your head where you do, so that I don't walk on them!". Chuckling, she set her bag down.
Aja was about to add another sassy comment about the toys but the sticky acid balls caught her attention. "Sticky acid? This sounds potentially fun."
Porthos was the spokesman for the four and, with an assuring nod to Pons, he spoke.
?The beast is as they claim.? Pointing to the horses. ?Untether two of them and hitch them to the carts, Pons.? Indicating the carts brandishing one long nine cannon and a Hessian Amusette.
Pons was mumbling in French, lingering back until Porthos spoke. The young man moved for the horses, taking them off the side and turning for Porthos. He started to tie the horses to the cart, working on securing them before moving for Muse. He patted his honey mare, whispering to her in French and combing along her neck with his riding gloves. Readying her for the battle to come.
There were two extra horses in the small herd which was tied to the tethering poles in front of the Inn. Porthos looked to Gemethyst and then to Aja, whom the horses had been purchased for. ?Come, Mes Anges.? Glancing towards the horizon and then back to them. ?Our Little Brother awaits his freedom!? Shaking a passionately clenched fist, he spun around and headed for his own steed, mounting it swiftly after freeing the reins from the tethering pole.
Aja readjusted her bag and headed towards the horses, setting the crate down and took a couple plasma guns out.
"Who wants one of these? No reload necessary. Just aim and fire."
All five Musketeers scoffed, with no intention of insult, at Aja's request. Looking to one other questioningly before laughing softly amongst each other with haughty delight; for, what Musketeer needed anything more than a flintlock pistol, a long rifle and a skilled blade to overcome the enemy?
Gem waved over to Pons as she saw him, with a warm smile, before nodding to Aja. "Yes, it is a gel I make up, with sets and is sticky, but not so sticky you can't handle it. Throw it with force, though, and it sticks to whatever it hits, and this thins the wall of it enough to let the acid within eat through it. Otherwise it does not eat through. But you would not want to be having a bunch of these on you and fall over. It would be..bad."
Aja heard Gem's warning and nodded. "Duly noted. No falling down and going boom or goodbye appendages. Check." The thief put a little pouch of about ten of those in Aja's hands, Aja took the balls from Gem and stuck them in the pouch of her back next to her sling shot, grinning as the idea of a delivery system came to her.
Athos and Aramis each mounted the horses which had been prepared by Pons whilst d'Artagnon mounted his stallion of white and immediately took off from of the rest of them at full gallop without nary a word spoken.
Porthos looked to Aja and to Gemethyst. ?He has the best eyes of us all. He will find the best location for the cannon.? Explaining d'Artagnon's duty.
Gem finished donning her own goodies, before she headed for the steed Porthos indicated. "Thank you, Mon Ami." She smiled up at him and then mounted.
Climbing upon Muse he patted her neck and whispered fondly to her in French again. Arching his back again, he moved to the side of Athos and Aramis, pausing to wave at Gem and nod.
Aja watched d'Artagnon take off, two things going through her head. One, how he knew where they were going and two, desperately hoped the lad knew to dismount and walk the rest of the way to the camp or that horse was going to alert the Jaffa way too soon. Everyone else seemed to be ready to roll, she tucked a few extra pistols into her bag, in case a spare was needed by someone later. A box of Alec's sticky grenades and she mounted up on the horse Porthos indicated for her.
With a click of his tongue and a light encouragement of heels, Porthos' steed jumped in front of Athos, Aramis and Pons'. They heeled their horses to follow him and, turning to look over his shoulder, Porthos looked back to make sure Aja and Gemethyst were joining the group.
Gem was right behind him, eager to get this show on the road and save those poor, moaning, groaning prisoners she had been so close to before. She signaled to the Frenchman her readiness
Aja tugged out the box with the tracking signal. "Day lights burnin, let's get a move on." she grinned and urged the horse forward.
Pons was close behind the three leaders, his gloves gripping the reins while he raced forwards. He kept his eyes peeled, at the ready for what if anything was coming for them. His hose seemed built for the rise and fall of war,
battles, because she charged happily ahead, eager to take on what could be just over the hill tops.
~ One hour later, in the depths of the northwestern forest, the group reaches a clearing off of the beaten path where a rendezvous with a solemn d'Artagnon took place. In the horizon, the plumes of black smoke were a stark contrast to the hues of colors beginning to show with the break of dawn in the horizon. ~
"What is the smoke from...?" This asked as the Elfess moved up behind Porthos.
"Hell if I know, but if that dude did something stupid, I'm blowin' his head off." Aja was looking at the smoke with a frown.
A gloved hand signaled his cousins and Pons to dismount with him, all of them walking towards d'Artagnon for a hushed meeting. After some pointing from d'Artagnon, there was a hushed recital of the Musketeer's motto with gloved hands clasping at one another's shoulders before Athos, Aramis and d'Artagnon walked their horses into the fog swarming just a few feet away, the cannons were the last things which disappeared into it. Pons and Porthos returned, with Porthos studying Aja and Gemethyst, speaking in hushed tones. ?d'Artagnon has found a hill to fire the cannon and Amusette from. Ten minutes will be enough for them to be ready. The first shot will be their signal to bombard, Mon Ange.? A nod to Aja before looking to Gemethyst. ?Their campfires burning out, Mademoiselle. They slumber yet.?
Pons dismounted, patting Muse again and staying her before joining Porthos and the other Musketeers. He looked towards the camp, then turned his gaze to Porthos and he nodded.
"Ohhh...", Gemethyst chuckled. "I have usually only seen them at night. I did not realize."
Aja nodded hearing Gem. "And I must've rolled through after they were on the move." shrugs. "Well, we sneaking up and opening fire?"
Gem grinned over at Aja and nodded. "Indeed, time of day makes a difference." She was nervous, excited, and all fired up. It showed in the frequent grins.
?Pons..? Porthos locked eyes with him. ?You will go with the women. He wrapped a hand around his shoulder and, after a quiet moment of reassurance, he patted his cheek and smiled. Obviously, Porthos had discussed something with Pons earlier in the morning. With that, Porthos turned and blew a kiss to the ladies before walking his horse into the fog to circumvent the camp and wait for the first shot before he attacked from the rear. Of course, he'd left Pons to explain this to the women.
"Porthos, just remember there's hostages down there and us too, eh?" she gave the Musketeer a grin. "I got enough holes in me just as I am."
Gem was flushing at Aja, jaw dropping a little. Over the whole, you know, 'Holes' thing.
Amethysts tracked Porthos as he made off, and then returned to settle onto Pons. "Are we going to be informed of what he is doing?" Gem demanded.
Aja sighed as Porthos just took off and looked to Pons now.
"Yeah. Seeing as how we've been bustin' our arse on planning this fer a while."
Pons nodded, patting his mentor's shoulder before he walked away. He turned to look to the ladies, his fingers shifting and pushing at his feathered cap. Slowly he strode towards them, clearing his throat.:: We are to attack from the front while he mounts an attack from the rear. A distraction, for he will be looking for our Little Brother.? Sure to stir a reaction out of Athos and Aramis.
"What? Wait..." Aja blinked and looks at Gem. "Wasn't that yer job in this plan?" Gemethyst blinked in shock.
?Pons. You great lunkhead. PORTHOS!!? Bellowing over the distance. Gemethyst was very good at bellowing; even for so small a woman.
Pons winced and shrank about five inches as Gem bellowed.
?I am the one who has to break open the cages!! I have the lockpicks!!?, Gemethyst cried out.
Gemethyst's bellow broke the silence and so, too, did Athos, Aramis and d'Artagnon. The bombardment began, cannon balls and 90 caliber musketballs raining onto the small encampment. Somewhere off in the distance, they could hear Porthos holler back as he was rushed by who knew how many. ?Mon Dieu!!!? In fact, he knew that Gemethyst was to free the prisoners but that damn Musketeer's gallantry always got in the way of certain things.
"I'm just gonna shoot him." Aja muttered as she moves towards the camp. "If he don't get his fool head taken off by the Jaffa first."
"Phraktos phor lu' harl! Nesstren ph' ji zhaunus ulu complicate klezn! Belbau mina biu ul'hyrr lu' nind blow ol phor ulu natha jatha'la huge mess. Phraktos! Usstan shlu'ta kyorl Usstan tlun aluin ulu inbal ulu fridj inbau wun gaer lu' handle nindol. Vith!" The thief was a wee bit frustrated, as she stalked off towards the camp and the prisoners.
?He's in the cannon fire's path, we cannot waste time. Either we go with him, or we---? Pons grunted as the cannon fire begins and mumbles to no one in French. He watched the stalking thief a bit pale as she spoke in Drow. A small chuckle left him. He looked to Aja, ?Have any more grenades, Mon Fleur??
Gemethyst's hands were fluttering and gesticulating, just like a Frenchman, only in Drow, of course, as she slunk down to make a lower target of herself. She could hear the thudding of feet as the snakemen came charging this way.
"INCOMING, Aja!"
Aja dug out a smaller bag and handed it to Pons. "Enough in there to put a small country under. Use with great joy." She was about to say something else when she heard Gem, and motioned to Pons. "Take cover!"
She made herself very, very small and tiny, crouched down in a large bush, as a few of them ran past her towards Aja and Pons.
Aja scampered up the side of a pine and took cover in the branches, taking aim at the troop in case they did stop. If not, she'd be more than happy to let them fly by.
As they passed, Gem popped up behind them, and lobbed acid balls, one, two, three, four, a single one at each once they were past her. That should occupy them in trying to reach the now sizzling acid at their spines, and get them hopefully off Pons and Aja long enough.
Aja hopped back down and made her way to camp. Stopping long enough to booby trap the trail. "Have fun with that, Punks." She whipped around and headed campward, weapon drawn and ready.
Mind you, they were still very dangerous! They had their blasters, too, which was demonstrated as one of them, feeling that light tagging, turned to see Gem standing there in the bush. He brought that great long staff around to bear on the elf and she took a flying leap to one side as energy and ozone crackled.
Pons dug his hands in the bag and turned in time to go wide eyed at the group coming towards them. He took a few steps back, tossed Grenades and then fled as he chortled. ?Nous rencontrons encore, Mes Amis! Dansons!?
He leaned over, keeping them distracted as Aja did the cover part by pulling down his drawers, showing his pale moon, and then took off running away in case those that didn't go down the trail followed after him.
Did she just see Pons'...moon? ...No. Nononononono! That must have been a hallucination brought on by ozone-sniffing or something! She kept rolling and dodging and hiding behind trees until the grenades that Pons had tossed took care of the problem, and then Gem was hot on the trail into camp, as was Aja.
Pons was hot on the ladies' trail after another moment or so of scraping with a straggler. He wound up hiding a bit of a ways behind them.
Porthos, who had mounted his horse when the bombardment began, rode through the camp with cannonball explosions and percussions raining around him. Lifting up off of the saddle at full gallop, he shouted. ?For Mon Petit Mousquitaire, Scoundrels!? The great mountain of a Musketeer catapulted himself off of the horse and into a group of three Jaffa soldiers, knocking them clean off of their feet and in a baffled heap. Scrambling, he drew his rapier and attempted to thrust it into the heart of the one nearest him; when the blade failed to break the armor Porthos yelped and took off running with all three of them chasing after him. ?Athos! ATHOS!? He had barely even said the word when a cannonball made quick work of trio which was hot on his heels. Porthos spun around, slashing his rapier victoriously. ?Hah!! Ah-Hah!! Vivre La France!? He had no time to celebrate, for another one was rounding a tent and firing at him. ?Merde!? He was struck with the energy bolt and was knocked onto his back, writhing for a moment before scrambling for cover.
A dodge to the side hide her in the thick brush as she tugged a spy glass from her belt and took stock of how many were left. She waited till she sensed Gem nearby. Hoping Gem wasn't the sort to have mental blocks up, she sent her findings via the mental wave.
~Seeing about twenty left standing. Start with acid balls then move ta grenades?~
Not only did Gem not have mental blocks up, but she almost fell over at hearing Aja in her head
?...Gods..!!!" That exploded out of her, as she heard it. She tried to answer, but she did not have that skill. Could Aja hear her without it? "Aye, sounds good. Oh, look! Is that Porthos?!" Squinting in the direction of the camp. "We better hurry." She began to run flat out, fleet as a deer, using what cover she could; her hands lobbing acid balls left and right as she neared the hulking menaces.
Aja didn't need to answer that, she took off after Gem, firing as she moved, trying to be careful with the acid balls as she only had ten of them and wanted to make the shots count.
Pons was already on the move. His mentor was out numbered. He crashed forwards, his hulky body running like a line backer towards two Snake heads. As they turned he perked a brow. He grunted as one took a swing and knocked him back. Quickly he hopped up and fired off his musket, the Snake head who hit him being knocked back.
Another Jaffa, taking up the duty of its comrade who was now distracted by Pons, fired again but missed. Porthos turned and pulled his flintlock pistol and the Jaffa studied it before looking at the staff in his own hands. They fired almost simultaneously, but Porthos' shot struck first and directly into the helmeted face of the Jaffa. It caused only a dent, but it was enough to send the Jaffa's shot off course. Porthos, hollering a curse as he charged, tackled the Jaffa and after rolling about with him for a few minutes ended up wrapped around the Jaffa at his back, with treetrunk legs wrapped around its waist and arms around its neck. ?Pourquoi voulez-vous pas mourir?! Pourquoi?!?
With a mighty twist, he broke the creature's neck and was barely able to force the heavy heap of inanimate flesh off of him. He got up and began to run for cover before a thought struck him; endangering himself further, he rushed back to the scene he'd just left and swooped up the staff that had been used on him. A moment of confusion before he unleased a ball of energy which sailed past Pons' head and struck the creature who had been rushing at him from behind. With a grin that was worth a thousand words, Porthos waved a hello at Pons before thrusting himself into a tent.
A Jaffa fired in Aja?s direction, missing her but not the ground in front of her. "Son of a ..", Aja cursed as her foot hit the hole in the ground and came tumbling to the ground then rolled to avoid being vented by a second shot.
"Heeeey, you ugly troll's leaving's....!!!", Gem shouted and waved her hands at the ones firing at Aja, and then yelped as they aimed for her, a blast at her feet sending her flying in a wild arc to land behind a large rock. She was in the camp proper, and could see there were Jaffa laying around, unmoving, or groaning, and not getting up. She grinned as she figured this was the cause of her drugged water, but she didn't get long to enjoy it, as another crackle of energy fire landed far too near her. She lobbed a grenade in the direction of the firing ones, and counted to ten.
Dust and dirt flew as the second shot missed her but the debris hit her in the face, blinding her for a moment. Blurry figures in metal were fired upon, while Aja scrambled back for cover under a wagon behind some crates.
"Nice going!" Aja yelled to Gem, following up with her own sticky grenade which made a solid thud as it connected with one of the men in the suits.
He was grinning at Porthos, moving for the tent and keeping guard outside. His musket was his best friend at the moment. Black powder and all being used to fire away at the incoming Snake heads while they came. He actually chuckled broadly, keeping an eyes on the ladies while he awaited Porthos. His eyes scanned the area, searching for other captives as he spoke out to Porthos. ?Faster, Move! Aller! Move!?
Another scramble took Aja out of the blast radius and under another wagon, she kept firing shots at the Jaffa's legs; figuring if they couldn't walk, then things might go smoother.
Porthos emerged from the tent and thrust a staff he'd found into Pons' chest. ?Take it, Ami! Our muskets are not enough!? Just as he said that, he spotted a Jaffa running about fifty yards away and, by dispatching it with a shot from the staff, he also effectively showed Pons how to use the contraption. ?Aller!, Aller!!!? Making off to raid the next tent. He was going to search them all for Renne, it seemed. He entered the next one, yelling his name. ?Renne?! Renne?! Merde!?, that last curse spoken as a cannonball ripped a hole through opposing walls of the tent, narrowly missing him. Off to the next tent Pons and Porthos went.
Gem gave a wild thumbs up to Aja, though not sure the woman saw it. She was slinking, then, trying now to avoid notice, as she slipped past a guard or three at the outer edge of the area that held the cages. She moved with great care, pausing before the cage of one slightly moaning human man, and she pulled out her heavy set of specially made lock picks. She set to work on the thick metal of the lock.
Grunting as the staff was thrust into his arms, he dropped his musket in favor of the new weapon and followed after Porthos, using the weapon the best way he knew how; like a staff. He beat one over the head with it, lobbed another in the gut, and flailed it about while he could. It wasn't until it fired on its own, right into a wall, that he knew how it worked. His eyes had gone wide, shock taking him back before he aimed and fired at the next one.
The sticky grenade made one heck of a mess as it took apart the poor lad wearing the suit in short order. Aja made a mental note to remember to ask Alec what the heck he put in those things, but for now, she concentrated on getting a few more Jaffa a body blowing experience. A quick pop up from under the wagon and she practiced her pitching arm hitting four of the five Jaffa in the immediate area.
"Gods, glad I'm not on clean up!" She grinned as she made for another wagon for cover, firing to draw their attention from where Gem was. ?Hey, Ya Pansy!" she yelled at the Jaffa, "Come and get me!" Aja scrambled around taking cover and shooting at them to keep them busy. Crates and wagons used for cover were being hit with those staff weapons.
Gemethyst got one of the locks open, with the loss of one nail, and then she pulled a bottle of water and a ration bar from her magic belt. She thrust it into the hands of the captive, and moved on to the next cage, after instructing the captive to flee for his life in the direction of least fire. Another...and then another. Some were easier than others. They were just traps of some sort that needed either a bit of acid to break a chain, or a dagger to slice ropes for a really weak prisoner. She doled out water and bars like mad.
Aja made a dart for the tree line, just slow enough to keep the jaffa chasing after her and away from Gem while she worked the cages.
"Come on, ya couldn't hit the broad side of the Inn! Ya suck at this game!"
As the fruit of Gemethyst's efforts, a slow trail of fleeing captives should begin to show itself to Aja and the others.....and to the Jaffa. The strategy was working as their shooting got worse the madder they got. But she did have to dodge a fallen tree or two as they hit those. Always, always, she sought the sight or sounds of Mery and Renne.
Seeing Gem?s work starting to appear, Aja stopped and danced around waving at the Jaffa. "Look, I'll hold still even!"
?Porthos! Will you hurry up! Is he in there?!? Pons was watching the wave, doing his best to keep the Snake Heads at bay while he could. He lobbed a sticky towards one, knocking him out before lobbing a hit to another's gut.
Aja just hoped that Pons and Porthos had the ones on the other side of Gem and the hostages, so there was a clear path.
Aja dodged the blasts, getting hit with the debris and returning fire trying her best to keep them distracted and take them out if she could.
This was taking too long, Gem knew it was. Twenty prisoners, twenty bonds or cages to break into. She was sweating, working feverishly, or at least she was, until there was suddenly a very painful interruption. She felt a blast of energy hit her spine, and she was knocked several feet away from the cage she was unlocking. A shriek she could not help left her, as agony racked her body. She lay where she fell, dealing with the horrible pain of it. She could hear heavy boots approaching her and flung out a handful of caltrops around her, about the best she could do in those moments of agony. A cobra head was trying to stop the release of surplus.
Aja heard that shriek. "Gem!" No more screwing around with distractions. Sticky grenades were launched and she only stuck around long enough to see they hit their marks, after that, she high tailed it to the cages. "Gem!"
There were three, rather than one, as Aja could see, as she approached. The pain was fading enough for the elf to see, at least, and she lifted her head at the call of the other woman. The one that had shot the thief was stepping towards her to either shoot her again or capture her. The other two were turning towards Aja's voice.
The two hulking jaffa turned towards her and she skidded to a halt. "Oh, Crap!" A hasty grenade thrown at the one and she dove behind a tent. "Fire in the hole!" was yelled in case Gem was near the one that now was sporting a sticky grenade.
Gem heard the call, and went back down to the dirt, in time for the explosion that ripped through the area of tents.
Luckily, for Gem, the last three prisoners that Gem had released turned from their flight, and rushed the one lifting his blaster at Gem. They blindsided him, and at least made him stagger to the side, the shot going wide, as Gem rolled the other way and pulled herself painfully up to her feet. She moved and felt like an old woman.
The three captives were up and fleeing, now that the elf was not on the ground and helpless, and the jaffa was snarling and bringing his weapon up again.
Clamoring to her feet, she darted behind the tents towards the cages. Coming around the corner, the Jaffa was taking another aim at Gem.
"Hey! Nimrod! Over here!!"
The thief staggered right towards him, diving down between the giant's (to her) legs. He was further confused by Aja's call, and looked her way, as Gem dove between his legs. She managed to get an acid ball up at the apex of his thighs, as she scrambled onwards and behind a nearby tent, now that Aja had him looking her way. In a very short time, he was going to begin screaming unpleasantly.
"Nice shot!" Aja yelled to Gem and rushed forward to help Gem up and get them out of there. "That should keep him busy!"
?Still.....five more.?, Gem panted out, for she was still feeling the effects of that blaster shot.
"Party Pooper." Aja gave Gem a grin. "Can ya move alright?..? Aja was starting to ask if Gem was capable of moving decent enough when Gem interrupted with a timely warning.
Just about then, that screaming began, and wild shots of the blaster began to shoot from the weapon as the Jaffa went mad with the pain. "Duck!" Gem yelled.
?I'll cover the ...." she was about to say rear but then hit the deck when Gem yelled.
She went down, and tried to take Aja down, too, as two of those other five that were still captive were hit and killed by the random shots.
Aja rolled and fired the plasma pistol at their pursuers to buy them time. "We gotta make like geese and get the flock outta here!"
"....But..but the other three...I can't ..we can't leave them..." She was feeling better. She was sure she could get them free in time. Really. She got her stubborn look, and turned towards one of those three remaining cages.
Aja knew that look, she?d seen it on herself a time or two and called after Gem.
"Yer so buying the beer!", Aja fell in line with Gem and covered them as they made their way back to the cages.
Lock picks inserted, Gem worked the lock, eyes darting behind them, to see two more Jaffa coming at them, though they didn't look too steady on their feet. "Aja"..!
"On it." she covered Gem best she could trying to take the swaying Jaffa down. "Think that stuff is wearin off." Aja said as she saw more previously immobile jaffa starting to move.
"Aye". She heard the lock click, and yanked the cage open, trying to tug up the Dwarven woman inside. She handed her the water and ration bar, and hissed at her in Dwarven to flee for her life. The lass blinked, cringed for a moment, and then seemed to recover her Dwarven nature, nodding firmly and then shambling off towards the forest.
Staff in his hand, he left Porthos to his crazed searching and moved to help Gem and Aja where he could, firing from the staff as one moving for Gem.
He slid besides Aja and swung like a baseball player, a bonk given to one of the Jaffa's head, putting a dent into the head piece. Aja jumped when Pons came sliding in. The Elf beamed over at Pons as he helped save the day, before moving onto the second of the remaining three cages.
"Safe!" she gave Pons a grin as he stopped the slide, then took aim and fired with the acid balls again from the sling shot. Pons had no idea what Aja had meant by 'Safe' but he kept swinging away. He was trying to keep them off of the ladies. A whack given and a swat given.
Aja fired at any Jaffa that moved, hoping to give them the idea to stay down. Gem offered another bag full of the sticky acid balls to Aja, as she dealt with the two groggy Jaffa.
"Oooh. Toys." Aja grinned taking the acid balls. "I love these!" She loaded and fired those acid balls as quickly and accurately as she could.
Gem worked fast, springing this one faster than the last. A human child, some 10 years, crying quietly, lay within. She nudged her, but the girl did not move. Gem lifted her up, and turned to give her to the other woman. "Aja, can you take her while I get the last?" The girl was skin and bones.
With the last acid ball fired off, she tucked the sling shot in her back pocket when Gem spoke.
"One kiddie ride coming up!" she took the kid from Gem giving her a big smile. "Hey there, Princess. What say we get outta here?" The child merely stared at Aja who was already on the move after the other hostages.
He was swinging away and shouting out to Porthos. "Is he there or not?! Porthos hurry up will you!"
Muffled curses in French left the tent Porthos was currently searching in reply to Pons, for he was in the middle of a pitched hand-to-hand battle with one of the Jaffa who had taken refuge within it. The inside of the tent suddenly burst with wild, blue colors as a weapon was fired point blank. A Musketeer's riding boot helped the Jaffa out of the tent and onto his back, where a maddened Porthos exited after him and shot him again with the
Jaffa's own weapon. He spat down at the creature and moved off to the next tent, thrown to his side when a cannonball landed too closely and sprayed him with shrapnel. Wiping the blood from his eyes, which was pouring from a cut over his brow from the shrapnel, he got up with the help of that Jaffa staff and threw himself into the next tent, barely avoiding another bombardment from the hilltop where Athos, Aramis and d'Artagnon were raining death from.
Gem beamed, then, at Aja. The woman was magnificent. Then the thief turned to work on the last cage. She could see an big person inside, but what race it was she could not say. He moaned, groaned, cursed. Urged her to hurry in common.
"Pons, make fer some cover!" Aja tried making her way to the tree line with the kid without bouncing the poor thing all over the place.
?Oui, Madame!? Pons stepped forwards and did what he does best. Insult and distract. This time obscene gestures were made and a few shots with the staff were fired before he was seen running away with a hand full stalking after him.
Finally, the lock sprung, and the thief was starting to open up the cage door when it was swung violently open from within. It crashed into the thief and knocked her back as an ogre thrust himself out of the cage. He snagged the water and several bars from Gem's hands and took off without another word. She rubbed her nose, banged by the cage door, and then looked over at the others. "It's all clear, now, I think! Let's head out!"
"Anyone seen that crazy Musketeer?" Aja shouted back as she made the tree line.
Just as Aja said that, one of them might have perhaps sighted the bear of a Musketeer crying like a baby as he entered one of the last few remaining tents.
As Gem heard Aja, she paused in her running from the cage area. She looked back, and scanned the area. She could not leave him in there alone. She turned to head back into that area. "I will get him!"
Turning as she took cover in the tree line, Aja saw Gem heading back. "Ah fer the love of... Pons, cover Gem!"
Muffled cries came from inside of a tent. ?Renne?! Renne, Mon Frere?!? The tent, through such vehement rummaging, collapsed around the Musketeer within and, after a few moments, the shimmering blade of a rapier burst through the canvas and sliced it open enough for him to emerge with rapier in one hand and staff in the other. He looked after the departing trio and then hollered at Gemethyst as he sheathed his rapier. ?Aller! Aller!? By the motions of his hand, she could see he was telling her to go the other way. With that, he turned and entered the last of the few unchecked tents, inciting the name of his Little Brother with a voice that had gone hoarse from yelling it so many times.
Aja watched as Gem, and Pons went after Porthos then looked at the little girl she held and smiled brightly.
"Kids these days, huh?" The little girl just stared back at her blankly making Aja chuckle. "Not up fer the funny yet? It's ok. We're gettin' ya outta here."
Naturally, she did not listen to him, because he was going into more tents! She shook her head and hastened after him, unwilling to leave one behind. She had that stubborn look again, which Porthos had yet to encounter. Really, sometimes it was just better to knock her ass out.
Pons was still running as fast as he could and firing. A flail leaving him as he rounded a tent and BUMPED right into another two. The Frenchman smiled to him, took off towards the right only to be grappled with and held onto by the coat tail. He swung the staff and proceeded to start to bash and beat as he could, yelling in French as he did, trying his best to get them to let him go.
He was either crazy, or he was foolishly brave, but when Porthos emerged from the tent and entered another tears were streaming down his cheeks. An energy burst shot past him and was answered by cannon report from the eagle-eyed d'Artagnon. Once in the last tent and, seeing nothing there, he dropped to his knees and leaned his forehead against the staff he now held with both hands.
?I will find you, Mon Frere....Or I will die in the attempt.? It was a plea to his Little Brother, who most certainly (in Porthos' mind at least) was cursing the name of the man who had sworn an oath of brotherhood with him. He emerged from the tent, sobbing as he took the reigns of his horse, who was far from gunshy (given its rider) and had valiantly waited its master's return. He mounted the horse and with heeled encouragement, he rode by Gemethyst, indicating his approach with a whistle he reached out with an arm and snagged her up; a little acrobatics on her part and she would be behind him. ?Pons!?, he shouted. ?Aller!?
Gemethyst heard Pons, and seeing a discarded blaster on the ground, she picked it up and tried to figure out how to shoot it. A blast went sailing over Pons' head, rather too close, most likely, as she found the switch. "Uh..sorry, sorry..!" Then she was aiming and shooting with exquisite aim at the ones holding onto Pons.
Aja kept moving with the freed hostages though the woods, the rest would catch up as the hostages didn't move very fast. She kept looking over her shoulder and around to make sure they weren't followed by Jaffa.
Cannonfire from the hilltop dispatched what remained of Pons' problem via the 90 .cal Amusette which d'Artagnon was using as a highly pungent sniper.
Pons ducked at the shot and flailed. "Are you mad! Hit them not m-!?
Grunt! He fell and started to scramble away from the Snake heads. He even kicked one in the groin, wincing a bit but never the less. When the cry was given by Porthos he moved to his feet and raced for his horse. Soon climbing up on the back and reaching his arm out for Gem to take it. ?Come! We flee!?
Gem was already swinging up to mount the horse in front of Porthos just as Pons mounted the whinnying horse, who was being forced to stay still, from the back. The blaster still in her hands, she clung to the mane of his horse like a monkey, shooting at the remaining Jaffa that began to shoot at them as the horse, carrying more weight than it was accustomed to, took off at a full gallop.
Meanwhile, in the forest, the hostages were making their way back to town with Aja following along behind still carrying that little girl and keeping watch for jaffa that may have given chase.
"Me and you and a dog named Boo." Aja was singing as they walked along, glancing down at the little girl. "Ever heard such a silly name fer a dog?" The little girl shook her head. "Me either. It's like a dragon named Puff." grins at the girl. "I know a couple dragons. None of 'em are named Puff." She gave the girl a silly grin.
Pons looked over Porthos' shoulder at Gem and then turned as they hit the treeling, finding Muse and mounting her before riding off after Porthos, his mare racing after him quickly.
Gem smiled over her shoulder at Pons behind her and Porthos, and then shot a Jaffa off his feet who was aiming behind them all. "We are away!"
~ It was two hour's time after they had regrouped in the same clearing as they had before. The light of day would guide this motley group of Musketeer, Thief and Angel back to the clinic which Aja had insisted they lead the hostages to. It is here, at the door of the clinic, that the story resumes... ~
Porthos spoke to each hostage by the shoulder and interrogating (albeit a little coldly) of the possibility that they had seen any sight of Renne. The others would see him prostrating and showing the hostages about how tall Renne stood by holding his hand above the ground. Each hostage would shake their head no
?Door to door service, Princess." Aja grinned at the little girl. "Now these people here are gonna get ya better, don't be scared. Ok?? The little girl nodded and Aja kissed her head before moving to hand her off to the nurse, but was intercepted by Porthos. Aja made a face at him. He?d questioned everyone else on the way into town, what he thought a ten year kid would know was beyond her.
After a moment with her, Porthos was waltzing her around for a few, fleeting moments of bliss before setting her down, kissing her cheeks and ruffling her hair.
Aja picked the kid up immediately, considering whacking Porthos upside his dense head over twirling a sick, scared kid around. Instead, she handed the little girl off to a impatiently waiting nurse, who bustled the little girl inside.
Aja shook off the irritation at Porthos, figuring she have to cut the guy some slack as he probably didn?t understand kids that well, much less a sick on. She grinned as she turned to the group.
"Well, that was a blast."
A tired, limping Gem watched the hostages head inside with a content and, yet, sad look on her face. ?So many lost...and no Mery or Renne. Aja, you are amazing. Thank you.?
"Me? Yer the one making the huge rescue." she grinned at Gem. "Do we need ta send ya in there?" Aja motioned to Gem's limp.
?Oh, no, nononono.? She shook her head firmly. ?I am fine, Lass. Just a bit stiff. Nothing a good shot of whiskey won't fix. Or Vodka. Or both.? Gemethyst grinned.
"You drink those. I got dibs on the tequila." Aja grinned back at her and then looked at Porthos.
She gave a little smile to Aja, while watching the distressed Porthos. She wished so much she could have found Renne for the man.
Leaning his shoulder against the door, he doffed his plumed and bent-brimmed hat, wiping at his eyes which physically had no more tears to spill. Athos, Aramis, d'Artagnon and Pons, knowing that Porthos was not to be bothered at the moment, each took their turn at approaching their distressed comrade and giving him a reassuring embrace and a kiss to both cheeks before they spoke amongst themselves for a moment, bid adieu to the two women and then turned to make off towards the stables, first and foremost, dealing with corralling the horses and all the other duties which a battle's aftermath entailed.
Porthos looked up to the women. ?You, Mes Anges, go. I will stay here.? The golden staff that he had managed to use as a weapon was sticking out of his saddle, mounted in the holster which had been fashioned for a musket. He looked after it and his horse, which were being led away and donned his hat once more.
Aja took a lean against the clinic wall and thought about things for a bit. "Guess we're gonna have to rely on the Oobies to track Renne and Mery now." she sighed. "Since we didn't catch a break on this troop."
?Yes, Aja. I did not get a chance to plant a tracker, alas.? She mourned the lost opportunity. Inside, she was very worried about the other prisoners. Especially the two they sought. She knew what it was like to be held captive for so long, and under...very nasty circumstances. She did not know if Mery or Renne were....strong enough...to deal with the aftermath. She sighed and then she looked up at Porthos and studied him. She could see he was not to be argued with just now, and in truth, she did not have the heart to. He would do what he needed to do. She moved over to him, though, and looked up into his eyes. ?I will do my very best to help find him.? Nodding before she turned to move away.
Aja nodded and gave Gem a soft smile, trying to ease some of the elf?s guilt. "We kinda had our hands full with the whole being shot at thing. Luckily we have a plan B." Aja looked at Porthos then. "Ya make it out ok? No major holes added to yer person?"
Porthos had that look as if he was to go and do something pure-hearted and foolish. Staying where he was remained highly improbable. A dismissive motion of his gloved hand was all the answer the both of them would receive. His hopes of finding Renne there had been so high; only the little girl's admission of having seen him alive was the only thing keeping him close to sanity.
For now a tired Gem was already heading off. "I will by you a bottle of tequila later, Aja. Porthos, be safe. Farewell. We shall meet again for the raid on the big camp. There we shall surely find Renne and Mery.
Aja waved to Gem and took another look over Porthos to make sure he wasn't gushing blood from a head wound or something. When she was satisfied he seemed fine, she gave him a grin. "Alright. I'm.." she jerked a thumb towards town. "Headin' home. Ya alright here?"
Porthos smiled slighty for Aja's concerned once-over and blew her a kiss. ?Go, Mon Ange...I will wait for your angelic sister to be free before I see her.? It wasn't the shrapnel he was worried about, it was more from a need of wanting her company.
Aja nodded. "Such a flirt." she gave him a wink. "I got Parker ta look me over when I get back home. Tell Anya I said hi."Aja blew him a kiss and turned making her way into town and then homeward. They didn?t get who they were after, but they did save some people. It was a win in her book. Worth every scrape, bruise and gouge to her body. The wounds would heal, in time.
A nod and, as she turned to make off, he reached down and pulled a dagger, which he had found within the tent of the Jaffa that he had all but executed, studying it for a few moments with a sad shake of his head. ?You will have your rapier once again, Mon Petit Mousquitaire, and your revenge.? Tucking the dagger back into his boot, he lowered his face into his gloved hands with elbows propped up onto his knees after he dropped into a seat upon the clinic's doorstep. A heaving sigh and an hour's worth of meditation would transpire before he finally rose to make his way into the clinic. The last thing to be seen before the door of the clinic shut closed was the cross of golden thread which was emblazoned onto the cloth of the royal blue Musketeer's tabbard.
*Translations:
Pons: Nous rencontrons encore mes amis! Dansons! - We meet again, My Friends! Dance!
Porthos: Merde ? Damn
Pourquoi voulez-vous pas mourir?! Pourquoi?!? - Why won't you die?! Why?!
Mon Petit Mousquitaire ? My Little Musketeer
Ange ? Angel, Mes Anges ? My Angels, Mon Ange ? My Angel
Pons & Porthos: Aller ? Go/Hurry!
Gemethyst: Phraktos phor lu' harl! Nesstren ph' ji zhaunus ulu complicate klezn! Belbau mina biu ul'hyrr lu' nind blow ol phor ulu natha jatha'la huge mess. Phraktos! Usstan shlu'ta kyorl Usstan tlun aluin ulu inbal ulu fridj inbau wun gaer lu' handle nindol. Vith! -
Common: Gods above and below! Men are so sure to complicate things! Give them an idea and they blow it above to a big huge mess. Gods! I can guard I am going to have to just get in there and handle this. F..udge! -
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