The double doors to the cathedral blew open with the force of a small bomb. In walked the strangest crew that Twitch and Menniker had ever seen. Raille was not at all surprised, as she had not only seen them many times before, but was expecting them as well.
There were three of them. At the fore stood a female dwarf, tall for her race, and nearly eye level with Twitch. She had on baggy desert camo pants, a white tanktop, and several U-belts well stocked with grenades and various other forms of heavy weaponry, including what looked like a collapsible turret on her back. Her vibrant red hair was cut rather short, framing a face that fell somewhere in between matronly and boyish. Had it not been for her rather well endowed form, assessing her gender would have been difficult.
On her right was an abnormally well-built orc, clad in stereotypical red and black samurai armor. Further accenting his look were two katanas at his hips and a much larger katana on his back. No one was surprised to see that his jet-black hair was done in a topknot. Belying his battle-ready form was an almost serene look on his face.
On the dwarf's left was troll. He was hunched over, with his greasy hair covering his face. His horns protruded from the tangle and curved viciously. He was clad in lots of leather and studs and wore a black cloak accented in spots with red designs. If he had been carrying a guitar (which he normally did, as a matter of fact), he would have been right at home on the cover of a Black Sabbath album.
All three of the intruders had Renraku badges on their chest. They were Renraku mercenaries, no doubt. The three strode purposefully for several feet until anyone spoke.
"Looks like we found ourselves a regular scumbag garage sale," sneered the dwarf in a very nearly Southern drawl.
"…indeed…" agreed the orc. The troll simply nodded.
"It's okay, Vasquez, I'm fine," Raille suddenly said. "Really. I got into some trouble, but these guys have been more than hospitable. I was going to come home in the morning."
"Hospitable, eh?" the dwarf replied, while surveying Raille. "And exactly what kind of hospitably so necessitates a change of clothes?"
"Well, I…" Raille stopped, as she hadn't considered the possibility until now. She turned on Twitch and said, with more than an edge of indignity in her voice, "Just what did you do with my old clothes? Why was it necessary to strip me in the first place?" Menniker made an odd coughing noice that sounded vaguely like he was saying "pervert."
"It's-a-simple-explanation-really," Twitch replied, "I-was-searching-your-back-for-that-tattoo-and-your-outfit-ripped-in-such-a-way-that-would-make-no-difference-whether-you-were-wearing-it-or-not. Don't-worry-I-turned-away." There was something so strangely innocent about Twitch's blushing face that Raille was compelled to believe him.
"In any case, I'm not all that concerned. It's about time you start making use of what you were blessed with anyway. We're just here to make sure you don't have to escape home to do it anymore," interjected Vasquez. Suddenly, the sanctuary shook and a heavy pounding echoed in from the distance.
"What the…" was all the orc could manage to say. The troll cocked his head to one side, listening intently for a sound everyone could hear just fine.
"Oh, that's my dad," Menniker said nonchalantly. "You just had to make a grand entrance and blow down the doors. Now you've gone and pissed him off."