((A/N: Wooo, Morbid's continuing her CoH fic! This features the notorious Boomtown Wall Story, which Raven001 has heard before, with much amusement. XD Also, another fight scene, but this time it's against the Vahzilok zombies! Yay! Enjoy, people.
Disclaimer: City of Heroes belongs to NCSoft. Ari and Pistol are mine. Kid Rocket belongs to her player. Noelle is Raven001's, and she is used with permission.))
As the two heroines strode confidently down the sewer tunnel, they shared stories of their exploits, dodging random sprays of sewage. Ari chuckled as Kid Rocket finished a story about one of her screwy contacts, gracefully jumping over one of the rivers of slime.
"One time I was hunting in Boomtown with a team and we found a huge wall, right?" Ari began, giggling already. "So we were hunting along the wall, and clumsy Dragostii fell off as we were running… and he was all 'Wow that hurt man!' and Physistar suddenly had an idea. He led the flying and jumping heroes down the wall to hang by the street across from the wall, and the teleporters brought the others over. So then Physistar flew back up the wall and attacked this HUGE group of The Lost, totally pissing them off, and everyone was freaking out because they all pulled their guns at him. Physistar flew back over the wall and get this- The Lost actually FOLLOWED HIM!" Ari was nearly doubled over from laughter now, as was Kid. "They fell straight off the wall! It was soooo funny… Then we got to go in and clean up the remainders. It was great, Kid, you have to try it sometime!"
"Ahhh, those crazy hobos," Kid snickered, grinning at Ari. "Didja try it again?"
"Yup! With Trolls! They fell too!"
"Probably 'cause they're all overdosed on Superadine, but still, that's priceless!" Kid giggled some more before beginning to jog in place. "Think I should scout ahead?"
Ari raised a brow. "After last time? I don't think so. We're gonna take them as they come."
Kid groaned and rolled her eyes. "Fiiiine, Mom."
Ari stuck out her tongue.
Up ahead, a gigantic group of Vahzilok minions milled around, hissing and groaning for blood. The zombies were haphazardly stitched together from mismatched scraps of skin, some with two differently colored eyes and some with patches of uncovered muscle gleaming a sticky red in the low light. Each Cadaver, as they were titled, bore the V-shaped brand on their shoulder that marked them as belonging to the evil Dr. Vahzilok. Two Reapers flanked the mass of zombies, twisted doctors complete with surgical masks and white aprons stained with entrails. Butcher knives, hacksaws and crossbows hung from their waists, bloodstained and razor sharp. A human skull served as a helmet, coming to their brows. Still attached to it was the spine that ran down the Reaper's backs, a morbidly intimidating look. A single Mortificator stood in the back, watching the others with a smug look of pride. He had the same weapons and attire of the Reapers, but he was higher in rank.
Ari turned the corner, still chatting animatedly with Kid, and stopped short. Her eyes widened in fear as the mass turned to face them. The Reapers raised their crossbows, while the Cadavers growled and moaned.
"Oh crap."
The battle exploded, the Vahzilok surging forwards while the heroines defended themselves with a fierce determination. Kid immediately leapt into the center of the fray, spinning about and delivering crippling blows with inhuman speed. Ari circled the group, throwing fireballs and retaliating with dazzling flip kicks to any who got too close. She faltered as one of the Reaper's crossbow bolts embedded itself in her side.
"Damnit," she hissed, tugging the offending bolt out of herself and flinging it aside. The nerve poison that adorned all Vahzilok weaponry began its work on her, and she could feel herself slowing slightly. The poison was always a small dose, but multiple hits would surely prove fatal. One Cadaver lumbered towards her, intent on killing the kitsune. She didn't notice it; she was focusing on taking down the Reapers and eliminating the threat of their poison. The Cadaver got behind her and spat a blob of green acid at her right as she was preparing a fire blast. Ari shrieked in pain as the poisonous acid ate through her uniform and scorched her now unprotected arm. A second poisoned bolt pierced her leg, and she stumbled and fell top the cold concrete floor.
Kid had no better a position. She was fending off most of the clumsy zombies' punches, but their acidic saliva was burning her as badly as it had Ari. "Ah, crap," she growled, ducking a punch and knocking over one or two Cadavers with a well-aimed kick, "We're in deep trouble."
"You said it," the fox panted, limping backwards from two Cadavers, "This is definitely going downhill."
"Are we gonna run?" Kid questioned, ignoring a trickle of blood that ran over her goggles.
"Think we should try it?" Ari replied, managing to down one zombie with a burst of flame. "They have some damn scary ranged stuff…"
"Well, we don't have much choice, do we?" Kid commented wryly, zipping around a confused Reaper and striking it whenever she had the chance. "Let's get outta here!" As soon as the Reaper reeled back, stunned slightly, Kid jetted off in the opposite direction, dodging the Cadavers' reaching arms as her superspeed kicked in. Ari swore under her breath as she tried to leap away, but her wounded leg wasn't able to perform to her usual standards. She did manage a few leaps, but it wasn't far enough up the tunnel. The Reapers and Mortificator had their crossbows aimed at her. She growled, resigned, and readied a blast of fire.
"Hell, if I'm going down, I'm taking some with me!"
Suddenly, one zombie fell over with a confused grunt as something slammed into it.
"Omigod I'm so sorry! I didn't mean- HEY! You're a Vahzilok!" The newcomer picked herself up and blinked. "There's tons of zombies down here!"
Ari stared in near shock, as did the Vahzilok. "…Is that you, Noelle?"
"ARI!" The girl squealed in happy recognition and a few sparks flew from her hands. "It's nice to see you again!" She had light brown hair and sported a rather casual costume with a lighting bolt on her chest. (A/N: Sorry Raven001, I forgot Noelle's costume xD I had to try and remember from the picture you drew. The one that resembled Terra. xD)
"Same here, but I'm in sort of a tight situation here…" Ari gestured towards the mob of Vahzilok irritatedly.
"Oh, right. Hey Pistol! Come down here!" Noelle yelled enthusiastically up the tunnel, her voice echoing. A second girl appeared, looking rather angry. Her hair was a shade of neon pink, tied back in a ponytail. Her costume was a black jumpsuit with pale blue patterns across it, and black combat boots like Ari's.
"What is it n- AAAH! Noelle! Why didn't you say there were zombies!" The Vahzilok had shaken off their surprise and were about to attack.
"I'm sorry! I forgot!"
"Oh, whatever, just fight!" Pistol concentrated and murmured something under her breath. A large black dragon-like creature appeared with a snarl, lunging for the zombies. Throwing them in the air and even gulping down a few, the beast raged tirelessly against the Vahzilok, while Pistol hung back, focusing hard to control the demon. Noelle threw bolts of electricity, electrocuting the remaining enemies. Neither of them suffered much personal damage at all, and the Vahzilok were soon defeated.
The reptile disappeared in a small flash of dark red light, and Pistol leaned against the wall with a sigh.
"Nice dragon," Ari commented uncertainly, searching her pockets for Inspiration pills.
"Actually that was a drake," Pistol corrected tiredly, rubbing her temples. "Dragons are bigger, and walk on four feet. Drakes have two feet and wings instead."
"...Oh."
Kid skidded back into the room, apologizing profusely. "I'm sorry Ari- I was almost to the tunnel entrance when I noticed you weren't there- Hey, where'd the zombies go?" She turned, and noticed the others. "And who are these people?"
"Kid, please meet our saviors, Noelle and Pistol."
"Hi there!" Noelle waved happily, and Pistol nodded shortly.
"Nice t'meetcha!" Kid waved back, grinning as always. "So you beat up the baddies? Nice! How didja do it?"
"She summoned a dragon-" Ari began when Pistol cut her off.
"Drake. Not dragon."
"Right, a drake- and Noelle fried them with her lighting."
"Cool! Hey, you two wanna join us? We're just finishing Ari's mission. We could be a great team!"
"Okay!" Noelle replied, and glanced to Pistol. "Shall we?"
"Fine," She answered curtly, and strode up the tunnel. Kid stared after her.
"What's eating her?"
"Eh, she's just like that sometimes…" Noelle shrugged helplessly. "She'll get used to you, don't worry!"
((A/N: Noelle and Pistol have finally made their appearance! Well, in CoH, you can't really have your hero summon demons, but that's Pistol's power s deal with it! –sticks out tongue- Please review. xP ))
