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[nostalgiabomb]

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[nostalgiabomb]

[ Oh no, she's a show-off too. ]

As long as it fires in the direction you're aiming when you pull the trigger, I'd call it good.

[ For a second Peter pauses midstep, listening intently. He thinks he heard shambling movement, which-- whatever. Probably zombies. Surprising they survived the flood, but then again, zombies could probably survive anything but a shot to the head, right? ]

Stay frosty. I think the bitey ones are out.

[phaselocknroll]

[ She hears it too, and she's glad that whoever dumped her here was at least kind enough to leave her a shield. The Flame of the Firehawk is clipped to the back of her belt, emitting a soft pink-and-blue glow in the dingy light of the tunnels.

She takes a few steps forward, glancing back at Peter. ] As long as they burn, I think I can take them.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He wants to ask, "What the hell is that?" when he notices the glowing, but the first creature enters his field of vision to his left. So maybe less talky, more shooty.

His first shot at the zombie illuminates the tunnels, a blast of fire blazing red-hot as it hits the creature square in its rotted face; and in the brief moment as the fireball was traveling, Peter caught sight of at least two more behind it.

He fires off a couple more shots, just to be sure. ]

He's got buddies.

[phaselocknroll]

Good. [ There's something sharp and wicked about the way she says that.

When Peter's next shot illuminates the tunnel, her arm comes up, tattoos glowing. Like Peter was, one of the zombies is suspended in mid-air, in a bubble of purple light. Unlike Peter, the zombie bursts into flames. The fire arcs out from the bubble of Maya's phaselock, igniting any zombies unfortunate enough to be too close to their fellow. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ ... Holy shit-- ]

... Holy. Shit.

[ Peter has the abrupt realization that that could have very easily been him, just a few minutes ago. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ The zombies aren't the only things glowing with orange flame- so is Maya. When her phaselock went up, so did her wings.

Fortunately for Peter, she knows who her allies are now, and if he gets too close, they won't hurt him. She puts a hand on his shoulder. ]

Don't worry. I wouldn't have set you on fire. Promise.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ and she has non-burny fire wings. This chick just gets more and more terrifying. ]

Oh, okay, consider me totally reassured. [ She can't see it, but he is so frowning undereneath his mask. There is some epic frownage happening. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ That would be the correct reaction.

But the zombies seem to be mostly down for the count. What gets Maya's attention is a strange growling and... almost a chuffing sound coming from further down the tunnel. She tilts her head. ]

There are skags down here?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter peers into the darkness at Maya's question and-- okay, he hasn't heard that before. ]

What the hell is a skag--?

[ But then the noise sounds much, much closer. On instinct, Peter fires at the ceiling of the tunnel, using the shot as a makeshift flare. The flame briefly illuminates a few dog-like creatures as they draw closer. ]

... No. [ And he says it slowly. ] No, those are definitely new.

[ He fires at the closest one, a gout of flame springing from his blaster again -- and just in time, too, as the skag was preparing itself to pounce. It howls and backs away, and the others ready themselves to attack. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ Skags are familiar, and it's actually sort of comforting for Maya to see the dumbass things. ]

Shoot them in the mouth if they try to roar or spit bile at you. It'll make their heads explode.

[ One skag leaps at her, but it gets too close to her wings and its flesh begins to smoke and sizzle thanks to the dual corrosive/incendiary nature of her powers. When it goes bouncing off her shield, she steps forward and drives the blade of her gun into its eye. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter is too busy firing at another skag that's doing its level best to get in close to comment on Maya's moves, but rest assured, he is suitably impressed.

He also thinks, Man, she's hot. Apparently he has a Thing for badass chicks who could probably kill him. Who knew?

As it is, Peter fires off one last shot just as the skag opens its mouth and-- sure enough, its head explodes. And naturally, Peter giggles like a schoolgirl. ]

Holy fuck! That's fucking aweshit-- [ Nearly forgot about that third skag, didn't we? And Peter drops to the ground just in time for the creature to leap over him. ]

[phaselocknroll]

[ Maya's right there, standing over him, wings bright. The skag makes another leap, though this time it bounces harmlessly off her shield in a flare of blue light. She levels her pistol at it as it's reeling and lets off a shot.

The skag doesn't go down, but a cloud of acid errupts around its head, and it lets out a strangled cry as its skin begins to eat away ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter follows up with a couple of shots of his own, and flame joins the acid.

Poor little fucker never knew what hit him.

As it is, Peter is kind of breathless as he sits up. ]

... Thanks.

[phaselocknroll]

No problem. [ she offers him a hand up. With the danger passed for the moment, her wings dissipate ]

You okay?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He takes her hand and hauls himself up. He's brushing himself off, and fuck, watching her wings disappear is cool, too. ]

Yeah, I'm good. [ He waves a hand at the empty space where her wings were. ] That was-- [ awesome. fucking awesome. cool as hell. neat? ] --impressive.

[phaselocknroll]

Thank you. You're not too bad yourself.

[nostalgiabomb]

Flatterer.

[ He sends up another flare, just in case, and when he's satisfied nothing is lurking ahead of them -- at least, not yet -- he presses forward. ]

I'm guessin' all that stuff was a Siren thing?

[phaselocknroll]

That's right. I have a fairly decent bag of tricks at my disposal.

[ she holds out her hand, a ball of blue and purple light amassing in her palm, lighting the tunnel. ] Like this, for instance.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter blinks. ]

Huh. Now you're just showin' off.

[phaselocknroll]

It's better than wandering around in the dark, isn't it?

[nostalgiabomb]

Hey, I'm not denyin' the trick has its uses.

Can you also pull a dove outta your sleeve?

[phaselocknroll]

What, the fact that my arm glows isn't enough for you?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ as though he didn't hear her, ]

Oh, can you pull a rabbit out of a hat? I haven't seen a rabbit in forever.

[phaselocknroll]

I don't even know what a rabbit is.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Slightly crestfallen, ]

Nevermind. Just an Earth thing. Don't worry about it.