Close Encounters of the Fury Kind

The hours since the demonstration back in the frozen grove had passed rather slowly, with Celeste’s conscious eating away at just out of hand she had let it become. Of course, her newfound friend had insisted on continuing their bout, even when Celeste had offered her a way out, and offered to let her forfeit with her pride still intact. Though it certainly didn’t justify the means in which the sorceress chose to end it. She sat in the home of a longtime friend to her grandfather, tending to several herbs that may be needed on the journey once they had left, assuming Katsu felt any better in her condition. Red-amber tended to the observation of her necessary chores to ensure everything was done properly, as they had enough time to kill with everything having been so quiet this lazy day. The morning had been rather uneventful once Celeste had offered her friend up to the chirurgeons, then went about collecting supplies for the road ahead.

Her thoughts had continued to drift back to her encounter at the ruined temple, to the fight with the golem and what Kowlin had told her about the scroll, and what Flamel had said after his arrival. Something about the accounts of the tales didn’t add up, and much like the story of her people’s origin, it was hard to think about without questioning the truth in it all. Could an artifact so powerful actually exist? The very notion to bring someone back from the dead was fascinating, if not a little unsettling to the magi. Celeste knew that if she had a chance to wield such a gift, perhaps she would ask for such a power, then perhaps her father could have another chance at life. It begged to question for whom or what Kowlin desired the fabled artifact for, as there was still much speculation about the ritualistic shinjin’s past.

Ah, it’s a real mystery...

There came a rumbling from the earth without warning, prompting Celeste to cease her activities to cast an arched brow toward the cracked door. It was pretty rare for quakes to happen this far of the wastes, certainly at this time of year. Whatever could it be? A frown couldn’t help but shade her features as she stood to look outside toward the thicker parts of the village, noting that a plume of smoke had begun to rise from the horizon, the carrying echoes of screams upon the wind.

Something, or someone was making a rather soured decision from the impression of it all, maybe it was worth collecting her newfound friend to investigate the little disturbance. Whatever the source, she could already feel the strength of it emanating from the direction of Taola’s center square. Eyes briefly darted the direction to the healer’s residence several houses down to her left. Should she check on her friend first? Celeste would dust off the excess sage and lavender from the palms of her hands, before retrieving her cloak from the nearby wingback chair, casting it over her shoulders as she stepped out into the heat of the sun. A hand was raised to ease the brim of her hat down, casting a relief of shade over her face. She tried to do a little recon from where she stood, erring on the side of caution for any sign this might get worse.

It wasn’t her concern; these people were known for competency when it came to self-reliance. Though who was to say that decision wouldn’t come back to haunt her in the future? The people of Taola had always been charitable and kind to her family in the past. Though was it really worth it to bother interfering with whatever was going on down there? Another glance to where she had left her friend, before Celeste would arrogantly stroll down the street to the source of the commotion. Some sort of man had fallen from the sky in a spherical vessel of some kind, perhaps a spacecraft? The unfortunate development was that the oaf had gone and knocked out Joe Coffee, the local monk in training, as well as destroyed the poor bastard’s house.

The sorceress could only stand there with a hand drawn to her chin, observing the accident with a bemused smirk upon her lips at the sight of Joe’s crushed brother. Well, that was certainly a mess to clean up. It was a wonder the enigma survived the crash themselves at that.

”Let me be the first to commend you on that parking job, stranger.”

PL: 9000 | Antisense: Active
KP: 6/6
MP: 0/6
HP: 0/250%
WC: 773

"Okay seriously man, these things are like, god-tier!"

Terryn let out a pleasured moan as he took another sizable chomp out of his snack. Cactus Fritters were the local delicacy of Taola Village, something Shoga wanted to show him with such fiery passion that he simply couldn't say no to, even if the Desert was miles away from their usual hangout of Korin's Tower.

"No regrets getting dragged to this sandpit. Definitely nnnn-...ooott?" Terryn paused, eyes glued to the skies. There was a comet; Or something akin to the comet, that was headed awfully close to Taola village. Red-hot, burning, coming closer and closer...

"You're joking, right? Here? Now!?"  

The resounding explosion and chaos was the clearest answer Terryn could've gotten. Yes, here. And yes, definitely now. As the screams of villagers drew closer and louder, Terryn took in a huge breath.

"Is it just me or are we magnets for shit like this?" Terryn asked Shoga, a hardened glare stuck on his features. He silently gestured toward his friend, and quickly booked it toward the crash site with Shoga by his side. 

There seemed to be a number of people already present when Terryn and Shoga arrived on the scene. What he saw was horrible; A space-pod that crash landed straight into somebody's home, the red smear painted on the debris enough of an indication that something terrible had happened. No doubt in his mind that the armor-clad Saiyan beside the pod was responsible for this...

"Okay ass-hat, mind explaining this?" Terryn sounded angry and impatient as he stepped forward, passing by Celeste and Katsu. With an annoyed huff, Terryn fished his phone out of his pocket and unlocked his screen with a swipe of his thumb.

"Actually, nevermind that, you don't need to explain shit to me. You can explain this to the cops. You know there's laws for landing a space-craft, right? Have fun telling them you slammed straight into somebody's home and killed them...!"

Terryn gave Vocado a harsh glare as he moved his thumb to dial in the local authorities. The Saiyan looked to be in a hurry, but he should've thought about that before committing an accident like this.

It was irresponsible and cruel, and Terryn had no qualms with enacting his own brand of justice, should it come down to that.

"Don't even think about booking it. We're stronger than we look, and I'm done with people causing shit on my planet and getting away with it. Got that?"

Terryn's eyes narrowed further as he emphasized his words. The Earthling was awfully angry, but he wasn't going to derail this situation any further and risk putting the village into any more danger than it was already in.

With a final scoff, Terryn pressed his thumb onto his phone, and dialed in the authorities.

A nasty tension hung in the air; They were going to be here for a while...

---

Terryn arrives on the scene! Thread PL: 20,000

KP: 6/6
MP: 0/6
Damage: 0/250%
Word Count: 486

Resources: Healthy Bean, Energy Drink, Avenger, Self-Sacrifice, Crane-School

Shoga should enter next!!

”Not to worry. It’s nothing that can’t be rectified.”

A glance cast back to the raven-haired youth; a flippant wave offered as she paced about. The samurai was barely out the chirurgeon’s door, and already looking to start another fit for blood. At the rate this was bound to continue, Celeste suspected Katsu was turning into quite the little grave-seeker. She stopped and turned to the man again. There was something about his eyes that caught the witch’s interest. They were clear as a knife’s edge and twice as sharp.

Little hope existed for the likelihood of success this offering of the olive branch might bring to the village, not that the safety of the people had once been considered by the sorceress. No, she had desired a more enlightened form of study into the intrigue this off-worlder held in his own. Where did he come from? Whom were his people? What was the reason this quarry in question had wound up on Earth in the first place? There was an opportunity for understanding here, to possibly learn of something beyond the Earth, if only those present had the clarity to seize it.

The samurai had made it adamant she didn’t wish to walk away peacefully, a pity that. Doubtless it was the kid on edge would pass over a chance to fight over his broken toy. There was only one direction this stand-off was heading. An inkling of Celeste wanted to believe something more could be gleamed from this wayfarer, then simply the rudimentary answer she received before the spit hit the dirt in her direction. It wasn’t a second later that the shorter of the boys went surging past the blond, facing the aggressor with fury as he danced the distance between them. Exasperation in silence exuded through her nose, eyes narrowing as arms were lowered, and made to cross. So, the course of this day had been written.

My, how utterly droll.

The taller of the two, Shoga - as Celeste had ascertained, would make to follow after his upset friend, but not before stopping to suggest the girls join them. Celeste could only raise a brow curiously, whilst she studied the youth in the red garb wind himself up to cast off an attack at ‘Spaceman.’ Celeste tilted her head toward the air curiously, before she laughed pleasantly and clapped her hands together, eyes bright with interest. ”Oh, what a splendid idea! It’s as though they read my mind!” This cavalier notion to participation and general disregard for safety was too rich. Celeste had to admit she rather appreciated the enthusiasm for carnage. She paused to give the shorter woman an almost malicious grin, before she winked at her with a dark chuckle. ”Well? Off you go. Do take care not to hurt yourself,” she said before a hand was brought to rest beneath her chin. She made to observe Vocado’s technique from her position, whilst the others provided her with the pleasure of testing it out on her behalf.

What villagers did remain to potentially get a glimpse of the conflict then fled at the approach of the sorceress, fearing they might draw the ire of ‘Spaceman’ if they remained too close to one of these brave volunteers. Celeste only regarded them with contempt, shooting them daggers with her eyes as they fled. Both techniques fired against the brash space-faring criminal were impressive for how basic they appeared, though the sorceress found equal amusement in how easily they were taken, and even thrown back at one of the boys themselves. Celeste made motion to pre-emptively retreat in a glide across the sands to the other side of the square, hope given that the blast intended for Shoga wouldn’t produce enough collateral damage to warrant intervention.

PL: 9,000 | Antisense: Active
- Celeste studies and observes Terryn, Shoga, and Vocado's actions
KP: 6/6
MP: 2/6
HP: 0/250%
WC: 631