541/Hunting a Hunter

Hunting a Hunter
Date of Scene:	15 March 2020
Location:	Bronx
Synopsis:	Ballista sets a trap for one of the Mutanimals, but there is an unexpectred complication.
Cast of Characters:	Leena Danvers, Sally Pride, Alopex, Kainashi

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Leena Danvers has posed:
A big truck, the kinda big box truck that one might expect shipments of stuff in is driving down 32nd street in the Bronx. To most casual observers, they'd just think it was one of the many thousands of shipments that goes in and out of the city every day. A more careful observer would notice the black SUVs that are in front of and behind the truck with every turn it makes.

Some folks might attribute that to luck, maybe they're all going in a similar location. New York is pretty big after all. Of course the SUVs have tinted windows that might be a bit thicker than your average car window, and the truck might be sitting a little lower than one would expect. But those are all things that a casual viewer wouldn't pay attention to.

Sally Pride has posed:
"Here's the route. It's just a supply truck, Sally. Don't do anything reckless." "You wouldn't be sending me after one of their trucks alone if you were worried about reckless, Ray." ".... Don't do anything -too- reckless." "That's better."

And that was the conversation replaying in Sally Pride's head as she noticed the two SUVs bookending the truck as it made its way down the street, and muttering "-Just- a supply truck, he said," under her breath. But too late to back off (not that she would now), and they really could use the supplies. So instead she creeps to the edge of the roof, and as the little convoy passed below lept off. As soon as she's on the top of the truck she's hunkered back down, claws digging into the metal as best she can for grip.

There might be an audible thump. Or maybe the men inside didn't hear it with the usual city ambience and marginally upkept roads.

Alopex has posed:
        Meanwhile, up above...

Alopex had been enjoying herself, citylife in general, and not being under the thumb of the Foot Clan anymore. It had only been a week or two, but she had already settled into regular patrols, training, and basically being a thorn in the side of the criminal organization whenever she could. Now, she was sitting on the ledge of a taller building in the Bronx, enjoying a rather early dinner, as she skimmed the streets below.. only to spot someone jumping onto the top of a box truck. .. It .. looked like the person had a tail? ... Huh. The only other mutant she was familar with was.. ... hrm.

Curiousity caught, the fox finishes her meal, quickly gathers up everything, and starts hopping from one roof to the next, keeping up with the truck in traffic.

Leena Danvers has posed:
The thump of the lioness landing on top of the truck is not unnoticed by its occupant, but nothing is done about it. The hope is that the lioness will steal the truck and bring it back to where she is hiding, so that the surprise inside can reclaim Null's stolen property.

Ballista taps one of her claws against the floor of the truck, grumbling a bit to herself as she waits for Sally to take out the guards and make her move. She only knows it's Sally because of the claws...Otherwise she'd assume it was Ray or one of those weird mutants that stole the two of them.

The trucks continue along their route, none the wiser, for the time being.

Sally Pride has posed:
It wouldn't have escorts if it wasn't reasonably important. Or valuable. So it's either something they can use, or something they shouldn't let Null keep. 'Denial of assets' was in their pesudo-military training, and that was all the logic the lioness needed.

Sally crawled up to the cab, and pulled her (also stolen from Null) stun blaster out. If only so she could use the butt of the gun to reach down and smash the driver side window. The driver recoils from the shattering glass just long enough for her to swing herself down and through the window, kicking him into the guy riding shotgun in the opposite seat. Immeadiately grabs the wheel.

The rear SUV surely saw her swing down and smash her way in. So she's quick about pulling out from between the two cars and turning so hard on the wheel the truck in spite of it's size actually skids a bit before it's facing in the opposite direction and speeding away.

The passenger door pops open long enough for Sally to push the two guards out, then slams it shut and stomps the acclerator. She's got a short window before those escorts can get turned around and she'll make every second of it count to get somewhere unfollowable. At least by the Null goons. Fluffy ninja has a better vantage point to see where the truck is now going.

Alopex has posed:
    It isn't too difficult to keep up with the truck. It's when it becomes part of an action movie that the fox has to skid to a stop and double-back to keep up with things. That was a pretty good entry, she'd admit. It's a shame that the fox is only aware of the Foot making mutants. It's why she's moving to intercept once Sally's taken the driver's seat.

    A few more moments pass, and there's another thud atop the box van for the 'payload' to hear. There's no claws, this time. Instead, there's a bit of a skid and then nothing. Ninja training has its benefits! There's not even a thud atop the cab. Instead, the passenger door seems to open by itself before Alopex's face appears, upside down. "Ah, so, that was a nice entry, buuuut, that's all you're gonna get. SO. Where are we going, hmm?"

Leena Danvers has posed:
The sudden skidding of the truck makes Ballista balance herself in the back, "Finally." She grumbles, as she moves up to the front of the truck, the wall that seprates it from the cab where Sally is. She slides a small pannel to the side, figuring that she can keep an eye on where Sally is taking them and once they get to the HQ, bust out and start shooting.

It seems that her plan is already derailed, however, as she spots the second mutant hanging upside down from the passenger side of the cab, "The hell? You're not one of our's." She says, not thinking about the fact that she's totally giving away that she's there.

Sally Pride has posed:
Sally Pride glances in the sideview mirror... and ponders a moment that it didn't look like the SUVs had turned around to follow her. That immeadiately makes her hackles raise, Null would not abandon anything so easily. Unfortunately for Ballista's plan that's enough to get her to turn down a side street instead of heading back to the rundown part of the city limits the safehouse was in.

Suspicions that only spike when the passenger door pops open again. Alopex pops her head down, and almost immeadiately has a blaster pointed at her... and then lowers a bit as Sally realizes it's another mutant. Though not one she reconizes. "Where the hell did you co--"

And then a voice she'd rather not hear snaps from the cargo area. "--Oh shit."

Sally stomps on the brake -hard-. Hard enough the sudden lurching to a stop is gonna smack the raptor's head into the back of the cab if she's not careful. Followed by shouldering the driver door back open and half throwing, half falling out and rolling backwards into a crouch. Both hands on the blaster since she doesn't need to keep one on the steering wheel now. "Though for once I'm glad you can't keep your ugly mouth shut."

Alopex has posed:
    The fox had an answer to the obvious question, as well as a reaction to the blaster, but the extra voice in addition to the brakes being slammed on causes the fox to hold onto the roof, one hand inside and one outside, to not go flying off the top of the cab.

    Once they've stopped, Alopex hops up onto the roof of the truck, draws a particularly sharp looking, if not unique looking blade, and slices the roof open with a single swipe. It wasn't an attack, it was to prove a point. Don't underestimate them. "So why in the world are two members of the Foot looking to fight with one another???" Wait, what?

Leena Danvers has posed:
"Oh shit!" That is followed by a heavy thump as the raptor slams into the front of the truck when it comes to a stop. Dazed for a moment, she mutters about not wearing her helmet. A moment or two later, however, a blade cuts through the roof of the truck, "Hey! Get off my truck!" She yells up at Alopex, bringing her LMG upwards and firing a spray of rounds through the top of the truck. If she hits the fox, great, otherwise she'll just at least scare her off.

A moment or two later the back doors of the truck are kicked open, and the large dinosaur jumps onto the ground, "SALLY! Come on now. We've been over this. I'm not going to hurt you unless you make me. Wasn't I always nice to you during training?"

Sally Pride has posed:
Slicing off the roof with one sword swipe -is- pretty impressive. The only other mutant Sally knows that could do that is freaking huge, not a fluffy ninja fox shorter than herself. Ears flick at what the vulpine says though. "Foot Clan?" The lioness snarls. "Screw those assholes. They're half the reason Null Group was making mutants in the first place." The other half being all the other weird shit going on the last few years. Which they just wanted to use as marketing.

The blaster is immeadiately snapped towards the back of the truck instead. Though that armor the raptor is wearing isn't going to be easy for an overpowered taser gun to get through. Dammit. "Oh, yeah. Real nice... a nice -target-." Then the snarl turns into a bit of a smirk. "Guess our little hellraising really set 'em back, if they resorted to letting Collateral Raptor run loose."

Alopex has posed:
    Wait, what? Null? Who'sat? Question goes unsaid because BULLETS start firing up through the roof of the boxtruck, which sends Alopex jumping to the top of the cab, again. "... You two know each other, and neither of you are... ... Huh.." She sounds more curious than intimidated by either of them. Hmm. Sally seems to have escaped this Null group while the Raptor seems bent on taking Sally back. Welp. That makes the next move obvious. The fox leaps, then lands, barely making a noise behind the lioness. "Well, if you escaped them, and that one there is trying to take you back? No. Just no. We aren't doing that."

Leena Danvers has posed:
The stun gun would have a hard time getting through the armor, so Sally will need to aim for the head. Or maybe the tail.

Of course now Alopex has gone and gotten herself involved in everything, "Hey that name is hurtful." Ballista says, as she makes a frowny face, "It's not like I packed the truck full of explosives with the intention of detonating it once I got to your hideout." She pauses for a second, "Oh wait no that's exactly what I did." She turns and dives behind a dumpster nearby, and presses a button on her left wrist panel.

The truck procedes to detonate, sending truck sharpnel and a rather nice fireball flying in every direction. The two mutants may need to get the hell out of dodge.

Sally Pride has posed:
Sally may not be a ninja but she is quick on her feet. As soon as Ballista mentions the truck could be rigged the lioness springs and turns to tackle Alopex away from the truck. "GET DOWN!"

Sure enough, there go the explosions.

"She gives overkill a bad name." Even as she's snarking Sally half turns and uses her blaster to shoot some of the larger shrapnel out of the air before it lands on them.

Alopex has posed:
    While Alopex may not know either of these mutants, she somehow goes -more- white at the mention of the truck being loaded with explosives. If Sally hadn't tackled the fox out of the way, she probably would have dove for cover a moment later. That moment may have seriously cost her, however.

    There's a loud OUF, then an equally loud wince as the blast goes off, and the ringing in her ears comes a moment later. "What?!" Yeah, she can't hear you right now, Sally. Give her a minute..

Leena Danvers has posed:
The sound of laughter can vaguely be heard over the burning remains of the truck, "Hope you guys are still alive over there!" She calls out, considering how to get past the wreckage. Oooh she should just walk through it like the evil robot in that Terminator movie.

Of course as soon as she sets foot on the burning metal of the truck she yelps out and quickly dashes through the flames until she's on the other side, "That didn't work at all like I planned. Maybe I should get some boots.."

Sally Pride has posed:
Yeah, being close to loud explosions suck. Sally should be thankful it's her eyesight that was amplyfied and not her hearing. The fox on the other hand apparently needs a moment to get her senses together. Sally doesn't know who she is, but she's a fellow mutant. That and knowing damn well what Ballista's bosses will do with the fox if they get their hands on both of them is enough motivation for the time being.

She's back on her feet, fists clenched as Ballista rushes through the smoking hot wreckage. "Yeah. They have their uses." Which Sally demonstrates by snapping one of her own boot-clad feet into a kick right at the raptor's midsection. It won't get through that armor, nor is that the intent. Sally just wants to keep her back and away from the dazed fox.

Alopex has posed:
    Ringing. Ringing. Ringing. ... Fading ringing. "What?!" she calls out again, finally climbing to her feet before seeing .. the two start to fight. Oh. Wonderful. Her sword isn't drawn, but a couple small scythes are tugged free from her belt instead. There's no move to attack, not yet. She'll spot an opening, and then she'll move.

Kainashi has posed:
    There's a loud explorsion. There's people fighting, and there's a fox in need of a DRAMATIC RESCUE!

    Well, that would be the reason why suddenly there is a small dumpster being launched into the air at Ballista, with a cry of "SerVICE!"

    Not the most dramatic or ninja-like come onto the scene, but Player Four is entering the fray, red fur, scarred up muzzle and eyes narrowed as a mutant pitbull bares her teeth at the raptor, her ears drawn back and very hackle raised on her body.

Leena Danvers has posed:
The kick to the gut stumbles the raptor, who snarls at Sally, huffing a bit, "Two on one is hardly fair. Come on Sally, you can come back and get away from that band of weirdos you've been hanging out with. We can go on adventures!"

The sound of a dumpster flying through the air is unmistakable, and Ballista turns in time to have it slam into her and smash her into the wall of the building, both herself and the dumpster crumpling to the ground, "Ow.."

Alopex has posed:
    One kick, one yelp, one flying dumpster. Wait. Flying Dumpster? "OH HEY. I HAVE A FRIEND HERE!" Alopex calls out, not even realizing she's yelling, still. The pup gets a nod and a wave from Alopex, to whom Sally is introduced. "YOU TWO SHOULD GET ALONG PRETTY WELL." Then back to the raptor. Who is down, but she is uncertain if Ballista is out. "THREE VERSUS ONE. TIME TO GO."

Sally Pride has posed:
-Another- unknown mutant? By this point even Sally is getting a bit bewildered by it. Who else out there is still creating mutants?

But this isn't really the time to sit and think about it. That's Ray's job anyways. Sally is just going to be thankful for the interruption.

"That's not gonna keep her down for lon--" Sally winces a bit as Alopex starts shouting without realizing it. "--Your friend has good timing though."

Turns her attention back to Ballista. "We told your boss the first time to go do something more constructive than make life miserable for mutants. Guess she didn't want to listen. Their loss. Of money, mainly... But it was nice catching up, hon~" The last part said in the most sickeningly sweet faux tone she can muster.

Then to the other two mutants. "As much as I enjoy a good brawl, there's no telling what -else- she might try to blow up trying to get us."

Kainashi has posed:
    The hoodie-clad pitbull siddles up to Sally, looking somewhat concerned -- but Alopex seems to be fine with them -- and she flicks he left ear, tatooed with kanji, and gives a soft huff, all business with Alopex still in moderate danger.

Leena Danvers has posed:
Slowly but surely the raptor pushes the dumpster off of herself, getting up and leaning on it's crumpled form, holding up one finger, "I just need a second.." She says, trying to take a moment to compose herself, "The risk I took was calculated but man I am bad at math.."

Three on one odds aren't great even for her, especially when she didn't bring anything heavier than her LMG which, while useful, is still probably not enough. She brings her right hand down and taps the panel on her left wrist again. As if on cue, one of those black SUVs from earlier screeches up to the end of the alley, and the raptor runs over to it, hopping up onto the running board, "Not gonna leave you empty handed!" She calls out, leaving them a parting gift as she tosses a canister into the alleyway, which bursts and throws fire around, effectively blocking off that side of the alley in case they wanted to pursue.

The sound of tires squealing as the SUV peels out can be heard from the other side of the fire. Looks like she's taking Alopex's advice to heart.

Sally Pride has posed:
Despiting saying that Sally looks about ready to dart after the raptor anyways. But the firebomb being tossed behind Ballista is enough to get her to step back instead, holding up one arm to shield her face on reflex. "Dammit!" Though at least the bomb-happy dino left. Probably better in the end. "Bet the others will be mad they weren't here to punch her like old times."

Alopex has posed:
    And -just- as her ears stop ringing, there's suddenly FIRE everywhere. "Ack, damnit!" not a fan of that, no, but she's lunging for a fire escape ladder, yanks it down, and motions for the other three to get going, "Up, up up up!" she's insisting they go first, even if the rator was on her way out."

Kainashi has posed:
    The pitbull gives another huff of breath as she turns to regard the Lion with a wary eye -- and then the whole alley explodes in heat, sound, and light. She raises her arm to shield her face, tail curling between her legs before she turns, following Alopex's lead. Up the ladder as she ascends towads the rooftops, away from the flame and fire.

Sally Pride has posed:
Don't have to tell Sally twice. She grabs the ladder behind the canine and climbs up, stopping just long enough to pull the ladder back up. Because you never know in this city. Leaving it down is just too obvious someone used it. Then she follows the two up, away from the flames. Then maybe they'll get a chance to sort out who's with what and from where and all that other good stuff.

Alopex has posed:
    With the others up the ladder, Alopex starts up, gets pulled up, and then scrambles for the roof with the others. Once there? The fox simply thumps down on the roof to take a moment, catch her breath, find a center, and most of all, GET THE SPOTS OUT OF HER EYES AND THE REST OF THE RINGING OUT OF HER EARS.

    After a nice, long moment of silence, the fox heaves a sigh and glances between Sally and Pippi, then settles on Sally. "So. Not Foot. What was -that- all about?"

Leena Danvers has posed:
The sound of sirens can be heard in the distance as the police and fire department rush to the scene. Perhaps having that discussion on top of a building that's still on fire isn't the best idea, might be best to move away from the scene a bit before the trio of mutants hashes everything out.

Kainashi has posed:
    The mutant pittbull shifts about uncomfortably, drawing down to a kneel near Alopex and eyeballs the fox with concern -- but once that sigh was released, she raises her ears, turns and looks in the direction of wailing sirens, and she turns to Alopex. "Firetrucks and police. Move?"

Sally Pride has posed:
Sally Pride takes a few deep breaths herself. Then winces as the adrenaline starts to wear off, and sits down to take off one of her boots. Wiggles clawed toes and rubs her foot. "Now I'm glad I didn't kick her in that thick head of hers." Sighs again and pulls the boot back on.

"Right, not Foot." Sally checks her blaster to make sure what equivilates a saftey is on, and tucks it back in the waistband of her jeans. She needs to remember to nick a holster or something next time. Closes her eyes a moment and lets out a sigh. "That was Ballista. And the kind of soldier they were -trying- to make out of me and a few others before we escaped."

Then cue the sirens. Of course, when you don't -want- them to be fast they show up immeadiately. Another sigh and lioness pushes herself onto her feet. "Yeah, we should probably get a bit more distance from the site. Null has their dirty talons in -everything- they might have spies in the responders."

Alopex has posed:
    Oh. Right. Fire. NYPD. "Right, right," she nods to them both before rising, giving the concerned pup a pat on the shoulder. The concern is a welcome sight. "Not a bad idea. Lets get some distance and then you can explain a bit more. I had no idea anyone besides the Foot Clan was making more like us."

Kainashi has posed:
    "This way. No one." the canine states, and then moves off, running and hopping clear accross an alleyway, pulling her hood up over her ears as she sails over space, tucks, and rolls on the rooftop, springing out into a full on sprint.

    Helps that she's not carrying any weaponry -- but when you can launch a dumpster at someone, makes traveling light easy.

Sally Pride has posed:
Sally Pride has to take a running start, but she's got the leg strength and dexterity to make the leap across building tops and do a reasonable tuck and roll afterwards to not fall flat on her face. You get plenty of practice running around with a band of self-proclaimed freedom fighters. "They were making their own?" She responds as they go. "They were supposedly one of the operations looking to buy from Null Industries too." She mmms softly. She's not the thinker her friend is, but she can put two and two together. "... Though that does make sense, if they were looking for more mutants with skill sets other than ninja."

Alopex has posed:
    The other two have started to get going, so Alopex follows along. Though when she leaps to the next building, there's no tuck and roll. Just following along, listening to the others. Sally gets a nod, "Me and her both, yeah. Had no idea there were mutants outside of the clan. ... Though to be clear, we left. Forcefully."

Kainashi has posed:
    The canine stays quiet, pausing and sniffing the air every few buildings as they run, and then comes to a stop, looking back the way they came, and rubs at her shoulder a little bit before she gives a nod to Alopex, and crouches down a bit.

    "... mut... muta... making us is hard." she stammers a moment, looking up at Sally with curiosity, then looks to Alopex and asks a simple question: "Friend?"

Sally Pride has posed:
"Oh, the same. After a few bumps and stalls." Sally vaults over a roof fixture like a hurdle. "Null had laboratory set up to create and train mutants as super soldiers, and then sell them off. My friend Ray was put through intensive combat training, while I was trained to be an ace pilot, vehicle operator, ect." Explains how she was able to pull off those tricks with the truck. "But we eventually escaped. With some help."

She stops explaining for a moment as she jumps up to grab a ledge, and climb up onto the higher rooftop. Glance back the way they came, the smoke far in the distance and the glow dim as the fire has been nearly put out. Doesn't look like any of the buildings caught fire. "This should be far enough to take a break. I don't see anyone following us."

Alopex has posed:
    Once everyone comes to a stop, Alopex does the same. "Mutants, yeah, they made a few, but however it's done, the Foot didn't make a lot. You're the first one I've seen outside the Foot Clan, and it sounds like there's a few of you. Good to know me and her aren't the only one's that are free and clear of our original captors." The fox takes a seat beside the pup, and heaves another sigh. "This has been a really interesting day."

Sally Pride has posed:
"Yeah." She nods to Pippi. "It's not easy. There..." Sally sits down now that they've got a moment to rest. "There was those that didn't survive the process. Or the intensive training. Or without certain processes they come out... incomplete." That's the nicest way she can put it about a certain pidgeon. "Ballista back there, was one of the security guards. When they realized humans weren't enough to keep us mutants under lock and key, they made her. Maybe others."

Sally smirks a bit. "To be honest, I was just as surprised to see you too." Then frowns a bit. "The gang has done what we can to keep Null from getting back into making mutants... But they're still making weapons and other things that should not be getting onto the streets, too."

Kainashi has posed:
    "Null?" the pittbull inquires, her boxy muzzle forming a frown. Incomplete was a dangerous thing too, and she wrapped her arms around herself, ears limping as her tail curls beneath her. She lets the other two do most of the talking, though it's plain that she's listening intently to the two. Restlessly her weight shifts back and forth on the rooftop.

Alopex has posed:
Alopex hrms, "Sounds like they're a little more... wreckless. Still, good to know we have a few friends out here." She isn't about to offer up the Foxden, or her phone number, anything like that. Not on the first meeting. Maybe if they cross paths a couple more times, or something. What if Null is just some Foot clan front? hrn. Issues for later. "Well, thanks for the save back there. Both of you. It's not too often I get saved twice in one day like that. I owe you both some dinner, sometime."

Sally Pride has posed:
"Null Industries. Or Null Group as a whole. Has their hooks in more subsidery operations than I have fingers to count them on. Reckless, greedy, take your pick." Sally rolls her eyes. "And as you saw, they'd love to get their hands back on what they think is their property. But I've had my fill of cages and abusive training, no thank you."

The sentiment is the same really. It might be the pseudo-military training but Sally is being careful to not spill out too many details about the merry band of mutant misfits she's gotten involved in. "Dinner is good. As long as it doesn't involve bugs."

Alopex has posed:
    The fox shakes her head, "No bugs. I know a place," she informs, finding something to write an address down on. "Here, a couple weeks from today. Not inside, obviously, but if you're up on a roof nearby I'll bring it to you."

Sally Pride has posed:
Sally Pride takes the paper, looks at it a moment, and then tucks it in a pocket of her jacket with a nod. "Then you've got yourself a deal." It takes a bit of trust to gain trust, but she's not going to risk throwing it all into the ring right away, either. "If we don't cross pathes again before then, of course."

The lioness pushes herself back up onto her feet now that she's had a chance to catch her breath before sorting things out. "But probably best to get moving again. I don't entirely trust that crazy dino isn't still out looking for me."

Alopex has posed:
    "That's fine. I'm sure we'll be off in a few minutes here, just the same. Stay out of trouble, alright?"

Sally Pride has posed:
"No garuntees on that one. I just try to keep my trouble for the jerks that deserve it." Sally walks over to the edge of the building, and hops over to the fire escape on the other side. A bit of roof parkour was fine for an escape, but she can sneak around back home on ground level.