6736/Distant Relation: An Unhappy Creature

Distant Relation: An Unhappy Creature
Date of Scene:	28 June 2021
Location:	Tricorner Island
Synopsis:	What started out as a low risk visit for an absessed tooth turns into a fight with a mysterious creature! X-23 and Balm fight a creature that has no head, but gaping maws in its torso!
Cast of Characters:	Phoebe Beacon, Laura Kinney
Tinyplot:	Birthright

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Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Abandoned warehouses are good for many things -- deals that you want to keep out of the public eye, art installations and fire-hazard band meet ups, and if there's still enough useful shelter to be in after all that, on occasion it's the site of indoor tent-cities, which is where Balm had been called to help someone with a badly absessed tooth and infection.

    She'd asked Laura to accompany her, as the summer's heat tended to make those without access to air conditioning a little more difficult to work with.

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney follows along quietly. The heat of summer doesn't just make people cranky. It fills the air with an almost overwhelming number of scents. Hot asphalt baking in the sun, Pollen from all manner of plants and the people of Gotham suffering as they go about their daily lives.

It's a lot to take in. Especially when you're constantly trying to pick out threats.

After a while in silence she finally, keeping her voice low, muses "Do you think it was a mistake for me to involve Gabby in the group? I am sure she is capable enough but I wonder if is she only joining us because I asked her to."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "She seems content enough to come in. She listed off her vitals for me readily and complained about my all-natural gummy sharks, and was very... forthcoming with her past." Balm replies in honesty, turning to look to Laura as she finishes washing her hands. Blood from the absess spirals down the drain.

    "Do you feel it was a mistake to involve her in the group?" she questions, looking to Laura. The domino she was wearing does block some of the expression of her eyes, but it was clear that she was curious and not judgemental.

    Aside from the asphalt and the sweating bodies and the tinge of blood and drugs and hard liquor and sour, old beer, there was something sickly sweet. Like rotting flesh mixed with burning sugar.

Laura Kinney has posed:
"We both grew up receiving far more invasive medical tests," Laura points out with a shrug. "So a normal physical is practically a relaxing spa day." She makes herself useful by offering a towel for Balm to dry her hands on. One of the many practical supplies she's carrying. No point tagging along and then making Phoebe carry all her supplies by herself!

"If it's something she would rather not be doing," she starts. ".... Then yes. But if she's genuinely happy to join... Well I can teach her a lot more skills this way than I ever could by chasing her through the woods with a paintball gun."

She sniffs the air again. That smell. Her eyes flick to the patient. Is there more of an infection than Phoebe first thought? She turns, trying to pin point the source, eyes darting in search of potential danger.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    There couldn't be. The patient was passed out asleep for the first time in days after dealing with agonizing pain. Nothing sucks worse than abcessed molars.

    "I know, Laura. She's very open about what they did to her, and her sisters." Phoebe comments cooly, obviously not approving of putting anyone through such... trials -- but the sniffing catches her attention. She pauses, and brings a clean and dry (thanks to Laura's towel! Hoopy frood that she is!), and she cants her head to the side, as if listening for something.

    And that's when the screaming began, in the make-shift tent city there was a low snarl hidden amongst the cacaphony of cries from the unhoused.

Laura Kinney has posed:
"Another day in Gotham," Laura notes. It's not an official code for trouble, but it might as well be. "Will your patient be okay if we leave them? We'll need to move fast."

She moves to the doorway of the tent. Poking her head out for a quick glance around. Her hearing is almost as keen as her nose. So she has a pretty good idea which way the screaming is coming from.

"We should stay close. We don't know how many attackers there are." A list of possibilities flash through her mind. Killer crocodiles, thugs with attack dogs or some kind of horrible mutants. But with it being Gotham... Well it's probably going to be faster to go find out.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "He's going to have to be." Phoebe replies, and she pulls her hood up, turning to follow Laura as she grabs her extending staff. She starts a feed back to her computer at the Roost to record as the two young woman race to the source of the violence.

    And what they would find is a grotesque creature; something akin to a large mastiff, double-wide, sans a neck and a head. Instead, there are two pairs of eyes where the neck would sprout, and a gaping, open maw, with jagged teeth akin to something reptilian.

    It snarls and drools as it leaps, collapsing another tent beneath its girth.

    Phoebe looks taken aback.

    "... not again!"

Laura Kinney has posed:
"A friend of yours?" Laura wonders even as she springs into action. Sadly for patrols like this she tends to travel light. There's no need to provoke tensions by wandering around with guns after all!

Her arms swing out to the sides with the distinct snikt sound as her claws spring out. The sweeping motion intentionally wide to draw attention.

Her mind already trying to estimate the creatures speed and agility. Does the unusual head throw off it's balance or does it seem to move naturally? And of course she's working out the best timing for when to strike.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Not precisely." Phoebe replies, and she narrows her eyes.

    There is a metallic sound as she drops her staff back to its shruken position, and she breathes out, her light staff summoning to her side.

    The creature, meanwhile turns to 'face' laura, meaning that its whole body is facing her. It's jaws flap angrily, and it begins to lope around, arcing a moment before in a burst of speed it tries to flank her.

    "Watch out -- it spits acid!" Balm calls out, looking to put herself between the beast and some fleeing homeless campers!

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney opens her mouth as if to comment on the spitting acid part and then the creature starts darting to one side. So she dives into a sideways roll, coming up around one of the broken tents, a sweep of her claws turning a tent pole into a make-shift javelin.

The mutant former assassin scoops the newly created throwing weapon up in a sweeping motion and without pause throws it. Even if it strikes the javelin isn't likely to cause lethal damage. Tent poles just don't have enough weight for a deeply piercing strike. But that's okay. So long as she can keep it's attention and give everyone time to escape!

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The creature gives a snarl as it comes closer to Laura, eyes eyes all narrowing and glowing red, the putrid ichor coming from its maws making the ground below it sizzle before it leaps at Laura, taking the makeshift javeline to its shoulder -- through one of its eyes. There's a screeching howl like the sound of mixed grinding steel and the baying of hounds, but it presses forward, coming close enough for a strike as its maw opens wide to try and take a bite out of Laura!

    The dark-clad Gothamite sweeps in, and as Laura holds its attention, she brings her light staff up to try and sweep its legs from underneath it!

Laura Kinney has posed:
The throw was never intended as a kill strike. Throwing weapons in general aren't reliable ways to take a target out. But they do often wound things. And against a... whatever this creature is that seems to rely upon instinct that's all Laura really needed. To push it into moving close.

Her foot claws slide out as she holds in place. Letting the maw open fully as it lunges at her and trusting that Balm will make her strike to the legs.

In the very last moment, just before the massive crocodilian jaws can close on her, her foot lashes up. Driving her foot claw into the point where the throat would be just as it's legs are being knocked away from it.

All the while her arms twist so the bite will close onto the blades of her outstretched claws before they meet flesh.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Balm's strike hits, shoving the demonic canine-sans-head down into a sitting position. The creature manages to close its head against the claws. There's that metallic screeching again, and the scent of burning flesh gets stronger. Phoebe backs away from it, her brows knit a moment at the stench as the acid drool pours out of the creatures mouth from a gland beneath its tongue.

    It trips backwards over itself, snarling and spitting ichor before the younger Outsider breathes out.

    "... this is tougher than the last one I was up against... but it took me and Agent Tampa Bay Bulls to get it -- how'd it... show up /here/?"

Laura Kinney has posed:
"Someones mad science project and this is version two?" Laura suggests, not giving the monster time to recover. Her follow up is an acrobatic leap, up over the spray of hissing chemicals, aiming to land directly on top. Driving as many of her claws into the torso as she can.

Even while she's leaping around her healing factor and extensive training mean Laura's barely even breathing heavily. Nor does it stop her talking, although she does pause a few times to inhale mid-sentence. "It can't... be a coincidence... you've been present... at two attacks."

Claws have many uses in a fight. Her leaping strategy borrows heavily from the animal kingdom. Namely digging her claws in and raking away with hands & feet as fast as possible. Frenzied slashing that aims to do massive amounts of damage before her target can throw her off.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I don't think it is!" Balm replies to Laura, watching in mixed horror and fascination as Laura's executed a Minoan bull-leap onto the back of the huge, aggressive creature, out of the reach of its jaws for the moment as she hacks and slashes -- until the creature skids to a stop -- and it wriggles, as if trying to throw Laura off -- but what happens is so much worse.

    Its eyes b link out of existence, and then bubble up to the surface of its back, followed by nose slits and that toothy maw as the creature inhales, and the burning chemical smell of its acid drool issues forth!

    Balm, meanwhile, has made sure everyone is out of the warehouse, and she charges back -- as the creature's mouth changes sides, she comes in, skidding and baseball-sliding beneath the creature to bring her light staff up, stabbing at its chest/back!

Laura Kinney has posed:
That is... unusual. Very unusual. Some sort of shape shifting entity?

As the maw reforms Laura takes a bit of a gamble. Most creatures like crocodiles have muscles intended to snap the jaws shut in a burst of explosive power. It's every rare they have the same level of strength for opening them though.

So she grabs the maw and clamps it shut with all the strength she can muster.

It's only a matter of time though before some of the acid drool begins to come into contact with her skin. The flesh blistering and burning, then healing, only for the process to repeat again.

Of course that still leaves her foot claws free to kick and stab into the flanks. Over and over again. "Any suggestions?" She growls, putting an extra force into her hold and applying a twisting motion. Is there even a neck to break? Who knows!

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    The maw is clamped! The creature attempts to throw Laura off, whipping its body back and forth as her flesh blisters from the chemical burn, the corrosive acid eating away at her flesh repeatedly.

    "Just one!" Phoebe calls out from beneath the beast -- and she brings her staff of light about, and stabs upwards into the creature!

    The next sequence of events happens quickly -- there is a metallic-organic grinding sound.

    There is a melting, goey feeling around Laura's arms as the creature's features melt like wet clay, and then grasp at her hands before disappearing in a greasy black s moke, with the tang of burning flesh and a grease fire.

    And Laura would then fall down towards Balm, whose armor was showing severe acid damage.

Laura Kinney has posed:
When the thing starts to go soft and gooey Laura springs clear as fast as possible. Wary that whatever it is melting into might be as caustic as the drool. "Good idea," she replies. Teeth clenching against the discomfort of the burns. "We need to wash this stuff off with water immediately."

It's not her first time using acid for... Well best not to think about it.

"I'd say we should get samples but... I'm not sure that was... well real? If I had to guess it was more like a demon or some similar magical entity." A shrug followed by a glance around for suitable water to wash the acid off with. "I could ask around. I know at least one magic user who... ah.. dabbles in that sort of thing."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Good -- good call -- oh God, that was so disgusting... " Phoebe trails off, standing with her skin sizzling a little. The armor, luckily, defended her from most of it.

    "There's nothing in any of the books I've borrowed from Diana like it -- the closest thing I've seen--" Phoebe stumbles.

Laura Kinney has posed:
"Would she be giving you books on the summoning of evil spirits and monsters?" Laura points out, already heading over to where the medical supplies are. There is bound to be some water in there. And once located it'll be quickly applied to Phoebe's armour first. Her own healing abilities should be able to hold her together. And so long as the team healer is fine any excess damage she does take can be fixed.

"It didn't seem like a NOWHERE attack. Too random. Nor does it match the MO of anyone who wants me dead. For that we'd have a wave of jack booted thugs storming in any moment... now."

Despite how unlikely it is X-23 still looks around for potential threats. You can be paranoid and still have people after you.

"If it's magic there might be some sort of artifact or summoning fetish around. Can you..." She waves her hand around in what presumably is meant to mean 'with magic'. Or jazz hands. One of the two. "You know."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Books on Greek monsters that the Amazons have fought." Phoebe replies as she tugs her gloves off, and grabs a spigot of water, turning it on full blast and just, dousing herself and Laura with it, trying to neutralize the acid. Her own healing abilities were keeping her together well enough.

    She does pause, expecting jack-booted thugs for a split second -- and then she looks at Laura, and then embarrassedly turns away.

    "No. I am, in fact, utterly useless magically unless it's my uncontrollable healing aura or direct application of heals." she states. "So I have no idea what that was, or why it's appeared to me twice, or why it keeps attacking. Just that it got bigger. It was only the size of a German Shepherd last time."

Laura Kinney has posed:
Laura Kinney frowns. "That implies an escalation," she muses. "Something is after you and it gets stronger each attempt. Next time it'll probably be bigger." How does she knows there will be a next time? Pessimism. It doesn't mean she's wrong though. "You should make the Amazons aware. Perhaps they have a magical expert who can check to see if you've been cursed."

She looks at where the thing was. Checking for possible samples she could collect for study.

"If we have records of what it looks like I can try consult my more magical associates..?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    She might be a Beacon of Hope, but even Phoebe faces reality. "I shall. They might have advice for me other than 'don't go out where you can get hurt." Phoebe states, and she tilts her head forward, washing the acid out of her hood.

    "... burned off one of my braids. I'm going to be lopsided." she murmurs crossly, and then she rejoins Laura.

    Other than the smell, and the damage it caused, there's no longer any trace of the creature.

    "... I'll have to tag Robin in as well."

Laura Kinney has posed:
"You don't regrow your hair?" Laura asks curiously. "They might also have some magically warded rooms you can stay in. We only heard a commotion when it was in the immediate area. Meaning it probably didn't pass through the surrounding districts, so next time it returns could be just about anywhere in the city." A glance to make sure no-one can overhear. "Including the Roost."

She sniffs the air. Unpleasant as it is she wants to remember the scent. So next time she'll be able to react that much quicker.

"If someone is after you specifically we should inform the whole team."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Oh -- ah, not all of them are 'real hair'. Some of them are braided into my real hair because they're more manageable but that can be explained a different time." Balm replies to Laura, and then she wrinkles her nose "Besides, when I wear my hair au natural, it looks more like... well. A 'fro." she states, and she breathes out.

    "I didn't think they were after me specifically. The first time it was on a subway train with Agent Tampambulos. Managed to short out the train. There weren't any electrical interferances this time, but it still manifested here without drawing attention to itself --"

    and she stands up "... but then again... Gotham."

Laura Kinney has posed:
"What're the chances that they are randomly showing up in places you just happen to be?" Laura points out with a shrug. "But yes. It is Gotham... We should probably get to work finding anyone who might have been injured and getting them medical attention."

A task which is likely to take some time. The crowd took off in multiple directions and in the chaos any number of injuries could have happened.