Log:Fuzzy Alien Vampires, Scene 3

Fuzzy Alien Vampires 2021/06/25 	 Artemis Epsilon Korkoro Linda Starshine Victory 3

A ship entered Earth space, not answering hails, and then exploded, just after four life forms were apparently emergecy-teleported to Colonial Bay. The heroes, invesitaging for one reason or another, have so far found and defeated six cute but life-sucking furballs that reproduce by fission after drinking enough blood/life energy. The last two of these were outside an art gallery currently displaying works by Grace Fenton, an up-and-coming local artist. Through the windows can be perceived several moving furry shapes, as well as humanoid husks that once were people...

This district is bisected by Pennyroyal Lane, which runs southwest to northeast, winding down from Colonial Heights then continuing on the level to Golden Sands. And "artistic" flare permeates the whole district, but its nature varies greatly, from the truly (or pretentiously) artistic in the housing, cafes and galleries east and south of the road, through the showy, even garish, commercialism around Pennyroyal Lane, to the more suspect pleasures of the red light district in the north and east.

Victory says to the others as he arrives, "Delta should be cordoning off the area to contain these things." He looks to Linda, "What's the situation here?"

Artemis lands outside the gallery, still weakened from having her essence drained. She even has to catch her breath and appears to be perspiring like some mortal!

Several of the critters in the gallery move slowly toward Linda, making cooing noises.

linda seems distracted and lacking in situational awareness for possibly the first time seen. "Their dead. Bodies everywhere." she tells Victory in a broken voice.

Starshine says, "Golden Girl is inside. So are a bunch of those things, and bodies. Someone might want to call for the coroner."

Victory glance to Starshine, "The coroner can come in when the situation is secure." He turns on his shield again.

"Aye, best not to call more to be led to the slaughter," Artemis says as she catches her breath.

So distracted is Linda by the bodies that she failed to notice the one critter clinging to the ceiling above her head. It drops down on her by surprise...

Linda screams, "Arrrhhhh!" as the fangs dig in through her incredibly tough skin and flesh. Reaching up with her hands she attempts to grab the tribble and pull it off her face.

Pulls the tribble off her face and slams it down into the floor with extreme prejudice.

The soft carpet of the gallery or maybe the soft fur of the critter makes this not as effective as might be hoped. The tribble squeaks as it bounces off the floor.

[SGG] Victory, warn people to be careful. It bit right through my skin and npw I feel drained.

Starshine flies into the gallery, and quickly sizes up the situation. Seeing a tribble right next to Golden Girl, she blasts it with Cosmic Energy

The critter squeaks again as the cosmic bolt singes its fur.

The critter bounces and rolls to under one of the gallery windows.

Artemis charges into the gallery at the commotion. "These creatures be more durable than they would seem, and thrice as deadly as they be deceiving!" She reverses her grip on her blade and drives it down point first at the critter under the window, intending to end its existence.

The blade cuts into the critter's body (eventually, after cutting a lot of fur), causing much blood to pour out....

Victory moves to intercept those taht are closing on Linda. He says to her, "Are you okay?"

Linda grits out from clenched teeth, "This situation is too dangerous for me not to be okay, Victory. It surprised me or I could probably have avoided it."

Epsilon is about to move to extracate Linda when the others rush in to support & defend against the furry & furiously famished creature. He pivots- shifting objectives by trying to sense any more hiding out in the gallery. Sure there are plenty, but with the way they reproduce it might be prudent to know how big of an area they need to quarantine.

Victory's eyes narrow a little as he hears Linda's bravado, but he doesn't say anythign back, as he's facing the creatures, not Linda.

"These things really stand out. They're so weird." Epsilon says as his mind opens up and reaches out to feel the psionic strands all about them.

He calls into the gallery. "All of the ones on this block are in that building! If we can keep them contained- we

"These things really stand out. They're so weird." Epsilon says as his mind opens up and reaches out to feel the psionic strands all about them.

He calls into the gallery. "All of the ones on this block are in that building! If we can keep them contained- we've got an opportunit to exploit!"

He then proceeds to list out the ones not visible in teh gallery.

"I'm sensing 4 others in the gallery- 1 more in the back and 2 down below."

Still floating in the air, Korkoro continues to check the area for the wee beasties, monitoring those previously captured as well as those in the gallery area.

The four critters that had been approaching Linda seem to have the intelligence or instinct to know the situation has changed. They stop their cooing and all spring at the nearest target - Victory!

Victory moves uncannily, pivoting and bringing his shield around in quick succession, deflecting each creature away from him. He seems to have a natural sense for where each attack is coming from, based on the way he turns and seems to anticipate each.

One critters is knocked clear across to the far end of the room, where its fellows are gathering into their own little pack.

The critter Artemis stabbed attacks the goddess, clearly preferring her divine blood to that other its other several attackers...

The singed and blood-soaked critter drinks the divine blood - but more feebly than mightt be expected.

Artemis grits her teeth and sways as the creature drink in more of her divine life essence.

Linda calls out, "Bewere critters on the ceiling intending tp drop on top of you. That's how they got me."

In accord with Golden Girl's warning, Starshine scans the ceiling for critters. If she doesn't spot any, she will try to place an Energy Shield between the critters that attacked Victory and us.

Linda turns her attention onto the tribble that just bit Artemis. She attempts to encase it in ice and eliminate it as a threat to the divine heroine.

Linda exhales, her supercold breath leaving a trail od condensation in the air as it streams accross and over the trible, englobing it in a block of ice.

Starshine's energy shield blocks the approach of the 4 critters creeping across the ceiling!

Artemis steps around the ice cube critter. "My thanks!" she says to Linda. Seeing some cordoned off by the barrier generated by Starshine, she decides instead to lash her sword toward one of the critters attacking Victory. It extends out briefly like a whip, the sharp edge coming down upon it.

The critter gets a shave and a hair cut. Two bits.

Linda smiles as Artemis thanks her. "You'd do the same of any one of us, Artemis." she affirms.

Epsilon moves to get a bit more involved- focusing his eyes on one of tribbles that is in striking distance to the other heroes, not currently being stabbed by Artemis and closest to him.

He hates using this particular ability but doesn't see another way to help without being a target. He isn't certain how he'll fare, but if the goddess is anything to go by- the answer is: 'Not well.' So he keeps at range- assuming the heroes don't need to protect another person in their tight circle.

One of the tribbles facing Victory lets out a pained squeak.

The four critters on the ceiling come face to face with the barrier, then turn and go back the way they came, likely looking for another way to get to the yummy food on the other side!

The three critters facing Victory continue to focus their attacks on him.

Victory continues to fight defensively...letting the others be able to take their shots as needed. He doesnt' even look winded as he blocks three more incoming attacks.

The other four critters circle around Victory to attack other heroes!

The three attacking Linda, Artemis and Starshine get their teeth in...

Starshine screams as she feels the energy that makes up her body draining away. She musters all that she can to enhance her strength to pluck the critter from her leg and squeeze it.

Artemis's shoulders sag beneath the weight of her sword and shield, her vision getting darker around the edges as she tries to fend off losing consciousness. It can't be that she's dying. Not to these cute fuzzballs!

Linda takes to the air and flies up to Starshine. "When I was ten my parents took me to England for a holiday. I learned about a game English jids play called conkers. One kid holds out a conker and the other tries to hit it as hard as he or she can. Stay still a moment please." Linda swings her arm, with clinging critter, so it smacks into the critter on Starshine's leg.

Linda slams one critter into the other. Happily both are knocked loose and seem to be concussed at a minimum and likely unconscious.

Artemis tries to keep on her feet. If she is going to go down, she'll go down fighting. She lashes at another critter with her bladewhip.

Artemis's attacks are slow and exert her given her current state. It lacks the easy finesse she usually had with her weapon.

Korkoro, watching the deaperate progression of the fight in the gallery, shifts to float the greeblie on a more general magnetic grip, then gestures again. Anything besides the fighters and the foe -- anything with a functional nervous ststem of any mass, parakeets on up -- is seized and moved along with alacrity. She needs the bystanders out of the way before she does something serious.

Epsilon doesn't like these things being so close to him- and he's grateful that the fuzzball of doom didn't get ahold of him.

He about to extracate himself from it's reach- but he sees the generally lively Godflora floundering.

He charges forward fullspeed, hoping to get as far away from any of the fuzzballs while simultaneously focusing on lifting Artemis's attacker up and into the air with his telekinesis so it can't hurt anyone.

"We should really find a room- or a drawer or something to jam these into until we can contain them." He says from his post just outside the gallery's main room.

"Also- what the heck are these things? Does anyone one know?" He takes the opportunity to ask while they're all int he same place.

Linda says, "Starguard said they are alien animals from another world. They also said that world once had a civilization but no longer. We have to stop these getting loose."

The critter begins to glow with cyan energy as Epsilon gets a hold of it with his mind.

He pushes it and frees the creature from Artemis and hoists it into teh air- holding it steady just out of reach from anyone.

Three critters continue to attack Victory!

Victory continues blocking...and looking around at the combat situation. He's realizing he's going to have to get more aggressive at this rate.

The critter than Epsilon flew away from looks about for a new target - and chooses Linda. It makes a flying leap for her...

Linda proves to be flying too high, and the fuzzballl ends up on the ground again.

Linda is not entirely foolishly brave. She's felt sufficient effect from being bitten twice that three times seems at least twice too many. As a critters leaps for her she dodges.

The four critters on the ceiling remain out of sight.

Linda makes a mental note to ask Victory to shew her how he can keep three at bay. SWhe can barely avoid one.

Starshine blasts the critter that tried to jump on Linda.

The blast of golden cosmic energy smashed the critter into the floor, where it lies still for a moment.

Victory is still fighting multiple of hte creatures...so he finally takes a swing at one of them, bringing his leg around in a circle kick.

The critter squeaks as it's kicked - and passes out.

The unconscious furball rolls across the floor.

Artemis is looking very frail. Well on her way to becoming a husk like the human victims. She looks sternly at the one being held by Epsilon, wishing the opportunity to strike it down honorably, but it is held and unable to fight. She is not one of the Pharin who would forsake honor for darker delights, so she turns from it beyond mortal reason and swings with what strength she has left at another critter capable of fighting back.

Epsilon keeps the fuzzball he has held in his TK field and then charges it- hoping to disable the creature bodily and fill in for the slowly falling divinity.

As soon as he's within striking distance he pulls back a punch and confirms the action magnification sesnors are on. He smirks and throws the best punch he's got.

Epsilon's punch on the constrained tribble sends it flying across the room, where it bounces off the wall and flops to the ground, out cold.

Epsilon plays his entrance into teh defensive circle cooly- that is to say silently.

He wasn't worried at the time- but he's grateful unloading on that thing didn't damage anything valuable.

One tribble gets unsteadily to it feet again, while continue their assault on Victory.

Korkoro, still monitoring the other critters' locations and activity, descends towards the art gallery where the other heroes are while making sure 'her' evacuees are well beyond the danger zone, and in safe places to be released..

Victory avoids the two incoming attacks...and spins, trying to hit another of hte creatures with a side kick.

Victory strikes the creatues solidly, causing it to reel and shake its head. (PResumably, under all that fur)

Linda stays in the air as she tries to ice up the unhurt so far tribble critter still going after Victory.

Linda catches this critter in her icy breath and freezes it into a ball of ice.

Starshine blasts the same tribble again.

The blast misses the critter and scorches carpet.

Artemis leaves Victory to his worthy opponent, certain he'll make short work of it. She takes a deep breath and tenses to gather her strength and slash toward Starshine's missed target.

Epsilon sees the numbers against them are dwindling relatively quickly so he considers straying from the circle a bit. Seeing Victory's target still wobbling he focuses a malicious mental blast upon it.

Epsilon feels a pang of guilt using his Mother's abilities this way, but hearing that these came froma planet that used to have a civilization he knows he cannot hold back.

With a blast of psionic energy the quibbling tribble shrieks and then falls with a tremble before loosing consciousness.

On the Starguard frequency, albeit in the clear, Korkoro sends, "Victory, last four are inbound your position in direction you're facing."

Victory goes ahead and strikes at the remaining creature he's facing, going with a front kick.

Artemis takes another swing at the critter, unaware that more are coming.

Starshine summons up the strength to blast the same tribble again.

Starshine's blast proves to be too much for the critter, and it collapes in a heap of fuzz.

Linda notes that all the obvious critters are dealt with. SWhe scans, looking for the four that were blocked by Starshine's barrier

Linda gives verbal warning, and holds ready to ice one or more.

Epsilon nods and takes a defensive position near Victory- trusting his shield to stem the intiial assault long enough for them to disable the creatures.

Linda is watching them even before they could into normal sight, taking on a huge breath and getting ready to try to encase all of them in one large icy cocoon.

The four remaining critters in the main room of the gallery creep round a corner into sight, still on the ceiling, unaware that their stealth is for nought.

Descending, Magda swoops into the scene. She doesn't need to take it in at a glance, for she's been monitoring; she holds for Linda's action first.

Linda exhales!

Magda tries to englobe the closely-bunched critters in a sphere of electromagnetic force, her hands making a cage gesture.

"No you don't, you little cancers," says Korkoro as the barrier snaps into existence around the last four -- she /hopes/ last four.

With the danger seemingly over, Artemis' tired limbs begin to forsake her and droop. She's still closely resembles the husks left by the critters' feasting. She takes a knee, using her sword like a cane or crutch and leaning on it to keep her up as she tries to catch her breath. She's too weak to help, and lets the others tend to the issues at hand.