264/Storm Knight and Corporate Infighting

Storm Knight and Corporate Infighting
Date of Scene:	08 August 2015
Location:	Mitakihara - Downtown
Synopsis:	A hunt against a Witch turns into an ambush against the WPS Director. With Ao Karina and her enemy both in danger, will Storm Knight team up with her rival to defeat this evil?
Cast of Characters:	Hannah Sharpe, Suzuki Natsume

---

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
It's prime hunting time for villains and heroes alike, just past ten o'clock. The lights of many office buildings have yet to fade, late-night workers pushing hard to drive the bottom line. Miss White may be considered one of those, even if she counts magical artifacts as part of her profits.

She's out tonight for business. A Familiar had rampaged for some time in the neighborhood, and grown into a full-blown Witch. One that had effected some of Eclipse's holdings.

Miss White needed to test her refined Seed anyway. Locating the back alleyway where the Barrier exists, she slips in, already clutching the emerald-green grief seed.

Tonight, however, she's not alone. Ao Karina has been excused from the hospital, and is making her way home. Normally she'd take a different route, but tonight she wants to swing by the WPS building and surprise Miss White. She's not but a street or two away from where her friend is fighting.

Something about the shadows tonight is strange. They seem thicker, and the feeling of being watched is heavy in the area.

Inside the top floor of the WPS building, the CEO of the company makes a phone call.

"...Did you find her? Good. Use her as bait if you need to. Otherwise, make sure little Kasagami is dealt with."

The Witch's barrier last for a good five minutes after Miss White slipped in, then fades. The woman is panting, face drawn as she falls to her knees. The fight had been quick.

She's not clawing at her throat this time, but spit and blood exits her mouth as she violently coughs, brought to her knees as she trembles.

"Tch...is this power still too much for my body to handle?" She mutters in frustration.

Suzuki Natsume has posed:
     Another night, another patrol. Storm Knight had found herself out patrolling more and more often of late. Not just because she felt the need to, but also to get away from her family. She had started trying to buy things like shorts and skirts and t-shirts, decidedly western attire. Her parents had been getting upset with her over it, and she was starting to get more and more frustrated over their reactions to it. She didn't want to be stuck in the past, like her parents.

     As such, Storm Knight was out, quietly exploring the city. She wasn't looking for anything in particular, or hunting. Still, she had spotted what looked like Ao checking out of the hospital. And... heading somewhere. Storm Knight made a decision then and there; to follow Ao home! ... Not in the stalkerish way, but rather to just follow her and make sure that she got home safely.

     She'd never been to Ao's home before, so she didn't really know where she lived... so when Ao started going in a direction that was decidedly not towards her home... well, Storm Knight didn't know that. One or two streets down from that witch and Miss White... and Storm Knight was largely unaware.

     Something felt off though. Thicker shadows... like something was watching. She figured it was danger nearby Ao. Especially with that ping from her Device.

            <MAGISCHE REAKTION FESTGESTELLT.>

    Crap. She didn't know that much german, but she did know that statement. There was some sort of magic around. And ... there were multiple? As she focused her senses, she could feel... at least two, but she didn't have that fine-tuned of magical detection to be able to tell it was a witch /and/ Miss White. It felt like the darker one had lost though, and witches definitely felt different from magical girls. Alright. The fight was probably safely over. Why was there only one other magical fighter there, though? Hmm.

     And now Storm Knight had a quandry. To go to the magical girl, or to continue on her self-appointed duty to follow Ao and make sure that she was safe? A small frown crosses over Storm Knight's lips. The magical girl had won, so she probably would be fine... but her position didn't seem to be moving. Was she injured? Crap. But so close, she couldn't just leave Ao unattended. And so, Storm Knight stood atop a building, undecided on what to do. Decisiveness in a situation like this was not necessarily her strong suit.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Ao is hardly a difficult person to follow. She's slow, frail, and takes frequent breaks to rest as she walks. The little Sailor V tv show ditty she sings as she walks only makes her even easier to keep up with.

Miss White, meanwhile, struggles back to her feet. One hand pushes against the wall, and she slowly makes her way towards the end of the alleyway. Eventually, Storm Knight might even spy the emerging form of Miss White, looking injured and far too pale for her usual self. She's stumbling, barely on her feet. Running her hand along the wall in anger, she leads a bloody streak along it.

The shadows around her form. In the rooftops around her, and in the deepest part of the alleyways, shadowy archers spring up, as if molded from the darkness itself. Arrows knock to black bows, and Miss White pauses. From those various shadows, a voice speaks.

"...Give us your life, Kasagami White." Comes the chilly voice, before a volley of arrows heads for her! She's weak, slow, and has to throw herself to the ground, her Intelligent Device kicking up a shield that saves her life. One arrow still slams into her shoulder, and she screams.

Ao Karina hears, and runs to the sound of her friend's voice.

"White-san!?"

The shadow-youma have yet to notice the lurking Storm Knight

Suzuki Natsume has posed:
     Ao was indeed easy to follow, and Storm Knight had gotten decently good at tracking her friends! To the point she was beginning to get mildly creeped out by herself. Was she becoming a full-blown stalker?! It was worrying for her! Maybe she would be a depraved lunatic soon enough! ... And somehow she decides that if she /did/, it would be all her parent's fault. Somehow. Still, Ao seemed to be in good enough spirits.

     From her position atop the rooftops, Storm Knight was soon able to see that those shadows really were thicker, and ... were they beginning to form into something? A scream. The other magical girl -- specifically, one she was very familiar with. Miss White?! Why were there Youma attacking her?! Wasn't she with the people who summoned those things?! Storm Knight's lips press into a thin line as Ao begins to run towards the sound of Miss White's scream. It fit with what she knew of Ao. Friend to Miss White and countless others, former and present kickboxing club members. Still, she was running towards her friend. That was not something she could allow. She looks down towards her Device, her eyes half-lidding as she thought a moment.

     Could she bind Ao? That was not a good thought. Still, there were Youma. She would just have to act quickly. Perhaps she could defeat them before Ao is put into danger. She needed to move, either way. The longer she stood there debating, the higher chance that those Youma would harm Miss White further -- or even kill her. "...Verdrehen Sturm."

                <BLITZ SCHRITT.>

    She was moving to save her biggest enemy. What was she doing? But... she couldn't just let her be harmed. ... Any death was an unacceptable death. Still, if the shadow Youma didn't know that Storm Knight was there before... they would shortly. A dashing lightning bolt was not exactly the most subtle of things. Her movements were simple; the ones on the rooftops would be targetted first. She would dash just behind them, attempting to use small bumps and pushes to knock them all off of the rooftops. Miss White could deal with them there. And as an added edge to those bumps, she would leave small magical circles attached to each Youma. Once she had gotten every Youma that she could see or reasonably get to in time... she lifts her Device. "...Verdrehen Sturm."

                <ABSTEIG.>

     Each of those magical circles would activate, unleashing a sudden burst of force. Their intent was simple. To send each and every one of those Youma falling to the ground at a speed they could not easily recover from, or shoot through. In short, simply speeding their way to the ground. Finally, that bolt of lightning follows after them, intent on standing next to Miss White. She simply glances back towards her a moment. "...Your friend is on the way here. We cannot let any of these escape." She then takes a brief breath, before shouting out as loudly as she can manage, "AO KARINA! DO NOT COME NEAR HERE!"

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
The dashing bolt of lightning that is Storm Knight meets with perhaps surprising success: shoving and bumping off shadows much to their audible surprize! The volley of arrows slackens off, as the archers struggle to their feet. Or they would, when the magical circles added to them slams them hard into the ground! Lightning lances through their ranks, and several shadows dissappear.

"How dare you interfere!" Comes the voice(s) of the shadows.

Miss White looks up in surprise. "Why are..."

Her eyes go cold in pure fear.

"No! Not Ao!" Comes the girl, voice equally chilled. Ao stops, and tumbles in her haste as she's yelled at.

"Wh...what!?"

At least she's not moving right now.

Miss White is back on her feet, and arrows fly from some of the remaining archers! She punches a few out of the air, but she's too slow and injured, getting tears in her barrier jacket. A wind-fueled punch takes down a shadow!

"Then we need to finish these things quickly." She says with a nod to the other woman.

Suzuki Natsume has posed:
     Alright, some of the shadows disappeared purely from that falling... they were probably rather fragile. That meant that Storm Knight had a pretty decent chance! She takes a small breath, glancing towards the shadow. "I dare because even enemies do not deserve to die." Storm Knight responds simply.

     Miss White is simply given a look at her question. She twitches her lips a bit as she looks at her. This woman still confused her, but she was resolved: Whoever was attacking her? Was probably worse than anything that Miss White was, or could even do! Storm Knight stepped to put her back to Miss White. She would trust her. They had a mutual motivation to not let any escape.

     Ao Karina. She was innocent, sweet, and not capable of defending herself. Storm Knight frowns slightly. This would actually be rather difficult. Two people to defend. Even her speed was possibly not going to be enough. "We should probably start moving either towards her or away from her. I wouldn't put it past your enemies to use her." Storm Knight says.

                <SCHLAG.>

     Several magical circles appeared, creating magical bolts of energy. She unleashes them quickly towards the shadows. "I don't know how many more there are, but there seemed to be a minimum of 5 or 10 when I knocked them off the building." Storm Knight murmurs, thinking a few moments. Her eyes glanced left and right, intent on keeping an eye on every shadow that she could... but it was hard. Because the Shadow Youma were, well... shadow youma.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Miss White doesn't take too long to come up with a battle plan. "We guard Ao." She says quickly, as thought it were a foregone conclusion. Then she ducks an arrow aimed for her neck before she aims another burst of wind to interrupt a volley of arrows! Storm Knight's burst of magical energy wipes out the few remaining that had fallen. There's only half their number visible now, a mere five goons, with the taller one hanging back.

Miss White runs for Ao, guarding and practically growling! Any arrows shot at her are knocked away!

But the shadow-youma soon melt of their own accord, and meld together! A massive humanoid form faces her, a large sword in one hand! The leader youma takes aim, and tries to shoot Suzuki in the leg!

"Then die, human! If you're with her, then you're a target too! WE'll kill you all!" The big shadow youma begins a charge, every movement causing the ground to shake! Miss White raises a hand, and wind flows around its leg, tripping it! But it's sword still falls for Suzu!

Suzuki Natsume has posed:
                <PANZERSHILD.>

     As the shot to her leg comes, a small magical circle appears to defend against it. "Of course." Storm Knight says softly, using that shield to protect her as she dashes for Ao. "Whatever infighting this is, the innocent do not deserve to be pulled into it." She murmurs, glancing towards Ao. A small smile is spared for her...

     Of course, now there was a massive monster to contend with. She wasn't particularly thrilled with this prospect, it was hard enough to deal with human-sized foes! Crap! Suzuki takes a small breath. "Verdrehen Sturm, Panzerhindernis."

                <JAWOHL.>

     Storm Knight lifts her hand towards Ao, a polygonal green shield beginning to form around Ao. It was a strong defense... but it would make it difficult for Storm Knight to counter-attack or defend as effectively. As such, while that sword falls towards Storm Knight, she only gets /most/ of the way out of the way, the blade striking along her thigh as she dodged to get out of the way, ensuring that she was between Ao and the giant Shadow Youma. "Miss White, you'll have to handle the offense." Storm Knight says, lifting Verdrehen Sturm. "I'll handle defending Ao and you where I can, so focus on taking that thing down." Storm Knight says, lifting her Device again. "Verdrehen Sturm!"

                <PANZERSCHILD.>

     A defensive magical circle appears in front of Miss White, with simple intent; it was there to defend against attacks for a few moments... just enough for her to get up close and personal, most likely! Still.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
"You hear that!? This is /unprofessional/ you useless youma piece of dirt! Even little Storm-chan here agrees!" When did she become Storm-chan? About right when she began to defend Ao.

Ao is too busy trying to stay flat and low as she can to note the smile. She's less shivering than one might expect though.

There's a swift nod as Suzuki gets a sword to the thigh. "Punching! My specialty!" She quips, her attitude coming back now that Ao is being taken care of! She rushes for the big monster, Storm Knight's shield eating a powerful arrow shot that would have taken out her leg. As the monster raises it's blade, Miss White runs in, and leaps into the air as it reaches for the blade with both hands!

Just as the sword is raised high, she aims a hard kick for the creature's wrist! The thing, already at an awkward angle, goes tumbling! The sword gets caught in a building, and then Miss White is straddling the thing's neck. It's defenseless.

Knuckles crack as she /grins/. Her fists slam down again and again and again into the blank face of the youma, driving it's body into the ground as concrete and youma alike shatter against the furious blows.

"NO! ONE! HURTS! MY! AO-CHAN!" She repeats with every blow, until the thing fades away.

The remaining youma leader gives a hiss!

"You...bah! Consider yourself lucky, Kasagami! No little upstart is going to rule!" Then, it fires off a Darkness infused arrow! Miss White pulls up her hands!

Only for the arrow to streak up, and behind both Storm Knight and Miss White! Impossibly, it whips around, zooming towards Ao as she kneels and huddles on the ground!

"Behind!" Yells Miss White! It's up to Storm Knight now!

Suzuki Natsume has posed:
     "...Little Storm-chan?" Storm Knight asks, glancing towards Hannah with a quirked brow. She was tall! For a japanese girl at any rate! Huff! Well, she supposed she didn't mind that. Being that weird tall girl was definitely worse! "..." That was really informal though! Huff! Then again, Miss White was her enemy! She couldn't let her get to her!

     It was too late to really think of that though. She'd already been gotten to! Sotrm Knight glances towards Ao as she stays flat and low, consumed in that polygonal shield. Luckily, Storm Knight was holding that shield up! She should be safe! Good. "Just stay there, Karina-san. I'll keep you safe." Storm Knight says, keeping herself between that Youma and Ao! Okay. If Miss White was on offense, she could protect Ao easily!

     Okay, the shield ate that arrow, that would allow Miss White to get in close. Storm Knight takes a breath as the mana is somewhat returned, or at least the focus was returned. And Miss White was in close enough to punch them. Storm Knight takes a heavy breath. Ugh. Keeping spells up for a long time were difficult.

     Miss White was punching. She was taking out that monster relatively easily, slamming fists into repeatedly. And now there was just that Youma Leader left. Storm Knight keeps her eyes on it, watching as it fires!

     "Possibly she did get lucky. I was here to warn her, but even if I hadn't... I am certain that you would have been beaten to a pulp just the same, Youma." Storm Knight says firmly, her lips twitching into a frown.

     That arrow streaks up, and... around?! Miss White barely had to yell 'behind' before Storm Knight was moving, her device lifted and the tip of the blade set, she was bracing Verdrehen Sturm. "...Verdrehen Sturm."

                <PANZERHINDERNIS.>

     A small glow appears in front of the tip of her Device, the tip of it moved to block that incoming arrow! Unfortunately, it was an arrow of darkness... which likely had the negative effect... as the defense spell hits it, the dark energy likely streams around the tip of her Device. Ao Karina was spared, most likely. However, that split energy strikes Storm Knight in several places, causing her to give a pained grunt.

     "...How honorless." Storm Knight says, straightening up and turning towards the shadow Youma. "... You attack an injured, weakened Miss White. You target her friend when someone comes to defend her." Storm Knight turns, her Device lowering. There was anger on Storm Knight's face, as she steps around Ao Karina. That shield around her was still up, even if only for a few moments. "...Verdrehen Sturm. Load Cartridge."

                <JAWOHL.>

    The base of Verdrehen Sturm extends, one of two cartridges in it loaded. A ka-chunk is audible, followed by a small magical explosion. The energy around Storm Knight seemed to spark, filling with static. The shock of the energy causes Storm Knight to wince, both that dark energy and the strain of using that Cartridge. But she straightened. Both of her hands go to her Device. She opens her mouth, and then speaks in unison with her Device.

                "STURM BLITZ!"
                <STURM BLITZ.>

    Lightning immediately consumes Storm Knight, and she moves in a sudden bolt of lightning towards that large Shadow Youma. It only took a second or two before she was right in its face... The blade of her Device elongates as she lifts it. She begins to stab rapidly at the center of the Shadow Youma, intent on stabbing through the center of it one... two... three times. Then there were several rapid slashes. Each one designed to slash and break away at armor, an anti-fortification attack. "Miss White, it should be vulnerable! Finish it!" Storm Knight calls out, before flashing towards the Youma, dashing past it for one last powerful strike... a strong slash at any weapons it was holding to try to disarm it for Miss White's followup!

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Ao gives a frightened little whimper, not unlike a puppy, and she curls up tighter around herself.

The youma isn't too impressed with Suzuki's words! "Arrogant humans! I'll use my shadows to twist your bones!" It threatens, before Miss White pulverizes its merged compatriots.

The youma is far less talkative now, and seems to be caught flat footed as Storm Knight's defensive spell along with her Device split the arrow itself!

The creature tries to run, only to find wind binding its legs. Miss White, panting uncharacteristically and her shirt already red from opened wounds, smirks.

Most of her attention, for the moment, is on Suzuki as she loads her catridge into her device. The burst of magical power has her fascinated.

The youma doesn't even scream as it's slashed apart, bursting into bits of shadow that rain down from Suzuki's lightning-filled slashes and pierces. A shocked expression sits on the creature's face, barely able to keep itself together. It curses the pair, angry, it's shadow-bow flying off with its hand.

Miss White takes out a one yen coin. Blowing on it, it starts to spin in place, floating until it's a blurring ball of metal by human eyes. She flicks it with one finger.

Like a railgun, the coin slams into the melting forehead of the youma, and in a flash of light, the creature is gone.

Miss White ignores both the effect, and Suzuki for the moment as she runs over to Ao. She checks Ao over, and the pair share a good minute of hugging and reassuring each other. Then Ao glares at Miss White at her now bloody suit coat.

Adrenaline slowly fades, and then she turns to Suzuki as Ao forces her away. She's a little wobbly, but looks alright.

Miss White's injuries don't stop her from turning around, and then wrapping the other girl up in a tight, squeezing hugs. She might even feel tears from her 'enemy'. It's simple words she says, but they're heartfelt, and Miss White looks on the verge of breaking down crying.

"Thank you!" She mutters into Storm Knight's ear, before it's all too much, and she passes out.

Ao, shivering, takes out her phone.

"I'll get an ambulance. Thank you, Miss Storm Knight! You're...really a hero..." Ao stares at Storm Knight, hero worship blatant in her gaze.

Suzuki Natsume has posed:
     That whimper had just solidified Storm Knight's resolve. Ao was someone who she needed to protect. She was someone important to her, and her friend, Hannah. And... Miss White as well, for some reason. She wasn't so sure about that. She wanted to warn Ao about Miss White... but... it would make her worse trying to destroy a friendship that didn't seem to be actively attempting to harm or corrupt Ao.

     "...I have not spoken in arrogance this day. I have felt her strength first-hand several times. Something as ephemeral as darkness isn't going to even make the passion behind that strength falter." Storm Knight says softly. She had respect for her enemy, even if she was her enemy. It was honorable to admit her enemy's strengths.

     After her attack, Storm Knight slowly shifts her blade, lowering it down as Miss White finished off the creature. That was a new attack. Interesting. That was knowledge to file away, meanwhile she'd not really revealed much -- at least, not to her knowledge. She'd used cartridges before, after all.

     The Youma was destroyed, Storm Knight watched silently to ensure that it was destroyed... before she gives a slow exhale. "...This fight is over. However, to my knowledge, these do not appear on their own." Storm Knight murmurs. "You'll have to root out the source of it on your own most likely, Miss White." She says. She stood nearby, keeping a watch as Ao and Miss White hugged each other. Ensuring that it was safe.

     And then Miss White came over to her. It was mostly unexpected. Arms wrapped around her. Storm Knight's gaze turns towards Miss White's face as she speaks, listening to her as she spoke those heartfelt words. "...No death is acceptable." Storm Knight murmurs softly. And then... Miss White passes out. "...Verdrehen Sturm, transfer energy to maintain her Barrier Jacket until I leave. I do not want to learn who she is this way." Storm Knight murmurs softly.

     Storm Knight carefully lowers Miss White to the ground, turning towards Ao Karina as she speaks. "...I do not wish for anyone to die. Even those who are misguided by their passions." Storm Knight murmurs softly, looking up towards Ao with a small smile. "That you're safe is the most important thing." She steps towards Ao, reaching to pat her shoulder. "Keep watch over her until the ambulance arrives." Storm Knight says simply, before turning to leap off onto the nearest building, leaving as Verdrehen Sturm's support of Miss White's barrier jacket continues until she's safely out of sight.