476

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

-The corridor that Shieldmaiden chooses to clamber into is thankfully deserted. Some sort of commotion can be heard coming from the door to the left, whilst the door to the right appears to lead out onto a balcony overlooking the factory courtyard.-

477

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

-keeping one eye on the other door, Shieldmaiden creeps to the right and pauses to listen for noises coming from the other side. If all's quiet, she'll push the door open and peek out-

478

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

-All is indeed quiet, and peeking out of the door reveals a decent view of the courtyard, where two goons can be seen having what is clearly an intellectually stimulating conversation. Standing not five feet away from Shieldmaiden on the balcony itself is a woman with an assault rifle in her hands and a pair of Pokeballs on her belt. Overhead, a heavy goods crane appears to be lifting cargo containers out of the courtyard and moving them to the other end of the complex.-

479

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

-Shieldmaiden takes note of what she can see, then creeps back into the hallway (without closing the door, so as to avoid making a sound and alerting the woman) and goes to the other door, pressing her ear against it to see what she can hear-

480

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

-The noise of what must be more than a dozen caged Pokemon squawking and rattling the bars of their cells can be heard through the door. Two voices - one female, one male - are attempting to have some kind of argument over the din, though one has to strain to make out their words.-

Voice 1: ...enough of them, I'm afraid.

Voice A: Bullshit! We've done everything you asked us to. You don't get to try and weasel out of the deal now. They're all here, every last one of them. Now it's time for you to pay up, unless you want to-

Voice 1: Rest assured, when I make a promise, I keep it. We'll have to try and make do with what we have available. Just move them to the top of the tower and you'll get your reward.

-Voice A's response is drowned out by a loud bang and a sudden uproar from the caged Pokemon.-

481

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

Sounds like my cue.

-Shieldmaiden shifts to human form and kicks at the door, activating her pistons on contact to force it open-

482

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

-The door offers about as much resistance as a sheet of wet cardboard. It opens out onto a large open room containing a number of Pokemon - mainly Psychic-types - in cages, a large man with a big stick who has just been floored by the broken door flying into him at high speeds, a pair of Houndoom, a trio of armed guards, and a figure in sleek white body armour wearing an expressionless mask. There is a half-second's silence, until...-

Voice 1: I thought I made it clear that we weren't supposed to be accepting visitors today.

-Both Houndoom douse the doorway with Flamethrowers.-

483

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

-Shieldmaiden quickly raises Snarling Beast and ducks behind it to shield her face, her suit absorbing the rest of the Flamethrower harmlessly-

Shieldmaiden: Sorry, boys. I would've called ahead, but that's not really my style.

-she raises her arm cannon and fires at the man on the ground, moving Snarling Beast between her and the armed guards and putting up an Obscura barrier between her and the Houndoom-

484

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

-The man on the ground doesn't seem to be in any position to get up. A hail of assault rifle fire opens up, but Snarling Beast seems to be capable of deflecting it - for a few seconds, at least. Whatever attack the Houndoom use is blocked by the Obscura barriers, but one of the guards sends out a Koffing, which launches a spray of Poison Gas at Shieldmaiden's face.-

Masked Figure: Well, I have places to be. Don't let me keep you.

-The figure in white slips out and disappears through the back door.-

485

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

-Shieldmaiden recoils from the Poison Gas, coughing. She throws up an Obscura dome around her while she recovers, then presses the button on her helmet to call the Avenger-

Shieldmaiden: There's a guy in white and a mask trying to sneak out. Don't let him.

-she expands the dome out to hit the various men in the room, following up with her arm cannon while they're disoriented. She slings Snarling Beast onto her back and throws up a barrier to cover her back and sides as she runs for the Pokemon cages-

486

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

-The Obscura dome and arm cannon blasts are enough to keep the guards off of Shieldmaiden's back as she runs for the cages. However, one of the Houndoom manages to retain enough presence of mind to try and latch its jaws onto her arm. Through the communicator, the Avenger's voice is audible, but highly distorted.-

The Auric Avenger: [static] ...trying to... [static] ...top of the crane, there's a... [static]

487

Re: The (Non-canon) Adventures of Shieldmaiden and the Auric Avenger

Virbank City

-Shieldmaiden yelps as the Houndoom grabs her, but her suit doesn't tear. She brings Snarling Beast around to smack it on the nose, then flicks the switch to set the rotors whirring and slashes at the locks on the cages of Pokemon-

-she looks upwards at the crane, pressing the button for the communicator again-

Shieldmaiden: I'm losing you, Avenger. What's going on? Can you hear me?