Data missing. Requesting update...

[Idran1701]

Yes, it may have consequences. But as it is, to Greg the choice comes down to two possibilities; certain death for them here, or possible death for them in this "Shadow World". Such a choice is really no choice at all...thus, he takes ahold of Jikuro, and even as bloodied and swollen as his face is at the moment, he still manages a smirk as the two of them shift away.

(Indeed triggering that spell for the two of them; not doing any of this if the spell does not actually support multiple transitioners, however, so I'll scratch all this if that's the case.)

[Kelne]

Kelne took advantage of the Ikei being momentarily off balance, and struck himself, aiming to separate the creature's head from its shoulders. No sense wasting time dealing with this one when there were bound to be others along any minute.

------------------

"Call it forty or fifty," 32 said, "I can probably get most of them here in an hour or two."

[Endesu]

Though there were further details to be discovered, these escaped him as he triggered Shamash's spell.

He would get a fleeting glance at her furious expression as the two of them were teleported away.

Almost immediately, he would feel a slight 'shattering' - as if he had broken out of something that had been holding him back. What this thing was, he could not be certain of, but any worries about such were swiftly done away with as the duo arrived at their destination.

Said destination appeared to be an exact match of the city they had just left - save that they had returned to Room 101.

However, something was very wrong - everything was set in tones of black, white, and grey. Only Greg himself and Jikuro appeared to exhibit any notable form of color. In addition, the entire area seemed to have a restless, shifting disposition - though he did not lose his footing, he would begin to feel somewhat woozy by his very standing there.

Jikuro groaned from her prone position on the ground; perhaps she was finally returning to consciousness?

***

Kelne's attack also struck the Ikei dead on... however, it failed to dig in as deep as Kelne had likely intended it to. Instead, his weapon impacted against the flesh, made a deep indentation, and then bounced back. The Ikei, unperturbed, simply began its forward progress once again.

Apparently, his blade was not going to be terribly effective, unless he wished to play a game of beach ball with a hostile mutation.

The sounds of further growls could be heard emnating from each fork in the path...

***

Justin nodded. "That number should not only be sufficient, but also prevent me from suffering a mental relapse."

He approached the control panel and pressed a few buttons, opening the hatch. "All right, then, be off with you, and try to gather them all here. I'll send a few of my own Minions to assist you in your search, and to temporarily get them out of my hands."

With this, #-32 and #-96 approached and saluted #32, with their nets. "Just give us the word, and our nets will be at your disposal!" Both stated in sync. Well, #-32 recited it well enough. #-96 seemed to get confused about halfway. His second half of the sentence became "... and our helmets will be your next art project!"

Whether or not he was serious remained up for debate.

Justin glanced towards Stephen. "Well? You going to accompany them?"

"And help in gathering more of them? I'd rather wait in the ship." Stephen groused.

"Suit yourself."

[Idran1701]

Trying to keep steady, Greg rips off his sleeve, using it as a makeshift bandage for his leg for now; might be good to start conserving his ring until they can find a healer to recharge it. Once that's done, he begins checking over Jikuro, examining the state of her wounds as she comes back to consciousness, keeping a grip on his sword in one hand and his potion of choking mist in the other, should Shamash make a sudden appearance herself. When it appears that she's awake enough to respond, he speaks, giving a small forced smirk.

"Hey. You know, I think it'd be better for both of us if you didn't do that again, all right?"

He continues, a little more seriously, "How're you feeling? Think you're all right for now?"

[Kelne]

Kelne swore absently to himself. Why was it that everybody these days had some sort of bloody resistance to being killed?

"I don't seem to recall the ones back at the town doing that," he remarked to 42, even as he switched over to a different tactic - a quick thrust to the chest, backed by a surge of electricity. Hopefully that would have an impact, as he simply didn't have the reserves left for any seriously exotic spells.

------------

And so 32 led the anti-minions on an epic quest to round up a bunch of his fellows. Such a tale, told in its entirety, would probably be enough to drive good men mad. Suffice it to say that they were able to return at the appointed time with an assortment of random minions.

[Endesu]

For the moment, at least, there was no sign of the assassin.

Jikuro's eyes would slowly open, and for a moment, she only responded with a groan. A moment later, though...

"You should've left me to my fate... I didn't want you to face a fate worse than that which was already drawn out for you... but I suppose it's too late for that. Especially now."

She sighed and sat up, still groaning. "I... still hurt somewhat, and I need to deal with these bullets."

With that, she reached into her pack of stuff (still there, amazingly enough) and began rummaging around for presumed medical supplies.

***

42 nodded. "The ones within this Tower tend to be a bit tougher than the ones that tend to roam around outside..."

Kelne's thrust just so happened to manage to pierce a previously unseen tube trailing from the sown-in gasmask. The following burst of lightning seemed to seal the deal of the attack...

And the Ikei, somewhat unexpectedly, exploded in a burst of green guts and juices.

Kelne, naturally, was covered in most of them.

42 couldn't help but snicker.

***

Justin noted the assembly as they arrived and welcomed at the hatch of the ship. "Hello, Minions. Kelne is not here to give you orders, but, as I've told #32, I'll be here to give you orders. And your orders will be to dig a gigantic hole. Perhaps the biggest hole in the history of this planet. Do you think you're up to it?"

"Are you serious?" scoffed Stephen, just out of sight from the hatch.

"Shush!" Justin responded, trying to keep his leadership role from being broken off.

[Idran1701]

Hobbling over and taking a seat against the wall near Jikuro, Greg continues to keep an eye out as he speaks, sighing.

"Look, you trust me, yeah? In my eyes, that means if I just let you run off and face whatever this so-called 'fate' you're talking about on your own, that'd be just as much a betrayal as if I sold you out to them myself. Whatever's gonna happen, if you're gonna face it, so'm I. Besides, can't be that hard to change fate again, right?"

Glancing over his leg, he winces, continuing on reluctantly

"Eh...think I might have my own bullet to take care of myself...doesn't look like it went through clean. This'll hurt even worse for the both of us, won't it?"

[Endesu]

Jikuro set herself to a resigned silence on the first point. She likely had more to say about it, but at this point, she was not entirely forthcoming in her speech.

On the second point, concerning bullets, she nodded. "You know it."

At this, she pulled out a doctor's kit of some sort, and began to pull out a series of sharp instruments, among them some excruciatingly sharp looking hypodermic needles (with syringes attached, naturally enough).

"I hope you don't mind needles? The first step on this sort of operation will be to apply anesthetic."

[Idran1701]

Greg looks at the syringes warily, with no recognition towards the devices. "...Might mind 'em less if I knew what they were for. Never heard of that stuff, or seen anything like those before."

[Endesu]

"Ah, right, I've forgotten that you folk are a little..." She cleared her throat, as if to cut off any potentially offensive words. "Never mind. All right, listen. The needles have typically been referred to as 'hypodermic'; the tubes, 'syringe'. The idea is to place a substance in the tube. The needle's fine point is then pressed into the skin, and is intended to break through the skin to muscular tissue below, or perhaps into a vein."

To illustrate this point, Jikuro indicated a vein on her wrist, before continuing.

"... followed up by an injection of the substance from the syringe, through the needle, into the muscle, or vein, or whatever you're after. In this particular case, the substance is a pain killer, and can be used to help reduce pain associated with both the bullet's presence as well as with the operation that is to come."

At this, Jikuro flashed a few sharp tools. "Said process of removing the bullets will involve... some work."

[Idran1701]

He seems to get the general idea, at least, and nods as Jikuro finishes her explanation. "...Ah. Well, getting stabbed with a needle can't be any worse than getting shot, I guess. Sure, go ahead."

As she begins her work, Greg tries to stay still as best he can. "So, sounds like you've done this sorta thing before?"

[Endesu]

"Yes, I've done all kinds of work like this. I know I didn't exactly mention it to you before, but I'm sure it didn't much matter then..."

Jikuro swiftly went to work. She first filled a syringe with a clear substance of some sort. She then took out a brown bottle of some sort and opened it. This action was followed up with the taking out of a bag of some sort. She pulled out from there a small wad of what appeared to be pressed cotton, and began to soak the wad with some of the brown bottle's strong-smelling substance.

"This has been referred to as rubbing alcohol." Jikuro continued. "It's typically used to cleanse the skin before an injection is made."

This said, she removed any pants-type clothing items that were in the way of her work. She took the wad of soaked cotton and began rubbing some of the curious substance onto the wounded area of contact.

"Now, this may sting a bit."

[Idran1701]

Nodding, he tries to steel himself against the impending treatment. "Right. Might as well go ahead; ready as I can be, here."

[Endesu]

And so, Jikuro injected the substance into the area roughly around the point of bullet contact. The initial feeling of prickly pain that would surround the needle breaking through the surface of the skin would be joined with a rushing wave of relief; all of his pain seemed to disappear almost simultaneously.

In fact, he was a bit too relieved - he found his entire body seemed to calm a bit too much.

[Idran1701]

"...Wow. Heh. Works fast, doesn't it?"

He gazes off past Jikuro a bit, as the tension of the last day or so washes away thanks to the magic of pharmaceuticals. Chuckling a bit, Greg tries to stay focused on his watching. It's pretty obvious that it's at least partially a losing battle, though, his face plastered with a somewhat incongruous smile.

"...Y'know, I think things're gonna end up okay. We've had some rough times so far, but in the end, things'll turn out just fine."

[Endesu]

"The stuff I'm using is a bit stronger than what is typically distributed, so... the effect you feel now is not typical."

She paused, as she began to work at the site. Though Greg could hear her tools working away, slowly, he couldn't feel a thing. Whether this struck him as worrisome or relieving was up to him.

"I wish I could have your optimism. If you've only seen what I've seen, you might think differently."

The drug, as it were, worked at Greg further; he could still move, but to move would go against the almost overbearing wave of relaxation that was washing over him...

[Idran1701]

Slumping a bit, Greg tries to fight the increasing feelings of relaxation going through him right now and keep up a lookout, though it's growing ever more difficult to do so.

"...'m sure 's not that bad. You're jus' too worried. You'll see, we'll both come outta this jus' fine...nothin's stopped us yet, afte' all, right?"

[Endesu]

"No, you'd need to see what I've seen... trust me, it's troublesome, to say the least. Far worse than anything you've seen. I guarantee it.... and I think it's just a matter of luck that we've gotten this far."

She seemed to finish in a matter of moments, as she brought a bloodied pellet of metallic substance into the air. "I believe this is what we're looking for. Let me bandage you up, and you should be good to go... save that drugged feeling of yours, which will last for a bit."

"Never cared much for the Corporation, but I gotta say: you can always count on their drugs."

As if she had been waiting for this moment, Shamash emerged... from out of nowhere, perhaps, swiftly seizing Jikuro by the throat and holding a staff of some sort against it.

Jikuro's expression was one of surprised annoyance, particularly since she had yet to patch up the opened area of flesh and muscle.

"Hah. Clever of you to use my spell. Not so clever to know that I can track any usage of it. I know far more about it than you ever could, you see..." At this, she tightened the staff against Jikuro's throat, who was currently attempting to grab one of the hypodermic needles. Shamash's hold, however, was far too strong.

"Now, then. I see what you're holding there, and unless you want her neck snapped now, I'd advise you drop your weapons. Not that they'd do you much good right now."

[Kelne]

"Yeah, it's a real laugh a minute. Can we get going before the damned things swarm us?" So saying, Kelne continued down the corridor. Today, he was convinced, could and would get even worse. A depressing thought if ever there was one.

Stretching out with his astral senses, he tried to get a feel for any currents of power that might be at work in the tower. Hopefully, that would give him some idea of where their eventual destination might be.

-----------------

There was a collective rumble of aggreement from the minions, broken by a question from #147, "Even bigger than the Great Pit of '03?"

[Idran1701]

Taken by surprise, the shock helps to drive away a good amount of Greg's current relaxation...not exactly in the best frame of mind right now, he releases his hold on his weapons, holding his arms up. Though still slurring his speech a bit from the medication, the danger helps keep him lucid for now.

"...All right. Jus'...let her go...I'm sure she's more useful t' you 'live than dead, anyway, right? The dream thing an' all."

[Endesu]

42 still snickered a bit, but let it drop. "That's one other thing about those floating ones - puncture them, and you'll end up decorated in their entrails. I'm sure you can go without a bath for a bit, though. But right, right, let's keep moving."

That said, 42 went on, with Kelne presumably in tow.

Kelne's astral senses would pick up on a strong current of power that seemed to fully culminate at both the highest and lowest points of the Nerve Tower. The lowest point, in particular, apparently stemming from a considerable distance below their current location. That is to say, the trip certainly wouldn't be over and done with any time soon.

Kelne's ruminations would be interrupted by the arrival... from the right junction, now... of two mechanically constructed... wheels? They seemed to be ambling their way directly towards Kelne and 42, though they would have to close the distance to make contact, leaving Kelne with the first shot.

***

"Er... yes. Most definitely. Much bigger. Perhaps ten times bigger. You aren't scared of something bigger, are you? You'd want your Boss to be proud of you, wouldn't you?" Justin took a shot at the proud, authoritative commander at this point, and kept it up throughout.

"I also hope you're prepared... to deal with weeds! And rocks! Grass! Trees! Water! Those accursed squirrels! All of those dangerous natural elements! Do you think you can overcome them?!"

On an airship nearby, an assembled crowd of squirrels watched the proceeding events in an eerie silence. One squirrel... gray, with a red scar down its side, chittered quietly but angrily, pointing its paws directly at the scene, and the crowd responded in turn...

***

Shamash snickered. "Think I care? Think I give a shit? Ninurta didn't know jack, and though I was supposedly 'in on the plan', I don't have any intent on giving you up to some monster of darkness or whatever the hell it was. If anyone kills the two of you, it's gonna be me!"

Greg would find that though his relaxation was gone, swift movement was difficult. Further, his leg was still open, and attempting to move onto said leg would cause a most likely painful result to occur. He was a bit stuck at the moment.

"Will I let her go? What, so she can jab me in the leg with her needle? C'mon, you little bitch!" And with that, Shamash took a step back, jerking Jikuro back with her. This caused the staff to only drive in further, causing the elf to choke slightly.

"Now, then. I might give you one chance to get a head start from me. Because hell, I'm the sporting type. It's admittedly been a bit fun chasing the two of you, though you've also pissed me off tremendously in the process. But, like I said, it's been a bit of fun, as well. So, if you do as I say, you might get a few extra minutes to get away from me."

She paused, as a devilish grin of sorts spread rather wickedly across her face. "Or, if you don't do as I say, I can tear the two of you apart, and give your remains to the Shadows. What do you say, huh?"

[Idran1701]

Blinking and trying to manage a glare to Shamash, he glances briefly towards Jikuro, before turning back to the nekojin.

"...If she drops th' needle, would you be willing t' give both of us that head start?"

[Kelne]

Even given all the weird stuff he'd seen over his career, Kelne couldn't help but stare blankly at the wheels for a few moments.

"What. The. Hell?"

Then habit took over, and he reacted accordingly. Letting the wheels continue on their collision course, he sidestepped to the left at the last moment, jamming his sword into the works of the nearer wheel as it passed. Or whatever passed for works, anyway.

---------------

"Squirrels?" This question came from #70, "Why should we be worried about squirrels? Don't they live above ground?"

It seemed that Justin was running up against the annoying tendency of people to ask inconvenient questions.

[Endesu]

Shamash's devilish grin deepened. "I might actually consider her using a weapon. Listen up, you weak little shits... as much entertainment as you've given me, you haven't given me anything of a direct challenege. It's goddamned boring to deal with two people who have managed to gather the attention of a professional assassin task force and not even get a chance to draw or lose some blood.

So I want her to fix up your wound, and I want the two of you to give me a good match. Get me down by a few degrees, and I'll give you a headstart. Fail and I'll dismember the two of you slowly. Refuse to my offer and I'll also, likely, dismember you slowly. How's that for a choice?"

***

If Kelne had thought it odd before, he would think it even odder as the wheel stopped in the midst of his attack on it. Said attack was presumably directed towards the more detailed guts of the interior - a bizarrely convoluted mix of gears, tubes, and other assorted parts made for perhaps one of the most unusually visible mechanical compositions Kelne would ever see.

His attack set off a few tubes and stopped a few gears... and as if in response, one of the treads on the wheel, fixated towards the top at this point, opened, and a mutated head of sorts jerked out of the hole, swinging its tongue out of its mouth and rather painfully smacking Kelne across the face.

Apparently not poisoning and not overly damaging... but still smarting.

42 had already engaged the other wheel, though he appeared to be taking a more careful tact than Kelne in approaching the bizarre enemy. Indeed, 42 was keeping a few steps away from it as he alternated between attacking the head and the mechanical parts...

***

"Suffice to say, you do not wish to ask about the squirrels. You do not wish to know about the squirrels. I'm not entirely certain who they're allied with, but they've already begun accting far too suspiciously for my liking. If you see one, destroy it as soon as possible."

Justin, much like his counterpart, Kelne, had managed to gain another lifelong enemy; the squirrel squad, having let off one last chitter of anger, stealthfully began to make their way onto the external covering of Justin's ship.

"Sigh... Any other questions?"

[Kelne]

This time, it fell to 32 to ask the question, "Um, not to complain or anything, Not-Boss, but why are we digging the pit?"

He drew incredulous stares from several of his fellows, who apparently found it inconceivable that anyone would need any sort of a reason to dig a pit ever.

-------------------

At this point, Kelne was becoming inured to the insanity. This sort of thing pretty well had to be Infinity's work. Who else would create such unholy hybrids of flesh and machine?

Resolving to decapitate Infinity's local representative on principle, Kelne responded to the appearance of the head by attempting to stab the damned thing in the eye.

[Endesu]

Justin paused, perhaps surprised that a Minion actually questioned the necessity of a pit.

But he had a sudden flash of insight, and responded to 32 in as crisp and direct a fashion as possible:

"Why not?"

***

The blade traveled and pierced one of the being's eyes. It did not appear to appreciate the sentiment, and responded by drawing back and violently whiplashing its bizarre tongue against Kelne's chest.

Regardless of whatever he may have had on, this one blow was enough to shake him quite considerably and deal some fairly painful hurt in the process.

(-10 HP.

53/128 HP remaining.)

[Idran1701]

He glances between the two, considering for a brief period of time before slumping back against the wall.

"...Fine, i's a deal. I'd be stupid not t' take a deal like tha', an'way."

[Endesu]

Shamash laughed wickedly, removing her staff from Jikuro's throat and kicking her over to where Greg lay. "Then get to work, you little shits! And no funny stuff, or else I won't even bother giving you a chance!"

And with that, she headed outside. "I'll be waiting out in the streets. Don't keep me waiting!"

Jikuro groaned from the impact and slowly brought herself up, checking her neck for any potentially permanent damage. Finding none, she sighed and returned to Greg's wound. "She couldn't have come at a worse time... I haven't even had a chance to remove the bullets still inside me. D'you think you can hold her off while I finish working on myself?"

She was working at patching up his wound as quickly as possible, now; all sorts of rubbing alcohol, bandaging and the like, naturally enough, went onto it,

[Kelne]

"Oh, well, since you put it that way... When do we start?"

--------------

Oh yes, simply marvellous. Kelne decided that enough was enough. Taking a few steps back out of tongue range, he pulled his pisol and fired, aiming at the remaining eye.

[Idran1701]

"Well, I can try." Glancing out the door, he sighs, blinking a bit as he tries to think through the effects of the drug. "Not 'specially keen on gettin' disemboweled, aft' all. Think you'll be all right workin' in here on y'rself? Seems li' that'd be a bi' trick'r."

[Endesu]

"Right away. We're heading off to the Forbidden Plains, unless anyone has any objections?"

At this point, the airship was closing up, and Justin was bringing everyone further into the ship; there was plenty of space for all of the Minions present. As everyone drew forward, a squirrel or two snuck their way into the ship, hiding themselves from further detection.

"On that note, is anyone in need of nourishment?"

***

The head sprouting from the wheel screamed in agony as the other eye went. The now eyeless headweed shook wildly... and exploded in a burst of stinging juices which, once again, enveloped Kelne.

(-5 HP.

48/128 HP remaining.)

42 swiftly dispatched the other Wheel, keeping his distance in order to avoid the resulting splash.

"That's why one should always..."

42's apparent words of wisdom were cut off by the arrival now of a swarm of flying eels... well, they looked like eels, save for the rows of butterfly-ish wings and miniature, sharptoothed human heads.

There were at least ten or twenty of them, and though they had some distance to cover, they were closing in quickly... with sharp teeth gnashing and snapping at the duo.

***

"Yes, I wish I had a drug that had... less of an effect, but our hands are tied here. And I'll be fine to work on myself alone... I've done it plenty of times before, so no worries there."

She looked to him as she began to set herself up for the medical work to come. "Just try not to screw up out there, huh?"

[Idran1701]

Nodding, Greg struggles to his feet, taking his sword and putting the potion back on his belt. "Same t'you, Jikuro. 'll be back inna bit."

Trying to give her a confident smile as best he can through the haze of the medication, he heads out, sword ready. Stepping onto the street, he looks around, spotting Jikuro. "All right...this isn't gonna be some sorta...assassin ninja honor duel or some nonsense li' that, is it?"

And while he talks...well, it's always good to have a bit of a backup, just in case.

(Another Browse Mental Spellbook for a random spell of Shamash's.)

[Kelne]

Still more hordes of forthing creatures intent on getting him killed. Well, time to see if the whole explosive death thing could be made to work in his favour.

Kelne took aim at a couple of the leading creatures, and fired off both of the remaining barrels in his pistol, hoping to set off a chain reaction amongst the eels before they got close enough that the explosions from dying ones would engulf him.

That done, he traded pistols, bringing a fully loaded one out as he watched the results of his ploy. At the rate, they were going to have their work cut out for them getting anywhere near the bottom of the tower. Hopefully, there'd be some kind of a reprieve after this. Beating off wave after wave of these things would wear him down fast.

----------------

No objections or cries of hunger were forthcoming from the minions. It seemed they were quite happy to dig up the Forbidden Plains, and perhaps now the show would be gotten on the road.

[Endesu]

Jikuro paused prior to her work and gave a thumbs up in return. The significance of this was, likely, unknown to him, but no matter.

Shamash would be waiting out on the shadow street with staff readied. Her devilish grin was still there, and her very hands were twitching; likely, she was looking forward to tearing into him.

His initial question would result in a shaking of the head from Shamash. "Shit, I left that crap behind a long time ago. No, this'll be an outright battle."

Greg's searching would produce the utilization of yet another spell. It appeared to be a Shadow-enhanced attack of some sort. However, the spell was apparently specially designed to work in conjunction with a particular weapon... Shamash's staff. Unless Greg somehow managed to get his hands on her staff and successfully wield it against her, he wouldn't be able to use this spell.

"And I'll let you have the first blow, too. C'mon and deal it." Following this command, she took a rather bizarre stance (one leg kneeling, the other stretched out to her side; both arms directed towars Greg) and seemed to be preparing for an attack.

***

Kelne's ploy worked... partially. His initial attacks would indeed take out the leading Ikei as well as a number of others following after in a chain reaction of explosions. The distance he fired at them, as well, insured that their resulting acidic explosion wouldn't impact him in any way.

However... roughly six or seven managed to weave through the chain reaction, unaffected in some manner, and managed to reach Kelene and 42 before they could ready another offensive. Following this, three or four of the eel-like Ikei rammed themselves into him around the upper-chest/neck area, in a surprisingly strong manuever.

(-10 HP.
38/128 HP remaining.)

42 began moving back swiftly, readying his blade and swiping at the Ikei as he attempted to draw back. He seemed to note Kelne's plight as he did so, though. "Hey, you about to die over there?"

***

Indeed, the show finally went on the road, with Justin piloting the ship off towards the Forbidden Plains.

The Anti-Minions and the Minions would have plenty of space to move around; the main area of the airship was large enough for them to wander from spot to spot and discuss the merits of a shovel vs. net debate. There was a lower floor, as well, that held crated goods. The Duck was also currently nesting down here, daring any random Minions to disturb it.

Stephen kept more towards where Justin was, perhaps to avoid having to deal with Minions more than necessary.

The ship would continue on in this sense for some time... before a curious scratching noise would begin to emnate from the outer shell of the ship. Said scratching began low but swiftly became higher in tone - a noise of some sort of clawed being digging into and scraping the outer surface of the ship, apparently.

Justin frowned, looking towards the source. "Now what? Any of you Minions want to investigate the mysterious, clawed, monstrous noise?"

[Idran1701]

Grimacing and trying to focus, Greg swings towards her side...feinting a blow, and trying for a glancing strike across her forehead. He knows from experience that facial wounds tend to bleed pretty badly...they're even worse when you couple them with the enchantment he triggers should he strike.

(Trying to give her something to interfere with her vision a bit, here. Start up a shallow, non-clotting head wound to get a nice blood flow into her eyes.)

[Endesu]

Shamash would barely react to the feint, but flinched slightly as the blow managed to skim across her forehead. A nice bit of blood did began to fall from her forehead... and the blood did begin to flow onto and through her eyes...

However, she stared him at him even as the blood was flowing through her eyes and staining at them... and grinning. "How did you know I enjoyed this? Honestly, either you got a lucky guess off or you're psychic..."

So, as it turned out, her own blood didn't blind her in the slightest. This wasn't exactly good news.

At this point, she was standing and preparing for a rush. Greg would have a moment's time to prepare...

[Kelne]

Kelne was on the defensive now, fending off various strikes from the eels. Still, he always had an eye on a chance to strike back. and took the opportunity to stab at one of his assailants, moving swiftly to put one of its fellows between him and the inevitable explosion.

"If we haven't reached that point of no return you were talking about earlier, I wouldn't say no to a strategic withdrawal," he said, "I doubt I'm going to make it to the bottom of this place at this rate."

--------------

There was a general rush for the upper deck on the minions' part. No great clawed thing was going to tear holes in the Not-Boss's airship on their watch. In fact, something of a logjam developed on the stairs as various people got in each others' ways. As much due to the luck of the draw as anything, 32 was the first to emerge onto the deck, shovel in hand, to confront whatever gargantuan horror was attacking the ship.

[Idran1701]

Stepping back from Shamash a bit, her reaction to this strike takes Greg by surprise pretty readily. Trying to put his reaction aside, he keeps his focus on her.

Greg makes another swing towards Shamash; no specific target in mind now, his only thought is in disabling her if he can, merely surviving if he can't. He keeps an eye out for her own attack, waiting to see just how she strikes, hoping to get a glimpse of something in her form or patterns he can use against her.

[Endesu]

Kelne managed to dispatch another small cluster of the Ikei through his careful manuevering; another two were taken out, leaving a smaller group of two, which took this time to launch another attack on him, dealing yet another chunk of damage.

(-10 HP.
28/128 HP remaining.)

Although one final shot would likely be able to dispatch these Ikei, his own body was clearly faltering under the pain and pressure put upon him by these monsters. At this rate, he would likely hit the dirt in his next battle.

42 swiftly dispatched the eel-like Ikei he had been facing and waited for Kelne to finish his own part of the battle. "If you insist, we can see about heading back to a safer spot. Just bear in mind that there really aren't any healing supplies readily available around here..."

***

32 (and any following Minions and Anti-Minions) would find themselves face-to-face with perhaps their greatest challenge yet: a figure in a lumpy, bulky overcoat, walking about on some form of stilts that appeared to scratch at the surface of the ship here and there. The 'head' of this menacing figure would appear to be a monocle, a gigantic fake mustache, and a derby hat.

Upon sighting the presence of the Minion Hivemind, the figure appeared to emnate an angry chittering noise and began to rush towards them, flailing its arms wildly.

How would the crowd respond to this dastardly attack?!

***

Shamash, once again, barely flinched in response to the attack.

Her devilish grin flattened out, and she made a swift charge directly at Greg. Rearing back just as she reached him, she went into a backwards flip that just so managed to drive her feet into his chin, making for a very painful kick to the chin. Needless to say, this would hurt and throw him back a ways.

(-15 HP.
51/91 HP remaining.)

Following this attack, she once again landed on her feet and dashed back to her prior starting position.

[Kelne]

Forcing his abused body to obey him, Kelne darted sideways, taking several strides away from the eels, safely out of the blast radius, before firing a bullet into each.

"Truth be told, I doubt it'd make much difference," he said, "By the time any non-magical healing had a chance to kick in, any benefits would be undone by this bloody rot that Infinity hireling infected me with. No, what we need to do is regroup and come up with a plan which doesn't involve fighting our way through the whole damn tower one floor at a time."

-----------------

By whacking it with a shovel with a cry of "Have at you, fiend!" or "NINJA STEALTH ATTACK!" or perhaps "Remember Last Tuesday!" depending on the particular minion in question.

Ah, subtlety...