=>[META] Personnel (Caffeine Crew)

[Yamashii]

Quote:

HP: 2/20
Military Grade Weapon
Training Troll Relations

Amonee is punching zombos
damage: 0
zombos left: 5
8/16 advances
2/3 minibosses defeated

"Gck- please, stop-" Amonee gasped for breath as the zombies continued to close in. Their claws swiped at the group, scratching and grabbing onto anything they could. The jadeblood felt so weak against them, swinging without much speed or power behind his attacks. They continued to push backwards with the daywalkers hot on their trails. It felt hopeless but they had to continue to try and survive at least.  

[Doutei]

Quote:

HP: 0/20
Damage: N/A
Military grade weapon: +1
Offensive Trinket Adept Style B: 3/3
Defensive Trinket Novice Style B: 3/3

Nucleo is down but still around-ish
Boss HP: 3/30
Novice Agility Style B: 0/1
Nucleo is using his clones!
4d6 hits with +1 to accuracy to each on this attack, 1x per battle. First two numbers are the 'hit or miss' determiners, second two are the damage done.

It was becoming apparent now they weren't going to make it. Nucleo watched as Amonee struggled to continue on, his chest tightening with each step the jadeblood took.

Part of being a leader was inspiring your team, pushing them to their limits to see what they were capable of. But that was only part of it. It was also their job to recognize when it was time to stop. To keep their team safe.

"Amonee- stop. We can't keep going." The greenblood looked into those eyes. He implored his friend to slow down. They needed to turn back and seek medical attention. And to warn the others.  

[Yamashii]

Quote:

HP: 1/20
Military Grade Weapon
Training Troll Relations

Amonee is punching zombos
damage: 0
zombos left: 5
8/16 advances
2/3 minibosses defeated

"Yes, but-" Amonee looked at Nucleo with tears welling at the corners of his eyes, "There's still so many of them left. They're going to chase us if I don't finish them off!" By this point, Amonee had accepted their fate of turning back. But he wanted to do it safely since the four of them were exhausted and injured beyond anything that had ever happened to them before.

Well, he supposed he had been through this before. His mind went back to that awful night in Civisect as he and Nucleo raced side by side to try and stop the explosives. They had failed that night and so many people had been hurt, others had died. He'd had brightmares of the events occasionally, fewer of them nowadays. But the overwhelming defeat and failure felt similar to this. Only this time, it was all of Alternia at stake.

"N-Nucleo-" The jadeblood sobbed, grabbing a hold of him and pressing his forehead into the greenblood's back so no one could see his face. He grieved for what was to come should the other squadrons fail.

It hurt to accept your own limits.  

[Doutei]

Quote:

HP: 0/20
Damage: N/A
Military grade weapon: +1
Offensive Trinket Adept Style B: 3/3
Defensive Trinket Novice Style B: 3/3

Nucleo is down but still around-ish
Boss HP: 3/30
Novice Agility Style B: 0/1
Nucleo is using his clones!
4d6 hits with +1 to accuracy to each on this attack, 1x per battle. First two numbers are the 'hit or miss' determiners, second two are the damage done.

"Let them." Nucleo murmured. He was carrying Eilidh still so unfortunately he couldn't do much to help fend them off. However, they could still run- or at least stumble away. He understood Amonee's concern, they all were beaten pretty bad. But he'd rather carry a hundred scars on his back than let Amonee die here protecting them. The jadeblood's arms wrapped around him and Nucleo winced at how much it hurt to hear him cry. Sure they'd all cried many times before, and the painter was certain to do it many more times in their future.

Because they would have a future.

But the hopeless sobs would echo in his mind for weeks to come once they finished their retreat. Faced with his weakness, Nucleo would not forget the pain or the dimmed light in Amonee from that day. Nor the way he'd burned so bright.

"It's going to be okay." They were stepping down, heading back to a shameful retreat. But he knew they could make it back and be treated, despite their numerous injuries. The greenblood hated knowing they'd failed again, understanding the tremble in Amonee's voice. He hated that they'd preached the power of love but been slapped by reality that it wasn't enough. They needed the military to handle this threat for them, it was too powerful. They needed her.

"It's not over yet." He turned, looking into Amonee's eyes determinedly. He couldn't exactly hug him with his moirail like this, so he leaned down to try and spare him a moment of comfort in some other way. Kissing his forehead, Nucleo smiled. He would be strong for him right now, until they were safely off the ship.

"Now run!"  

[Yamashii]

Quote:

HP: 0/20
Military Grade Weapon
Training Troll Relations

Amonee is punching zombos
damage: 3
zombos left: 2
8/16 advances
2/3 minibosses defeated

A kiss pressed to his forehead and Amonee flushed. It felt like a heavy weight had been blown off of him. He nodded quietly, dabbing at his eyes with his sleeve. It felt like Nucleo was forgiving him for his inability to carry the team forward. It was going to be okay. Eilidh was unconscious but alive. Xavier was still walking and breathing. It was going to be a rough trip home but they were still in one piece.

"Okay. We're going!" He swallowed and wrapped an arm around his moirail to support them both. Using his club, the jadeblood swatted a few more daywalkers out of their path so they could start a slow jog back to the pod. This wasn't how he'd wanted the mission to go but at least it was how he'd wanted it to end. Going home together.  

[leon_a_darkangel]

HP: 0/20

Xavier looked to his three closet friends with pride, and admiration. They had come so far. His moirail was simply amazing for how brightly he had shone, and hard he fought. Xavier had learned his own limits on this day a fact he was not proud of. He had tried so hard to fight for them, and he had come up short.

However, they would all live to see another day. Their future was at hand. Nothing on this ship was worth seeing his friends take on lasting injuries.

Thoughts of them all warm and safe by the television while a fire burned filled him with hope, however. It was going to be alright. They were going to make it out of here. Seeing his moirail with tears in his eyes, his matesprit being carried by Nucleo..and just how much pain the greenblood barista was in made his pumpbiscuit tight with emotion. Tears welled in his vision, they had come so far but at what price? The pain, fear and stress this had caused upset him. Seeing his friends in pain and his moirail in tears tore at his very foundation

Xavier's whole world was right in front of him. Everyone was alive that was what mattered most right now.

Weakly he took hold of Amonee, nearly cradling him to his frame as tightly as he dared. They both had their shared jadeblood dripping from several wounds. He pressed a kiss to the painters temple. "I've got you." He whispered softly in a soothing manner, ignoring the tears that stained his freckled cheeks. Xavier leaned into him, the feeling of his embrace brought him comfort. "It's okay..you did you're very best. We all did. This is better than any other alternative." Xavier managed to say with the tiniest of smiles despite his grim expression.

They were getting the hell out of here.

Looking to Nucleo he nodded. "Just...a little further and we'll be at the docking station. Thank you..I owe you so much more than words can express." He winced from discomfort, while he was upset he had to remain strong. Quickly scrubbing at his eyes he kept moving forward with his friends. Pain aside, he made no motions to slow down. They all needed each other, stopping now would only slow all of them down.

Defeat had never tasted so bitter, but it was a pill worth swallowing if they all could live to spend another night together.

The best part of course was they made it. By the Mothergrub they had seen better days and looked worse for the wares, but loading onto that return ship had never been more satisfying. Xavier sat down with a heavy sigh as he reached out, touching Eilidh's arm before looking to Nucleo, her moirail with concern. She was okay, merely unconscious. He trusted Nucleo to be at her side while she rested. Xavier did not give Amonee a choice, he pulled him close, even if he was taller. He moved him so he was practically on Xavier's lap while he rested his head against Nucleo's arm.