Bring Your Kid To Work

[63rd_shockwave]

"..."

Sarah's got a companion as she wanders around the base one sunday-a small, bright-eyed boy sitting on her shoulders, who wastes no time in asking about everything.

"Hey, mom, what's that for?" He asks, pointing at a kirby-esque bit of machinery gathering dust in the back of the hangar.

"Neutron Polarizer, it lets you reverse the polarity of the neutron flux." she replies, perfectly deadpan.
"You just made that up!"
"Nope."

Jacob pouts briefly, before pointing over at someone else.
"Hey, mom, who's that? Are they an alien too? Or a demon?"
"...Man, you couldn't have just asked to go to the park, could you..."


2.[Locked to a certain NPC]

Eventually, the appointed time comes, and Sarah and Jacob arrive at the chosen place. Children and their parents are playing in the park, people are walking their dogs, and some college students are playing disc golf. Percival stands some feet away from Sarah, by the side of the road. Seraphina waits in the driver's seat of his car, the engine running.

Sarah motions for Jacob to take his things and go to the car, but he does not move until she gently pushes him on the back. He gets in the car, and soon Seraphina's driving away.

Sarah watches her go, and sighs.
"Man, do we really gotta do this..."

Comments

[63rd_shockwave]

[Sarah parries-or tries to; her body moves a little bit slower than she expects, and the sword drives itself into her shoulder. She just grits her teeth, and when Percy pulls the sword out for another attack, she...leaps away, fleeing across treetops.]

I know you never liked how I eat cereal, but this is a bit much, don't you think!

[srwu_npc2]

"It's just like you, to joke in a situation like this."

Evasion successful! But now Percy stands on the ground, concentrating as the sword is held in a straight line with his arm.

"But you're just masking your real emotions under a facade, Sarah! Haa!"

With a quick circular motion, he gathers ki and sends it out of the blade - in the form of an energy wave attack!

[63rd_shockwave]

-Shit!

[Sarah twists in the air to avoid the slicing attack, but it still cuts into her ankle something fierce. She doesn't stick the landing, and more or less crashes into the brick building she was trying to land on.]

Oh, like you don't do the same damn thing...

[She struggles to her feet out of the crater she's landed in, using a wall for support.]

You're just a lot better at hiding your feelings and moving on anyways, that's all.

[She picks up a fragment of brick by her feet and hurls it at Percy.]

[srwu_npc2]

"...!"

This gives Percival some pause, but he still cuts that brick, two halves flying in opposite directions.

"Isn't it better to move on? The past will never return Sarah! It's useless for us to cling to it!"

He focuses ki again - and leaps into the skies!

"Even now I am prepared to deal the finishing hit. Prepare yourself, Sarah!" He starts to fall in a deadly swoop, aimed at you and the broken mess of a building you're in. But that attack took a lot of setup, so there is time to react - and better make it count.

[63rd_shockwave]

...If you say so, honey.

[Sarah shifts her position, moving to be in profile as she faces Percival. The injured ankle ruins her footing, but still, as Percival comes down for the finishing blow she extends her fist-and strikes.]

[srwu_npc2]

Percival gets hit with a painful-sounding crunch - and the punch sends him flying across the street. But while he is being thrown back, he swings with Shishenli one last time, sending blood spraying into the air. Your blood.


"Ugh..."

He lands heavily. That probably broke a bone or two... but on the other hand, due to either the last second counter or just Percy not going for killing blows, but the sword only cut your arm. Painful, but not life-threatening... yet.

"Sarah. Do not try to oppose us anymore."

He stands up, not without some difficulty, and starts walking away, leaving the destruction of your duel behind.

"Please."