Billyboy

Podo's cybernetic arm fell to the goblin's side and hissed as it transformed back into its original shape. It needed time to cool, and also needed to pilfer some ammunition if it were to fire again.

The goblin transferred his sword to his right arm and nodded to Agent Immolate grimly. "Excellent tactics, thou art an inspiring ally. Let us not drop our guard, the warrior doubts that that will be the end."

Podo leapt nimbly to the side as the bullet whizzed into the ground, cursing. He hadn’t been caught off guard, however, and he was immediately working on tracking the enemy down.

His cybernetic eye glowed, switching vision fields and turning his world to black and white. It was mostly shades of gray, darker and lighter depending on the true colors, but one thing stood out. From where the bullet hit, his eye lit up the vapor trail to the sniper with a blazing white, showing the goblin exactly where the trooper was.

The little warrior lifted his arm, letting in work in sync with his eye, which lined it up perfectly with the vapor trail, raised slightly to account for drop. With a holler, Podo’s minigun arm began to spin, sending rounds whizzing at the marked position.

“Let us follow after Goro.” Podo suggested, not yet unsheathing his sword, but instead holding his right arm forward, willing it to become a minigun. It complied, morphing with a screech of metal. After several moments, it was complete, and the goblin’s arm consisted of a shoulder piece, a rotating chamber, and ten barrels to fire from. Smirking, the little warrior held the front of his right arm in his left hand for support and ran forward after Goro.

Loping after, Podo spoke loudly so both the stone king and his elven ally would hear him. “The doctor hath constructed mine arm with many functions, I shalt be able to hit our enemies from a long range, mayhap take out a few of the dogs before melee is joined.” He explained. He tapped his eyebrow as he continued. “Mine eyes can also see in spectrums different from thy own. As a denizen of deep holes, mine own natural eye can see infared, and mine replacement, robotic eye can detect the motion of others.”

Podo followed Agent onto to platform, giving the guard a thumbs-up. The lift shot upward and deposited them into the cityscape, where they stepped off. The lift lowered behind them, the ground closing up.

"Greetings, rock king Goro!" Podo waved as he and Agent walked to them. "Thou hast aquired allies for the games! I can only hope thou art pleased with thy new friends' appearance!"

“I pray my companion and myself are not too late!” Podo said to a guard at the lift. “Shalt we enter to lift, or are we truly doomed to spend our rather young morn in boredom? Wilt thou permiss me to enter this battle with Agent Immolate, my friend and ally?”

“Whatsay we join our newest companion in his battles!” Podo said excitedly to Agent Immolate as he leapt from the side of the lava pool and back to the rack, where he put his clothes and sword back on. With a pointy smile that looked odd on a goblin face accented with black eye makeup, the little man beckoned for his elven ally to follow him. “Shalt thou accompany me to the lowest arena, friend?”

Podo shook Goro’s heated hand with his metal arm, not afraid to squeeze too hard, as the man was made of rock. “Thou hails from the underground?” he inquired curiously. “As do I! I have only been on this curious surface world for a small number of years, perhaps it is the same with thee?”

“Agreed, thy quest will be complete by the end of the royale, this I swear!” the goblin promised enthusiastically. Waving for her to follow, he headed off down a corridor. “We shall speak of strategy once we are better rested, but for now, thou needn’t worry thyself.”

Upon entering the spa, Podo’s eyes widened at the varity of different bathing environments and bathers. Smiling, he walked to a rack and set his sword and belt on it, along with his shoes and shirt. The goblin stretched with a grunt and proceeded to spring into the air, landing right in a tub of steaming water.

The little man noticed his folly as he tried to resurface. He couldn’t get up! His cybernetic arm was too heavy, it was holding him down! The arm also seemed to realize this, however, and quickly extended, pushing him to the top so his head bobbed above the water.

The goblin sputtered for a moment and spat out a spout of water, using his left arm to wipe the water from his eyes. “Mayhap it would be best for that this goblin stay out of the tubs!” he laughed as a thrust from his arm sent him out of the pool. The mechanical appendage immediately withdrew from the water and compacted itself to its normal bulky size again.

Podo’s next destination was a pool of lava. He didn’t enter it, of course, he wouldn’t last any longer than a human in the stuff, but the heat it radiated was comforting.

Sighing contentedly, the goblin crouched down at the lava pool and closed his eyes, losing himself in memories for a moment before noticing a man sitting in the tub.

“Good morrow, rock man.” Podo said to Goro. “Forgive me for my ignorance, I did not notice thee. I am Podo, son of Browl Dogo. Who might you be?”

Podo twisted his left arm around in his usual fashion and shook Agent Immolate’s hand vigorously. “I second thy sentiments, I assure thee.” The goblin responded as their hands parted. “It is good to know thy name, elven ally Agent Immolate. I am called Podo, son of Browl Dogo, though I did not receive a surname before my village was razed.”

The little green man, seeming to be brimming with confidence, held out his arms wide with a smile. “Let us celebrate our new alliance and friendship!” he beckoned. “Methinks I have heard tell of a spa for gladiators such as myself and thee. Mayhap we shall journey to this place to take a minute respite to prepare ourselves for the next battle?”

“Elven ally, mayhap thou wouldst seek a teaming up between thee and myself?” Podo asked, smiling broadly now that his friend seemed happy again. “Together, we shalt bring our battles to the villainous dog you seek, and I shall gloat, ‘Sirrah, fool wizard, your dark magicks dost not compare to the talents of myself and’” The goblin cut himself off abruptly, looking concerned. “But I dost not even know thy name, ally! Speak it, I plead, for I cannot be a true companion if I cannot even address thee in proper fashion!”

((OOC: I'll head over to Goro once Podo finishes his talk with Immolate, perhaps he'll take her along. Oh, and happy birthday!))

“Huzzah!” Podo yelled, thrusting his metal fist into the air, a finger opening and shooting off a small amount of colorful and harmless sparks. “It would seem that thy enemy seeks entry into the greatest arena battle! We shan’t need to track the foul dog down, thy goal, thy quest, is in sight!” the goblin said happily to Agent Immolate.

"Methinks the registrar would organize such a duel." Podo replied. "Mayhap thou could ask him?"

The goblin was a bit taken back by Immolate's fiery temper, but he didn't let it show, he had been around amazing things all of his life, especially since coming to the surface world.

“The Circle is an enemy to us all, tis true.” Podo said. “If thou dost wish to clash steel with the foul magicks, then thy cause is honorable, and thy blades strike for justice. Mayhap we can track our foul enemy, and perhaps request a duel against the cur, following the rules of the arena.”

“I give thou my most sincere word that I shall assist thee with all of my power, if thee so ask of me.” Podo replied, looking concerned. “Thou hast performed a great charity upon my head, tis true, and this small warrior feels a debt to thee. Tell me of thy troubles, good elven ally.” He pleaded.

Podo, ever helpful, saw the pout on Agent Immolate’s face and walked to her, pulling on her robe lightly to get her attention. She looked down at him and he smiled, showing his pearly white, pointy teeth.

“Well met, elven ally.” He greeted. “Mayhap thou is in need of assistance? As I am in thee’s debt, I am obliged to aid you with any task or quest, though I would help thou regardless of owed favors.”

“Many thanks, human greeter.” Podo said with a small bow. “I shall remember your kindness with fondness.”

The goblin took a leap to the side and landed in front of the poster, reading quickly, finding a little difficulty in reading the human way of speaking and writing, still not entirely used to the new wave words and phrases.

“Tis a fair challenge, and one I shall partake upon with zeal!” the little green man stated with a nod. He grabbed a signup sheet and painstakingly wrote the information required with his left hands, as his right arm often tried to find shortcuts and ended up breaking pens in half of setting paper on fire.

((OOC: HaloInc, I’d be happy to have some interaction between Agent and Podo if you want to get her out here. ))

Podo rose from bed quickly, not looking the least bit tired, though it was before sunrise. He’d gotten up at the exact same time for years and years, according to his warrior training, and it had become a normal habit. He normally took a gaze at the waning stars at this time, since he could never get back to sleep, but today he didn’t bother, they were underground and it would be a waste of preparation time to find his way all the way back to the entrance.

The goblin dressed and marched into his bathroom and pulled out a curved dagger from his belt, sharpening it with a stone for a moment before putting it to use shaving the stubble on his face and scalp. Most people thought he was naturally bald, but he merely kept his head well shaved to avoid having his hair pulled in battle, something he’d seen happen countless times, mostly to his teammate Billyboy, who wore his hair long.

After brushing his pointy teeth and answering the call of nature, Podo set his sword on his back and strapped it tight. He leaned on the foot that had been injured yesterday, which seemed to have been healed fully and permanently by the magicks of the elf.

The goblin spent a long time stretching, running through short attack and defense sequences to prepare his body for the coming day. After nearly an hour, he ran out of his room and to the front desk to enter himself into the next battle.

”Good morrow, human greeter.” Podo said to the attendant. “I seek a place in the challenges of this day, perhaps thou may assist me in my quest?”

"I did gain many monies during my battle in the arena." the goblin said tentatively. "I would be happy to give it to you, if it is for a good cause. I have no use for it."

Wobbling and grinning, Podo made his way down the hallway with a few hiccups and laughs. He’d paid the ‘innkeeper’ for a room so he could participate in the games tomorrow, and he was eager to get some rest.

He was passing the medical bay when he was nearly knocked over by a very preoccupied looking man who was exiting. The goblin stumbled a few feet and turned, holding his hands out wide in apology, figuring it was more than likely his own fault, as he was drunk. However, the man didn’t seem to be angry, he just looked sad and a bit frustrated, but not at Podo.

“Art thou in duress?” the little green man asked Carlos. “Might I be of assistance?”

Caper saw the sapstick coming and was gone in an instant, teleported back behind the Maltans. He threw a small, disc-like device over their heads and faded from sight again just as they turned.

Gun shots sounded from the other side of them, so they turned again, several keeping where they were as to ruin his strategy by being braced on both sides. The Maltans who had turned were greeted with nothing, because Caper had never teleported there, it had been his device making the noise. No, the secret agent had attacked from a different direction, taking to the skies, suspended in the air several yards above the agents, where he began raining down bullets on their heads.

“Damned hero instincts.” Caper growled as he heard the shouts. Sticking to stealth, he watched as the fight played out, and didn’t like it one bit. Everything in him knew he should run, but his past screamed at him to deny that selfish part of him and save the person he had unwittingly lured into the fight to take his place.

A smoke grenade flew through the air and into the Malta ranks, already spitting smog as it flew through the air, which left a clear vapor trail right to Caper. Or so they thought, as they turned, barking orders and lifting weapons.

Capers appeared in midair over the downed Agent, in a pose that would look like he was standing on his head if his back wasn’t bent so he could look right at the Maltans and open fire with his twin pistols.

((OOC: Just a hint, but it kind of puts people off the post if you say something like “I’ll edit this if it’s stupid.”

And also, it’s bullet time… time!))

Caper cursed as he teleported to the side and avoid the Hercule’s payload, but he could only sit back and stare and the cyborgs combined into a massive Zeus Titan. As the robot opened fire, the secret agent focused his senses on every vibration in the air, every sound and every sight that he could pick up, which was quite a bit. As the missiles whizzed toward him, he threw back his body and contorted wildly, ducking limbo-style beneath several charges and flipping backwards as one exploded at his feet. Even as he was thrown through the air, he kept the presence of mind to keep stiff as small a target as possible. Missiles and energy beams flew by, each missing him by the slightest bit.

The mysterious man landed and ducked, spreading his legs and doing the splits as another projectile whizzed under his crotch. A charge flew over his head, barely clipping his duster, which he reached up to straighten. That one act took enough attention off of his desperate dodge to take a missile right in the chest.

Caper fell and rolled, throwing himself to the side to avoid yet another explosive, and got up just in time to just away from an energy beam. As he flew through the air, his arm was hit with another missile, sending him into an aerial spin, directly in the path of an energy beam. Burning pain erupted through his entire body, every nerve ending screamed out in pain as much of his trenchcoat was burned from his body. He thanked god for a limit to ammunition as he hit the ground, the payload spent, though a small dart did still come through the smoke at him.

The secret agent snatched the tiny thing out of midair and teleported ten feet down the hall, then went off at a sprint. Plasma blasts and bullets followed him, missing only because of luck.

As he turned the next corner, he came upon an odd sight. A beautiful, pointy-eared woman was busy finishing a coolant spewing robot. Without thinking, he chucked the dart at her with uncanny accuracy at her neck, where it would unload the biological tracking agent into her in his stead.

Caper reeled at the mental assault from behind the cover of smoke, immobilized momentarily as the Maltans rounded the corner and began their assault. As their vision was entirely blocked, they didn’t get near him on most of their shots, but one did manage to sink into his shoulder.

“Damn.” The secret agent muttered as he grabbed at the bullet and pulled it out, others still whizzing all about him. Grumbling, the man pulled a magazine from his bandolier with his left arm, grimacing at the pain in his shoulder, and pulled free a pistol with his right. He loaded in an instant with a groan and began returning fire with explosive rounds, hoping that the blasts would make up for any affected accuracy, though he could guess well enough where the Maltans were from the sound of their individual gunfire. Plus, the smoke was beginning to dissipate, and his enhanced vision made out their dark outlines quite well.

As Eok turned the corner, his vision was suddenly filled with an explosion of smoke. Much like before, there were the sounds of rapid gunfire. This time, the bullets weren’t imagined, they were very real and extremely tangible as they came through the smoke in a flurry, keeping the aliens distracted as a grenade bounced off the wall behind them and came to rest at the mentalist’s feet.