2nd Judgment ⚖ Action ⚖ Open

[whatisright]

Who: Justice and YOU
Broadcast: None
Action: Planetside in the forest
When: Between the crash and the post by Zhade

[No one was probably expecting to stumble across a guy who looks like a corpse standing over the literal corpse of one of the hunters. One could ask how Justice came across a dead hunter, but Justice's security-issued ray gun and the hunter's scorched head should probably answer that question.

What people probably expect even less than this vision is Justice ignoring the body and instead holding the dead hunter's machete, glaring down at it like he can set it on fire with his eyes. He could be taking cover and wait to see if more Vieziri come through, or maybe he could be searching for more Fleeters to give the supplies he carries on his back, but no. Glaring at a machete is the best use of his time.

After an uncomfortably long time where he literally does not move, not even to breathe or blink, he growls and throws the machete to the ground with much more force than necessary.] Useless. Better it be burned. [Everything about him hums with frustration and anger as he tears pieces of the hunter's mask of its burnt face, now glaring at it the same as he glared at the machete.

Maybe he should be worried? After all, when there's one Vieziri, there's usually more. But he does not seem worried--he seems single-mindedly focused on glaring at the mask like it owes him money.

Those who are familiar with Justice and his power may be able to tell he's looking for something in the memories attached to the Vieziri's possessions. More specifically, he's looking for the hunters' main base, so he can go there and get himself killed bring these monsters to justice. Justice is nothing if not predictable.]

Comments

[bryces_pup]

[Others might be surprised, but Riona certainly isn't.

With the locks on the Blue Fish up and in place, Riona feels more comfortable wandering further from the ship. There are plenty of other fighters on board, too. Sokka's competent, Eithan can set things on fire, Dorian's a mage, and Snow is, well, Snow. The guy could probably stop a druffalo with his bare hands. Point is, the ship's defended enough.

Riona heard the sound of a laser ray gun being fired, followed by a whole lot of quiet. Shield at the ready, she goes to investigate. And there stands Justice, frowning very hard. She knows what he's doing, and waits until he's finished. Color her completely unsurprised by his reaction. With these hunters prowling about, it's little wonder Justice seeks them.]

Don't even think about trying to find their base by yourself.

[With her shield fastened to her back, she crosses her arms. Readying for the argument she knows will ensue.]

[whatisright]

[Justice doesn't like how delayed his sense of Riona's presence is. He only begins to sense her when she's close enough for him to see her, and that just puts him on edge. He's used to knowing who's approaching him before they do.

Just another thing this sick and twisted planet is messing with.]

They have been terrorizing this planet and its people. It would be wrong to allow them to continue.

[He looks up from the mask, at least. though his scowl is much darker than it usually is. Can you tell he hates this place, Riona? Because he hates this place and it's turned his mood foul.]

[bryces_pup]

[Dealing with an irritated Justice is always so much fun.]

While I agree, this isn't the time to strike. We're scattered, cut off from the other ships, and stranded here. Taking them down needs to be a coordinated effort, and we're not going to be able to coordinate worth a damn while we're in disarray.

[Time for The Look.]

Justice, you're a fine warrior, but you versus Maker knows how many of them? How long do you think you'd last? How many do you think you could take out, and would that be enough to make a difference?

[whatisright]

[Oh no, it's The Look. He hates The Look. He hates it more now that he's come to respect her and care deeply about her opinion.

The really, really frustrating thing about being Justice rather than Vengeance is that he actually has to think through what he does most of the time. This is one of those times where he really doesn't want to think it through. He just wants to act so that he can fulfill his purpose, because laying around here uselessly in the memories of the dead and gone makes him want to scream.]

Each of them is guilty of terrible cruelty. My life for any number of theirs would be worth it for the sake of their victims, past and future.

[But (and he really, really hates to admit this) she has a point. Punishing a few of them is great, but it doesn't do much to help the innocents that will be terrorized by the Vieziri left standing. It would be unjust of him to throw his life away on punishing a few and leaving innocents to suffer if he can still help it.]

We may not need the entire Fleet at our back to combat them. We know where many of our finer warriors are. We can organize without the communicators.

[bryces_pup]

[And he's gonna keep getting it because he keeps arguing.]

Do we? You know how many and whose ships went down? Where they're all located? Who's able to fight and who isn't? You know where the base is, and the layout to know how to effectively attack it?

[Because those are just the basic concerns they need to consider before going after the Vieziri on their home turf.]

[whatisright]

[Sorry, Riona. Not even The Look can stop Justice from arguing.]

At least seven ships were shot down. Blue Fish, Tourist, Bishop, Bloodsport, Goldstone, Heron, and Twin Roses were all confirmed by the time Caprine sent a shuttle with supplies to the planet. [A shuttle he was in, and a shuttle that was also shot down. Which maybe should have taught him a lesson about half-cocked rescues, but apparently not. And, of course, he just rattles off the ships like there's no potentially upsetting information there, because who can think through what they're saying when they're busy listening to the screams of long-dead people?] I do not know where they are all located, but we may not need all of them. If I find their base, then I can scout it. I will even scout it unseen if you insist.

[He doesn't like going unseen, since it feels like cheating, but he will do it for Riona if she's set on him not getting himself killed. Also, he forgets that she doesn't know he can do that.]

We can plan an organized attack after I return.

[bryces_pup]

[Well, at least she has a list now. Tourist and Heron means that pretty much all the Thedosians are on the planet. Which also means a lot of her friends. Only Tyrion seems to have been spared.]

Justice. We are not launching an attack on these people. Not right now. Our ships are down, we're cut off from those who can help us, and I'm sure people are injured. We're scattered, there are likely far more of them than there are of us, and frankly we need to focus on getting our communicators back up and running and getting in touch with those still in the air.

[It's just Not the Right Time. At all.]

I know it's hard, and I would love to give them a licking, but if we go trying to take them down, we'll die. And we're not going to be able to help anyone that way.

[whatisright]

The longer we wait, the more innocents who die! This forest is already saturated with their blood. Their memories linger on everything. You do not hear them, but I do.

[Justice is working himself up so much that he starts to pace, looking a little like he's getting ready to spontaneously combust. It's only his respect for Riona that keeps him from cutting her off now and declaring that he'll just go himself with or without her help, but he's close. He's not incapable of thinking strategically and biding his time, but it drives him crazy to bide his time when it means there may be more people getting hurt in the meantime.]

We have fought with inferior numbers and no communicators before. We cannot give up without even scouting.

[bryces_pup]

[Hoo boy, he's working himself into a tizzy. This is serious. Riona decides on a different approach.

She walks in front of him during his pacing, putting her hands on his shoulders to steady him.]

Justice, look at me. Focus on me and my thoughts. Focus on that ring I gave you, if you have it. [There's too much awfulness in these woods. Whether or not it'll help, Riona tries to think of happier things, of nights filled with revelry and laughter in Vigil's Keep. Things Justice would know and remember.] While I can't know what you're experiencing, I can tell it's difficult, and I'm sorry. How about this? Let's get communications back up and running, then we'll talk about trying to find and scout their base. I would feel a lot better if we can communicate with others before we try. Does that work for you?

[veilstrike]

[ Crashing onto a planet wasn't exactly familiar, but it felt familiar - she's been in scrapes and horrible situations before, and come close to death more times than she can count. Being dropped into the middle of a forest and being hunted, however, is almost too familiar - it reminds her of the Arbour Wilds, the path to the Temple of Mythal, and the trials she had to face to get through to where the Well actually was. It's enough to leave her on the edge of angry, hovering on bitterness.

It's the reason why, when she storms out of the forest, she's ready to attack Justice before she can even think about it, summoning the power of her Veilstrike and aiming it towards the body before she really recognises who it is. It's only at the last moment that her eyes widen in realisation and she sends the strike hurtling off to one side, to hit a poor tree in the middle with force that could have been deadly.

Bruised, with a few cuts here and there and a sour expression, Leilani walks forward. ]

Apologies. I didn't realise it was you. [ It doesn't help that he's got a bit of a glare on, and she just looks at him for a moment before some of the tension fades away. ] Are you well?

[whatisright]

[Justice reacts on instinct when something stumbles through the trees and he hears aggressive magic singing. He steps away from the corpse, dropping the mask and drawing his gun, taking aim--but he stops because the Fade song is unmistakable, and he knows who she is, and she recognizes who he is a moment later because otherwise his hesitation could have possibly killed him.

Justice lowers his gun when she turns the spell away, giving the damaged tree only a moment's glance. That would have definitely smarted.] This planet has a way of disrupting the senses.

[He can't blame her for being on edge. He is the epitome of edge right now, with his ability to track and sense people vastly limited and visions of horrible death playing over and over in his head.] I do not like this planet. It is corrupted, and many people suffered injustice here. The perpetrators must be punished.

[veilstrike]

[ It's obvious how on edge Lavellan is by the whole situation - she's pale and haggard, her expression tight, her entire body tense. She's furious with their situation, furious that she's storming through a forest fighting people that seem to want to eat her, as if she hasn't had enough of being hunted for one lifetime. Having Justice standing in front of her does a little to calm her rotten nerves, but when she frowns her attention is on him and she softens, just enough.

The worst part of it all is the pain in her hand, the way it aches, and she knows what she can do to protect them - but she's afraid. There's a small, quiet part of her that's terrified. If she lets herself open rifts, if she uses the Anchor to defend herself and her friends, her allies, what will happen? Will saving the lives of the people she cares for mean she dies?

Does she really care, in the end? ]

And are we going to be the ones to punish them? [ She shouldn't have expected anything else from a spirit of justice, she supposes, and she walks forward, trying to ignore her bumps and bruises. ] They're going to find us eventually so we should get ready.

[whatisright]

I have weapons and supplies. What do you need?

[He is pleased that she seems ready to help him in this, but he's less pleased as he takes in her condition. On edge, he can understand, but she seems to be in pain.]

Are you injured? I have a first aid kit.

[He's still in a foul mood, but he is concerned. Did one of the hunters get her? Or is her hand bothering her?]

[veilstrike]

If you have something I can hit people with that would be fantastic.

[ The pain is familiar, at least, and she can push through it; the burden of the Anchor has been hers for years, now. It's been her problem since she had stumbled into the conclave, and she has managed to keep going. The fact that it's hurting now doesn't mean anything to her. ]

No, I'm fine. It's nothing that I can't survive.

[ Striding forward, she shifts, stretching her arms. ]

Do you need anything?

[whatisright]

[Justice considers for a moment. The weapons he could find around the Fleet before leaving on the shuttle were mostly guns, and they're not great for people used to melee fighting.

Then it occurs to him--there is literally a machete at his feet.] Would a blade work? [He picks it up, grimacing at the memories sticking to its surface like poison as he brushes it off.] It could stand to have some noble use before it is discarded.

[He's not sure if he buys that she's fine, but they're in hostile territory and she's not dying so he won't bully her into medical attention.] I need to bring these monsters to justice. Any assistance you can render to that end would be appreciated.

[veilstrike]

A blade works fine.

[ She moves forward to take it, slipping her fingers around the hilt before she frowns. It clearly wasn't his - it's a hunting weapon, for cutting down plants, vines and chopping off limbs - but it's serviceable. If her magic fails her and the Anchor decides it wants to stop being a pain in her backside then having something to fall back on would be prudent.

She doesn't think her magic will stop working, but she also didn't think she would crash land in the middle of a planet with people trying to eat her.

Placing the blade in her belt, she nods her head, focussing back on Justice. ]

I'll be glad to help. There were some to the north west of here, and they seemed to be heading towards some of the other crash sites to try and get at survivors, I imagine. Shall we intercept them?

[whatisright]

We shall. [Justice cocks his gun. The augment is what gives him the knowledge of how to use it, but he's dealt with ranged weapons before. Especially when the enemy is using guns, he is comfortable using one.

He begins walking in the direction she indicated, glaring at the darkness.] My ability to sense others is compromised, so keep your guard up. I will not be able to warn us of approaching enemies.

[samahl]

[Cyril has been trying to find places to lay traps to protect the ships that have fallen when he comes across Justice and this scene. He doesn't know exactly how Justice's abilities work - after all Cole could read a person's memories just by being near him - but he can tell something is going on.

He really only can relate to Justice by thinking about Cole, at least until he understands more about Justice as an individual. He knows that Cole would want to stop the raiders and help heal the people in the cities. He thinks that Justice probably wants to make sure the raiders are killed.

Admittedly, Cyril wants the same, but he knows running off into the forest is too dangerous to do alone.]

Justice? [He asks carefully as he comes into view.] Can I help with anything?

[whatisright]

[Justice barely spares the elf a glance when he comes into view. Justice's ability to track people and sense their presence has been severely hampered by this planet, but he can still tell who is near him when they are within eyeshot. He knows this elf. He knows that he is not a threat.]

I am attempting to find out where these creatures are based. This planet has disrupted my ability to track them. [Cyril can't help him with that part, but...] Their ongoing abuse of others is unacceptable. I intend to rid this planet of them.

[If he doesn't die in the process, which is a possibility.]

[samahl]

I agree that it's unacceptable, but how do you intend to wipe them out yourself? [He's careful about his tone of voice here. It sounds more like inquiring about strategy than incredulity that Justice could handle the task.]

[whatisright]

I intend to find their base and gauge their numbers. If I have the means to gather others to assist me in attacking, then I shall, and if I do not, then I will challenge them myself.

[Yeah, not even going to sneak attack, because that feels like cheating. Even when it would be one against who knows how many. Because spirits are practical like that.]

[samahl]

The idea of finding their location and gauging their numbers is a good one, but outright attacking without that information first may not end the best way.

Imagine if we failed at such an endeavor? They might take their frustrations at being attacked out on innocent people. And at that point we'd be dead and unable to stop them.

[whatisright]

[Justice is ready to fight on this--then the elf brings up the innocent people that could be hurt, and that shuts Justice up. It's a grudging shutting up, but it's a real one because he can't just ignore the innocent people who may be hurt by his actions.]

What would you recommend, then?

[Because Justice can't just do nothing.]

[samahl]

Reconnaissance. We start find their headquarters and scout it out. Figure out which path will be the most effective for maximum damage. Build an armory from weapons we can either find or salvage. Make contact with the other survivors. Plan a unified attack.

[whatisright]

[That sounds like it'll take a lot of time, which is less than ideal, but Justice's thoughts are forced back to the innocents who may be hurt more by a haphazard attack, so he grits his teeth and accepts it. It's a sound plan.]

Very well. [He glares down at the mask in his hands, tempted to throw it in frustration.] If this planet continues tampering with my power, we will be forced to find another means of discovering their headquarters.