Wanted: Ice Woman!

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Eventually, after having been inconvenienced so heavily by that random ice woman, the mother and child that were unfortunate enough to have crossed her path found themselves at the heart of Balneal, speaking to the authorities.

Mother: ... And she had blue hair and a fairly large bust. If you see her, I want her brought to justice, officers!"

Officer: Certainly, madam. If we find the perp, we'll apprehend her thoroughly.

Mother: Thank you, officer. I appreciate your help.

She turned and walked back to her home. Her money was wasted on a ticket out of the Valley of Water, her entire vacation ruined. She couldn't help but to be upset after the slip up of one person ruined basically her entire vacation holiday. Money down the drain and time she wouldn't get back. Ugh, just the thought of it was agitating.

Not too long after she left, one of the Ferrymen would approach the officer with a similar complaint;

Ferryman: Hey, Officer! There's some ice blocking the exit from the city! None of the Water Ferries can get out! What are we supposed to do about this?!

The officer scratched his head, unsure of what he could do to help. "Sorry, sir. All I can offer are my condolences. A woman just left not too long ago with the same complaint..."

Ferryman: Well all of our customers are getting unhappy! I hope you can do something fast, or else no one will be able to get in or out of the city!!

The officer sighed, stressed slightly at how the situation grew to be such a problem so quickly, "Uh... I'll uh... See what I can do, sir." That's all he could do, really...

Though the Servicemen piled up high into the sky, the one that was lunged to latch onto the Desert Moth would find a hazy veil of sand that surrounded it, created a sort of eerie illusory image of sorts. The raging sandstorm that it brought with it created a winds powerful enough to blur its movement as well as visage of the creature as it moved. Thus, the Serviceman would find itself falling to its doom having just missed its target.

It would turn back around and screech again, beating its wings hard and casting the powerful burst of wind laced with compacted sand streams like bullets at the tower of mechanical men.

As Sakai sat down, the two Servicemen instructed to be her escorts in the time of the Ferryman's absence would do exactly as instructed; Follow Sakai and stay with her wherever she went until he got back, even if that meant staying right in the same spot. That was all that they were instructed to do, and thus, all that they would do.

Outside, the Serviceman that missed his target would slam hard into a building, its overall structure having not been harmed much, save for some dirt and a few cuts on its skin-like coating. The Servicemen Series were a mysterious Mechanica task force from whence no one knows, but knows that they protected this city, for whatever reason. Their robotic bodies kept them from sustaining the damage that would probably kill a fragile human. And so, as though it hadn't even fallen at all, almost like a mindless servant with no other thought but the task at hand, it would pick itself right back up and hurl itself into the pile of other like-minded mechanical men, where they would all continue to calculate the best method for taking down their adversary as a unit.

The sandstream wind bullets that were launched would be diffused by other Servicemen that were near the top of the tower hopping down and taking a hit for the team so that the entire tower they made would not fall, rather than knowing that one other Serviceman would take their place at the top whilst the others helped the first climb back up. This was the true power of teamwork, though it seemed to be programmed into their mechanism rather than actually simulated by the machines themselves.

As all mechs seemed to have these days, a Rocket Fist would launch from the new Serviceman at the top, attached to an almost comically long 'Inspector Gadget'-like metallic extension cord. Since this one saw that the first Serviceman failed to acquire the target by means of close range encounter, the others would learn from his mistake and already simultaneously be processing a more efficient way of capturing the target without close-quarter combat. Thus, the one at the top, being the one readily available, and of the same like-mindedness as the rest, would already have the solution just as the others, who would remain as the support beams and watch with hope as the arm would rocket out toward the Desert Moth, guided by the rocket boosters it could use to aim from across the land. With that, it could follow the Desert Moth even if it flew away.

".........."

ΠSitting around was just as fun as walking and doing other things, but like all things it got boring really fast. So Sakai took a deep breath and exhaled, it was time she gave these fools the cold shoulder.Π

"Why don't you guys chill out."

ΠThats when the ground instantly froze and she stood up and waved her hand "Ice ball". From her hand came a large ice ball.Π

"I'm leaving and you can tell everyone y'all were chilling."

With the sandstream bullets thwarted, the Desert Moth fluttered off and around the other side, circling around the tower of Servicemen. Sooner or later, the desert sands it carried with it would start to surround them in a vicious whirlwind of sand that lashed all about, whipping and impaling random people out on the street. The Moth flew faster and faster around them, the wind and sand growing thicker and more condensed, in order to smash them all to pieces and blow their tower away through the eye of the 'Sandstorm' it created.

In the midst of the skirmish, the Ferryman rushed to help people into finding safety before things got out of hand in the area... But before he could get everyone out, it seemed that things got out of hand anyway. Fortunately, when he looked up to see what was happening with his team and the beast, he could see them already on the ball with solving the issue like an organized unit.

The 'Rocket Fist' that was tailing the Desert Moth as it flew would get a grasp somewhere on the Desert Moth and would begin reeling itself or the creature whilst it circled the tower. The one on top would be lifted from the tower and dragged behind the creature simply from the sheer speed of its movement, though the difference in weight should have easily slowed it down enough to where its 'Sandstorm' couldn't get too strong... If nothing else, it would not have the strength to knock down the carefully crafted tower that would be their victory over the Desert Moth. One by one, just like the first, the Servicemen would rise and launch their arms out at the Desert Moth the exact same way, latching on and getting a grip in order to add onto the weight. If the first one didn't slow it down, then the next or the one after, or even the one after him would do it for sure. They would all reel their arms in at the same time in order to bring the creature down to the ground, effectively secured by the Kobun Squad.

"You're going to jail, pal." said one of them, as though they were of a preset sequence of lines in the back of their heads that they were instructed to say... Almost like a doll with a pullstring in the back. They all pulled out handcuffs, trying to figure out where to place them on the monster, cuffing the antennae and the hands and the wings as much as they could. They all grunted and groaned at the perp with scowls upon their faces in contempt for the disturbance that it caused, almost like it was the only thing that made any difference to their normally polite attitude.

Meanwhile, the two that were instructed to remain with Sakai would allow the floor to freeze around them. They seemed to be fine with everything except for the part where she said she was leaving without them. Immediately, their feet would heat up, drawing power from concentrating a great deal of heat into their feet. Steam rose up all around them, shrouding a great deal of their forms, save for the hazy silhouette of the top of their torso and their faces, making them look rather apparitious in the steamy haze. Their eyes gleamed a piercing red, the sound of an electronic *gleam* echoing in the air, "We will remain by your side until we are instructed otherwise by our commander. There is no escape." They took a step forward, already ready to follow Sakai wherever she was going. Even if they didn't do anything or have any other orders besides sticking around with her, those were the orders that they had, and that was what they had to stick to. No matter what. They were strict followers of the Robot Code.

ΠSakai didn't say anything, she just froze one of the walls and broke it down. So now she simply took that leave, she didn't care about them boys, she was just going to dip.Π

Before too much longer, an airship of sorts barreled through the twists and curves of the Valley of Water and toward the isolated City Bathed in Water, Balneal. "Huh? The fuck are we here for?" He knew Balneal well (since he created it and whatnot), and was aware that nothing really interesting there. It was more just there for aesthetic pleasure and for people who wanted to relax and not be caught up in some shit to rest and relax. It was like a resort of sorts. So why would there be any commotion in one of the nicest resorts in the land...? Unless...

"Oh, so you got somethin hot, huh? That was fast, Labrys. Good work." He slapped the ship on the side as they entered the clearing, where he would come in just in time to view the Desert Moth being taken down by the robot guys. "OH SHIT. SOME ACTION." All he saw was a creature, and it was a creature that he wanted. "Alright, let's figger out how ta... Help that poor thing." He swiped the air with his hand, pulling forth a card at random drawn from his Epic Art, "Huh... Alright... 'Crystal Ball,' huh? Well then..." he'd say, releasing the energy trapped in the card-like Page of the Pandoire and assume its actual shape as a crystalline sphere in his hand, "Hyper Perception," he muttered, eyes glimmering brightly and locking onto the target as it went down. "X Marks the Spot..." he'd mutter again, lining up the shot perfectly before cocking his arm back like a pitcher. With the spirit of Japan in his heart, he'd smirk big and wide and scream, "CAPTCHA!!!" before hurling the 'Crystal Ball' at the Desert Moth like a Pokeball. If it hit, then it would be absorbed into the crystal and release a holographic projection from all around in order to create a perfect replica of the creature in its place. Where the Kobun Squad would believe they would have the actual being, they would, if all went as planned, only have its imaginary copy. A byproduct of Phantasmagoria merging with the Epic Art, no doubt.

"Ah, baby," he'd mutter to himself, breathing deeply out of happiness, "I fucking love you."

In the midst of all the commotion, though, he noticed a strange woman dipping out of the cut whilst the 'police' or whatever started doing their thing. "Oho? What do we have here...?" He would begin to lower his airship in order to see what was going down...

The Desert Moth was not aware of how it was caught by the mechanical men as it flew, though it was able to feel a great deal of weight suddenly start piling up on it as it flew. Before the 'Sandstorm' it cast could get too large, it was pulled down to the ground and restrained by the Servicemen. It wailed and screamed as much as it could, but there were too many of them holding it down for it to fight back now. The sand it created would get into the water, which was supposed to be pure and clean in order to properly circulate throughout the city and processed into drinking water.

Even so, the Desert Moth would find itself, after being captured a first time, captured once again by an unknown person that suddenly entered the fray, its entire essence being taken into the Crystal Ball in a flash. It wasn't sure what was going on, but it could see as though it were still in the same position, even though it was clearly in the Crystal Ball. This was in order to accurately project itself out to the Kobun Squad as though it were still being bound by them. With this, control of the creature would be relinquished to Tymon, he who captured the monster.

"You will not escape!" the two Servicemen assigned to Sakai exclaimed, taking off after her once she tried to escape. Wherever she was going, they were hot on her tail.

Meanwhile, the Ferryman safely got the remainder of the people into a place of refuge away from all of the commotion and returned to his men, who apparently had the creature contained. "Good work, Servicemen. Your Services are no longer necessary." With the Squad dismissed, they would all slip back into the cut in ninja-like blurs, back into the shadows from whence they came. Where they actually went to was a mystery to everyone, especially since none were in sight afterward.

The Ferryman inspected the creature wondering why it was even here in the first place... And trying to figure out what he was going to do with it before it got loose again somehow. "Hmmm... It seems to be frustrated from being out of its natural habitat... We'll have to make a note of transporting it back to the desert one day... I wouldn't mind making that trip, but it would be quite the journey..." He thought about it, insisting now that he make it a special trip from here to a place that was dry and arid for the Desert Moth to be at least a bit more comfortable in its environment. "I'll have to schedule this departure right away..." He snapped his fingers again, this time a single Serviceman appearing before him in a blur, "I need you to watch this and make sure it does not escape. If it does, be sure to call the others for back up. I need to go schedule a special trip outside the Valley of Water." After giving the instruction, he was off. He hadn't forgotten about Sakai in the slightest, and was going to get back to her as soon as he got this in order. Getting the creature out of here before it caused more trouble was top priority.

"Iiiccceee slide."

ΠSakai said, before she jumped up and basically blasted ice in front of her (like Ice Man). She didn't have time to waste, her problem was still there; she just ignored it for the most part.Π

Seemed like there was a lot of random mess happening all around here because of that creature that he captured. He wasn't sure about why, but he didn't care all too much right now. He was having fun doing shit, and now he was free to sail the Veritas as he saw fit with his love-dove right behind him. "Gotcha." He smirked and called back his Crystal Ball, which would zip back into his hand and draw forth the elemental essence of the Earth that was within the Desert Moth. "Sorry, I don't like insects." He broke down the creature into its rawest form and assimilated it with his Godcrystal Essence Release, unlocking one of the elemental properties of the Crystal Essence; the Crystal Earth. More specifically; Crystal Sand.

"Alright. Now we're talkin..." with his Epic Art, he would think up a new technique for himself to use using what he already knew that the Tensei were able to do with their basic powers, "Uh... Hmmm... Let's see..." He colored the Crystal Sand black, making it sparkle and glitter like stars shimmering in the night sky, "Oh, here we go~! Black Gold!! Just what I was looking for to make this creation!!" He would fling it outward, causing large sparkling stellar clouds to hazily drift over the sides of the ship and congregate around it in a flash.

"From now on, We're the Black Sand Pirates, and I'm your Captain, and you're my first mate, babe. So let's slip into this here aquarium real nice and simple... And get whatever's inside. Next, I guess I should acquire this young Water element while I'm here... Fux with the Black Gold a li'l bit..." Mid-thought, he'd catch Sakai in the corner of his eye whip up a nice little Ice Slide trying to outrun some of those robot guys that were after her for whatever reason, and got an idea. "In fact," he continued, following this impulsive train of thought, "YO!! HOT ICE GIRL!!! WANNA JOIN MY PIRATE CREW!?!?"

The two Servicemen chasing after Sakai would follow her up the slide, spikes coming out of the soles of their feet as though an automated function made specifically for multi-terrain functionality; something like a mix of cletes and ice spikes in one. They trekked up the Ice Slide in hot pursuit, not letting up for a moment, not even in transition from one level of traction to another.

"Anything to get me away from these fools; sure I'll join!"

ΠShe quickly said, before jumping up into the air! Leaving her trail of ice behind. Once she was up up in the air, she placed her hands out and formed small ice balls that she'd use as stepping stones to move quicker. Once she stepped on one, It'd brake instantly and she'd be on to the next one and so on.Π

"Haaai, hai..." he'd mutter to himself, a lucid smirk on his face as his glazed eyes gleamed, their sharpness revealed under the dull expression they portrayed. As the girl hop-stepped up her Ice Balls, Tymon would already be bringing the ship around to scoop her up. "... Yoiiiishop~" He extended his hand and snagged her own, pulling her onto his ship with a nice round-swing.

"Oi, bae! Let's be out this jam, yeah?" he slung his hand up in the air, pointing up to the heavens, "With style!!" he'd add, the Black Gold shooting up around them in a phantasmal haze in order to cloak the ship right quick in its spectral splendor.

"Sure thing, loverboy! Hahahaha!! >D" She'd laugh maniacally to herself as, when the Black Gold shot up around them, it would sprinkle over the ship like a wave of stardust and completely wipe the ship away. They would phase out in the murky stellar haze, almost like they'd never been there at all... Only a Dream.

The two Servicemen that were hot on Sakai's trail would follow her up the ice slide until she broke from it and hopped up on some ice balls and out of their grasp. At the edge of the ice slide, they would immediately hold out their hands and extend them outward just like their brethren had done to collect the Desert Moth. Before they could snatch up Sakai, however, they would find that both she and whatever the large mysterious construct was that suddenly appeared would disappear like a hazy dream, completely gone from the area. Their hands would quickly retract and the two Servicemen stood there, stumped. With their mission failed and no other orders, that was all that they could do.

Eventually, the Ferryman came back and found the two lone Servicemen standing atop the ice slide, knowing for a fact that this meant that the fugitive escaped. "... Darn..." he muttered, moving toward the two Servicemen. "What is the full report, Servicemen?"

The two made an about-face simultaneously, saluting the Ferryman and speaking in unison the exact same words; "As instructed, we followed the fugitive and kept a close eye on her. However, she escaped our grasp because of a flying mysterious aircraft of which we were unable to collect any data on. That is all."

The Ferryman raised a hand to his chin, trying to calculate just what it is that happened, "Hmmm... Must have been an inside job... Or perhaps, she already had friends waiting to pick her up..." He turned to the other Serviceman, who had been patiently watching the apprehended creature and... As soon as he walked over to it and tried to lift it, his hand would phase right through it. "What? A holographic projection?" This seemed to be an elaborate scheme of sorts, fit with a distraction for the units to fumble over whilst Sakai made her escape, the creature being taken along with it. It had to have something to do with that unknown aircraft.

He knew that the pathway to Balneal was still sealed off in ice, or should have been, since there hadn't been anything nor anyone to resolve that issue yet. He knew that unless he gave the Servicemen EXACT instructions, they would not do anything, and if something had changed, they would probably not act. That meant that they were going to need to get upgraded soon, perhaps.

"... I must deal with the blockage of the Water Ferry pathway. I want you and the rest of the Kobun Squad to scour the city in search of the fugitive. If she is still here, she will be apprehended... But if she is gone, there is nothing that we can do and will just have to let her go." It was sad, but it was true; there was no need to prolong something that exceeded the city limits, especially for a rather petty offense. If it were major, it might have been a different story, however. "You are free to act on your own best judgment in order to accomplish this goal, and be sure to relay the message to the other Servicemen that you come in contact with. I leave the rest up to you." The three Servicemen would salute to him and respond, "Confirmed." Now that they were given the order to act of their own free will, they would no longer have to be restrained to following the specific orders given. With that, the Ferryman would make his way to the Water Ferry Port, where he would take out one of his cruisers to get to the blockage, and the Servicemen would disappear in a blur to scour the city.