The Fall of Naix Mccloud

cool!

A tall man wearing a regal festival costume with a flowing cape comes down the staircase in his arm is rather curvy Black haired woman wearing a tight fitting black formal gown that didn’t leave much to the imagination.

A tone came from inside Mccloud’s ear followed by Ellory’s Voice

“Keep your Costume Masks on,Cameras have got a reading about someone…”
Mccloud replies

“Let me guess you’re going to tell me… Abby, just popped up on the scopes”

Ellory gulps

“Yup”

“Roger that, Mccloud out” he replied

At that point Azabeth addressed his guests

“I WILL MAKE MY REMARKS SHORT,SINCE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FESTIVAL OF LYSS.  I WILL SIMPLY STATE, LET US HAVE MORE WINE, MORE MUSIC AND *as he kissed the girl on his arm* AND MORE WOMEN!!!” he followed that up with a giant bass laugh

As Mccloud and Kiera move through the crowd, Azabeth signals the band to play and it resumes its waltz

As many people dance or socialize, Mccloud and Kiera work up a side staircase to a small balcony where many people have gathered.  The Staircase into the chamber where they needed to go was guarded by two armed guards

Kiera signals Mccloud to move away

She approaches the guard and he replies

No Entry, Azabeth’s orders

Kiera replies

“I don’t wish to enter but ,I didn’t want to be a bad guest.  I thought I saw a man in longcoat crawling around the property,near one of the outer buildings”

Both guards looked shocked and replied

“The Captain did tell us .. “

Both Guards ran off towards the stairs and Mccloud stepped in front of them  bumped into them and made himself get knocked over

“Be more careful to people you oafs” he replied as he rose to his feet

We walked over to Kiera and placed his arm around her and whispered to her and handed her a key

“I believe you were looking for this ??”

She nodded and she grabbed his arm, and they walked down the hall like two people wanting to “get away” from the party

They came to a small hallway and Kiera used the purloined key on the door and they both entered.  It was the same room we saw earlier that Aurora was watching through the scope.  

“I see youuuu  Ki and ix” Auora chimes in over the comm.

“Keep an eye on the corridor and any action near this room ..call it out”

Mccloud replies

“Roger Roger Ix” Auora Replied

Kiera looked around the bookcases and noticed most of the books were new, except one. She picked up the book and noticed it was rather light for the complete works of Norgu Volume 1.  

She tossed the book to Mccloud and replied

“This has got to be a fake, Norgu is a longwinded blowhard ,who likes to talk about himself..more than you” Kiera Smirked

Mccloud opened the book and inside was a fake book with the scroll in it and saw the OSSA Seal on the wax.  Kiera opened her bag and produced a similar scroll and waved it in her hand

“Parting Gift from  Zimm, Dummy Scroll with a small device because if this ever moves we can figure out who to.  And.. an evening bag with a rune of holding.  I got enough supplies if we need to “fight our way out”” She smirked

As Mccloud replaced the scroll Kiera looked around and noticed a small book on the study’s desk she picked up the book and started to read it

As Mccloud finishes rerigging the book, he asks “What are you reading??”

Kiera laughed “I think we hit the honey pot…a personal journal”

Mccloud read a passage aloud “The Staff of Lyss? This Can’t be a considence ??”

She looked at Mccloud and Asked

“What isn’t a considence??”

Naix Replied

“Why the White Mantle is dealing with this dude.  He has a possible location for a piece of the Staff of Lyss and the White Mantle is offering him the missing diplomatic satchel and the Corsair Captains Council on a plate to gain favor with the princes of Vabbi.”

Kiera gasped and Mccloud flipped a few pages and continued

“They also promise enough Military Force to take over Vabbi and install this clod as puppet ruler of Vabbi.  Thus giving a major market for the Mantle for wealth and launder”

Kiera looked confused and asked

“Wait, what is the staff of Lyss??”

Mccloud went pale

“It’s a second part of a three part artifact, a certain sect of the mantle is trying to find.  I’ll fill you in la..”

Auora’s voice cut in over the comms

“Guys you have activity, Guard ETA 3 Minutes”

Mccloud rolled his eyes

“Can we egress out the front, without blowing cover??”

“Negatory Ix” She replied

Kiera grabbed the book from Mccloud and threw it in her bag and replied

“Time for an old trick.. and she beings to kiss Mccloud”

We turn back the clock for a few minutes and pan back to the Ballroom as Lord Azabeth and his arm candy dujor

He whispers to her

“I have my guards, surrounding the meeting site, you better be good for this spy.  The Vabbian triumvirate will not stand on treason.  You better keep your end of the bargain”

The Girl in the black costumed dress and mask brushes her hand along his face and replies

“The White Mantle will honor its bargain, so as long as you keep yours”

As they walk through the crowd, Azabeth’s Guard Captain comes up to him out of breath

“Milord…we..a…situation”

Azabeth grabs the Captain by the neck in plain view of his guests

“What do you mean situation??”

The guard captain replied

“Reports state a scoundrel looking genteman in a ratty longcoat  was spotted by a terrified guest..sneaking around the property”

The woman replied

“Did you say long coat??

The Guard Nodded and Azabeth threw him and then stormed towards his escort

“You Seem to know something Abby??”

She nodded

“You have a pest control problem, get some guards at the drop site”

We move ahead a few moments later to a guard team stacking around the door as they hear movement from behind the study door

The Guard Leader stands in the door with mouth agape

The guards enter and a woman in her underwear screams and dives behind the couch and the battle scarred man yells

“Hey do you mind??  I was just about to get lucky here”

The guard leader gulps and can barley say a word still mesmerized by the pretty girl in her underwear

The man approaches the guard captain while buttoning his shirt and taps him in the face

“Hey  What’s the problem??”

“Um ..um You are in a restricted area “

The man smiles

“Ok we will clear out, come on honey”
They gather the items as the girl slides her hand over the guards face and replies
“I hope it was good for you*laughs* “
They move down the stairs and away and the girl goes

“So What did you think of that plan Mccloud”

Mccloud Smiling under his mask..

“That was a pretty good plan..I liked it”

She looks at him and goes

“Don’t get any ideas, Flyboy…Still on the Mission remember”

At this point Ellory comes over the earpiece

“If you two are done… I suggest we get out of here before they toss the room”

At this point the band strikes up ..
(Because I enjoy an audio visual element..Por Una Cabeza by Carlos Gardel.  Here is the full arrangement  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q1Is3SKrYc&feature=related.  However a more familiar arrangement can be found here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M9VvsJeiBM.  Version used in Scent of a Woman and the scene I am parodying from True Lies )

The violins start and the men and women pair off.  Mccloud puts his cane down and grabs a rose

Ellory goes

“You do not have time to tango ….”

Mccloud takes the rose and traces it down Kiera’s face, when the tempo changed she grabbed the rose and held it in her teeth and dipped down and grabbed Him.  Both Kiera and Mccloud kept the moves up and they both glided over the floor, dancing the tango with every so often Ellory reminding them to evac

After the music ended, Mccloud kissed her hand and picked up his cane

Ellory goes over the comm.

“Guards are on high Alert.. Oh and just for your information, twinkle toes Aurora has made her way to the extraction point and has been extracted. So This just leaves you two?? What is the Play??”

“Right out the old front gate….is the distraction set??”

“Yes but come on …Wait DID YOU SAY FRONT GATE??  It’s Stupid but Ballsy..but Stupid, ETA Five Minutes ..”

Mccloud and Kiera walk out to the front of the ballroom and crash into another couple and in the process his mask falls off .  He goes to the ground to pick it up, he locks eyes with the woman in a black dress he crashed into.

Naix realized he crashed into Lord Azabeth and his escort.. Abby Rhainne she whispered to her escort and he remains shocked and Yells

“GUARDS QUICKLY…SEIZE THEM THE SPIES ARE ESCAPING!!”

Mccloud quickly hit a button on his Cane and the cane transformed into the Familiar sight of a more sporty version of Mccloud’s Crossbow and he fired a shot right at Abby catching her in the throat as both he and Kiera ran for cover  in the foyer.

They used the fleeing guests to dodge and duck the guards

“Mccloud...DO YOU READ ME?? We got a lot of Party Guests fleeing out the front gate. Please Advise” Ellory yelled

“Yeah Change of Plans…Get here ASAP, We are under fire...” Mccloud Yelled

“Need the Stealth Approach” Ellory asked

“Negative, Come in Hot and Noisy.  We are going to need covering fire”

Aurora cuts In ..”Ok Mccloud don’t stand near any outer walls”

Seconds later a giant golem looking carrage they had arrived in  roared through the wall.. The rear of the carrage looked no worse for the wear.  The iron flickered a lapsed to reveal a giant looking transport (think steampunk inspired Star Trek Shuttlecraft meets a tank)  

The guards all approach the transport. And realizes the carrage upper storage rack hologram reveal a with a small woman in a longcoat primed to fire a small rapid fire bastilla.
Guards couldn’t even scream for cover before She fired the bastilla blowing up the staircase and taking some of the guards in the process but one got a lucky shot and hit Aurora in the shoulder
“GET ON”she yelled holding her shoulder and kicked down a rope between vollys.
Before she dashed and saw the numerous guards piling in.  Kiera reached into her “handbag” and tossed Mccloud a pair of ops goggles.  Mccloud placed on the ops goggles and Kiera did likewise. She then started tossing small canisters from her purse. Which emitted a smoke, seconds later With a trail of covering smoke, Kiera moved between the crumbed stone of the palace with Mccloud and Aurora  providing covering fire.  As Mccloud hit the platform, Kiera pulled a switch
The platform lurched downward and speeder pulled out.  A guard with a crossbow hit a conduit and lights onboard flickered for a second and the speeder flew away
On board Kiera is helping Aurora off the platform and onto a small set of racks used to recover from missions .  Kiera begins treating her wounds  
Aurora tosses over a beeping and buzzing remote like object to Mccloud and yelled
“We are loosing signal from the transponder and I am bleeding.  Ix press that button will you??”
“Whatever” he replied and pressed the Button

The device beeped and it followed by an earth shattering blast that rivaled some sandstorms

Mccloud went up to Aurora who was still being patched up and yelled and said “I said DISTRACTION !! not Demolition…..”

Aurora groaned “It was just the Guard Shack, any of the paddocks where horses and machines are kept and the amm….”

At this Kiera took her free hand and grabbed Mccloud by the jacket and pulled him to her eye level and Yelled

“Right now I got a patient on the table who needs medical aide than a lecture.  Right now do what you do best ..”

A baffled Mccloud asked “And that is ..”

Kiera snarked  “Saving our butts when the odds of success are limited, now either hand me those forceps or Move”

Mccloud handed her the forceps from the open medical supply box and walked down

As they were moving the lights were flickering ..

Mccloud is heading to the tactical station where Ellory was sitting and asked

“What’s our Status??”

About that time a jolt followed by an engine de-reving, jolted everyone to the deck

Myth’s voice comes over the intercom and says

“Sorry about that jolt everyone, it seems one of the power couplings got damaged and over heated the engine and we can’t jump to high speeds. “

Naix roared “Bié de qù tā mā de cuò?”(translated from Canthan Can Anything else go f**king wrong??”

Ellory tugs at Mccloud’s jacket and responds

“You might want to rethink that last sentence about things going wrong….”
Ellory gestures towards her screen which shows a small force riding towards
them

Mccloud asked
“5-10 minutes” Ellory replied
Mccloud shook his head
“Mā de!  Get up to the Bastilla, and see if you can hold them off”

Ellory nodded and grabbed a pair of goggles from a nearby cabnet

Around  that time Aurora came over with a bandaged arm and Mccloud demanded
“Wǒ xiǎng nǐ de shèbèi zhàogù zhèxiē zhùchóng ?”  (“I thought your device took care of these Assholes ??”

Equally frustrated Aurora replied
“Tā yīnggāi...... Yǒu duōshǎo rén yǒu?”  (It was Supposed to....How Many of them are there ??”

Naix replied

“About 5 or 6 plus Azabeth,looks like a small boarding party..ETA 10 Minutes”
Aurora displeased said

“I am not in any shape to fight ix, but we need a plan.”
Mccloud replied

“Ellory’s heading up to the main gun..
Mccloud heads over to the intercom switch and asks Aurora
“You might not be able to fight …How well can you fly?”
Aurora replied
“Zúyǐ ràng wǒmen zài kōngzhōng...”  (Enough to keep us in the air)
He laughed good enough and flicked the switch to the intercom

“Myth. Get down into the Engine Bay and try to fix the engine or at least enough for total break away”

“Who is going to fly the bird??”she asked

“Aurora is on her way down now..” Naix replied

Before Aurora turned away Mccloud told her

“Zhǐshì bùyào dǎ tài duō de diānbǒ, hǎobù hǎo?” (Just don't hit too many bumps, OK?)

Aurora laughed and smiled

“Will Do Ix”

Kiera Approached Mccloud and asked

“Ok what are we going to do, exactly?”

As they headed to the back hatch, Mccloud opened up a cabinet pulled out his crossbow and threw a pair of ops goggles to her and says

“We are going on a fishing trip…”

Bump.....