The Golden Gates: Entrance to the City

[Nokame]

[[If tumbling is fleeing sure]]

He stopped seeing feet in his vision, he retwisted his body in another direction still chanting the "Get away from me"

[Neon Noble]

Neon took several steps towards the man, his hands held out. It could be noted that another gust was swirling around him.

"We'll consider getting away from you when you start telling us the truth." Neon said sternly. He had assumed a fighting pose as he stared down at the hermit. "Or we'll simply have to lock you up until you do. Time to make a choice."

[Yolanda Riona]

[From Wisp of Wist.]

It hadn't taken me long before I had reached the gate. It was only a short ways from where I was staying, after all. Now, here I was... Standing at the gate. Standing... Staring... Why was I here again? Silly question to ask myself, I knew. I already knew, but even so. Even though I was standing right in front of these golden arches, something in me just...

"Ya fin'ly gon'ta suck it up an' go?"

I didn't even bother to look although my hands couldn't help but give the speaker the satisfaction of clenching up.

"I thought I told you... to stop following me."

My voice sounded forced and I knew it.

"Com' on. Ya real'y have to play the tough gal? S'akay if yer scar'd."

The voice was coming closer until-I pivoted on the ball of my right foot and swung what I at least had planned to be a face full of fist. But the fox behind me no doubt had seen that coming. He sailed to the side with what could be taken as a playful trot and smiled evenly at my failed attempt to best him.

"Easy. Jus' wantin' to make some conversation. Not confrontation, if ya get me."

With him more than an arm's length away again, I relaxed my stance for the moment. People were staring at us now and I could feel my face burning up from the indecency of my act becoming more apparent to the rational side of me. I narrowed my eyes until they twitched in an uncontrolled but otherwise mostly unnoticeable spasm unless anyone was really looking. That was about the time that I heard the strange sound of rumbling in the air...

[Will be lame now and call it a night. =\]

[????]

Just outside the gates of the city, a steady rumble was indeed rising. The horizon line seemed bare save of the large expanding plane on the west side of the city, but silhouettes were beginning to appear if civilians or anyone else for that matter took a good look. It seemed that Neon had perhaps attracted more attention than he might have originally intended... if he had intended any in the first place.

A wave of at least a dozen buzz bombers and swat bots began their sweep across the plain towards the gates of Soleana....

[Neon Noble]

Neon's ear pricked up. He was hearing something-- and not because of his Wind Sense. Something very LOUD was making its way towards Soleanna. It was a rumbling sound. Neon paused a moment to concentrate with his Wind Sense and was very unhappy to find that it was a metal clanking that was nearing the gates.

"Oh, crap. They sent more???" Neon's face appeared comical but distressed. "I probably should've expected that... I really thought I'd lose those stupid robots when I got here!"

[Blaze the Cat]

"Robots?!"

Blaze was already listening herself at this point and Neon's words were cause for concern. Duty tore at her mind, if robots really were invading she had a responsibility to help defend the city. On the other hand she couldn't just leave and allow a possible murder suspect to escape...not to mention the green hedgehog who she was still suspicious of.

There was only one way to go. Taking a last look at Nokame she quickly took off down the alley towards the source of the sound.

[Neon Noble]

"Don't leave me with this guy! It is my fault these robots are here in the first place!" Neon shouted after Blaze. "I should be handling them, NOT you!"

It was a tough choice. Leave and lose a suspect, or keep him?

"Can anyone watch this man??" Neon shouted, hoping someone could take over.

[????]

"We'll take it from here!"

Two of the guards from earlier appeared in the alley where Neon stood. Their original intent had been to follow Qesun after the earlier incident, but it seemed there were more important things on hand to consider. Especially with Blaze acting as she had earlier, the two assumed that the turtle Neon was pointing out was the cause of things.

In the distance, the small army of badniks drew nearer. It wouldn't be long until they were at the gates. Shouts could be heard now throughout the west side of the city. People were hurrying home or else where. Wherever they could escape from Robotnik's incoming forces.

[Neon Noble]

"Thank you SO much!" Neon said, happily hurrying off after Blaze and towards the gates. "I'll be helping Miss Blaze if you need me!"

With that, Neon activated the metal balls in his shoes and skidded around the corner. There she was, already where she needed to be, and Neon jumped to a stop nearby, the balls back in their motionless state. "Like I said, this is my fault. You're welcome to fight if you want, though."

Neon assumed his fighting stance yet again, a breeze tossing around the loose parts of his jacket and pants.

[Qesun Vendak]

Oh, of course it had to be one of those days. At least the guards had a bigger worry then him, though now the city itself had a worry all of its own. The sound hung in the air ominously as the source closed, and Qesun could only snear at it as he looked up at it. He'd already been through enough escaping those and establishing himself here. He'd be damned if they took that or anything else he cared about.

He dashed off down the alley while the guards were still busy with the turtle. A zig and a zag took him out of the alleys and back onto the street, not being long from stopping near Blaze and Neon. Both guns left their holsters, blades and all, with a quick flourish before QJ took proper stance. "Hi. Figured you both would like a little help."