4806/Germination: Fire and Steel

Germination: Fire and Steel
Date of Scene:	03 July 2018
Location:	Abandoned Subway station
Synopsis:	Shredder meets the mutant responsible for the fires spreading the mushroom monsters, and an extra new ally.
Thanks to:	Extra thanks to Harley Quinn for emitting Aurian!
Cast of Characters:	Kano, Shredder, Harley Quinn

---

Kano has posed:
    In a maintenance area off of the subway station in the Bronx, a long unused corridor has been appropriated by a group. There's about a dozen various people present, using some low metal tables, various gear set up with tarps over it. It is all very temporary looking. There are two fairly distinct groups present: one with a leggy woman in a red mask, ninja-like attire, and very long black hair. A closer inspection of her makes the 'ninja' aspect really rough: she's just wrapped her arms in black cloth, cut holes for her fingers, and wrapped her middle over a short black dress. She has a few somewhat average-built people with her in hoods, masks, who look somewhat out of their league but beefy enough.
    Towards the back and to the left is a different story, they scream organized crime professionals. One of them, clearly leader, is lounging in a plastic blue and plaid green latticed lawn chair, legs sprawled forward. He's seated in the dark, of course, and eating something or other. He has six people with him, who are obviously armed.
    The meeting was arranged via henchman: a guy knew a guy. And there was a heads up to Shredder that there'd probably be a Black Dragon presence at the meet: he heard they were interested in her for whatever reason. And there they are, indeed.

Shredder has posed:
    The presence of the Foot's leader is preceded by a handful of Foot who file silently into the room, followed by a large mutant wolf and mutant turtle, both of whom look rather intimidating. After that comes in a young woman with a red scarf over her face, a gray and black shozoku covering her with two ninjato blades over her shoulder.
    "I am Oroku Karai of the Foot," she says, glancing over at the other professional mercenaries. She seems to size them up, then narrowed eyes look back to the target group. "You have gained our attention with your recent activity. I appreciate your ruthlessness." The boss himself isn't yet seen, but given that most people who are aware of the Foot believe that Karai is the master, it may or may not be noticed.

Harley Quinn has posed:
"I welcome you, Oroku Karai. And I humbly thank you for your your words." The black-haired woman shifts her over those who just entered, and steadfastly tries -not- to look over those in her own ranks. The disparity is almost painful. She is outmatched, and outclassed.

"We do not ask anything more than for that to which we are entitled." There is a fire in her voice that is fueled by her intensity, and it burns faintly in her eyes, as if there are flames dancing there in reflection. "I am Aurian LaCoeur, of the Order of the Sanguine Flame. And the world will remember this name. This face. Who we are."

Kano has posed:
    The Black Dragon group seems mostly dead inside, they just stay there. The one in the lawn chair scoots back a little, handing off his emptied plate with clear arrogance to the person next to him, who discards it. He's just grinning there in the back now, shoving his camouflage patterned hood off his hair and scrubbing his head once. Kano is behaving like this is all great entertainment, but not in an overly rude way. More like tailgate party.

    "You are also in the presence of -" begins one of the professional henchmen, but he gets waved down by Kano. "We're good, let 'em go ahead."

    Some of the henchmen backing the 'Sanguine Flame' look at her as if that might be the first time they've heard that title, but two of them straighten up, as if to help her by flexing their muscles.

Shredder has posed:
    Karai glances toward Kano, then back to Aurian. "No one is entitled," Karai says. "The Foot believes that you must take what you feel you deserve, or lose it to someone else." She says it with a degree of respect in her voice.
    "You have shown a willingness to do what it takes to get what you want, and that is to be commended. My master is impressed.
    Karai stands to the side, and for most in the room, it is one of those moments that they may have not seen him come in through the door, but the tall, bladed figure somehow just was present. One moment not there, and the next moment, he is in the middle of the discussion. Blades are upon his shoulders, his forearms, his shins. The steel helmet hides his face. He doesn't speak yet, allowing for others to acknowledge him in their own fashion first.

Harley Quinn has posed:
The one who introduced herself as Aurian nearly flinches as Kano waves off the introduction offered by one of his men, but any visible sign of her discomfort is squelched down as best it can be. With the Foot before her, and the Black Dragon behind her, the small contingent who attends her stands as stolid and emotionless as they can. But they fidget. ...and did Bert just pick his nose? "Be Still," she hisses beneath her breath to those who flank her. Ninjas don't pick their noses. At least...no one sees them do it.

Then suddenly, a Shredder. Aurian's eyes go wide. She bows her head respectfully. If she plays her cards right...this whole thing might just turn out the way she wants it to, after all. She just has to keep it together. And breathe.

"I am honored."

Kano has posed:
    Kano winks at the masked woman if she glances his way, otherwise he sits in his camping chair. He seemed to be going to stay out of the gathering for the most part, perhaps 'respecting' it in his way. However, when Shredder does turn up, he reacts, looking with interest at the arrival of the Foot leader. His cybernetic eye gleams fiercely red, though it is only a mark of him scanning and gathering information, not aggression, at this point.

Shredder has posed:
    "You are indeed," Shredder agrees with Aurian. "You know who I am," he says, tone neither asking, but in some ways not confirming either. It is a simple state. "I have remained quiet for some time, but that time is coming to a close. I will soon require allies who are fierce and ruthless. I have no design for these fungal masses to expand further, but your brutality in using them to further your cause gives me reason to believe that you are worthy of my attention." His scarred gaze shifts toward Kano. "You have other allies I see," he observes. "It would be wise if all the knowledge gained tonight was to stay inside the mouths of those who learn it. Is that something that can be expected?"

Harley Quinn has posed:
"Ally," Aurian glances at Kano with a hint of a smile in her eyes, though her expression is hidden. "That remains to be seen. He has something that I want." She turns back to Shredder and nods once. "But what is spoken here remains here, and the words disappear. The knowledge will remain only in the minds of those who absorb it." She isn't so sure whether Bert will even absorb it at this point. Or Steve, who is seemingly more interested in scratching at this point.

Kano has posed:
    The 'ally' in the back doesn't get up, but does finally talk, which includes brazenly greeting the arrival. It's in the form of a relatively smooth jerk of head and nod to Shredder. "Yep, we're all here. Foot Clan, Black Dragon Clan, and ...Singing flame?---" A shrug is added. Whatever the heck she had said, he was kind of listening, or his vocabulary might not recognize 'Sanguine'. "Mine'll be quiet," Kano says, of his various mercenaries. "So. Now we can get some shit done." Kano's not making fun of anyone in particular, this is his manner, a roughness to the bullying leader. "Put on the pressure, things happen," Kano says, with a side grin flashed to the masked woman. "I'm 'ere to provide tools of the trade. I think she's 'worthy', too."

Shredder has posed:
    "Very good," Shredder says, unconcerned with Kano's rough demeanor. "Let us then 'get shit done." The words clearly are not a natural phrase for him. He points at Aurian. "Your people, mutants. They are the future of warfare. They are advanced, many come with abilities which can change the course of history should they be properly respected," he tells her. "Instead, weak people fear you and hate you, attempting to stop the inevitable to preserve their shallow presuppositions of power. He glances at the less than adept cohorts. "I would stand with you, stand for your people to have their rightful seat in the future, but I must know that you will stand with me. Are these your only members?" he asks, his voice somewhat skeptical.

Harley Quinn has posed:
"I have many more. Multitudes," Aurian advises. "These are the ones..." She hesitates only a moment as her gaze reaches Steve. "Whom I would trust with my life. And the only ones who need to know yet what the plan entails. The Sanguine Flame has about two dozen more who await word and instruction. And many of them have their own innate weapons. But this gentleman here," she nods toward Kano, "will hopefully be able to provide what I need to build our threat capacity."

Kano has posed:
Kano the gentleman remains seated but folds his hands loosely across his lower abdomen, legs extending out. He is true to his word for the moment: there to provide arms, not debate about the values of the cause. He looks at Steve, his cyborg attachment still glowing, but does not comment.

Shredder has posed:
    Shredder nods. "This is good." he declares. "For your allegiance to me, I am willing to provide you with funds. I will have my warriors defend your people if your services provide useful. Should I see fruit from your team, I will claim Mutant town as Foot territory, and they will have instructions in no uncertain terms to eliminate any threat the mutants face there. Legal authorities not withstanding."

Harley Quinn has posed:
At this, Aurian pauses and catches her breath. Her plan all along has been to eradicate the oppression that allowed this to happen without recompense. The thought of the Foot presence in Mutant Town is almost as horrifying as the alternative. The quandary is clear in her eyes. She has the poker face of a ten year old. And whether or not she can speak on behalf of the town is another question altogether. "Resistance from the town's citizenry would end in still more bloodshed. We do not wish to be claimed. Rather we prefer to establish an autonomous collective..." The phrase just...came out. And now it's hanging there. Did she really just quote Monty Python while negotiating with a Master of the Foot clan? Yes. Yes, she did.

Kano has posed:
"Or you don't speak for Mutant Town?" Kano guesses from the side, after watching the flaws ripple through the woman's poker face. He's fished around in his vest interior pockets a little bit now, but didn't find what he wanted. He's acting a like he's getting somewhat bored. One of his mercenaries leans in to quietly ask about what he might need, which distracts Kano from the conversation.

Shredder has posed:
    Shredder, apparently, never watched the movie, and the quote is lost. "Indeed," he acknowledges Kano's observation, carefully appraising her as he walks slowly to one side. His first real movement since the conversation began. "I believe that you may not, but I can." A bold claim from one who is not evena mutant. He lets the tips of his fingers touch. "You must know your enemy. Let me ask you something, leader of the Sanguine Flame. What do you think would draw more bloodshed. Mutants killing humans in self-defense while anti-mutant groups muster their dogma for an attack? They feel the mutants are a greater threat, and they retaliate. Mutants are killed in the attacks. Mutants such as yourself, enraged rightfully at the disparity of justice, form bands," he gestures toward her in example. "Those bands strike back, killing some of the Reavers, Friends of Humanity, or what have you. Naturally this generates more sympathy for the attackers, they respond in kind. You respond in kind. The cycle continues."
    He reaches the end of his pace, and pivots, turning to the other direction. "Alternative. Humans come into mutant town, attack mutants...and then disappear." His hands indicate a dispersion. "Bodies are never found, news reports never made. They become missing persons. Just a few more in a city with thousands." He stops, back at his starting position. "Which of these do you believe would draw less bloodshed?"

Harley Quinn has posed:
In that instant, Aurian's eyes darken from brown to black, and they focus on Shredder, and her resolve becomes painfully clear to all present. Her henchmen can sense it as she straightens and turns an intense gaze on the man before her, and their stances take on a decisively more focused and defensive posture.

Aurian continues, pacing slowly as she keeps her eyes on Shredder. She lifts her hand, and suddenly a small flame dances languidly in her palm as she walks. "It was such promises that led our kind to need community in the form of Mutant Town in the first place. Segregation is the way of humankind, is it not?" She breathes a mirthless laugh. "It has come to my attention that your kind is all alike. Separate. Divide, and conquer. I will neither submit my will to your rhetoric, nor the will of my own flesh. My own family. My own race. And if you try to conquer us in such a fashion, you will quickly find what the mutant race is /truly/ capable of."

Kano has posed:
Kano doesn't seem to worry about the change of mood, though his mercenaries dislike the show of flame. They don't pull their weapons out quite yet, but it is close, and tense. Kano does get the item he lacked off his lackey: a cigarette. He lights it himself, doesn't ask for one. And narrowly watches the scene, as if watching a good drama unfold.

Shredder has posed:
    Shredder arches his brow, and chuckles, his eyes not even shifting to the flame in her hand. The guards behind him seem to become more alert, becoming more ready for a fight. The mutant creatures have another response, curiosity. Karai, his second, looks angry.
    "You would threaten our master!?" she cries out in anger, only to have Shredder raise a hand, which bridles her tongue, though clearly not her spirit as her own rage boils in her expression.
     "Child, you are part of humankind," Shredder answers. "Perhaps a new chapter, but the same heart beats in them as in you. I have seen twelve generations and twelve million warriors. You are not without your kind. Your kind is not mutants, it is fighters. I can see it in your eyes. I can see it in your anger. You would be wise not to test my patience. More powerful than you have tried. No matter." He gives a dismissive gesture. "If you do not want aid of the Foot, I will not give it, you forget that it was contingent on your usefulness. I have other ventures that could use those resources. But know this, your exasperation of this world's scenario concerning these fungal growths displeases me as much as your ruthlessness interests me. However, as you wish to dissuade me of that interest, know that my displeasure will be all that remains." The threat is hardly veiled.
    "So now your options are simple. You can accept my offer to fund your operations, and in return I will call upon your...conglomeration for needs of my own operations. Or I can destroy you here." If he's intimidated by her fire, he certainly does not appear it.

Harley Quinn has posed:
Aurian stops and turns to face Shredder defiantly. "Very well. Destroy me. There will me thousands more to step into my place. I lost the ones most dear to me when they were shoved into vans and taken from their homes. The ones who survived to return, aren't really there. The light has left their eyes. The children playing in the streets return empty and fearful gazes. I have nothing left. Destroy me. The others will persevere in my stead."

Kano has posed:
Kano clicks his tongue a little bit, and finally gets up. His second starts to go for the chair, but Kano gestures a little in a 'leave it' motion. He has more shitty camping chairs. And knows when to not get involved in a bad situation that has no benefits for him other than a possible burn. "Anyone who /does/ decide they have the funds for exotic weapons can get in touch with me," Kano comments coolly, starting to move away, though he's still watching: if there's murder he'd like to enjoy seeing it.

Shredder has posed:
    "Then maybe one of those thousands will be wiser than you," the Shredder says. Without another word, his fist snaps forward, claws striking toward her heart. His eyes don't leave hers to see her final response. Karai doesn't flinch, but a couple of the Foot soldiers behind her do.

Harley Quinn has posed:
In the two heartbeats that pass after Shredder's claws pierce her chest, Aurian erupts in a volcano of flame. Steve, once standing distractedly scratching himself, now steps forward into the flames and screams as he encircles Aurian with his arms. The fire melting his flesh, he shuts his eyes tightly, and the two disappear, leaving only a roaring inferno of flame which will slowly disperse. The rest of the henchmen are left to look around in wonder and terror.

Kano has posed:
"Toooooo bad," Kano singsongs a little from where he is. "Unwise /and/ poor," Kano says, with distain. People without money aren't much use, really, to the rough male. He does look at the other concerned goons, curious to see what they will do at first, but then watches Shredder. There's no shock or disbelief or anything else from Kano: he approved of the murder.

Shredder has posed:
    The ninja warlord steps back, and he winces from the erupting inferno, turning his shoulder to allow his cape to guard him from the firey rage. There is a moment where he seems to enjoy the smoldering fire, and he glances up to Kano. "I understand you may have more usefulness than her," he says casually. "Exotic weapons, yes?"

Kano has posed:
    "Yep. You like knives? Got a sample here," Kano says, friendly suddenly again, and ignoring the worthless henchmen that were with the now-missing mutant. Kano drops a hand to one hip of one of his own people to tap on a sheath. The man nods, and carries it over towards Shredder for inspection, removing the sheath and offering it. It is a fierce looking knife with elaborate technology attached to the handle. "Variable vibration Psyblade. Cuts /real/ pretty on organs, through all sorts o' armor."

Shredder has posed:
    Shredder takes the weapon, weighing it, judging it. His eyes examine it carefully, and he hands it back. "That could be among useful tools," he admits. "We will talk. There are more complicated devices I may soon require, I would be interested to see if you can supply them," he informs. He glances back to the remaining henchmen. "I trust you needn't learn from our recently expired. If one of you desires to make a wiser choice than she did, You can speak with her," he says, giving a nod in the direction of Karai.

Kano has posed:
    Kano grins, clearly fine with the shift in buyer. "Mostly I sell guns. But sometimes it's far better to make a point up close," Kano says, at ease. "So I get it." He accepts the knife back, but flips it towards one of the remaining henchman, putting it directly in an eye socket. Kano's inhumanly strong. "Good point, eh?" The knive fizzles and rattles a bit, before Kano moves to pick it up, after the demonstration. The henchmen take the hint, and bail, rather than suffer any more such demonstrations, leaving the clan leaders to discuss further transactions.