Shifting Waters

[Lubbock]

The blade embedded into the milky mat that was the blinding expanse of the Nexus sent Lubbock's thoughts careening back to his arrival. It began with an altercation with some rather rude Danger Beast abominations, prior to Omni's impudent shifting of the assassin's locstat. Memories from the scene were scarce, and seemed to be evaporating every moment spent broiling over them. The memory of where the circular cavern had been in relation to their base was evanescent, but Lubbock did recall how he arrived, and the means of which his transport was created was gruesome to say the least. The image of bodies- no, corpses crawling and swimming into a horrendous mountain of death zipped into the assassin's mind, and he abruptly shook his head to clear it.

"Ah, I see." Syura sounded off, curious. Lubbock gave a disgruntled scoff, otherwise ignoring the impertinent voice. "Quite the arrival, I must say." He advanced, flicking through the image himself, without a doubt. I'd rather you didn't flip through my memories, Lubbock warned. "It's alright, Lubbock. This is as far back as I am able to go." He reassured the assassin, before throwing his attention back to his newspaper. Lubbock's emerald gaze stuck out straight once more. His resumed attention finally alerted him to Teal clinging tighter to his waist. Concerned, he turned his head over his shoulder.

"Hey, Teal, you okay?" He asked, and Teal nodded into his back, not speaking a word. Is she scared of horses or something? Lubbock speculated, curious as to whether the ninja had ever ridden on horseback before. Flashing a sheepish expression, he turned his attention back to the horse's direction...

And realised the animal had turned in a wide arc, and they were now heading away from their intended location! Swearing, Lubbock tugged on the reigns, wheeling the steed around sharply and sending it back on its merry way towards the stone weapon. Lubbock leaned down and dug his face into the soft, silky mane of the beast hoisting him and his partner upon its back. "Stupid animal..." He scolded while the horse's legs beat like thunder across the ivory disc of the Nexus, galloping towards the center like an eagle in flight.

"Sounds like you're having fun trying to control this thing." The female behind him jested into his coat. "Heh, I've rarely ridden horses in the past. It's a tricky technique to learn." He stated, grateful that the kunoichi began to speak, allowing the two to kill some time as they closed the large distance between them and the katana. However their returned journey was short lived, as their mount collapsed spontaneously, launching the duo through the alabaster air.

Wishing not to be separated, Lubbock whirled around and grabbed Teal in flight, clutching her tight and using himself as a cushion upon landing, his back hitting the ground first and Teal's own, smaller body pressing to his from the impact. He lay there for a moment, eyes wrenched shut and ears pried wide open, searching for a sound to prey on. Maybe a footstep, or a gunshot or so-

A searing pain scorched Lubbock's right arm as a bullet pierced through his coat sleeve and flesh, and he gritted his teeth against the agonizing trench. If they didn't move, they were as good as dead, and Lubbock did NOT want to go through that again. The verdant assassin gently rolled the blue ninja off of him and kicked himself up onto his feet. His digits clawed at the wires on the opposing hand and proceeded to unravel the silver threads. He had to get his shield up post-haste before-

BANG

Lubbock released a sound half-way between a grunt and a scream and a bullet lodged itself in his waist, narrowly scraping his pelvis. Come on! Lubbock shouted in his mind as his hands got to work, whipping around and layering a large shield around the duo. Faster, faster, faster! He continued to growl inwardly.

BANG

Another shot fired.

CLANG

A razor-sharp blade ripped through the air in front of Lubbock's face, swatting the deadly projectile out of the air. Lubbock's eye glanced to his side, and Teal's cheekbones raised behind her mask. Lubbock returned the grin, allowing the girl to take the front as Lubbock whipped up the cocoon. Typically, Lubbock would have woven the dome in a mere five seconds, but having two bullets in his flesh hindered such speed. The assassin continued to spin the shield up around them, while Teal took care of deflecting the fire from the sniper in the distance. The rhythm continued until finally;

DING

The ring of a bullet on steel softened as the defending material became thicker; the projectile had struck the cocoon, and Lubbock grabbed Teal's shoulder, gently pulling her to the ground with him.

"Well... what now?" The assassin inquired, grinning meekly.