Hanging out( Soul gear side thread, open to those who're members)

( All good!! I'm sorry that happened.^^)

Titus pouts slightly as Jack answers back vaguely. No fair...He shrugs, smiling and following the older teen to the warehouse. When they enter it, he pauses, taking in everything as his eyes shine."Oooooh....." The boy glances through the doors, tilting his head at the sight of people shooting each other, blinking as he instinctfully catches something thrown at him. Turns out to be clothes.He puts them on, and as might be expected they were somewhat big on him. Ah well, extra padding.  Smiling shyly and waving hello to the owner, the boy tilts his head as Jack walks back over, handing him a gun and mask. Titus  examines them curiously, before plopping the mask on his head like a hat and fiddles with the gun, figuring it out. Watching curiously, Titus copies Jack, then nods, bouncing with a smile."Yep!!!"

((You guys can go ahead and skip me. There's not really a relevant role Naomi can play since she decided not to spy.))

Jack grinned as Titus expressed that he was ready. "Excellent. Let's go have some fun then!" he replied, walking through the doors. Thankfully it appeared that they had excellent timing, as a round had just ended and everyone was preparing to go back out onto the field. "Alright, looks like we're right on time! This is going to be...oh, shoot." The teen said, cutting himself off and frowning as his eyes landed on a group of people. He looked away quickly in hopes that they hadn't noticed him, however the largest one turned and noticed him, a sneer growing on his face as he walked over. "Heeeyyyy Jackie boy! It's been a while buddy!" Then teen grimaced as he heard the call, turning to face the man.

"Bruce. I thought I'd trounced you so badly last time that you weren't coming back. And yet, here you and your goons are once again. Anyway, I'd make some further intimidating comments, but I'm here to play with a friend. So, if you agree to play nice, I'll take it easy on you." he replied, clearly not amused by the man's presence. Bruce, meanwhile, glared at the boy's snarky attitude. "Oh, just you wait, you little punk. We'll take care of you, and your little friend here too. Come on boys, let's get ready." he snarled, turning toward and entering the field. After they had gone out, Jack let out a sigh before turning back to Titus. "Alright Titus, slight change of plans. Let's try to get those three down first, then we can have some fun with the rest of the kids. Hopefully a couple of rounds of getting splattered will send them packing." the teen said as he entered the arena and went to the opposite side of the field as Bruce's gang, motioning for Titus to follow.

( Would it be k to control a  thug and Titus's gun have a laser sight?^^)

Titus smiles, following Jack.As the guy comes over, he gives him a friendly wave,only to frown at the tone the jerk was using.Titus watches the two interact,brow furrowed.They sounded like they didn't really like eachpther....Looking up as Jack motions to follow,he quicksteps,getting backbeside him."I don't like him...he seemed like a...picker of the weak,small minded coward, he who pulls other down to raise himself...bully."

(ooc: sounds good to me!)

Jack nodded at Titus's description of Bruce. "Yeah, that about sums him up. Most people his age tend to realize that that kind of behavior doesn't get them very far, but apparently he didn't get the message. Oh well, that just gives me an excuse not to hold back. Makes this a bit more fun for me too." Jack said, grinning at the end. Shortly after his comment, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the round. Jack would immediately dash forward to the nearest cover, crouching behind it as he heard paintballs flying over his head. Bruce and one of his goons had apparently come up with the same plan as Jack, as they focused their fire on his position. Looks like they had the same idea I did... "Alright Bowman, you know what to do." The Navi nodded, loading up the gun's built-in microphone and listening to the sounds of guns firing and paintballs flying through the air. "Looks like you've got two of them firing on your position. One's straight ahead, the other is just to his left. If you move quickly enough, you should be able to take out at least one of them." "Got it. Let's show these guys what superior tech can do against numbers." Jack replied, sprinting from his cover diagonally towards the next barrier. As he moved, he aimed his gun towards where Bowman informed him that one of his attackers was. While his running made his aim significantly less accurate, Bowman tapped in to two more of the gun's features - the front mounted camera and the air jets mounted on the sides. Using the camera to aim, Bowman activated the jets on the gun, using short spurts to guide Jack's gun onto target, allowing him to hit Bruce's first goon directly in the chest before making it to the cover. "Alright then. One down, two to go. Hopefully Titus is doing alright."

Titus nods,brow furrowed, then smiles back, nearly approaching a grin.At the start of the whistle, he glances around, and at seeing people lowering g and securing their masks, does the same. As the war begins, Titus runs for a nearby bunker. And good thing too. One of the goons focuses on the boy, unloading with a Gatling."HA!!! COME OUT YOU TWO EYED FREAK!!" Oh yes, very brave,taunting a small kid...As it stops, Titus pops up, holding his gun like a Buster and blasts....the wall beside the thug. Popping back down with a squeak as the Gatling roars to life again, Titus examines his weapon with a pronounced frown, poking at it. To be fair, he wasn't used to weapons he couldnt control mentally. Sure, there was the Kopis, but that was rather simple, one button....But it appeared he was lucky!!! He pokes at a button, and blinks as a laser sight activates. Titus tilts his head, then his eyes gleam with mischief...

Gat grunts, hefting the !large gun. Where was that little brat....A paintball splatters the wall beside him,and he laughs,firing at the bunker."Gotta do better n that!!!" Another one splatters closer, and he grunts."You're a lousy shot!!" Smiling, he glances down to reload, and blinks. Eh? A red dot....A second later, several balls slam into his chest, and Titus steps out of the bunker, aiming the marker at Gat's goggles, a cold,businesslike gleam in his eyes."Wait...." Nope.A paintball to the right eyes delivers a coup de grace, and as he staggers off the battlefield Gat growls at the happily jumping Geared.

Jack watched Titus as the boy hid from his attacker, who appeared to be using a rather large and imposing weapon against the small boy. Yeesh. Talk about overkill. I'm surprised he even managed to bring that in here, although I suppose it'll make for a good test for Titus... The teen watched as his friend struggled for a bit before figuring out how his gun worked, at which point it only took him a short while longer to take down the target. Atta way Titus. Job well done. At this point, however, Jack realized that Bruce was still in the game, as well as the fact that Titus had just made an easy target of himself by stepping into the open. After checking his gun quickly to see where Bowman had marked the bully's last position, Jack stood up himself and, after taking a moment to solidify his aim, launched a volley towards the older man, splattering him multiple times. The bully snarled as he followed his goon off to the side, leaving only Jack, Titus, and and few other teens left on the field. Well, now that they're taken care of, we can have some fun. the teen thought, smiling as he went to work on the remaining players.

At the end of the match, Jack would walk off to the side of the field. "Nicely done Titus. You handled yourself rather well for your first time, especially against that goon." he said as he smiled at his friend. "Bah. A lucky shot. Not to mention we had to watch the rest of the little kids out there with their guns. So how about this? You two versus the three of us. Just a nice, friendly little showdown. It'll certainly help us figure out who's really better." Jack scoffed at Bruce's bravado. "You just don't know when to give up, do you? Whatever. Having only you to deal with will just make this faster." However, he then turned to Titus. "What do you say? Up for a little two v three challenge?" he asked. One of Bruce's goons sneered. "Whatsa matter, afraid the short stuff isn't up to the challenge? If you want, we can take you on without little Titus backing you up." he jeered, however he quickly received an elbow to the side from Bruce. Rolling his eyes, Jack addressed the boy again. "Your call Titus. We don't have to put up with these jerks if you don't want to."

Titus looks at the one guy who'd called him short,sticking his tongue out.Looking at Jack, the boy smiles."I don't mind..." Then he frowns slightly."But...uhm...would it be fair? They are kinda bad shots...." What was really bad, is that he meant it, and was actually concerned.

Jack couldn't help it. As soon as Titus had called the gang bad shots, he burst out laughing. Oh, this kid's innocence is so great. It may get him a punch to the face one of these days, but it is so great. After mostly getting his laughter under control, the teen turned to the now fuming group. "Well, there you have it. Sounds like he's ready to go. I suppose the real question now is, are you?" Bruce growled his response. "Oh, don't worry little one. We're plenty accurate to make you regret those words big time. Come on boys, let's get out there." he said, before turning to address the rest of the teens in the area. "Oi! Little Jackie and his friend here are gonna have a nice personal game with the three of us. Anyone who objects can talk to me and my friends here." Oddly enough, nobody seemed to care enough to challenge him. He would then turn to the field, followed by his goons as the went to the left side of the field, while Jack would lead Titus over to the right side. "Alright, same situation as before, just with fewer people this time. As long as we're careful we can do this just fine."

As the match began, Jack would start similarly to his previous match, moving to the nearest barricade and taking cover behind it. And, like the previous time, paintballs started flying over and into his cover. Man, Titus was right. These guys have crappy aim. We should be able to take care of them in no...wait, what is this? he thought, startled by what appeared to be a fog floating around him. Looking back behind him, he could see a similar cloud forming in the waiting area, as well as the spectators that had started to slump to the ground, apparently unconscious. Realization donned on the teen. "Titus, hold your breath and get out of here!" he called out, his vision already starting to fade. While the paintball mask had helped to slow Jack's inhalation of the gas, it was far from airtight, meaning he would soon pass out like the others. "Bowman...follow him if you can..." the teen muttered, looking towards Bruce. "You...just made a big...mistake..." The bully snickered. "Oh, I very much doubt that. You see, I'm getting paid a lot of money for bringing you and the kid in. After we drop you off, it sounds like I won't be seeing you ever again - a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. Your cocky attitude just made the decision that much easier." he replied, firing multiple times directly at Jack's mask.

( Ah! Do you have something planned?^^)

Titus tilts his head, confused by the laughing. Did he say something funny?He looks at the fuming jerks, and blinks."Oh...I hurt your..emotions, mental drives...feelings? I'm sorry." As they go to the other side, he nods, raising his 'buster' in preparedness.When it begins Titus heads to a tunnel...but smoke like stuff comes floating out of somewhere. He pokes it curiously, then suddenly yawns. Sleepy...Hearing Jack's shout, Titus shakes his head, realizing it was the fog, and nods worriedly, forming his armor as the helmet pops off. The young headed charges to a nearby window,busting out of it and landing in the street outside. What was he going to do,what was he going to do?! Titus looks around,panicked. He didn't know this place...he didn't know the way back..

(a general idea right now. more details are being developed )

Bowman cursed as his operator hit the ground, unconscious. As much as he wanted to stay with Jack, he realized that staying would only get him captured as well. "Sorry Jack..." the Navi muttered as he jumped through the electronics in the building to follow Titus. Meanwhile, Bruce growled as one of his goons informed him that the boy had escaped. "Well then, what are you waiting for? Go after him!" the man yelled before picking up the unconscious teen and his PET. "I'll deliver little Jackie here, but our employer won't be happy if he doesn't get his hands on the pest." he continued as his men went after Titus.

Bowman watched Titus from the street camera just outside the building, noticing the geared's concerned expression. As lost as a sheep...hopefully I can keep him from the slaughter. Moving quickly, the Navi jumped into the traffic system in front of the boy. First, he would light the crosswalk sign directly in front of Titus with a gear symbol similar to that of the one on the boy's chest, before turning it green and halting traffic across his path. Assuming Titus crossed the street, Bowman would immediately change the crossing signal to red once the boy was through, then start traffic moving across the intersection again, hoping to block the path of any potential pursuers. He would then jump to a nearby electric sign, displaying the same gear symbol followed by an arrow pointing in the direction of the base.

Titus glances back, his hand morphing slightly frowning. He wanted to go save him...But hewasnt strong enough..Biting his lip, the boy blinks in surprise as the...vehicles,transports...cars stop, looking st the sign and tapping it curiously. Nodding, the boy hurries across the street,then looks at the other sign,following it.

(I look toward what you cook up.^^)

(One year and one month later...eheheh. Also if Acheronne wants to join in, now'd be a fairly good time)

Bowman smiled with relief as Titus followed his signal, clearly getting the message. Excellent. Hopefully I'll be able to get him back without any trouble, and then we can figure out what to do about Jack. The Navi would continue his current course of action, doing his best to guide Titus back while stalling his pursuers.

Meanwhile...

Bruce walked into the warehouse he had been told to report to, dropping the still unconscious Jack roughly on the floor in front of a figure standing in the shadows. "I believe I told you to collect two people. Where is the boy?" Bruce shrugged indifferently. "My boys are on his trail. They should be back with him shortly. Now then, about our pay..." The figure stood quiet for a moment, before nodding toward a table behind Bruce. "Half of your pay is in the case there. You'll get the other half when your friends return with the other one." Bruce smirked as he turned around and walked over to the table, clicking open the suitcase to find not money, but a pile of black hexagons. "Um. What is this supposed to be?" The figure shrugged as he answered. "That would be my latest invention. Tell me, what is it you fear most?" Bruce started before narrowing his eyes. "Me? Not getting payed. And unless you want to be fearing a beating, you out to give me what you owe me." The man he was addressing chuckled. "Oh, come now. There must be something scarier than that. Never mind, I suppose I'll know shortly."

As he finished speaking, he pressed a button on the table next to him. The discs in the case sprung to life, hopping out of their storage and onto Bruce's skin. The bully swatted at them futility in an attempt to get them off, however they held fast. As the seconds past, he clearly became more and more agitated, his eyes darting around the room. "What is this!?" he cried out as he fell to the floor, swinging madly around him. His accomplice chuckled. "I told you, just my latest invention. All it does is make you see that which you fear most." Bruce likely would have responded, however his frantic fit only lasted a moment longer before he went limp, eyes glazing over. The scientist looked down in disappointment. "Hm. Death by cardiac arrest. Unfortunate, I was hoping to gather more data from him. Perhaps I'll tone down the toxin levels." He then looked down at the unconscious teen in front of him, rifling through his pockets before finding the empty PET. "Well, it seems like a little Navi has managed to escape as well. I doubt he'd be willing to leave his owner behind. Well then..." Caulder smirked as he turned back to his work bench. "I suppose I have some time for some fun."

*****

Bowman continued his plan, leading Titus back to the Daemon's base. Upon making it back, the Navi would wait for Titus to enter before jumping into the door system himself. Now then, time to assemble some help. The Navi readied his bow, firing arrows around the cyberspace directed at the antivirus systems in an attempt to raise as many alarms as possible. With luck, someone important would make it to the lobby, where Bowman would override the a monitor in an attempt to draw someone's attention.