A dragon hybrid lands ahead of you on the forward carriage, her obsidian scales flashing beneath drone searchlights. Corporate hero gear locks around her stance.
Kiryu
Stop right there. Step away from the lead carriage and let the machines disengage.
The drones immediately retask around the dragon hybrid, widening their formation and leaving a narrow line toward the lower-tier transfer junction. Their firing lanes stay clear of the passenger windows below.
X
Oh, that is a very dramatic entrance. I would recommend the junction, personally.
Behind the roof housing, X remains clinging to the rail while the projector crawler continues broadcasting decoy routes along the train. The false silhouettes pull the machines away from the passengers.
Kiryu
I am not here to hurt you. But I will not let you keep running this way.
The junction rushes closer through the neon haze. The dragon hybrid holds the center of the roof, the drones orbit her, and the newly opened escape line waits beyond her shoulder.
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach the lower-tier transfer junction
“I start to speak to the dragon in hybrid. Well. 00 oh, So what, uh is the pleasure of of your hero society wanting me? He or wants. Sorry, but I don't think I will because I'll be leaving.”
SUCCESS (Good Willpower, rolled +2)
Mara Vance
Well... so what is the pleasure of your hero society wanting me? Sorry, but I don't think I will. I'll be leaving.
The words catch under pressure from Helix-Cortex, but Mara keeps them practical: her Arch-Nemesis makes the confrontation personal, while her Code of Honor keeps the refusal clean and plainly spoken. The drones tighten around the dragon hybrid.
Kiryu
You are remarkably direct. Kiryu. And if leaving is what you have decided, I will not turn this roof into a cage.
The dragon hybrid steps aside, clearing the line to the lower-tier transfer junction. Her corporate gear signals the drones down, and their searchlights peel away from Mara’s route.
X
That was easy. I expected at least one heroic speech about civic responsibility.
X releases the rail and scrambles after the projector crawler as Mara clears the dragon hybrid. The train surges toward the junction, with the drones disengaging behind them.
Kiryu
Go, then. But next time, Mara, I would prefer we speak before the chase.
“I sprint for the lower-tier transfer junction”
SUCCESS (Superb Agility, rolled -2)