Well, of course not at the front or side of the building, but maybe 'round back there would be a cellar window that they haven't bothered to block due to its small size. As he races around behind the burning building, he laughs at himself. He hardly ever worked at anything so hard as this trying to break into a burning building filled with some sort of murderous assassin cult. Makes all the sense in the world.
In the back alley, Nigel tries to think of another way into the building. He isn't liking this new sense of helping his fellow man that seems to be taking root, he was going to have to do something about that, but in the meantime he goes around back, out of sight of the others...
Nigel concentrates (a feat in itself with whatever the hell CPC put into his stomach still a bit frisky) and focuses his power on the service door that he finds around back. Tendrils of energy shoot from his hands and eyes, enveloping the door, which rattles and groans on its hinges, then pops open about a half inch. Through the crack, Nigel can see that someone has nailed some 2"x4"s across the doorway using large nails.
As the door opens slightly, Nigel hears a cry of surprise coming from inside. Though he doesn't recognize the language, he has heard it before. It is unmistakably the same language that was used by the Turbanites at the airport.
Nigel will give it another go, what the hell...
Woofard tears around the back of the building, past where Hypo and Cheri are trying to figure out how to get up to the second story fire escape, until he comes to a small service ally in the back. He spots the druggie, Nigel, standing near the back door. Said back door is partially open! Not enough to get through (yet) but enough to suggest that appropriate effort might get it that way. Nigel seems to be staring at the door apprehensively, rather than tugging on it or trying to get it further open.
Woofard stops cold, looking at Nigel staring at the door. "Geez, attack of the zombie limeys. Can this place ge any creepier?" he says to himself. He walks cautiously up towards where Nigel is standing. He looks at Nigel. Nothing. He looks at the door. Nothing. He's got no clue what's going on here. The Akita turns his highly skilled nose towards the opening of the door. He sniffs to see if there's anyone just on the other side of it.
Nigel seems to be concentrating very seriously on the door. "I would stay away from the door for a few moments my canine companion, I wouldn't want to hurt you accidently. You are about to learn a secret about me and I would appreciate if you kept it in confidence..." Nigel tries to channel a blast at the door a second time
Woofard looks at him again as Nigel speaks. He regards the door that the Brit is focused upon, and back at Nigel, "Sure, no problem. We can keep each other's secret."
Nigel's concentration deepens, and his eyes roll up in his head. A nimbus of energy forms around his hands, like green lightning, and then flies forth to strike the door, which bursts into splinters and falls off its hinges.
Woofard's thick fur ruffs up as a fierce growl prowls forth from his massive ribcage. "Hey buddy," he starts to say "On the other side of the door..."
Inside another door (probably leading to the interior of the first floor) can be seen, along with stairs leading up. In addition there are four individuals wearing long flowing robes and large turbans standing just inside the door. Each carries a wicked looking curved dagger, and all are stained with blood. Though they appear to have been waiting for the door to burst open, the ferocity of the attack momentarily surprises them.
"....Never mind," finishes the dog, as he prepares to tear into these guys.
Nigel briefly turns to his furry compatriot. "These gentlemen aren't what you would call the most cordial of people. I would suggest that you prepare yourself to back me up if I need you, I'm not quite sure if I can control my outbursts or not, and I don't want to inadvertantly injure you in the process."
Woofard considers the door bits sprayed all over the scenery, and reconsiders jumping into Nigel's way.
"These guys are nut cases, pal," he says quietly to Nigel, "Some sort of murder cult. Blast 'em, while ya can." The dog hunkers down ready to launch himself at them, if he has to attack these guys.
Nigel turns back to the Turbanites "Perhaps you gentlemen would care...."
"KIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLL!" scream the four turbanites in unison, charging with reckless abandon in the direction of Nigel and Woofard.
"Told ya," mumbles Woofard as the Kill Freaks come charging out.
He doesn't want to eat any friendly fire from Nigel, but he also does not
like the idea of sitting there and getting carved up like a Christmas turkey.
"I'll make it easier on ya buddy, I'll distract the guy on the left."
Nigel shrugs, before focusing another blast at the turbanites. "Have it your way, then, my lads..."
The two other Turbanites ignore Woofard and pounce on Nigel, screaming at the top of their lungs. Nigel concentrates and lets go with another bolt of green energy from his fingertips just as the pair fall upon him. In an instant, one of the two is reduced to a charred mass of flesh which looks more like an overcooked side of beef than a human being. His companion, undaunted, stabs Nigel in the bicep, but the wound is shallow and (for the moment) not too hindering. It does hurt like hell though.
Nigel winces from the wound, and lets fly with another burst.
Woofard howls at the pain. He snarls like a wild beast (mostly because he doesn't want to think about what he has to do. Getting a mouth full of turban-boy: Yuck!), and launches himself, with his powerful hind legs, driving at the standing assassin's throat.
With only the slightest pause, Woofard leaps at the throat of the unwounded Turbanite attacking him. Fate is against the Akita, however, and he slips on a bit of old newspaper lying in the alleyway, considerably reducing the effectiveness of his leap. Instead of tearing out his opponent's throat, he manages only a grazing snap at the man's arm - painful and serious, but by no means enough to take him out of the fight. He and his barely conscious companion both do their best to violate the integrity of Woofard's epidermis in turn, and manage to land a second cut along his left flank.
Nigel's final opponent engages with all the skill (not much) and dedication (lots and lots) that have earned the Turbanites a reputation as dangerous - if short-lived - opponents. Mr. Timmons, however, has had enough of being lacerated for the day, and is wary of the crazed cultist's attack. Nevertheless, ferocity determination, and a complete lack of self-preservation instinct prove at least marginally effective, as the cultist manages to nick Nigel in the lower abdomen before being turned into a column of raging flame by Nigel's return blast.
Damn! thinks Woofard. Time to get nasty. Snarling in rage and pain Woofard goes for a much more convenient, and evil target, and lashes with his powerful jaws and jagged sharp teeth in a manner calculated to alter Mr. Turban Head's life style and singing range from this day on. If he thought about it, he'd hope this guy wasn't wearing a cup. A low blow, indeed.
Trying not to think about exactly what he is about to do, Woofard crouches and prepares to make an impromptu attempt to serve up some Rocky Mountain oysters. Unfortunately for the Akita, trying NOT to think about something is one of the surest ways possible to actually think about it, and at the last moment he hesitates. Somehow, the thought of biting the balls off another human being is just something he can't quite wrap his brain around (much less his teeth).
This hesitation nearly proves fatal however as the two remaining Turbanites press home their attack! Only Woofard's uncanny canine reflexes get him out of the way in time to avoid the slashing knives of his assailants. In the process, however, the two crazed cultists manage to maneuver the Akita inside the building. He is now trapped in the stairwell with smoke above and knife wielding maniacs below!
Nigel seems somewhat bemused by having torched two Turbanites, and contents himself to watch the proceedings while recovering his strength (or something like that).
Woofard is really pissed, and more than a little worried, though it will be some time before he really feels the pain.... really feels it. Caught on the stairs, seeing fire above, he faces the maniacs below. He can hear that goof, Sam's voice and that of that junk man guy, but more importantly, he sees the limey making to hoodoo those guys facing Woofard in the back. Staying well clear of whatever Nigel does, Woofard barks at the turban boys, hoping to keep their attention focused long enough for them to get french fried, ready to meet any charge they might make with flashing sharp teeth and powerfull jaws (and making best use of the altitude advantage he has by being up the stairs from them).
Nigel tries to blast the remaining turbanites, while avoiding his canine companion...
Woofard's fierce bark and gleaming teeth are enough to give even crazed murder cultists pause. The attention of the two dagger wielding maniacs turns in his direction, leaving Nigel free to concentrate his energy entirely on frying them.
Nigel focuses on the nether dimensions from which he draws his power, attempting to summon up yet more to defeat his foes... and comes up empty. Whatever power he uses, it is drained and only prolonged rest will restore it.
The turbanites, meanwhile, have gathered their courage and leap at Woofard. The Akita, in self defense, lunges at the dagger arm of the healthiest of the two, latching on to it while giving the other one a powerful kick from his back legs once he has some leverage. His teeth deliver a nasty bite to the healthier of the two, while his kick sends the other spinning down the stairs and out of the fight. The sudden attack and the loss of his companion seems to momentarily stun the remaining Turbanite, who fumbles his attack and allows Woofard to get past him.
As Woofard faces off against his last opponent, and Nigel tries to figure out what he is going to do now that he can't incinerate people anymore, from up stairs (where Woofard heard Sam and Hypo talking) comes a long, drawn out "KIIIIIIIILLLLLLL!!!" and the sound of many running feet.
Nigel tries in vain to conjure another blast, before deciding it was times like these that the phrase "Let discretion be the be better part of valor" was created for. "Um, Woofard, I think it would be best if we re-grouped and retreated to Dmitri's to see if he has anything with some ofensive power..." With that Nigel waits for the wounded dog to preceed him before following him back to Dmitri's...
Woofard considers Nigel's proposal. He hurts like Hell, and was slightly intimidated by the loonys' maniacal behavior... But running off feels wrong.
From upstairs Woofard and Nigel can hear an odd squishing, gurgling sound; the sickening sounds of several Turbanites chanting "Die! Die! Die!"; and several more screaming "KIIIIIIIIILLLLL!!!" accompanied by the sound of running feet.
With a sigh Woofard says, "Sorry, pal, wish I could go, but those people need help, and Marda's up there. I... I gotta go up. Clear out if you want, but I can't leave while they're in trouble."
He looks up the stairs. The stair well is seething with smoke, but in front of that smoke is the last turban boy. He's wounded but still around. He stands between Woofard and Marda. That guy is toast. Woofard pounds up those steps with all the ferocity he can muster. The dog's a snarling ripping slashing ball of roaring hate: No quarter.
From upstairs there is the sound of combat, a quick series of grunts, the sound of a body hitting the floor, and a renewed cry of "KIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLL!"
With righteous fury behind him, Woofard leaps up the stairs and tears into the one remaining Turbanite with teeth and claws. The poor cultist doesn't even have time to scream before he is rent, torn, and down.
Nigel stops and stares as the dog runs up the stairs. "Shit, I knew this was going to get messy!" With that, Nigel grabs the nearest item that'll pass for some sort of weapon, and follows the akita up the stairs.
As the last Turbanite falls, Woofard hears the familiar cry of "KIIIIIIII...huh?" accompanied by the sound of breaking glass.
Woofard pounds his doggy paws up the stairs using his nose to guide
him to Marda. The smoke burns his eyes, making it difficult to see,
but his nose more than makes up for it. He drives himself to continue,
feeling that if he were to stop, that would be the end for him.
To Be Continued...