Langston's gauntlet was this crazy mix of tech and magic, like something you'd see in a movie. Thin wires wrapped around it, gleaming gold whenever he thought about moving them. The magic part was wired straight to his head. Think something, and boom, those wires jumped to life, twisting and sliding like they had a mind of their own. The tech kept it under control though. It had a scanner, a little screen under his wrist, and some kind of targeting system that figured out how much power to use so he didn't burn it out or drain it too fast. Pretty clever setup.
Those wires could do a lot too. Up close, they'd lash out like whips, wrap stuff up, or carry his lightning jolts right into whatever he was fighting. Long range wasn't its strength, so he'd have to duck and weave to get in tight. But it could take a beating. The wires could spin fast, screwing with any magic thrown at him, soaking it up and turning it into more juice for the gauntlet. It even had this cool hard-light shield, a glowing wall that could stop bullets or whatever else came his way. Not flawless, mind you. Too much electricity could mess it up, and the wires might get caught in thick vines or sticky gunk. Good thing Langston could hit it with his own sparks to kick it back into gear if it died on him.
With that gauntlet buzzing on his wrist, Langston figured it was time to round up some folks tough enough to face the Nuckelavee. He and Scotty set up outside Doras Dagda's gates, eyeballing a row of recruits who looked ready to run. Langston wasn't feeling chatty. First guy stepped up, a skinny dude with a staff, and Langston flicked on the scanner. Its light washed over him, and the guy squirmed. "Hey, what's that thing doing?" he muttered. Langston didn't bother answering. "What can you do?" he barked, sharp and to the point.
The guy shifted, nervous under the scanner's glow. "I'm an air mage," he said, voice low.
"You afraid to die?" Langston stared him down.
"Uh, no, sir," he replied, hesitating just a bit.
"Will you obey me?" Langston's tone didn't soften.
"Yes, sir," the guy said with a quick nod.
Langston waved him off. "Not today, buddy." Scotty grinned at the guy as he shuffled away. "Don't take it personal. We've got air covered."
Next was this girl with wild blue hair, sea glass clinking around her neck. The scanner hummed over her, and she crossed her arms, looking annoyed. "What can you do?" Langston asked, keeping it blunt.
"Water mage," she said, cool but with a little edge.
"You afraid to die?" He didn't let up.
"Nope," she fired back, no pause.
"Will you obey me?"
She thought for a second, lips tight, then nodded. "Yeah."
Langston glanced at Scotty. "She's in." The girl, Euphrates, stepped aside, officially on the team.
Then this tall woman in a leather coat strolled up, acting like she ran the show. Langston scanned her, the gauntlet's light flickering over her. She scowled. "That's invasive as hell," she grumbled. He didn't flinch. "What can you do?"
"Healer and support mage," she said, head high, almost daring him.
"You afraid to die?" he pushed.
Her eyes narrowed. "No."
"Will you obey me?"
She snorted, then lost it. "Obey you? Obey you? Typical man nonsense. I'm a strong woman, I don't need you snapping orders at me. Talk to me like a person, not a damn puppet!" Langston let her rant, then cut in. "Calm down. I need a team, not a lone wolf. Keep moving." Bad call. Scotty's eyes went wide, hands up to play peacemaker, but before he could say a word, SLAP! Her hand smacked Langston's cheek hard, leaving a mark. He spat into the dirt, growling, "Good day, ma'am. Watch your pride doesn't trip you up on the way back to wherever you came from. Stay safe." A couple recruits bailed right there, fed up with him. Scotty groaned, rubbing his forehead. "Langston, ease up, man!"
The woman raised a hand, glowing white-hot with magic, ready to blast him, but she just stormed off, boots stomping the ground. Langston didn't budge. She had guts, sure, but he needed people who wouldn't crack when the Nuckelavee came knocking. He rubbed his cheek, muttering, "Maybe I earned that," though he wasn't totally convinced.
Scotty whistled. "That went about as well as a kick to the shin. Lucky we don't have HR out here."
Langston smirked, cheek still smarting. "Next!" he shouted. "And if you can't take a little push, leave now. We've got enough mess!" Scotty's jaw dropped, and he started to walk away, then turned back. "Keep that up, and I'll deck you myself."
Langston shot him a look. "Go for it. If you're out, I'll find people who can follow or go alone. Nice guys don't fight skinless demons. I need hardasses who get it done, even if it's messy. Know a Doomslayer? I'd take him." Scotty blinked. "A what?" Langston rolled his eyes. "Never mind."
Scotty's mouth flattened, ticked off. "Robert wants you alive, no clue why. I'll stay, but zip it before every woman here guts you." Langston glanced over. Yep, the slapped lady was ranting to her pals, pointing his way. One stocky redhead flipped him off, dragging a finger across her throat. He shrugged. "Fair enough."
He turned to the recruits still hanging around. "Got water and fire mages already. Need a healer. Step up if that's you." Four of the thirteen left moved forward. He pointed at a kid, maybe sixteen. "Not you, go home." The kid glared and stomped off. Then he looked at an old guy, hands rough like tree bark. "You've got experience, pops, but this job's quick and nasty. Your knees won't cut it." The old man shuffled off, head down, limping a little. Langston figured he'd spared him some hurt, but Scotty wished he'd said it nicer.
That left two. A small woman in loose robes, holding a wand with a glowing green crystal shaped like a star caught in roots. Her sharp eyes made Langston feel like she was judging him. Then a big guy, built like a fighter, calm and steady. "Brayden," he said. "Light magic. Heals, makes barriers, tough stuff." His voice was smooth, practiced. "Sasha," the woman said, quiet but firm. "Life magic. Healing, clearing bad mana. Not flashy, but it works." Her crystal pulsed faintly.
Langston crossed his arms. "Why should I pick you?"
Sasha went first. "I heal, I fix mana rot, I keep things running. No show, just results." She held her wand steady, no fluff. Brayden grinned a little. "I heal quick, throw up shields, and I don't break. You need someone who lasts, that's me." Langston liked Sasha's no-nonsense deal. "You're in," he told her. "I need steady, not swagger." She blinked, caught off guard, then nodded. "Thanks. I've got you." He turned to Brayden. "You're good, but I need a healer, not a tank right now. Next time, maybe." Brayden shrugged, easygoing. "Good luck out there."
Scotty smirked. "See? Being decent ain't so tough." Langston glared. "If you think that was easy, I'm glad you're here."
He faced his new crew, four of them now. "You're in luck. I'm loaded. Spent a week in D.A.V.E., and it was a riot." He stopped, hearing himself. "Wait, no, I mean he paid me good." Scotty snorted. "Dave paid you to be inside him, huh? Charisma's still zero?" Langston's face went red. Sasha smirked at the dirt, Euphrates stared at his hands. "Anyway!" Langston snapped. "I'm rich. You each get 500 gold. Hit the market or STEVE, grab gear to stay alive. I'll get Robert to make badges. Special Forces for Doras Dagda." Scotty grinned at "Special Forces." That had some weight, some pride. "Badges aren't just for looks," Langston added. "People need to know we're serious. Results, not excuses. Do or die." Scotty nodded. "Do or die, not to reason why," he muttered.
So that was it, team locked in. Scotty, the fire mage who could light stuff up with flair; Sasha, the Life mage keeping them patched and clean; Euphrates, the water mage who could roll with it. Langston handed 500 gold each to Euphrates and Sasha, then turned to Scotty. "You're set, but I'll cover upgrades." Scotty scribbled notes on their skills while Langston went off to pester Robert about those badges. "Rest up," Scotty told the newbies. "Tomorrow, we hunt a demon."