((Why is every thread I make on these forums doomed to starve from lack of posts? Well at least I retain my 3/3 record now.))
Wow. Simply... wow. How exactly do you want us to join in? I would, but first I would like to know what we're doing. But really really great writing. Just tell mehow to start, and you'll have me hooked!
Grr, double post.
((Thanks. The way I see it you could either be a new recruit yourself or a more experiance supervillain come to see these jailbirds and whatnot.))
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((Thanks. The way I see it you could either be a new recruit yourself or a more experiance supervillain come to see these jailbirds and whatnot.))
[/ QUOTE ]
((okay, I'll take the latter tack!))
/rp
Pain.
The world is pain. A thousand glittering lances of agony pierce both body and consciousness, unending, unabating. The spiderweb tracery of gaping slashes that crisscross her body never heal, never kill. Seeps of blood well from beneath her ebon-shaded clothes, trickle from the sightless, roughly sewn-shut ruin of her eyes. That which could not possibly be alive lives.
Sightless, she moves with purpose and an uncanny, almost inhuman precision. Beneath the endless, excruciating pain and the merciless, cold rage, what remains of her mind is focused to razor clarity, the near-impossible task of multiple simultaneous koan meditations a simple matter for her, a matter of survival. A part of her is deep in shikantaza state, utterly still. Stillness is silence, silence is not-being...and she moves unseen past those who would very much prefer to prevent her passing.
Ironically, it is their very obliviousness that saves their lives. These Ziggursky guards are trained and equipped to deal with medium-security prisoners, convicts whose paranormal powers have been suppressed or their deadly armaments confiscated. They would have no more chance against Lotus In Shadow than a candle against a gale. She passes them by without trace.
She pauses as she senses her goal, her target, far above, atop the pyramidal mountain of steel and stressed concrete that is the "Zig." The highly-placed Mu Guardian Mu-Sahir has told her of this bold attack by Arachnos forces, and how his mystical vision has "seen" a potentially disaterous interference by the hero duo Block and Tackle. "You must prevent them, by whatever means necessary," Mu-Sahir told her. She only turned up one corner of her hideous, stitched-shut mouth and nodded silently.
The hero pair have alighted atop the Zig, assessing the situation below them. Explosions and gunshots reverbrate through the shattered night. Lotus In Shadow decides in an instant that she must strike now, before they can enter the melee below. In a single superhuman leap, she bounds from street level to the roof of the complex, alighting silently beside the smaller of the pair, the celebrated martial artist Tackle. Though dwarfed by his massive partner, Block, he towers over the frail-seeming Lotus.
The ghastly kunoichi draws her straight-bladed sword and concentrates with every iota of her being on a point deep within the hero's chest. A mantra of power and furious strength flows through her, and she strikes, the heel of her hand driving the blade deep. Tackle shrieks in agony, the blade emerging from his back. His desperate return attack misses, but he is not defeated. And his hulking companion has whirled and begun to advance on the diminutive killer.
Leaping high into the air, Lotus In Shadow raises her sword overhead and slashes down with all the power she can muster. Her inner vision is crystal clear, her murderous purpose focused. The blade cuts deep, the hero falls...and does not rise.
The expected blow sends Lotus flying backwards, an explosion of pain rising above even the constant searing agony that fills her every moment. She kips to her feet and executes a whirling "soaring dragon" attack, ripping into the living stone form of the enraged hero. He ignores the deadly blow as if it was no more than the bite of an insect, pursuing the agile kunoichi relentlessly across the rooftop, absorbing her lightning fast cuts as the price he must pay to crush the life from this killer. His own blows lack precision, blinded by fury and grief as he is, but some land, and the slender assassin is ill-equipped to stand them.
She casts a handful of wickedly-sharp caltrops at the feet of her enemy, slowing his advance. She uses the scant respite this buys her to execute a kuji-in sha koan, restoring her battered form. A moment for her inner vision to inform her of Block's precise location, and she moves in for the kill.
Striding painfully free of the stinging spikes beneath his feet, the massive hero storms forward. Lotus feints once, then instead of striking, she throws back her hood, fully revealing the hideous ruin that is her face. In the eerie light of the growing fires and actinic glare of the emergency lights, the sight is ghastly...and distracting. As has happened so often in the past, her enemy is momentarily taken aback, revulsion written on his face.
Again she sends a wave of power coursing through her being. Again she drives home the point of the blade, unwaveringly focused on the beating of his heart. And again, her target crumples and falls, unmoving.
She is exhausted by her effort, her breath rasping wetly, a trickle of blood running from her ruin of a mouth. She pauses a moment, head cocked to one side, her inner eye seeing what her empty eye sockets will never again picture. Below, a handful of liberated prisoners make their way towards a waiting Arachnos hovercraft. Almost to a man, they exude a greedy desperation, a frantic desire to escape.
All save one. Lotus senses an inner calm not so different from her own, from the core of stillness that lies beneath the rage and agony. She senses the fleeting nature of this man's sanity, as well...another parallel. She is fascinated.
"I will follow that one for a time," she decides.
__________________________________
/rp off
Lotus In Shadow, for those who haven't guessed, is my high-level Stalker. I see her Placate not as anything mysical or paranormal, but as a distraction she employs, using her ghastly appearance to allow her a moment to strike. She's something of a twisted "Zen master," using ancient meditation techniques ripped from the demon that attempted to possess her dying body (and which granted her a hideous unlife, caught between life and death, forever maimed and in agony but not dying). This defeated demon is also the source of her skills with sword and ninjitsu.
Looking forward to this one...!
"And in this moment, I will not run.
It is my place to stand.
We few shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands."
((Hmm... ok, I'll have to come here. I really don't have the time right now, but maybe later!))
As Damukag made his way to the snake hole his attention was drawn by a roar of a crowd. A blood thirsty roar combining the worst elements of humanity in attendance with a blood sport.
Curious he went to the arena where the roar became more pronounced. a chant low and ominous.
" GRAHN GRAHN GRAHN GRAHN."
Looking down into the arena which was a haphazard octagon of steel and barbed wire. Damukags eyes widened at the spectacle before him.
A Caliban one of the largest and most powerful of the troll gangs leaders was facing off against another greenskin. the caliban was big, pushing six foot six and weighing in at 400 lbs according to the crude score board that flashed the particulars including hsi name Brogg.
His opponent on the other hand was no troll. The Being facing the caliban was Massive. Trully Behemoth nearly eight feet tall. and almost as wide, An Awesome Physique With massive arms and legs as thick as tree trunks, Sledgehammer hands larger then frozzen turkeys. A chest as thick through the middle with muscle and sinew as a Bull. The green scaly skin had the texture of a snake combined with a crocodile. and the 2 batlike ears flared from a head that was monstrously ugly. Black eyes like a sharks pupiless and cruel looked at the caliban as if a shark eyeing a potential meal.
The Massive being Slammed his hands together on his chest like some great Ape And roared. A roar of primal fury and rage that shook the ground beneath Damukags feet. and half deafened him, and the audience with him.
Brogg the Caliban roared in defiance he had taken an extra dose of SUPAdyne. A new derivative of dyne that pumped him up into a supa troll he would burn out faster for it but it would be worth it. as the Dyne filled rage flowed through hi he charged with a bull like roar at Grahn.
Grahn roared in rage and charged The two met in a Bone smashing collision akin to two semis slamming into each other. They exhanged blows that would shatter concrete and whcih shook the stands. As Damukag watched with concealed interest he noticed something. The Troll fought with unabashed fury unthinking and viscious.
He didnt have a chance. Grahn was also fighting with an Primal Unstoppable rage, but his rage was controlled. he began to see the brain behind that gruesome face was thinking, fighting with a skill that suggested military training of some sort. even more so he realized that Grahn was toying with the Troll. letting him tire and burn himself out. The trolls massive blows were raining down on Grahn but now Damukag noticed that the few that actually connected werent having the desired effect. Then Grahn finished the match. A thunderous haymaker slammed down on Brogg indenting him into the concrete ground. grabing the stunned troll before he could recover Grahn threw a bone crushing punch that shattered the trolls face, blood spattering. Lifting the calliban over his head with ease Grahn brought Brogg down over one knee cracking his spine with sound like a gunshot going off. then taking the broken corpse Grahn reared back and hurled it out of the arena. the limp form circumscribing an arc which would carry it more then a half a mile into the sea.
Smashing his hands against his chest Grahn roared again GRRRRAAAAAAAAHHHHHNNN!!!!, the distictive roar which with the scientists who had witnessed his birth had named him. money changed hands rapidly as the crowd chanted again Grahn Grahn Grahn Grahn Grahn Grahn.
Grahn walked out of the arena having satiated his lust for violence for the moment. his power was growing still. He was slowly but steadilly regaining the awesome might that had enabled him to rampage through Paragon City and to Crush the Freedom Phalanxe under his massive scaled feet. Even Statesman himself had fallen. he would have broken Statesman right then and their. Killed Him dead. If the accursed Demolition Girls hadnt interfered. The memory still burned in him and the memory of cold and ice that had trapped him rendering him helpless as a babe.
Well he would revenge himself upon them someday but not now. First he would regain his true strength. then he would crush anyone that stood in his way. Even Recluse himself would fall if he interfered. Nothing would stop him again.
GRahn Brooded alone on a rocky out cropping over looking the sea. A new future was coming. A future of rage.
((good start Grahn is my SS/invuln brute. inspired by the ambomination one of my fave villians of all time.))
So you mean you'll put down your rock, and I'll put down my sword; and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?
Dubbed first knight of pep-istan by her majesty Queen Pepcat. first catmonaut to walk onna moon.
PENGUIN!!!...(^)>
...............C(...)D
.................m.m
((So uh... if anyone wants to come into the actual snake hole I was thinking more of a we actually talk thing. I understand with the whole watch from afar thing Dollhouse has going with Ms. Disfigured, but if Cat wants to come, he better get his brooding... big thingy out of lala land and into the snake pit.))
Raising an eyebrow slightly at the behemoth as he walked away, Damukag followed him with his eyes until he was out of sight.
Walking slowly to the dead trolls body, Damukag grinned and squatted down next to it.
"You're a lucky one, you know? Yep, you got off easy. Well, a pity you can't really talk like that, dead and all. You know what they say. Every troll has his day. To bad about the face though. That looked like it hurt. Well, I must be off. I enjoyed our talk."
Damukag straightened up, still grinning. He ran a hand through his hair as if in thought. Then, sprinting off, he headed for the other fighter.
The behemoth...thing (Damukag couldn't tell the species) was sitting on some rocks. Creeping up behind it, Damukag climbed up a nearby rock that was slightly higher than the one the brute was sitting on. Then, leaning over the edge, he cleared his throat, catching the other's attention.
"Hello." he said, flashing a smile. "Name's Damukag. Poet, writer, and more recently murderer at your service."
With that he gave another mock flourishing bow, smile never leaving his face.
((See, Damukag's happy crazy. Meaning no matter what happens, he's grinning. He could be eating lunch, slaughtering orphans, or be going through electro-shock therepy. All smiles the whole way through.))
*looking at the smiling face bowing down before him.* "Like living dangerously do we. "Grahns voice was a deep and booming. Like two brass slabs rubbing together.
"What do you want little man? and best you not waste my time."
He Stood up towering over Damukag and looked meaningly at the corpse of the troll washed up on the beach. Massive muscles rolled under his scaly skin as he stretched his arms and he cracked his knuckles each one making a popping sound like miniature gunshots.
Violence and power implied in his every movement. He waited for Damukags response.
So you mean you'll put down your rock, and I'll put down my sword; and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?
Dubbed first knight of pep-istan by her majesty Queen Pepcat. first catmonaut to walk onna moon.
PENGUIN!!!...(^)>
...............C(...)D
.................m.m
Damukag straightened up.
"Me? Oh nothing, simply simple conversation would suffice I suppose. Prison was dreadfully boring." he said, leaning back again.
With that Damukag lept to the side, releasing a jet of energy that jetted him higher than most normal jumps. Landing on the cement on the sidewalk near the rocks, he motioned for the thing to follow.
"So you got a name or shall I simply call you Mr. Big?" he asked without looking back as he headed for the snake hole.
"I go by Grahn now." in that bronze slabs rubbing together voice.
He thought for a moment about just splattering the nutcase all over the pavement right then and their, but something held him back. curiosity? feelings of isolation maybe? Meh. it didnt matter he gathered his legs beneath the 8ft and 2000lbs of muscle and jumped landing with a concrete crunching thoom!!. Then proceeded to follow Damukag.
The two made an odd pair even here on Mercy Island. A city of villians both common and Superhuman. as the walked Damukag made light conversation sometimes speaking in poem or Rhyme. Grahn didnt respond except to grunt noncommitaly. He was far more intelligent then his monstrous appearance suggested, the transformation not having altered his mind. but he rarely showed it as it was a tool for having foes underestimate him.
Predators looled out at the pair form alley ways. skulls, and hellions, some blighted, even some lost. shady characters all looking for fresh meat. All of them sized up the pair for attack but one look at Grahn alone was enough to persuade them to seek easier prey elsewhere.
As they approached the Snake hole a group of skulls stood around playing some Dice. they looked up at as Damukag stepped around the corner and approached the entry to the snake lair.
"Well Well what do we have here. another little destined scumbag fresh off the boat." Cracked the leader eliciting chuckles from the other 4. their eyes gleamed with malice out of their skull painted faces.
"So what are we to do with you?" pondered the leader out loud. "I Know well uh uh uh... sorry RUN!!!" he screamed as Grahn rounded the corner. His buddies suddenly decided they had appointments elsewhere, that they were late for such appointments, and that further delay would be disastrous. Fleeing as fast as their legs could carry them they disapeared rapidly and probably would not stop till they reached Perez Park.
GRahn had secured quite the reputation as a viscious and brutal monster. he had allready crushed a snake uprsising and beaten down a powerful vampyre leader of the councel. It was this reputation that probably had saved the skulls lives. Grahn would have been content simply swatting them out of the way. His new companion would probably have done far worse. judgeing by his eyes. they flashed madness and cruelty. Grahn smiled inwardly hell this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
So you mean you'll put down your rock, and I'll put down my sword; and we'll try and kill each other like civilized people?
Dubbed first knight of pep-istan by her majesty Queen Pepcat. first catmonaut to walk onna moon.
PENGUIN!!!...(^)>
...............C(...)D
.................m.m
Primates! Primates and Reptiles. The island was full of them. Brightspot lashed her tail from side to side in annoyance at the cacophany of it all. Ever since Lord Arachnos and his band of thugs had taken over this island the noise and filth and infestation of humanity had grown unbearable. Brightspot had seen her family hunted down and killed for their pelts and claws and teeth by these petty thugs who inhabited the island. She and her clan had hunted Humans for years until Arachnos had arrived and she longed for those days to return. She paused in her thinking and took a sip of the water in the one uncontaminated river on the entire island. The water tasted sour and in an instant the rather cute felinoid that had stood there was replaced by an angry cat. her tail looped a little and lashed side to side. If those semi-evilved Monkeys hadn't paid much attention to her species in the past it was about time for them to learn about angry cats. She bound up the hill and immediately saw a Hellion spraypainting on a tree. She crouched behind a tree and pounced her full fury being unleashed on this petty thug and knocked him to the ground the can of paint flying to the ground spraying her. She hissed and clawed him in retaliation. "Monkeyss are not welcome on my Issland. Besst you remember that fuzzhead." SHe hissed
"Whaaaaa" The poor hellion stammered as he bled on the ground.
The Next thing Brightspot knew she was hit in the back with a sledgehammer as another Hellion Hit her. She rolled off and with 4 broken ribs and a broken paw she needed to finish this or run. She grabbed the hammer with her tail and tossed it away, flattened her ears and hissed. The silly primatee turned tail and ran. Brightspot knowing she would need a safe place to lick her wounds. A crazy thought entered her mind. What better place to destroy the human infestation than from the inside? Lord Primate Arachnos would be glad to have a huntress in his band of scum and petty thievery. She limped toward the hulking tower of Fort Darwin where she knew that creepy little monkey Kallinda was stationed. She padded up to the med terminals and pawed at the controls.
"Hey, vermin aren't allowed on here!" The pompous Arachnos Guard said angrily. "Shoo you smelly cat"
Brightspot turned and looked at him. "I am..." A look of disgust crossed her face but the guard was too dimwitted to see it. "... here to offer my assitance to Arachnossss. I require medical attention now are you going to be a good little monkey and help me usse it or are you going to sstand there like your tail is caught in a trap?"
The guard looked rather intimidated at the sight of the 120 lb feline staring at him with a predatory look in her eye and nodded activating the med lab. Brightspot felt her ribs knitting together and she yawned revealing fearsome teeth. The guard was even more scared of her. He put on blustery airs and stammered. "N..now...now..go...see Kallinda. Sh..sh..she will t..t..t..t..tell you what you need to do."
Brightspots tail looped in amusement and she licked his nose seeing the poor guard faint away. She padded up the ramp toward Kallinda. She looked back to see the guard waking up. "You may want to change your pants. You smell like a kitten." She said her tail looped tightly. She approached Kallinda who was handing out assignments to the assortment of ragtag humans and she meowed softly. "Tailchaser forgive me" She said as she approached. "I am here to offer my assissstance to Arachnos."
"Very well but first you must prove yourself. There is a snake den close by. You will be working with another recruit. Clean it out and bring me the skin of the vile beasts." Kallinda said haughtily.
Brightspots tail lashed back and forth in annoyance at this pompous overbearing Human telling her what to do. "Verrrrry welll!" She yowled as she padded toward the ramp. Her keen sense of smell caught the smell of blood and something more sinister. She had to investigate wondering if it was possibly an ally in her quest. She leapt up and approached the..creature. Clearly it was or had been at one time a female. It was bleeding and disfigured but it stood like a primate. Brightspot crouched behind it not sure what to do about this thing. Her curiosity aroused she sniffed it.
OOC: Not sure if this thread is dead or not. I hope not.
Julie
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Her keen sense of smell caught the smell of blood and something more sinister. She had to investigate wondering if it was possibly an ally in her quest. She leapt up and approached the..creature. Clearly it was or had been at one time a female. It was bleeding and disfigured but it stood like a primate. Brightspot crouched behind it not sure what to do about this thing. Her curiosity aroused she sniffed it
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"You approach from the rear, where my eyes cannot see you, huntress." The voice is a rasping whisper, barely audible above the night sounds of the city. "But I have no eyes...any longer. That is not how I 'see.' And I know you are there."
The blade makes only the slightest sound as it slides from the scabbard at her back. "Do you hunt me...?"
"And in this moment, I will not run.
It is my place to stand.
We few shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands."
[ QUOTE ]
"You approach from the rear, where my eyes cannot see you, huntress." The voice is a rasping whisper, barely audible above the night sounds of the city. "But I have no eyes...any longer. That is not how I 'see.' And I know you are there."
The blade makes only the slightest sound as it slides from the scabbard at her back. "Do you hunt me...?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Brightspot stopped at the voice and then replied in an accented voice. "Would you kill me for curiosity Young one. Would you deny my clan a Matriarch, my Kittens a mother, would you condemn my kind to extinction on these islands just because I happened to startle you? To answer your question no I am not hunting you. I am merely curious. You seem different than all the rest of these semi-evolved Primates." She straightened her ears out and relaxed a little. What do you call yourself Little One? I am Brightspot to Sennsre."
Julie
Spyne had been watching. Waiting. Right for the most opertune moment. His disfigured insectlike body was hunched over. The hooved feet that shgowed under his long cloak were clopping, nervous. But that was only a ruse. He wanted prey. And he wanted it now. Of course, with both the abaility to control the minds of others and sprout foot-long spikes usually helped him with his sport, it was a whole 'nother thing to try and attack Arachnos.
The strange insectoid creature turned around. His lizard-like tail scraped the ground. I will have revenge... The thing turned invisible. I will have blood... It quickly and silently floated over to an unsuspecting group of Skulls. I will have my prey... Blood. That was all that could be seen on the trashed and disgusting pavement. And I will have it now. It was done. His bloodlust had been settled. For now.
But what was this? Two figures were walking towards a Snake Hole. New prey? Or are they allies? He would soon find out. Spyne, the Experiment #7357, labled "Failure" by his creators and captors, labled "Dead" by those in Paragon City was all but that. He would havenge. He would have blood. And he would have it now.
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Brightspot stopped at the voice and then replied in an accented voice. "Would you kill me for curiosity Young one. Would you deny my clan a Matriarch, my Kittens a mother, would you condemn my kind to extinction on these islands just because I happened to startle you? To answer your question no I am not hunting you. I am merely curious. You seem different than all the rest of these semi-evolved Primates." She straightened her ears out and relaxed a little. What do you call yourself Little One? I am Brightspot to Sennsre."
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"I am...I was..." The wet, pain-infused whisper trails off. The hooded head ***** to one side. After a long pause she says softly, "My name...my name was Alison."
Her weapon, held unwavering, drops to waist level. She is poised as if on a cusp, all stillness. "Best to call me Lotus...and I know of your kind."
"And in this moment, I will not run.
It is my place to stand.
We few shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands."
[ QUOTE ]
But what was this? Two figures were walking towards a Snake Hole. New prey? Or are they allies? He would soon find out. Spyne, the Experiment #7357, labled "Failure" by his creators and captors, labled "Dead" by those in Paragon City was all but that. He would havenge. He would have blood. And he would have it now.
[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"I am...I was..." The wet, pain-infused whisper trails off. The hooded head ***** to one side. After a long pause she says softly, "My name...my name was Alison."
Her weapon, held unwavering, drops to waist level. She is poised as if on a cusp, all stillness. "Best to call me Lotus...and I know of your kind."
[/ QUOTE ]
Brightspots ears perked up when this poor creature had mentioned that she knew of her kind. You know of the Eeiouans?" She pronounced the last word with a slight yowl." She smelled another presence following them and her tail went rigid. This thing wasn't Primate, Reptile or Feline. This was something else entirely. "Get your claw out Young one." She said the hair on her back rising and her tail turning into a 2 meter long bottle brush. She crouched down on all 4 legs and prepared to pounce. She sniffed the air waiting for this thing to come across the wind again. "If you are hunting us then know you're being hunted. If you aren't then show yourself." She said using the Eeiaouan ritual challenge.
Julie
Spyne mentally turned off his invisiblity. He did something that might be called a smile when the cat creature gasped. ((?)) "Hunting? Possibly. But only if you are prey. I am merely... observing." His hooved feet clopped over to the undead woman and the cat. "I can tell that you yourself are a huntress." I will have revenge... "Your obvious feline tendancies tell me so." I will have blood... "And then there is you." He looked at the dead woman. I will have my prey... "You are also a huntress. Your stance. Your mindset. Everything tells me so." And I will have it NOW!
Without warning, the horrid creature grew spines and used his telekinesis to send both 'women' flying foward. With a spike clutched in each hand, the half-insane and literally bloodthirsty creature said, "Now... are you prey? Or are you allies?" He would have revenge. He would have blood. And he would have it now.
[ QUOTE ]
Without warning, the horrid creature grew spines and used his telekinesis to send both 'women' flying foward. With a spike clutched in each hand, the half-insane and literally bloodthirsty creature said, "Now... are you prey? Or are you allies?" He would have revenge. He would have blood. And he would have it now.
[/ QUOTE ]
Brightspot was hurled forward and landed in an undignified heap on top of Lotusd She got up with a snarl her ears flat on her head and bared her teeth. "I am not prey and I will not be treated like a tree dweller." She hissed angrily. She glanced with a little feline concern at Lotus. "Kitten are you alright?" She asked pointedly ignoring Spyne until he either attacked or signalled that he was willing to be an ally in her vendetta against Arachnos and the rest of the infestation on her island.
OOC: Blarg feel free to add @Julie to your Global friends. I'm always up for Roleplay. Dollhouse is already on my friends list.
Julie
Spyne had been reading her thoughts. "You do not serve Arachnos? The we are allies. They are the very reason I look like this" He swept aside his long billowing cloak and removed his hood. He had hair, but it was bristly, almost like quills. His body was insectoid, bizzare, alien. His arms were the same. His legs were also like that, but instead of beinf humanoid, they were double jointed, much like a horse or a goat.
His spines retracted into his body and he put his hood on once more. The horrifying thing again did something that was supposed to be a grin, but really gave the appearance that he wanted to eat you. In his raspy, slightly high pitched voice he said, "I see that you are forced to work for Arachnos. I as well. Together, we can destroy them from the inside out." He mentally lifted himself to float above the ground. "But for now, we must be patient. I am sure that you can relate to that, after all, you are a feline. They are patient creatures." I will have revenge, I will have blood, and I will have it now... "Do you require assistance destroying the Snake vermin? I will gladly assist you. But be warned," his voice became deep and evil. "Gaurd your mind well. If I even think that you are plotting against me..." A very long spine started to grow along his arm. "...I will destroy you."
Rolling from under the catgirl, Lotus kipped to her feet and chanted her kuji-in rin koan. She then returned her center to perfect stillness, wrapping the shadows about her now near-translucent form. Her blade was poised overhead, ready to deliver the Golden Dragonfly attack.
She paused, waiting to see how the conversation between the two strange people would pley out. They were both alien presences in her inner vision, both cyphers. She held her hand.
The pain welled up again, the overwhelming tide of red agony that never truly abated. Her countless wounds seared red lines across the world, blood seeping wetly. She felt her always-tenuous grasp on sanity slipping, knew the cold, killing mind would take over again. Soon.
She must not kill these two. Somehow that thought resisted the tsunami of agony and death. She must go.
The ghastly kunoichi slams a small, breakable vial into the ground at her feet. There is a flash and a billow of smoke. She leaps - stories high. And leaps again. And again. Until she is far away.
--------------------------------
((OOC: I want to change villains for this. Lotus is my high-level (almost capped) stalker, wouldn't be on a snake hunt, and really doens't speak much. I have a better villain for this team, one that can actually interplay with the others lucidly...I'll introduce her post haste))
"And in this moment, I will not run.
It is my place to stand.
We few shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands."
((Just to let everyone know, Spyne is a Grav/Thorn Dominator. I've been wanting to RP that set for awhile now, and this was too good of a chance to pass up. 
Can't wait to see your next char Dollhouse!))
((OOC: Hope y'all don't mind if I join in the mayhem...))
"Those fingers in my hair
That sly come hither stare
That strips my conscience bare
Its witchcraft..."
The voice was deep and melodic, carrying a tune well and doin' a damn fine version of a Sinatra classic. The bearer of that voice was easy on the eyes as well. A handsome gentleman, about 6 foot 1 inch in height in a fine black and grey Armani suit.
The man was not overly muscled, but the suit had obviously been cut for his shoulders and biceps which were impressive in size. The man looked almost normal if it were not for the pale skin that simply did not look right. It was glossy at best and almost plastic looking in the region of his hands. His hair was a white blonde, worn long and almost flowing. A small soul-patch goatee adorned his chin beneath an almost permanent smirk.
His eyes however were unreadable beneath his dark sunglasses.
"cause its witchcraft, wicked witchcraft
And although, I know, its strictly taboo
When you arouse the need in me
My heart says yes indeed in me
Proceed with what your leading me to..."
His voice carried the tune almost better than any band could ever hope. Only Sinatra himself sang it better and even he would have applauded this stranger. Many on the platform stopped their constant chatter and turned to look at the stranger who was crooning so well.
"Its such an ancient pitch
But one I wouldnt switch
cause theres no nicer witch than you."
He ended with a bow, puling down his sunglasses for a moment and giving a rougish wink to the item of his seranade.
Kalinda was NOT impressed. She had to turn and snarl at some nearby Arachnos troopers to stop them from snickering about this.
"Dobermann..." She sighed in fustration. "You just refuse to make my life easy don't you?"
"Absolutely. You keep sending me into assanine places, and I will keep on making your face as red as your suit."
"I could have you shot you know... killed for this insolence."
Dobermann only shook his head and chuckled. "You COULD do that but you won't. First off, both you and I know shooting me would only make me mad. I'm an Android sweetheart, so killing me does not exactly compute either. Finally... you know you love it."
Kalinda snorted as Dobermann laughed loudly.
"Look sweetie, I know your files say I'm: "An unstable AI! WARNING! This unit has Sociopathic and Homicidal tendicies! Escaped! Rogue Unit!" But give me a freakin' break. You WANTED nutjobs like me, and here I am. And honey, I'm better than anyone else at what I do. I've whacked your tratior, taken care of the pukin' punks, even cleaned out some snakes your boys could not handle. Now knock it off with all the stupid runnin' about. Either I'm good enough for your two-bit little club, or I'll walk and find what I need elsewhere."
Kalinda was clenching and unclenching her fists in rapid succession. Before she could explode at him Dobermann winked again and shouted loudly:
"This one is for the sultry lady in red! Lets give this class doll a big hand folks, for without her we'd be back in the Zig!
"Fly me to the moon
Let me sing among those stars
Let me see what spring is like
On jupiter and mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby kis..."
"SHUT UP!!" Kalinda howled as she grabbed Dobermann's collar and pulled herself towards him.
"I'll shut up if you put up doll." Dobermann grinned into that faceless Arachnos helmet and knew Kalinda was fuming in there.
"You smug, arrogant, annoying... Fine. Last test. Clean out this snake den... " She pressed a manilla folder into his hands and thrust him away.
"Snakes again huh? As long as it's the last test doll."
"Just... Just get OUT of here..." Kalinda fairly hissed as Dobermann walked off the platform and out to the location the file indicated.
"Some dame huh? Shows you how "Cool" this Arachnos is if miss high and mighty can't hold it together." Dobermann commented to a few others as he left Fort Darwin and into the streets of Mercy.
"Would you like to swing on a star
carry moonbeams home in a jar
and be better off than you are
or would you rather be a spider?"
Dobermann sang as he walked, making up new lyrics to the old Bing Crosby song until he came to the collection of snake pits.
"Well well well... Looks like I'm not the only sap the ol' red-tights sent down here huh?" He looked back and forth between the feline like humanoid and the odd insect-reptilian thing. He didn't comment, didn't insult, only went down to the holes and poked about a bit.
"Yeesh... if these nuts were serious about offin' the snake problem they would just flood the tunnels down there. I doubt these things breathe underwater."
He stood up and looked at the other two. Grinning like the cat who ate the canary he offered his hand, and a buisness card to both.
"Name's Dobermann. Nice to meet ya."
His handshake was cold, stronger than any man's, and oddly mechanical.
His card simply read:
Dobermann: Problems Solved
Given that this was the Rogue Isles it was unspoken but easily assumed what Problems Dobermann solved.
Spynes scaly hand put itself into the strange man's other one. The strange lizard-like experiment released his grip. "You are quite strange." I will have revenge... "Why is that?" I will have blood... "Is it because you are just happy?" And I will have it NOW! Spyne whipped about and struck the humanoid robot with his tail. The man flew into the brick wall that was to Spyne's right and created a small crater. "You work for Arachnos. I smell the Kalinda-filth on you. Do you want to die quickly? Or slowly? Pick wisely."
((IF ya'll haven't figured it out yet, the words he keeps thinkng nevcer leave his head. The experiment that turned him into what he is today drove him insane. He is now a homocidal freak that enjoys eating the flesh from the Spider's little helpers. Isn't that pleasent?))
I stared at the cold cement wall in front of me. I stared at it for hours on end. There was little else to do but stare. At the Zig, medium security prisons were better guarded against escape than the maxiumum security ones anywhere else. It made sense considering the things the prisoners could do.
))
Because of the security there was little to do but wait. I heard yesterday that someone in maxiumum finally snapped and hung himself. I don't see why. All he had to do was wait. They always come if you wait.
I was in the worst place I could possibly be in right now. I was in my cell in 'the Zig' as the others called it. A prison built not to keep ordinary people in, but those with 'special abilities' such as myself. Special abilities and the smarts to use them. If you didn't have the smarts you became a hero, caught up in all that truth and justice crap.
More waiting.
Did I mention there was a lot of that? Just... wait. All day. They let those with really really really good behavior in the excersise yard. I wasn't one of those villians. I didn't even have a cellmate. They don't put the condemmed together. Everyone here was condemmed. Walking deadmen, all of them. Everyone was going to die. I could see it as they walked past. They might delude themselves otherwise, but the truth was that no one could avoid it, Even after escape, you were doomed to die. Some might live a few more years, but even they would fade away eventually.
They brought us out for food. Sometimes they let us go to the library. I always got books. I read them every chance I got. It seemed to be the only thing to do. Read and wait for the sentance to be carried out.
One book always caught my eye. Indeed I had been so fascinated by it I risked solitary to steal it from the library. They hadn't caught me. Not yet at least. Even now, after having read the book over five times front to back I didn't want to return it. Something about it had me gripped.
The book itself was called "Shadow's of the Heroes" and was written by a certain John K. Rashen. The name seemed a bit familiar, but I couldn't remember where from. I couldn't remember anything, actually. Not since Crey.
Crey...
I hated the word, Crey. I hated the very sound of it as it left my lips. That single syllable produced so much hate. It was like fire, pumping through my veins. My eyes burst into flames. I could feel my entire body on fire. I was burning up, consumed by the fire.
No.
My arms deflated and shrunk back to normal size. My eyes lost their fire. Everything went back. No one seemed to notice. I must control my emotions. Raging in the cell wouldn't be a good thing. I sat back down, staring blackly at the wall.
Boom.
Suddenly an explosion tore through the peace of the waiting. The ground shook and the guards looked around uncertainly. In a place like the Zig, explosions were never good things.
I stood as well. This interuption in the daily schedule of waiting, reading, and eating was something to be explored. Just as the sound from the first had dissipated, the second thundered in.
Boom.
I saw the guards look around, confused. One reached for his radio.
Boom. This one tore through the very block I was in. The fire devoured the wall, destroying all in its path. It was hungry. It wanted fuel to keep itself alive. I could feel it.
No.
This couldn't be real. It was the imagination, just like everything else had been. None of it was real. I sunk back onto the bed.
Gunshots.
This time I walked to the cell door, watching from the bars.
Soldiers dressed in black uniforms were filing in through the hole. The fire was gone. It had decided that the struggle for life was futile. Whooshed away leaving only the hole and a few charred guards.
The remaining guards were panicing, some drawing radios, some pulling out their own firearms, some running. This had never happened before. It threw them off-kilter. They hadn't practiced this kind of thing. They were lost. A few orginized quickly enough to merit a burst of machine gun fire. Then they to fell, bleeding from a dozen places. To bad for them. They were going to die anyway though. Everyone in this prison died. Even the guards. The prison was a deathtrap.
The other guards had either surrendered or been shot. The black uniformed soldiers were moving on, They pressed a lever on the wall, opening the cell doors. Mine grated open slowly, as if reluctant to work for these men.
As soon as mine had opened enough, I stepped out. I was on the second floor. Other prisoners were elated by their newfound freedom. They jumped to the first floor. Idiots. Nothing changed. I simply walked down the stairs. Theactrics would come later, after I got out of these rags.
-----
Smiling to myself I dusted my suit off and placed the red sunglasses over my eyes. I felt like a new man.
Walking from the room I began walking, across the room and out the hole in the door.
Night air hit me full force. I smiled to myself. It was good to be out. Leaning against the wall I watched others scamper around. Then I began to walk forward towards a group of inmates.
After talking with other inmates, I realised it was Arachnos, the legendary hand of Lord Recluse, coming to free us. I smiled to myself. They had me blow up some radar station before they lifted off. Easy stuff. I went in and killed most people inside before they even realised I had entered. I let them see me, grinning, before I showed them the last sight they would ever see: An energy charged fist heading straight for their neck. The bomb was easy stuff.
As the dropship lifted off I dusted my suit off again. As we started off the co-pilot began talking to me.
"Damukag eh?"
"The one and only."
"Well what can you do then, if you're so great?" he sneered.
I grinned.
"Well for one I can rip out the throats of those who are getting on my nerves. That's a useful one."
He shut up after that. Good thing to. I don't make idle threats. He seemed funny though.
As the ship landed I stood. The doors opened and I had to cover my eyes with a gloved hand. Good old fashioned hitman's gloves. They were useful in more ways than I could count.
I walked out slowly, still shielding my eyes from the glare of the morning sun. A figure dressed all in white stood on a stand, addressing those coming in.
The pilot pointed at her, waited for me to get off, then took off again. I watched him go before turning back to the figure in white. Kalinda, the pilot had said. I approached her.
"You're Kalinda, right?"
"Yes. Who are you?"
"Damukag's my name." I said, giving a mocking stage bow.
"Damukag. Good." she said, ignoring my bowing. "Damukag, you must now prove yourself to Arachnos. Prove that you are worthy of serving our great Lord Recluse."
"Oh? And how would I impress the great Lord Recluse himself?" I said, tilting my head and proffering a smile.
I couldn't see behind the mask, but I was pretty sure Kalinda was glaring at me.
"As you might have noticed, we have a slight snake problem. I need you to take care of one of their snake holes north of here."
"Sounds like a plan then." I replied, still grinning.
I walked off slowly, feeling the bulk of the book I had taken from the prison library in my jacket pocket.
Well, time for a new start then.
((Damukag is a bit crazy. Obviously he was not really on fire. He alway's calm and grinning, even when he talks about how he's going to die a horrible gruesome death. Feel free to join in or comment or whatever it is you do here.