((Just to clear things up, we're outside....The guest house near by.))
<Leeksoup>:Andrew almost fell forward from the force of his sword shove going through nothing. He looked around, then snapped his liuyedao into links and wrapped it around his waist. He looked at Ian and took a step towards him. "So, Ian, good timing. Anyway, I found this bag of stuff, I was hoping you could tell me what it does." He grabbed at his waist for the bag, then became alarmed when it wasn't there. "I could've sworn I had it just now. Did I drop it during the battle?..." He knelt and started combing the grass for the bag.
<Leo>: But his search was in vain as nothing more could be found as the stiff grass began to become flacid again.
<Leeksoup>: Andrew sighed. "Hmm.... anyway, Ian, it was magical components and stuff I hadn't seen before- but then, I don't recall ever seeing that room before. If it's too late, we can see it in the morning, though I think you'd know more about it than I do." Andrew paused. "It's very odd that I hadn't seen that room before... I don't think I'd have missed it, with all the time I spend in the lab..."
~~
"Magic what?" Ian quirked for a moment then just released an annoyed sigh. "Father never told me much of anything about his research...he was also so secretive about it, except to mother...." The teen swordsman's shoulders sunk down in a discouraged fashion as he thought about his lost mother.
Fortunately for Essex, her signal did not have to go very far in space before being answered. The main ship came in on a fast approach from just beyond lunar orbit, releasing a smaller dropship as it swung by the Earth before returning out past the moon.
Standing on the ground, first she saw the glowing streak of a meteor, which appeared to be coming down towards the estate. After a moment the glow faded and the vessel became all but invisible against the night sky until it was nearly to the ground.
The ship was an elonganted arrowhead of about 10 meters long colored metallic black, with landing legs unfolding from beneath as it set down to the ground with a soft rumble which came from no visible engine. The boarding ramp lowered from the underside and its sole occupant strode out.
The name she had adopted on Earth was Naga Obscura, meaning the hidden serpent, and it was easy to see how that came to be. She stood just short of six feet tall on bare, clawed digitdactyl feet and had obsidian black scales on the skin which was not covered by her leathery bodysuit. Her disturbingly wide mouth filled with sharp teeth was offset by dark red hair tied into a rather childish-looking pair of pigtails. Her goggles were resting on her forehead, just above a pair of large copper-irised eyes.
Strapped to her waist and back were a pair of sheathed swords, one long and one short, as well as a set of throwing knives. What appeared to be a small wearable computer was built into the sleeve of left arm.
Naga walked up to Essex and looked the little android in the eye before speaking in a odd tone of voice which featured much hissing and clicking of the tongue. "You rang?" She asked.
". . . Essex," Hal said, stepping backwards slowly. ". . . When you invite friends. . . why can't they be sweet little girls who like having tea parties?"
Experiment followed Hal in the 'taking a step back' area. "I agree with Hallucinogen. Inviting little Mary-Lou would make me less uncomfortable than the star of 'I k33l j00 from sp4ce with D34th!'..."
Um, hello, Ian said tentatively to Naga. Well, I guess the guest house would be best for the group to stay....even for those that dont sleep which is probably all of you. Ian looked over at Andrew, Do you think you could point them in the right direction. The front door to the guest house should be opened but Ill need the key to open up most of the other rooms. Ill be right back.
Ian then ran back toward the main mansion to retrieve the guest house key card. As he ran off, a dark shadowy figure in the tree overlooking the guest house entrance made itself slightly visible as if it was holding its breath until Ian was gone.
"Hooray!" Essex cried out, jumping forward and hugging Naga's leg happily. "You came!"
Hovering up so she was face to face with Naga, she confided, "I didn't want to be at a sleepover by myself when everyone else is a boy." Glancing back at Experiment and Hal, she smiled. "This is Naga. She's very nice. Maybe she can even help us with the mystery."
Looking to her friend, she gestured forward.
"These two are Hallucinogen and Experiment 2.0. They're very good friends of mine. And Ian -...Oh, Ian said hello, but he ran off. He's the one who's off getting the key card - this is his house. Or...estate, is more like it."
Suddenly, her visual receptors focused on something that...wasn't there before.
"...Do you guys see that?" she murmured, glancing at the shadowy figure.
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
Experiment kept his eye on Naga for a few more seconds before turning toward where Essex was looking.
"...Nothing... Hold on."
He reached up and pulled his goggles over his eyes, turning to heat vision.
"Barely... I think so. Looks like a shadow... Oh. Damn. Okay, a shadow is expertley planted in the tree. I smell ninja once again..."
"I would expect it to be another of those demons or the one known as Jase," Archlich said, barely giving Naga's entrance a glance. "Let us be sure."
Tracing a simple rune into the air, Archlich caused a burst of light to erupt near the tree, revealing everything around it for a few seconds before the spell evaporated.
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.
As the light burst near the figure, the shadows that it created grew darker and longer and so the figure was gone. Only a moment later a voice could be heard. Whats the big idea? said the figure, now sitting on the roof of the guest house.
((Heh, good guess, Khell. Or perhaps it was just obvious...))
"I think we should ask you that question," Hal said, his Phantasm appearing.
'Sup? the Phantasm said, its arms crossed, bobbing its head at the figure.
". . . You're embarassing me. . ." Hal sighed.
Oh, sorry. I know you hate it when I do things like that in front of Essex, the Phantasm said.
". . . YOU'RE DOING IT ON PURPOSE!" Hal yelled, blushing.
How could you be so mindless and carefree when your friend is in obvious anguish? The figure asked angrily to Hallucinogen. Either you dont care or youre just a two-faced [censored] who poses as someones friend. Suddenly, the voice could be heard from the tree behind them. Now that the figure was close, he was distinguishable. It was none other than Nightmare-Strike, a.k.a. Jason(Jase) Morgan.
I ought to kill you right now. Jase stood on a limb, his arms crossed and his eyes fiery. The shadows of the night were all around him so he could choose to make a move and more often than not it would be a deadly one.
Naga's eyes narrowed as she located the target. She quickly faded from sight as she told hold of the grips of her swords.
2.0 glanced up at Jase, frowning. "Oh great. I thought that Rosalind was bad..." he muttered, not even bothering to get ready to attack.
"Sorry if I pay less attention to you than they do, but as far as I can tell, you have nothing of interest. Besides, it doesn't pay to give an attention seeker even more attention." he finished.
((Actually, this kind of happened before CoT so this would be the first time he has personally met some of the group although knows everyone, except maybe Naga if she actually never went to Ess' birthday party.))
Essex didn't pay the Phantasm any mind as she hovered over to Jase, shaking her head.
"No no, you've got it all wrong. We're here for Ian - Well...I am, at least. And Miss Naga is here f-...Where did she go?"
Glancing around with wide eyes, she blinked, and then sighed. Invisibility people everywhere...
"Sir, I don't know who you are, but I assure you that we're only trying to help poor Ian in this time of grief."
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
"Look, I'm sorry, jeez!" Hal yelled angrily. "The Phantasm can't experiance negative emotions, of course it's carefree! It's like Essex said! If we were'nt trying to help Ian, we wouldn't even BE here!"
"Well, I don't exactly like getting into arguments, especially with people I don't know and who appears to be a ninja wanna-be, so let's make this quick. We are here to help Ian. Otherwise, once the ninja attacked and the lab almost collapsed on me, I would be gone."
Experiment dusted his armour off, and then looked up at Jase. "Now, are you going to attack us so we can beat you, or will you actually believe the truth that we are here to help Ian?"
Jase took note of the missing Naga and glared angrily at 2.0. Useless ignorance has no place here, he simply stated. Seriously, how long have you been here yet how much do you actually know about the situation?....Nevermind, dont answer that because I already know.
The little android began hovering closer so he leapt to a higher limb on the tree.
[ QUOTE ]
"Sir, I don't know [you very well], but I assure you that we're only trying to help poor Ian in this time of grief."((Sorry to change your words but trust me, it makes more sense...))
[/ QUOTE ]
Dont feed me that crap! Jase scolded Essex. Its all just some soap opera to you people. You dont know how he feels right now....not like I do....none of this should have happened..... Jase ran his fingers through his wild black hair, as if trying to pull out his hair to purge himself of thoughts, ....everythings gone too far....now I just want Ian to forget all of this ever happened....hell never forgive me though... The ninja looked frantic and crazed as if he might strike out at anyone for no reason.
(([EDIT] I was going to add something for 2.0's post but I think everything still works out there...))
Experiment rolled his eyes, chuckling. "Right, so YOU caused his father to die and kidnapped his mother. Great. As far as I am concered, that makes you a villain, and therefore, means you are a hostile until you prove otherwise."
Now, 2.0's spines were almost ready to fire out of his arms, but his cool demeanor stayed. "So, you COULD give up right now, tell us where Ian's mother is, and then go to the Zig for a while. But then, knowing you villains, you would never choose that, even if it IS the easiest way out of the situation."
"Look," Hal said angrily. "My freakin' LIFE is some twisted soap opera. I'm not about to make fun of other people's misfortune! Just TELL us what you freakin' KNOW so we can HELP, dammit!"
I know everything that happened but people like you dont deserve to know, Jase muttered softly while still pulling at his hair and staring down at himself. ....youd only make it worse... Jase paused and let go of his hair before looking to Essex, Ians coming back but I cant face him like this....so tell him I said hi.
The shadow dweller soon faded from view and was gone, off to the Shadow Place. Ian arrived a few moments later, a bit sweaty from his sprint. Okay, I got the key but you didnt have to wait outside for me.
Naga faded back into view, standing on a branch nearby the one Jase had been on, and resheathed her swords. Dropping to the ground with hardly a sound, she walked up to the crowd and asked what was going on.
"Ian's father has been murdered, and his mother has disappeared," Hal returned, trying to calm himself. "And that guy had information about it, I just KNOW it. We have to, I dunno. Do SOMETHING. Find him, follow him, whatever. . . Ian. Someone who knows you was just here. Shadow powers?"
Experiment raised an eyebrow in confusion. "She... ISN'T getting the dog-girl? So... There will be no 'neutral' canines mouthing off? Cool!" he shouted, thrusting his arm into the air in success, "Black and white doggie girl goes bye bye! Ha--"
He froze. "...Wait... You- You ARE inviting a HERO, right? No villains, mercs, or 'neutrals'? ...Oh god... At least I know what to EXPECT when Rosalind comes around..."