The restaurant owner's eyes were fixed on the little girl. The huddled little thing, with a cut across one cheek that contrasted with the pale, ivory white of her skin, looked truly pitiful wrapped in the grey blanket, her white shift barely peeking out from underneath.
"....Here you go, kid." he said, offering the girl, as promised, a couple pieces of dry toast and a glass of water. Essex's eyes lit up. There was a bit of grape jam on the toast!! Just the tiniest bit...but she could smell it.
It struck her. She could smell it. It didn't seem like such a big deal, but ...she never could have smelled anything before. And while she had always had a sense of smell in this strange world, she had never smelled anything but the sterile hospital/laboratory smell of her cell.
Squirrelling her prize to a dark corner, she sat on the floor, nearly disappearing into the shadows as she munched on the toast like an eager mouse.
She didn't notice the form of Midas Phillis among the others, who seemed to make room for the tiny girl. She made some of them nervous...though others, when they looked at her, couldn't help but feel the smallest twinge...
...of hope.
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
As Xey Asked his question he noticed that no one was there and he was talking to no one..."must have hit my head" thought Xey. Looking around he saw that the box thing was still there. Feeling a bit stupid Xey put his hand on the box thing to make sure it was there. Well lets see if I can find someone to talk to thats real." Xey said to himself. Taking to the sky once more to get a birds eye view of the surroundings; Xey looked down to see what was going on. Upon looking down at the street and focusing he saw that there were actually people in this god forsaken place.
Hearing shots ring out Xey circled in the air looking for the source of the sound and saw a group of people...no not people things firing at a person running to find cover from the things.
Deciding not to intervene yet Xey watched the proceedings with an eye out for the man running from the....the...robots.
"I got your back" Xey said in a whisper to the man
As Xey looked down he saw that a new group of people and surrounded the man,Lyden, thinking that he might have to step in Xey began his slow decent biding his time for a good spot to attack or carry away Lyden, if he could.
[url="http://www.g4tv.com/pile_player.aspx?video_key=16533"]http://www.g4tv.com/pile_player.aspx?video_key=16533[/url]
a City of Heroes movie on the way?
Midas Phillis stood up, staring at the little girl. Something in his head was screaming at him, he just didn't know why. Shrugging, he went to her and bent down to her level, tilting his head slightly and smiling warmly, though it would look strange coming from his scarred face.
"Hello, little girl." he said to her gently. "Enjoying your toast, are you? Tell me, where are your mommy and daddy?"
Nothing went unnoticed anymore in Paragon. Either by magic or man, every meeting and grouping was eyed with a suspicion. A man moving swiftly across the street towards a crowded bar was more then enough to bring a plain clothes agent of the Secret Police. The man wore the clothes of a drifter, a scruffy beard and dirty face. In his tattered work boots was a long blade stashed away from prying eyes.
It was common knowledge that such agents existed. These murderous paladins of New Mu and Archlich had spread across the globes like a cancer. Each branch had its own rules and regulation, but all answered to the eclectic, recondite Feliks Danya. It had been his personal decree that all public meetings exceeding a permitted size should be treated as possibly traitorous, and dispersed with violence if need be.
Casually the agent made his way into the bar, quickly eyeing the mass inside. He smiled to a few strangers at a table and ordered a glass of water. Sitting in a corner, he observed for a few moments. A quick head check was all he needed to alert headquarters. He reached into a pocket and removed a pen. He wrote some random information, a grocery list, on a napkin. What was written did not matter. The clicking of the pen sent a signal to the appropriate group. In seconds, a van of infantry from the Civil Defense section of the Army of Life was dispatched. Making its way through the narrow streets and packs of aimless refugees it reached the bar. The men stepped out and opened the door. They shouted into the room.
This building has reached the maximum allowed capacity. We advise that you dismiss immediately. Any resistance will be met with force. Thank you.
He stepped aside and held the door open. The dozen other soldiers came into view, all waiting for any sign of violence. There would be no hesitation, not in Paragon city.
"I...." Essex began softly, timidly, holding her toast and looking up at Midas with large, frightened green eyes.
Then the police burst in.
"Everyone out!" the bartender yelled compliantly. He had no business interfering with the Army of Life.
As the vagabonds hurriedly shuffled to the door, Essex looked....lost. She huddled, frightened, into her blanket, letting the plate of toast clatter harmlessly to the floor.
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
Essex felt her feet leave the ground as Midas Phillis lifted her and cradled her in his arms, leaning over protectively, trying to obscure her as much as possible so it simple looked like he was carrying out his own child and not a stranger's. He didn't want the little girl to get hurt, and he felt that he needed to talk to her anyway. His head was beginning to hurt again.
He quickly followed the others out, carrying Essex protectively and doing his best to avoid doing anything obvious. He was a wanted man, a deserter. Not that any police force would bother looking for him, he was unsignificant and not worth an investigation with all the other things going on, and he knew it. But if he did get him self arrested, and his background was brought up, then he would most certainly join the ranks of the army of the dead. Essex would more than likely be killed as well for just being with him.
Which made him feel entirely guilty. He walked by easily and immediatly set a course for home, despite the gem that would most definately be waiting to scream at him. Oh, why couldn't these things just leave him alone! Wasn't life already bad enough!?
"Nnh..."
Essex blinked in surprise as she felt herself scooped up in a protective embrace by Midas.
Midas Phillis would notice with some surprise how incredibly light the girl was. Most of her mass was the blanket she wore, after all.
After a moment, a white arm snaked out of the blanket to cling to him in turn. The child buried her head fearfully into his chest as they made their way to his bunker.
I'm cold...and I'm frightened. This is real fear...
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
"-and Commander Danya informs us of another cell rooted out of the Third District in New Mu itself. The inhabitants of Complex 15 were all found guilty, executed, and re-animated according to standing orders," said the black robed Blessed One, ending his report with deep bow of his bone white skull to the throne in front of him.
Overmagus Archlich studied the fingertips of one hand as he thought and then leaned forward, the blue glow of his eye sockets just barely illuminating the skull of the lesser lich standing before him.
"Inform the Commander that while more zombies for the mines are useful, I would rather prefer them to be alive and industrious until they died of natural causes. Tell him to be more active in his interrogations. The less unnecessary deaths, the better."
"Of course, Overmagus," the Blessed One said, bowing deeply once more. "Shall I inform him personally?"
"Yes, you shall," Archlich replied. "But also make a stop at Lab 17. They have been working on those mind reading devices. Procure a prototype or two and bring them to the Commander. using them on potential subversives will make for good field tests."
"Your word is my will, Overmagus," the Blessed One said as he bowed once more and backed up a few steps before turning and swiftly exiting the large throne room.
Temporarily devoid of pressing matters, Archlich stood up and walked over to one of the windows, whose semi-transparent screen folded up and away as he approached. he lich looked out over New Mu, his city, from his tower, the Edge of the World. Contained within it and the massive complex of government structures around it and below it were all of Archlich's most secret and costly programs as well as the offices of hundreds of beaucrats needed to run a kingdom with any sort of efficiency.
"Toy Dispenser," Archlich said without turning around. "Attend me."
Lining the walls, inbetween the windows, were suits of armor styilized after ancient protective wear. At the mention of his name, one of those suits of armor twitched and then stepped off its pedastels, the hologram dropping away even as the android neared his liege.
Archlich did not have to look to know exactly what Toy Dispenser looked like now. Where once he was painted in a cheerful, if haphazard pattern, this new iteration was colored the deepest black with red highlights on the spikes of its shoulder pads and the blood grooves running down its arms and legs. A pair of flat, black goggle-like eyes sat on the front of its head, the sensors contained within capable of things that Archlich required magic to even attempt to see. A rather menacing looking rebreather was also attatched to the lower half of the android's head, enhancing its martial air and giving it an even wider range of detecting equipment. The cape that almost dragged along the ground behind Toy Dispenser was as black as his master's, although it lightened to a blood red at the jagged tips. Finally, arcs of red electricity crackled over his frame, giving him an air of such malevolence that it was well known that Toy Dispenser was the second most feared being in the World Empire. The first thing being not a single person, but the entire country of Oranbega.
"Yes, Overmagus?" the android asked. "What do you require?"
"I believe a time of reckoning is at hand," Archlich said enigmatically. "Forces are arriving, forces beyond even my control, that may disrupt my grand design for this world."
Pausing, Archlich walked over to his throne, the massive metallic chair looked very uncomfortable for anyone still alive to sit in for very long. Pressing a button under one arm, Archlich caused several holoprojectors to activate, displaying a map of the world in the air in front of him. Lightly touching the insubstantial globe, Archlich circled it, thinking, until his hand froze in one spot, a location in the midwest of North America, near the border between the World Empire and Oranbega.
"Send a large force here," Archlich said. "Include one or two of the Soulsworn, for safety's sake. If anything alive is there, I want it dead. If any building is standing, I want it razed. Do you understand me?"
"Of course, Overmagus," Toy Dispenser said. "You have ordered a scorched earth tactic for the area you are indicating."
"Yes," Archlich said, sitting back down in his throne and flipping off the hologram. "Now go, I expect a report by the time the Treasury official is done briefing me on the progress of the newest gold mine."
Bowing stiffly, Toy Dispenser spun on his heel and exited the throne room, exiting so suddenly that a green robed official almost threw himself to one side to avoid getting in the android's way.
Such was the respect granted the leader of the Soulsworn and General in Chief of the Triumverate.
**************************************************
Slowly, but surely, the tranqualizer applied to Kefetsura was wearing off, allowing the demon to hear voices every now and then.
"-ucking Oranbegans," someone growled. "You hear about the massacre in Paloma last week? [censored] bastards. I've applied for a front line p-"
"So what the hell is this?" came another voice, some undeterminable time later. "Some sort of carnival attraction?"
"The field mage said it's some sort of demon," came a youngish voice, barely out of his teens. "So we've been ordered to transfer it to New Mu."
"Hmm..." said the other voice as there came a light rapping on the top of the cage. "Let's not send him the-"
"-fensive positions!" roared a hoarse voiced woman. "Don't let those damned rebels near! This convoy needs to get to Paragon, now!"
"They've got biologicals!" shouted a voice, nearly incoherent with panic. "We're all gonna die! We're all gonna die!"
"Shut the [censored] up and get out there, conscript! Dying is only another chance to serve the Over-!"
There was a long pause.
"Hey, hey! I think I found something! Looks like some sort of slave. What do you think, Animator?"
"I think that we should take him with us," came the reply, the voice heavy with age. "Let my boys take the lead position while you fellows carry the cage."
And then a sudden sensation of movement.
************************************************
From where hal and Schizo were walking, they would be able to see five black dots suddenly appear on the edge of the horizon, rapidly coming closer to their position.
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.
John Ballard, wearing a night-black trench coat and a low hat glanced around nervously. It was obvious he was not about to get into anything around here to do with this 'UltramegaMagus' thing they had going. In fact, he barely remembered anything. All he remembered was that he knew how to fight, and he had some kind of amazing intelligence. However, it didn't seem he had powers.
However, he turned in time to see a young girl being carried away by some man, and decided it didn't look right. That hunch was all he needed to begin following the two, glancing left to right before walking quickly after them. From what he had seen, the girl looked frail, weak, and that was never a good thing, especially in this type of enviroment. However, during his 'covert ops', John began thinking.
"Why am I following these people? I don't even know them. For all I know, they are leading my right into a trap conducted by the followers of this place's ruler. I should just stop...
"...But I can't. I am following because that girl looks... Well, I don't know. She doesn't look FAMILIAR, per se, but... I don't know. Whatever. Less think, more leg-work."
"It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fiiiiiiiiiine!" Schizo sang happily. "Take it, Hal-chan!"
"Stop it, dangit!" Hal exclaimed, and then noticed the black dots in the distance. "What are those. . .?"
"I'll just see if I can't sense their thoughts or something," Schizo said casually. "They shouldn't notice, long as they don't have psychic powers themselves. . ."
"I'll use my radar," Hal muttered, waves of radiation sweeping out from him, so that he could sense what sort of beings approached. . .
Very bad idea, very bad idea, very bad idea! Going to die, going to die, going to die! Midas Phillis repeated in his head over and over, paranoia taking him as he took quick strides back to his impromptu lab. Why did he pick the damned girl up? He could have just left her, she had parents somewhere! She had TOAST!
But his heart broke as the little girl snuggled against him for safety. The stark whiteness of her was enough to make him weep, she was surely unhealthy! Malnourished, to be certain. She was so damned small, and light! How could a child be so light?! He'd need to learn more about her, maybe perform a few tests, with her permission, of course.
"I'm going to escort you to my home, where I would like to discuss our predicament with you for a variable amount of time." Midas Phillis explained shakily, trying best not to scare Essex. "I mean you no inconvenience, but I think it would be in your best interest to join me for dinner. You look quite hungry, and I have a generous supply of food, as well as a few nutrients I think would be in your best interest to take."
"...Yes sir." Essex's voice chimed out from the bundle. It was strange. Something within her was afraid of Midas, but...for now, he was protecting her.
The outside world was so dark and dreary. She couldn't even remember it before her time in the cell. Though something within her remembered blue skies and a city of colorful allies...it all seemed so far away now.
Luckily, no-one seemed to disturb them as they headed back to the bunker...
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
Thank you, Im glad you understand. Midas said as his pace began to quicken. I assure you, I dont do this often. My home isnt very far away.
It was going better than expected. The girl was very agreeable, much more agreeable than he would have expected. Hell, if a strange man had picked him up and told him he was taking him home, he would have begun screaming like a madman. He nodded to himself, glad he had made this decision to follow his instinct.
His opinion inverted as his paranoia bore fruit.
Were being followed. He said hoarsely, his voice trembling along with every part of his body. His steps began to quicken, he took a few erratic turns, but he knew the person was following them.
All at once and with a yelp, the scientist took off at pull speed, his feet slapping the cracked concrete noisily as he full-out sprinted toward the warehouse that housed his bunker, not too far away.
So this was what Paragon had turned into hm? Sad.
As the figure in the plain gray cloak stalked down the alley, this impression grew more and more. it said something about the psychology of the being that had in its hands the power to reform the entire planet...and did this.
Truly sad.
It was almost as if...
The figure never got time to finish that thought as it turned a corner and saw a frantically running Dr. Phillis heading right for him...!
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
The five men moved down the cramped, waterloged tunnel. Their assignment had come straight from the Toy Dispencer. A stratigic hit on Orenbaga, take as many of their mages as they could, cause lots of property damage, let the rebelious magic users know that their precious city wasn't as untouchable as they believed. The problem was, thier belief seemed valid, they had found several tunnels leading down into the subterranian city, but all of them were warded and demon guarded. Such defenses would not hinder the team, but disabling them would've given them away.
Then they found a single tunnel, only a few wards and no other guardians. It was the Northwest Passage of Orenbaga and the team took immediate advantage of it. Soon enough, the tunnel opened into a cavern, arching natural stone walkways honeycombing the room. Though nothing physical occured, the leader was instantly aware that he and his men were not the only ones in the cavern.
Arkimateng looked down on her newest playmates, the demon smiled even as her host's body growled. The child had been taken by the mages following the End Times. Initially for a furture host for one of the mages, however after a year, the child began to show signs of mutations. The alterations made her undesireable for any of the real masters of the Circle, but they did show promise in other ways. Binding a demon into the child's body, she was sent to guard one of the trap tunnels. Slitted eyes glittered with malice as the cat like form crouched on one of the ledges.
"Hold, fan out. We're not alone." The commander whispered as they drew enchanted demon slayers from sheaths.
Arkimateng purred in satisfaction, her voice echoing lightly all over the chamber. As the men passed under her, that purr shut off as she dropped. A whirl sent the men off their feet as she pounced claws gouging out the eyes of one even as he screamed. Flashes of pain flickered across her host's mind. Sword strickes, the spells layered on the metal made them potant against demonkind, even against mortal opponets, the mystically sharp edges were fatal. Against the demon's host, however, they were minor irritant as the wounds began closing the instant the blades were withdrawn. Looking up at the men from her position atop their fallen comrade, Arkimateng smiled ferally.
~~~
Day or night was irrelivent in the tunnel, the demon slept when there was no one in her territory. Feeding was taken care of by intruders or by foraies to the town above if no one intruded. The demon's magic and nature exagerating the childs mutation beyond what it would normally be. Just as easilly traveling on all fours as on her hind legs, the cat-demon hauled the remains of the intruding men's gear into a side alcove she had set for that purpose. The wave of diziness struck the moment the last helmet left her paws. The host had grown strong over the four years since her possession, and would regualarly fight the demon for control of the body. Though Arkimateng would never admit it, it was slowly losing that fight. An unforseen aspect of the girls mutation made her incredibly resistant to bindings, and other neatralization methods, including, it soon became apparent, possession.
Arkimateng focused, trying to beat the human back down, for the moment anyways.
~~~
Images.
Things that couldn't possibly be real.
Standing on the rail of a ship as it pulled into the port of a magnificant island city, the noble statue of it's horned protector watching over it.
A club, the windows opening to an impossible void as beings from all walks gathered to relax.
The uniformed figure falling under a skillful blow from her wrapped feet as her friends, allies and family delt with the Archon's guard.
A lightly furred and clawed hand taking a new hero registration card, her new security level shown next to her photo. Brown fur contrasting oragnsih hair and the wide featured cat face she had seen in the mirrio for years now.
Tamera King's eyes snapped open, the faint howling of the demon Arkimateng fading as it was cast from the body it had possessed for four years. The eighteen year old looked around the chamber, her mind swirling with impossibilities. She couldn't be a hero, they were all gone now, yet the image of the card remained vivid, even if nothing else did.
"Tam Khat." She whispered. It would do, she thought, looking down at her altered body, more beast then man.
From the partially concealed cave entrence, a brown form streaked out. If nothing else, Tam had her freedom again.
Pinnacle
Heroes
When in danger, or in doubt; Run in circles, scream and shout.
((Sorry, this isn't a "new" post. I just took what Khell narrated and ran with it, offering a little more Kef-centered perspective, for the reader's benefit.))
Even if he had been conscious there would have been little to see but scenery as the train rocketed west from India. It passed through southern Pakistan and into Iran, cutting north to take the speeding train to Turkey, then Greece.
As the train speed through southeastern Europe, slowly, but surely, the tranqualizer applied to Kefetasura was wearing off. He was groggily returning to consciousness, but intermittenly at best. Occasionally his senses managed to extend out of his enclosure for a moment or two, allowing the demon to hear voices every now and then.
"-ucking Oranbegans," someone growled. "You hear about the massacre in Paloma last week? [censored] bastards. I've applied for a front line p-"
Silence again, the mountain held him down and shielded him from extraneous thoughts. Perhaps for a second, perhaps for an epoch. It was irrelevant.
"So what the hell is this?" came another voice, "Some sort of carnival attraction?"
"The field mage said it's some sort of demon," came a youngish voice, barely out of his teens. "So we've been ordered to transfer it to New Mu."
"Hmm..." said the other voice as there came a light rapping on the top of the cage. "Let's not send him the-"
Not send me where? he thought, faintly concerned, as the blackness enveloped his consciounes again.
"-fensive positions!" roared a hoarse voiced woman, so loudly it disturbed Kefetasura's magical slumber. "Don't let those damned rebels near! This convoy needs to get to Paragon, now!"
"They've got biologicals!" shouted a voice, nearly incoherent with panic. "We're all gonna die! We're all gonna die!"
"Shut the [censored] up and get out there, conscript! Dying is only another chance to serve the Over-!"
There was a long pause, accompanied by the sounds of faint and distant searching that grew ever closer to his prison, until at last . . . .
"Hey, hey! I think I found something! Looks like some sort of slave. What do you think, Animator?"
"I think that we should take him with us," came the reply, the voice heavy with age. "Let my boys take the lead position while you fellows carry the cage."
And then a sudden sensation of movement. The demon was very nearly recovered from the sedative. His head still swam from the magi-chemical cocktail they had pumped into his veins, but at least now he could branch out his senses and examine his situatution, if only through the eyes of his incidental liberators. In a world of illusions and lies, information was the most powerful weapon one could want, and Kefetasura liked to be heavily armed. . . .
"Mmf!"
Suddenly surprised by Midas' quickened step, she clung to him, her arm retreating back into the blanket. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.
Seraphim 666...If they find me, I'm....
"Run, sir...!" her soft voice urged Midas Phillis on. A soft green glow surrounded him as he felt his adrenalin pick up to astonishingly high levels...
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
It felt like hours had passed since he left the warehouse, but alas only minutes had in fact drifted by.
The landscape seemed so devoid of what he faintly remembered as life and he reached out, struggling to find remnants of technology that he could use.
He smiled in reflex when he zeroed in on a power relay and made haste towards it, locked onto it as a bloodhound would the scent of a target.
He rounded a corner and found a hatch, inlaid into a cement founadation and grasped the handle, tearing the steel door away easily. With the barrier gone, he knelt and allowed the information transfer to begin.
Outright he could never have known what he was doing, the act itself seeming more like instinct... no, not instict... that was a purely biological path of reasonning.
In the darkness before him, something stirred and Krieger knew he was finished. Clanking footsteps approached and from the darkness of the hatch came a newly formed automaton that he reached out and touched.
A further transfer commenced and once it was done, the cobbled together mechanoid was now an extension of Krieger.
The two beings marched in synch towards another row of warehouses, seeking more to spread the nano-virus.
Krieger mused momentarily, faint grains of humanity leaking through his logical mind. Biologicals would see it as a virus. How curious, indeed.
"Damnit!" cursed John, sprinting after Phillis. His coat flapped in the wind, which he then discarded quickly to speed himself up. He skidded around every corner after Midas, intent on not losing sight of him for a second. He ran faster and faster, keeping his pace with the man carrying the girl.
"How the hell does someone carry a girl and run as fast as that!?" he thought frantically, skidding around yet another corner. He began feeling a slight pain in his side, but ignored it. He could feel the air lashing against him as he ran, skidding around yet another corner.
"Damnit... If I didn't know better... I would say this guy knew I was following... Hehe..." he huffed, curling his hands into tight fists to keep himself focused.
Feliks traced circles on the table, lost in his own mind. His other hand fingered to pages of books recovered from various criminals. Books outlining the worlds false history. They talked of peace, unity and nations helping one another. Feliks scoffed and threw it aside. Everyone knows there was no peace before Archlich. Suddenly, a deep feeling rose from his chest. A pounding head ache came over him. He clutched his head and struggled with his pill box, his hand shaking from the incredible pain. Finally he opened it and took two pills. Calming himself, he set the box down on the table.
He shook his head. That same feeling had come over him not so long ago. Like something was horribly wrong. It didnt matter. These thoughts were normal, Feliks had told. As long as he kept taking his pills they would not bother him. A knock on the door interrupted his musings.
Come in. The door is unlocked!
The Blessed One entered, holding two large crates. Setting them on the floor near the door, he bowed.
I bring news from Archlich. He appreciates more zombies in the mines, but requests you put more emphasis on interrogation. For the moment, we are trying to avoid to many un needed deaths.
Feliks nodded. He stood up slowly, his bones aching.
Of course. I will double my efforts ten fold. I will create tap some resources. I can have a report on his desk by tomorrow morni-
He was cut off by the Blessed One.
Look at yourself Feliks. Keep working like this and you will kill yourself. And will do us no good like that. Sleep tonight.
Sighing, Feliks nodded. He knew The Blessed One was right.
Whatever. Whats in the boxes?
Blessed One opened the top box. He removed some machinery and its own weight in books.
Mind Reading prototype. Lab 17 helped cooked it up. Maybe you can put it through some fields tests.
Feliks eyes like up. He grabbed the device and looked at it from all angles.
Oh yes, field tests indeed.
Despite being a scientist, Midas was rather fit, something he had gained after commanding an army of cyberenhanced soldiers. His long strides came quickly and with a practiced perfection, feet hitting the ground perfectly to prevent tearing in the muscles in his feet. His lab coat swept out behind him; he hadnt realized he hadnt buttoned it in his hurry to get out of his bunker. As the cold night air whipped his exposed chest, he was glad he was carrying a blanket.
Wha-wha-what are you doing? Midas asked, his face paling as Essex magically enhanced his body, keeping him running. He sped faster, as though he had just begun, despite having run for over a minute now. Despite how afraid he was, however, he was also fascinated. Yes, this little girl was indeed special. Light as a feather and able to pump tangible endurance into others! Quite amazing!
No time to think about that, though, he was still being chased! Damn, the man behind him was fast! But of course he was, he was one of the Overmaguss goons, an undercover agent! Hed learned all about these organizations while serving, albeit through illegal hacking means. Just one of the reasons he had deserted.
Another alley came into view, his lab was located on the other side. He needed to lose the follower through here and get down his hatch without notice. Or just lure the goon down and let the New Grand Phillisbot Army take care of him! Yes, now that he had a plan, he need only to turn the corner and-
OUT OF MY WAY! the robotist screamed as a man cloaked in grey stepped out of his target alley. Despite his demands, Midas wasnt one to barrel through someone, so he lurched to the side, missing the alley and losing his balance entirely. With a shriek, he fell to the ground, purposefully landing on his back to keep Essex safe. He held the child above him as he hit, stopping her from getting hurt, though he still skidded across the concrete, his lab coat being ripped to shreds along with the skin on his back.
Damn it! This was it!
OUT OF MY WAY! a metallic voice called to the grey cloaked man. This time, however, instead falling over like Midas, the speaker simply attempted to knock him away, which would be quite easy, considering how large it was.
Take a step closer to the Doc and I fill ya full of lead! the robot called out as it leapt out of the alleyway, brandishing its arm, which formed a long cannon at the end. The other held a menacing electrified axe, which crackled as it twirled between clumsy metal fingers. It aimed the cannon arm at John, who was in plain view, while the gray cloaked figure found himself in a similarly bad position as two more of the robots took position. They were primitive looking, not the sleek, pristine models one would expect from a master robotist, but they were still damn intimidating to a normal man.
The New Grand Phillisbot Army had come to the rescue.
Top notch timing, Fracas! Midas groaned, his back bleeding all over the pavement.
Its hard to do when our creator doesnt even activate us personally! You need to learn the correct voice commands if youre going to use that new communicator, Doc! Fracas answered zealously.
((OOC: Basically, I'm modeling these robots after this concept art I pulled from Warmachine.))
"Sir!" Essex cried, her eyes widening in fear. "Don't give up!!"
Suddenly John saw the girl emerge from the blanket, flinging her deathwhite arms around Midas Phillis' neck. Her fluffy blonde hair tossed around by the wind and the force of the robots' steps, she hugged him tightly.
"Don't give up..." she whispered, the child's voice close, and her breath warm on his ear.
Suddenly, Midas felt himself full of more energy than he knew what to do with. The skin on his back suddenly itched terribly for a split second before the pain abruptly faded, the wounds having closed in a mere instant.
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
Thuel looked around the battle scared landscape, burnt land, bodies in shallow graves, minutes past he was in one of the last houses with a door, a semi-sturdy wall, table to eat on, decent food to eat, chairs to sit on, What a horrible time to live in. A great sage his father knew predicted this. "The land shall be burnt, bodies brought back from the dead, worked to death many times over, a great Lich will rule, join him or die then join him." One of the Last great Sages of the Freeworld, Sage Darkstorm. He thought to him slef. He took of his back pack and took out a phone, dialed the Scret Police, and asked for Feliks Danya. "Hello? Hi, Mr. Danya. This is Thuel, Im just callin-" He was interupted "No, I didnt get him yet, howd yo-" Interupted again "I see, I see...Im on his tail right now, Got t-" Feliks Danya had hung up.
"Damnit...I was gonna talk to him about my promotion to Second-In-Command In the Secret Police, He must have known I was calling from an unsecure location." He said alloud. He could feel that something was watching him, he couldnt place his finger on it, He felt uneasy.
If one took anything away from a meeting with Dr. Phillis, it was the fact that he wasn't twarted easily, mostly due to the fact that he never gave up. With Essex cheering him on and magical rejuvination running through his body, he wasn't nearly done yet!
Midas Phillis sprang to his feet, scooping up Essex and plopping her easily on his shoulders, holding onto one of her wrists to keep her balance with one hand while he used the other to point straight at John, a wild fire burning in his eyes.
Fracas, eradicate that puppet of tyranny and liberate this girl! he ordered his robot loudly and full of passion. It just felt like the right way to order robots to attack.
You got it, boss! the machine agreed, sounding delighted as it stomped forward, cannon firing off with a resounding bang. The cannonball whirred through the air with near flawless aim at John, the hard plastic ball containing a compressed amount of powder that would blow the man and a sizable amount of pavement into the next world.
He smirked at the other two automatons, looking at the grey cloaked man. Imbroglio, Kibitzer, take that man prisoner!
Yes, most divine Lord Midas! Kibitzer quipped. Your will is law! All hail the Autopatron!
Lower yourself to the ground and forfeit all weaponry. Imbroglio ordered the man menacingly. Or be destroyed.
"Kommandant, You have a radio transmission from Patrol #3, There is a disturbance, an outsider is at the gates, no ID apparently." A Steel Trooper who carried a radio, told Kommandant Thuel. "Alrighty, Thanks whatever your Serial-number is. Lets get moveing." He crouched down, and loaded his AR52CC Rifle(short for Automatic Recoiless Crey Combo Rifle). This rilfe was just like the manufactureing label had said 'Youll be dead beore you know it!' Almost too true. "Heres what were gonna do, Scavengers you stay in the croud, or off to the side. Dont draw attention. Sorcers, one of you give me some invisibility so I can stay out of sight, till' I need to come in." He stood up AR52CC in hand he looked at his 50some Steel Army troops behind him, stareing off blankly. "As for you big brutes, Walk in adress that he is to hand over his ID or be take prsioner, If he trys to run block, his way and take him prsioner. Further struggles will result in termination on site. No questions asked. If you do, you will be terminated, also. Failuer to provide correct actions will be reported to the Overmagus, clear?"
Without a word he walked down the road with Steel Army troops all around him, now invisible. They walked silent, exept for Thuel who spoke loudly as they walked...
"Move out da' way peoples, Kommandant comein though here" He proclaimed loudy as his invisiblity wore off, he turned around. "Hey, you magic guy, make me invisibile again, we cant let me be seen, part o' da plan, 'aky?" A sorcer put another invisibility spell on him.
The platoon aproached Lyden.
"Hand over your ID, or come with us." A damaged Steel Army soldier spoke to Lyden. Kommandant Thuel walked off to the side with the Scavengers, apparently unseen. Thuel unloaded his AR52CCR Assualt Rounds and put on the Sniper Barel attachment on, loaded the second to last sniper round into the gun, trained his sights on Lydens head, locked on...
"Last warning. Hand over your ID Card and come with us, or face termination."
"Hey, Troops, he kinda ran off about four minutes ago, I received a message from Patrol #2 saying that he was sighted a few minutes ago. Also your holding up a ped." Thuel commented as the moved on. "I had a clear shot on him, chose not to get it." He added.
They moved fast, Thuel moveing ahead of the pack of Steel Army troops. He traced Lydens movement, staying out of sight he tracked Lyden. He turned on his stealth suit, and moved closer to him. Foot steps could be heard, but not to likely.
Thule reached into his backpack and pulled out a small turrent, sticky grenade. He set the turrnet up in a window sill, Lyden already out of the guns range, wasnt useless. He hopped into the house that he put the turrnet onto, a family was eating. The youngest one screamed at him, their father quickly hushed the little one up before they were all reported for interfreing with offical business. "Did you see someone run past here?" No answer. He kicked down the door and walked out, uncloked now he contuned to follow Lyden. The Steel Platoon following Thuel. Thuel leaned aginst a wall and got down low, Lyden in his sights.
((Ill leave it up to Tomoton to decide wither or not Lyden gets away or not, after all I dont want to godmod...Just a reminder that Thuel has a Web Grenade ready, and a Auto Turrnet in a window 40 feet back from Lyden. Thuel is currently in cover, Sights locked on Lyden.))