It was pitch black outside, except for the pale crescent moon glinting high above. Jennifer Evans was scurrying underneath a high concrete bridge in the Skyway City section of Paragon City. She carried a short, gleaming dagger in one hand and implanted metallic spikes in the other. She came to a simple red brick building that greatly resembled all the others within miles. It was small, three floors high, and a simple square design. She halted at the entrance, a typical metallic door with a sign reading "No Trespassing". She reached into her robes and pulled out a small, sticky device, which she attached to the sign. Moving swiftly to a location some thirty feet away, she pulled another device from her robes, this one rectangular, with a short antenna. A small red switch was located on it, which she flipped to the "detonate" side.
The darkness of the night was shattered by the resulting explosion. Jennifer was careful not to observe the explosion, keen to preserve her night vision. Moving swiftly towards the ruined door, she sighted two figures lying prone in the wreckage. Bending low, she checked their faces with the memorized photograph of her target. Neither were recognizable, so she pressed on.
Up a curved flight of steps to the second floor, she saw what intel had stated would be her target's living quarters. Another door, another explosion (this one far less powerful), and there Jennifer sighted her target: A tall, dark man with a large, obsidian coloured sword in his hand, he was standing where the door once was, apparently unaffected by the blast. He stared at her with a mixture of hatred and terror with his black eyes.
"Ms. Evans. Lord Recluse has sent thee at last. As predicted, the girl's demise has brought thou to me," Dark Sabre said, with a grim smile.
"You are correct, Dark Sabre. For this crime against Arachnos, Lord Recluse commands your death," spoke Jennifer, her voice light, but carrying a finality to it.
"So be it."
Jennifer raised her dagger. Her foe raised his sword. With a yell of fury, Jennifer dashed forward towards Dark Sabre, meeting his sword with her dagger, causing strangely coloured sparks to shower the area. She raised her spiked hand, and desperately swung the poisoned tips towards the struggling hero. They grazed the man's chest, who gasped, and backed away a few feet.
"Thou shalt meet thy fate before my death, servant of Recluse!" shouted the dying man, who's sword again met his enemy's dagger. But this time, the man's terrible ferocity was enough to shatter the dagger. It fell from Jennifer's shaking hand. There was nothing between her and the sword now.
"With my last breath, I curse thee to thy fate of eternal agony!" cursed Dark Sabre, his voice magnified many times its volume by the power of the phrase. His blade glittered evilly in response.
A single wild slash, and Jennifer felt the cold bite of the terrible blade. Instantly, she knew agony.. terrible agony.. unendurable agony. She felt her young, attractive form bleeding away into nothingness. She heard a terrible wailing, and realized it was coming from her own mouth. Her sight was failing her.. still she felt agony..
She heard a voice.
--------------------------
"Ms. Evans, wake up," commanded a deep male voice. "Hm. I didn't know ghosts slept."
"How many other ghosts could you have encountered to know?" responded a suddenly alert female voice - the present-day voice of Jennifer Evans, now known as the Spirit of Malice.
"You'd be surprised. The Fortunata Kalinda asked me to deliver this to you," said the Arachnos soldier, handing a note to the transparent former Night Widow before departing.
Jennifer looked around. She had fallen asleep in one of the air ducts of Fort Darwin, but had apparently drifted out, coming to rest in one of Fort Darwin's inner chambers. She now saw an Arachnos base brimming with activity. She heard the screaming of torture victims echoing throughout the base. Ah, it was good to be back, she admitted to herself.
If only she could end the dreams. Always the same, reliving that horrible battle with the hero. Each time, she thought of what her life would be like had she simply fled once her poisoned spikes had slashed the man. Sighing, she looked down at the note.
Ms. Evans, you are commanded to wipe out a cell of Snakes. They will be very little challenge to you, but they are bothersome creatures, and someone has to do it. Their location is marked on your map. When you have completed this task, report back to me. Kalinda
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And so, she found herself deep within a lair of Snakes, the strange, somewhat humanoid yet greatly snake-like entities that infested Mercy Island so thoroughly. Never had she encountered beasts so horrid, yet they certainly didn't look particularly challenging. Their den was nothing but a long tunnel, littered with the bones of the weak, the shed skins of the monsters, and the decorations the Snakes seem to call "art". Small torches led the way into the heart of the lair, where she figured the worst of the lot would be. [That will be an amusing struggle[/i], she thought.
Glide-walking her way through the tunnel, she approached a pair of Snakes, conversing in a whisper.
"Missssss Evansss will be here ssshoortly, my brother."
"How ssshall we know ssshe iss here? I hear ssshe is able to walk unssseen."
"Patienccce! Ssshe will come! Sssstheno requiress usss to be ssslain. Ssshe sshall be capable of fighting Evansss hersself then."
"One wondersss how this will --" The Snake stopped speaking suddenly as a fist was thrust through his body. Jennifer watched as the eyes of the beast went from bright to dull.
"You!" exclaimed the other Snake in horror.
"Me." Again, she thrust her fist through the body of the Snake, watching as its soul was forcibly removed from its body. Huh. Didn't know Snakes had souls.
She dealt with similar pairs of Snakes throughout the tunnels in this manner, encountering very little resistance. Indeed, they seemed almost like lab rats, helplessly watching as their lives were extinguished at the hands of the ghostly woman. Finally, she came to a large chamber - the end of the tunnel. A large statue of a snake with ruby-red eyes was placed directly in the middle, and next to it sat (stood? she couldn't tell) a very large red Snake, with a companion.
"It will take many monthsss until Ssstheno will be able to make use of thiss data. But to desstroy a monsster like thisss, I sshall be willing to ssacrifice mysself, brother."
"As will I. Evanss mussst be ssent to the abysssssss."
A mild look of curiosity stole over Jennifer's invisible features as she thrust her fist through the red Snake, ending his miserable life and making a... sacrifice, she heard? Interesting. Perhaps she will meet this Stheno, but from what she heard, it might be a while.
To be continued.
OOC: So, it took me quite a while to add to this story. I wanted to approach it from another angle, and hopefully add some background to a very distant story arc. Perhaps you folks will recall this story when I run/write the Stheno arc. More to come soon!
Doom.
Yep.
This is really doom.
Malicious Intent, a CoV story by Angry_Citizen
OOC: Greetings! I am Angry_Citizen. Never posted here. Always wanted to. You folks write some awesome stories. So, inspired by a few of y'all, I have decided to roll an alt with the sole purpose of telling the tale of a Dark Melee/Ninjitsu Stalker as she levels up and eventually approaches her ultimate destiny. Hopefully, this will be a very long, ongoing story. I'll try to update the story weekly at the least. Please, if you have any comments, send me a PM. Any constructive criticism and suggestions would be very welcome, as I have written very few stories in my life and don't have that much experience with writing them as a result. And now, since I'm sure you're wanting to actually read a story instead of listen to me ramble, here is the story:
The moon lit Mercy Island with an eerie white glow as Jennifer Evans slowly approached Kalinda. She appeared to hover as she stepped, and indeed one could see that there was still an inch or two separating her feet from the cold metallic ground. As she approached, she spoke to Kalinda, her voice echoing strangely as though it came from a great distance.
"I have come. Why have you asked me here?" Jennifer spoke in what could barely be called a low whisper. She appeared to be a girl in her mid-20's, and wore a strange black robe with odd patterns etched into it that appeared to glow a light blue. She had armoured pads on her shoulders, hands, and shins, all of which glowed with that pulsating blue light. She was oddly transparent, and she seemed to give off an aura of pure fear.
"We wish you to rejoin Arachnos," spoke Kalinda, her voice barely higher than Jennifer's. She wore a familiar red skin-tight outfit, with spider-like designs etched across her frame. She stood on a pedestal on the top of an Arachnos base known as Fort Darwin, named after Charles Darwin due to the island's nature of "survival of the fittest".
"I cannot rejoin Arachnos," she responded quickly. "I must make my own destiny after.. after.." but she didn't complete her sentence. She looked down as though saddened, and shuddered.
Kalinda knew exactly what "after" was. Jennifer had once been a Night Widow, a very skilled one who had served Lord Recluse since childhood, and had completed countless operations since the 1990's. Some three years ago, Jennifer had infiltrated Paragon City in search of a hero known as "Dark Sabre", who carried a mystical blade that cursed all who felt it's bite. She was sent to slay this troublesome hero after an incident involving the death of a fellow Night Widow and her entire support squad. She had completed her mission, but at a terrible cost - her physical form was destroyed, ripped apart by the terrible blade, and her soul knew only anguish. She wandered for three years, searching for purpose and a method to end her suffering. She had learned many forgotten things from the creatures and inhabitants of the underworld, including ancient Ninjitsu arts and the ability to channel Darkness itself through her fists.
Kalinda looked around. Noone was in sight. Even Arbiter Diaz was resting somewhere in the Fort. She paused for a few more moments as these recollections coursed through her mind. Then she recalled something she heard some months ago, which could prove to be an interesting incentive for Jennifer, an incentive that might sway her mind.
Bending low, she spoke to Jennifer in a hurried voice, "Ghost Widow seeks a method to undo her fate. It is rumoured that she is very close to solving her.. condition. Were you to serve Arachnos once more, perhaps you could reach the point where Ghost Widow would seek an alliance with you. She would certainly be interested in you, knowing that you two share a common fate and a common history. Indeed, even the blade which -- " but Jennifer cut her off.
"Do not speak of it!" Jennifer spoke with urgency in her voice. There was a tangible aura of malice and fear in the air now, and it was some seconds before Jennifer spoke again.
"I will do as you request, and rejoin Arachnos. Not officially, no," she said, as Kalinda had seemed mildly taken aback. "I will work with Arachnos, but I will remain officially unaffiliated with them. This is my offer; take it or leave it," she finished.
Kalinda paused. It was imperative that Jennifer rejoin Arachnos. She had foreseen that it would be very difficult to convince Jennifer of this, but she had also foreseen Arachnos' need of the girl. Coming to a decision, she spoke again.
"Very well," she said, sighing. "It will not be official. Please present yourself to Arbiter Diaz in the morning. In the meantime, I have an assignment for you."
"Do tell."
"There is an Operative Burch who is currently betraying Arachnos, selling our secrets to the organization known as "Longbow" some four hundred yards west-north-west of Fort Darwin. You will go there, and you will slaughter every last one of the vigilantes, and extinguish the life of Operative Burch. Do this before dawn," said Kalinda in a commanding voice.
"As you wish."
-----------------
The moon shone piercingly bright as Jennifer strode slowly and purposefully up the wooden walkway. Her footsteps made no sound, as they never connected with the ground. She was completely invisible, her spirit blending very well into the night air. She heard some of the Longbow guards talking. At the top of the walkway, she observed her foes, some four Longbowman carrying pistols. Pathetic, she thought.
"Hey Bill, you know why we're here?" asked one of the Longbowmen as Jennifer approached one of the guards.
"Ol' Bruckner's negotiating with that Arachnos operative. Guess we get guard duty so the spider can sell out his buddies," responded another as Jennifer readied herself behind him.
"Fair enough, as long as one of those Night Widows don't come after us. I'm scared o' them," said the first Longbowman with a shudder.
"You know, one of the good guys back in Paragon took out a couple of their Night Widows. Had some kind o' weird sword. I saw it once, I tell ya. It was black as the night. I'll never forget it. Guy said it cursed those that it struck to an eternal half-life that could only --" But he never finished his statement. Jennifer had driven her ethereal hand through his chest. A ghostly white aura surrounded the Longbowman as his spirit was forcibly evicted from its body. He crumpled to the ground with a mingled look of surprise and anguish etched on his face.
Jennifer looked at the other Longbowmen. All of them were stunned by their friend's sudden demise, their mouths hanging open in an almost comical manner. She glided towards them, her unspeakable malice causing the Longbowmen to freeze. A second Longbowman fell to her terrible hand. At that moment, the remaining Longbow bolted. Jennifer grinned. This was where the fun began, as she knew it would from long experience. Dashing eerily silent after them, she caught up to first one and then the other, their souls being ejected from their bodies just as the first one.
Returning to the walkway, she looked around. She could hear voices coming from an alleyway. Here must be her target, Operative Burch. And, sure enough, as she rounded the corner leading to the alleyway, she spotted an Arachnos operative talking with a Longbow officer.
"Ghost Widow actually -is- a ghost, I tell you. She seems to have an uncanny knack for controlling the souls of her victims. And there's another just like her. One Jennifer Evans. Another Night Widow that was slain by Dark Sabre. Her powers seem to be less about controlling souls and more about setting up some kind of "ripple" effect within them, which causes them to instantly eject from their bodies. Most people just instantly die, and that's that, but some people end up still alive, but without a soul. Don't rightly know how that works, but it's terrifying to see 'em. They just sort of sit there with this dazed look on their face. You can try to talk to them, but they just stare at you with lightless eyes until you get bored. I'd hate to exist like that," finished Operative Burch.
"Well, that's a mouthful, ain't it. You're coming with me back to Paragon City. You'll be questioned by Sister Psyche herself. She'll know if you're just feeding us B.S., Burch," said Bruckner menacingly.
Jennifer was curious as to how this man knew so much about her. Perhaps this is why her unseen blow did not kill her target outright, instead grazing the Arachnos Operative. Burch gave a horrible, piercing wail that shook the night, and reached behind his back to pull out his Mace. Raising it upwards, he drove the end of it into his foe, knocking her to the ground. Jennifer jumped upright (an easy feat, considering gravity can barely effect her), and swiftly ran around the corner of the building, becoming invisible again. As Burch rounded the corner, Jennifer struck again, thrusting her fist through his heart.
Burch's soul was an odd dark grey colour as it left his body.. but it didn't completely exit. Most of it disappated, but the rest fled back into his body. Burch screamed. Jennifer left him to his fate, and went after Bruckner, who was turning the corner opposite of her end of the alleyway in a desperate attempt to flee with the information he had collected. Jennifer grinned again. This was what it was all about: the hunt.
-----------------
Dawn's light was in the sky as Jennifer hover-stepped her way into Fort Darwin.
She walked calmly up to Kalinda, who appeared to have remained at her post during the night.
"Greetings. Burch no longer has a soul. Does that count as 'extinguished'?" she asked with a sadistic grin.
"Yes. It most certainly does. I'll send someone to fetch Burch's head, it'll please Ghost Widow to see her would-be betrayer's head on a platter. Anyway. Present yourself to the Arbiter, he's right over there," she pointed to her left.
She said her goodbyes to Kalinda, and approached Arbiter Diaz slowly, almost warily.
"Greetings," she spoke nervously. Even a ghost fears the power an Arbiter can wield.
"Ms. Evans," said the Arbiter, nodding. "You will rejoin Arachnos in an unofficial capacity, yes?"
"Yes."
"Excellent. You shall be given a name to protect your true identity of Jennifer Evans. You can choose this, or one can be appointed to you if you are feeling uncreative," spoke the Arbiter with a slight smile. Even Ms. Evans had heard of some of the pathetic excuses for names the scum who filtered through this island came up with.
Jennifer Evans thought for a moment. She remembered the look of terror in her victim's eyes, and the anger pulsing through her as she slaughtered them, and the joy she felt as she condemned Operative Burch to his fate of half-life, a fate far worse than her own. She looked down at her transparent form, never again to feel as a mortal does, never again to rest or find comfort in existance, having to put her trust in a ghost like herself who worked for an organization known for its absolute evil and betrayal of countless allies in order to have some chance at leading a semi-normal life. Coming to a decision, she looked directly into the eyes of the Arbiter.
"I shall be known as Spirit of Malice."
To be continued.
Doom.
Yep.
This is really doom.