Void Blazer listened as Orchid gave her comments on his story, but turned around when he heard Hali's voice saying,
Bonjour Void Blazier, ave vous seen the little girl Jaime aboot?
Void turned around smiling, almost like a weight was lifted off his shoulders after telling his story. Cheerfully he said, "Oh, hey Hali! Huh, Jaime? That's the ice girl...right? No, sorry, I haven't seen her, say, have you met Orchid over he-" when Void Blazer turned to look at Orchid, he noticed she was no longer in the pool, but lying on dead grass. Nervous, he rushed over, offering to call for a medic, but when she declined, only asking for a water bottle, he quickly gave it to her. He looked back at Hali and with a look of fear, and desperation he said, "...Help me, something's wrong with her!"
Looking back at Orchid he heard,
Orchid: "No medics! Void, I... the voices... I don't know what to believe or who to trust..."
Now nervous, yet trying to sound calm he said, "Voices...? Look Orchid, I don't totally know what's going on, but you can trust me, you know that, right? Just stay there then, and I'll check to see if you have a temperature." Void Blazer knelt down, and then began to move his hand over to her forehead...
Void Blazer knelt down, and then began to move his hand over to her forehead...
Orchid blocked his hand with her water bottle, careful to keep from accidently touching him. "That might not be wise. Do you wish to end up like the grass here?"
She shoved her water bottle into Void's hand and put one glove and both booties back on. She quickly glanced around then got up to walk over to a camellia in bloom. Void followed, still looking for Hali who was long gone looking for Jaime. Orchid then picked a flower from it's stem and held it so Void could see what happened next.
"I don't want this to happen to you", was all Orchid said as a soft violet glow enveloped the flower. Void watched as the life drained from the bloom leaving behind a shriveled dried blossom in Orchid's hand.
"What... How... oh wow..." was all Void could manage as the breeze carried bits of crumbling flowery decay away like a tiny blizzard of winter snow.
"I'm not sure, but I think it works on a cellular level. I absorb energy. From plants... from insects... from animals..." Orchid was cut off from talking.
"From people?", Void completed Orchid's sentence for her.
Orchid rubbed the bridge of her nose as she nodded yes.
"So far, I've not damaged any animals or people beyond repair... but I'm afraid, in the right circumstances, that I might." Orchid replaced the glove onto the hand that had held the camellia flower and then rested it on Void's shoulder as she looked him dead in the eyes. "That must be why I'm here. To find out what this 'thing' is inside of me and why it's there. I'm terrified of losing control and killing someone. Life is precious to me and I don't have the right to be Judge, Jury and Executioner."
She let her gaze and her hand drop from Void's shoulder as she turned, exuding a slight scent of camellia perfume, to walk back to the shade of the umbrella and the table.
[ QUOTE ]
Im not a controller type
.Im not a defender type or blaster type either, now put me down! Edward demanded although he didnt struggle. Its not like this is the most humiliating position hed been in at the clinic.
[/ QUOTE ]
"Buddy...if you're a tank, I'm a princess. And I'm sure as hell not a princess." Sis adjusted her grip on him to ensure that she wasn't hurting him. It was hard to judge - sometimes she just didn't know her own strength.
[ QUOTE ]
On Sis third leap, she might have noticed her decent slowing down but not dramatically. On the height of her fourth leap, both her and Ed would feel their weight being held in place by some invisible force. Ed looked over his shoulder to Sis, wondering if she could also fly but seemed to be getting the same look from her as his. Dont look at me, Ed grumbled.
[/ QUOTE ]
"...I don't like this." Sis's armor began to reform. Rocks and lava appeared on her body, warm and sharp to the touch. She was careful to adjust the armor so that Edward wouldn't be punctured by a shard of rock.
[ QUOTE ]
It was only a minute before some slender figure came into view in a silvery metallic suit that hugged the contours of her whole body, only halting at the neck, where her long brown feathered hair fell to her shoulders and around the sonic receptors/antennae that covered her ears. The bright yellow circuitry patterns that stretched from feet to torso glowed faintly as her hovering began to gain velocity to meet them. She floated up to the two as if she was being held up by the same force as them. Hello Edward, Sis. Nice weather today, huh?
[/ QUOTE ]
"Peachy keen," Sis growled. "I take it you're responsible for this midair maneuvering?"
[ QUOTE ]
Sandra adjusted a dial on her head antenna and they all began to descend toward the ground slowly. Dont worry, Im not going to turn you in or anything. Im just trying to help you out. Ed just grumbled to himself as they crept closer to the ground.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sis muttered something about philantrophy and kept a wary eye on the shiny lady. As soon as they touched ground, she put Edward on his feet, leaving an arm around him for support, if he needed it.
[ QUOTE ]
Oh, and if you wanted to know whats in the needle, its a drug specifically designed to attack the hypothalamus which is the part of the brain that regulates autonomous functions like your heart beat and digestion. It may seem harsh but Im here so hopefully drugs like that wont have to be used. Youre lucky there was a bit of a crowd on my way out. Someone whos responsible for the entire clinics security asked if I could assist. So how is your eye after the operation? Sandra asked Ed <snip>.
[/ QUOTE ]
"Lucky?!" Sis ground her teeth, the syringe shattering in her hand as she clenched her fist. "...damn. Look, lady, I don't know what's going on here, but what sort of medical clinic tries to control their patients by putting them in a coma - without having the necessary machines nearby to keep them alive?!?"
The rocks formed around Sis's feet again, giving her a closer connection to earth and clearing her head a bit. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Sandra, brushing her hand against her pants to get rid of the glass. "Are you up here?" Sis tapped a finger against her temple. "'Cause you're an unwelcome guest if you are."
[ QUOTE ]
Operation? [Edward] rubbed the bandage that still wrapped around his head and over his eye. He didnt seem knowledgeable about what had recently happened.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sis kept an arm where Edward could grab it if he needed. She kept one eye on Sandra while she looked around the area. If the clinic was that intent on subduing their patients, she had to assume there were reinforcements coming. The trick was to spot them first. Her eyes went to the tree line. Would they be flyers? Or teleporters? Maybe both...Sis could feel the hair on the back of her neck rise. Maybe she'd get her fight after all.
((Massive apologies, yet again. 
I'm not doing well at keeping up. I'm working on it, I promise. Many many thanks for your patience.))
Writing: Cape Fic
Featured Art: MechaTerp & CorporateRock, by Shia
Music: DJ Pyrria
Void Blazer was left speechless hearing more about Orchid's "condition". By god, that's...insane, I've heard of the dark energies allowing someone to suck someone of their life, but this sounds like it came straight from sort sort of comic book.... ((Oh, hello X-Men... 
)) It was when she walked away to the umbrella in the shade, that he heard a familliar voice... "Well boy, you going to go after her or what? Not going to leave it at that, are you?"
Void Blazer recognized it, that same voice he was hearing before, however, he felt no pain, and sounded so much gentler. Silently he thought, "Wha...? What do you care?" When the voice responded, this time far less gentle, and far more painful, "Don't question me! Now go to the woman, it's what you want to do!" The pain caused Void Blazer to clutch his head again, groaning, mumbling, "Gah! Okay, okay...just leave me alone..."
--Back at the council base.
"Perfect.." whispered the man, maniacally. Once again, the dimly lit room left only his dark outline visible. "What are you trying to do Agamar? I never suspected you to be one for kindness." Said a second voice, and in came another black outline into the room. "Bah, and you're suspection would be right Sarn. While it may make him "happy", it's not out of the 'kindness in my heart', don't you see? If this works, we could reel in both former Council projects, and the glory will be all ours!" Replied the first voice (Agamar). "Ah, so you have some other motives, I know how much you hate to make another person happy." Said the second voice, (Sarn) in a mocking tone. Agamar only grunted, and the room went dark again.
--Back at the Clinic
Void blazer began to walk over to Orchid, still thinking. Hmm, well, I guess I was probably going to go over to her eventually, without anyone's help, but I can't help feel like I'm being used now that someone else is telling me to do it...
Once Void Blazer had finally reach Orchid, she appeared to be sitting down in her chair. Quietly Void Blazer stood over her, waiting for her to look up, when she finally did, he began to speak, in a calm, pleasant tone. "Well, if your purpose is to find out what that thing inside you is, then it must be my purpose to help you find out." Void Blazer then smirked, quickly adding in, "I am a hero after all, and right now I can't think of anything better to do." After a short pause, he grasped Orchid's gloved hand, holding tightly, and whispered, "So, am I with you on this or not?"
"So, am I with you on this or not?"
A chill went through Orchid and she visibly shivered when Void took her hand and her inner voice whispered, "Ask him if he hears the voices too."
"Void, I... your eyes... you look a bit haunted. The Council tried indoctrinating you too... Void Blazer, do you hear voices too? Do they torment you as they torment me? I need to know before I can answer yes or no to your offer." Orchid watched Void's face, his eyes in particular, for his reaction and answer to her question.
But Orchid had no intention of trusting anyone about anything until she could understand then trust herself. It was slowly dawning in her psyche that not all things may be as they appeared. This 'thing' inside of her might not be there to harm her - it could have done that many years ago. Though she may have been tormented by 'it' chiding her, goading her, to do things she didn't wish to do she was still firmly in control of 'it'.
True, she had memory laspses, some lasting days or weeks or even a month but it was usually after some direct threat to herself. "Could I have been in some sort of survival mode of operation?" she questioned.
"Now you're beginning to understand and with understanding comes wisdom", the inner voice answered Orchid and she began an inner dialogue with a voice that was now not aggressive or threatening.
She watched and waited for Void's reaction to her question about his hearing voices.
[ QUOTE ]
"Buddy...if you're a tank, I'm a princess. And I'm sure as hell not a princess." Sis adjusted her grip on him to ensure that she wasn't hurting him. It was hard to judge - sometimes she just didn't know her own strength.
[/ QUOTE ]
Ed grumbled to himself, belligerent of the misunderstanding and being carried around. Well, excuse me for not feeling myself the last few weeks, he growled in reply.
[ QUOTE ]
"Peachy keen," Sis growled. "I take it you're responsible for this midair maneuvering?"
"Lucky?!" Sis ground her teeth, the syringe shattering in her hand as she clenched her fist. "...damn. Look, lady, I don't know what's going on here, but what sort of medical clinic tries to control their patients by putting them in a coma - without having the necessary machines nearby to keep them alive?!?"
[/ QUOTE ]
Why yes, Sandra smiled in a cheery sunny manner, A constant stream of psychokinetic waves helps.
and who the heck are you, anyway? Ed barked out, glad he finally was back on the ground and on his own feet.
I apologize if I surprised you or anything. Im Sandra Kelly of Ktech industries although you may have not heard of such a company
. The womans smile remained as she bowed her head and introduced herself.
but anyway, I just think youre misunderstanding the situation," she said toward Sis, "The clinic staff is just trying to do their job to help suffering metahumans. Its the securitys job to keep the peace and safety of everyone but I guess in this situation, the two priorities clash a bit. I doubt anything this place could stir up could put Ed in a coma.
[ QUOTE ]
"Are you up here?" Sis tapped a finger against her temple. "'Cause you're an unwelcome guest if you are."
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh right. Sandras smile faded and she adjusted the settings on the antennae protruding where her ears would be under her luxurious sandy hair. Im very sorry. Sometimes I dont even realize what setting this thing is on. Feeling she was losing the trust of the both of them, especially Sis by how defensive she may or may not be, Sandra did one better than adjusting her magitech mindwave amplifier/receiver and deactivated the whole suit.
A green luminous grid pattern over and around the contours of her curves appeared when she touched the large crystalline object in her belt. The silvery skin tight armor faded then finally disappeared square by square within the grid. [EDIT]((I was rereading some of the old posts and reread mine and I got to this point. Dispite how I described it, Sandra isn't naked now She's wearing the same casual clothes she was wearing when she was sitting with Ian at lunch.))
Sandra was about to step closer to investigate Eds bandage but she second guessed Sis reaction and retained her distance from them. You dont remember? I thought it happened earlier today.
I thought that was just a check up, Edward relied.
Hmm, I wonder why the doctors wouldnt say anything, She thought and rubbed the fair skin of her cheek with a finger while she pondered the clinics procedures. After I offered my magitech to the clinic, they started out by asking me to monitor Edwards condition as none of their equipment were providing any conclusive information. My engineers managed to create a device that could monitor Edward but required to be implanted behind Eds eye. It will be removed after a few days.
Edwards temper was obviously getting worked up again as he listened. You put something in my eye?....Without asking me!?
Sandra was getting a bit nervous. Ed did have a reason to be angry and his balled fists and menacing eyes were showing this change. Well, like I said, Im not really involved with the clinic. My company just created the monitoring device. We had nothing to do with how it was implanted, she explained and took a cautious step back.
~~
After finally letting himself roll to his bottom, Ian groaned aloud and rubbed the back of his neck while examining the crack in the wall. Ouch
.I have a feeling Ill feel the stiffness in my back in an hour or two, he complained to himself.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The medic made his was over to the upside down Ian.
Do you need medical assistance?
[/ QUOTE ]
Kruth'T glanced at the healer, "I don't know. I didn't hear any bones breaking, and his heart-beat is steady."
[/ QUOTE ]
Wha- Oh, Im fine
I guess. But some injuries cant be fixed with bandages and medication, Ian replied with a forced grin.
[ QUOTE ]
So what fun did I miss? She directed at KruthT. She then looked down at Ian and tilted her head to kind of line up with his perspective.
Tough day at the office champ? She smiled her smile. It was designed to be cocky and slightly light hearted, but you kind of needed to know her to get the light hearted part.
[/ QUOTE ]
Thats one way you could put it, Ian smiled back but purely light hearted and cheerful.
but I can only imagine what kind of trouble Ill be in now. Ive always been told to keep out of the way of the clinic security.
[ QUOTE ]
Kneeling down, he then spoke to Ian. "My apologies, human. In someways this was my fault. I asked Ella to put an end to this, before someone got hurt or killed."
[/ QUOTE ]
Still sitting and rubbing his neck, Ian looked up at the odd fellow with a curious brow. What do you mean? Put an end to what? I guess I came into the situation toward the middle. What was going on?
Void Blazer listened carefully for Orchid's response, finding himself a bit surprised to hear her ask, "Void, I... your eyes... you look a bit haunted. The Council tried indoctrinating you too... Void Blazer, do you hear voices too? Do they torment you as they torment me? I need to know before I can answer yes or no to your offer." This question caused him to take a half step back, first all he could manage to say was, "Ah..." However his thoughts were hardly quiet. That's it, that's right, the Council, it must be one of them that effects the voice...it can't be inside me though, or I'd be hearing it's commentary throughout the day. It must be some sort of outside link, something li- Void Blazer's thoughts were interrupted, by who else, the very same voice (Agamar) he was thinking of..."It's a psychic link, and no, it's not the same as a symbiote relationship, Orchid here is just a failed project, as they do not co-exist as one, but two seperate minds. Tell her you have no voices in your mind, saying otherwise would only cause more trouble." Void Blazer rhetorted, "You can't force me to stay quiet, if it's a psychic link, then I can effect you as well! I'll not keep any secrets!"
But for some reason, the voice, (Agamar) did not respond, and all had become silent in Void's mind, and Orchid was still waiting for an answer. Void Blazer turned slightly red, what could he have possibly looked like, standing still while having his mental argument? After a few more seconds, Void Blazer began to speak as casual as possible, "Ah, sorry for the wait, I was thinking of how to really explain it. Do I hear a voice? Yes. Is it the same as yours? I don't know, but I would think otherwise. It has only recently revealed itself, so I don't even know how long it's been with me. But like you, I don't completley understand it, so that's all I can tell you...sorry."
Void Blazer then grinned, asking cheerfully, "So, let's find out the meaning of this, together. I ask you again, are you with me, or not?"
[ QUOTE ]
What do you mean? Put an end to what? I guess I came into the situation toward the middle. What was going on?
[/ QUOTE ]
Kruth'T nodded, understanding his dilemma. "Basically, Ella injured someone. It looked like she had momentarily lost control of her powers, and it scarred her badly." I think.
"I think the security captain would know more, but I believe he wouldn't be authorized to explain better."
Kruth'T looked down on him-self, and realized that he still had his defenses up. It only took him a moment to end the dimensional disruptions that were protecting him. He decided to leave his hearing at it's normal levels (for him at least). Or at least for the time being.
The robe he was wearing now looked thoroughly shredded, and the smell of oranges floated out of one pocket. He sighed, the robe was never meant to be subjected to the kind of abuse he had put it thorough, not to mention the fruit. He removed what remained of the garment and threw it into a waste basket. Fortunately, he was still wearing his uniform's shorts (Padded armor basically).
[ QUOTE ]
Several seconds after Doctor Tyler left Kia turned back to KruthT and Ian. She had awe should talk look in her eyes. Kia rocked on her heels a little bit as a mischievous smile spread across her face.
[/ QUOTE ]
Kruth'T recognized that look. It was the same expression that Linnorn always wore, just before he would beryl into a large gathering of Skulls.
Kruth'T glanced at Ian, and took a deep breath.
"What is it?" he asked in his usually calm manor.
Orchid's eyes fell as her hand recoiled from Void's grasp. Her gut feeling was something just wasn't right. Her lips rolled in upon themselves before a smirk lifted one side of her mouth. She raised her hands as if in prayer, her thumbs supporting her chin as she leaned her elbows on the table. Her nose fit into the pocket of her hands, her index fingers resting in the inside corner of each eye, her middle fingers on the bridge of her nose. She lifted her soft dark eyes to look at Voids' face and crew-cut hair.
A mischieveous grin baring tiny tips of fangs spread from one corner of her mouth to the other as she quietly spoke, "Well... aren't we a pair, soldier? Neither of us can trust the other - or ourselves - to knock off the doublespeak long enough to relax enough to help each other, huh?" Her eyebrow lifted slightly then fell back into place.
She couldn't answer his question until he had answered hers. She looked him dead in his eyes again as she calmly spoke, "Therein lies our quandry - WE have a problem it seems. Until you and I - and our inner demons - are ready to be laid bare and exorcised, I think it best we part on polite terms. I think it better if I wait to talk with a specialist, no offense. You don't really need to be concerned with my problems. If you see it as a challenge, s hall we just.. call it a stalemate? Shall we look for your friend's child?"
Orchid wanted to tell Void about her voices, about what she had suffered at the hands of The Council, but her inner voice had inferred that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" was a wide open invitation to betrayal. There was just too much at stake to risk trusting someone when she still couldn't trust herself to be completely sane or rational.
"Is the lost child a little girl? Did she say her name was Jaime? What does she look like?" asked Orchid as she began to gather up her things to carry with her.
Void Blazer had been confident in himself that she would say yes. In his eyes, there was no way she could say "no", he was completley honest, and voiced his full opinion. However, he was a bit alarmed to see fangs in the corners of her teeth. Weird...I never noticed those before.
Orchid:"Well... aren't we a pair, soldier? Neither of us can trust the other - or ourselves - to knock off the doublespeak long enough to relax enough to help each other, huh? Therein lies our quandry - WE have a problem it seems. Until you and I - and our inner demons - are ready to be laid bare and exorcised, I think it best we part on polite terms. I think it better if I wait to talk with a specialist, no offense."
And yet, what seemed to be impossible to happen, had happened. For a moment Void Blazer began to stutter, "B-Bu...I figured..." until Orchid continued,
Orchid:"You don't really need to be concerned with my problems. If you see it as a challenge, shall we just.. call it a stalemate?"
Now mumbling to himself, Void Blazer said, "I know I don't have to be concerned with your problems...but I am anyway...
Void Blazer knew she hadn't been able to hear him when she continued speaking,
Orchid: "Shall we look for your friend's child?"
Void Blazer couldn't bring himself to say anything, he only moved back to his chair, and begin to put his costume back on, crushed in what he viewed to be, rejection. All the while he heard the voice return, "Congratulations fool, it looks like she doesn't like you." Void Blazer mentally groaned, saying, "I'm not in the mood." Void Blazer winced when the voice shouted back at him, "I don't care what mood you're in, this is your fault for bringing me up!" This set a (metaphorical) fire in his mind, now Void Blazer had started yelling at the voice (mentally) ((Duh)), "What do you mean it's my fault...?! It's your damn fault for trying to control me you [censored]!" Once again, there was silence. Once Void Blazer had finished donning his costume, he looked up to the sky, all the while thinking to himself.Stupid...voice...
Once again, the world around him came back into view, as he heard Orchid once again, saying, "Is the lost child a little girl? Did she say her name was Jaime? What does she look like?" Void Blazer had not recovered from his mood though, and spoke half heartedly, "Eh...? Well, Hali's not a mother, but more of a...baby sitter I guess. Jaime's some sort of ice...sprite..or something, I don't know..."
Void Blazer's eyes, normally showing signs of confidence, were left glazed, as he looked around, showing little effort in the search for Jaime.
Orchid looked at the crestfallen Void Blazer dressing back into his costume. Orchid thought to herself, "Way to go oh heartless one... you've hurt yet another tenderheart's feelings. He took your honesty as cruelty, probably thinks you don't like him. The young always take things so personally..."
But what could she say to him to ease his emotional bruise? "It's not you, it's me Void," would sound even worse like the obvious cop-out it would be. "I like you like a brother." Riiiight... might as well call him a child and watch him sink further into a deflated mood. "I consider you a comrade in arms," let's just show our age from this incarnation, shall we? No, there was nothing she could think of to say to lift Void out of the hurt she'd inadvertantly caused.
So Orchid said nothing as she traced a hand over Void's shoulder, ostensibly to smooth a wrinkle from his costume. She then gently cupped his cheek in her hand and smiled a sincere smile.
"Hali's probably needing to find Jaime for some reason, should we help look for her?" is all she could manage before taking her hand back to her belongings and turning to begin calling for the missing small one.
* * * * * * * * * *
Orchid's thoughts turned back to a moment in her childhood when she had run away from her grandparents.
It was a warm summer day when she had visited her grandparents in the countryside. She had risen with the sunrise and taken her fishing pole and tackle box to the dock jutting out into the pond. She had not latched the gate securely and her grandfather's sheep had taken full advantage to forage on the greener side of the fence in the newly sprouting wheat field as Orchid fished.
When her grandfather yelled for Orchid she had smiled and waved and continued fishing - totally unaware of the escaped sheep. It wasn't until her grandfather stood on the fishing dock, his face red, the veins popping from his neck that Orchid knew she was in trouble.
Rather than yell at Orchid her grandfather merely took her fishing pole and swatted her with it. "Help me round up the sheep and you're grounded for a weekend! And don't you sass me girl or I'll make you cut a switch and I'll swat you with it."
Orchid didn't say a word as she helped herd the sheep out of the wheat and back through the gate she'd left open.
In fact, Orchid didn't say a word for the rest of that day and the next as she tried to make things right for her grandfather. Even her grandmother snubbed her as they worked together in the kitchen cooking for the ranch hands.
That night she sat on the stairs to the loft and overheard her grandparents talking. "Well I can tell you this the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree... What did you expect when her father married our daughter - you know how he can't keep a job with his drinking..."
Their words cut through Orchid like a knife in her heart as she thought, "Fine, my parents shove me off on my grandparents for the summer because they don't want me and now these two don't want me either. I'm out of here..." So Orchid packed a small bag and left.
She didn't know how far she walked that night but it seemed longer than the miles of rural gravel road. The Sheriff found her curled up asleep in a family graveyard on her great-grandmother's grave.
A highly polished black boot gently nudged Orchid's foot until she woke up. "Is your name Orchid?" the Sheriff asked as he offered his hand to her. "You've got some grandparents worried sick about where you've run off to. Are you alright?"
"I can't go back, I'm in trouble and nobody wants me. I'm more trouble than I'm worth", Orchid told the Sheriff. She then related the whole incident as they walked to the Sheriff's car.
"Are you gonna arrest me and put me in jail, sir?" a little girl asked.
The officer smiled and bent down to look Orchid in the eyes, "No, but do you want to go home or to the station?"
"Could I have breakfast if I go to the station?" asked Orchid.
The officer smiled and opened the car door for her, "I think we might be able to find a couple of donuts and a glass of cold milk for you there."
The Sheriff had a nice little chat with Orchid and her grandparents who came to pick her up at the station and things did get better for Orchid for the rest of the summer. The Sheriff dropped by from time to time on his rounds to check on her.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Jaime?" "Are you playing hide n seek? We'd like to find you..." "Jaime?"
Orchid walked past the thawing spa and marvelled for a moment, then grew more concerned about the little one's safety, she continued looking. "I need to find this little one before Hali or the staff chews her out."
"Jaime? Where are you? You need to say 'tag' to me if you want me to play 'It' for your game... Jaime?"
((Bah, I'm going to posting soon, still trying to think on how to better involve "The voice", won't be much longer, sorry for leavin ya hangin!))
[ QUOTE ]
I apologize if I surprised you or anything. Im Sandra Kelly of Ktech industries although you may have not heard of such a company
. The womans smile remained as she bowed her head and introduced herself.
but anyway, I just think youre misunderstanding the situation," she said toward Sis, "The clinic staff is just trying to do their job to help suffering metahumans. Its the securitys job to keep the peace and safety of everyone but I guess in this situation, the two priorities clash a bit. I doubt anything this place could stir up could put Ed in a coma.
[/ QUOTE ]
"What about you?" It was hard to tell if Sis was asking if Sandra could put Ed in a coma, or if she was volunteering to put Sandra in one. Sis tossed her ponytail over her shoulder and scanned the area again. Her shoulders were tense and she seemed to be rhythmically clenching and unclenching her fists. She had a familiar tingling at the back of her neck, like when she went up against Sky Raiders with their 'porters. The security team was somewhere close by, and somehow Sis knew that they knew that she knew they were there.
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
"Are you up here?" Sis tapped a finger against her temple. "'Cause you're an unwelcome guest if you are."
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh right. Sandras smile faded and she adjusted the settings on the antennae protruding where her ears would be under her luxurious sandy hair. Im very sorry. Sometimes I dont even realize what setting this thing is on. Feeling she was losing the trust of the both of them, especially Sis by how defensive she may or may not be, Sandra did one better than adjusting her magitech mindwave amplifier/receiver and deactivated the whole suit.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sis nodded, though her stance did not change. Since Edward was standing on his own, she readjusted her armor. The lava flowed down from her shoulders, wrapping around the stones that had appeared earlier. Neither layer seemed affected by the other. She decided to forgo adding rocks to her boots, keeping herself at a distance from Sandre but ensuring that she could put herself between the woman and Edward if necessary. She had the distinct impression that speed was going to be required soon.
[ QUOTE ]
Edwards temper was obviously getting worked up again as he listened. You put something in my eye?....Without asking me!?
Sandra was getting a bit nervous.<snip> Well, like I said, Im not really involved with the clinic. My company just created the monitoring device. We had nothing to do with how it was implanted, she explained and took a cautious step back.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sis moved to insert herself between Edward and Sandra. She made sure she was facing Edward, trying to break his eye contact with Sandra. "Easy. She probably had no idea, man. And if I have learned anything about security personnel, we're going to have a bigger problem on our hands in a minute." Without turning around, she asked Sandra, "You're psychic. Where are they? Air or ground?" Her words were clipped. It was clear from her tone she expected an answer.
Writing: Cape Fic
Featured Art: MechaTerp & CorporateRock, by Shia
Music: DJ Pyrria
----
[Kruth'T] "What is it?" he asked in his usually calm manor.
Kia smirked her smirk and in a very low voice, (that KruthT would have no trouble hearing) There is something weird going on here
She motioned with her head a Lets get out of here gesture, then took a step towards the exit. She glanced back to see if Ian and KruthT were coming before heading up the stairs.
---
Hali wandered the halls of the Residence building. She had recreated her ice-flute and was blowing though it. The flute was inaudibly to human ears. However to ice-beings it sung out a friendly melody.
Meanwhile her Jack-Frost searched the open areas of the grounds, so far neither had found any sign of Jaime.
---
Captain Roberts and Brice watched the lone figure step through the Portal. Roberts didnt visibly react at all, when the Specialist stepped though. While Brices only reaction was to clenched his jaw slightly tighter, a tell that also worked against him on poker night also.
No one spoke, the three simply stepped down their secured hallway and into the waiting tram shuttle with the blacked out windows. The tram rocketed off along the tracks emerging above ground for several hundred yards of its journey, before dipping back below ground under the main hospital building into another secured station.
The three passengers disembarked and all but Brice stepped into the elevator waiting for them. Brice had been interviewed in detail about his encounter with Happy Camper and was no longer needed for the Specialists visit.
Almost immediately the elevator proceeded down, though many secured levels until it reached its destination. Very few people knew of the existence of this particular section of the Clinic. Even fewer were allowed access to it.
Many security doors later they made it to the observation room where Ella was. She was sitting quietly glaring at the one-way observation glass. Occasionally her nostrils would flare in annoyance and even despite the complicated array of manacles she was still in, her posture shone with arrogant annoyance.
The specialist simply made a small nod, to Capt Roberts, then entered Ellas room
HaloInc
Triumph:
Heroes: Lady Halifax, Miss Kia, WhiteLotus, Agent Immolate, Lady Empathy, Sylence Fyredancer, Maiden of Fire
Villains: Innocent-Ella, Aegis-Sprite, Midnight Dragonfly
As Orchid searched for Jaime she couldn't shake the eerie feelings conflicting within her mind or her rising physical hunger as day began to turn into evening. An internal dialogue between the voices and herself began as it had a thousand times before.
The voices began their well practiced dance, "You leave destruction wherever you go... just accept it and live contentedly in your undeath."
"I can never just 'accept it' and be content. These are human beings not cattle, not lab rats to be conditioned and modified for some purpose not their own will", Orchid retaliated.
"We created you in our image, submit to our will Orchid..." a soft voice chided her, goaded her, dared her.
"Never! I still have some shred of my humanity and it's ensuing decency. You must not prevail... I must carry out The Mandate!" Orchid lost her footing momentarily as she inwardly argued.
"Think Orchid... what is your precious Mandate? It's a misguided hope for the pathetic and undeserving masses. A panacea to lull them into a false state of security so they'll lower their guard against us. Submit, become one of us...", the voices tortured Orchid as she stumbled and fell onto hard concrete of the sidewalk.
"I must not. Paragon City must not be obliterated. There are innocents here, non-combatants in the interstellar battle of good against evil. You cannot win... You must not win or all hope is lost", Orchid did not feel the blood oozing from her knee, her mind was elsewhere, her senses keenly focused inwardly.
A warm breeze carried upon it the scent of night blooming jasmine as Orchid closed her eyes lost in a far distant nightmare.
* * * * * * * * * *
Furtive ice blue eyes watched the darkness longingly. The fog was slinking in on velvety cats paws and languidly prowling the streets of the parish.
It was night. It was her element. It was time.
Through the darkness she would linger by the doorways and windows to listen and watch. Inhabitants went about their nightly routines some argued, some sat and read, others ate their meals, lovers kissed and caressed.
How she longed for a human touch to her cheek. How she ached for kind and tender words to her ears and heart.
She continued to observe, silent in the prowling with her lover the fog.
A young priest stepped from the safety of a church, he didnt go unnoticed in the soft blanket of shadows enveloping the night. He turned sensing he was being studied. Orchid approached him.
Father, Im going your way, may we talk as we walk? she asked. Her voice was calm yet seductive.
The priest pulled his cloak tighter before answering wearily How may I help you, my child?
The two began a slow walk into the night, the fog enveloping them like a vaporous shroud around the newly dead.
His eyes studied her exotic face, she was not unbeautiful nor was she unremarkable. I havent seen you in this parish before, have I? he tried to break the awkwardness he was feeling.
Ive been here for quite some time, many years in fact she countered. I have been meaning to drop in for Mass but my line of work keeps me busy and things always seem to keep me from attending.
The priest looked a bit pained but nodded in polite understanding. They walked a bit longer in silence each trying to find the words to break the silence.
They passed a cemetery on their route and it was a few moments before the priest noticed his traveling companion had stopped at the gate.
Something wrong my child? the priest asked.
This is where I must leave you, Father. I can walk with you no further this night replied Orchid with a trace of sorrow in her voice.
Strange thought the priest to himself.
Shall I show you what causes my sorrow, Father? she opened the gate and beckoned him to follow her into the cemetery.
Neat rows of markers and the crypts of the wealthy marked their passing into a long forgotten corner of the resting place.
A stone angel wept over a plot in disrepair. This is where she pointed to a name upon a marker.
Whos name is there? she asked.
He knelt to wipe away the vegetation and read aloud the name to her.
She knelt beside him and whispered Thats my name, Father. This is my home.
A look of curiosity washed over the priests face, then a look of disbelief and then pure horror.
Yes she nodded as her teeth severed his jugular vein. She drank deeply and was satiated for the night. She had fed well on the richness of his warm blood.
In the daylight no one noticed yet another withered and lifeless corpse stashed in an ancient now derelict tomb.
I wonder she thought as she daintily dabbed the last vestige of her meal from the corners of her mouth, Will the next priest they send be as gullible?
* * * * * * * * * *
Orchid startled back to reality as the voices stopped and the dream receded. "My hunger pangs begin to grow with the approach of night... I must feed soon. I must hurry and lock myself away so as not to harm anyone who may cross my path during my time of hungering."
Thus Orchid forgot all about finding Jaime or being involved with any sort of search for answers with Void. What she needed soon was food - thick, warm and liquid down her throat. The nourishment she would soon so blindly crave...
Orchid began to feel uneasy and irritable as she hurriedly walked toward her room. Along the way she began leaving a trail as the items she was carrying dropped from her arms one by one. She also began to peel out of her clothing as her body temperature rose with the result of her breaking into a sweat.
She stopped at the nurse's station on her floor, "I need to feed, I need my Bravo menu... just leave it by my door and knock... I'll take what I need from the tray." Orchid turned to hurry to her room then turned back around to growl at the nurse typing in her request into the computer, "And hurry, I"m changing already!"
As a precaution the nurse also notified Security - just in case things went badly.
Once inside her room Orchid paced back and forth like a caged animal. The feelings of anger and hotness washed over her in waves as she peeled off her sunscreen suit. "I must feed soon - where is my tray of food?"
Just then there was a knock at her door as her food arrived, "Sorry to bother you, Orchid. Your meal is by the door... we'll come back for the empties later." She could hear the squeak of rubber soles practically running from her doorway.
The change was starting and Orchid covered the mirror in her room with it's attached curtains. She knew perfectly well how she looked and it frightened her to gaze upon her own reflection when she changed. Her lower body had changed into something monsterous covered in fur with small claws where her feet usually were. Her torso was becoming more rounded and barrel shaped with the same covering of fur. Her arms had become more zombie-like with clawlike fingers and covered in the same fur. Huge leathery wings began to sprout from her shoulderblades and back.
Her face was what she couldn't bear to see in her reflection. Rather than the beautiful bronze human face, it had changed into a more bat-like look. Not horribly ugly as far as a flying fox might be concerned, but nontheless a bit startling to most humans.
She cracked the door a sliver and with a hint of paranoia examined the outside world for anything that might harm her in her condition. Seeing nothing but an empty hallway, she tentatively reached out a hand that now looked more like a zombie claw, to bring the tray of goodies into her lair.
She didn't notice the door hadn't latched all the way shut as she began to pick through the goodies on the tray. As she picked up the rubber pouch of artificial blood she could 'taste' with her hands the telltale metallic ions of the iron carried by the hemoglobin. She placed it to her cheek and blissfully purred with her eyes closed before savagely biting through the pouch with her sharp fangs. A hunched over Orchid held the pouch with one hand while sucking out the contents as she now more calmly perused the remaining items of her meal on the tray.
When the pouch was drained dry a much more content and relaxed Orchid started on the container of warm plain yogurt. She didn't know what it was that satisfied her cravings but she relished the fermented milk proteins. Perhaps it was the tangy acids produced, perhaps not. Once the warm yogurt was devoured she took up the container of lightly pureed tofu and delicately indulged in the taste and texture of that protein bullet.
She shoved the tray with the empty containers back into the hallway with inadvertant force, bouncing them off of the wall opposite of her room and bending the metal serving tray.
A now satiatied and monsterous bat-like Orchid yawned and stretched her wings. Her stomach was full and bulging in a small potbelly as she looked at the rafter in her room. "I think a nap is in order... I've had a busy day", was all she said as she hopped onto the rafter and positioned herself to hang upside down by her feet. Her wings wrapped around her like a shroud, her security blanket to hide her from any prying eyes as she slept. And so she slept, like a caterpillar in a cocoon waiting to transform into a butterfly, a soft snore escaping now and again to indicate this was a form of life...
[ QUOTE ]
There is something weird going on here
[/ QUOTE ]
Kruth'T felt he had no choice but to agree. Something was gong on here that he didn't understand. But that was hardly unusual for him. The prospect of answers was just too alluring for him to abandon.
Swiftly he fallowed Kia out of the gym. However, he glanced back at Ian. Curious if he would accompany them...
(( Hello everyone! *jumps into the pool* ))
Tessa dreamed. Scenes and sounds rushed past her in a kaleidoscope of confusion. She tried to piece them together as best she could, but the pieces broke apart and swirled together again like some mad carousel spinning out of control. She felt things, people around her, but she could not distinguish them from those in dreams and memories. Her mind felt shattered, pulled part by some unknown force of malevolence as she tried to remember herself.
Days, weeks, years, or an eternity later she slept. Peace and calm found her whirling mind, a welcome change from the chaos. Slowly, her mind pieced itself back together, and her shattered sense of self began to reknit itself. She began to remember.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Shiro, we're not strong enough for this alone! We have to go back!" she screamed to her lover as he surged with energy, and ran for the next group of the Children of Anger, Rage, and Hate.
She heard his laughter drift back to her over the sounds of battle. "We can take them, Tess, they're just a bunch of pansies!"
"But SHE'S HERE! It's not just them, she's waiting, watching us!! We have to get out of here!!" the words were stopped before they could begin as a wave of telekinetic energy stopped her body, and another stopped her ability to do anything other than watch. She heard a wicked laugh, as if it were in her ear, and a voice...
"Come, Child. Let me have your rage, your pain. Let me show you the way to be stronger, feared by those around you. Let me show you -hate-!" With the words came a wash of red over her vision, a wave of anger and rage pulled from her very worst memories surged around her. She watched her lover being beaten down by the very foes they had been sent to stop, and she was helpless against this seductive anger.
Shaking her head, a slight motion only, she tried to clear her thoughts of the painful memories this woman had brought up. She saw her lover clearly for a moment, gaining some control over her body and mind, and cried out to him. Unfortunately, her cry of pain distracted him at a critical moment, and she watched him go down.
Moments later, her body still held by the invisible force, she watched as a woman in purple flew down to Shiro, her bodyguard and the love of her life. She watched as he screamed in wordless agony when the woman tore into his mind.
She screamed in anger and fear, wrenching herself loose of the psychic bonds the woman had held her in, running to her love. If she could only touch him, just one finger somewhere on him, and she could get them out.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement, and lashed out, pulling the last dregs of her own energy to form a bolt of energy to brush the attacker away. Panting with fatigue and emotional reaction, she reached down deep inside herself calling forth a few of her guardians, mentally directing them to guard her, and keep the "bad ones" away from her. One flung bolts of pure energy, one was a fire-starter, hurling napalm-like substances at it's targets, and the third forced the earth itself to rise and crush it's targets. They kept a close column around her, and moved with her as she approached Shiro.
The woman had flown off, Tess knew not where, and had left her love laying on the pavement... just a few more feet...
She reached out, crouching surrounded by her phantoms, and touched his foot. Instantly, they were several hundred feet away on top of a building. She released the phantoms, and sank down exhausted beside him, resting for a moment before activating their emergency beacons. These were stolen from Anti-Matter's labs, and had been set up as an emergency transport system for those striving against Tyrant and his crew.
As she reached for it, she felt her mind gripped in a vice-like grip and that same voice in her head.
"Well, so you think to escape, little one? Fine then, you shall not be coming back."
As she pressed the button on the porter, she felt a tearing, searing pain in her mind, knocking her out cold, leaving her unconscious but still in the grip of that shattering pain...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
She remembered. She screamed, and sat bolt upright in a hospital bed. Looking around, she saw nothing with which to torture someone, nor to subdue them against their will. She was confused, and terrified. She cried out mentally to the only one she could ever count on to be there for her no matter what happened.
::SHIRO!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!::
To the empty room, she whispered "Mother Mayhem... what have you done to us?"
-@Wenchette
----
[Insert long list of alts and only ONE level 50 after alll this time]
( Thought I would also join in *jumps into the pool as well* ))
A dark figure stumbled through the trees. His long brown hair hung loosely around his tattooed face. The markings dark red against his slightly tanned skin descended down his neck and chest. He looked at his hands, the markings were there too. He braced himself against a tree for a brief respite. He was exhausted, his breathing heavy and labored. He couldn't remember why he was there. It was like a shadow dancing at the edge of his vision that he could not grasp. He remembered little; his name and his title. Shiro, Ace of Coins. Only he could not remember the significance of the title. He also remembered Paragon City, only not this one. This one was like some sort of dream.
Tyrant was a hero named Statesman. His underlings were the Freedom Phalanx and not out to kill or prove themselves against those less than them. Was he going insane. His memories. His life seems to be an illusion. He was questioning his own sanity when a passing shadow caught his attention. The tidal wave emblem on the shadow's shirt brought a light to Shiro's eyes. He recognized that symbol. It was the symbol of an Outcast. Normal guys with powers trying to stand against the combined might of Tyrant and the others.
The light quickly left Shiro's eyes as he heard the sadistic laugh of the Outcast, "What have we got here? A mask by the look of it. Guys come here" Shiro watched, slumped against the tree as three more Outcasts came into his view. His instincts kicked in. He knew he couldn't fight them all. He just didn't have the energy for it. He had little fight in him, but who knew, he might get lucky. He faced the four Outcasts and smiled grimly.
Shiro felt strangely at peace at that moment, a moment of perfect clarity. He lived for such a risk. It was a thought that flew into his mind. Risk, the laughable gamble of believing he could take on these four thugs all by himself, but at that moment it seemed like he would come out the victor. How, he could not guess, but the thought eased his mind. He felt an unknown energy well up with in him, and with nearly blinding speed he struck the first Outcaste that saw him. After that it was blur of activity that ended in darkness.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
In the darkness, Shiro fell. At least he thought he was falling. The darkness stretched on for eternity it seemed. He was alone in the darkness for what seemed like decades and then a flash of gold caught his attention. He began to fall towards it. The flash of gold grew larger, ever larger, until he could tell it was a spinning gold coin. It had a pentacle on one side and a sword on the other. It spun closer, revealing that it was about the same hieght as Shiro. As he reached out for it, it stopped spinning. The pentacle side facing him. He seemed to recognize this coin. Then the light of dawning realization hit him, it was his lucky coin.
The coin flashed brightly into his eyes, and he awoke with a start. He was laying a bed in what appeared to be a hospital. Atleast he thought it might be a hospital, he never remembered being inside one, but then he couldn't remember much.
Then he heard it. A voice in his mind.
::SHIRO!!! WHERE ARE YOU?!::
The voice was strangely familiar but he couldn't place it. He rose slowly from the bed, and looked for the voice.
Orchid began to tremble in her sleep, her body visibly shaking within the leathery shroud of her wings.
The voice began to speak once again, "Orchid... Orchid... dream and remember what The Council has done to you..."
* * * * * * * * * *
The small metal window in the door to her cell snapped open as two eyes filled with a blackness of evil searched Orchid's cell.
"Test Subject 223, on your feet! We have much to do today and little time in which to do it", said a voice as cold as midwinter ice in Antarctica.
Orchid rose to her feet as the door to her cell was unlocked and the guards told her to come out for the good doctor to examine.
"One day I'll kill this twisted little madman they call a doctor", was all Orchid could think about as she was taken to the research lab of the underground Council base, "and when I do... it'll be slow and painful for him..."
She was strapped to a table to be poked, prodded and punctured. The doctor clearly enjoyed inflicting as much pain on Orchid as possible, but she had will enough not to cry. No, she wouldn't give him that satisfaction as her mind plotted how she would take him apart piece by piece and bit by bit... slowly, so slowly...
* * * * * * * * * *
"Test Subject 223 has not rejected the symbiote - this is good. Extract her DNA so we may try the machine on the corpses."
* * * * * * * * * *
The doctor stood alongside the strapped down Orchid, she could smell the corruption of his flesh in his foul breath. His pores wreaked with polluted stench as he raised the examination table into a sitting position.
He half whispered and half hissed into her ear, "Now my dear, you are about to make history. You are the first test subject not to reject your implanted symbiote... You should feel honored to make this sacrifice of your DNA for the sake of science. With your contribution The Council will be able to create super soldiers from the dead."
The doctor's rotten warty tongue then licked Orchid's cheek and neck as his hands trailed an instrument of torture down her body. When his hands trailed to her feet he took up the instrument and made his assistant hold her head so she would watch what he would do to her feet.
A small device that looked somewhat like a small guillotine was held up by the doctor. The light from a single naked overhead bulb bounced off the stainless steel object as the doctor squeezed the trigger to check the slicing action of it.
Orchid's eyes grew big as the device was placed over her little toe on her left foot.
"And now my dear, it's time to make history." With a quick snip Orchid's toe was detached from her body and fell into a bottle of fixative.
Orchid could only watch in horror as the procedure was duplicated on her right foot. She was so shocked she couldn't scream. She couldn't cry. All she could do was whisper "I'll kill you" before the icy fingers of shock drained the color from her face and gave her mind and body rest from the horror that had just happened.
* * * * * * * * * *
Ice water drenched and half drowned the fainted Orchid as she was revived from shock. She was still strapped down in a sitting position on the table that had now been wheeled into a large underground water reservoir. Her eyes wandered to where her little toes had been replaced with crude black stitches.
An Archon was standing to one side of the table, the doctor was standing on the other.
"The machines are ready, Archon. The extracted DNA from this test subject has been primed into the receptacles. The machines are waiting", said the doctor.
"Gentlemen, today we shall make history. Today The Council will create vampyri to be our super soldiers! Begin the process!" said the Archon.
Orchid could only watch as the machines that looked like giant coffins to her were started up. Among the noise and lights their doors opened and out stepped the abominations called 'vampyri'.
"You monsters!" whispered Orchid to the Archon and the doctor.
"My dear, you are Eve to our Adam. You should feel honored that this is a success! You have ushered in a new era of The Council", replied the doctor.
The Archon smiled to the doctor, "Do you think these new soldiers might feel a bit.. thirsty? Why don't we leave them with our new Eve that she might get to know her children?"
Thus the Archon and doctor left Orchid to the appetites of the undead.
As they walked away laughing Orchid shouted, "I'll kill you! By Heaven and Hell, I swear to the end of days, I'll find you and I'll wipe you from the face of Paragon City! You'll pay for making me part of these abominations to humanity..."
But the Archon and the doctor were busy bolting the blast door closed, locking Orchid in to be devoured by the thirsty vampyri.
* * * * * * * * * *
And so it was that the underground base echoed with the screams of this Eve as the children of this Adam fed upon their own mother...
* * * * * * * * * *
The halls of The Clinic's psychiatric ward echoed with the tortured screams and wild sobbing of Orchid in the deep dreaming of her nightmare. . .
(disclaimer - first post - and it sounds better with the rhythmic tonalities that only one of my own minds can hear. )
Water droplets drip and drop, drip and drop, drip and drop onto the concrete floor of the weathered white-walled warehouse of monotonous moist liquid reverbery. A single cockroach clicks carefully across a corner, crawling with a trepid tenacity of what tourists may lurk in the shadows of the drip drop weathered white-walled warehouse. Smoke unseen bellow in the distance. Yet that is not her worry. With a flick of the head, she glares at the now retreating cockroach, who finally manages to find refuge in a crack of the weathered, white-walled warehouse. With eyes blacker than the darkest sin, she peers around, stopping for only one single twitch before continuing the dank survey. Her long fingers, claws of nail flex within the shadows as the pale moonlight shoves her dark cloudy mistress from her to reveal the pale blueness of her skin. A single Crimson hair drops from her otherwise perfect bun.
"I am a monster.", she tells the many members of her mind as she puts one claw like nail to her lips. The sweet taste of blood now cracked, dried and gone. "I am not a saint."
Her brain erupts with protest, millions of advocates flourish to her opposal, picketing the very mush that pulses within her cranial cavity. They demanded more of that creamy metallic crimson she had fearlessly feasted on before the blazing ball of horror peaked its eyes over the jagged, steel horizon. The Votes are in, she is the only one who opposed of this. The laws of her kind are clear, yet what is her kind? She is of one, yet of many. They speak to her, yet they do not. They know her, yet they also do not. Too freaks of nature, rolled into one slender blue body. One a child of Lilith, the other of Malkav, son of Caine.
She knows nothing, yet realizes everything; sees nothing, yet perceives all. She is a child of Malkav, the biggest curse, the biggest blessing. She is Hamenopi. She hungers.
(( Well, crap. Apparently it took me longer then I thought...))
--- At the council base
Agamar could be heard panting in the back round. Moments later a slow, clap began. Well done, well done indeed Agamar. So, he managed to figure out how to control the psychic link as well? Well done. Said Sarn, in a mocking tone. Agamar retorted angrily, losing his normally calm voice, Silence yourself Sarn After a short pause, Agamar regained his calm tone, He could not POSSIBLY know how to deal with a psychic link. We never taught him that. He got lucky, that's all.
There was a small chuckle from Sarn, If you insist. he said, amused. Agamar spoke again, Don't you have something to work on? Get out. There was the sound of a door sliding open, and then the sound of it sliding back closed. In a mildly surprised tone, Agamar whispered to himself, How did he manage to do that? ...Luck, of course. I can't be quite so gentle next time...."
-- Back at the Clinic
"Ack!" Void Blazer shouted, as he found himself rolling off the chair he was just in, onto the grass. Jumping back to his feet, he looked around at his surroundings. "Still at the pool...did I doze off?" Void whispered to himself.
There was a slight pause, as he looked for anyone that was familiar to him, "Orchid....? Hali...? Gah! Not again!" Void Blazer stomped his foot angrily. I need to stop falling asleep so much....now what do I do?!
Shiro slid out of the bed slowly. His mind swam and throbbed. His body ached with each movement, yet he could not find any signs of injury. He looked down at himself, his body was covered in the green hospital gown which he tore off. The dark red markings covered his entire body. His body was lean and muscular under the tattooes. He wrapped the sheet of the bed around his waist, luckily, in time as a nurse came into his room. She jumped at the sight of him and his naked chest.
The nurse hadn't expected to find this man awake. The prognosis had not been good for this patient. Last she had checked he was still in a deep coma and according to his file, was not purported to be coming out of the coma for awhile. It just seemed so unlikely, so improbable that he even could manage to stand. Now she was standing there staring at him. It didn't help that his cool green eyes seemed to stare through her. She finally found her voice, "What are you doing out of your bed?"
Shiro took a sidelong glance at her, as he began to step past her, "I need to find someone." The voice that called to him. He was drawn to the voice, but could not understand why. Maybe if he found her, she would have the answers for him. The nurse moved to stand in his way. She stood her ground and spoke curtly, "You have had a terrible ordeal. You were brought here in a coma only a few short days ago. You need to rest, you shouldn't be out of your bed yet."
"Sorry, I can't," Shiro stated, "I need to find her. Find answers."
Tessa slid from the bed painfully, she felt her inner energy reserves were quite full, so apparently she had been resting for quite some time. She phase-shifted... brought herself out of sync with reality... and slowly stumbled toward the door to the room.
Hoping no one was around, she peeked out through the door to check the hallway. She saw a group of what looked like medical people at the far end of the hall, and crept out through her door. She started off in the other direction, sliding one foot, then the other in front of her as she tried to move quietly but quickly.
I can't let them catch me, I can't let them catch me, I can't let them, can't let them...
She rounded a corner, and went through a set of double-doors, finally feeling she was able to relax her guard enough to drop back into phase with reality. She sprinted, down the corridor, and saw there was no way to get past the nurse's station without being seen, so she once more fell out of sync with her surroundings. Quietly she crept past, but began sprinting again when one of the nurses (apparently at least latently psychic) seemed to watch her run past.
She sped through doors and people, down hallways in a blind panic, finally running headlong into the fresh, clean outdoors. When she felt the fresh air blow through her, she slowed to a walk, looking around her finally, and slowing down to take in her surroundings for once. The grounds the building was housed on were well-kept and pleasant. Several people walked by once in a while, and they did not try to attack or hold her, just nodded a pleasant hello and went about their business. She was getting very very confused.
She remembered their mission, and how horribly it had failed, and still her mind called to her lover and protector. She remembered Miss De'Vore asking her to take her protector and go into the other dimension like the others had and seek more help in their fight. She knew that it might be a one-way trip, but they weren't supposed to go yet. There was more preparation to do, more planning and information gathering. This place had her utterly confused.
Where were the guards and the weapons? Where were the other signs of Tyrant's reign of strength and fear? She stumbled against a wall, and looked at the door stupidly, her mind catching up with her surroundings, she blushed that she'd run into a building this tall. She looked for a door, and opened it, wandering in. A pool.
A pool? What in the... This looks like some kind of high-class resort or something... Where the hell -am- I?
She noticed a man standing by the pool, and hesitantly walked toward him, her muscles tightening under her fear, ready to bolt at any minute. Void looked harmless, or as harmless as he could look, and she felt she might be able to trust him not to hurt her. Somehow, she was in a safe place, and in a world far different from her own. Had they actually gone to the place Miss De'Vore was sending them for more help? There was only one way to find out.
She walked over closer to the man, and phased back in again.
"Bon jour, est-ce que vous pouvez m'aider?" she didn't notice that she'd slipped into her native french, in her extreme nervousness, as she addressed Void by the pool.
-@Wenchette
----
[Insert long list of alts and only ONE level 50 after alll this time]
Orchid had stopped swimming to listen to Void's story.
"Nice to finally know his name is Void Blazer and that he's not a patient here, he's a spa guest. I will definately watch what I say around him." Orchid felt her fists clench and release with the anger rising in her as he told his story, "Funny how tyrants seem to pick the young and very old for their victims - the idealists and the most helpless of society."
As she continued to listen to Void's story she realized she didn't know if she wanted to slap him for being a nictus or hug him to her as if he were fellow soldier. "He's so young, at least his eyes are opened now to the truth..." the voice whispered in Orchid's mind.
Orchid began to feel queasy in her stomach as Void's story unfolded and the voice continued to speak in her mind, "Yes, The Council learned the indoctrination techniques of the 5th Column well as they adapted them for their use.. but you, Orchid, we, gave them a challenge. You were first indoctrinated and educated by the same agency as Indigo and Crimson, though I've blocked that memory from you..."
Orchid splashed cool water from the pool onto her face - was what she was hearing true or merely programming by The Council? It was all so confusing. How could she trust herself in what she chose to believe?
Void Blazer looked towards Orchid to see how she would respond, quickly adding in, "I hope that cleared everything up for ya..."
Orchid smiled a sickly sort of smile, "I'm glad you weren't subjected to the full brunt of The Council's cruelty, Void. It's probably good that you were cooperative with them, they were gentle with you."
Void had just finished relating his story to the young woman. Hali was too preoccupied on her approach to listen.
Bonjour Void Blazier, ave vous seen the little girl Jaime aboot? She half turned to Orchid who was getting ready to start some laps. She smiled as politely at Orchid as her current worry allowed Bonjour
Orchid waved to the greeting. A few minutes later, when the greeter was out of eyesight, covering her mouth and muttering to Void, "I don't feel so good."
"Hey, are you ok? You don't look so good. Should I get a medic?" asked Void.
She hastened to the stairs of the pool and made a hasty exit from the water to lay for a moment on the cool grass as she pulled off her gloves and booties. The grass began to wither and die beneath Orchid's glowing hands and feet.
Void started to call for a medic. "DON'T call the medics. Just get me my water bottle, Void."
The voice was small and calm in Orchid's mind, "Do you really want to know what you've forgotten? Do you want to know why I live inside of you? I can tell you now, but are you strong enough for the awful truth?"
Void handed Orchid her bottle of water and knelt by her on the grass, "I don't know what to do to help you. I should get a medic..."
"No medics! Void, I... the voices... I don't know what to believe or who to trust..." Orchid took a long drink of water trying to figure out what to do to keep control of herself and keep from running away in a blind panic.
"Breathe, Orchid, just breathe", she repeated to herself until she regained a modicum of control over her panic. "There's no reason to panic and nowhere to run to, now breathe..."