[ QUOTE ]
"Yes..just moved in actually, still getting to know everyone I'm afraid"
[/ QUOTE ]
Crestfallen noted her shock at his touch. Briefly he worried just what exactly she had sensed. He stood somewhat vacantly for just a moment longer than necessary before coming back around.
"Yeah, I haven't been here all the long myself." He turned to head inside giving Nyte a small wave. "It was nice to have met you."
[ QUOTE ]
"Hello again, Nyte." Erik said to the fellow empath as he exited the building, nodding very slightly to her. "You seem tired. Trouble from earlier?" Erik was completely ignoring Crestfallen, or at least appeared to be.
[/ QUOTE ]
Crestfallen watched Erik as he spoke to Nyte. He was relieved that Erik seemed not to recognize him.
Nyte nodded at Crestfallen as he moved away, watching him with slightly furrowed brow before turning her attention to Erik as he spoke to her, giving him a warm smile.
"No rest for the wicked I suppose, It's Paragon..when is there not trouble of some sort to deal with?"
As Blake and Alex turned the corner, Blake stifled a yell as he saw the lizard-thing covered in blood, crouching there and staring at them. His eyes widened and he took an involuntary step back. He stood there for a few seconds before whispering to Alex "I think we should run," He slowly started taking a step backwards, glancing over his shoulder and see how far away the corner was. He quickly looked back at the thing, hoping it wouldn't move, or better yet, move away.
Regrettably for Blake, the reptilian didn't move away, instead plating the palm of a clawed hand against the brickwork of the closest wall (of course leaving a stain) to gain greater support while turning toward the heroes. With its other hand, the being wiped further blood off its teeth and lips, where the decidedly not lizard-like tongue hadn't quite gotten at it. Even more unusual, however, was what the reptilian did next.
He spoke.
"I'm cold an' wet, kid." he said with a tone quite uncharacteristic of his form, sounding much like just an average young man with a slight, barely discernable Texan accent, "Not deaf. Now, someone wanna spill where Cap'n Fuzzbucket got me to s'I can make m'self some coord'nates? I really need my jacket back. Frikken freezin' here..."
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
Erik merely nodded again in response to Nyte's answer. "Indeed." He said coolly. "By the way, do you remember Blake from earlier? Tell him if you see him that I left him a message, if you would be so kind. Good day." And with that, Erik walked off without another word, his umbrella hanging over him like some kind of monster.
OOC:
You still there, GrayHuntress?
Alexs pulse was pounding again as she was thrown into another apparently threatening situation. She instinctively moved behind Blake to shield herself but she kept a hand on his shoulder and slightly tugged it back.
She whispered back, Yeah, I think we need to go back. I dont know about you, but bloody lizards I dont think high on the good list.
[ QUOTE ]
"I'm cold an' wet, kid." he said with a tone quite uncharacteristic of his form, sounding much like just an average young man with a slight, barely discernable Texan accent, "Not deaf. Now, someone wanna spill where Cap'n Fuzzbucket got me to s'I can make m'self some coord'nates? I really need my jacket back. Frikken freezin' here..."
[/ QUOTE ]
Captain Fuzzbucket? Not a name she recognized, but she still couldnt distinguish the lizard from friend or foe. So she continued to look for some form of escape, the apartments were still a good couple of blocks away; but she managed to see Erik leaving the building and she wondered if he could hear her
so she thought really hard, Erik! Come here! Freaky lizard thingy
((Name change I see))
Blake's heart skipped a beat when the lizard talked. His mind flashed back to an island with talking lizards and time-traveling Warshades. He mentally shook it off, trying to think calmly " That was just a dream. A really, really weird dream," He managed to pay enough attention to most of the lizard's words, along with Alex's. Blake stopped retreating backwards, but didn't show any signs of letting down his guard, either.
"Sorry, not every day I run into talking lizards," the boy apologized, then shrugged slightly and continued "And I don't think I know Captain Fuzzbucket or where your jacket is," Blake hesitated for a moment, then motioned towards the lizard, asking "What's with all the, uh, blood?"
Unfortunately, unless Alex had telepathy herself, merely projecting her thoughts at Erik would not be sufficient for him to detect them unless he himself had already established a mental connection - Which he had not. Erik's powerful empathy still got a tug from the directed plea, and Erik did visibly pause for a brief moment...But unfortunately he tended to get plenty of such tugs every few hours from particularly emotional outbursts nearby, and had probably mistaken this for just that. He continued on his way.
The reptilian regarded Blake with that characteristic 'you're kidding me' glance; the sort that one performed with eyes narrowed and pupils at the side of eyesockets. Obviously, his disposition wasn't at all patient right now.
"I wasn't askin' that." his tone remained calm, however. Bad idea to scare away people one needed to answer a question, after all, "I know where my jacket's at. What I don't know 's where I'm at - which I need to ta jump."
"And whatcha mean, don't know no fuzzbucket?" he added with an inverse nod, "I can smell 'im all over yalls. Like a chemical lab. Oh, an' don't worry 'bout the blood. Most of it ain't mine..."
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
"Sorry" Blake muttered under his breath, the y sounding more like a prolonged ee. "We're in Rhode Island, " the kid said, noticed it wasn't very particular and continued "Paragon City, in the Galaxy City part, district, whatever you want to call it." He shrugged now, saying "That's as particular as I can get. There's a gas station around here somewhere where you can buy a map,"
Blake listened to the lizard and was confused for a second before making the connection. "Oh, right, the giant-wolf-thing. 'Dun worry about it,"
"Oh, you wanna spot me?" the reptilian returned with a toothy smile, genuinely amused as he presented empty hands to Blake, "Or d'ya think I can pull money outta my..."
The hand gesture became one of a raised index finger, "On second thought, you know what? I ain't gonna go there. An' yeh, the giant-wolf-thing. I let my guard down for one minute, an' next thing I know what's likely the only thing on this planet stupid enough to try an' eat me hauls me halfway across the city. Okay, seriously yalls, what's the last street sign ya passed? That's all I need, really. If ya could ju-"
The reptilian noted Blake looking at something behind and beside him, turning to find of all things a street sign.
"I'd say that wann' there before," he told the two, "but it prolly was an' I just went blind again. Anyway, I'll be right back. I'd appreciate if yalls stuck around, I got some questions about the wolf thing. It's right back there by the way, so if yalls wanna, I don't mind. I ain't eatin' that. Tastes horrible."
With that, the blood-coated reptilian vanished from one instant to another with the characteristic pop of air rushing into a suddenly appeared vacuum. He had teleported, and if his words were to be trusted, would soon be back...
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
((Finally, much longer than ten business days and a new computer later, I'm back))
Hunter followed Agent Smith through the halls of the DSPA headquarters, memorizing all the twists and turns. He was grateful they had stopped for a change of clothes before heading there. His previous suit was now rather shredded. He only half-listened as Agent Smith kept talking.
"...need you to identify," he said as he finally came to a stop. He opened a door and motioned Hunter into a darkened room.
[u]Elsewhere[u]
26...
*GULP*
...25 wolves sat in a no longer perfect circle around something, staring.
"I tell ya, that hits the spot. Really. This place has some good eatin. Pity it's so painfully boring. Entertain me!"
The wolves just stared passively.
"Freh. At least I'll be able to get out later tonight. Some peoples need a talking to. Hysssahahahahahahaha... But what to do with you lot while I'm gone...?" The voice ceased and its owner mused for a moment. The wolves continued to stare, as if unaware the voice had spoken and were waiting for something to happen. "You're all too thin. You need to get some fat on those bones, otherwise you'll be nothing but crunchy. Scamper off and eat something, the lot of you."
The wolves got up and scattered in different directions, vanishing.
"Like, REALLY boring. You know what I mean?" Nobody answered. "Seriously, you said it would be fun. You said it would be FUN. Where's my freaking maximum fun time, Maugrim? The diet is nice, but all I've done so far is slept. Where's the attraction?" Again, nobody answered. "Maugrim? Maugrim? You there...? Oh. Wait. Silly me. Of course not. You're in a land faaaaaar faaaaar away, aren't you? Hysahahahahahaha... Now that I think about it, your digs are nice. Really nice. This place is freakin dull in comparison, what even with all this green fog. Nobody ever comes to visit, and the little scamps who live here are so brutally narrow in mind and concept. Why did you ever think I'd be interested in this place?" If Maugrim was listening, he wasn't answering. There was a ruffling noise, almost like padding as something moved.
"Hrrr. Maybe it's different beyond that moon-glitter wall..."
DSPA
Hunter sat down on a hard chair at a cold metal table. The room was bare accept for a mirror that covered one wall. He knew he was being watched. He had been in interrogation rooms before. Agent Smith slid a file over to him.
"At 0937 this morning, an agent keeping tabs on the gangs in King's Row took these," he stated. "We need to know who this man is and his rank in the Defenders."
"I'll tell you what I can, sir," Hunter stated. "But I have been out of contact for quite some time now."
Hunter flipped open the file and stared at the photos. He recognized the man immediately, but kept his expression carefully neutral. The photos were of an Asian man, roughly 45, who seemed to be giving orders to those around him. He wasn't in any of the colored uniforms that signified rank in the Defenders. Only a Gold or a Silver had that kind of authority. Hunter squinted and lifted one of the photos for closer inspection. The man wore a gold and ruby ring on his middle left finger. That was new. He had been promoted.
Chen, my old friend, Hunter thought. So now you're a Gold. What happened to Ruez?
"Well?" Agent Smith asked. "Do you know him?"
"No," Hunter lied with a voice and face devoid of emotion. "But he's a Gold. He's in plain clothes. Only a Gold or Silver are permitted to do so on a site or a mission. And you can see the ring here. That is given to Golds at their promotion." He was not about to betray Chen willingly.
Alex didn't understand how Blake could be so trusting of a bloody lizard that came out of nowhere. Sure, they were in a city infested with crimefighters...but blood was never a good sign especially if it was from someone else. As soon as the creature disappeared, she started walking quickly toward the apartments...they were so close.
"Come on, Blake!" Alex prodded, "You may 'trust' him, but I don't."
------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile in the DSPA interrogation room, the phone set in the wall beside the mirror began to buzz slightly and a small red light flickered on it, signaling that someone wanted to talk to Agent Smith from the observation room.
"Excuse me," Agent Smith stood and went to the phone. "Yes?"
Hunter continued to carefully study the photos while the other man spoke in low tones. He recognized a few of the others pictured. There were many new faces among the lower ranks, but the upper echelon rarely changed. He squinted at a tiny figure in the back of one of the photos and adjusted his glasses. He couldn't be sure, but it looked familiar. His heart beat hopefully as he brought the photo closer to his face.
"Impossible..." he whispered, but a small smile crept onto his face in spite of his best efforts to remain emotionless.
I have to talk to Chen, he thought, setting the photo back down a bit quickly.
Agent Smith's forehead wrinkled with distress and disappointment at what was said on the other side, "Thank you for the information."
He hung up the phone and turned towards Hunter, "You're lying to me, Hunter. You know you shouldn't play that game with me as you will be the only one hurt. That man's name is Chen...and you were once good friends with him. What else can you tell me? And I warn you, don't play me again." His nostrils flared in disappointment as he leaned against the table, looking Hunter directly in the eyes.
From behind the mirror, the observer stood with her hands on her hips, patiently waiting for her brother to make his next move.
Hunter met his gaze, his expression blank.
"He's a good man," he stated. "I won't help you put him in prison."
"If he hasn't broken the law, then he won't have to," Agent Smith stated. "We could use people on the inside." Hunter shook his head with a humorless laugh.
"You honestly believe that, do you?" he questioned. "What about Kian Macmorough? He's innocent and you people sent him to prison without trial."
"Kian Macmorough is dangerous," Smith stated. "And he's far from innocent. He murdered an agent and her three year-old daughter for her part in his arrest, or had them killed by a friend." Hunter's face darkened but he remained silent.
"Heh," Agent Smith continued, "We already have someone inside and has proven to be an incredibly valuable source. Wave at the mirror if you wish."
He nodded his head in the direction of the observation room. Meanwhile, the observer walked up to the barrier and placed her hand on it. She missed him.
Hunter looked down at the photos still in front of him. Though to most people his expression was unreadable, there was a small number who had been close enough to him to recognize the sadness and anger he was hiding from the rest of the world. He remained silent, wondering if there was a point to the questioning. Agent Smith didn't know who he was, assuming Colin Jones had kept his promise. He didn't seem to know at least. And if they had someone else who was willing to talk, why were they bothering him?
"Why so glum...Hunter?" A tall, slender woman with long, sable hair that reached past her shoulders and piercing steel gray eyes closed the door behind her. It didn't make a sound opening, but at closing a distinct click could be heard.
Her face was a bit saddened, she hadn't seen him in such a long time; he really had grown into a different person from what she remembered...but part of him was still in there that was like home.
Hunter looked up. His eyes widened slightly at the person standing in the doorway. He leaned back in the chair with a smirk that hid a bright smile trying to fight it's way onto his face.
"You've gotten tall," he remarked. "But I think you looked better with braces." Agent Smith stood and turned to the young woman.
"I'll leave you to talk him for a while," he stated and left the room.
Meaghan gave a slight laugh at her brother's comment, "Only because you knew no guy was going to touch me with those things on."
She began to walk towards him around the table, her eyes were moist with unspent tears and her smile quivered slightly. "You seem to be doing well? I mean you're still alive."
Erik finished the folow-up report for both incidents and decided to call up Blake. Now that he knew what exactly was being used, they would be very interested in knowing that the method was attracted to metas. Not only that, but if past patterns were anything to hold by, it meant that Blake would be getting "the visit" any time now.
'So if I can get ahold of him, the meeting can occur on my terms. We will be able to expose the true threat before it decides to stop lazing around.' Erik thought, opening the door to his room and out into the hallway. He gathered the appropriate thoughts and wrapped them into a mental package before sending them off, and the package drifted out into the apartment until it reached Blake's room, where it settled and waited. When Blake got home, it would automatically relay Erik's thoughts to him, a bit like a mental message machine. he message being relayed in this case was,
'Blake, this is Erik. I need to talk to you about your "encounter" back at the Pizza Port. If you can, please meet me at the back of Freedom Court an hour after receiving this message. I will be there.'
Erik, in the meantime, went back into his room, retrieved his umbrella, and headed back to the streets.
***
"Hello again, Nyte." Erik said to the fellow empath as he exited the building, nodding very slightly to her. "You seem tired. Trouble from earlier?" Erik was completely ignoring Crestfallen, or at least appeared to be