(( This is connected to IC events from the following post in the IC Story Thread in the Roleplaying section, and mine which follows immediately after it. ))
Tigers Storm - Part One Galaxy City, 2:30am, Monday 8th January
The muffled sounds of voices barely penetrated her consciousness as she floated somewhere between the light of life, and the darkness of death. Vague impressions of flashing lights, sirens, and a rocking motion as she was moved from that dark alley, flashed across her awareness with barely a flicker of recognition.
The weak and desperate voice of the young Peacebringer flickered through her mind, repeating what were almost her last words. There's... a better way... you know it... I know it... many do."
Then came the memory of the excruciating pain that had ripped through her body as shed rejected the very act that would keep her alive; forced herself to stop the flow of life force from her victim; and with that memory, her physical body spasmed from the remembered shock.
In the real world about her, medics yelped and jumped back as the body of the tiger they were working on arced back on the gurney, and began to thrash about as pain ripped through its tortured form.
Look out for those claws! One of them shouted, as a paw half the size of his head narrowly missed raking his face.
Working quickly, the medics managed to strap the animal to the gurney more securely, and one of them grabbed a hypodermic, intending to tranquilise the tiger. One of his collegues glances at him, You really think that will work on this thing?
Who knows, but gotta be worth a try, right? If we dont quiet it down, well never get it to the facility.
The first medic nodded, Give it a shot then, but go for intramuscular; youll never find a damn vein in this thing!
The medic with the hypo nodded, and choosing a random spot on the tigers neck, jabbed the needle into it, injecting a huge dose of sedatives. A few moments later, the animals thrashing slowed to a stop as the powerful medications take effect.
A woman dressed in dark leathers, and with blackly glowing eyes, approached them. Shes stable?
Yes maam, weve had to tranquilise her though.
The woman nodded, and turned to head into the Freedom Corps building nearby, Bring her.
Hours later, a clang of a cage door closing caused the almost black tiger to awake with a start. It lay there for several minutes, before painfully heaving itself onto its paws. Panting for breath, it took in its surroundings.
A cage, perhaps 10 meters square, with the floor covered in straw. To one side, a metal trough filled with water, and smaller bowl next to it, containing a chuck of red flesh. Moving almost painfully, the tiger walked to the trough and drank deeply; unaware of the darkly dressed woman watching her from just outside the cage.
The woman watched the tiger, pity in her glowing eyes. So much pain in you, sister So much torment. Its incredible that youre still alive after all you went through.
The tiger looked up from its drink, and turned to look at the woman; a faint glow barely visible in its eyes.
We will help you, sister. Youve taken an important first step in returning to the path of justice. We cant let your act of mercy go to waste.
The tiger watched the woman as she spoke, its weakness clear in its body language as it slowly dropped to the ground, to watch her from a prone position on the floor.
Behind the woman, a door opened, and two men entered the room. One appeared to be a doctor; his white lab coat and clipboard giving some indication of his profession. The other was a powerfully built figure in a bright red and yellow costume. A bright glow of energy poured from his eyes as he approached the watcher.
Shes alive? The mans voice was deep, with a cultured American accent.
The woman nodded, For now, though I couldnt begin to tell you how. Ive never heard of one of my kind being able to stop a transfer the way she did. If Song hadnt seen it for herself, Id never have believed it.
The man stepped up to the bars, watching the tiger closely, I know her progenitor. Quite well, in fact.
So I understand. Is it true, what I heard about her?
That she was once part of one my kind? Yes. Curious, isnt it? Perhaps thats what made her turn back.
The woman glanced up at him, Perhaps. Her situation is certainly unique. A Nictus, bonded with an animal She must have been desperate to do such a thing.
The man nodded, She was. Remind me to send you the file sometime; it makes quite interesting reading. Doctor Michaels, whats your prognosis?
The doctor cleared his throat, Well sir; weve managed to stabilise her for now, but from what weve been able to tell, unless she gets a fresh influx of life force, she isnt likely to live more than a day, two at most.
The woman raised an eyebrow, Shes unable to generate her own whilst in the hosts natural state?
Normally maam, Id say yes. But reversing her system the way she apparently did Well, our instruments indicate that theres been some damage to the symbiote. She will need regular transfers of life force to keep her alive whilst she heals. After that, well The doctor shrugged, Our instruments indicate that in this form shes little more than the tiger she appears to be. To function at a level commensurate with ours, she needs to take on a more suitable form, and that places a huge drain on her body. To counteract that, shes going to need a new host.
The man nodded, I see, thank you doctor. Looking back at the woman, he asked, Do you have any likely candidates?
Shaking her head, the woman replied, None that would be willing to take her on. Shes too Raw
Then for now, well keep her alive with donations, fed from storage crystals.
The woman frowned, Thats not much of an existence for her.
Eyes glowing brighter; the man replied. At least its life, which is more than she expected to have. With that, he turned and left the room; leaving the woman staring through the bars at the creature which called itself Tiger Dark.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
(( This is connected to IC events from the following post in the IC Story Thread in the Roleplaying section, and mine which follows immediately after it. ))
Tigers Storm - Part One
Galaxy City, 2:30am, Monday 8th January
The muffled sounds of voices barely penetrated her consciousness as she floated somewhere between the light of life, and the darkness of death. Vague impressions of flashing lights, sirens, and a rocking motion as she was moved from that dark alley, flashed across her awareness with barely a flicker of recognition.
The weak and desperate voice of the young Peacebringer flickered through her mind, repeating what were almost her last words. There's... a better way... you know it... I know it... many do."
Then came the memory of the excruciating pain that had ripped through her body as shed rejected the very act that would keep her alive; forced herself to stop the flow of life force from her victim; and with that memory, her physical body spasmed from the remembered shock.
In the real world about her, medics yelped and jumped back as the body of the tiger they were working on arced back on the gurney, and began to thrash about as pain ripped through its tortured form.
Look out for those claws! One of them shouted, as a paw half the size of his head narrowly missed raking his face.
Working quickly, the medics managed to strap the animal to the gurney more securely, and one of them grabbed a hypodermic, intending to tranquilise the tiger. One of his collegues glances at him, You really think that will work on this thing?
Who knows, but gotta be worth a try, right? If we dont quiet it down, well never get it to the facility.
The first medic nodded, Give it a shot then, but go for intramuscular; youll never find a damn vein in this thing!
The medic with the hypo nodded, and choosing a random spot on the tigers neck, jabbed the needle into it, injecting a huge dose of sedatives. A few moments later, the animals thrashing slowed to a stop as the powerful medications take effect.
A woman dressed in dark leathers, and with blackly glowing eyes, approached them. Shes stable?
Yes maam, weve had to tranquilise her though.
The woman nodded, and turned to head into the Freedom Corps building nearby, Bring her.
************************************************** ****************************************
Hours later, a clang of a cage door closing caused the almost black tiger to awake with a start. It lay there for several minutes, before painfully heaving itself onto its paws. Panting for breath, it took in its surroundings.
A cage, perhaps 10 meters square, with the floor covered in straw. To one side, a metal trough filled with water, and smaller bowl next to it, containing a chuck of red flesh. Moving almost painfully, the tiger walked to the trough and drank deeply; unaware of the darkly dressed woman watching her from just outside the cage.
The woman watched the tiger, pity in her glowing eyes. So much pain in you, sister So much torment. Its incredible that youre still alive after all you went through.
The tiger looked up from its drink, and turned to look at the woman; a faint glow barely visible in its eyes.
We will help you, sister. Youve taken an important first step in returning to the path of justice. We cant let your act of mercy go to waste.
The tiger watched the woman as she spoke, its weakness clear in its body language as it slowly dropped to the ground, to watch her from a prone position on the floor.
Behind the woman, a door opened, and two men entered the room. One appeared to be a doctor; his white lab coat and clipboard giving some indication of his profession. The other was a powerfully built figure in a bright red and yellow costume. A bright glow of energy poured from his eyes as he approached the watcher.
Shes alive? The mans voice was deep, with a cultured American accent.
The woman nodded, For now, though I couldnt begin to tell you how. Ive never heard of one of my kind being able to stop a transfer the way she did. If Song hadnt seen it for herself, Id never have believed it.
The man stepped up to the bars, watching the tiger closely, I know her progenitor. Quite well, in fact.
So I understand. Is it true, what I heard about her?
That she was once part of one my kind? Yes. Curious, isnt it? Perhaps thats what made her turn back.
The woman glanced up at him, Perhaps. Her situation is certainly unique. A Nictus, bonded with an animal She must have been desperate to do such a thing.
The man nodded, She was. Remind me to send you the file sometime; it makes quite interesting reading. Doctor Michaels, whats your prognosis?
The doctor cleared his throat, Well sir; weve managed to stabilise her for now, but from what weve been able to tell, unless she gets a fresh influx of life force, she isnt likely to live more than a day, two at most.
The woman raised an eyebrow, Shes unable to generate her own whilst in the hosts natural state?
Normally maam, Id say yes. But reversing her system the way she apparently did Well, our instruments indicate that theres been some damage to the symbiote. She will need regular transfers of life force to keep her alive whilst she heals. After that, well The doctor shrugged, Our instruments indicate that in this form shes little more than the tiger she appears to be. To function at a level commensurate with ours, she needs to take on a more suitable form, and that places a huge drain on her body. To counteract that, shes going to need a new host.
The man nodded, I see, thank you doctor. Looking back at the woman, he asked, Do you have any likely candidates?
Shaking her head, the woman replied, None that would be willing to take her on. Shes too Raw
Then for now, well keep her alive with donations, fed from storage crystals.
The woman frowned, Thats not much of an existence for her.
Eyes glowing brighter; the man replied. At least its life, which is more than she expected to have. With that, he turned and left the room; leaving the woman staring through the bars at the creature which called itself Tiger Dark.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.