Open Season (Open RP)

The Primogen remained silent for some moments. His eyes passed over each of the nine Council members, each one a progenitor of a bloodline. His gaze stopped upon the head of the table, where Akasha of Kemet sat. The ancient queens face was visibly agitated by the Primogen presence... and his silence. She rose from her seat. She glared at the Primogen, her eyes wearing a mixture of anger and shock.

Finally the Primogen spoke.

"Hello Akasha." A smirk crawled across his lips.

"You!" growled Akasha. "I thought you were -"

"Dead? Yes, well that's what happens when one cultivates ones own legend. 'The greatest trick the devil pulled' etcetera." replied the Primogen.

Akasha turned to Elizabeth with a scowl.

"Why have you brought him here?" she barked. Before the Countess could reply, the Primogen spoke once more.

"You know why I am here. You all do. Frankly I'm dismayed at your lack of forethought. That fool Tai-Wei was moments away from bringing about the destruction of not only our kind, but every living thing on Earth."

Akasha's scowl intensified, how dare this creature berate her, the Queen of the Damned.

"Tai-Wei was watched. We were aware of his plans." she said.

"And yet you did nothing. I know about your spy. She would have been powerless to stop him."

"It no longer matters. Tai-Wei is dead along with any threat he posed." Akasha replied with nonchalant conceit.

"Really?" The Primogens tone dripped with sarcasm. "You do know he transported the Blood Orb to Castle Bathory, don't you?"

Akasha's lips pursed with anger.

"Enough!" she snapped. The Primogen simply chuckled.

"Six thousand years and you're still no wiser than the day I met you. No matter how many millenia you have behind you, you will always be a supersilious child." The Primogen uttered with disdain.

Akasha was furious. She thrust her hand toward the Primogen, calling forth her power over the Blood. She wanted this creature to suffer for his insolence. The Primogen remained unmoved.

"Oh sit down." The Primogen groaned, telekenetically shoving Akasha back into her seat with a flick of his finger. "You have no power over me. You never have and you never will." He turned to the other Council members "How you put up with her I'll never know."

A chair slid from across the room, stopping behind the ancient Primogen. He sat down, facing directly opposite Akasha. Once more he eyed the Council members. Of all of them only Elizabeth did not wear a look of shock. She knew him. She knew his heritage. She knew his power. The ancient one spoke once more.

"My name is Jarek'ankemma, the Primogen, Prophet of the Blood God. I was born more than twelve thousand two hundred years ago. My immortality was bestowed upon me by the Blood God of Lythanna. I have no sire, no predecessor.
Unlike that one..." He said pointing at Akasha. "...I have lived my twelve millenia. I have travelled the Earth, watched empires rise and fall, witnessed the emergence of the gods and stared into the very Abyss itself.
This Council is short one member. No longer. You need me."

----- Union's finest underachiever -----
Farewell CITY of HEROES
The First, the Last, the One.
Union: @ominousvoice2059

Elizabeth stood up and looked around her peers... "Gentlemen... and woman... I know it is hard to comprehent his claim of age. Akasha here obviously knew of him... but thought him destroyed. I have had the opportunity to watch him for a long time. And even then I thought his claim was ludicrous."

She looked at Akasha for a second and their gazes nearly destroyed each other. Akasha was not happy with the introduction... not happy at all. "Last week the Blood Orb came in my possession. Who knows the reason Tai-Wei had to send it to me. But because of that I watched and heard the conversation between Jarek'ankemma and the Blood God. Giving me full proof of that which he claimed. This one is like us. And had we know of him sooner the Council would have contacted him ages ago already."

She sipped some of the blood in her glass to clear her throat... "Ofcourse if Akasha would have mentioned to us he was there we would have tracked him down or find out how he ended. It seems that at some point we stopped looking for more like us... content to be ten. I like to raise a vote for membership to the Council for Jarek'ankemma, the Primogen."

She looked at the others around teh table... one by one... Ending with Akasha, who full well knew this was coming. It was the reason she was the host of this meeting. She didn't like it but several of them where already nodding in agreement. There was no way to avoid it anymore... "We vote!", she said short and to the point. "All raise their hand for official membership the this Council of peers for the one called Jarek'ankemma named by most 'the Primogen'!"

She looked to the one next to her... Vrykolakas was sitting silently trying to 'read' the new comer. He too had seen millenia and was one of the oldest amoung them. Then he spoke... "He is what he claims to be!", and raised his hand in agreement.

Tatomir Mullo was more conserved. "I am not sure. Do we need any other... I also find it hard to believe his claim. Even though two of us who are reliable obviously say so." In turn he tried to see the motives of both Elizabeth and Akasha. He was a thief and scoundrel even when alive and full well knew why Elizabeth wanted her old 'friend' in. He also saw that Akasha was not happy with her sovereignity challenged. "The rules we made at the end of the first millenium say he should be one of us. I agree." And with that he raised his hand.

All eyes moved to Eztli. The Aztec never talked much. And even now just seemed only to try to read the mind of the new comer. Obviously not satisfied with his result the sorcerer stopped his actions. "He is allowed...", was all he said. Then raised his hand.

Rityu Njaya raised his hand too. "I know all that is too know and trust the judgement of the lady that brings him."

"Well... I do not!", said Melisizwe. "We don't need one that can possibly be above us in power if all these claimes are true. Let us find another replacement. Surely one is out there. I say no!"

Elizabeth looked at the African vampire with renewed distrust. She didn't expect this resistence from him at all. "He is like us... much can be learned." And with that she raised her hand.

Looking at Elizabeth Vladislav smiled. "The countess is right. That is what this gathering is all about. A meeting of peers. He should be with us." And the Prince of what once was Wallachia raised his hand.

Sheridan Morr smiled. Then adressed Akasha... "My dear... you will always be my Queen." Then raised his hand in agreement.

Akasha held her hand down. Only sipping some of her glass trying to hold her raising temper. "Then it is agreed. We are a Council of Ten once more!", she said with a hatefull hiss in her voice.

Somewhere in St. Martial...

With the conversation dominated by Hailey's almost non-stop teen rants, their journey to Kimi's hideout had been a fairly annoying affair for Big Game. Aquis had specifically chosen Hailey to go with him, and Big Game was certain that choice had more to do with the Corporation's concerns over her loyalties* than the fact she knew where Kimi was. Still whatever information Aquis thought Big Game might of stumbled on wasn't forthcoming as he'd made a concerted effort to block out the deluge of ramblings as they walked.

Finding the boarding house where Kimi was holding Shop the pair decided to sneak in and make their way to her room. A few minutes of negotiating the halls the pair found themselves standing outside her door.

"You sure we're gonna be able to get her to hand over Shop without any trouble?" Big Game asked.

"Sure... well probably. Kimi's kinda... y'know unpredictable, but I'm sure it'll be ok." Hailey replied somewhat unconvincingly for 'Game's taste.

"No... no... NOOOOO!!!" Came a scream from the other side of the door that Big Game instantly recognised as being Shop."

"She must be torturing him!" 'Game barked as he kicked the wooden door inwards. As both Hailey and Big Game piled into the room the pair was shocked to see both Kimi and Shop looking back at them whilst they sat on a tatty sofa each clutching a game controller in their hand. In front of them was a game console, and a TV which had some fighting game displayed on the screen. Based on the victory pose displayed by the character on Kimi's side of the screen it was fairly obvious Shop's scream had more to do the thrashing he'd received in game rather than any actual mistreatment by Kimi.

Big Game then looked about the room and was annoyed to see the place was littered with empty snack packets and soda cans. I been roughing it in warehouses and eating cold beans while the kid has been on a freakin' sleepover! He thought to himself somewhat jealous the kid seemed to have landed on his feet during this whole Open Season mess.

"Kid! Me an you need to have words."

Meanwhile both Hailey and Kimi looked between the two similar looking males obviously thinking the same thing...


((* Relalated to another plot!))

Sword Runner watched as Big Game kicked in Kimi's door. He had been surprised that Hailey was with this stranger, and even more surprised tat they would come here. Dropping down behind Hailey and Big Game as they entered, Sword moved up to the door. Standing in the door way with his cloaking field activated so as not to be seen. Seeing Shop and Big Game up close Sword finally recognised that these were people who may have information he required. Smiling under his helmet he drew his swords and readied himself to block any escape by the pair.

Sword smiled as the robot detected his presence. Looks like im going to have to upgrade my steath, oh well. Deativating his cloak, Sword looked at each of them in turn.

"Well well well, i come to get an upgrade and what do i find? An old girlfriend siding with th enemy, and a friend holding hostages. I must say its quite the productive evening for me. Oh and sorry Hailey my dear if this hurts your head, but this is buisness, not personal and has to be done, so no one is leaving here, am i understood?"

Sword held his blades to either side of him, blocking the door way. With his shield's activated the red laser pointers that Kimi's robot gaurds were pointing at him reflected or refracted away from Sword's armoured body.

"Multiple robotic contacts, five organics or otherwise."
"Sheesh...Remind me how the damn tiger managed to live this long again?"
"Fast reflexes? Really big guns? Running and Hiding? Blind Luck?"
"Ugh, probably a mix of all of 'em. Keep 'em monitored. If things go wrong, we get the party started."
"Roger that."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

"I don't freakin' believe this!"

Big Game turned to face the armoured new comer and brought his rifle into the ready position.

Great! By the way them laser pointers are defracting I gotta assume this goon has got the sorta protection that'll just laugh off standard armour piercing rounds. Still he doesn't know what im packing. Time to put on my best poker face.

"Look buddy you chose the wrong party to crash. Do yourself a favour and beat it before my trigger finger slips... Oh and before you get all cocky an' stuff 'cause you're all wrapped up in that fancy armour of yours take some friendly advice. Multi-phasic ammunition will just slip straight through that armour , re-materialise and bounce around on the inside like a drunk chick at a frat party. So let me ask you something... 'Do you feel lucky punk?'"

Sword laughed at Big Game's words.

"phasic weaponry eh? impressive Mr Game, very impressive. But this armour was designed to stop any and all ammunition, including phasic rounds. Besdes it doesnt matter, as soon as you fire i send out a signal telling the court that your here, you wont get away if i do that. But im not here for your head, your just a bonus, i will however allow you to get away for a little information. so the question is, how much pain do i need to inflict before you talk?"

Sword grinned to himself beneath his helmet. If this fool knows Blade then maybe i can give him reason to doubt the Nighthunters, this day just gets better and better. wait...what did Kimi say?

Sword turned his gaze to Kimi, then lowered his swords. "forget what i said Mr Game, you are you boy get out of here, this place is about to get messy pretty soon"
Moving towards Kimi, Sword began to slowly spin his blades in both hands. "you did suggest an upgrade, and an upgrade i got. The court have some brilliant scientists you know, and one of them upgraded my suit. Now Kimi, are you gonna put Hailey back the way she was or am i gonna have to MAKE YOU!?" Sword shouted the last part to add emphasis.

Big Game lowered the muzzle of his rifle, it was obvious that despite openly stating his allegiance to the Court the armoured goon had no real interest in him, or his apprentice Shop. Not only that it was fairly obvious that whatever relationship existed between Hailey and Kimi, it was currently going through some sort of crisis and she wasn't likely to be too bothered what happened to Kimi.

By all accounts 'Game should of just left the armoured maniac to it, and got himself and Shop out of the building. Should of...

She did look after the kid... Didn't Aquis say she was her cousin?... Why the hell is Shop looking at me like some expectant puppy dog?... Man I'm gonna regret this...

Still holding the down turned rifle, but opening his other hand and stepping back in a way to convey to Sword he wasn't going to interfere, Big Game let Sword walk past him. Just as Sword passed Big game went into a blur of motion as he threw up his rifle and swung it back around in a large arc right towards the small of Sword's back...

In a movement quicker than the eye could see, Sword spun, cutting Big Game's rifle in two. His rage at Kimi unhindered, Sword sent a silent message to he court, signalling the location of Big Game. He would have let the two men run, but after trying to help his new found foe, he could no longer allow it

"Mr Game, if you want to escape now is your one and only chance. In a few moments the court will decend on this place, a pity because this has nothing to do with you. Kimiko here is a psychopath, a liar and deciever. She will betray anyone who believes her to be a friend. It is clear to me that she is unable to be trusted by anyone, and you would be better to leave here"

Sword went back to spinning his blades around his hands, walking slowly towards Kimi before standing right infront of her. "I will forgive you though, if you fix what you have done....now".

Looking at Hailey, Sword spoke calmly. "its not just your fight Hailey. This woman has caused us both pain, so dont go thinking I have no right in this fight because I do. If you want to hit me then please, save it for when I'm done here."

Giving a tiny yawn Kimiko clicked her fingers as Sword came to a stop in front of her. With a small buzz the lights flickered and died, leaving the room in complete darkness. “Bored now” Chimed Kimi’s voice before a soft eerie howling filled the space around them. Dark tendrils grew from the ground encircling Sword’s legs without warning.

With a mischievous giggle Kimi moved easily in the darkness, the sound of her moving only just audible before a small ‘fwoosh’ noise. After that everything else went silent as the Court mercenary was left alone in the dark.

An Old Warehouse, Elsewhere in the Isles

Kimi landed easily on the cluttered floor of a building she knew well. The warehouse had served as a home for her for a few months off and on. Hailey on the other hand stumbled at the surprise teleportation, tripping over a crate she grabbed hold of Shop as the nearest available thing to steady herself. “What the hell Kimi?! She demanded, I knew you were certifiable, but today..? This is..”

Defences clicked as they scanned the new arrivals and the red dots of laser pointers lit up Big Game, Shop and Hailey, quickly stopping the teenage girl’s objections. “Shhh, they’re just guests” Kimi assured the technology with a small calming gesture in the direction of a particular turret. The targeting lights slowly and somewhat begrudgingly dimmed before shutting off entirely. “So, Hailey, I know you’re annoyed but you know where everything is, do you still want to keep Shop busy whilst I get back to negotiations with Game here?”

((Metafanzine Published by @Chaos Bunny))
Unionverse Page | Virtueverse Page

Sword groaned and looked down at the tendrils around his legs. After they had recided Sword teleported away from the scene. He would have to track the girls down quickly before Kimi did anything crazy. He was still shaken from discovering Kimi's breach of his trust and he was angry. Not knowing where to follow them to, he decided it best to try his normal contact, the Arachnos Computer network.

"Hmn...that was...interesting. To say the least."
"Something not technologcial, thats for sure brother. Unable to trace."
"Meh. Don't bother. Track the earpiece I gave Game back at the party and Haileys Corporation kit, providing she's got it on her. Why jump through hoops when we have the easy way of doing things?"
"We could always stay, and blow the bolts out of whatever freaks the Court sends..."
"Tempting. But no. We don't want things compromised on that front just yet...let's track the nutcases. I get the feeling this is either gonna be fun, or messy. Maybe a little bit of both."
"...Given the people we're talking about, you do realise that could be taken the wrong way out of context?"
"....Gah! Remind me why I gave you my sarcastic wit again? Sheesh...Come on, let's move!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Test subject one.

Week Three.

Subject is showing increased signs of degradation, obvious lack of fluids, skin has become tight and withdrawn, and teeth are near constantly exposed. Fingers have become skeletal, one would say claw like. The subject’s hair has fallen out and his skin has become pale, almost translucent and white in places.

As of O four hundred hours, the subject has ceased movement, nourishment was sent in with no response. Initially we suspected an escape attempt, however even left unguarded the subject did not move, nor did it when amputation was performed.

As of O eight hundred hours the subject has been disposed of. Incineration was the chosen method.

Test subject two.

“Pl...ease s...so thirsty...” a woman begged.

The woman was a cute young thing, all full pouting lips, and curled black hair reaching down to her shoulders. She was quite the looker, though her looks were currently spoiled by the ruined make up and mascara running down her face. She was dressed in expensive looking designer clothing, though her dress had torn in several places and her stockings had laddered and ripped. Around her ankles and wrists were several, overly large restraints, they almost looked comically large, the kind of things used for restraining elephants.

The room was clearly a cell, though oddly it was a large one, possibly a converted storage room, heavy cement walls, and a series of grates and drains on the floor. The restrained woman was not alone, several men and women dressed in white lab coats, wearing goggles and breath filters stood across the room from her, among them was one who was clearly a child.

“Beginning experiment” the child said, taking the cap of a marker pen and preparing to write on her clipboard.

Several of the white clad scientists’, took out measuring devices, camcorders and sound devices. Preparing to record the event; with both mundane and more exotic tools and methods. The doors opened, and two black clad men entered they were pushing another young woman, between them.

She was comparably poorly dressed, her short T-shirt showed off tell tale scars on her arms, the dark bags under her eyes, and the weird way she was walking, clearly showing that she was an addict of some kind. The men half guided, half dragged the junkie towards the bound woman, tossing her forward. She landed with a yelp.

The bound woman pulled forward... there was tearing flesh; a cry from a junkie, the room stank of blood and fear. The bound woman drank then cried out retching, mouthful after mouthful of stolen blood being forced from her body.

The two black clad men dragged the junkie’s body from the room, leaving a red smear across the floor. The vampire sobbed and groaned in pain, unable to keep down the blood that she desperately tried to lap up from the floor.

“Well ladies and gentlemen, it seems Operation Diet, works across all blood types.” Tomb said with a smile, as she and the scientist closed the door on the sobbing vampire.

The arachnos grunt collapsed, bleeding from a large cut in his chest. The wreckage of two arachnos drones lay scattered around the computer. Sword detached two cables from his left arm and connected them to the computer. On the HUD in his helmet, Sword accessed the arachnos computer network.

Arachnos Secruity bypassed
Searching for known details about Kawaii Nekobot
Information access granted
whereabouts unknown
Affiliation: Dark Gaurd Inc.
Seeking futher details

Sword smiled. Seemed Kimi was very similar to the one he had known in his own world. Same hang outs, friends. This made it easy to determine her current location. There's only one place Sword knew that Kimi would go when threatened like this. Detaching the cables, Sword activated the self destruct of the arachnos base, recloaking he quickly made his way out of the base, as metal, fire and plasma exploded around him. Sword smiled, heading for Kimi's hideout.

With a silent but determined move Akasha grabbed a clean goblet from the table. She opened her hand with her nail and a low pressured flow of blood fell into the goblet. Then she passed the goblet to the one next to her... who did the same. Each of them placed some of their blood in the goblet until it was filled and back with Akasha.

The Queen of the Damned raised the goblet... "By the blood we are bound!", she said out loud... then drank some of the mixture. Each of them did the same after her.

"And so it is done... we will never be destroyed... as the blood is the life!"

High above Castle Bathory...

In a hybrid flying device, part helicopter, part jet.

Several burly looking men were pushing a large metal crate down onto a ramp, they paused with the crate at the edge.

“Are you sure about this boss?” one asked, holding the crate in position.

A young girl, dressed in black leather and cowl, with a skull like metal mask walked casually up to the crate.

“What’s the worst that the mangy cow can do to us?” she kicked the crate sending it spiralling into the darkness below “Adios!”

As the crate fell it whimpered...

The ground in front of the Castle, several tens of seconds later...

The crate hit the floor with a mighty crash, and the sound of tearing metal, slowly from the shattered ruins a face appeared, looking around cautiously...

The figure had bleached white skin, that stretched taunt over its skull, completely hairless, it whimpered as it looked up at the castle, it drooled toothlessly, giving a sort of eager begging sound, it squeezed out of the crate, it looked human... but ruined.
It had no hands, the bony lengths of its arms, ending in steel caps, it’s back was twisted causing it to stoop, and its belly was incredibly swollen, clad in the tattered remains of a red dress, it howled out in agonised hunger, seeking prey or entry into the castle...

One of Kimi's Hideouts, somewhere in The Rogue Isles

Hailey quietly seethed, part of her wanted to punch Kimiko and another part of her wanted to devolve down to the teenage reaction of throwing her arms up in exasperation and storming off. Angrily cracking her knuckles she glanced around at the other girl's suggestion. Glancing at Shop she exhaled with an air of irritability, sure she was annoyed but Shop was starting to grow on her and the sooner the whole mess was resolved the better. Without thinking she grabbed the wrist of the bewildered teen and dragged him away. "Come on, y'probably don' want t'see this anyways" She grumbled as she lead the way to the next room.

"She's got a TV an' a bed through here" She commented in an offhand tone before giving a snort of laughter at his expression "Fer somethin' t'sit on rather than a crate, are y'always like this? How've you not been eaten alive out in the Isles?"

Meanwhile..

Kimiko watched her 'friend' storm off with a smirk. "She'll forgive me" She remarked playfully before glancing back to Big Game "Your son seems to be her type too which will help" She fished, yet again disappointed with the lack of reaction to referring to the younger male as a relative of the hunter. Her disappointment manifested in a small pout which yet again didn't provoke as much as a reaction as she hoped. Maybe he was better with people than his first storming in had indicated.

Her metallic cat ears gave a small lazy twitch as she watched Game for a long moment. "So, back to business then. I suppose the big point here, is what you're willing to give up to get your boy back and not end up with you both in Báthory's hands.."

((Metafanzine Published by @Chaos Bunny))
Unionverse Page | Virtueverse Page

"Tracking complete. You realise that this 'Kimi' is at least in part affiliated with us?"
"Yes, yes, I do now. Excuse me for not being able to keep track of every new face on the roster..."
"She would come under Tech and-"
"Omega!"
"Understood. Tracking complete, at any rate. Shall we move in?"
"Negative. Wait, listen in if we can, hit them if it looks like Games got his sorry, tiger striped butt in deeper than he can cope with."
"And the unknown contact?"
"Meh. If he's persistant or simply dumb enough to show up, by all means, light him up like the fourth of f***ing Ju-ly."
"Roger that."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

On top of some rooftops, among the Etoile Isles, three figures moved silently yet at a pace much faster than any human could go. Hidden in shadow they moved with purpose, to a certain destination that would inevitably lead to trouble, stopping briefly one of the trio looked behind him, his ocean blue eyes glimmering in the night, not too far away were five other figures, his subordinates, always ready for their master.
Quickly the trio began to move forward again, this time at an increased pace, they were under strict orders to follow a particular someone, and he seemed to be moving ever faster towards his goal, what it was they didnt know, all they knew was when they got there, he might be in need of some backup.