The No Name Bar

TGF watched Arawn walk away from the acid pit, his face etched with disappointment that people wouldn't play along with his silly jokes.

Inside his head, however, was another story.

Ezekiel, League Commander, had found a target. In fact, this bar on this godforsaken rock seemed full of multiversial misfits. They needed to be returned.

TGF turned back to his half-empty (Half full? No, half empty. Too many dangerous characters nearby to think positively.) pint of bitter, and polished the entirety of it off, the look of childish disappointment still on his longish face.

As he rose to leave the bar, his watery blue eyes surveyed the bar, still exuding disappointment at the patrons' utter seriousness. People needed to lighten the hell up, for crying out loud.

The whole 3km through the corridors of the Rock, his demeanor never changed. Even when he had reached the Kiev, his face was still locked in the same stupidly let down expression. The Kiev was currently disguised as a Crescent Warship. In reality, the ship could appear to be nearly any concievable design, but had chosen for himself (Ships were referred to as male within the League, rather than female.) the fairly common design.

"Kiev, open up. I'm coming aboard." Zeke's voice had somehow changed, become deeper, more commanding. It was, in fact, the voice of a commander of men. The boarding ramp extended, and he strode up it with purpose. There was business that needed attended to.

"We have targets. Estimated threat level red. We need a dimlock and several teams. Let's say three. This mess needs cleaned up." Kiev, the ship's computer, immediately filed the corresponding requests within the League's computer network, and responded in his metallic voice with, "Anything else, Commander?"

"Yes. Inform our infernal Queen that I want the teams here in a timely manner." Last time, every target had escaped before the teams had even arrived. Zeke was still irritated with the Queen Mother, ruler of the League of the Long Bow.

Kiev, used to Zeke's inflammatory comments, knew better than to actually forward the message.

Now all that remained was to wait. Zeke kicked back in his chair, and began planning.

This post has been edited by TheGreenFile : 04 September 2005 - 01:19 PM

Fettrin turned his head toward Larra, twisted it so far around that Larra had to wonder whether or not his head was connected to his shoulders.

"Heh." The demon muttered, and began walking toward Larra with silent footsteps.

Larra broke into a cold sweat. Something had just gone terribly wrong. The barriers she had set up were clogged, there was something between them and her that was preventing her from moving them. She brought a hand down to her weapons, only to find that her wrist stuck fast, mere inches away from the hilt of her sword. She called upon the forces deep within her mind, but heard only echoes.

Fettrin was standing inches away from her face. He leaned over, his mouth almost brushing against her ear.

"Jasan." He whispered, in a voice choked with barely-controlled emotion.

Fettrin turned, and as soon as his eyes left Larra, her senses suddenly returned. In a rush that almost knocked her off balance, she regained control over the barriers, and sudden panicked calls rushed into her mind.

Fettrin stopped, turned, and called back to her,

"It's called an overwhelm reversal. Rather neat trick, hmm?"

Fettrin chuckled. Larra was exasperated.

"Well then, now that you've taken down most of the barriers, I've managed to get a good look at the rest of this station. We should hurry, we are needed elsewhere." Said Fettrin, very matter-of-factly.

OOC: Antlers...creepy.

It seemed she remembered, once, someone had told her that attempting to intimidate a powerful demon is extremely foolish. Larra smirked to herself. Hindsight is a wonderful thing... Her swords twitched at their separate resting places, then soared through the air to hover eerily across her back, where they would be had she still carried their sheaths.

Jasan, hmm? One track mind on that guy....Ah well. You win, Fettrin. Jogging to close the distance between herself and the preacher, Larra caught up just as they exited the room. Her barriers moved aside allowed them passage. “Demon and Ta-vora have our stuff, so I think we should find Page.” she commented merrily. “Apparently has hasn’t gotten anything done...”

“That surprises you how?” Fettrin scoffed, slightly surprised at her jovial tone.

It may have been reasonable for the Acaran to act slightly subdued or nervous around the arch-demon after their confrontation, but Larra’s line of reasoning was one only she could truly see. It is very difficult to scare someone too familiar with the likes of Nevell.

The two walked along in silence. Both knew the way and no one really had anything else to say. Absently, Larra touched a few fingers to a deep slash running from her right shoulder almost down to her elbow. She seemed surprised when it hurt, and studied the blood smeared on her hand with morbid amusement.

When she bored of that, the Acaran yanked down the nearest white curtain and started binding the wound, never falling short of the swift pace Fettrin had set. It simply wouldn’t do to lose too much blood. Finished, Larra threw what curtain she had left into the remains of what was once a barrier trap, smirking to herself when it ignited violently. What a fascinating game this was turning out to be...But now, it was time to have another little chat with the “Maestro”.

First, Larra decided, she wanted to get all of Nevell’s influence out of her mind. It would certainly be a painful procedure. Unfortunately, she thought it necessary in order to play the game properly. “Fettrin?” the Acaran asked suddenly, before she could change her mind and take the easy way out.

“Hmm?”

“Thanks...”

And deep in the Acaran’s mind, the Dark Lord shuddered and retreated as far away as he could...

=================

Demon and Ta-vora wandered down the hallways, searching for the nearest docking bay in the hopes of commandeering a ship for future use. While the Ka-nuth carried the clothing and weapons, Demon merely chewed on what little was left of Page’s cigar. He smiled as he trotted along, picturing the walls splashed with extravagant colors and the tiny passages he could have built behind them. Larra liked his idea, he knew.

Ta-vora smiled faintly, content for the moment to follow the shapeshifter, who seemed to have an idea of where to go. He had his matrix back, and that was good for now.

The bizarre creature in front of him flicked his tails and looked back. “Savage is dead,” he said rather conversationally, as though merely discussing old news.

OOC: Ta-vora? Not even a funeral invitation? I'm hurt...:p Haha, get back here!

OOC: Jacey!! Where are you? You better not leave me hanging! >.<; Man, you guys are getting all the fun. hahah. I wanna join?!?! o.o Yume's still waiting and watching. hehe.

TGF procures a brightly colored, vaguely phallic object, and runs around the bar smacking people in the head with it.

(ooc) And there's nothing in the least silly about vaguely Celtic beings wandering around the bar? Just don't ask me how he gets those antlers through the doors.

His vision shifted, changed as he looked out from within his Hounds. Even through four sets of eyes, three lower to the ground and born to this plane, the universe was strange to him. There was the taste of metal in the air, the sharp tang of tamed lightning in the lights and the doors that opened as he approached. Everything here tasted of lightning, weak though it was and lacking the heart, the power of the wild elements. It was almost foul, so tainted by mortals it was.

Power there was too; power held and contained by beings barely greater than the mortals that stared and fled in his wake. It was not a power he recognised, not easily. There was nothing of his homeland in it. But it drew him; like dragon to treasure and moth to flame, it drew him. Power. He would hunt it, felt compelled to hunt it. Power worthy enough to be prey.

Because there was something else missing, something that Arawn missed sorely.

Gone were the runes of power, the symbols drawn by mortals to hold their attention, the signatures writ by he and his brethren out of power and the wild elements that they might be recognised. There was, in fact, no magic at all that he could sense, not even the paltry and weak echoes cast by mortal mages.

No gods, and no magic.

It angered Arawn.

His Hounds shifted beneath the force of his emotions. Arawn calmed them with a thought; calmed himself with more effort. He lifted his head; scented the air for the moon. Like all else, it lacked the glory and magic it held under his dominion. Faint it was, but he caught enough to cause his hounds to lift muzzle and howl.

The time to hunt was . . . soon.

Soon, the sigil of Annwn would be writ with enough power to blind those with the ability to see it.

Kaski dashed down the hallway. The energy was still filling him, but he knew it would wane soon. It was like a new muscle to him. It was flabby, but he knew how to use it. All the things Savage had ever seen, all the unsuccessful as well as the successful training were now his. He had better concentration and more intelligence than Savage did and he would make good use to the power he held.

He took a right into the market arena. The station guards patrolled everywhere but he redirected their minds around him as he slipped into a weapon shop. It only took him a moment to find the tool he wanted, then he easily took it and its ammunition away while redirecting the shopkeeper. This skill was going to come in very handy.

Wandering out no one noticed that he was now carrying a high-powered sniper rifle with a simultaneous physical and energy discharge. Both physical and energy were too easy to block by conventional means, but by using both he could reduce the risk of failure. There was still a chance that the targets would avoid it, he hadn’t seen the full extent of their powers from their murder. He would target the male first, since he was obviously the bigger threat. If the male managed to avoid or survive the first strike, then Kaski would attack from behind with a rapid physical attack using his new abilities. That wasn’t anywhere near enough planning to help him, however. He still had no guarantee he could find his murderers, he felt a certain bond to them. He could even point out their direction, but he had no idea of their proximity or whether they would come back. He would have to wait for a little time to see what happened and then, if necessary, procure a vessel to hunt them down.

Matt stopped dumbfounded as the ancient being walked into the bar. There were very few things that Matt hadn’t seen in his lives, but this thing was one of them. He had no way to gauge power, but even his blind eyes could feel the heat of life burning off the creature. It was nearly silent as it walked forward toward the little girl, but Matt could hear the rustle of fur and the quiet step of the god of death. When it spoke the voice that came from it was unbelievably beautiful and melodic and yet incredibly forceful. To Matt it was not the voice of a drum or a fiddle, but the voice of an organ swelling forth with unknown power. The smell touched him almost as strongly, the horned god smelled of a forge, of a forest and of rot. The heat of life that permeated his being burned at the armor that bound him. The smell of passed woods also clung to him, deep and vibrant in their life, but thick and cloying in their decay. To Matt, this creature seemed to him to be an embodiment of life and death itself.

Matt was too stunned even as this creature left to attempt to stop it. He knew its age shouldn’t have stopped him. Subjectively he was probably much older, but he also knew that what happened had happened and he couldn’t change a thing. All he could do was finish the clean up. He sighed silently and shrugged off his concealment before walking to the damaged man, with a quick look inside he repaired enough damage so that the man could survive a short movement and then picked him up over his shoulders and walked away to the infirmary. The man was barely conscious but he fought Matt every step. “Marie ”

When Matt arrived at the infirmary, he had to shell out a substantial bribe in pure platinum to a doctor in order to get the man healed. “This man is your responsibility until he heals. Then contact me and I will double the original sum. I will wish to talk with him.” The doctor was very easy to convince.

(OOC) Too tired to finish, soon.

After a moment, Yume opened her eyes and stared at the silent Jacey. Again...silence. She didn't like it, she realized. She didn't like his silence and how long he took to answer sometimes. Which was the reason why last time she had left him. She didn't have time for this. And where in the world was fettrin? She would have expected by now for him to have something for her to do. It wasn't that she didn't mind just waiting and watching but with Jacey around, it was like she didn't want to be here. Jacey's presence brought back emotions that she shouldn't even feel. Emotions that should be locked away. And she didn't like it. Not one bit.

Although her head then tilted as if to listen to something only she could hear. There was a disturbance... She didn't know what it was but something told her something wasn't right. Her face remained emotionless, one of her hands gripped at her weapon, and she rose from her chair in one graceful movement before she made her way to the exit of the bar while calling out to Jacey. "I'm going for a walk." And off she went, into the cool night-like area with only lights to illuminate the streets and of the like.

She walked for a while, turning around buildings one after the other until she reached a place she felt was isolated and would be hard for anyone to find her here. She then leaned back in the wall just as her body began to shudder. Not again..., she thought silently as she held herself with one arm and closed her eyes tightly as changes occured in her body. It almost seemed like worms writhed just under her flesh, moving and crawling through her body for a while before it stopped.

But then symbols appeared on her skin and they glowed a bright red, some even glowing straight through her clothing while one symbol was in the middle of her forehead. She opened her eyes which were a clearer blue now and they glowed softly as well while she panted softly. She slid down to the floor and sat while she held her trembling body, waiting until the phase would pass. The air around her shifted and stirred as the molecules and atoms were disturbed.

She let her head tilt back as she stared at the star filled sky as she breathed deeply before she let her eyes fall close as some pulses of energy emitted from her. Her body was evolving again, taking in and using the atoms around her to its own advantage. She grunted lightly as it was an uncomfortable feeling as her receptors faintly said that something was happening to her body but she didn't need them to tell her that as the rune like symbols glowed brighter.

She nearly blacked out and when it felt like an eternity later, she opened her eyes slowly while she stared at the sky for a long while before looking down at herself to see the rune symbols had disappear. She sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead lightly while wiping off some sweat. She wondered what just happened but didn't think much of the thought at the moment since something was now sitting in her lap.

She stared at the silver blob that shifted and stirred from the liquid phase it was in at the moment. She didn't know what it was at first before memory helped her. Ah, it must have gotten out when she didn't notice. The molecules of the blob shifted and changed until it took on a form of a bird-like creature. The bird look at her for a long while before whistling beautifully. Yume sighed and held it to herself like a friend that wasn't there.

It's over now, she silently told it as she ran her fingertips down the spine of the creature that had come from herself. Those atomic little machines... she had to get more control of them as she looked down at what they had made. No matter. She held it close to her chest while she closed her eyes. And resume in waiting and watching...

OOC: woo! long posty. o.o

(Continuation of previous post)

Matt was irritated with himself as well as with the universe around him. Kaski had inherited at least a part of his curse. When Savage had died he’d absorbed the memories of its life. That was the first strange thing. Kaski hadn’t absorbed the other people who’d died on the station but yet Savage, someone he’d never met, had entered his mind. Why?

There were two possibilities that Matt saw, one was that Kaski and Savage had a common bond. Perhaps the boy had a natural talent that lay in a similar direction? Matt had no ability to channel psychic energy, or whatever else it was called in this universe. That also meant that he had no idea how it would affect Kaski.

The other possibility is that Matt’s proximity had somehow bounced the signal. That would have given anyone who had similar curses whatever soul Matt had absorbed. The problem was that Savage wasn’t the only soul that Matt had captured while watching Kaski and Kaski hadn’t responded to any of the others. This theory also meant that Matt would have to avoid the boy in order to spare him from more lives.

Second, there was the completely separate problem of the creature that had walked in. Matt wished he still had his sight. The creature would have been easier to identify if he could have seen it. No one wrote down accurate descriptions of voices or scents.

The girl that had been taken was part of this concern. He realized that she had been changed in some fundamental way, mainly by the fact that her scent had changed and she’d walked out on four legs. He also knew that she wasn’t dead or else he would have taken her soul. Since she wasn’t dead that meant that he should probably help her under human morality, but he also knew that he was incapable of doing good. No matter what he did to help, he would only destroy. Besides, what could he do? Hold up a white flag and have a nice chat with the deity? His pacifism constrained him from any successful action as much as his inherent evil did.

Third, there was Yume. There was always that girl. At least he didn’t have to worry much about her safety. Kaski might choose to attack her, but if he did, he would lose the fight. She was the better assassin of the two and she was immune to any psychic powers he might have acquired. However, her safety was not his primary concern. She had the soul of a child and in many ways was as vulnerable, but at the same time she had the hardened training of an assassin and looked at the most cold-blooded murder as ‘just another day’s work.’ The little soul that she did hold was enough to keep her sane, at least for now. Matt sincerely hoped that the girl stayed strong, not just for the good of the universe but because he liked her. Even with her murderous mindset, she was beautifully innocent at times.

Finally, there was the question of his own sanity. He had come to the temporary conclusion that he should treat this universe as reality. Page and the rest of the doubles might be against this hypothesis but the uniqueness of Yume and the deity were unlikely to come from his hallucinations. Thus he would treat everything he saw as real until he found some further proof that it wasn’t.

This post has been edited by Paranoid : 15 September 2005 - 08:55 AM

Klaxons were going off in the Kiev.

Zeke checked his wristcomp status monitor. He didn't like what he saw.

Donning the black suit of the League, he rushed out of the ship, pelting headlong through the corridors of the Rock.

Arriving at the door to the No Name, he stopped for a moment to regain his breath. "How the fark did a minor flipping diety get here?" he wondered to himself. Glancing at his writscomp again, he noticed weaker signals surrounding the stronger one. The long range sensors hadn't picked that up...

Cueing the small radio built into the device, he spoke. "Be advised, collateral damage likely."

Steeling himself for the task ahead, he entered the bar.

Yume just held onto the bird like creature that had formed before her. It looked up at her with black eyes that seemed like black pools that didn't have an end. She looked down at it and stroked its feathers lightly. The bird had blue feathers and a crown of feathers on its head along with a long, elegant tail. It looked more like an exotic bird that would be priceless.

Yume stared at it as it whistled to her lightly before moving to perch on her shoulders. Yume really wasn't sure what to do now. She checked herself over to see if anything was different but nothing was obvious. It must have been something internal or of the like.

For a moment, Yume wondered what she was. She was obviously not human. Nor was she any other spieces that was of her knowledge. She sighed heavily. She did have some abilities like a Velo had. But she wasn't those kind as well. She wondered what kind of spieces, if any at all. Perhaps she was new... Who knew.

She really shouldn't even be worrying about it either since she would die anyways and she was really the only one of her kind. She slowly rose herself in one graceful motion while the bird whistled again as if asking were they moving on now. She looked to it and nodded before she began walking.

Yume sensed a new presence on the Rock, it was an odd one as well. But she didn't pay it much attention since she didn't think it deserved her attention. She also had to look into the rune symbols that appeared on her from time to time. She wondered if there was any information on them as she wanted to know more about herself, especially if it would help her in destroying her creators.

It seemed like Jacey hadn't followed her either. No matter... She had someone else to keep her company now. The bird whistled again and just made itself comfortable on her shoulder. Yume walked into the open streets now, people walking along casually. She wondered if she should head back to the No Name's bar. But she decided not to, there wasn't much for her there...

She took out the rock fettrin had given her and stared at it. For a moment, she was tempted to toss it but decided not to as she put it away and continued walking. She was so in deep thought that it surprised her a little when the bird screeched and flew off.

Just then a blast of energy nearly missed her head and some of her hair sizzled while she dashed to find a place to hide behind as more blasts were shot at her. What now? She wondered as she gribbed her weapon and waited for a moment before jumping out and drawing her hand back. But she saw no one...

She scanned the area quickly, trying to find any clue of her attacker before she disengaged as she saw nothing. She doubted she was safe yet though as she glanced up to where the bird had landed on the building. It seemed calm now, fixing its feathers some before whistling melodicly. Yume sighed and noticed a dark, cloaked figure dash away.

She frowned lightly while she decided to follow it as she rushed after her possible attacker. The bird followed close behind as it flew overhead, keeping an eye on Yume. Yume followed the figure straight into a building while she blinked as she was met with hypnotic beat music and colorful lights. She then noticed that she had walked straight into some strip bar as she glanced at the female figures dancing on stage and near poles to entertain their viewers.

She scanned the bar slowly but all the figures were dark and she couldn't pick out the one she had been following. It was pointless at this point to try to find her attacker as she sighed lightly and would have gotten out if a bulky man hadn't gotten in her way. He looked at her and frowned while speaking. "You're late. Get into the dressing room. NOW."

Yume blinked as she soon found herself inside the dressing room where females of different spieces readied themselves to go out on stage and dance. What in the world was she doing here, she wondered while she blinked as the females started to strip her clothes off since they thought she was a noob and she was thrusted out on stage.

She looked around as some men wooted and whistled from her sensuos physique while she scanned the men before noticing the one that looked very much like the one she had been following. Well it wouldn't hurt to stay and try to get to him as she began to watch the females dance and then mimicked them. This might be interesting...

This post has been edited by Seraphim : 16 September 2005 - 11:56 AM

(OOC: Umm... TGF? What do you expect to find in the bar? Arawn, Matt, Kaski and Yume left and the only character is Jacey. Note to self, don't post before reading previous posts. If this is totally irrelevant please ignore.)

The dark cowled figure took the giant styrofoam "T" off his back and put it into his cup. "Thank you very much."

He then preceded to repeatedly bash himself in the head while trying to drink.

This post has been edited by Paranoid : 16 September 2005 - 09:41 AM

(continuation of previous post cause I just feel like writing today... lol Oh and this is not for the young. XD)

Yume didn't really care that the dancers had dressed her in skimpy clothing. Most eyes were on her at the moment as she moved her body in ways that was appealing to the eyes in a sexual manner. To her, either her attacker hadn't even known he had shot her which was the reason he hadn't done anything yet once he saw her or he didn't want to attack her again in a public place like this one.

She didn't know but she would soon find out why as she removed herself from the pole she had been dancing around and using to her advantage and lowered herself so that she was now at the table where the man was. Other men wooted at her and threw some of their currency near her. She only took it because the other dancers did as well and she didn't want to look anymore suspicious.

She crawled her way toward the man who just watched her with amusement under his hood. Yume went to sit in his lap while he slipped some currency into the thong she had on. Yume leaned forward until her lips brushed against his ear.

"Want to get a room?"

The man just quirked a brow as he rubbed one of her hips before nodding and the two of them stood. She let him lead her to one of the private rooms while she locked the door behind them. Now she would get what she wanted. The man although went to the bed and sat down while he stared at her, wondering what she would do next.

Yume, unfortunately, didn't have her weapons with her since they had been taken away when she was in the dressing room. But she didn't need them as she clenched her fists and glared at the man now. "Where you the one who shot at me?" The man blinked, the question taking him aback before he tilted his head.

Yume sighed. Either she had gotten the wrong man or the man didn't even know he had shot at her. She walked over to him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. This made him reach into his cloak and draw out his blaster which she quickly took away as she twisted his wrist and forced him to drop it.

Yume looked down at the blaster, studing it for a moment before looking back at him. Yes, he was the one. "Why did you shoot me?" The man just spat at her and tried to get loose which only got him slammed against a wall. The people just outside didn't think much of it since some lovers were rough when they got down to it.

Yume shook the man a little. "Are you going to tell me or do I have to kill you?" Yume had never been told that killing was wrong. To her, it was only a matter of survival. It was either kill or be killed. Simple as that. The man stared at her in horror before finally speaking up. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

Yume had an emotionless expression as she stared at him. Seemed like he wanted it the hard way. She grabbed his hand, grabbed one of his fingers, and pushed it back until there was a sickening pop followed by a cry of pain that came from the man. And still he didn't reveal what she wanted.

Yume pushed back another finger until it got dislocated and the man turned red from the pain. Yume shook her head. She could do this all day if he was so stubborn. A third finger and finally the man decided to spill it. "I was only doing what was ordered!"

Yume frowned lightly. "Who ordered you to shoot at me?" The man looked away before crying out again as she broke a fourth finger. "I don't know! He just told me to get your attention! I was only ordered to get your attention! I didn't even know who you were. He just pointed at you and I shot!"

It seemed like Yume had an enemy on the Rock already. To make matters worse, she didn't even know who her enemy was. Either that or he wasn't telling her everything. She broke the last finger and the man cried out again. "Unless you want me to start on the other hand you better tell me more about your employer."

"God damnit! I don't know! He was a man around six feet high with blonde hair and green eyes. I don't know what condition he was in cause he wore a black trenchcoat. His hair was slightly spikey and he had somewhat of an accent. He didn't give his name at all. I swear that's all I know!"

"Tell me where he went." Yume reached for the other hand. "Gahh, no! He was heading toward that bar with no name! Or whatever it's called! I swear, I swear!" The no name bar, Yume wondered before she moved her hand near his shoulder and pressed at a nerve point which made the man limp as he fell unconscious.

She stripped him of his clothes and threw him in bed, taking some of his money while she went to go outside. The people watched her leave and peeked it, seeing the man unconscious while they looked at each other and said. "Dayum, she must have been something."

Yume went to get her things while frowning some as she wondered if this man was one of the people after her. Either he was one of her creators henchmen or a bounty hunter. But whatever he was, he needed to be eliminated before he proved a big problem.

------------------------------

Meanwhile, a blonde haired man that looked no older than nineteen entered the No Name's bar. His peircing, gorgeous emerald eyes scanned the bar before taking a seat at a table at a dark corner.

OOC: Continuity? What's that?

Zeke blasted the door open, and reached for his badge.

The bar was nearly deserted. Cursing under his breath, he turned back to his sensor.

Signals were now all over the Rock. No way there were THAT many misfits. Something was screwing with his instruments.

The sky was grey; the hard, broken ground, grey. Nothing stirred the dust beneath her feet, not wind, not even the smallest creature. The plain of rock and dust, cracked and shattered as if some giant edifice had come tumbling down, was utterly still. She looked around in bewilderment; fear had not yet set in, for she felt too numb, too distant from this vista. It was a dream; it had to be.

"It is a dream. My dream."

She turned, startled, and saw him. The armour was gone, and the helmet. The antlers that had graced his brow were also missing, the skin smooth and unbroken. But she would recognise those eyes anywhere. Seeing his face clearly for the first time, her heart stuttered painfully.

He was beautiful.

No human could ever hope to look that perfect; nothing touched by mortality could be so flawless. His beauty, painful and glorious to behold, was not one that could ever be achieved by the living.

"Where are we?" she asked, timid. After his voice, her own seemed high and thin.

Arawn looked around. "A battlefield," he replied at length. "There are many such in Annwn and the lands of my brethren. Does the lack of the living disturb you? It will not look so, in time."

"There's - there's no bodies."

He shrugged, easily, gracefully. "Mortal forms are the least durable of all in the realms. The souls that died here came to me long ago."

She looked up at him, for he was tall, and found her gaze trapped once again by the sight of him. She swallowed. "Why are we here?"

"It is a dream," he said again.

"Why - why am I here?"

"Ah." He stilled; the lack of movement was complete. Nothing living could stand so immobile. "I do not know. Yours is not a power that exists in Annwn. I did not expect to see you; your presence should be impossible. It is . . . interesting."

She looked at his feet. Dust did not cling to him the way it did to her. Terrified, looking for comfort from the one source available, no matter how small the likelihood of gaining it, she said, "I don't remember who I am."

"No. I hold your name."

She looked up; her gaze was caught by mirrored eyes. In them she saw herself; a beast, a hound larger than any normal animal could be. White fur and red ears, powerful jaws, sharp claws. She should have been frightened, would have been in any other place. But he was beautiful, compelling, and in the face of his expression her fear melted away.

He looked up, turned his face to bathe in the light of the full, blood-gorged moon. The tips of his antlers were limmed dark red in the moonlight; she paused a moment in surprise, for she had not seen when they first appeared. He spoke words of command, and his armour covered him. He lifted hand, called his sword. It was a tongue of lightning. In his other he held a horn, rimmed in silver, etched with runes. His name was written in fifteen different languages around the edge; they glowed.

"Come," he said. "The time is now."

As she padded in the dust around his feet, circling, she wondered if this was real.

"It is a dream," Arawn told her, "and the dreams of gods have always imposed their reality upon the waking world."

He lifted horn to lips; the sound was pure. It belled out, swelled to fill the air, set the dust to trembling. The note was complete, full; it arrested thought, lingered in memory like the afterimage of sudden bright light. The horn called to her, and she lifted her muzzle and howled in answer. She began to run as her lord did, and as the broken plains of the dreamscape dissolved into the sharp metal corridors of the station, all that was left to her was the instinct and the compulsion to hunt, and the scent of prey that led her in the wake of the horn's note.

---------------

Everyone on the station heard the horn.

But only a few heard their names in its call, and the baying of the three Hounds. And of those few, only the most powerful, or the most intuitive, understood what the sounding of their names meant.

An ancient, magical Hunt had been called, and they were the prey.

This post has been edited by premonition : 19 September 2005 - 11:04 PM

Yume was out of the strip club by now, pulling on her trenchcoat. For some reason, she was glad to be in her normal clothing. But she wondered why, it shouldn't really matter. Habit shouldn't really matter. Eyes of the purest sapphires gazed down at the black leather that adorned her flawless body, showing enough to make others want to see more until she pulled her trenchcoat over herself.

She really didn't have time to ponder over her own thoughts. At least her body that had been made from the dreams of perfection from her creators had been able to help her inside of the club to get the information she wanted. As much as she could get, anyways. She buttoned only one button on her trenchcoat near her mid-waist so that her legs still had free room to roam and her bosom was still in view. She made sure she still had her weapons as she ran her fingers over them, flipped them and then tucked them away in one swift motion.

Just as she was about to walk off toward the bar, she heard the blow of a horn. She quirked a brow as her ears caught the sound while her brain calculated the amplitude, frequency, and of the like. But she then twitched and put her hand in her forehead. What? Again? She groaned lightly, waiting for the phase to pass before opening her eyes and lowering her hand. She stared down at her body as once again those red rune symbols had appeared.

That couldn't be possible. It was too soon for that. Her mind played over the sound of the horn again, shuddering lightly while she rubbed her arms as she wondered why she had such a reaction toward it. In a way, it sounded familiar but she didn't have time to worry over some horn some creature had blown. She had to find the person who had ordered an attack on her. So pushing the thought of the horn aside and waiting for the rune symbols to disappear, she walked off into the darkness and headed toward the bar.

The bird swept down and perched itself on her shoulder, whistling lightly before going silent as it sensed her mood. Yume was on a mission now and she wouldn't like interruption until she was sure she was in the safe zone again. She ignored the looks that male and female alike gave her as she walked by, feeling their gaze of admiration, wonderment, and a hint of fear remain on her longer then it should before she disappear from their sight.

Yume's sapphire eyes remained straight ahead while she was on alert now, not wishing to be caught off guard like she had last time. If the man hadn't been ordered not to actually blast her, she could have gotten a serious injury to her head. Such a foolish mistake couldn't be tolerated as her hands curled into fists at her sides. Especially now that the sound of the horn gave her a sense of danger in the air.

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The golden haired man glanced up as he heard the horn but thought nothing of it as he crossed his arms over his chest. His black trenchcoat concealed whatever he wore underneath while silence loomed over him. There was an eerie presence about him while he just sat there in his own silence, minding his own business, and as if waiting for something. Or someone.

This post has been edited by Seraphim : 20 September 2005 - 07:12 AM

Kaski trembled as the call rang through him. It threatened him but it knew him. The powerful rifle dropped from limp arms and he folded towards the floor.

How could he fight that? How could he even escape it? He knew with absolute certainty that he could do neither, but he had to do something. Lying on the ground in a fetal position would only quicken the time. He didn’t even have any proof that anything was chasing him, he just knew it; just as he knew he wouldn’t escape.

After a moment, he forced himself off the ground; the fear was still strong in him but he would not let a self-induced paralysis hold him. Another immortal trying to use him was not going to make him cower like a weakling. He had lived longer than any mortal and just because he’d lost one battle did not mean that some pompous deity had the right to defeat him. No, he would fight as best he could and if fighting would not save him, he would run.

He quickly cycled through his options. He had no information about his enemy; the single horn blow was not enough to help. However, when he stopped and thought about it he felt a link. The call had forged some kind of connection between him and the hunter. When he concentrated, he could feel the tug that indicated direction he would need to go. It was also the direction of the hunter and to rush towards it would be potential suicide. He needed more information first.

As Kaski thought, he noticed a spot on the wall. It was barely visible even to a trained eye. The spot was one of the thousands of security cameras placed around the station. He had the feeling that the hunter didn’t know about this modern invention, but he did and he could use it to change everything.

He moved from his position, rifle and quarry forgotten for a moment, as he ran toward the command center. He stuck to the shadows and moved with the dangerous coordination of an assassin. No one saw him even when he bypassed several security gates and entered the monitoring center. There were several guards on duty to watch over the system, but the system was entirely automated. The guards spent most of their time watching the ladies shower or strip and looking for minor rule infractions to extort. Kaski disarmed them and temporarily disemboweled their wits with his new abilities. If he had killed them the station would have increased security measures and perhaps even threatened him, but since they were merely unconscious they would be accused of brawling or drinking.

Kaski moved rapidly as he hacked through the security that the system presented. He was trained for much tighter defenses, but the Rock had nothing that the average hacker couldn’t break. It only took Kaski a few minutes to have complete control over the system and start looking for the hunter. He started his search at the moment the horn sounded and tried to predict the location from where he felt the pull. He quickly created a search parameter that targeted that direction and started flashing still pictures for his identification.

In a minute a thousand pictures flashed by and a few seconds later Kaski stopped the flow and scrolled back several stills. The picture was of a man blowing a modern horn and his terrier standing beside him. It was wrong.

Kaski closed his eyes and the full picture bloomed before his eyes. It was a god in a marsh holding a massive hunting horn with a pack of pure white hounds with red ears surrounding him. They were all undeniably beautiful.

That was the way it should have been. The hunter, his name was Arawn, didn’t belong in this time and place. Kaski knew that, but he couldn’t send him back. He sighed silently and set the computer to trace that man. He would find out more and he would survive to accomplish his mission.

Matt listened with his head cocked curiously at the horn. It called something, but he dind't feel it was directed at him. He couldn’t understand it, but inside him dozens of memories jumped. Matt leaned against the bulkhead and listened to his voices. The horn was a Celtic hunting horn and some of the memories were adamant that it was the horn of the Hunt. The hunt controlled by Gwynn ap Nudd. Kaski’s memories also reacted, they shivered and feared it.

If these memories were correct he could easily connect the deity he had heard with an ancient Welsh god, but why would the god of an underworld be after Kaski? Perhaps the mythology had only been partially correct.

In any case, Matt needed to take a more active role in this situation. He would send a message to the deity and to Kaski. Matt bent down and touched the cold metal floor, where he touched a spot of green moss grew. It started slowly but in a minute, it was rushing down the floor of the station faster than a man could run and growing deep. Then Matt touched the wall and Ivy began to grow outward along the wall spreading down the corridors and covering the cold metal.

As the greenery moved, Matt’s awareness expanded. The moss and the ivy fed Matt thousands of individual pieces of data that he combined into a comprehensive picture.

He watched idly as people burned it, tore it away from their doors, hacked it with knives and shot it with their guns. They killed spots, but it just grew back faster than they could damage it.

He watched as Kaski’s eyes widened as moss grew under the door of the surveillance room and growled in irritation as each of his cameras were covered with ivy.

He watched as the moss and ivy grew down the hall where the deity stood. His face was unreadable but Matt thought he would probably understand the gesture. Maybe he would even understand the slight homage of plants from a place and time where people had worshipped something like him.

He watched as Yume gazed down at the moss. She was difficult to read, but something was obviously concerning her. She didn’t even hear the ivy streaking down the hallway until it was almost upon her. Not that it mattered as both it and the moss rushed past her without threatening her or anyone else.

He watched as it filled the bar and several other hunters gazed in a mix between amazement and terror as the floor was covered around them. Several of the other occupants of the bar started emptying their weapons into the floor but the moss merely cannibalized the damaged.

Within an hour, the entire station was filled with greenery. Matt could now sense everything that went on in the station. He smiled grimly to himself as he walked barefoot through the thick springy moss. He also thought it looked much nicer.

As Fettrin walked with Larra, he heard the blast of the horn. His lips drew up into an appreciative smile. It would soon be time to gather the players together. The game would soon begin.

The demon glanced quickly at Larra, but whether or not she had heard the noise, he could not tell. Fettrin also noticed Larra's gait as she walked. She would be an indespensible player in the game.

He felt Yume's faraway presence strongly, she still held the stone of hiding. She too had recently demonstrated another display of her talents, the reason for her necessity. Ta-Vora was somewhere with Demon, Fettrin could sense. He had found his matrix too, making him another invaluable asset. But he had one, last, key player to find on this damned station.

"I believe we are approaching Page." Fettrin spoke.

Larra nodded her agreement.

He felt the names. They curled within him, each separate and distinct and perfectly clear. They were three, for he had only three Hounds and no Sluagh, and they called to him.

Three names.

The Cwn Annwn caught scent, bayed. They flowed past him and into the metal corridors, and if they were perfectly at ease with sharp corners and narrow spaces, they did not deign to notice the other things that spoke of a place not their own. Arawn moved with them, running at a speed no mortal could dream of matching. He had no mount, here, and though the lack did little to hinder his pace, it was felt in other ways.

But it was the time of the Hunt, and mount or not, Arawn hunted.

Three names. His Hounds had found the first of his chosen quarry; it was not the closest, but it was, perhaps, the most powerful. The taste of the name was in his mouth, the scent in his nose. The route they traced was not the shortest distance. It was the fastest, in ways that were not measured by time, and it satisfied the dictates of the Hunt.

He felt the gathering of power.

Arawn slowed, bringing the Cwn Annwn to heel. Who dares? They strained against his command, driven by the imperative of the chase and the blood moon. But they were in all ways his, and they settled whining at his feet. Who dared interrupt the Wild Hunt?

The power came first, a gentle river that flowed over floor and walls and ceiling, bypassing him in eddies that swirled around him but did not attempt to challenge his own power. With the power came the scent of spring, the taste of growing things that had been so missing from this place. Arawn watched the Green come towards, and past, him. He did not attempt to interfere, for he recognised it for what it was: magic, and a declaration that was, in effect, a summons.

Had he thought this universe devoid of the slightest hint of glory? It was here, but passive and weak. Nevertheless, the Green was power, and it was a hint of the forests of Annwn, and he rejoiced in its scent. Not yet a challenge, and not enough to make him turn from his hunt, but he would remember the signature power behind the Green.

The Hounds whined, almost in pain as they strove between the conflicting demands of their Lord and his law. He released them back to the hunt, and when they ran, it was on moss and ivy, through a tunnel of Green that was not – was nowhere near – the dark glory of the forests, but was familiar enough to provide some comfort.

And Kaski heard the baying of the Hounds grow loud, and knew that they were within seconds of coming through the door.

Kaski knew he was in a little bit of trouble when the man started running faster than even he could manage. When the ivy covered his cameras, he started to worry. When the creatures barked at the door then he ran. In an instant, he was out of the large room and through another metal door. He had already hacked the lock system so it closed and locked behind him, but he could already hear the hounds bashing it. It wouldn’t hold for more than a few more seconds so he ran again. Another door, another lock but this time he kept running and the entire hallway folded inward creating a space too small for either the hunter or his hounds.

Kaski kept running. He had his information. There was no way he could run or fight those things off, they could tear through metal in seconds and they moved unbelievably fast. There was always a chance that he could get help from someone, or maybe even lay a powerful enough ambush to make them think twice about hunting him.

He swerved and took a path towards the market square. If nothing else the square would provide distractions for the hunter.

He could feel them coming quickly. They had bypassed his blockade and he knew they were gaining on him quickly. He could feel them. Something the horn had done had left a link. Now that he had seen them, he could identify each one.

He knew Arawn, the god of the hunt. He could feel the emptiness that the deity felt in the universe, but little else.

The hounds were another story; as he concentrated, he could see from their eyes, he could watch their pasts. He even thought that he could touch what was left of their humanity. Marie, Brenna and Dugald. He knew them and he hated them. They had lost their wills. Arawn had taken their names; he had taken their beings. Now they were merely toys, and he knew that nothing better was in store for him.

As he ran he prayed that the link only worked one direction. If they knew what he was about to do than nothing he did would matter. If they couldn’t touch the link the way that he could than he had an advantage and maybe a chance to survive.

He ran forward and wherever he went the Hunt chased him, rapidly gaining ground.

Matt watched curiously over the chase. He would not interfere until it was proper.

OOC: Maybe we should coordinate this chase a little, if I see you on AIM when I have a minute I'll bug you.