NationStates Jolt Archive

Sage Cornellis sat in a little cafe. It was rather busy with teenagers. He looked around for any one that he knew. No one.
Of course He thought to himself.
People in there chatted with their freinds, talking about what has been happeneing in their lives, they all sounded excited.
Their lives would be a bore compared to mine. He thought.
He never found someone who thought the same way as him, he had tried to make friends, but the friendships lasted shortly. He had three friends, Murdock, Philip, and Alonzo, back in Ottawa, Ohio, but know he lived in Carleston, a suburb in California. He had lived there for a year, but still no one cared about what he thought.
His life had been, well intense. As a little kid, his grandpa, who's name was Sage also, said that he had the ability to slip through dimensions, into the spirit world, and many others as well. Then during his teens, he found out that he was teleported into other's nightmares, very often. In these dreams, he had to fight for his own survival, he learned from another man that if he died in a dream, he died in real life.
So it was that almost every night he had a very big possibility that he wouldn't wale up the next morning.
So he never got to know many of the other kids much, he always thought that they feared him. His pricipal back at Ottawa told his parents how he wasn't getting along much with the others, and he thinks that is a reason why they moved here, to start a new life for him.
New and even worse than before.
He had, although had some ups in life, months ago he got a special gift, and he has so many new powers, that he doesn't know all the ones he has. His new powers range from telekinesis, to being able to heal others, and himself. He has also opened portals to other worlds. One day though, in his house, he caused a terrible accident, all his family nearly died. His parents just left him, alone. He has been able to live, but his life is not a very good one.

He walked home from the cafe, and walked inside. Going into his basement he continued to work on the Portal, which can transfer him to other worlds. He has gotten it to work a total of two times. He had got the blueprints for it from a old man in a library once, the man seemed to know almost everything about Sage. Sage continued to work on it. He worked on it for four hours straight.
Let's try it now.
He went to the control device, a circle that had many different symbols on it. He hit a few of them, and they glowed blue. Then the room started to shake, violently. Things were thrown off the tables, but then it stopped. He looked at the portal, and baam! It opened, it looked like blue fog, and had lightning coming out, perfectly harmless though.
"I got it!" He said.
He couldn't go through it alone though, he knew that. First he would have to rally up a group of people. People who would understand him, people he could trust.
So he sent out a signal using his telekenises.

People of any part in the world. My name is Sagaem Cornellis, I send this message to all of you, because I am about to partake on a dangerous jounrey. I can not offer you safety, but I will try to do whatever I can to help you on this mission. If you accept, I shall teleport you here, and when you get here I will test you, to make sure I can trust you. Please answer my calling.

Towards the back of a small, but crowded cafe was a single nearly empty table. There sat a young woman, she looked slightly older then eighteen, studying several textbooks, occasionally glancing up toward the crowd around her. Strangely enough there were people who couldn't find seats and were standing and chatting with there young friends but no one had sat with her, perhaps because all the chairs had been taken to other tables. Glancing up she saw another table which wasn't filled, about ten yards away another person, a male, was sitting. He looked slightly melancholy and perhaps even depressed.

Another loner, great. Are you going to try to "help" this one too? The last one "only" tried to jump off a bridge because of you. Just help yourself get a job or choose a major that matters.

Shut up, he's leaving already and he looks happier. He probably decided to buy his girlfriend some flowers or something while she's away.

--------

"Hey you, girl!"

The girl looked up. "What? Me?"

"Who else is here? Get out. We're closing."

"Oh, thanks for telling me." She casually nods, smiling and walks outside with her books, where the smile promptly disappears. "Great, another day done. All the same to me, I think I'll go find another spot to read."

Yes now you need some sleep, you'd best go back home...
She notices a dim ringing in the back of her ear and shakes her head to stop it.
I'll go home later, I have several more hours to study and I don't need much sleep.

You're lying to yourself, you haven't slept more than ten hours in a week. You need to go home and sleep for a full night.

I need to study...

Sage sat indian style on the workbench, head in hands, as he stared at the portal.
"i've had no answers yet," He said to himself. "I might have to continue on by myself."
He looked deep into the portal, the thriving energy making a low frequency humming.
Many would die to see the things that he had saw, he was sure of it. But then many would die seeing it.
He had come up with two sayings in life, he said them to himself to comfort himself when he was alone, or lonely, or scared.
You must pass throught the darkness to see the light
also
Some men were born to die, others die to be reborn
He said those to himself, and then walked up out of the basement. He sat on the couch in his living room, and turned the TV on.
nothing He said right once it went on, and he turned it back off.
He started to hum a song to himself as he pulled his knees up, and curled into a ball, he continued to hum untill he was asleep.

She continued to walk, even though it was well after dark. Furiously moving forward as if running from something, but with nothing behind her and no destination ahead.

Why are you out here? Do you want to get killed. We are in a city, cities have rapists and murderers, you are a young woman alone in the dark. Not attractive perhaps but it is dark so how could they tell.

I don't care, I'm not going to sleep. It just gets worse.

Take a choice, face your subconscious in a nice dormitory or fall asleep here on the street, it doesn't matter to your dreams.

I hate you, especially when you're right.

She sighs dramatically and turns around but as she does a house catches her eye.

Why does that look out of place to me? Or perhaps familiar, well of course it is I walk through this town every night. I'm on a first name basis with every rat in town.

Go back to the dorms and go to sleep.

I am...

Someone is there

I know, I saw her

Sage sat on the roof of his house, he had awoken a while ago, and had been up there since.

Why did she look at your house?

Maybe she was lost.

She was remembering something. She knows you from somewhere

Maybe she is one of the street kids who follow all the others and memorize were they come from?

No, no she didn't look like one,

An idea struck him, Maybe she got my message!

Now you are shooting for falling stars, it is not likely that anyone recieved your message, now go to sleep.

Why do I listen to a demon?

because, I keep you alive...

"Some men were born to die, others die to be reborn."

the words filter through the psi ether to jochim steuben. "but, they must be killed for it to be so," he thinks in responce. with the responce the message comes through. he pauses in his work and puts the stylus down.

as a ... talent scout and agent for the f.i.s. armed forces his job is to look for people with suitable skills. "this may prove profitable. either from the sender, or the people he draws."

he closes up his computer. he walks out of his office, putting on his trench coat. it conceals the ornate pistol in a low cut holster on his hip.

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

steuben walks the streets, letting the draw of the message guide him. his trip had only one eventful point. the would be muggers would be found in the morning. the three of them had been killed quickly and cleanly with a single knife thrust each.

he sees a young woman paused in front of the house. he walks through the alternate pools of light and shadow thrown by the street lights.

twenty metres from the woman he says, "it isn't safe out in the night alone. who knows what you might find by accident." his words coincidentaly mirroring her thoughts. he titters softly.

he walks into the last pool of light before her, and stops. the best word to describe his face would be boyish. but, any softness is taken away by his eyes. eyes which have seen hell, and on occasion not survived.

A man is there now,

Still just lost? Sage asked the demon.

Maybe not, he looks like the kind of man who woulnd't get lost

So he is here because of my message?

Might be, might be

Should I keep an eye on him?

Yes, make sure he can't see you in his mind though, hurry do it quick

Believing she hears a noise the girl begins to walk faster, hardly possible considering her previous drive.
Whatever that was I should probably be going.

Now you listen to me... Why don't you at least carry a knife with you?

Then she looks up and sees a strange man in front of her. "I'm sorry if I don't stop for tea, but I'm in a rush." She sidesteps his position and starts to continue on her way.

Sage awoke, he had fallen asleep sometime in the night, he wasn't sure when though.
He had awoke when the sun came up, for he was still on the roof.
Are they still out there?

No they left, and you lost them

I was tired, I don't know when the last time I got a full night's sleep was.

You don't need sleep.

All humans need sleep.

You don't

He got up, and walked through the window into his bedroom, he walked down the stairs and went into the kitchen, he grabbed a bowl of cereal, and poured some milk.
He could still here the deep thrumming of the portal.
"If they did here me, I wish they would just knock on my door and tell me."

A short, unshaven man dressed in a brown trenchcoat and faded blue suit walked slowly down the street outside Sage's house, paying close attention to the numbers painted over the doors. He stopped when he reached Sage's house, pulled a scrap of paper out of his pocket, checked the address, shrugged, and walked up the driveway.

*Knock Knock*

"Anybody home?"

Sage was taking bite of his cereal when suddenly he heard the knock.
His eyes turned and looked at the door, through the glass panels beside the door he saw a amn, rather short.
Sage shot up, he looked himself over, he was smelly at dirty at the moment. He snapped his fingers, and a white fog overtook him, when it disapeared he was clean, and had a new pair of clothes on.
He walked over to the door, and unlocked the five locks.
He opened it, looked around and then said.
"Who are you? What do you want?" In the kindest tone he could give.

"Sam Arbiter, I'm with SO-17. It's a small organization with lots of paperwork but I've not got time for that right now." said Sam showing Sage a stragely shaped badge. "Is your name Sagaem Cornellis?"

"Yes, do you want to come in?" Sage said, wondering what this SO-17 organization is.

steuben is half out of the chair, his gun out of his holster and pointing in the direction of the sound. he wakes up fully. the sound is coming from the next room. the sound of the hotel's guests starting their day. the entire set of motions seemed to occur without any intermediate motions.

he settles back into the chair.

"perhaps, i've overestimated his experience and skills." he thinks. "dangerous, but usually more survivable." he titters softly.

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

steuben walks up the street towards the house. the slight morning breeze catches his coat and swirls it around his legs. he stops infront of the house. "this may prove to be an interesting day," he thinks. he walks up the walk to the house. he stops a discrete distance from the man already there. he watches sage.

Its him, the other man from last night!

What?

Sage looked around the man in front of him, and there he was, the other man.

"Umm, hello," Sage said. "And who, may I ask, are you, and why are you here?"

Stop asking stupid questions boy, you know why he is here.

But he doesn't know that

Sam went inside and began walking through the house, completing a quick inspection of the ground floor.

As Sam walked in and started walking around the house Sage prayed in his head.
Please don't hear the teleportal running, please don't hear the teleportal running.

Sam stopped looking around and faced Sagaem "Sage, you don't mind if I call you Sage? We got some pretty weird readings from here around 11 o'clock last night, I sent them down to the lab and they got the guys there pretty worked up. You know what I'm talking about?

"Sage is fine, that is what I call myself." Sage said, looking at Sam, but still standing in the doorway. "Readings, like, what kind of readings?"

Again the girl finds herself back at the house.

Why am I here? I should be studying.

You should be sleeping, but I agree. Get out of here and study. You're lucky that lunatic didn't kill you last night. This isn't a safe part of town.

A man wanders up towards the house and the girl pretends to look elsewhere.

Something is going on. I wonder what... Is that the same person from last night? It was too dark, but he looks at least as young. Maybe I should hide somwhere...

"Well I'm just a field agent, I don't pretend to understand it all myself but from what I gather there was some kind of disturbance, someone messing with... boundaries. Basically someone round here is sticking their fingers in the power sockets of the universe and flicking the switch to see what happens."

Crap

"Here let me show you," Sage said. Looking at the man who was standing on the sidewalk. "Feel free to come in."

He brought Sam to the basement door, Sage opened it, the Thrumming got louder, he walked down into the basement, and stopped five feet from the Teleportal.

Sam stared at the machine, then at Sage, "The only other one of these I ever saw was built by a 96 year old maniac with some serious phychological problems. How the hell did you build one?"

"Well I got the blueprints from some old man in a library," Sage explained. "The man seemed to know almost everything about me."
He looked at the machine. "Building it was really no problem, the problem was getting it to work this is the third time I have managed to turn it on."

"i am jochim steuben. i am given to understand that you are looking for ... assistance on an endevour that you are undertaking. i may be able to provide certain skills."

He left the door open. Maybe I should see what is going on.

And let the psychopath standing up there see you? Just turn around.

Maybe I should act like I was invited, like he was. I wish I could have seen the other two better. I'd like to know a little more... I'm going in.

It's going to get you killed.

The girl walked casually toward the house from the opposite side of the street. Not slowing or stopping and acting as if she was invited and perfectly welcome.

Sage ran up the stairs, leaving Sam to the portal, he walked to the doorway

"i am jochim steuben. i am given to understand that you are looking for ... assistance on an endevour that you are undertaking. i may be able to provide certain skills."

'Welcome, welcome," Sage said shaking his hand enthusiastically. "Yes, yes please come in, I thought you looked like the kind of person who would take this job on. Please have a seat on the couch, I will ask you some questions there."

Its that girl she is approaching

She did recieve it as well then demon?

Must have, wait for her in the doorway.

"An old man in a.... Gaunt. He goes by many names but he's always stirring up trouble. Listen, kid. I can tell you're pretty set on this little trip of yours and I don't have the power to stop you if I wanted to. But when you go through that portal be prepared. Gaunt never does anything he hasn't thought through and planned for. If he's helped you at any point then you can be sure he's got plans for you, take my word for that." Sam sighed and turned to go back up the stairs to leave, "I sure hope you know what you're doing."

After seeing Sam start to leave Sage says.
"Don't worry, I will keep an eye out," He was rather dissapointed, he thought that maybe Sam was coming with him.

What are they talking about? Gaunt? Portal? Did I walk in on a cult meeting or something.

You should leave, before they decide to sacrifice the nearest virgin.

Maybe I should...

The girl turns and walks away from the door, back toward the street.

"Hey were are you goin?" Sage asked in a friendly tone, as the girl walked towards the street. "You seemed intent on coming in a while ago."
He read her mind, briefly.
"I swear we won't hurt you, we aren't a cult."

Am I that readable? Hey wait a second, this is the kid from the cafe yesterday. I must have seen him walk this way and maybe even saw a glimpse of him walk into this house. That must be why it seemed familiar.

There we go, mystery solved. Time to go home now.

It would be impolite not to stay and talk once I've been invited, if I try to leave and they don't want me to they can just kill me after all. I'm just protecting my hide.

But that's my job!

"Well, since you ask so kindly, I guess I have a few minutes..."

Sam left the house, walked around the corner, then climbed into the back of a van parked at the side of the road. Inside, the techinician Burrows was analysing reams of data being collected from the area around Sage's house. "Well what did you find out?" he asked.

"Class two dimesional breach. I wasn't able to shut it down but I did get a tracer on it. Can we follow them?"

"If we have to. Who built it?"

"Some kid. A very powerful kid. I would've taken the thing to pieces but I wasn't sure how much he was capable of."

"How'd a kid build a class two portal?"

"He got help. I think it was Gaunt."

"Aw, shit."

Sage had the two, Jochim, and the girl, sit down on his couch.
"Now I don't mean any offense, so please don't take any. I will ask you three questions.
1. Say we meet any enemy, I am finding cover, and l am shot, what do you do?

I will just continue asking questions, so just answer with
1. blah blah blah
2. blah, balh
3. blah

Ok now question two.
2. We are leading a band of refugees away from the enemy, some fall behind what do you do?

Now three
3. You find out that there may be a traiter among us, and you know who it is, what do you do?

As you know I leave the choices rather bland, because I want to know what you would actually do, so take some time, and answer them.

What is he talking about? An enemy? Getting shot? If someone gets shot you bind the wound obviously. But why is he asking a random person these questions.

Because he's insane and so are you. You'd get on quite well.

If you lead someone you need at least two people, one to guide and one to urge along the rear. But why is he focusing on enemies? Chasing refugees, what does he think this is, Syria?

No he's just trying to test your sanity. Whoopsies, you failed!

I don't even know what he's asking with this last one, who are "us." He sounds almost like the government, asking questions and giving answers without designating terms.

Don't worry, your insanity is enough to make coherent "blahlike" answers easily.

"Umm Mr... Can you repeat the questions?"

"Excue me," Sage said. "Oh, I think you heard the questions, you just don't know what I mean. Let me start from the begining, my name is Sagaem Linner, or Sage for short. I put out a call last night, for anyone who is willing to come here, and join me on a journey through a, well a teleportal. It would lead us to another planet, were we might find enemies, and us, it means the team that ig going, which, so far is me, and two of my friends. Ben Kirth, and Philip Hirzel."

"By the way, what is your name miss?"

He's psychotic. Just find a way to leave, quick.
"I'm sorry but I didn't hear any call, I must not be who you're looking for. I guess I'll go." She turns once again to leave.

"Oh I think you did hear my call." Sage said. "Or else you wouldn't have been hanging around outside my house last night, and this morning."

"I wasn't hanging around your house last night, I was just pacing to put off going to sleep. Then I saw your house, it seemed familiar to me while I was half asleep. I came back in the morning and it didn't look familiar at all. I didn't hear any call."

steuben takes off his coat, folds it and places over the arm of the couch. his body continues the impression that his face gives, of boyish almost effeminate looks. his pistol casts highlights from the light in the room. he sits down. "hmm. standard fare personality questions," steuben thinks.

"for the first one. shoot the over guy down and toss you the med-pack. for the second, i would try for it to not happen, it is easier to arrange for transportation. for the third, shoot him openly." with the third answer his hand rests lightly on his pistol.

"I see, for the most part they are good answers, my answer to the third one would be to confine him, and interogate but still I welcome you into the group."
Sage looks at the girl. "I am sorry to here that you didn't catch my call. I believe that would have made an excellent partner. You may leave, but I will keep the portal on when we go through, if you change your mind, there is an extra set of clothes in the basement by thr portal, feel free to hop through."
"Steuben, let us go down into the basement, and get ready for departure, my friends are already down there, with everything ready to go, you and I just need to get geared up."
Sage stands up and starts to head for the basement.
"Wait, miss maybe you would change your mind if you saw the portal."
He motioned for both of them to follow, and he heads down the stairs.

"I see, for the most part they are good answers, my answer to the third one would be to confine him, and interogate but still I welcome you into the group."
Sage looks at the girl. "I am sorry to here that you didn't catch my call. I believe that you would have made an excellent partner. You may leave, but I will keep the portal on when we go through, if you change your mind, there is an extra set of clothes in the basement by thr portal, feel free to hop through."
"Steuben, let us go down into the basement, and get ready for departure, my friends are already down there, with everything ready to go, you and I just need to get geared up."
Sage stands up and starts to head for the basement.
"Wait, miss maybe you would change your mind if you saw the portal."
He motioned for both of them to follow, and he heads down the stairs.

What harm can humoring them do?

It can get you killed.

Neither one has shown hostile intentions, this way I won't have any future doubts, or regrets.

Fine, but once you see their hallucination, get out and get out fast.

Sage walked down the stairs, with the other two just behind him. He turned the ocrner, and there it was the Portal, along with Ben, and Philip, also two others Murdock Linner, and Alonzo Flores.
"Oh, so you two decided to come huh?" Sage asked, looking at them.
"Yep," Murdock, and Alonzo said in unison.
"The more the merrier," Sage said.
The four were already ready to go, each had desert camo on. SUnglasses as well, baseball caps, and mini machine guns. They each had belts on with a knife, and a pistol attached.
They all wore vests as well, desert colored with bullet proof armor underneath. The vests had six pockets going down each side, three on the left, three on the right.
They also had boots, and fingerless gloves.
"Here you go Jochim," Sage said tossing him the uniform. "There is a dressing room behind you."
Then taking his own pair he walked into another room. He came out with the same look as the others. He looked at the girl.
"Still don't wanna come?" He asked.

The girl quickly steps back, eyes fixated on one object. "You expect me to go anywhere with those, no way. I won't even touch one of those things." As she spoke she turned around and began to dash out.

The girl quickly steps back, eyes fixated on one object. "You expect me to go anywhere with those, no way. I won't even touch one of those things." As she spoke she turned around and began to dash out.

"What things was she talking about?" Sage asked with a little laugh.
"Maybe she didn't like the hats," Ben answered.
"Cause, if she didn't like the guns, she didn't have to carry one." Sage said.
"Well," Murdock said. "I guess that's one person down."

dp

dp

steuben apraises the quartet, their clothes, and their weapons, standing by the portal. "solider boyz," he thinks. "too much television."

steuben catches the bundle of clothes with grace and ease. he places it in one arm.

steuben's other arm flashes out to catch the girl as she begins to turn and leave. the clothes in his other arm don't move. his grip firm, but like a steel vise. his slender wrists holding the promise of more pressure. he leans down to her ear.

"i'll keep you safe," he whispers to her. "you're the sanest of us all. that is worth protecting."

he straightens up. "i'll carry yours if you like." he releases her arm.

"if you'll excuse me i'll get ready." he walks to the changing room. moments later he walks out. his trench coat hiding anything that he might be wearing. he puts on the sunglasses.

"your turn, miss."

"Hey Steuban," Philip said. "You might want to take of the trench coat."

The girl walks in to change into the ridiculous outfit

I told you so. You come down and you can't go back up, foolish little girl. You jumped in too far and now you're going to have to watch people die. Just look for a chance to escape and we can go back to our normal life.

Guns? Those aren't rifles to hunt with either, you couldn't do much more then slow down a deer with something that small. Those are only meant to kill people. I'll have to do my best to stop that from happening.

Just run girl. You can't stop them from killing or dying. If they wander somewhere they don't belong armed to the teeth they are going to have dogs set on them. Cops only shoot if their target has a deadly weapon, they aren't very bright, I'll say that much. But you can't do anything about that but get caught in the crossfire. Wait for your chance and then come back home and you won't need to worry about anything.

I guess you may be right, but what happens if they were hurt? I'm sure none of them have even basic first-aid knowledge. I've got to stop them from harming themselves or others.
"I'm done."

steuben fixes phillip firmly in his sight. a shadow seeming to cross his eyes.

"perhaps," he responds mildly. "but, i think it is my call to make."

"Sorry," Philip said holding up his hands.

Everyone was ready
"Lets go," Sage said. He walked to the portal, which cast a dim shade of blue on him. He walked closer. "Philip, when I go in you follow, Alonzo, Murdock, come in afterwards with the supplies, Jochim, and..." He never did find out the name of the girl. "Miss, you come in last, caring the last of the boxes as well, Ben youome in last, with the bot."
He walked up to the portal, and stepped in. His body began to glow, and then it gradually disapeared. With a little hesitation Philip ran in. Alonzo and Murdock picked up two boxes each, and then ran in. Jochim and the girl were ushered in by Ben, and he used the remote to move the bot in, which had ten more boxes on it. Afterwards he himself walked through.

When they exited it appeared they were in a temple, all around was brown bricks about a foot by a foot in lenght and width. All the bricks appeared to have been made out of Sand, hardned sand.
Were the portal was at it was very dark, because it was deep underground, Sage and Alonzo turned on their flashlights and headed down a passage.
They walked up a fleet of stairs, and found themselves in a large room, with twelve pillars going down parrallell, about ten feet apart from each other, the pillars were going down the center of the room.
At each end of the pillars was a door, one which they came out of, and another, which led outside. Outside was, a desert, and the heat could be felt by the entire team.
"Gosh it is hot," Alonzo said.
"Yah, I think that the entire planet is one desert, and a ocean," Sage said after opening his eyes. "Alright, this building is our base camp got it, lets set up, and then we can explore around later."

What a group, they can't pull together even the simplest of tasks. If only they'd left that portal open...

I'll help, at least I know something about wilderness survival.

The girl quickly grabs supplies and begins preparing the camp, moving adeptly around objects and stabilizing the temporary base of operations. "We'll have to move out about dawn, deserts are freezing cold at night and unbearably warm in the middle of the day. Since we need to find a camp with easily accessible water, we can't stay here. We should probably also leave someone on guard tonight. I volunteer."

stueben carries the boxes of supplies over to the pile.

"miss, perhaps it would be best if you slowed down a bit. the sun is still high. there is lots of time in the day yet to set up camp. and its easy to overheat in the dessert," he says.

he pulls the submachinegun out from under his trench coat. he places it on the pile of boxes muzzle towards the outside. he pulls a condom out of one the pockets inside his coat. he returns the weapon to his coat. he repeats the process with his pistol.

"besides, i'm not sure about this site myself."

-Back on Earth-

Burrows sat up as the energy spike registered on his computer, "They're moving!"

Sam woke up with a snort and tried to stand up, banging his head on the low roof of the van, "Ouch, where to?"

"Unknown co-ordinates. Looks like an old gateway site. There's something... strange as well."

"Strange like what?"

"The portal transfered seven humans but eight intelligences."

"What do you mean? Like something hitched a ride?"

"The portal was secure, if eight came out then eight went in. This bunch of kids are more than they appear."

"That's exactly why we have to get set up, the interior of an open tunnel will act like an oven. We can't stay here, if we don't have protection from the sunlight we'll roast. We need to get canvas up outside, otherwise we'll die of heat exhaustion."

Outside will also offer more directions to run girl...

It's a necessity, survival comes first.

She wanders out towards the exit. "Are you willing to help me?"

steuben picks up poles, pegs, and a spool of twine. he follows her out into desert. he blinks behind the sunglasses a couple of times.

"perhaps, against this wall," he says gesturing to his left.

She pulls out her sunglasses before stepping into the sun and still shades her eyes for a minute, then pulls out tarps to set up a tent "That spot looks as good as any for now, it will confine one exit but make tear down more rapid in case of an emergency."

She and Steuben set up the poles and the canvas to shade the area, but leave the canopy suspended in order to avoid stifling conditions.

steuben shakes his head. "escape routes are easy. it limits points of approach. besides we'll have to move once we figure out the path of the sun."

"That's about right. One thing limits another, you always need to make a choice. I'm not too worried since we aren't going to stay in one place long, hopefully at least."

steuben takes his coat off. underneath are the same clothes that he started the day with. he takes a small case out of one of the inside pockets. he lays the coat, outside up on the ground tarp. he sits down and open the case. inside is a couple of small bottles of oil, a series of small tools, a piece of cloth, and an extendable rod. he picks up the submachine gun. he removes the magazine, and cycles the bolt twice, looking up the barrel from the breach when finished.

"sounds like a bit of a luxourious way to think about it," he says as he begins to field strip the rifle. he lays the peices on his coat. "i've always worked from doing the best possible with what was available. it has usually kept me alive."

he places a few drops of oil on the fabric and begins to clean the rifle.

"but a word of advice. slow down. if you do your best to keep yourself alive, the rest will follow." he pauses. his hands still cleaning the pieces. "it has always been good advice for when you are in country." he begins to reassemble the rifle. "i don't really know how well it applies in the world." he slides the magazine home. "but i think we are in country now."

Sage wandered around about ten feet from their camp, sure they were thinking about survival, but they were thining about survival on Earth, right now they were on another planet. Sage was the only one who had been on more than one planet, he had been to three, with this bieng his third.
He looked up in the sky, there were very few clouds, meaning that there was water. Also in the sky were three moons, making a zizzag pattern.
Philip and Ben were setting up the tents, they had four tents, everyone would share, except the girl.
She never has told me her name Sage thought How can you expect to trust her if she can't even tell you here name.
They were safer in the temple, which was found out to be a pyramid, in there if needed they could escape back through the portal, to earth. But no, the two others didn't realize that I could provide heat in there for them, as well as cool it down. Out here I can't do either, and we are victom to sandstorms.
If we was right, then mojority of the planet was a desert, in fact all land was either mountain or desert. If that was true, then the sandstorms would be very bad.
Trial and effect He thought to himself. We try to rough it out here, and we become prey to a sandstorm, or a Xan...
He shivered, he knew that Xan had been here, or were here, that was one of the reasons why he was here. The other was to find a device, which could tell him some of the truths behind his power, supposidly.
"Sage," Alonzo said. "Base camp is set."
"Fine, ask and see who wants to help scout out the area."
"Ok," Alonzo said, and ran back under the camp. Sage could here Alonzo calling to see who would go.

After a slight shock from the sight of the gun the girl turns and walks a little away, her back facing Steuben as she speaks. "I'd call it economical, we can't move out into the desert until morning due to burning or freezing temperatures. Hence we can't get too far from this thing "she gestures toward the building, "we don't know what else is inside but it hasn't proven dangerous yet. I don't like to gamble on an unknown, but I don't have much choice."

One less direction to escape girl, you know it as well as I.

There is no way I'm getting out of here unless they manage to as well. I'm between a rock and a hard place.

You could survive in this desert alone, you saw the algae on the rocks, you know where to find water.

The algae wasn't any species I recognized, it could well be toxic and the water could be radioactive. The area almost looks like a massive nuclear weapon went off several thousand years ago. Except the building is obviously older than that...

Not very sturdy either, you managed to chip of a sample after all.

No, it is probably a natural desert. I don't feel any signs of radiation, so it's probably just a strangely formed desert. Who knows where we are.

All the better reason to find a way back.

There is no way back.

Perhaps there is a back way...

steuben stands up and puts his coat back on. he replaces both the case and the rifle in his coat.

"at the end," he says. "at the end, it will be that which you can't control, that will get you. not the unknown."

he walks over to alonzo to see about scouting the area.

Philip walked along a dune that was about thirty feet away from camp. He didn't pay much attention to Alonzo's call, because he was to stay in camp, along with Murdock, and Alonzo. Ben was going with Sage, and it was up to the other two to see if they would go or stay.
He looked over the dunes. All he saw was... dunes. He walked down the dune he was on, he wasn't exactly happy with the team. Jocim well, Jochim scared Philip, and the other girl, the nameless one, she jumped or fled at the mere sight of a gun.
"Heh, what happens when we meet up with Xan?" He said to himself as he pulled out a pair of binoculars, and looked around, he saw dunes, dunes, and a plant, a brown plant. Also beside the plant was, an animal.
It looked like a yah, with the shape of a lizards head though, but every part of its body was covered in fur.
"You would think that animals that live in deserts would evovle," He said as he looked at it. "Maybe it is like a camel, and carries a bunch of water in it to cool itself down."
He looked closer at it, it had a harness.
"That means that there is a civilization here!" He said.
He ran back to camp yelling about what he saw.

steuben stands up and puts his coat back on. he replaces both the case and the rifle in his coat.

"at the end," he says. "at the end, it will be that which you can't control, that will get you. not the unknown."

he walks over to alonzo to see about scouting the area.

Alonzo told him that Sage was planning on scouting around the camp.
"No more than four miles away," He explained. "And we have GPS, so we can find our way back easily. Sage says he thinks that there is civiliztion here."
Alonzo saw Philip running, yelling about some animal with a harness. "I think Philip has something to add."

I wonder how quickly we can tear this set up down?

It would take you less time to run, you already have the layout down.

Sage sat on a dune, Philip had come blazing into the camp talking about a yak with a harness, they all seemed rather interested, but it didn't suprise him he knew that there was civilization.
But why? He asked himself

It is just a hunch, The demon said

Why do you continue to torture me?

I own your body, I can do anything I want to it

This body is mine

I have more power over it than you think boy

Uncontrollably and unpredicted Sage's arm rose, and slapped him across the face.

See?

Yes demon

Do not call me demon

What then?

Evel'Doum

Fine Evel'Doum

What is that girl doing?

Sage looked at the girl, she was walking in circles looking around the camp, she was also staring off into the distance.

What is she thinking?[i] Sage asked.

[i] Probably looking for an escape route, she is a nuisance, and a hazard, she will get in the way if there is a fight. You should have left her back

Jochim didn't give me much of a chance

No he didn't, what is with Steuban anyways? He seems to be paying close attention.

I don't now, he frightens me a little

He doesn't know your true powers though.

The only problem is, I don't either.

"This is taking to long, alright everyone I am setting out alone right now, If any of you want to follow, follow, follow my tracks or something," He called out. He started heading away from camp, and off into the desert, GPS in his pocket.

Sage sat on a dune, Philip had come blazing into the camp talking about a yak with a harness, they all seemed rather interested, but it didn't suprise him he knew that there was civilization.
But why? He asked himself

It is just a hunch, The demon said

Why do you continue to torture me?

I own your body, I can do anything I want to it

This body is mine

I have more power over it than you think boy

Uncontrollably and unpredicted Sage's arm rose, and slapped him across the face.

See?

Yes demon

Do not call me demon

What then?

Evel'Doum

Fine Evel'Doum

What is that girl doing?

Sage looked at the girl, she was walking in circles looking around the camp, she was also staring off into the distance.

What is she thinking?[i] Sage asked.

[i] Probably looking for an escape route, she is a nuisance, and a hazard, she will get in the way if there is a fight. You should have left her back

Jochim didn't give me much of a chance

No he didn't, what is with Steuban anyways? He seems to be paying close attention to you.

I don't now, he frightens me a little

He doesn't know your true powers though.

The only problem is, I don't either.

"This is taking to long, alright everyone I am setting out alone right now, If any of you want to follow, follow, follow my tracks or something," He called out. He started heading away from camp, and off into the desert, GPS in his pocket.

"foolish idiot," steuben thinks. "well they know we're here," he says out loud. steuben turns and walks back towards the pyramid. he picks up additional ammunition and the extra rifle on his way. he makes a mental note to discuss certain things with philip later.

"miss, it may be safer inside. especially if things go poorly. and if that happens i will need some help." he says to her as he enters the interior shadows of the doorway.

steuben watches sage walks over the dune.

Ben caught up with Sage.
"Wait," Ben said.
Sage stopped for a second so Ben could catch up. "Anyone else coming?"
"Jochim, I have the feeling that he will be able to catch up without a problem."
They kept on walking, looking for the yak with a harness. After a little while they found it, well the tracks. They led off to the east.
"We are going east then." Sage said, they continued east, following the tracks, after a little while Jochim caught up. They continued on easteward for two hours, making it about four o' clock. One particualry big dune was up ahead, and the tracks lead over it. The three climbed up, and upon reaching the top they saw something very big.
There was a rather large oasis, but a mile beyond that was a city, a large city.
Not a modern city, but one that appeared to have come out of ancient egypt, surrounding it were massive walls, taller than any of the buildings. People were waling back and forth from the Oasis to the city.
Sage and Ben were lying on the sand, looking through binoculars.
"Well," Ben said. "It appears that they are human, by the looks of it there are whites, blacks, and well Arabs."
"Yah," Sage said. "They also appear to be rather primitive, they look as if they came out of ancient egypt or something."
"Think they built the pyramid we came out of?"
"Maybe," Sage said. "I think that they worship the Xan, look their flags have a Xan symbol on it."
"Yah, that isn't good," Ben said.
"Usually though, Xan slaves are friendly, lets go find out if they are."
The two got up, and started walking down the hill, paying almost no attention to see if Jochim was following. They got about fifty feet from the Oasis, when everyone around it turned and looked after someone yelled something.
The two continued on, the people showed no sign of hostility. They approached one man, a black man.
"Jebidaoh, tukath?" The man asked.
"That is Xan speak," Ben said looking at Sage.
"Telmorah, sespelie," Sage replied.
"Nogadah eastrah?" The man asked in disbelief.
"Yaga, tomu eastrah," Sage answered.
"What did you just say?" Ben asked.
"I said that we came east, from the pyramid."
"Pordaganie?" The man asked.
"Yaga, tomu pordaganie," Sage replied, turning to Ben. "I said we came from the portal."
The black man lifted his hands up. "Tuma espaich, leadrasha!"
"He said go get the leader," Sage said.
"Who us?"
"No, he was telling one of them."
Another man ran off, and soon one of the yak looking things with a tent on its back came walking up. An arab looking man that appeared to be in his late forties walked out.
"Semu, semu to tway?" The man asked.
"Yaga, semu to tway," Sage said. "Yes this is true."
"So yaga is yes?" Ben asked.
"Yes, and Naga is no," Sage whispered.
"Beldonark," The man said, then clapping his hands. "Tolramah!"
"We are to be provided with water." Sage said.
Three women came up, and handed three black bowls to Sage, Ben, and Jochim. After drinking they handed them back, and the women walked away. Then a horn blew.
"Snadatorim!" Someone shouted.
"Gentjrai, domasu telrachi yevara onamasi hel nack!" The leader man said to them.
"He says that a sandstorm is coming, a bad sandstorm, and that we have to go with him to the city."
Sage waived his hand at the other two. "Lets go, I doubt we would make it back to camp." Meanwhile Ben call camp up tell them the deal."
"Yessir," Ben said pulling out a radio.
They started walking the mile to the city, and halfway there Ben was trying to contact with camp.
"Sage," He said. "I can't get to them."
"The storm must be blocking the signal." Sage said.

Base Camp

"We have to abandon base camp!!" Philip yelled over the loud winds, the storm was very bad, they couldn't see five feet in front of them.
"Into the pyramid!!!" Murdock yelled. The three of them grabbed their guns, and a box of radios and ran inside.
The girl was already in there, she was stabding in the middle of the room as they ran in.
The three of them were coughing and hacking up sand, gagging. Philip pulled the radio back out.
"Sage, Sage come in!" He yelled. "Aw screw it they can't here us."
The pyramid was rather dark, the sandstorm was covering out a lot of the sun. It was also very dusty, were light could get in you could see a bunch of dust floating in middair.
They sat on the ground and waited for the storm to pass, that is when the real trouble started to begin.

After seeing the boys run into the pyramid the girl quickly ran out to take down the camp, the storm was rapidly growing stronger and though there was an attempt to stop her none of the boys followed her into the storm.

Maybe you aren't so stupid after all. You knew this storm was coming.

There have been signs of it for about an hour, I may not be able to escape but I'm not incompetent.

They didn't tear down the site so you honorably stay out and tear down at the last second. Plus you'll survive because you know about these situations, so when you're stuck out here you can play the part of the hero without any danger to yourself.

You really think they would have listened to me if I said: "fellows a big sandstorm is coming maybe we should take the camp down." Ha, they would have ignored me, except maybe the Steuben character but I think I'd rather he ignored me...

That man looks like he'd slaughter a nursery for a laugh, besides he's the one at fault for you being here.

The girl had been very economical in her tear-down of the campsite finishing in less then half the time it took to set it up, even with the winds. Then she anchored the tarp corners and edges except one spot facing away from the wind. Within minutes the entire tarp was buried as the sand dune adjacent to it was moved, but the poles had created enough of a structure to continue support through the worst of a storm, and except for the entrance that she had protected, it was invisible.

[OOC: Traha, I am going to take over your character for a little bit, after this message she is all yours.]

Sage, Ben, and Jochim were inside the walls when it hit. The massive doors had just closed when a big wave of sand and wind smashed into the walls.
"Well, now we know what those walls are for," Ben said.
"Yah," Sage said, as sand started to fall over the top of the wall. "Try to call camp again."
Ben tried two more times. "Still nothing."
"Great," Sage said.
"Feastaht," The arab man said."Nuchos feastaht."
"Something to do with a feast?" Ben asked.
"Yes actually, a feast of our arrival is in store for us." Sage replied.

Pyramid
Philip was sitting on the floor, still slighty gagging from the storm. It was now 9:30 at night. They were resting up waiting for the storm to pass.
Outside in the sky a blue beam shot down and went into the top of the pyramid, in the portal room another shot down, and the portal turned on, six Xan elite warriors stepped out of it.
Traha sat alone, away from the guns. She was shivering because of the cold. Then she heard a clinking noise, like that of armor moving. She looked towards the door.
"Something is over there," She said.
Alonzo looked over, and cocked his gun. "Spread out."
"No, don't use guns," She whispered, but it was no use. Murdock, and Alonzo had dissapeared on either sides of the pillars, and Philip was prepping his gun in the middle of the room.
Murdock crept along towards the door, he walked through it, slowly descending the stairs. He got to the bottom, and saw nothing.
"Clear," He said into the radio and turned around, and a staff weapon smacked him right in the face, knocking him out.
Alonzo crept along as well, Murdock had just reported the bottom of the pyramid clear, he saw a shadow move from the door that lead to the portal, he thought it was just Murdock. He moved closer to the door, and then heard something behind him, he turned and was hit it the chest his a staff, and then hit in the head, he to went unconscious.
Philip's gun was jammed, and he was quickly unjamming it. He looked at the girl and saw her eyes grow big, he got it unjammed in the nick of time. He spun around and started firing, but no bullets found their mark, he was hit across the left cheek, knocking him out as well.
The girl closed her eyes when she heard the gunfire, but opened them afterwards, she saw Philip lying on the ground. Standing along him, and approaching her was a warrior, he was dressed in gray armor, which covered everything but his hands. The armor was a mail mesh, with some heavier stuff on the shins, around the neck and upper chest, and the arms. The warrior had a helmet on, which was the shape of a panther, it was gray like the rest. The helmet was about three times the size of her head in hieght, the eyes glowed blue, and it seemed to act like it was the actual owners head, with the exception of no mouth moving. In hand was a black staff, on one end was a pyramid shape, and the other had a oval shape.
"Taz Nardah!" The warrior said, and swung his staff, the oval end hit her forehead, knocking her out like the others.

Sage, Ben, and Jochim all sat on the ground around a fire. All around them men, and women from the city talked to eachother about a lot of things, in their own language.
Their meal was a lizard like animal, that was cooked, and then cut open. Sage was the first to try it, and he exclaimed that it tasted like hamburger. Ben tried to try a peice, but just couldn't find the heart to do it, so he gave his piece to Sage, and told him to tell the leader that he wasn't hungry.
They found out that the leaders name was Tessar Vinn. Also that the city worshiped the 'god' Anu'Sul, a Xan. They kept on eating throughout most the night, a ceremony was held with women dancing some arabic dance, while they ate even more. Afterwards they were told were they were to stay for the night, but would be welcome to stay at the feast as long as they wanted. Ben quickly went to their housing at ten, for he didn't desire to eat any of the food. Sage stayed and talked to Tessar, and his son, Tassar Vinn, who was about eighteen.

Alonzo awoke to the chill of cold water. They were all thrown in a dungeon. A pit about ten feet below a grate, and the dungeon was about chest high with cold water. They were stripped of their vests, and all weapons. Beside him were Philip, Murdock, and the girl. The grate closed above them, and a Xan without a helmet smirked at them before walking away.
"Well we are stuck," Alonzo said. "There is no way we can reach up there."
"Now all we have to do is wait for the others to come get us," Murdock said.
"If they get us," Philip said.

[OOC: Oops, I think I screwed up your plans with my previous post. I must be able to see the future, I didn't do it for any real reason!

The girl watched through the makeshift entrance as the others were abducted but the sand had buried the entrance almost completely by now, so she still managed to be invisible to the attackers.

Girl! Can you see the future or something. This plan was perfect, I never knew you had it in you.

Shut up! I want to go help them, but what could I do?

Nothing! Just stay behind and tell the others when they come back.

Brilliant...

Oh no...

The girl quickly set up a makeshift timer, a slender string with a moderately heavy weight suspended over a pot of lighter fluid, after several hours the flame would start to burn, and nearby pots with timber would continue burning. The smoke would last for several hours as a beacon and the note she left should alert the others of the abduction and initial direction. With that she turned to follow through the storm.

ooc: miss, you so misjudge steuben. he wouldn't do it for laughs. :evil:

ic:

steuben walks over to sage, and gestures him a discrete distance from the others. "we are going to have a discussion about what you know, in the near future," he says queitly. "but, for now, i am going to play the smiling guest for our hosts. mostly because it would disturb them if i don't like your answers."

steuben walks away to rejoin the festivities.

It was mornind the storm had passed.
Sage awoke on the bed, and wandered over to the window. The pyramid could be dimly seen in the desert, and there was something else, a smoke trailing into the sky.
"Ben, wake up, get Steuban, and lets head back to base camp." He said.

He stood at the entrance to the city. Ben was behind him and Steuban behind him.
"Tarnack, shedoe," He said to Tessar. (Thank you)
They walked out of the city, and began the treck back to camp, unkowing to the tree of them, Tassar, Tessar's son, was following them with a group of friends. They were all around 16-18 years old.

OOC: I don't want Steuban to find the following kids, because they play a major part in the story.

I don't trust Steuban at all, he is threatening me. I am his superior here, he isn't.

See how much of a fight he has in him, you could kill him easily

If he doesn't attack me, I won't attack him.

But if you don't he could attack you from behind and kill you.

I don't think he would kill a kid.

Don't be so sure,

Sage looked back at Steuban, his boyish face, and hellish eyes.

I couldn't

Yes you cpuld, use your powers and give his neck a slight twist. That would finish him.

Ben wouldn't like it if I went and just suddenly killed this guy

Tell Ben that Steuban was a threat to the mission.

Sage kept walking, the pyramid and the smoke getting closer.

I can't do it, I don't care how much he threatens me, if he attempts to attack, I will kill him


Pyramid
Sage and the other two ran over a dune, the smoke was clear. The sandstorm had completely covered the camp, but still there were little gaps where smoke poured out.
"They must be inside," Sage said.
"What is with the fire then?" Ben asked.
"I don't know," Sage said, but he feared he did know.
They ran inside, the light pouring through an entrance it could, in the middle of the room was a box of radios. Ben ran over to them.
"Sage, there are bullet shells here," He said. "They were shot last night."
"The Xan," Sage said. "Spread out."
Ben ran to the left, around the pillars.
Other than the middle pillars there were others, three rows with twenty each row, all lined up. Ben ran around two rows, and was approaching the final one.

-Outside-
Tassar and his friends were walking along the pyramid, following the strange people from the temple.
Tassar saw smoke coming out of the ground, but ignored it for the time being. He walked over to a glass-less window in the temple wall and peered in.

dp

Ben walked around the last row of pillars. A window was about ten feet above the ground, and peering in, but unoticed by Ben, was Tassar.
Ben was looking around every pillar. He turned one, clear, another, clear, another, clear. He did this five more times, and he was reaching the back wall.

-Outside-
Tassar ran to another window, and saw the one named Bedidai, (Ben) walking along, he also saw another man. A Xan.

-Inside-
Ben turned another pillar, and was hit across the face with a staff. He fell onto the ground, and looked up, there before him was a Xan, before he could shoot, or say anything the oval end pointed down at him, and a red bolt flew out. Hitting him on the left side of his chest, killing him. His body was blasted back by the blow at such a close range, it rolled quickly and slammed into the wall.

-Outside-
Tassar closed his eyes briefly as he saw Bedidai die. He got down from the wall, and he along with his twenty friends ran back to the mysterious smoke.

Tassar and his friends ug out the entrance to the camp. They went through the boxes, and found food, and other supplies.
They took a special intrest in the weapons and other military things. They all took a gun, pistol or submachine gun. Also many put of hats, goggles, or vests. They all came out looking like a bunch of part time rookies who were having a good time. They sat in the doorway to the base camp, and started to eat some of the food they found.

steuben walks over to the pillar of smoke. he digs out the entrance of the tent. the occasional piece of timber flares to flame as it is exposed. peering in he sees the note and the remains of the timer.

"miss is fairly clever," he thinks. he wipes the bits of soot and ash off the paper. "i'm pleased she decided to come. she may save us all."

from inside the temple he sees the red flash. he draws his pistol. his arm seemingly to simply appear pointing towards the door to the temple. seeing no immediate threat he lowers his arm. he runs towards the door. he slams himself back first against the wall. he holds the pistol level across his stomach. he pauses. he flashes around the corner and into the temple. he fires his pistol. he puts one round in the exposed hand of the xan and empties the clip into his stomach. he seems to hit the two points almost simulatuously. as the last round is fired he lifts the rifle from with his coat, with his other hand. he returns his pistol to its holster. the series of actions happening before the staff hits the ground. the xan folds over at the stomach from the momentum of multiple impacts. he collapses to the floor.

steuben walks along one wall, between the wall and the pillars. he scans for additional targets. "we will be having that discussion, very shortly i think."

Sage looks at Steuban.
"Maybe," He says. He motions for Steuban to follow, he looks to his left and sees Ben's body, he quickly turns his head away but stays on the same path.
He and Steuban walk down into the lower chamber, were the portal is. Sage walks over to the robot that had the supplies on it, a few boxes remained that he ordered to leave on.
he takes on off and sets it on the steps to the gate.
He opens it, and it is empty.
"Oh no," He says, even though he didn't mean to say it. "Its gone."
He hears a noise behind him, the portal was about to open, he runs down the stairs and looks at it. It turns on and six Xan elite warriors step out.
Also behind them six more walked down the stairs.
Steuban quickly raised his gun in the blink of an eye, but Sage stopped him.
"Put it down," he said. "There are to many, and we are to few, and surrounded."
He put his own guns down as well, and his vest, and raised his hands up in the air.

Sage looks at Steuban.
"Maybe," He says. He motions for Steuban to follow, he looks to his left and sees Ben's body, he quickly turns his head away but stays on the same path.
He and Steuban walk down into the lower chamber, were the portal is. Sage walks over to the robot that had the supplies on it, a few boxes remained that he ordered to leave on.
he takes on off and sets it on the steps to the gate.
He opens it, and it is empty.
"Oh no," He says, even though he didn't mean to say it. "Its gone."
He hears a noise behind him, the portal was about to open, he runs down the stairs and looks at it. It turns on and six Xan elite warriors step out.
Also behind them six more walked down the stairs.
Steuban quickly raised his gun in the blink of an eye, but Sage stopped him.
"Put it down," he said. "There are to many, and we are to few, and surrounded."
He put his own guns down as well, and his vest, and raised his hands up in the air.

Sage looks at Steuban.
"Maybe," He says. He motions for Steuban to follow, he looks to his left and sees Ben's body, he quickly turns his head away but stays on the same path.
He and Steuban walk down into the lower chamber, were the portal is. Sage walks over to the robot that had the supplies on it, a few boxes remained that he ordered to leave on.
he takes on off and sets it on the steps to the gate.
He opens it, and it is empty.
"Oh no," He says, even though he didn't mean to say it. "Its gone."
He hears a noise behind him, the portal was about to open, he runs down the stairs and looks at it. It turns on and six Xan elite warriors step out.
Also behind them six more walked down the stairs.
Steuban quickly raised his gun in the blink of an eye, but Sage stopped him.
"Put it down," he said. "There are to many, and we are to few, and surrounded."
He put his own guns down as well, and his vest, and raised his hands up in the air.

stebuen sighs. he carefully places the rifle on the ground. his takes off his coat and lays his still empty pistol on top of it. the inlaid tracery catching the bits of light. he steps back.

"i guess i'll let them have this round," he says, grinning like an shark. the nearer of the xan to steuben shuffle slightly away.

[OOC: Just to let you know Steuban, Traha I think you already know this. But the Xan are forms of energy. They came from another galaxy seeking conquest here. They found out though that this galaxy is different than theirs, and they die if they stay out in the open, in the open they appear to be a glowing blue fog about the size of an average person's head. In this galaxy they built robotic exoskeletons, of which they control every move. They need the exoskeletons to live, so if it is damaged beyond repair, the Xan is basically dead. Their robots have 'blood' a blue black liquid that runs throughout the exoskeleton to keep in from rusting up, so they move like an athletic human, they also appear to be atheltic males, and sometimes females, when in their exoskeletons. They are super intelligent, but sometimes that inteligence is put aside by conquest. They know little fear, and they consider dieing on the battle feild a great victory. it is not unkown for a powerful Xan to go to a primitive planet and pretend to be a god to the inhabitants.]

Sage and Steuban were brought into the portal, of which teleported them to an upper level of the Pyramid, a section that only teleport could bring them up to. They stepped out into the room, it all looked to be polished marble, black marble floors, and red/orange marble walls. Statues of panthers sitting on pillars went down the middle, which led to another room, a smaller one, that had a throne against the back wall, with a window five feet above it.
On the throne was what appeared to be another human, but in fact he was a Xan, in a human's body.
A special type of Xan are able to possese a human's body. They are considered among Xan to have been chosen by the great leaders of the past. They control the human's every move, and word. They also have special powers that only human possesing Xan can use. These type of Xan are brought up to be leaders of Xan dominions. All of these type of Xan have an energy shield that prevents any bullet, or laser bolt to penetrate and hurt the owner.
This Xan appeared to be a human of about twenty years old, he had long black hair, and very good appearances.
"Creta!" The Xan shouted. "Dometachu nogta!"
All the Xan warriors around Sage and Steuban bent over, making them vunerable to attack.
"Kistala?" The Xan leader said.
"Coma esta sweaku," Sage said.
"So, you do speak the native language of the Xan," The leader said. "Interesting."
"And you speak the language of English, I did not know it was around when the Xan abducted human civilizations from earth."
"So you know about that, do you?" The Xan said. "And you probably know much about the Xan themselves?"
"Yes," Sage said.
"How?"
"I have a special, gift that allows me to do more things than most humans can."
The Xan leader stood up, and walked down the steps that led to his throne. "Why have you come here?"
"A basic exploration journey," Sage said.
"Oh? Really?" The Xan said, beckonig two other Xan aides. The aides ran through a door, and came back with a strechter, on top of it was a cyndrical tube. "Why have you brought this then?" He said beckoning to the device. "I have seen Vindar use this weapon against us, but tell me why did Earth send a child on this suicide mission?"
"No one else on Earth knows about you, my partner, my descesed friend and I are the only ones who now about you."
"Lies! Your tricks cannot escape the mind of Anu'Sul! I have captured three others as well, and we have spotted a fourth in the desert."
The girl
"I also know of your other secret, but I do not think your freind knows, so I will speak in private with you later about it."
"I do not know what you are talking about," Sage said honestly.
"Maybe you don't but your mind does." Anu'Sul said as he returned to his throne.

ooc: ahh. shades of stargate

ic:

steuben looks at the cylinder. he looks at sage. a shadow seems to cross his eyes. "very shortly. and they had better be very good," he whispers to sage.

he faces anu'sul. "read our minds?" steuben thinks to himself. "well let's see how good he is." steuben closes his eyes. he lets his mind fill with a thousand sights, sounds, and smells of hell, both man made and real. his face contorts into a rictus. he opens his eyes. the appearence of a death's skull the closest the living ever get to see.

a few of the more alert guards shuffle and discretely reposition their weapons. they aim closer to steuben then they were earlier.

[OOC: Yes, this RP was sparked by StarGate, and also a couple of stories I wrote about Sage, and the Xan.]

Sage made his move.
While Steuben was distracting them, Sage used his powers. The two guards closest to them flipped onto their backs, and were 'dragged' away into the wall by an invisible force. They slammed into the wal and loud cracks were heard.
Two guards pointed their staffs at Sage, but then the staffs were flung out of their hands into the air. The guards then raised into the air, their bodies started to slowly be crushed. He then flung them at Anu'Sul, who sidestepped, the guards hit the steps, and another loud cracking was heard.
He stood up, and flung two more guards. He tossed them back into two more who were running towards them.
The last four pointed their staves and fired. The bolts streamed and hit Sage on the chest, the shoulder, and two more on the stomach. He fell over, dead.
Anu'Sul looked at Steuben, he stuck his hand out, and immediately Steuben was out cold.
"Hatta corka espono dooma!" Anu'Sul shouted, (Take him to the dungeon)
They dragged Steuben away from the middle of the room, and two more ran up and lifted up Sage's body.

OOC: So far behind I can hardly keep up, and I apologize for the ic things I said about Steuben. I need to watch more Stargate.

The girl had buried herself slightly away from the facility when it happened. She didn't hear anything but she recognized the smell of burnt flesh and recognized it immediately.

No... who was that? If I get out I won't be able to hide again.

Obviously you shouldn't, if someone smells like that and isn't screaming anymore there is nothing you can do.

I've got to see.

The girl slowly moved her head out of the sand. Her hair blended with the desert sand enough to protect her from casual observation until she saw the body through an opening. She surveyed the area for a minute and saw a figure beginning to walk off, before she saw the corpse move.

No, nothing in that shape can live long.

NO! His killer is right near by. You will not be able to save him, stay hidden!

She made another cursory glance to make sure no one was looking towards her from another direction then she sprang up.

"Ben, don't worry, you're fine, don't speak."
His body is so mangled, he doesn't stand a chance.
"Just close your eyes, and I'll fix you up. You'll hardly even know you were wounded."
He's dead now, have you finished your escapade? You're near their base, exposed and without the weather to protect you. RUN YOU FOOL!

For once the girl listened to her conscience and began to run but before she had made it too far a patrol saw her, at the onset it didn't pay her much mind. Urchins were sometimes spotted and in her sand covered state she didn't look much like the others, but it soon noticed her strange clothing and began pursuit.

ooc: don't worry about it. it's a pretty fair assessment of him, given she doesn't know his history. not that it would change much of her opinion of him, if she knew it.

ic:

just before he passes out. steuben glares at anu'sul. the shadow deep across his eyes and face. his look states the last thing that anu'sul will see before he dies. it doesn't promise or threaten, it states with the same certainty that the sun will rise in the east.

Tassar and his friends saw the girl run from the entrance. They had never saw her before so they laid down on the ground so she wouldn't see them. Then she saw the Xan patrol, Tassar had talked much with Sage about the Xan, and he had told them that he had seen many Xan die before him. Tassar trusted him, and began to disbelieve that the Xan were almighty gods.
In the time they had been at the pyramid they had learned to use the weapons, so he pointed his gun, and fired.
The first couple bullets kicked sand up around the Xan's feet, immediately the Xan all looked at him, then all his friends began to fire also, the twenty one of them quickly shot down the six Xan. Afterwards they got up, raised the guns in the air, started to jump up and down with big smiles, cheering the entrie time.

I hear cheers, what is going on?

Fool! Keep running. Don't turn around! It may be a desert but there are always things to trip on.

I know how to run, I clobbered everyone on our track team.

Yet you didn't join, you didn't like winning.

It was more the other people didn't like losing.

You were physically superior to them, don't think twice on it.

I was mentally superior too, no, I wasn't superior at all. I just had different goals. They wanted friends, happy marriages, joyous lives. I wanted freedom, justice and world-wide peace.

Don't paint yourself as too much of an altruist, you really just wanted to be left alone to live, no, actually you wanted to associate just as much. You were that much of an altruist, you believed, and still believe, that you would hurt them. Probably because when you tried to help you did.

I did everything right, every time. I just chose wrong.

I don't think you can call six choices a coincidence. Six people you tried to help, who you saw were sad, alone, generally like you. All six attempted suicide, two succeeded. But to some extent you were right, you always gave them comfort and should have pulled them out, but God must not like you.

It was my failure, I could have helped more...

Shut up. You can probably slow down now. I don't hear anyone behind you and you've been running for six minutes, eight seconds. You should have well over a mile behind you, now you just need to avoid heat exhaustion.

stueben lies on his back in a shell crater. the cold mud covers him to his chest. the falling rain is heavy. he tries to turn his head but it won't move. he continues to look up. the glare of flares is reflected back down from the cloud. he sees three different colour of tracers flyover the mouth of his crater.

"you overestimated your opponent again," says a dry voice near his ear.

the owner floated into view. the face was still intact. but the head was held to the body only tendons. the chest was destroyed by a solid 12 gauge rifle round.

"two have died because of it," the voice continues.

"you will die because of it," a second voice says. its owner floats into view. the left side of the face is intact. the right side had been reduced beyond recognition by a large object.

"the others will die because of it," a third voice says. its owner forms out of the darkness of the crater. the tar black body recoginizeable only as humanoid. the only white in it the teeth.

"she will die because of it," a fourth says. it owner slides down, inverted relative to steuben. the two faces a few inches apart. a single small calibre hole is in the bridge of the nose.

"i was a little bit off that day. i was aiming for your right eye," steuben reponds.

the fourth ghost floats off to join the others, not seeming to have heard or cared what steuben said.

"but, you will only see it, if you survive," the fourth says.

a body begins to rise out of the mud and water at the bottom of the crater. the flesh is liquesent. the weight of the mud pulls the flesh off. it falls silently to the bottom of the crater. soon only the bones and the uniform remain. the few visible markers on the uniform indicate the owner was once in the f.i.s.a.f.

"and who are you," steuben asks of the skeleton as it lumbers through the mud and water towards him.

"steuben," the four voices call out together.

"oh? i find that hard to beleive."

"steuben," they cry again. the skeleton reaches down and grabs steuben's right shoulder. his left hand flashes out of the mud. half in his control, half not. he reaches for the skeleton's neck. the look on steuben's face mirroring the grin of the skeleton.

in a moment of distortion alonzo's face forms over the skeleton. the image of the dungeon forms over the shell crater. steuben stops his hand, now fully in his control. his grip the lightest possible while making contact with alonzo's neck. he pulls it back slowly and smoothly.

"sorry." he titters softly. "a bit of a bad dream there."

I don't see anyone.

If you go in make it quick, I doubt that you wouldn't be expected. The smoke signal obviously would alert the creatures as well.

I just need to grab a few more supplies, I've got enough water for a few days but I need a tarp and blanket to sleep.

You need to do that soon, you haven't slept at all for eighty hours, you cannot continue with massive physical exertion and expect to live.

I'll sleep when the next sandstorm comes.

That could be days!

I'll live.

The girl quickly maneuvered down into her buried shelter, she glances down at the entrance and notices packed sand deposits going in and sand pushed inward a great distance.

Someone walked in then ran out, they were wearing boots. Probably not the armored giants, too traditional a tread. The message I left is gone too, I'll assume they got it but why did they leave running.

No one could hide in here so they obviously saw something elsewhere, from the direction of your entrance probably in that big building.

I'll check it out after I get the supplies.

Here we go again...

After gathering a few supplies and refilling several canteens the girl turns to leave, pauses, then grabs another canteen and fills it with gasoline. Afterward she headed to the temple.

This place had a struggle, there are shells in several places and signs of a large group of people coming in fairly recently. Then leaving with a few more. Small signs of struggle and a little blue liquid, some sort of oil?

No it's blood...

Then we aren't dealing with humans, probably one of those armored things. I'm going to assume that the lack of human blood and the lack of corpses means the inferior force surrendered. Assuming that the human natives don't use pistols I'd say that your abductors were captured. Well, you could live here indefinitely.

Can you track them?

Girl, there may not have been a sandstorm since the event but sand is not like snow, it covers its tracks within a few hours. This is probably five hours old.

Where would they take them?

Please tell me you aren't going to do this. Fine. They're probably at one of the buildings scattering the landscape, we didn't see any sign of them at the previous one but they are fairly regular. You could begin a routine search that could take weeks, by which time they'll be gone.

The girl wanders around synthesizing the evidence and determines the original heading of the giants before she sights a weapon.

Teach me how to use the gun.

Now you're talking sense.

Tassar saw the girl leave the tent, and head for the temple. They had went out looking for her after they killed the Xan. He himself had one of the sub-machine guns, goggles on, and a vest.
He and his friends walked into the temple he spotted thr girl looking at one of the odd weapon's that the others brought with them.
"Neh," He said in a friendly, and non opposing way. (Hello)

Upper Temple
Sage awoke with a extreme pain. Two four legged spider like things were putting some liquid on him. The spider's were blue and black, they had four legs, and were basically an circular saucer shape.
Whenever the liquid touched his skin it burnt. It felt as if someone was stabbing him with a dagger that was just pulled out of a blazing fire.
He looked at his wounds, they weren't there, scars were clearly visible, but the opening's were not.

I have saved you for the most part

You know something I don't, don't you Evel'Doum?

I healed you, I deserve a thanks.

How did you heal me?

I have not the energy to tell, I spent most of it saving you

What are you?

You will find out soon enough.

A Xan elite walked into the room.
"Nebachata caomora?" The warrior asked. (Is he ready?)
In a rather robotic hissing tone a spider answered. "Yaga."
The spider was also a Xan, a working class Xan.
The warrior pulled Sage onto his feet.
"Master Anu'Sul wishes to speak with you."
With that the Xan pulled Sage out of the room.

Dungeon
Alonzo rubbed his neck. He was a little startled about Steuben's awakening. They asked about everyone else, and he had told them that the girl was missing, also that Sage and Ben were dead. That last piece of information hurted them a lot.
"I just can't believe that they is dead." Murdock said, Murdock had been Sage's best friend, and they were all friends with Ben.
"Yah, I know," Philip said. "The mission was exciting at first, but I guess we didn't realize the danger. We were just being stupid, and over cocky."
"Then we have to pull together, and we will survive," Alonzo said.
A voice said from above.
"Oh no you won't, soon there will be an execution, yours." It was a Xan, he didn't have the helmet on, or the traditional aromor, his was a bronze leather one, and his helmet was bronze as well, and seemed to have been formed exactly for his head, but it didn't cover his face, it stopped at his forehead, went down, curved around his ears, and then cut back along the neck.

OOC: Feel free to write about what the people say, but leave me to interpret translations. I'd rather have some unintended misinterpretations then have to forge them.

They are approaching.

Teenagers, not much younger than I am.

The girl glances at the gun on the floor while appearing to study something else.

The leader is armed, and wearing some equipment of ours. I'm glad you hid all the fuel.

Do you think the gun will work properly?

You've taken chemistry, you should know the design is simple.


The leader of the boys brashly walked forward and spoke in a friendly matter. "Neh."

The girl whirled with feigned surprise, the gun was already tucked behind her pack where she could easily access it and it was well concealed. For a moment she pondered the response before replying in kind. "Neh." She nodded slightly and her sunglasses started to slide down her nose before she could push them up again.

Tassar looks at the girl, she seemed to know how to say hi, but he wasn't sure if she was just copying what he said. He also noticed, that she had a weapon on her, so he laid his gun down on the ground, slowly approached her, his hands up in the air, showing he was unarmed. He sat down indian style next to her and said.
"Arnu nota wheetin owanada?" He asked. "Owanada tomu porganadie?"
[OOC: I think some words I have speeled differently from the earlier versions, but I still know that Yaga, and Naga are yes, and no!]

When the boy set down his gun she didn't hesitate. She took the weapon from her belt and tossed it about four feet away without a second thought and then sat down in the same fashion. When the boy spoke she began to open her mouth and then paused.

It sounds like a relative of Swahili.

Can you translate it?

I could hardly bluff my way through Swahili, you expect me to translate a language that different. There are greater similarities between Spanish and English. Never mind, just try for the nonverbal response when possible.

The girl started to shake her head and then stopped. She simply let a facial expression showing consternation become apparent in her previously bland, though slightly reddened, face.

She wasn't underding what he was saying. He decided to use sign language with his words as well.
So he started off pointing to himself. "Tassar." Then he said.
"Arnu" He said pointing to her. "nota" He said resuming pointing. "Owanada?" He said pointing at the closest thing he thought of to symbolize what he was saying, the vest he wore.
"Owanada," He repeated still pointing to his vest. "tomu" He said, moving his hand away from the other, symbolizing someone walking away. "Porganadie?" He said pointing to the door that led to the portal.

Don't give him your name!

The girl smiled as he spoke and did her best to convey her answers through her facial expressions. When the boy said "Tassar" she smiled recognition of the gesture and the name, when he said "Arnu" and "nota" she kept her face blank. When he finished his final speech she smiled in approval.

After his short speech she began her own, shorter reciprocation. Pointing at the boy she said, "Tassar." When he didn't correct her she pointed at herself, DO NOT TELL HIM YOUR NAME paused slightly and said "Traha."

I'd rather you hadn't given him that. Too late now.

Good they had both said their names, Tassar smiled as she said her name, he also smiled at about everything she said, for that is what she did for him, and he did not want to offemd her in any way. He skipped trying to ask if she came with the others from the portal and went on to another question.
"Donna," He said, unable to think of a sign. "nota" He said pointing at her. "Karth," He said also unable to think of a sign. "Stebianna?" He said, making his face into a glare. "Orta, Sagea?" He said, raising his hand so they were about five feet five inches off the ground.

Traha slowly reached toward her pack attempting to show Tassar that she had no hostile intentions. After slowly opening it she pulled out a thick pad of paper and a thick graphite pencil. She turned past the first few pages quickly and came to a blank page. After quickly drawing several approximations she showed them to the boy. One was an accurate depiction of one of the giants. The others were detailed sketches of her previous companions, except Ben. She drew up an eyebrow with an obviously questioning glance.

[OOC:If by giants you mean the Xan? They aren't giants they are average human size, their helmets are just extra big.]
Tassar looked at the picture, he recognized two of the five.
Pointing at Sage he exclaimed "Sagea!" And with Steuban he said. "Stebianna!"
He looked at the picture of the Xan an exclaimed with disgust. "Xan!"
He took the pad, and began to draw another picture. The picture was rather bad, but it was one of Ben being killed. Also another of Steuben, and and Sage being captured by the Xan. Also one of the city, with Steuben, Sage, and Ben walking out of it. He handed the pad back to her and smiled.

OOC: Yes I know that, but she has never seen one up close and she assumes the worst.

Traha frowned for a second before smiling back at Tassar. She pointed to the picture of the city and then pointed the direction she had determined the captives had started their journey.

Not quite sure by what she means Tassar takes the notebook, and starts to draw something else, he draws a picture of the portal, and then of Sage, and Steuben, and then another Xan, he then draws an arrow going from the Xan, to Sage and Steuben, to the portal.
"Porganadie!" He exclaims pointing at the portal. "Sagea, Stebianna , Xan, to Porganadie!"

Great how do we get through that?

Ask the kid, when in Rome.

After a moment of thinking Traha begins to walk towards where she threw the weapon and with an obvious distaste picks it up. She then gestures to Tassar and walks towards the door to the portal, then stops just outside it.

Tassar got up and followed. He walked over to Traha, picking up his gun on the way. He got to the doorway and stopped.

Upper Pyramid
"So tell me," Anu'Sul said as Sage walked through the doorway. "Why did you come here to destroy me? Brother."
Sage was taken back, what did he mean brother? Then he spoke, not by his own will but by anothers, it was not in english either, but in Xan (but I will translate this conversation to english so no one gets confused).
"Hello brother, it has been a century since I last saw you."
"Yes, Evel'Doum it has," Anu'Sul said picking up a ring and slipping it on his finger. But you are delaying time, why did you come here to destroy me?"
"This boy has shown me the truth Anu'Sul, I no longer wish to ensleve millions as I once did."
"You are a traitor! Why did you come here?" Anu'Sul said. "How did this boy? Show you the truth?"
"He has seen the future, the fall of the Xan," Evel'Doum said. "If you do not turn away you will die with the rest."
"Lies!" Anu'Sul yelled. "You have come here to kill me, so you can take over my domain."
"I am not lieing"
"You may speak for the boy but he can control you and your actions. Within the hour the rest of his commrades execution will take place. He will kill them before me, and the entire city. If not he will die, allong with his friends, and the rest of this city!"
Sage had control again, he couldn't speak though, after what Anu'Sul said.
"Take him away!" Anu'Sul yelled. "Put him in my quarters, and lock it!"
The Xan guard grabbed Sage's shoulder, and dragged him off.

ooc: assuming he has been stripped of all obvious secreted weapons.

ic:
steuben looks up at the guard. "soon, is a lifetime away for those who are about to die. enjoy yours while you have a chance," he says.

"foolish bravado, for a condemned man," the guard reponds.

"bravado?" the shark's grin crawls across his face. "it was a statement of the future."

the guard turns and walks away.

after the guard disappears steuben silently slips beneath the water. he surfaces with both of his boots. they are different from the boots that the other had. the sole was thicker, the heel thicker yet.

"f.i.s. standard issue, with some modifications. my cobbler really enjoys his work," he explains.

he twists the heel of one of the boots back. inside is a grey box, about half the size of a pack of playing cards on all sides. he takes it out and hands it to philip, and twists the heel back. he pulls a section of the toe out off each boot. he slides a pair of thin slivers of metal out of each. he replaces the toe on each boot. he slides the metal slivers into his pocket. he slips back under the water to replace his boots. once he resurfaces he takes the package from philip and scores a couple of times with a sliver of metal.

"when the time comes. stay in here till i tell you otherwise," steuben says. his face and voice broking no explanation, and less argument.

Here comes the final act of stupidity, or perhaps suicide. You can go on and die, or turn back and free the people of this world. I question your idealism if you aren't going to try to help someone and instead are going to hurt your enemies.

I'm not going to hurt anyone.

She too a length of rope from her bag and a canteen, she fastened the canteen to her belt and tossed the coiled rope around her shoulder. Then she glanced at Tassar, a questioning glance, before turning back to the portal.

I merely plan on getting home, preferably in one piece, anyway in order to save their world I need to know how this thing works, and only Sage knows anything about that.

A little confused the three boys watch Steuben do whatever he was doing. Then they heard another voice from above. A xan looks down at them, bot the Xan from earilier, but a Xan elite. He opens the grate, and pulls out a little gun that looks like a snake, he fires at them and a green beam flies out of the end, it hits each of them, knocking them all motionless, but able to move thier eyes and mouths. Another guard hit a button, and an invisible force slowly moved them all up out of the chamber. The Xan with the bronze armor walked over and pulled the little box out of Steuben's hand.
"Statement of the future?" He said as he looked at the motionless man. "For you yes my friend, put bonds on them and take them to the steps of the pyramid!"
Guards came up and put on black, snakelike bonds, the bonds were rock hard, and not matter what wouldm't move, unless told to by a device that a Xan guard had. The execution was to begin soon.

OOC: I have no idea what is waiting for me on the other side.

Turning from Tassar she finally finishes her dramatic approach and walks through the portal.

You fool.

steuben smiles. "oh, i know i'm going to die. the thing is." he titters softly." the thing is that you don't." he looks the xan elite in the eyes.

"in about three minutes they'll have to scrape you off the walls. you and anybody within about twenty feet. cryogen explosives are useful things. take a gas, that one uses hydrogen, compress it down as far as you can. when you set it off, you get all the concussive effects," a gleam of mayhem enters his eyes," and no thermal effects.

"oh... did you feel that little quiver?" see says brightly "you've got about two minutes, now. but, the really useful thing about them is that they don't look like a bomb. they show up on scanners like a ceramic block with a bit of liquid inside. any kind of complex triggering mechanism would be a give away wouldn't it. so this style is designed to fail explosively when scored. the amount of scoring determines the delay.

"really it's too bad you came in when you did. a few minutes later and you probably would have lived longer. but at least this way it will be quick."

ooc: how long does the paralzing effect last?

(OOC: Forever, unless the Xan warrior turns it off, I am feeling evil but I won't blow you up Steuben.)

"Once again that is unfortunate for you." The Xan warrior replied.
The warrior pulled out a little circle, he hit a button on it, and it opened up at the top, air was sucked in like it was a tonrado, some Xan were tugged off their feet slightly. The bronze xan took the bomb, and threw it in the circle. He hit another button and the circle closed.
"This is a blackhole container." The Xan said showing it to Steuben. "It sucks up anything small and crushes it, making them all useless, your bomb is worthless, and will have no effect."
The Xan who was holding on to Steuben started to drag him away.
"No!" The bronze armored one said. "Scan him witht he scanners, stip him down to the flesh and make sure that all his weapons are gone."

Xan scanners are very complex, they will pick up anything. So if you have any concealed weapon, no matter were it is, they will find it.

(OOC: Steuben, just to let you know, if you had any more secret weapons of anything, they are all gone now.)

lower Pyramids
Just as Traha was about to go in Tassar grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the pyramid. Outside was everyone from the city. He pulled her into the thick of it, and hid her with some robes.

Why?

To hide you.

Doesn't he know it's a desert, he'd better make it quick.

You can probably survive without heat exhaustion for four minutes. I hope they didn't bring all of these people to attempt a rescue. There aren't enough weapons to stop two Xan from killing them all, and that's without weapons.

Do you care?

No, but you're going in anyway and I'm quite attached to you, you'd stand the best chance solo.

What do you recommend then?

Wait, a hostile act and the kid will shoot you, run for it and they'll follow you. You'll have the best chance if you just stay here to die in three minutes.

How reassuring.

As the crowd stood out in the blaring sun, three little spheres flew out of the door, making a square shape around them the spheres changed the temperature drastically. It became quite cool, about seventy degrees fairinheit.
Out of the door came four Xan elite. All of them were dragging one person each. Philip, Alonzo, Murdock, Steuben. They were set onto their legs at the bottom of the stairs, so that they were sitting upon their shins. Then hitting a button on the device they were free to move all but their legs, but their arms were bonded so it didn't matter much. The Xan elite walked down each side, two on each side of the stairs, and they stood still. Next to walk out was the Bronze warrior, or the chief warrior, leading a group of six Xan elite. The next were Anu'Sul's aides, and then Anu'Sul himself, sitting on a throne carried by four regular Xan warriors.
Last to walk out was another regular Xan warrior, who was pushing Sage in front of him. This raised a few gasps from Philip, Alonzo, and Murdock. Sage was dressed in robes, blood red and black robes. He stopped to Anu'Sul's left. He couldn't use any of his powers because Anu'Sul had put a neural deamplifier on him, meaning he couldn't summon the will to do any of his powers. He stood on the top of steps. The Xan who escorted him handed him a staff. Sage took it reluctantly and was pushed towards the others.

In the crowd Tassar and all his friends had their weapons secretly drawn, they would make their move soon.

Sage walked down the stairs, and pointed the tip of the oval end at Steuben's face. He put his fingers on the 'trigger' a smooth rubbery spot towards the middle. He was about to fire when he turned around.
"I will not kill them, and niether shall you!" He yelled at Anu'Sul.
In native Xan Anu'Sul yelled back with a laugh. "Is this some sort of joke? You will be killed yourself if you don't kill them!"
Then it happened, from the crowd many gunshots were heard. The four Xan at the bottom of the stairs had sparks fly off their armor as they stumbled backwards.
The Xan at the top of the stairs began to fire their weapons into the crowd, and Sage ran and grabbed a device off one of the dead Xan, he hit a button on it, and the paralization broke off the four others, also their bonds fell off.
He then took the staff turned its power up to maximum, and fired at the Xan. An explosion blew at the top of the stairs, and five of the fifteen Xan fell. The chief warrior began to fire down the stairs at Philip, Alonzo, Steuben, and Murdock, but they were running into the crowd. Only six of the ten were able to fire at them, because the only ones left were the chief warrior, one Xan elite, the four Xan who carried Anu'Sul (those were the ones firing) the other were the two aides, Anu'Sul, and the one who gave Sage his staff.
The remaining Xan turned their staves up to maximum power, and began to fire again, the explosions were twice the regular size of the maximum ones, becuase the sand was loose, and flew every where. Sage, Steuben, ALonzo, Philip, and Murdock ran into the crowd, and Tassar and three friends put cloaks on them, the cloak that was being put on Murdock fell off, and in the panic and pandemonium no one noticed, and many didn't care.
Sage yelled at Steuben. "What ever you do, don't go back and fight right now, we have to get away from here."
Murdock slipped, in front of Traha, she tried to help him up, and he let her. He looked at her and said. "It is good to know you are safe."
He looked behind him over his shoulder after he said that as they were running, and then grabbed her by the arms, and pushed her farther up, a bolt flew and hit a foot behind him, the explosion blasted him off his feet, and he landed, with a big burn mark on his back, he was dead.
The chief warrior smiled as he saw the boy go down, he was the one who shot him. By now the rest were lost in the crowd.
In Xan Anu'Sul said to him. "Stop, they are gone." He stood up and stormed back into the pyramid, furious with anger.
No matter what Sage tried to do he couldn't run back for Murdock, the crowd kept on pushing him away. He stuck out his hands for his fallen friends, tears streaming down his face.
In all the chaos, twenty people had died, including Murdock, and two of Tassar's friends.

"Goodnight Murdock."
So now you speak to corpses, run little fool!

I am running and I don't want to leave him.

You can't carry a corpse. Look all the others were left, what are you going to do? Bring them all? The desert will take care of them. It's natures way.

Fine.

She eases the corpse of her shoulders and continues running, quickly weaving her way through the crowd to the front where Sage is being shoved along. "Why did you come here? You haven't done any good, you've created a band of resistance fighters who are going to be slaughtered, you've caused the death of two of your own friends and people you've never met. For what, your own perverse pleasure?"

Tassar had brought them into a old temple that was towards the back of the city. It was completely locked down, except asecret passage through some tombs underground. They went inside, made a campfire, and rested.
After some time Sage got up, and walked over to Traha, he slapped her across the face.
"Never, ever! Use Murdock, and Ben, and the deaths of others to get information, no one was suppose to die here, except me."
He sat down. "My plan was simple, come here, and find some device that would tell me the secrets of my powers. If Xan came along, I would get into their mothership, and detonate the bomb. It would have wiped out all the Xan, along with myself, and would have freed this planet."
He looked around at all the others. "Everything went wrong though, someone must have told the Xan we came here. They wouldn't have come here right once we did, the improbability is to high. It must have been that Guant guy, Same warned me about him."
"Don't think I get any pleasure from this, I want to die right now. My friends are dead, along with many others, because of me. I don't want anything more than to go onto their ship, and detonate that bomb."
He looked around more, and then started to cry.

Ah, so you're initial feeling about him was right, he was suicidal.

Why did he bring other people along if he wanted that? Damn, I've done what I always do, help people sink deeper into their grief. When he dies it'll be my fault too. Just like all the rest.

Well it's too late to just avoid him now. Go do what you can.

Thank you.

After a moment the girl stands up and walks towards where Sage is sitting. Due to the sun her entire face is fairly read but her cheek stands out as almost luminescent. She bends down next to the crying Sage and begins to speak. "Look, Sage. I'm really sorry, I just overreacted, you aren't at fault for this. If anything I am, I should have known to get Ben and Murdock out with me during the storm, but all I was thinking of was my own hide." A single tear runs down her cheek and she licks it in order to retain the moisture. "I'm sorry and even though I was upset I didn't know them as well as you and you have every right to grieve. I'll go now. I'm sure I can find someway to help the natives, I owe them that much."

"Nata cuchu!" Tassar exclaims from beside the fire as Traha starts to walk away.
"He says stay." Sage said, his eyes closed.
"Una notcha, ulwada toik Xan." Tassar said looking at Traha.
"The Xan are in the city."
"Oola noot firnd nota."
"They will find you." Sage said. "He is right, stay here. I will go, I plan on letting them find me. They may have the real bomb, but I have a backup."
He stood up, and lifted the sleeve on his arm, on his arm was a scar, he moved his finger on it, and the skin peeled away, revealing a bomb. "To their scanners it looked like a muscle."
He started walking for the door. "Traha." He said, after seeing Tassar's mind, and seeing her name. "It isn't your fault that I wil die. It isn't your fault that any one has died. I was planning on killing myself way before I knew you. I wasn't planning on hruting anyone else, I brought you guys along in case something like this happened, but I didn't think it would. In my original plan if the Xan came, I would send everyone else back to Earth."
"Anu'Sul thinks that he disabled my powers, but that will be his fatal mistake."
Sage ran through the door. Philip and Alonzo stood up and tried to follow, but were held back by Steuben.

She looked up toward Sage, a second tear forming in her eye. "Please, don't. They all die, or at least they try. You cannot, I will not allow it."

Let him die for his worthless cause, he knows he won't do any good. The best he can do for anyone is a temporary stall. If there truly is other life out there then the earth governments need to be able to defend themselves. He's just a fool vigilante, please... don't.

I've seen too much, if I lose another I will die.

So you've already made up your mind, we're dead.

Sage turned, and walked over to Traha.
"I will give you my promise, I will use this bomb as a last resort. I will kill them with my powers, but if it goes wrong, I blow their ship."

She turns toward him resolutely. "It doesn't matter, you could kill every one of them and it wouldn't matter. More will come, maybe not the same but more fear and hatred will always follow. It doesn't matter what any of us do, one day we will all die. Perhaps the sooner, the better."

"Maybe, but my mind tells me otherwise." Sage said, and with that he left.

He walked out into the streets, and within five minutes a Xan patrol had found him. He used his powers to make them think that he was the only one still alive, and they brought him back to the pyramid.

He was brought to the top of the pyramid. And brought before Anu'Sul.
In Xan Anu'Sul yelled. "Were are the others?"
Also in Xan Sage answered. "You will let them live Anu'Sul, take just my life instead. The others would be no threat to you, they are weak."
"So Evel'Doum you have a soft side for them?"
"You were correct, I betrayed the laws of our race, I deserve death. They do not though, leave them to die to the elements."
"Very well," Anu'Sul said. "I will let them die."

City
"We have to help, he will die if we don't!" Philip yelled.
"I am with him, we need to go and help." Alonzo said.
"Yaga!" Tassar said.
"What?" Philip said looking at Tassar. "I don't believe this, I think that he knows english, he just can't speak it."
"The Xan could speak english, and these people are their slaves. So they must know it also." Alonzo said.
"Well all his friends agree with him," Philip said to Steuben, and Traha. "So we are going to go and fight, with or without your help."
Everyone except Traha and Steuben got up and started to walk off.

The girl sits defeated, letting the words of the fighters roll over her.

Please, go do something. Try to save him.

What's the use? He'll just die and I'll live, it doesn't matter. I can't do any good. I've just caused them all to die. I'm a curse.

No you aren't. You are gifted but in a painful way, think of the good you've done. Everyone is comforted by your presence.

What good does that do a dead man? He has the best chance without a pacifist following him. I'll just die right here, there isn't any better place, but I've missed too many opportunities in the past. Imagine how much suffering could have been stopped if I'd never been born, imagine how many lives would have been saved.

None, damn you. You have never given up, you don't know how. You've never let me get control for a second, you do what is best for everyone. You have no crimes, you are perfect.

Then why does everyone die?

Because you sense their destiny, it doesn't matter what you do they will die. I can't explain it any other way, you've saved so many from themselves. Twice, three times only for them to be hit by a car, become catatonic or have an stroke. You are burdened with the sense of destiny, not of good but of death.

An even better reason for me to die, I'm Cassandra.

Girl, or Traha as you're having them call you, I love you. Yes I know it doesn't matter, I'm just a fragment of your mind. Yes, I know that love is not my function but yours. Yet I do, how? I think the only reason I could is because you are the Madonna figure, you are perfect, pure. I know you think I just try to protect myself when I want you to stop from killing yourself, but it isn't true it's you.

Traha laughs and laughs hard, only moments have passed since the boys have passed and both they and Steuben look at her quizzically.

You are insane, all you are is my logic and memory. You can't feel love, hatred or even fear. You can only calculate odds for your betterment. That also means you feel no compunction against lying.

It's all true but trust me, just please go after them and try to rescue the child. If you can't I wish you'd just go back but I'm almost sure despair will overtake you then. So you must succeed, save him. I pray I'm wrong.

Now you're praying too? Fine I'll give it a shot, just don't complain about me not sleeping for over four days.

I'm happy as long as you're alive.

She turns and speaks to Steuben, "I'm going to follow them, I know it's insane but I need to stop them from getting hurt. You should just stay here it would be better." She grabs her bag and runs to catch the children before they make their assault, before Steuben can answer.

Philip, and Alonzo stopped, along with Tassar, and everyone else.
"Wow," Philip said. "A pacifist is willing to walk into the heat of battle with a group of people armed, and ready to fight. Even though you probably won't stick out your fingers and say boom, boom, boom?"
That raised a few laughs from the crowd.

OOC: Sorry about my absence, I'll try to make up for it.

"Considering what I've seen of you two, I'm definitely not going to hurt the mission. Besides you should have figured out by now that I have a few tricks up my sleeves and a knack for surviving. Just follow me and we can probably make it with hardly any bloodshed, and if we can't, I'll do what I have to." Sadly she pats the gun still planted on her hip. "Since you're all ready to go I assume you have a plan, or am I overestimating you?"

A little harsh?

They are weak, they need some kind of leadership, I'm not betting on them following you willingly but you can always just go in solo and you'd probably stand a better chance.

But they'd die.

Yes, make your choice.

It isn't mine to make, it's theirs.

"Yes we have a plan" Philip said. "And I may recall that it is a good one, so stop being so snoty. Alonzo will tell it."
"Here is how it goes..."

[OOC: I have to go for the time being, I will type it when I get back.]

"You see," ALonzo said. "It would be near impossible to attack from the front, unless, we have a distraction, that is were me and Tassar and his friends come in. We will make a distraction while you, and Philip here make your way into. Then when you are inside you make a distraction, and the rest of us go into the place. It is risky, but it has to work."