NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: DR, I just reviewed the thread and if I'm not mistaken, your last IC post was about the middle of page 14. Since then, you've not done anything ICly-wise. When we had restarted the IC stuff after all that OOC stuff, perhaps you would not have been accidentially missed if you had updated, or reposted.

Also, I reviewed the last IC post by you, and it seems to me that it was Gawdly that should have responded in some way. Not to rub friction or anything, but this is just an observation.

So...the cure for all this was to WAIT until you replied, which you can't do as much as us because you are at work?

*smacks himself repeatedly with a stick*

Dang...consider this MY future plan. Apologies for not considering that you may be busy. Glad we're all on the same page now.

(OOC - This should update mine and give plausable excuses for delays.)

TURQUINE

Turquine's knuckles were white as they gripped the handle of
the ancient holy blade. His face showed his turmoil. Tanis had proven
herself a potential enemy, yet how could he strike at the woman he
loved. The intruders gave his anger focus and slowly, glaring at the
newcomers 'Retribution's voice' slid from it's sheath, the crystaline
blade pulsing with pure white light. His own power was supported by
the power of his god as flowed into the blade and stepped toward the
two with a careful measured step, his heavy metal battle armor clanking
as he did but not seeming to hamper him unduly.

ARIEL

The stranger suited actions to words and too late Ariel gave
her warning, "Don't trust her, there are two minds at work within her
and one not her own." She called up a protective shield about herself
as she spoke, still trying to find the true Tanis, this time baffeling
the link so that the traps set wouldn't reach her own mind. She wasn't
about to trust anyone else to protect, not even the liege she had
trusted for so long. She could tell he loved her and knew that she
didn't have time to explain. So she brought up the physical and psychic
shields to protect herself.
The Deryn were a purely psionic race. In fact the body of a
Deryn couldn't survive if the powerful mind were cut off, as steele had
learned to his dismay, in what he had thought was an attack that would
simply paralyze her. But the neural connections had been blocked and
her body had begun to die quickly. He had reversed what he had done,
but she had a bitter lessen about lowering her defenses.

DARLINIA

Darlinia saw that the situation might get out of hand again and
moved protectively to her sleeping twins side, wiping her fevered brow
as she did so, ready to fend off anyone who came to close.

RAYANNA

Rayanna was a bit startled by the attempt that Tanis had made
but shifted her aim to the woman. She wouldn't release without order
and waited for the Queen to tell her what to do. At Arleena's arrival
her aim wavered slightly as she stared at the woman who was supposed
to have been killed.

BAGHTRU AND BROOK

Baghtru looked at Brook as Tanis moved away from them then
looked at himself, "So ahh, I guess I finally ceased to exist here?"

Brook looked back at him, "If so then I'd believe there is a
benign being somewhere", she bantered.

"I don't think any being could be so benign as to let YOU walk
around untended", he replied grinning.

Brooks sword clanged, flat edged against his helm, making it
ring. "At least SOME of us can make an arrival quitly when we walk."

Baghtru winced as his helm rang, "Yeah but at least I can't be
seen from a mile away", he said good naturedly, looking up at her.

"No she replied, only HEARD", then she looked back at the events
around her as did he.

There were far too many times to count when Laura was glad to
have these two. No matter how bad things got she could count on the
hardened souls of these two to lighten the mood with an easy banter that
just didn't seem to fit the situation.

Baghtru and Brook suddenly caught sight of Arleena as she appeared
and strode into the middle of the maelstrom.

"Well I'll be damned", Brook muttered.

"I was when I met you", Baghtru returned, "but theres a sight
for sore eyes."

"Keep it in your pants", Brook replied and approached the coffee
table that Arleena seemed to heading toward with Baghtru on her heels.

ARLEENA

Arleena was accustomed to chaos. She had a grown up with a
father who had wanted a son and sought every opportunity to kill her.
She had been born a vampiress and joined then ran a mercenary group at
a young age (for a vampire at least). Chaos ran rampant with many
situations she had been in and she walked through it with an air of
ownership. She tossed down a sheaf of papers that she had printed out
and looked around the room, wincing visibly and taking a step back as
Turquine drew his holy blade, feeling the power eminating from it. "We
need to talk about some things", she said to the room in general.

LAURALIN

Lauralin stood and stared at Arleena as she approached and made
her proclamation. She was told and believed that Arleena had been
killed, that she had lost her wife. Suddenly her eyes seem to shift and
go unfocused as she stared off and nodded as though someone unseen had
spoken. She closed her eyes and out of the windows a hundred dragons
could be seen rising into the skies. When she opened them she caught
Tanis hand signal and saw her father drawing the holy blade. She winced
at the power it gave off, but the signal caught her attention. She didn't
know what it had meant but she and Baghtru had worked out thier own silent
signals when they had adventured in the Dalelands under the watchful
eye of the Zentarim. Her own desire for peace and shock at having seen
Arleena had let this go to far and now she grew furious.



Suddenly Laura seem to explode in flames as her natural powers
of sorcery took hold in her anger. "ENOUGH! IN MY HOUSE THERE ... WILL
... BE ... COURTESEY!" Balls of flame appeared in each hand as she spoke
and she glared around the room daring anyone to act. Brook and Baghtru
suddenly changed direction and headed for the door with Baghtru muttering
'ohshitohshitohshit', knowing that once she got pissed she didn't care
who got hit with the fireballs and had no intentions of feeling thier
impact .... again.

<<OOC: my project this weekend will be to create a NEW Destiny post, cutting and pasting the good stuff there, and leaving this up for OOC chatter. Makes sense?>>

(OOC - Sounds good Gawdly. So does the MSN thing, maybe we can go over character backgrounds some too. I had a virus and had completely redo my computer (part of the reason I had posted for a couple of days, but I wasn't looking for excuses) and I still need to download my trillian again. (I just hope I can remember all my passwords.) I'll work on that tonight though. (for those who may not know trillian gives me AIM, MSN, YAHOO, IRC and umm, ehh, one other messenger all in one.)

A sharp slice into Kain's mind and concentration occoured, it was like someone was screaching into his head, clawing at the bone from the inside and burning his thoughts and spells. Agonising pain risided within his vampiric skull, and his vision became completely white.

The holy blade had been drawn, and Kain was feeling the full brunt of it of it's pure holy aura. Kain gripped the Brightblade, and felt the wave blade trying to pull him out of this situation, to clear his mind and his soul, trying to give him sight and defence. It had taken him, yet again, unawares, and Kain cursed silently. His demonic blood within his viens was making him vunerable...yet a-frelling-gain!

Kain had not felt pain like this in a considerably long time, and it reminded me of that brightness of Ravelyn's holy spells of the angels. Except, this spell affect was affecting him, he was the enemy of the angels now, and felt thier divine force against him.

He fell to his knees, the world falling around him. He tried to fight it, summon a shield, something to block this blindness, this numbness of the body and mind, but to no avail. Nothing came, nothing could be drawn from memory or thought.

Upon his knees, blind and in obvious pain, Kain's only defence was the Brightblade, which was pointed towards Turquine like a magnet, held out, glowing a deep crimson against it's polar opposite. It hummed with demonic energies, and it's own ravanous will. Kain still at least had some control over that he thought desperately, and prevented it from guiding him to attack Turquine. The wave blade glowed and growled viciously, driven by it's primal want and need for survival.

Kain could not understand his sword's behaviour. The demon was gone! There was no entity within the sword! There should not be, there could not be! It was reforged, remade and made pure! But Kain knew, from the sensations snaking up his arm and mind, that there was a vampiric instinct within the blade...which was now his only method of protection.

He felt the pain begining to subside slowly....and his vision coming back with infiniate slowness. But Kain knew, he was completely vunerable.

What others saw was Kain holding his head in pain with his left hand, and his right hand, outstreached, following and aimed at that holy blade. The Brightblade glowed a malicous blood red, which snaked up the blade, hilt and up Kain's arm, guiding it. The Brightblade apparently was trying to counteract the holy influence, but only achieving it very slowly. It was protecting it's master through instinct....

Kain was not even aware of sound anymore, and only heard a fraction of what Lauralin said. Only this pain and....terror was on Kain's mind. And it was terror, Kain's mind was chaos and his body shook with this primal fear which racked his soul and mind....

Suddenly Laura seem to explode in flames as her natural powers
of sorcery took hold in her anger. "ENOUGH! IN MY HOUSE THERE ... WILL
... BE ... COURTESEY!" Balls of flame appeared in each hand as she spoke
and she glared around the room daring anyone to act. Brook and Baghtru
suddenly changed direction and headed for the door with Baghtru muttering
'ohshitohshitohshit', knowing that once she got pissed she didn't care
who got hit with the fireballs and had no intentions of feeling thier
impact .... again.

"Note to self: don't piss this lady off." thought Steele ruefully as he stepped back, still holding Tanis in a protective grip. Lauralin was truly fearsome to behold, the power emanating from her like a palpable force, a wave of rage and righteous wrath unleashed. Steele had never seen her look more beautiful. Old feelings flared yet again, and he had to fight them back in their dark hole, for Arleena had returned. He had always had admiration for the dark and deadly vampire Queen, but harboured some resentment due to the intimate nature of her relationship to Lauralin. They were betrothed, and as long as Arleena was in the picture, Steele would never be. Lauralin seemed to have feelings for him as well, but her respect for duty prevented her from ever really exploring or acting on them.

He surveyed the unfolding scene around him, while keeping a cautious eye on Lauralin. Baghtru and Brook were moving quickly towards the exit, seemingly perturbed by the Queen's outburst. Rayanna had only moved slightly to track her target, and now the target was in Steele's arms. He turned his body slowly, until Tanis was no longer visible, exposing himself to the barbed death that Rayanna brandished with such unerring skill. He had tasted it once before, and once was enough.

Across the room, Turquine was advancing slowly and with deadly intent upon the two strangers, who stood their ground. Behind him, Kain seemed to be in great pain, one hand holding his head in agony. Steele watched, amazed, as the vampire slowly raised his demonic blade towards the King, who was completely unaware of this potential threat. He was about to call out when Tanis beat him to the punch.

"Behind you, my heart!" she screamed at Turquine, trying to pull away from Steele's virtually unbreakable grip. She turned to face him, pleading desperately wiith her eyes.

"I told you he was a threat, and no one would believe me. You have to stop him, Darius...please." Steele looked down at her, and then across at Kain. He raised his arm and pointed it at the vampire, the energy corruscating and crackling around his fist.

(OOC - Umm Gawdly? You nailed Laura perfectly. Her reasons for not acting on her feelings that is, though sorely tempted, but you made a mistake about Turquine and Kain. Turquine is advancing on the two people who arrived, the one that held Tanis and the other one. Kain's blade is pointing at Turquine, though Turquine doesn't seem to notice the fact, he's focused on the ones who had had Tanis. Just and FYI. I'll put up another post once Tarl posts.)

(OOC - Umm Gawdly? You nailed Laura perfectly. Her reasons for not acting on her feelings that is, though sorely tempted, but you made a mistake about Turquine and Kain. Turquine is advancing on the two people who arrived, the one that held Tanis and the other one. Kain's blade is pointing at Turquine, though Turquine doesn't seem to notice the fact, he's focused on the ones who had had Tanis. Just and FYI. I'll put up another post once Tarl posts.)

<<OOC: Corrected, and even more fun now!>>

(OOC - errrgh this was just starting to get interesting again.)

(OOC Don't worry. Tarl just has a fair few things to do, he is quite busy. He should be back on track soon, because he has tests and many things.)

<<OOC: I guess we need to wait for Tarl and Velmora?

...or Laura could explode even more? (please! heheh)>>

(OOC No, there is no need for my post. I can only reply once Dragonsreach has replied, and Tarl needs to reply first. That is what I am waiting for at least.)

(OOC - Yeah I'm waiting for Tarl. I'll post when he posts.)

Sigrun watched all this with sharp attention, all while also moving into action. He moved to block Kain from the others, paying no attention to Brightblade behind his back. He made sure though to provide a little room should Kain go nuts.

"Stand down! Kain is of no threat to you nor anyone else in this room, unless you provoke him. Also, sheath that holy blade of yours, for it is causing Kain to react as he is now."

Sigrun glared at the others, looking in turn to each of them.

"You have my word that he will calm down once that blade is re-sheathed."

OOC: Sorry for the lack of direct attention to each of you in particular, but please don't consider this post as disregarding some of you, as that is not my intention. I'm kinda busy right now anyways.

"Who do you think your talking to?" Lauralin asked Segrun. "This is my land, MY house. I am Queen Lauralin Silverlief. YOU will stand down or FACE the consequences."

"Father", Lauralin said looking at Turquine, "Retributions Voice IS troubling. I am Vampiress as is Arleena and it causes US pain. Kain is of demonic blood and for him it MUST be worse."

"These two", Turquine said indicating Sigrun and his companion, "are intruders and make demands in a house of royalty of the Queen herself!" he roared.

"And it is MY house Father, not yours. MY kingdom, not yours. If I am to ask them for trust then I must offer it in return. Trust is earned, not bestowed. YOU taught me that."

Turquine watched his daughter as she addressed him, growing more angry at first. Once she was done he was smiling. "It's often to my amazment that I see so much of your mother in you when you never knew her." He backed up sheathing 'Retribution's Voice'. "Forgive me Kain, I have vowed to protect you only to do harm", he said to Kain.

"Now", Laura said looking at Sigrun, "stand down. This is your LAST warning."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rayanna kept the arrow trained on where she knew Tanis would be in front of Steele. She knew he was thinking of protecting her but made little difference. She muttered the words of power to phase the arrow. It would pass through whatever barrier stood in the way of her target. 'One shot only' she thought. But then she had never needed anymore than that.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arleena stood between Steele and Kain, "You walked out, I was just enjoying our conversation. Sore loser?" Her smile was like ice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baghtru and Brook stopped at the door as things seem to be cooling down. They moved back into the room now that Laura was talking, hoping the man who had spoke wasn't foolish enough to keep up his arrogant attitude.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darlinia lifted her sleeping twin from the couch, "I'll return after I get her in bed and check on Chrissy."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ariel kept probling, slowly, making sure to keep up the psychic baffles to prevent any feedback, hoping to find the real woman's mind.

The pain receeded, and Kain gasped for air. The white blanket left him, and he was still recovering from the intensity of that. He rubbed his throat, and coughed vigerously, still struggling to breath. The Brightblade sank and clattered to the floor, Kain's hand still gripped onto it. A rush of information came back to him, and time slid mercifully back into it's rightful position.

Kain was in a state of shock, lying upon the floor as if he was still impaled by something. Beneath those dark blue robes of his, his deep scar throbbed painfully, and Kain put his hand across that next. That makes sense, Kain thought. A permanent mark left by a demon sword being torn from my body by angelic magic would feel something when a holy sword is drawn.

The Brightblade ceased to growl and glow, the skull hilt relenting it's own will of protection. Although painful, Kain thought, that experiance certainly has raised some issues. What was protecting me within that sword? An entity which still remains within the sword? The demon possibly still existing? Or something else? The sword should be wholly pure, I reforged it myself...odd....and it has something of a vampiric instinct...

"My thanks....", Kain gasped out weakly, still wincing slightly from that ordeal. He put up his mental barriers once more, against mental intrusion, and his spells were restored to him.

"Sigrun, stand....stand down...damn you. Lauralin...Lau...can take care of this...she..." Kain said, trying to summon up the strength to stand up. He leaned against his sword, as a staff for the moment, still breathing heavily, his eyes low and his flesh appearing paler than it usually should be.

"She will retain safety and order." Kain said now, his confident and deep voice returning.

Sigrun watched the one known as Lauralin with a renewed interest, his eyes reflecting a newfound respect for her. As Turquine returned his holy blade back into the sheath, Sigrun did so with Lanta as well. Finally, Lauralin ended her rant on him, demanding he stand down.

Sigrun complied, and Arleni did as well. Order was to be restored, and they would not impede its success.

"My apologies, Queen. I apologize also for my unexpected intrusion, but please, allow me to explain."

The Queen stared at him coldly, saying nothing.

"I will begin with another introduction first. My name, as you know, is Sigrun Greenwood. The other one over here, is Arleni Greenwood, my advisor and clan-member. I am the Ruler of Tarlachia, a nation far from here. I was traveling back toward Tarlachia when I passed through your nation. Under normal circumstances, I would have maintained our passage with annonymous regard. Yet, I encountered Kain's mind in distress, and naturally came to his assistance. Surely you would do the same for an old friend, mentor and ally?"

SIGRUN GREENWOOD'S PIC (http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0VAAaAyEbv6WgYu1GhYur3EghUu3sCtUVw4QNu8NqbglBBJX0EyDucDmkT3rLCDzOxiuAtauymDsZL9XvLJ*WeNt82sioS22IXAC tNpeMLjnCb6vybUZgbi4jWR1Vx*Y7/Sigrun-Haldir.jpg)

ARLENI GREENWOOD'S PIC (http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0WgCdAuYc50I7ExR7viPtFN0X!nUU8drtlv49yOZkdH*MLcha5z8f46lbT0Rn7PP0l0mfI7v0MdoeBwoTb9X7Ne8xeAxTJm9gJSN 0bJT33U4vS4T5Ps6IU!o0RdZOSlNjYuUt!BH!QGM/Arleni%20Greenwood2.jpg)

(OOC - Tarl? (Gawdly's going to hate me for putting another OOC post up, he's enought to edit out) but did I miss the descriptions of your characters or did you not do one for them? I know a gave a history in your description post but I don't see a physical description. I mainly ask because (though I hate giving away any secrets about my characters) several of them will have initial reactions (once the dust settles) that will be based on the physical descriptions initially. (Hey face it, IRL a persons initial, if only to themselves, reaction is based on physical appearance. I play my characters the same way.) Just waiting on Gawdly otherwise.)

OOC: There, edited my last post...pics are included at the end of the post to give you the best physical idea of what my characters look like.

(OOC - Thanks :) Just waiting on Gawdly now)

Order was being restored, slowly and by the imposition of the massive will and presence known as Queen Lauralin. Steele watched the proceedings, his arm still trained on Kain and humming with restrained energy, the other arm protectively around his navigator, Tanis. Laura and her team seemed to have things in order, and she and the strangers were now talking. Tarlachia, eh? Steele filed the name away for future reference. Anyone who could pass through Dragonsreach unmolested was a race that bore further investigation.
Arleena spoke to Steele snidely as she swept by him, but the big security man simply ignored her. He didn't have time for mind games.

He looked down at Tanis, who was staring towards Kain with daggers in her eyes. Steele spoke quietly to her.

"Ok, baby, it's all under control now. The King is safe, and Kain isn't going anywhere. What the frag happened here??"

"I'll...I'll explain later...please, can I go to him now?" Tanis stared across at Turquine, reaching for him, straining against Steeles arm.

"OK, sweetie...but go slow. Rayanna is watching you, and things are still tense here...no sudden moves, darlin'." He released her, standing protectively in front of her as she walked quickly over to Turquine. Before he could react, she threw herself into his arms, pulling the King tightly into her arms, burying her face in his shoulder.

They were only a few steps away from Kain. The rooms attention was now on Laura, and the strangers from Tarlachia. Kain was still weak, recovering slowly. Her window of opportunity had opened. She could feel Ariel probing her mind, carefully turning every stone in her psyche. The powerful woman had discovered that something was not quite right with Tanis, but still did not know the truth. A little longer, and she would discover everything. Tanis could wait no longer.

Lauralin turned to the sheaf of papers that Arleena had dropped on the coffee table, placing her back to Darius. She heard Tanis plea and raised her own eyes to Kain, her back still to Darius and Tanis. She looked at Kain then shifter her eyes in Tanis direction and back to Kain again with a warning look before incanting her spell. She hoped he wouldn't he try to block it, that he knew what it was, but magic was different depending on where you were from. She tried to put the wall of force between himself and the others in the room, protecting him from magical and physical attack. He had to trust her though to let her do it, because it would allow her magic through. At the same time she gestured with her hand on the side of her where Baghtru and Brook stood and Baghtru nodded almost imperceptively.

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

Baghtru looked over at Rayanna as he and Brook moved idley over to Ariel. Baghtru, with his heavier armor was closer to Darius and Brook moved to the other side Ariel, all speed and fury, close to Tanis but not out of reach, for her quick reactions, of Darius. At Baghtru's look, Raya nodded, her aim still on Tanis.

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

Turquine stepped forward to take Tanis in his arms. He knew what Laura was doing but powerless to do anything about it. She wouldn't harm anyone unless the moved first. He wrapped his arms around Tanis in a gentle hug, ready to tighten his grip to stop her from attacking as much to save her own life as to save Kain's.

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

Ariel remained focused on finding the real Tanis when a thought occured to her. She remembered what the King had called her and began her quest for Geladrial.

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

Arleena, while Laura was preparing and getting her people into position, reached down to pick up the top sheet from the sheaf of papers she had dropped down and turned to face Darius. "As I said, the conversation was just getting interesting", she looked down at the sheet as though reading it over. It didn't fool any of HER people, they all knew that her memory was as good as Laura's and Laura could quote from any book in any of her three libraries including chapter, page and paragraph.

"Let me ask you", she said raising her head to look at Darius, "Does the name 'The Colony of Vampirum Illustrus' sound familiar? If not let me refresh your memory some. It's in the Region of Haven Lost. The same region as Gawdly. So I'm forced to wonder", and as she went on Laura looked at her, having caught her attention, "why you would come so far to kill a man when you have someone on your very doorstep who's motto is 'As goes Velmora, so we follow...'. Don't you find that a bit dangerous for your people?" she asked looking between Tanis and Steele.

(OOC - Yeah I know, Arleena is a bitch. ;) )

Lauralin turned to the sheaf of papers that Arleena had dropped on the coffee table, placing her back to Darius. She heard Tanis plea and raised her own eyes to Kain, her back still to Darius and Tanis. She looked at Kain then shifter her eyes in Tanis direction and back to Kain again with a warning look before incanting her spell. She hoped he wouldn't he try to block it, that he knew what it was, but magic was different depending on where you were from. She tried to put the wall of force between himself and the others in the room, protecting him from magical and physical attack. He had to trust her though to let her do it, because it would allow her magic through. At the same time she gestured with her hand on the side of her where Baghtru and Brook stood and Baghtru nodded almost imperceptively.

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

Baghtru looked over at Rayanna as he and Brook moved idley over to Ariel. Baghtru, with his heavier armor was closer to Darius and Brook moved to the other side Ariel, all speed and fury, close to Tanis but not out of reach, for her quick reactions, of Darius. At Baghtru's look, Raya nodded, her aim still on Tanis.

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

Turquine stepped forward to take Tanis in his arms. He knew what Laura was doing but powerless to do anything about it. She wouldn't harm anyone unless the moved first. He wrapped his arms around Tanis in a gentle hug, ready to tighten his grip to stop her from attacking as much to save her own life as to save Kain's.

It was heaven in his strong arms KILL and Tanis felt safe KILL and protected KILL by the King. She wanted this KILLday to be over, so they could both KILL go somewhere quiet, and rediscover KILL the intimacy that had disappeared since they KILLarrived on Dragonsreach. His grip was so strong though, almost choking her with KILLits intensity. She suddenly felt KILLstifled and unable to breath. She began to KILL struggle against his grip, her teeth baring of their own volition.


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

Ariel remained focused on finding the real Tanis when a thought occured to her. She remembered what the King had called her and began her quest for Geladrial.

It was just a tickle, a whisper at the edge of her mind, but she went to it like a moth to a flame. Tanis reached out with her mind, waving to the strange intrusion, trying to get their attention.

"I'm still alive! Help me!!" her mind screamed, while her body relaxed languidly on the beach.

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

Arleena, while Laura was preparing and getting her people into position, reached down to pick up the top sheet from the sheaf of papers she had dropped down and turned to face Darius. "As I said, the conversation was just getting interesting", she looked down at the sheet as though reading it over. It didn't fool any of HER people, they all knew that her memory was as good as Laura's and Laura could quote from any book in any of her three libraries including chapter, page and paragraph.

"Let me ask you", she said raising her head to look at Darius, "Does the name 'The Colony of Vampirum Illustrus' sound familiar? If not let me refresh your memory some. It's in the Region of Haven Lost. The same region as Gawdly. So I'm forced to wonder", and as she went on Laura looked at her, having caught her attention, "why you would come so far to kill a man when you have someone on your very doorstep who's motto is 'As goes Velmora, so we follow...'. Don't you find that a bit dangerous for your people?" she asked looking between Tanis and Steele.

He had no idea what she was talking about, but she seemed serious. Smugly serious, in fact, an attitude that infuriated Steele. Still, she seemed confident in what she was claiming, and the big security man needed to know more. He reached over and scooped up the offending paperwork.

"I'll ask the Queen to watch her accusations, and remember that I too am a visiting dignitary. If she has information that concerns me, she could present it in a way that encourages me to believe her, no?" He turned away from her, his point made. As he glanced through the documents, a fear started to form in his mind, one that scared him immensely. Reading through, it was becoming apparant that all of them were being played against each other...for what reason, he was unsure, but it didn't appear to be a good one. As he checked and rechecked the data, one thing did become clear: the name of the person responsible for creating this mess, the only person with the knowledge and access to the systems that would allow him to create havoc on a galaxy-wide scale. Steele's heart broke painfully at the betrayel.

Rafe.

OOC: Not to be a pain, but what am I supposed to do now?...

Kain stood fully upright, and reajusted his robes so they were correct and in order. Within his right hand still remained his sword, which now that he held it in calmer circumstances, seemed less threatening. The more adept in the room which arcane subjects could see that there was a close bond between Kain and this sword, and this sword had possibly become part of Kain some how, or the other way around. There certainly was a very similar pattern within the flows of energies of the two entities, and the indentification of a certain...instinct and hunger to the sword.

Kain put his hair back in it's original position, behind his head, so that his fine white-silver mane of hair would not get in the way. He listened and watched as these events unfolded.

(OOC - Tarlachia - Whatever you'd like. Your people are now seeing things as they unfold. It should be obvious to them that everyone in the room is almost as confused as they are and are working things out. You can ask questions, stand by and listen, move about the room. It's up to you.)

Arleena moved over toward Steele about to say something but Laura rested a hand lightly on her arm and shook her head. "He is correct", she said softly, "we have the right to present our evidence but we should do so with proper courtesey and respect." She took the sheet from Arleena's hand, having glanced at it, "This, Darius, is more to the point I believe", she said, presenting him with an official U.N. Document.

Arleena moved away from Steele and over toward Kain, stopping before the wall of force. (I'm assuming he allowed it since you posted nothing to the contrary.) "These are for you, and I think they may explain why everyone is so hell bent for leather to get you. As soon as we feel comfortable lowering the wall of force", and she looked at Tanis as she said it who was struggling in Turquines arms, "you may peruse them."

Laura turned to Arleena, "Lena, I said", but Arleena cut her off. "I know what you said, what I have is information that he's already seen for himself." Laura nodded, "Sorry, Lena". Arleena shrugged, "I'm on your side, beloved, I'm just more direct than you."

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

Turquine tried holding Tanis, "Geladrial, please, what's wrong?"

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

Rayanna took the opportunity of Steele's distraction to position herself for a better shot. Not that it matter, only her target would be struck, but she wanted to make sure she made the mark.

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

Baghtru and Brook stepped forward, placing themselves between Tanis and Ariel.

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

Ariel had found what she sought, now came the hard part. "I've got her", she said.

Lauralin laid a hand lightly on Darius' arm and opened her mind to Ariel, staying behind Ariel's baffles but lending her own support. She opened the link to Darius that existed between them, allowing him to see what was going on in Tanis' mind, showing him that they weren't trying to harm her, but help her.

Ariel established a link to Geladrial and baffled her mind against a possible attack from the programmed personality. Then, borrowing on Laura's strength to supplement her own she began to push the programmed personality back while drawing on Geladrial's own mind trying to move it to the fore.

"I want to see that information in short time. Might explain this insanity to me a little better." Kain said dryly, trying to keep his patience and wit about him. He was currently concentrating upon forming a theory of rune structures to counteract that horrendous force of that sword. Something to allow him to runa way, or even fight against him should the time again.

He did not like being so frelling vunerable to that blade, it reminded him of his vunerability.

The null-space grenade was one of Adam's favorite toys, created shortly after he discovered his newfound ability to slip between the folds of time and space. When the explosive detonated, a number of things happen, the least of which was a blinding flashbang explosion, designed to incapacitate immediately. The second part of the equation was the imposition of the null-space bubble, an area which became, for a limited time, a dead zone for all things technological and mystical. Magic would have no effect, and and any current spells would be rendered useless. For technology, it would be like a massive EMP wave, shutting down electronics and circuitry.

Things happened very quickly.

Tanis had ceased to struggle in Turquines arms, and in fact had become very relaxed. The King noticed her face softening, becoming the Galadrial that had stolen his heart. She smiled sweetly at him, snuggling in closer.

He barely felt the blade enter his stomach.

As his face began to question the sudden heat in his gut, his body began to react, allowing Tanis to slip out of his hold. She slammed the null-space grenade to the ground, setting off the bright explosion. She was already moving towards Kain, her eyes averted from the light.

Steele collapsed, his exo-skeleton virtually dead, his body immobile. A second later, Tanis stood before Kain, raising her fist to drive the poisoned spike into his throat.

<<OOC: Please allow Velmora to reply first...we have something worked out. Sorry about the "gawdmod" grenade, I just needed a plot device to get to Kain!>>

(OOC But the method you have just used prevents me a little from doing what we would say we did. But nevermind. This will do. But, you could have chosen a slightly...more....subtle way of going about it.)

The Brightblade faded from view, and the world to Kain once more was cast into the horrendous bright light. His vampiric sense felt numbed, everything seemed gone to him. And something which extremely rarely came into being in Kain's mind, crept in and took hold.

It was fear.

Kain had not been afraid when that holy blade was drawn, because he still had a limited control. But now, the world was a place where he could not sense the world around him through arcane methods, it was like being blinded in a way. Kain was very much still Psi, and all of his life had he had the sense of being aware of his surroundings in an arcane method. But now, it was like ripping his lungs away from him, he was crippled.

"Whiccurk nicc! Hori mdhosdohi wyhl imsebi, pirt, mnuwd!" Kain bellowed in anger and confusion, walking backwards, trying to summon something, anything at all. To a Psi listening to the runic language, it would have been understandable. His first statements was one of extreme shock, displeasure and frustration, and the second was attempting to summon a rune structure for escape. To any other, it was a strange spidary language which no word could be made sense of.

Kain's rage intensified, his senses returning and his mind infuriated by his lack of magic. He felt a grasp of energy once more, and the Brightblade had formed once again.

And the Brightblade was not best pleased. It's hummed with a vocality of a demon, it brayed and promised an agonising torment to those who faced it. And Kain was utterly compelled by the blade in his moment of weakness and inbalance by it's vampiric instinct, as well as his own vampire and demon wits driving him onwards.

His eyes could see the figure tearing towards him, and Kain immediately thought it was her who was responsible. The Brightblade exploded into energy, the wave blade raging in crimson energies which snaked down from Kain's arm. The two beings, the vampire and the vampire blade, became one mind, and the urge to kill became the ultimate aim.

Kain had transformed in appearance, from his calm self, to the blood enraged vampire of war. His hair was like fire, the old silver sheen gone, replaced with a glow of fire towards it. His eyes hulked, and his fangs reared in his roaring mouth.

Kain's dark side had been released in his weakness of his other heritage, and the will to survive drove his fluid deadly strike.

The Brightblade thurst straight towards Tanis' chest, impaling her upon the wave blade to the middle of the weapon. Kain's demonic eyes focused into her own, and narrowed in malicous pleasure. Blood exploded from her back as the sword entered her fragile body, but did not go far. It was fascinating and horrifying at the same time, the blood which had sprayed into the air like a fountain, was held into the air for a looming second, and then flowed back into the vampiric blade.

The Brightblade was attuned to Kain's needs in combat, and with this weapon, he could concentrate on destroying his enemies, while the blade replenished his health with the blood from his numerous enemies. In this way, Kain could regenerate faster, become more and more deadly in combat the more foes he harmed or killed, and his thirst sustained. The disadvantage of such a blade, was that while within the vampiric-demonic battle form he was in now, his huge arsenal of spells were reduced. Combat was now a game, an instinct which flowed from him to his enemies.

Tanis was lifted into the air, the Brightblade pushed higher into the air, and Tanis slid down it to the hilt, her face formed into a silent scream. Her body shook in pain and the Brightblade ravaged her body from within.

Kain was draining her blood, so that her body was becoming a husk.

The enraged vampire's face and body soon flushed from the blood, the rage becoming deeper. It was indeed a long time since Kain had fed, and this blood sustained and revitalised him even further.

Now fully restored and capable, Kain threw the girl off his sword into no-where in particular, her body husk colliding with the wall with a dull thud.

Sanity was slowly creeping in now to Kain's mind, the Brightblade was being challenged by logic and rationality.

"Mdea ezea whyl li." Kain declared grimly, holding his blade within both cloven hands, it's point still absorbing some blood into Kain's arm directly. The demonic sword's skull hilt was glowing, those two empty eye sockets having flames of fire within thier dark pits.

Kain was panicking now, looking for answers. What the hell was going on? This had only happened within a short three seconds! This was insane! Something was controlling me!

Kain appeared only slightly distressed as he looked at the blade, and back to Tanis' body. He could offer no explaination to these people, or even himself. He just knew that sword of his, certainly still contained....something.

"Stay away from me...stay...stay away." Kain said again, only this time, not in his runic language. He certainly did not like the way this was looking, not at all. A moment of lapsed concentration, that frelling explosion of deniability!

"The girl frelling caused that blast!" Kain growled angrilly, offering some explaination for this insanity...

Kain felt it would not do. Civilities were smashed. Combat was upon them.

Guess this might be my last fight, Kain thought to himself morbidly.

OOC: EDIT: This is Tarlachia. Gorgamin (my girlfriend) was using my comp for her posts. However, the NS server decided to keep her logged in and thus I accidently used her name to post.

IC:
The blast from the mysterious grenade seemed to cause everything to slow down rapidly. Sound became distorted, light bent awkwardly, and the worst feeling of all filled both Sigrun and Arleni simultaneously: the utter dismissal of their magic...

They were completely naked...at least arcane-wise. Nevertheless, they possessed their hand-held weapons, although they would not likely have much more effect in this strange warp bubble of time and space, than regular weapons.

Sigrun watched in slow motion as Tanis charged toward Kain, only to see Tanis impaled upon Brightblade, the blood spilled strangely being drawn into the blade, the blush in Kain's skin brightening as he fed upon Tanis's life-source.

Yet, strangely, Sigrun felt restrained, helpless to interfere...

Tag

TURQUINE

Perhaps it was irony that the woman he loved killed him. He had no idea how she accomplished it. The full plate armor had served to turn aside many blades. Yet somehow his armor didn't stop this one. Curious that no one had seen her draw it. The grenade threw him back and blinded him. He sighed, figuring she would die. He finally was getting what he always thought he deserved. Three wives, all dead, six children and only Laura remaining, and she had become something that he had fought all his life. He loved her, that was without question, but he always had a hard time justifying himself in face of what his daughter had become. He laid back. He had failed in his oath to protect Kain anyway. Better to die than to live in dishonor.

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

BAGHTRU

The flash caught him by surprise. Suddenly pain began to fill his eyes as the
mystical red lenses that allowed him to see the magically invisible became dead weights, scoring the surface of his eyes. He dropped to knees, crying out in pain and ripping at his helmet to try to get it off. It clanged to floor as he tried to get the offending lenses out of his eyes.

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

BROOK

The flash blinded her and pure primal fury took control as the barbarian drew
blades and began swinging around her. Hard of hearing Brook relied heavily on her exceptionally sharp eyesight. Blind and almost deaf she lashed out about her to hold off any would be attackers. Baghtru's cries of pain only served to drive her to greater wildness. Though almost seeming to poke fun at each other and have arguments they were the greatest of friends and comrades in arms.

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

DARKMOOR

Darlinia entered the room right after the flash but unable to stop herself from
taking the last step over the threshold. Chrissy had wanted to see her mothers before going to sleep and she didn't see anything wrong with a brief goodnight. Turquine and Laura lay on the floor not moving, Rayanna drew her rapier looking about her but not seeming to see. Baghtru was yelling in pain and clawing at his face with his spiked gauntlets, tearing into the flesh. Brook was swinging wildly about her with shouts of barbarian rage. Steele wasn't moving, seeming like a statue. Arleena was moving toward the only other ones standing, seething with rage. Ariel was standing in the midst of it all, white and shaking but otherwise fine it seemed.

In it all Chrissy saw only one thing, her one mother was up and moving but her other lay on the floor where Laura had collapsed. All that went through her eight year old mind was the cold wave that had killed hundreds. Her own parents had died huddling around her, trying to keep her warm by thier own bodies even as they died. Laura had taken her in and she and Arleena had adopted her. They were always sure to set aside time for her, no matter how busy they were.

"MMAAAMMMAAAAAA!!!"

Darlinia stood unsure what to do. She had a civil duty to her queen but a moral duty to this child who had suffered enough in her life. Her decision was made for her by Arleena, "GET HER OUT OF HERE!"

With Laura down, Arleena was in charge and Darlinia rushed to obey.

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

RAYANNA

Too late the arrow was released. She jerked back, trying to save her already pain filled eyes. She dropped the bow, only to have it appear on her back, and drew her thin elven rapier. She turned her head back and forth listening.

"MMAAAMMMAAAAAA!!!"

Her heart leaped into her throat and she couldn't hold back tears. It wasn't her own Maranna of course. Her own child and husband had died when the upstart took the elven throne and led his dark forces against the unforwarned silent leaf. The deathwalker's father had helped restore order and in return she chose to assist his deathwalker daughter, who had proved far kinder than Raya had expected. But the child's scream was like the one she heard in her nightmares as the scene of her own family's butchering
was played out most nights.

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

ARLEENA

Arleena was blinded by the flash but it wasn't the first time she had had to fight blind. She still had all her other vampiric senses. By sound and scent she could tell where everyone was in the room. She turned toward the only ones standing. She didn't have her magic but she was far from harmless. She knew Laura was down, there was no breath, and though the heart pumped it did so slowly and ponderously, kept going only by the preternatural power of her vampiric nature. She moved toward the ones still standing in fury.

"MMAAAMMMAAAAAA!!!"

"Chrissy", she said in a tone barely above a whisper. She turned toward the small child that she and Laura had adopted, "GET HER OUT OF HERE!" She listened to the retreating footsteps and cries, making sure they escaped safely while she tucked the papers back into thier place at her belt.

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

ARIEL

Somehow all thoughts of what was going to happen was kept from Ariel, even though she was in the creatures mind. She was unable, even through reactions as fast as thought to stop what was happening. When the unholy blade plunged into the women who she was connected to it still somehow had retained it's magic. She could feel the creatures soul being pulled out and in horror realised that it was pulling her own with it. She pulled away
tearing out of the creatures mind like someone tearing away thier own flesh to get out of a trap. She stood trying to regain her thoughts, the pain almost unbearable.

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

LAURALIN

One moment the situation was in hand, the next it went white and then black. The magic had been drained from the area and she was sorceress. Magic was as much a part of her as the blood and flesh of her body. Then from the blackness came the dark forces that she had always kept at bay and the battle against her dark powers began. A battle that was stacked in favor of the darker part of her, her own will weakened by the removal of
the sorcerous powers that was part of her nature.

"Absolutely delicious." Adam said, watching the mayhem unfold. The game was reaching it's climax, and the endgame was in sight. The pieces were clashing, and falling across the board. He mentally congratulated himself on his cleverness, the Tanis gambit achieving even more than he had hoped. When Adam had teleported Tanis and Turquine from their island paradise to Dragonsreach, the sentient ship had simply substituted his own construct for the real Tanis, leaving her stranded and alone on the beach while her doppleganger went on to cause the havoc that was being wreaked below.

The clone had performed better than expected, even though Kain was still alive. Turquine was down, the blood ebbing from the deep wound in his side. Adam looked closer, his complex sensors analysing everything. If Adam could feel surprise, he would have raised an eyebrow. When the Tanis clone had stabbed the King with her wrist-spike, it was with precision. Though it was a painful, debilitating and bloody wound, it had avoided the tightly-packed internal organs, glancing off his ribcage. He would live, and this is what surprised Adam. The clone should have run him through, disemboweling the King with one swift thrust. It was as if some part of the clone retained a memory of the love that Tanis and Turquine shared...

Adam returned his attention to the scene in front of him. He suddenly had an urge to share this blessed moment with someone else...someone who he was growing tired of waiting for. He broadcast his need to his thrall, a tightbeam order to the meat that was bound to him.

"Now, Rafe...bring her NOW."

Kain was tierd of this. Tierd of the war, tierd of the conflict, tierd of the turmoil. This scene was maddness, the blade in his hand glowing with demonic energies which threatened all, including himself. His eyes looked over at the devastation here, with utter frustration. This was not his intent, this was not what he wanted! This was all wrong, all terribly wrong. This ruler was confused, and more over was his mind fatigued of this bloodshed.

His memories were painted with such scenes, the horror of combat and war, and the primal instinct which he still retained within him. As a mortal his rage was just, honourable and rightous. He did not enjoy the adrenaline of combat, the rush of fear of one's own life being at stake. No Psi should ever feel good about an approaching combat! Velmora was a nation filled with peaceful people, the Psi did not wish to fight! They did not relish it!

But here I am, enjoying this all. Savouring the blood from my foes, viewing the carnage without empathy, my enemies are things to me, not the people which I once pitied! I no longer fight the demons which I could kill, justifying it as serving good! I fight against mortal, mortal who knows not of thier action. Who could learn, who could change. My ways are supposed to teach, to guide others to greater good! What place have I, an abomination such as myself to be an example to others.

My instinct has thrown me aside into this damnable situation. And this instinct is supported by this blade! Be gone sword, and leave my mind to what sanity remains, this combat does not warrent a engine of destruction to make the innocent fall for thier emotions!

The Brightblade, with a strong sense of regret and frustration of it's own, faded from view, the sword leaving Kain's hand, leaving him without a weapon, but for his now clearing and depressed mind, and his shaking body.

A rage departed it's constricting grip around Kain, leaving an empty sense of loss, of regret. Kain stood, his hands by his side, looking around for nothing at all. He would defend himself with magic and his own abilities, not with that blade! It was a mistake to reforge it, to reforge it with such....powers within. Kain thought it might be his last mistake. Perhaps now, now after these long years of waiting, he would finally see his love, Daniella, within what afterlife awaited.

His mind was in the defensive now, his spells ready to fight. He looked around and saw everyone was deeply confused and mislead, the flash bringing about the chaos.

Best capitalise on it.

Kain began to walk backwards, trying to figure out a way out of here. His hands were raised, his face contorted in a duet of frustration and contemplation. The fear was gone, replaced by an acceptance of this situation with a heavy and compatable heart.

TANIS-CLONE

As Brightblade slowly dissolved into nothingness, Tanis slipped to the floor, trailing intestines and bloody gore behind her. The wound was horrific, and very, very fatal. As her life essence fled the shell of her body, her last action was to reach out a trembling hand, coming to rest on the hand of the fallen King Turquine. It gave her some comfort as she slipped into blackness.

TANIS

She was fighting off boredom, and wrestling with her fears. It seemed like an eternity since Turquine had been taken by Adam, and Tanis had been left alone on the island. She had no idea what was happening, but knew that if it involved the sentient-ship, it could not be a good thing. Adam had not made an appearance since his last attempt at creating a human form. Her frustration was high, but her options were limited.

She just sat on the beach, wishing her heart was here to share it with her, and hoping beyond hope that he was alright. She spoke to him in her mind, if only to comfort herself.

"I will never stop loving you, my King, my Heart, my Soul. We will be together again, and I will clear your heavy heart with my joyous love for you. I love you Turquine...with my very being, I love you."

(OOC - Velmora - No the arrow should have hit Tanis but since you guys had everything figured out I guess she has to miss. That's why she jerked when the grenade went off. The arrow missed Tanis, it's target, and it won't harm anyone else. It was phased to strike only it's target and pass through anything or anyone else. Picture third edition D&D Arcane Archer classe phase arrow setup.)

STEELE

He had just realized that he was blind when he suddenly felt his world shut down. Like a puppet with his strings cut, Steele had fallen to the floor heavily, his face bouncing off the hard marble floors. The massive blow to the head knocked him unconcious, mercifully.

Rafe

"Okie-okie, I think we're ready to rip, bro." said Rafe over his shoulder. He hit a few more keys and then smiled to himself. Reaching subtly into his utility belt, he palmed a small, two-shot needler. Pulling a twig from his pocket, he lit the narcostick slowly, the flames flickering and casting an ominous shadow on his face. He inhaled deeply, holding the sweet smoke in his lungs. He exhaled steadily, and turned to look at Trevor.

"Hey man, can you come over and just verify that this looks right, before I bring the ship...I mean, Eve online?"

Trevor slid from under the console and stood up then touched his ear. "I'll check when I get back", he said, "Chief wants me." He headed to the ramp on his way to the landing area.

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

"I don't understand", Carl said to Michael, "can you tell me why your having your own man rig your own ship to blow?"

"I don't like coincedences."

"Oh yeah, that explains everything. Okay can you tell me why your using and independent timed charge instead of just setting the engines to overload?"

"I don't like the odds of it being found and detected."

"Clear as mud. You haven't changed Michael."

"I don't like change." Michael said to Carl grinning.

(OOC - Velmora - No the arrow should have hit Tanis but since you guys had everything figured out I guess she has to miss. That's why she jerked when the grenade went off. The arrow missed Tanis, it's target, and it won't harm anyone else. It was phased to strike only it's target and pass through anything or anyone else. Picture third edition D&D Arcane Archer classe phase arrow setup.)

(OOC Ah, alright then. I will edit then. By the way, I am not familar with 3rd edition rules too much, just the world of dungeons and dragons. I have played 2nd edition a fair bit, although my knowledge is not extensive.)

Trevor slid from under the console and stood up then touched his ear. "I'll check when I get back", he said, "Chief wants me." He headed to the ramp on his way to the landing area.


Trevor never made it to the ramp.

As he left the bridge, walking rapidly down the corridor, the lights dimmed somewhat, then surged back to an even brighter intensity than before. A loud humming sound was increasing, and a slight vibration was coming from around him. When the stun-beam hit him, he fell to the floor in a heap. A small robot scuttled towards him, clamping itself around Trevors ankle, and began dragging him to a security cell.

Rafe had activated Eve the moment Travor had left, bringing her online. The ship was Adam's once again, and the young man felt satisfied with his accomplishment, though a small voice in his head was screaming that this was wrong, so very, very wrong.

He ignored it, the voice of his Master drowning out the cries.

________________________________________________________________

When Eve activated her external speakers, she asked a simple question.

"Michael...what are you doing?"

(OOC - Well I guess I'll post for Michael while I'm waiting for Tarlachia)

Michael was making the final preperations when Carl spoke up, "Shouldn't Trevor at least have left the ship by now?" Michael looked up and rolled back the recording in the hanger then activated his implant, "Trev? Your there buddy?" When he received no answer he sat down, deactivating the com. He sat for a long time before finally looking up again. "Prepare to blow the lock, we'll use the mag repulsors to get the ship out there, then we blow it to hell."

"Trevor's on there Michael."

"Yeah, and so is something that I don't understand and can't fight. And I'm going to do what I can to make sure it doesn't get any further."

Carl turned him in the chair to face him, "We have TWO MEN on that ship."

Michael pushed him away and stood up. He reached out and grabbed him, pulling him close, "YOU DON'T THINK I KNOW THAT? I HAVE A FRIEND ON THAT SHIP! BUT HE'S A TRAINED SECURITY PROFESSIONAL WHO KNOWS THE COST IF THINGS GO TO HELL! NOW GET READY TO BLOW THE DAMN LOCK!"

"Michael...please...what is going on? I thought I'd lost you forever and now...why won't you speak to me? Michael...?" Eve's voice was like a recording of Gassingtons dead wife come to life, and it was filled with questions and mounting pain.

(OOC - Gawdly do you realize that Michael is not in the hanger bay and can't hear what's going on in there? There's only the visual pick ups from the security cameras which is what he was looking at when he rolled them back.)

Her sensors came online, a bank at a time, and the ship realized that it was alone in the hanger-bay. Eve quickly tapped into the communication net that was buzzing around her, and re-transmitted her message in a wide-arc, broad spectrum wave. Her voice came suddenly from many different sources, over-riding any other communications.

"Michael...please...what is going on? I thought I'd lost you forever and now...why won't you speak to me? Michael...?"

The buzzer on the station masters controls went off. "Yeah?" Carl asked.

"Sir? Someone is screwing around with the com again"

Carl sighed, "Well why the hell are you bothering me? Shut it down, purge the system and bring up the backups for chrissakes." He toggled the com off and shook his head. "Damn kids", he muttered, "I wish I could just pen up the lot of them until they were old enough to be responsible." He finished the final commands, "Alright it's set."

Michael nodded, "Set the charges on the bay pod and ready the main guns, just in case."

"What the fuck Michael? What the hell is on that ship?"

"I don't know, but better to be safe than sorry. The charges and main guns are still seperate from the mainframe right?"

"You seriously think I'm going to allow anyone possible access?" he asked as he pushed in another two sequences. "I think whoever wrote that was wrong."

"Whoever wrote what?" Michael asked.

"They said that the final days would be heralded by the four horsemen of the apocolypse. I'm beginning to think it'll be heralded by one security chief."

Michael didn't understand the context but chuckled figuring it was some jab at him.

"Ready", Carl said.

Michael looked up at the ship on the screen and sighed. "Sorry Trev. Do it."

Carl had heard that tone before on the battlefields of centauri and sighed. Suddenly the doors blew outward on the bay and the high powered mag strips begin pushing anything in the bay outward with the force of a rail gun.

Rafe had felt the jarring motion, then the sudden acceleration. This was not Eve's doing, but some other forces at work. The young man was confused...why would this be happening? Unless...the Chief had figured things out, and knew that his safest move was to...destroy Eve? Could he actually do that?

He wasn't sure what Gassingtons intentions were, but he knew one thing: Trevor was still on board, and would be an unwitting victim of whatever the security man had planned. Rafe would not...could not let this happen. Trevor had been his first real friend, allowing Rafe to feel like a normal person.

He slapped a few keys, and a moment later, an unconcious Trevor materialized in the hallway leading to the control room where Michael was standing.

Rafe prepared himself for whatever was to come.

Carl looked up, "clear".

Michael walked over and grabbed Carl's hand, looking down at the man who nodded and stood up, stepping aside. Michael was never one to have someone else give his orders or carry them out if he had a choice. He looked down at the firing button as Carl walked out to give him his privacy.

"MICHAEL, TREVOR!"

Michael rushed out into the hallway and knelt beside his second. "Trev? Can you hear me?" He picked him up and made his way toward the medical facility. Rushing in he began speaking almost before the doctor knew he was there, "I need you to take care of him, whatever he needs I'll cover it." Carl nodded to the doctor who had him lay him on a medbed. "Alright, everyone out, let me work."

In the hallway Michael turned to look at the door.

"Sorry you had to blow the ship, but at least Trev wasn't aboard."

"Ahhh NUTS!" Michael ran for the office and looked at the screens, the ship was already out of range. He sighed and made his way back to medical. 'Another time', he thought, at least the explosives where still on board.

(OOC Bump for Tarl...)

ooc: Sorry, was on Christmas vacation.

IC:
Sigrun and Arleni watched Kain moments after recovering from the flash. Immediately, Sigrun read the intentions upon Kain's face. He didn't want to be here anymore. Silently, he spoke to Kain:

I can have a portal opened up within moments if you wish, my friend. We'll be out of their hair just as quick...

Arleni moved closer to Sigrun while simultaneously keeping an eye on the others.

Tag. Because I've been resurrected. :gundge:

<<OOC:The second coming! Welcome, and thanks for the tag.

If you see a way of joining in, feel free to do so...another Shentavo in the mix would be very interesting indeed, methinks...>>

TURQUINE

Turquine lay where he fell, blood leaking from his wound. He hoped that his god would take him, that his unnatural healing wouldn't work fast enough.

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

BAGHTRU

The lenses still weren't coming out and he roared in fury and pain as he lacerated his own face to try to dig them out.

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

BROOK

Brook stopped swinging and crouched, feral like, listening.

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

RAYANNA

Rayanna regained her control and cocked her head, listening. She put away the thin rapier and removed her rune carved bow again. She could still hit her target if the need came to fire, she had only to imbue the arrow and her magical powers were beginning to return.

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

ARLEENA

Already Arleena's eyes were returning to normal, her vision wasn't perfect yet but it soon would be. She looked around the room at the retreating chaos and then turned to face the three who stood, the only ones seemingly unaffected.

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

ARIEL

Sigrun and Arleni watched Kain moments after recovering from the flash. Immediately, Sigrun read the intentions upon Kain's face. He didn't want to be here anymore. Silently, he spoke to Kain:

I can have a portal opened up within moments if you wish, my friend. We'll be out of their hair just as quick...

"You can certainly try opening a portal. But I can tell you that not many would survive, if any at all. You think we would allow anyone to simply open a way into the mansion?"

Ariel had looked toward but not at Sigrun, obviously still blinded.

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

LAURALIN

Lauralin lay, now sometimes breathing heavily, her body soaked in blood sweat as she seemed to struggle with something unseen.

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

Suddenly a woman appeared at the doorway to the study. She was incredibly beautiful with the figure of a goddess and drew the attention of the men and women in the room, eyes unable to resist taking her in. The thin piece of clothe left nothing to the imagination. In one hand she carried a man with a broken hand while her left hand rested gently on a man carrying a soup ladle.

The half-succubus/half-human woman took in the situation and shook her head, "This just won't do, I can't have people here unable to admire me." She raised her hand from the man with the soup ladle and made a quick simple gesture. Instantly the blinded ones stopped, able to see

Elwin Sherbull had seen many sights in his life, not all of them pretty...but what faced him now was beyond belief. He had no sooner touched Shandaril when they disappeared, to reappear here, in this room of madness. It was a massive space, all hard stone and thick wood, with a medievil look that made Elwin think of the fantasy books he'd enjoyed as a child.

Stunningly majestic people stood or lay around him, some bleeding, the others wiping their eyes frantically. Unsure of what kind of situation he now found himself in, the small man raised his ladle into a defensive posture, and stepped in front of Shan, the gentleman in him insisting on protecting her, though in reality, Shan was probably the deadliest creature in the room at this moment.

"Well, ain't this a steaming bowl of rotting gruel." Elwin thought to himself, reaching deep inside to call on the power of the Soupman.

He was awake, though he felt as if he were dead. Every motor-function, except for the rising and falling of his chest, was shut down within him, the EMP burst from Tanis's flashbang effectively turning Steele off. He lay on the ground, face-first, unable to move or call out. He could hear the chaos around him, and assumed the worst. He tried desperately to move, to no avail. Until he could reboot, he was useless.

Steele hated feeling useless.

"Well aint this frelling wonderous!" Kain said with disgust and frustration, his voice seeming to shatter the illusion somewhat of this...thing. He was tierd of all of this crap, people randomly appearing, confusing everything and getting people hurt. His talons were flexing, which suggested that he was near to more violence to get out.

"Mind explaining who the yotz you are?" Kain hissed, his temper short and his manner cold and flippant. His blue robes flowed around him, his every angry gesture movement sending ripples down the matieral.

"Bah, nevermind. I don't give a frelling damn. Just let me leave." Kain said, moving towards the woman in a rather daring move indeed. His movements were confident and uncaring. He simply wanted to get out of here, and he didn't give a damn how.

His face was contorted in anger, the vampiric mask forming slightly upon his brow.

He saw the...monster...move towards Shan, anger rippling across his brow. Elwin reacted automatically, the power of the Soupman flowing through him. He stepped in front of Kain, blocking his progress, and raised his soup ladle threateningly. His voice, when he spoke, held a promise of great violence...at least, so he thought. In actuality, he sounded very much like a small dog yapping.

"Hold, or face my wrath, dark creature of doom! I am the Soupman, and I swear by my holy ladle that you shall not harm this lady!"

He waved the big spoon around, wondering why the glint in the creature's eyes looked very similar to amusement.

ooc: uh...Sigrun had last talked to Kain using telepathy. It was a closed link, so it couldn't have been "read". I always do thought speak in italics, with NO quotation marks. Words spoken aloud have quotation marks. I'll not worry about it this time though.

IC: Sigrun moved to Kain's side. Arleni moved to his opposite side. It was Sigrun who replied first,

"Soupboy, you are not wise to call the wrath of Kain here. Step aside, all of you. We ask you nicely, for we mean you no harm. However, do not think we will not defend ourselves if need be. Now if you don't mind, we are on our way out..."

Shandaril shrugs, "I'm not here for you" and she walks into the room dropping the man she had in her grasp. "Come here Elwin", she says to the man with the soup ladle.

Relief flooded through him when Shan called his name, and Elwin side-stepped away from the terrifying trio, slowly and with no sudden movements that they could misconstrue as an attack of any sort. As he got to her side, he noticed another woman, on the ground and seemingly in distress, covered with blood. Without pausing, he ran towards her, coming to a stop before her writhing form. He tore off his apron, looking for a wound to bind.

Arleena whirled as the man approached Laura and her cold hand clamped on his throat lifting him into the air. "LEAVE her be", she told him, her clear crystal like eyes cold and dangerous.

Shandaril clamped a hand on Arleena's wrist to force her arm down, but neither powerful being moved. "Let him down. This is the one Laura wanted me to check on. The one who's family was killed."

Arleena let the man down as she looked back at Lauralin.

"And this", Shandaril said, "is the one responsible." She indicates the man she dropped and then pulls false vampire teeth from her satchel. "He was pretending to be a vampire, got quite the following. Says his name is Kain."

Shandaril knelt down beside Laura and then stood. "How long until she's awake?"

"I don't know", Arleena replied, "I only hope I won't have to kill her."

EDITING!

Kain was about to slip by, leave this scene and go back to Velmora, where he would find the plans of Fable being subtly woven.

But, something kept him, those words.

"Says his name is Kain."

He turned his head slyly, his long silver-white hair moving in a strange manner so he could see. His eyes flashed at the sight of the man.

"A frelling flawed imposter if it is one. Only a fool would believe that he is I...his skin colour is all wrong, and his scent is completely off. What are you going to do with this bastard?" Kain said curiously, more of a passing comment and question than one which was serious.

(i would if i could...but everyone is dead. Shentavoes are now a whisper. :-P starting with new characters...well...they will be interconnected. I don't like loose ends. Maybe you should meet Tiara. If you need her, let me know. Anyway, just tg me if you need me to play a part. :-) I'm always here for a good rp)

Shandaril looked back at Kain, "I thought you and your loud mouthed friend were leaving. In fact he was willing to fight to defend himself should someone try to stop him. Well there's the door", shandaril said pointing, "no one stands in your way."

Kain looked at Shandaril oddly and said, "So glad to drag me here, put me in danger, then you let me wander out. No wonder your nation is in such turmoil. I am gone."

And with that, Kain faded into nothingness, his form fading into mist, which slid away. It would take him some time to get back to Velmora, although Kain would use certain arcane methods to speed up the journey.

---

Fable realised that Kain was coming back...and had prepared something for him. Something most interesting indeed, which would aid her own cause so wonderfully.

ooc: Rave! Been a while there chica! Anyways...I'm still paying off the damn water bills...seems like those few uh..."water fights" cost me a bit more than expected. Oh well. ;)

IC:
Sigrun smiled darkly at Kain's comment on the turmoil of this nation. He watched as Kain finally managed to slip away from sight. He turned to the others and bowed respectfully to the ones that he deemed deserving, based on their positions revealed in this little 'gathering.'

"Our apologies for our rude intrusion. May we have better encounters in the future."

He straightened and looked around. "Now, if someone would be kind enough to escort us out of this building..."

Shandaril looked at Arleena who was looking at the man with the broken hand who called himself Kain. "What should I do him?", Shandaril asked, "I don't think the Queen expected me to capture him."

Baghtru, Brook and Rayanna all looked dumbfounded at the Queen and moved over to her.

"Lock him in the tunnels", Arleena replied, "if she wins her battle then she'll let us know what to do with him."

"And if she doesn't win?", Shandaril asked.

"Then I'll have to destroy her. Her vampiric nature will have won and she doesn't want to live that way. I need to go check on Chrissy. Baghtru, Brook, Raya, don't leave thier sides." With that Arleena left the room heading toward the spiral staircase leading up further into the house.

Shandaril reached down and picked up the wounded man then looked at Elwin, "Wait here."

(ooc for those interesting to see what happens with Kain and Fable, go to this thread: The End of a Legend. (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=7828885#post7828885) As the name implies...well...this will be one of my final threads. Enjoy :) )

<<OOC: Dragon, are we finishing this? Are you still around?? If you are, we can wrap this up and go on to other things...>>

(OOC - Dragon? I was the last one to post, I was waiting for you and Tarlachia.)

<<OOC: Dragon, you've got mail! TG in your box...

OOC: Actually...I was waiting for someone to walk my characters out of your building...after all, after my little "Booya I'm here" entrance...I figured there'd be a close watch as to how my characters leave... I've yet to see someone do that...

(OOC - No, no one is leading you out. Arleena has other things on her mind, like seeing that Chrissy is alright and then coming back down to watch over Laura. As far as she's concerned, you got in, you can get out. As I said before there's guards outside the study door and outside the door to the porch. She's not concerned about the rest of the mansion on this level because it only consists of the foyer, the ballroom, a breakfast room, a dining room, a kitchen and a pantry. And the study obviously. There's only one door, the front, to get in, it was intentionaly built that way. Other than these only a spiral stairway leads up and theres two guards at the top. Even invisible you would bump into them to get past and once you pass through the arch to corridor it's a dispel invisibility so you would be seen by the guards at both ends.)

(OOC - Central Worlds = Dragonsreach, by the way.)

After Kain's departure, things happened quickly, in many different places.

ADAM

He watched as the game fell apart in front of him, his carefully laid plans falling by the wayside, his dreams of Godhood disintegrating quickly. Frustration filled the sentient-ship, and as he raged inwardly, the threads of his power began to unravel.

"I will kill them all!" he screamed to no one in particular.

RAFE

Though the young man was a thrall of the the ship known as Adam, he still retained some modicum of self-control and determination. He was ashamed of what he did to Trevor and the Chief, but at least he had been able to save Trevor's life before leaving. Now, during the long trip to Adam, he had the opportunity to set up his own plan, one that would eliminate the threat of Adam, once and for all. Eve was trying to talk him out of it.

"It's madness, Rafe...you can't do this." spoke Eve, frustrated that the young man seemed uninterested in her arguments.

"Eve, it's the only way, the only solution to this problem. We've gone over this enough, and my mind is made up. Just make sure you get yer ass out of the blast radius as soon as you get my signal...Chief Gassington will be pleased to see you...I think he really needs you in his life, darlin'."

"But Rafe...please, you are so young...surely there must be another way?"

"You know there isn't, Eve. Let's just do this, ok? I've always wanted to save the universe..." said the young man, puffing gently on his narco-twig. He touched the controls lightly, making minor adjustments to their course.

"OK, back to business: are we close enough to lock on to her?" They had tracked Tanis through her comm implant, and were approaching the small planet that Adam had marooned her on.

"We're close, Rafe...real close. The moment we get in range, I'll transport her aboard. Are you sure you want to handle this the way you described?"

"Yes...transport her into her room, but keep her secured. Run the tape that explains what has happened, and what our next steps are. Once I've dealt with Adam and you are on your way back to Dragonsreach, you can release her...not before."

"Rafe...are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" Eve asked, knowing what his answer would be.

"What I want, and what is necessary are, as always, two very different things." replied the young man, secure in his destiny.

TANIS

Her tan had become a thing of beauty, covering her naked form from head to toe. This was a good thing, because it helped to mask the anger and frustration that boiled within her. That, and the unmitigated boredom of her existance. She had lost count as to how long she had been on this accursed island, and was beginning to slowly, slowly lose her mind. She knew she was in trouble when she found herself arguing with a palm tree. For the thousandth time, she screamed towards the sky.

"LET...ME...OUT...OF...HERE!!!"

As always, she expected no reply, so she was shocked when she suddenly felt the unmistakeable grip of a transporter beam.

Areelna reassured Chrissy and returned to the sitting room where Shandaril had been listening to the others explain what happened. She knelt down beside Lauralin along with Arleena. "She could win or lose, it's hard to tell right now." Arleena nodded and said nothing as Shandaril stood and moved toward the King. She carefully removed the armor and dropped it beside him examining the wound. "How did the blade penetrate the armor?"

"I have no idea", Baghtru replied, "it was completely intact."

Ariel sat listening. She extended her senses, that being her only way to see since her blindness would be permanent. Deryn could get around quite well without vision, using they're senses to maneuver. In some it was even better. The others stood around after examining Steele with no idea how to help him or Laura. The King could be helped but wouldn't allow it.

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

Keff looked at Michael and Trevor as they sat in the main cabin. "How did you come to be all the way out there?" he asked.

"Long story", Michael replied, still looking green as singularity always made him feel.

"According to your coordinates we'll make Dragonsreach in twenty-two minutes and thirty-seven seconds", Carialle commented. "What is this place anyway?"

"About as far from Central as you can get and still be on a star map. They're only just getting into international affairs", Michael replied. "I didn't exactly keep my welcome mat, at home, clean."

Keff grinned, "Well your clean with us, though we're not about to mention that we brought you home."

"Best if you don't", Michael replied.

ADAM

He raged, and he screamed, shaking a virtual fist at the universe which seemed intent on denying him is destiny. His anger caused him to unravel inwardly, and the pieces began to crumble. First, what was left of his Kain clones began to deteriorate, their bodies slowly crumbling into their base materials. The planets where they had been sent were reacting to the threat, and the cults were being put down, one by one.

Within Adam, the Two who were One began to become Two yet again. NightClaw shook the cobwebs from its spectral mind, and began searching for its true master. Soon, it would have strength to join her.

Adam suddenly sensed a familiar presence...Eve! How did she get so close without his knowing, he wondered to himself, unaware that he was rapidly becoming so much less than what he once was. Adam smiled to himself, knowing that now, all was not lost. With Eve by his side, he could rebuild everything that had been lost, and start anew. The universe would one day be his.

RAFE

The final adjustments had been made, and everything was in place for the showdown. Rafe looked long and hard at the glass in front of him, the murky liquid swirling as it waited. Barely hesitating, he reached out and grabbed it, bringing it deliberately to his lips. After a moments pause, he drank the entire contents in one fell swoop. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he rapidly hit some keys and transmitted a communications to Adam. It was chatter really, information that seemed important, yet really had no meaning. Imbedded in the data was Rafe's remastered virus, which began working as soon as it entered Adam's database. Part 1 of the plan was in motion.

Hitting another key, the young man transported himself aboard Adam, who was waiting for him. The sentient-ship had begun to feel that something was wrong within him, and he hoped that Rafe, with his advanced technical skills, would be able to pinpoint the problem and quickly correct it.

Shortly after materializing, the concoction in Rafe's stomach hit the critical point, and activated. The liquid he had consumed was a nanobot-complex which, when active, created a temporary miniature black-hole. It consumed Rafe immediately and painlessly, and swallowed Adam shortly afterwards. Eve was already speeding away at lightspeed before the other sentient-ship had vanished. Her only thoughts now were of her true love, Michael.

TANIS

She had stopped trying to escape her room the moment the video came on. The half-Elf watched in fascination as the events unfolded in the past on Dragonsreach. She was shocked to see her doppleganger, and the senseless violence that ensued. Her heart caught in her throat when she saw her heart, her love King Turquine, go down by her hand. As the screen faded out, Tanis felt the subtle acceleration of the ship around her at the same moment as the familiar tingle of a transport beam. She wondered briefly where she was going this time.

The Soupman

It all seemed so perfectly normal to him, and this is what caused him the most consternation. A few days ago, he lived a simple existance, serving hot food to the needy and dreaming of avenging the murder of his family. Now, he was surrounded by magical and mythical figures and creatures, and it didn't faze him at all.

He looked down at the stricken Queen, wishing desperately to help, but her guardians had made it clear that he was unneeded, and unwelcome. He noticed another man ignored by the others, lying face down, dressed in more futuristic clothes. He didn't seem to be alive, but Elwin went over to check. He found a gentle pulse immediately, and turned the heavy man over onto his back. His face was bruised, and blood seeped from his nose and mouth, but he was alive.

TANIS

She materialized in the middle of the chamber, her eyes immediately seeing Turquine, and with a cry she ran to his side. Weeping, she fell to her knees and cradled his head in her lap, stroking his forehead and whispering his name. Her tears fell freely onto his face, mingling with the dried blood.

"My love, my heart...stay with me! I cannot exist without you, my King...my soul."

Arleena's reaction to Tanis was instantaneous. She rose, moved forward, grabbed Tanis by the throat, and slammed her against the wall. "YOU! How DARE you come here!" Shandaril stepped forward placing her hand on Arleena's wrist but knowing that her strength was only a match, not superior to the ancient Vampiress's own. "Dopplegangers have no soul. This one does. You won't get answers by killing everyone." Ariel's blind eyes looked into the middle distance as she said, "This is the real one, I can feel her thoughts." Arleena threw Tanis toward Steele viciously, "Wake him. I want answers. One wrong move, one wrong word from EITHER of you and you both die."

Turquine smiled slightly. Arleena had flown into rages before but always through irritation or anger. This time it was the rage of the just. At least his daughter had her people. She would be alright without him. He closed his eyes, sad but content.

Arleena's reaction to Tanis was instantaneous. She rose, moved forward, grabbed Tanis by the throat, and slammed her against the wall. "YOU! How DARE you come here!" Shandaril stepped forward placing her hand on Arleena's wrist but knowing that her strength was only a match, not superior to the ancient Vampiress's own. "Dopplegangers have no soul. This one does. You won't get answers by killing everyone." Ariel's blind eyes looked into the middle distance as she said, "This is the real one, I can feel her thoughts." Arleena threw Tanis toward Steele viciously, "Wake him. I want answers. One wrong move, one wrong word from EITHER of you and you both die."

Turquine smiled slightly. Arleena had flown into rages before but always through irritation or anger. This time it was the rage of the just. At least his daughter had her people. She would be alright without him. He closed his eyes, sad but content.

Arleena's hand was like a bar of iron across her throat, pressing hard against her windpipe, cutting off the airflow. Black dots were swirling when Tanis felt the pressure release slightly. She was still trying to breathe when she was thrown violently across the room, landing heavily on the stone floor. She bounced once, and rolled to a rough landing on top of...a body? She was desperately trying to get her bearings when she realized who she was lying on.

"Darius!!" she screamed, her head quickly clearing. His face was a bloody mess, but a quick check proved that these were the only obvious wounds he had, and they were superficial at best. She wiped the blood from his eyes with the hem of her sweatshirt. When she had been confined on Eve, the only clothes laid out for her were a set of training-sweats. Elegant, she was not.

************************************************

When Elwin saw the young woman go flying through the air, it was more than he could bear. In the last 72 hours he had met and fought Drows, cults, little rat-people, monsters made of feces, giant, mutated worms and the killer of his wife and children. He had been subjected to more horror and violence than any person should ever have to in a lifetime. Through it all, it was the power of the Soupman that kept him going. Soup was Salvation.

He had seen enough pain and death recently, and this latest act pushed him over the edge. He stomped forcefully towards Arleena, his five foot frame erect with righteous anger, his fists clenched and trembling at his side. For now, he kept his ladle sheathed. Elwin stopped a respectful distance from her, and cocked his head towards the Vampire Queen.

"Missy, I don't know who pooped in yer soup this mornin', but there ain't no call fer being so nasty to that girl...or to that poor lady over there..." Elwin pointed towards Lauralin.

"...if you want to get answers, you might try by just asking the questions next time." Elwin glared at her defiantly.


******************************************************

She sped across the galaxy, reaching deep inside herself for even more speed. Simultaneously, she directed a data-stream towards the computer system on Drangonsreach and Highpoint. She transferred the complete history of all the events of the past few days, with Adam as the manipulator behind everything. Rafe had asked her to do this, knowing that this information needed to be shared immediately.

Ahead of her, Eve broadcast a repeated message into the ether, sending an encoded message in many different directions, all aimed at one person and all saying the same thing.

"It's over now: I'm coming home to you."


************************************************

Tanis had done this before, but it still gave her the chills. Reaching behind him, she located a specific spot on the back of his neck, and pressed firmly three times. As she pulled her hand away, Steele's big body shuddered as if he'd been electrocuted. Then his eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at Tanis. He smiled slowly as he spoke, his voice a near-whisper.

"My hero. Yer late as hell, Navigator."

"Yes sir, sorry sir, shit happens sir!" she replied, tears of relief springing to her eyes. She reached down and held him, feeling as the large body beneath her begin to come to life. She broke her grip reluctantly, and looked down at him.

"Boss, thing's are fubar here, and I think we're in real trouble."

Steele sat up, slowly and then with increasing balance, rose to his feet. He stretched his long limbs, flexing to remove the lingering stiffness in his limbs. The big security man looked around the room, taking in everything. His eyes lingered on Lauralin, and his heart leapt into his throat at the thought of her lying helpless, possibly dying...he ripped his stare away and looked squarely at Arleena. Tanis was right: the Vampire was pissed.

"Your majesty, as that little, strange man just said, ask and we'll tell ya anything we know. Problem is, I don't think we know much more than you, right now. Let's figure out together what we DO know, and act on that. In the meantime, I...respectfully...ask that you allow me to tend to King Turquine. My exo-unit has a fully-functional bio-med unit, and I may be able to aid them both." Steele paused, looking away.

"This is my fault, all of this. I take full responsibility. I will...submit myself to you and your authorities without hesitation IF you allow me to treat them. Please, your majesty...please let me help them."

"Missy, I don't know who pooped in yer soup this mornin', but there ain't no call fer being so nasty to that girl...or to that poor lady over there..." Elwin pointed towards Lauralin.

"...if you want to get answers, you might try by just asking the questions next time." Elwin glared at her defiantly.

As he spoke Arleena only got more furious and stepped toward him. Shandaril interposed herself between the two, "We'll have a serious problem if you take another step, and you know full I'm not someone you can just toss around."

She sped across the galaxy, reaching deep inside herself for even more speed. Simultaneously, she directed a data-stream towards the computer system on Drangonsreach and Highpoint. She transferred the complete history of all the events of the past few days, with Adam as the manipulator behind everything. Rafe had asked her to do this, knowing that this information needed to be shared immediately.

Ahead of her, Eve broadcast a repeated message into the ether, sending an encoded message in many different directions, all aimed at one person and all saying the same thing.

"It's over now: I'm coming home to you."

Singularity travel didn't allow for transmissions. A mode of travel developed by Central Worlds and the Beta Corviki energy control matrix brought all the possibility lines to a point where ship would dive in. The ship would then navigate through the possibilities until it found the entrance it needed into normal space. Michael always hated this mode of travel, it always made him feel quasy. They were minutes away from their exit point.

The systems in Dragonsreach and Highport had finally succumbed to the untested AI and they weren't receiving or sending transmissions. Michael would have been happy to know this was happening now, since he wasn't there and Commander Ivanova was shouting things that would make a sailor blush.

"Your majesty, as that little, strange man just said, ask and we'll tell ya anything we know. Problem is, I don't think we know much more than you, right now. Let's figure out together what we DO know, and act on that. In the meantime, I...respectfully...ask that you allow me to tend to King Turquine. My exo-unit has a fully-functional bio-med unit, and I may be able to aid them both." Steele paused, looking away.

"This is my fault, all of this. I take full responsibility. I will...submit myself to you and your authorities without hesitation IF you allow me to treat them. Please, your majesty...please let me help them."

"I don't see where there's much you can do, but try as you will", Arleena replied. "Laura is beyond our help, she's fighting against her own darkness. If you can convince the king to accept aid, I'll be impressed, and if your navigator tries anything she won't live." She then turned to Shandaril, "And keep that little shit away from me", she told her pointing at Elwin, "you and I might take eternity to finish our battle but he won't last two seconds, and YOU know I'm right." She then returned to Laura as blood tears filled her own eyes, her anger dying away into fear for her.

Nodding his thanks to Arleena, Steele grabbed Tanis by the arm and rushed over to where Turquine lay stricken, his ashen skin growing greyer by the moment. He quickly passed his hand over the King, the subcutaneous sensors in his hand acting as a medical analysis unit. A moment later he began speaking.

"Vital signs are low, and fading...blood pressure dropping. I can't figure it out...his wound isn't THAT bad..." Steele reached under the Turquines clothing, probing the wound with his hand. It was a clean wound, small and precise. His probe had shown that it had passed cleanly through muscle and tissue, but that no internal organs had been touched. Quickly, Steele hypo-sealed the wound, the healing spray already knitting the tissue back together. He looked at Tanis, and spoke quietly.

"I...I don't know if there is anything else I can do for him, darlin'...it's as if he doesn't WANT to live." He looked at her, squarely.

"You may have to convince him otherwise." Taking Turquines limp hand, he placed it in Tanis's, then bent to whisper in the Kings ear.

"There is someone here who needs you to live, your majesty. Only cowards give up without a fight."

Steele got up and walked quickly towards Lauralin, leaving Tanis to tend to the King. She stroked his hand, and began speaking to him. She started slowly, telling him of her adventures, and how her life meant nothing until Turquine had appeared. The words came faster now, spilling out of her, tears accompanying them. She spoke of the dreams they had together, of a future together free of violence, one where they would spend their final days together, growing older and deeper in love.

Steele knelt beside Laura, watching her as she struggled with her internal demons. His med-scans revealed nothing, probably due to her mutated physiology. He simply wiped the matted hair from her brow, and closed his eyes. He searched for the mind-link, the thread they shared ever since Lauralin had given part of her self, to save Steeles life. Now, he needed desperately to return the gift. He floated deeper in his own mind, calling out to her.

"I give back to you what you once gave to me, my love. Your soul saved me when I needed it, and now I return it to you, with my heart attached. Take what you need...feed on my energy. Let me be your rock, your anchor, your calm port in a noisy storm. Take what I give you, and live...live for your people, live for your father, live for your mate...live, because you are needed here. I give everything I am to you, freely and without restraint."

He pushed his energy towards her, the mystical remnants of Laura's energy mingling with the power of his exo-unit, pouring it into her in a torrent. He felt himself draining rapidly, but kept pushing nonetheless. The realization that his love for the Queen still remained, stronger than ever, gave him new energy to persevere, though he was coming perilously close to sacrificing himself.

Elwin had watched all this with trepidation, then satisfaction and pride. Whoever this huge man was, he was a man to be respected. He seemed to care about helping first, though he looked more than capable to provide a high-level of hurt, if necessary. Elwin wasn't sure what was wrong with the lady on the ground, but he could tell it was very important to the man that she survive. Elwin knew what he had to do.

This was a job for...the Soupman.

He walked over to the roaring fireplace, unhooking the waterskin from his shoulder. He slowly unsheathed his Ladle of Power, and poured some liquid from the skin into it. He held the ladle over the flames, watching as his broth quickly heated up. Soon, the smell of soup filtered slowly through the air. Holding the ladle carefully in front of him, he walked over to where Steele knelt, his eyes closed in deep concentration. Elwin stood over them and began to speak in a low voice.

"Beef and Barley saving lives.
Cream of Mushroom unmasks lies.
Chicken Noodle, just a scoop,
unleash the healing power of my soup!"

Turquine didn't respond. He seeemed not to hear, strangely not to be there. Not dead but not present in some odd way.

Steele's link to Lauralin revealed an odd sight. She stood on a platform, weak and tired but gaining strength. Beside her stood her father in his black armor and her advisor, Ferranifer. Another odd creature stood there with her. She looked down from the platform on a chaos of fighting and her father stood at her side. Arrayed against them looked to be the legions of hell. A golden and a silver dragon were cutting swaths of destruction as Laura her father and the other two prepared to enter the fray.

Above Dragonsreach space seemed to explode. From the explosion a ship emerged, 600 meters long and one third that wide, she was sleek and graceful. Once clear of the singularity she dove through the atmosphere for Dragonsreach.

It was like watching a holo-film.

Dragons clashed in battle, scales and flesh being torn, great gouts of flame blackening their hides. Around them, armies came together in a massive conflaguration of violence and death. His eye wandered around the battlefield, coming to rest on what he assumed was the main battle, one being fought by familiar faces. Over there stood Lady Aiwyn, who Steele had met at a ball, struggling through the mass of flesh. There was King Turquine, resplendant in all his glory, his great mystic blade cutting a swath through the enemy. There stood Lauralin, casting spells both offensive and defensive, blood pouring from numerous wounds. This war was being fought in her mind, and was tearing her physical form apart. Steele could do nothing to change the outcome, for his link to Lauralin only allowed him to observe, not participate.

The battle waged for what seemed like hours, but in reality was only moments. As quickly as it had begun, there was an ending, and a tentative peace fell across the scene. it seemed as if Laura and Turquine had been the victors. His vision began to fade to grey, and suddenly Steele was back in Dragonsreach, Lauralins limp hand still clenched tightly in his. Beside him stood the Soupman, his steaming ladle poised in readiness by his side. The big security man could not help but smile at the little old man, impressed by his bravery...or stupidity. He brought his thoughts back to the stricken Queen, and spoke quietly to her.

"You have won yet again, my heart, and now you are needed here. Come back to us, Laura...come back to...me."

The Central Worlds vessel landed in front of the mansion, taking up most of the space between the wall and the mansion itself. The guards rushed forward, though they has no idea what to do. When the ramp lower the guards took positions near it but relaxed as Michael and Trevor came pounding down the ramp and into the house. Keff followed more slowly, entering the room after Michael nods toward Darius and moves to the King and Trevor moves over next to Darius and looks at the Queen. "Cari..." Keff said to no one in particular as took in the two prone figures. He stopped there, however, seeming unable to speak, his mouth hanging open. They didn't have Vampires, Vampiric charm, such as from Arleena, nor did they have succubbi or thier charms. In fact magic was a myth in Central worlds. Keff stood like a statue, except his head which swiveled from one woman to another, his mouth hanging open. Shandaril, of course, struck a provocative pose and flashed him a wonderful smile.

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

Eternity finally came to an end and Laura began to stir. Arleena sensed her aura and tears flowed more freely. "She won", she said through choked tears and looked toward the King who was also stirring. Her love and the only man who had been like a father to her both lived. She sat back, unable to do anything but weep tears of joy.

The others in the room smiled happily, Rayanna's own tears falling freely as tears among her people were considered expressions of the soul.

(By the way, in that last post Laura cast flame and electricity. Darius would recognize the electricity as that which would come from his exo-suit. I just thought it was nice touch since he was pouring himself into winning her battle, hope you don't mind.)

As things settled into an air of normalcy, information was shared and the real story began to emerge. Fences were mended somewhat, and the reality of what almost transpired began to hit home. Steele stood watching, satisfied that the danger had passed, and left with some unanswered questions. What had happened to Adam? Where was Rafe? Would he now lose Tanis to a love and happiness she so richly deserved? What about his own feelings towards Lauralin? Who the hell was the little man with the soup ladle?

*****************************

Tanis held his hand as if her life depended on it, her pulse quickening as Turquine slowly regained consiousness.

"Welcome back, m'lord...my love."

*****************************

Elwin drifted into the background, watching as everyone chattered amongst themselves. The story that unfolded, what he could follow, sounded fantastic and unbelieveable, and yet...the proof stood in front of him. He was happy that everyone seemed to be calmer, and a sense of relief hung in the air. He looked for Shandaril, hoping to catch a glimpse of her beauty, and hoping that she could help him get home. It hit him that he no longer had a life to return to, as his personal mystery and mission had been accomplished. The killer of his family had fallen, and justice had been served.

Raya returned to her position on the widow's walk while Bahgtru and Brook took up positions near Laura. Michael and Trevor stayed near the king but gave him room to be close to Tanis. As he listened to everything Turquine would glance at Tanis occasionally as if afraid that the doppleganger would return. Keff stood listening in amazement occasionally muttering as though to himself. Shandaril moved close to Elwin, 'It's alright, time for you to move on now. Your family would understand, I'm sure. The time of pain is past, it's time to heal and retake your life', she whispered. Ariel sat, blind eyes looking at nothing.

Laura sat listening, taking everything in and making what connections she could. When all seemed said she hesitated a moment before speaking. "So what has happened to Adam, Rafe and Eve? And how did you come to be here Mr. Gassington?"

"I contacted some people I knew before coming here. I was in the military in Central Worlds. Keff", he said, nodding toward the man who still stood near the door, "and Carialle brought me back. I promised that you, the King and Ariel would meet with them. They've developed drives that will take them beyond their systems without taking years to travel and are looking to make contact with other nations now."

Steele had drifted towards Chief Gassington, knowing that the military man would have a clear grasp on the situation. He listened intently, trying to put the final pieces together. Apparantly, Rafe had commandeered Eve, Gassingtons ship, and flown it to Adam. Why, Steele was unsure, but the kid had transported Trevor off the ship before leaving, and saved Tanis later on. Whatever happened to Rafe, he seemed to be taking care of business. Steele felt a flush of pride for the young man. He glanced over to where Tanis sat with King Turquine.

***********************************

The half-Elven navigator had explained of her time alone on the deserted island, her sudden transport onto Eve, and then her arrival here. She noticed the cautious look in Turquines eyes, and for the first time in a long time, she felt fear. Placing his hand on her heart, she drove her eyes into him.

"This is me. The real me. The woman who has given her heart and soul to you. Please...speak to me. Tell me your fears. Let me help remove them. The other has already caused you and your family great pain...do not let her ghost cause even more."

*************************************

Elwin looked up at Shan, taking in her beauty, knowing that his time with her was probably coming to an end.

"The problem is...I have nowhere left to go. Before you arrived on my world, I was dead...a walking dead man. You brought adventure and life to me, and with your help, I was able to find redemption and vengeance. Now, nothing exists for me there. I cannot return to that empty place to grow old alone...to die again."

Steele's enhanced hearing picked up Elwin's words, and bowing slightly to Lauralin and Gassington, he turned and walked over to the small man. He looked down at him, a smile starting to form as he noticed that Elwin still gripped his ladle tightly.

"Excuse me sir, but I could not help but overhear your situation. I can use a man of your unique...skills...on my team. The pay is good, the work is dangerous, and you'll spend most of your time travelling with me to strange places. Think about it, and let me know."

Steele turned to leave Elwin and Shan to themselves, but before he took a step, Elwin cleared his throat.

"But what...what can I do for you?" he asked, unsure why the big man was offering him this opportunity.

"Well, you'll make soup, of course! Man can't live by replicated foodstuffs alone, y'know..." Steele smiled back at him. A moment later, Elwin smiled in return.

"I'm honored and...I accept."

************************

At that moment, every communicator in the room began broadcasting the same message.

"This is starship Eve, requesting docking protocols. Orbit devolving shortly, landfall on Dragonsreach momentarily." the robotic voice paused, then came back, this time sounding more feminine.

"Has anyone seen my husband, Michael?"

Steele had drifted towards Chief Gassington, knowing that the military man would have a clear grasp on the situation. He listened intently, trying to put the final pieces together. Apparantly, Rafe had commandeered Eve, Gassingtons ship, and flown it to Adam. Why, Steele was unsure, but the kid had transported Trevor off the ship before leaving, and saved Tanis later on. Whatever happened to Rafe, he seemed to be taking care of business. Steele felt a flush of pride for the young man. He glanced over to where Tanis sat with King Turquine.

"My guess is", Laura said softly to Darius, "that he sacrificed himself to destroy Adam."

***********************************

The half-Elven navigator had explained of her time alone on the deserted island, her sudden transport onto Eve, and then her arrival here. She noticed the cautious look in Turquines eyes, and for the first time in a long time, she felt fear. Placing his hand on her heart, she drove her eyes into him.

"This is me. The real me. The woman who has given her heart and soul to you. Please...speak to me. Tell me your fears. Let me help remove them. The other has already caused you and your family great pain...do not let her ghost cause even more."

"It's not you, exactly. I have trusted and been betrayed so many times. I WANT to believe you", Turquine replied sighing.

Ariel turned her blind gaze in thier direction, "Then believe. This is the real woman."

Turquine couldn't help but smile and hug Tanis fiercly. He held on for several minutes then finally let go and looked over at Ariel. "Can I do anything for you old friend?"

"No, vision is no great loss to me. In fact I see better now than I ever have."

*************************************

Elwin looked up at Shan, taking in her beauty, knowing that his time with her was probably coming to an end.

"The problem is...I have nowhere left to go. Before you arrived on my world, I was dead...a walking dead man. You brought adventure and life to me, and with your help, I was able to find redemption and vengeance. Now, nothing exists for me there. I cannot return to that empty place to grow old alone...to die again."

Steele's enhanced hearing picked up Elwin's words, and bowing slightly to Lauralin and Gassington, he turned and walked over to the small man. He looked down at him, a smile starting to form as he noticed that Elwin still gripped his ladle tightly.

"Excuse me sir, but I could not help but overhear your situation. I can use a man of your unique...skills...on my team. The pay is good, the work is dangerous, and you'll spend most of your time travelling with me to strange places. Think about it, and let me know."

Steele turned to leave Elwin and Shan to themselves, but before he took a step, Elwin cleared his throat.

"But what...what can I do for you?" he asked, unsure why the big man was offering him this opportunity.

"Well, you'll make soup, of course! Man can't live by replicated foodstuffs alone, y'know..." Steele smiled back at him. A moment later, Elwin smiled in return.

"I'm honored and...I accept."

"There", Shandril said, "you see? Things worked out for you. They have a doing that sometimes with those of pure innocence." What she neglected to mention is that more times than not the purely innocent are also used to benefit of others in power struggles.

************************

At that moment, every communicator in the room began broadcasting the same message.

"This is starship Eve, requesting docking protocols. Orbit devolving shortly, landfall on Dragonsreach momentarily." the robotic voice paused, then came back, this time sounding more feminine.

"Has anyone seen my husband, Michael?"

Michael sat for a moment in stunned silence. Finally he spoke, only one word, "Eve?" It was spoken softly, saddely, a mixture of fear and love.

At that a moment a shadow stepped from the corner of the room, a Wraith.

"Nightclaw", Laura said slowly standing up.

"I have returned Mistress. The one known as Adam is gone and the one known as Rafe as well. Yes, Mistress, he sacrificed himself. The one known as Eve is no longer in his control."

"I have returned Mistress. The one known as Adam is gone and the one known as Rafe as well. Yes, Mistress, he sacrificed himself. The one known as Eve is no longer in his control."

The room fell silent at the creature's words, except for a softly uttered "no". Steele spoke again, louder this time, denying the truth before him.

"NO!"

Across the room, Tanis buried her head in Turquines shoulder, her tears flowing freely, yet again. Too much had happened, too fast, and the beautiful half-Elf was in a state of shock.

******************************

"Hello again, stranger...I told you nothing could keep us apart. I'll be landing shortly, and I'll explain everything."Eve's voice was warm and filled with humor, but it was her words that grabbed Steele's attention. He was picking up her broadcast on his own internal frequencies, and he used the link to directly request a download of the logs containing the detailed records of Adam's "Destiny", right up to the point that Rafe sacrificed himself to eliminate the threat of the sentient-ship, and thwart Adam's plan for universal domination. As the big security man reviewed the information, he realized that the whole tale seemed like something out of a comic book, or a holo-vid come to life...exactly the type of stuff that Rafe loved to read.

It seemed that the kid had created some sort of self-contained, miniature black-hole that he somehow activated after transporting onto Adam. Both Rafe and Adam had been sucked into it, and thats where the sensor data ended. While it was improbable that Rafe could survive, the kid was pretty smart, and may have had an escape plan. He could be floating in a life-pod at this moment, hoping for rescue. Steele had to be sure, before he could sleep again.

Choosing another frequency, and using Eve's comm suite allowed Steele to send a short, terse message. If all went well, a new ship would be arriving shortly to replace the one that had become Adam. He looked around, realizing that he no longer had any reason to be here...he had come originally to help with a terrorist investigation, and because he had fallen very deeply in love with Lauralin, Queen of Dragonsreach. He stayed because their lives had became inexplicably entwined, as did those of the people around them. The threats came at them, fast and furious, and much was lost on both sides. Grief was a language that they all understood, and the time for tears would wait.

Steele looked at Lauralin, and realized that he had no reason to stay. The danger had passed, and his martial skills were no longer needed. Arleena stood protectively beside Lauralin, her face aglow with relief that her mate was hale and well. There was great strength in her eyes, and great love for Lauralin. He turned away from them slowly, and walked over to Tanis. Quickly, he told her his intention to go out to where Rafe and Adam had disappeared. He waited in silence as she considered his words. Steele would not order her to accompany him, not that she would obey in any case. She had to make the decision on her own. Steele saw Elwin talking with Shan, and he used the opportunity to leave Tanis alone with her thoughts.

Steele looked at Lauralin, and realized that he had no reason to stay. The danger had passed, and his martial skills were no longer needed. Arleena stood protectively beside Lauralin, her face aglow with relief that her mate was hale and well. There was great strength in her eyes, and great love for Lauralin. He turned away from them slowly, and walked over to Tanis. Quickly, he told her his intention to go out to where Rafe and Adam had disappeared. He waited in silence as she considered his words. Steele would not order her to accompany him, not that she would obey in any case. She had to make the decision on her own. Steele saw Elwin talking with Shan, and he used the opportunity to leave Tanis alone with her thoughts.

Turquine looked down at Tanis, "Why don't you go with him. We all need time to grieve. We need to go to Central Worlds as Michael promised and I think Eve would be best to take you two to the location of the conflict with Adam."

Lauralin nodded as she stepped toward Darius. "It is our custom to grieve for thirty days, during which the bodies are magically preserved. We can all meet back here. If you do not find him then he will have a place beside my own people who were lost in the conflict. If you do find him, then so much the better for us all. Either way you are welcome to attend the ceremony for those who have passed beyond the veil."

"You're also welcome, Mr. Steele, of course, to attend our wedding", Turquine said as he looked at Tanis, "which by tradition", he said now looking up at Darius, "must take place only after the veil ceremony."

She sat with her thoughts, realizing she really had no choice in what she must do next. Turning to look Turquine in the eyes, she spoke hesitantly, with increasing force.

"I choose to stay with you, my King. I have tasted what it is like to not have you near me, even for a short time, and I cannot bear the thought of living through that pain again. I almost lost you once, and I won't tale the risk of it happening again."

She smiled at him now, her spirit and determination shining through. Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial tone, for only the King to hear.

"Looks like yer stuck with me, lover...'till death do us part, as they say..."

**************************************

Steele nodded to the King, acknowledging the invitation. He walked a few steps away from the couple leaving them to their privacy, and turned his attention back to the Queen. Once again she filled his vision, and the world swam into a soft focus, Lauralin's pure beauty radiating warmth. They had been through so much together, and shared so much, yet they were still veritable strangers. He loved her, this much was clear...but she was pledged to another, and Steele had no other reason to be here now, except for his love...his unrequited love. Their eyes met, and he spoke, his voice void of emotion.

"My ship will be here soon, so I guess...listen, I'm gonna just say goodbye now, and go wait for the ship outside. I...I'm sorry that you and your people have suffered so much, and my planet stands ready to aid you in any way...as do I. If ever you have need of me...my services...use the device I gave you long ago. I'll always be there for you."

He waited for a moment, hoping she would say something, tell him to stop, tell him to stay, tell him that she loved him equally...but he didn't expect it to happen. He began to move towards the front door.

She sat with her thoughts, realizing she really had no choice in what she must do next. Turning to look Turquine in the eyes, she spoke hesitantly, with increasing force.

"I choose to stay with you, my King. I have tasted what it is like to not have you near me, even for a short time, and I cannot bear the thought of living through that pain again. I almost lost you once, and I won't tale the risk of it happening again."

She smiled at him now, her spirit and determination shining through. Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial tone, for only the King to hear.

"Looks like yer stuck with me, lover...'till death do us part, as they say..."

**************************************

Steele nodded to the King, acknowledging the invitation. He walked a few steps away from the couple leaving them to their privacy, and turned his attention back to the Queen. Once again she filled his vision, and the world swam into a soft focus, Lauralin's pure beauty radiating warmth. They had been through so much together, and shared so much, yet they were still veritable strangers. He loved her, this much was clear...but she was pledged to another, and Steele had no other reason to be here now, except for his love...his unrequited love. Their eyes met, and he spoke, his voice void of emotion.

"My ship will be here soon, so I guess...listen, I'm gonna just say goodbye now, and go wait for the ship outside. I...I'm sorry that you and your people have suffered so much, and my planet stands ready to aid you in any way...as do I. If ever you have need of me...my services...use the device I gave you long ago. I'll always be there for you."

He waited for a moment, hoping she would say something, tell him to stop, tell him to stay, tell him that she loved him equally...but he didn't expect it to happen. He began to move towards the front door.

Turquine smiled and hugged her. "Then I won't be long. I go only to meet with Central Worlds. I must fulfill Michael's promise. But if would stay here then you should familiarize yourself with the palace, the people, our laws." He kissed her lightly, smiling, "And don't let Ivanova bother you. She's a bit cold at first but once she's used to someone she really is most kind. She's our senior officer for our military at the moment and I think she'll be our next General."

(I'm NOT bitching here, just letting you know that with long delay in previous response I already started them in the other thread so having Tanis along is impossible at the moment. We can start a new thread with the burial and marriage right if you like, or if you want you could even meet up with them in the central worlds meeting. It would be meeting another nation and one advanced enough for space. Your choice, I'm game either way.)

Lauralin took a step forward, "Darius ... I hate to ask but. You see we tend to handle our own problems without asking for help but, well, we don't know alot about these mechanical information systems."

"Computers", Arleena corrected.

"Yes, com - pute - airs. I'm afraid that I had authorized the use of a beda system that destroyed them."

"What she's trying to say", Arleena said stepping forward, "is that she allowed the introduction of an untested A.I. into our computer system and that, as Commander Ivanova so quantly put it, it ate through our systems faster than a weight watchers drop out at a free all you can eat buffet line."

"Well", Laura said, "I think that is a bit more graphic than I would have presented it."

"No", Arleena replied, "It's definitely more graphic than you would have presented and far fewer words."

Laura grinned, "Granted", she said nodding then turned back to Darius, "Could you render assistance in the restoration of my father's and my systems?"

Things had worked themselves out, with Tanis deciding to stay on at Dragonsreach, awaiting the return of her future husband and King, and coordinating the implementation of a state-of-the-art data system, complete with new equipment and a team of technicians and teachers to help ease the transition, that was on it's way from Gawdly already. This was a gift from Steele, offered to Lauralin after he had first seen the archaic computers that Laura and her people used. Steele himself would not be needed to oversee the project, his team being an excellent one. He thought about what Lauralin had just said, wondering if there was something more to her words.

He patiently explained to her the plan that was already in motion, and emphasized that he would not be part of it. He watched the Queen closely for a reaction.

"M'lady, I'm pretty sure that will take care of your technology problems, and Tanis will get the job done...of this, there is no doubt. If you need anything else...well, you know how to contact me. Your Highness." This last was directed at Arleena, the dark and deadly vampire-Queen. He bowed to both, and continued walking towards the entrance, nodding to Baghtru and Brook, as well as Michael and Trevor. Turning, his eyes caught those of the small man, Elwin. Steele winked, and gestured for him to follow.

Stepping outside, Steele was suddenly aware of a cold breeze at his neck, chilling him. He lit a cheroot from a battered silver case, and puffed on it reflectively, watching the sky.

**********************************

Elwin looked up at Shandaril. This dark and violent beauty had entered his life, twisted and turned it upside down, and changed it more than...well, almost as much as the death of his family had, but in a positive way. He had a life in front of him now, one that looked to be not only exciting, but meaningful. The older man reached out, taking Shandaril's hand in his own. Smiling up at the gorgeous warrior, Elwin spoke quietly to her.

"I want to thank-you, for all that you've done for me and...for showing me that I can feel again, and act accordingly. You...are a really special l'il girl, y'know? Don't let anyone tell you different. Don't...well, try and be...choosy about the boys that come sniffin' around you...you can have any man you want, sweetheart."

It hit him suddenly, and poignantly, that this is why she would never choose Elwin. She could have men like Steele and that Security man, Gassington...or even a King like Turquine. Still, he realized that being around her would be enough for him now, with his new life in front of him. Bowing slightly, he kissed Shandaril's hand lightly, lingering for only a moment. Releasing her, he looked up and commited her face to his memory, to take with him into the unknown night.

"Don't ferget to eat yer soup." Elwin said with a smile that was tinged with sadness.

"Elwin", Shandaril said, "that is a lovely fantasy. Unfortuntaly my very nature prevents the final act of intimate trust without killing that person. But let me say that you would be a first choice if it were ever otherwise." She leaned down and kissed him, just long enough that he felt the tug on his soul as her demonic powers roused themselves to feed but not long enough to do him harm. "A lovely fantasy indeed."

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

Her voice came into his mind, 'I am sorry Darius. For what it is worth, my feelings for you are as strong as my feelings for Arleena.' The thought had a tinge of sadness to it that could be felt.

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

"Where is she?" Michael muttered.

"Calm down chief. I'm sure she's on her way. The central worlds ship is taking up most of the front, she probably had to land and walk."

Michael sighed and nodded, "Yeah, your probably right."

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

Turquine looked down at Tanis, his eyes glittering mischievously. "You know", he muttered in a low conspiratorial tone, "it will be a couple of hours at least before leaving for central worlds", and winked at her.

"Elwin", Shandaril said, "that is a lovely fantasy. Unfortuntaly my very nature prevents the final act of intimate trust without killing that person. But let me say that you would be a first choice if it were ever otherwise." She leaned down and kissed him, just long enough that he felt the tug on his soul as her demonic powers roused themselves to feed but not long enough to do him harm. "A lovely fantasy indeed."

He came as close to death as he'd ever been, yet it tasted so very sweet. Elwin stayed long enough to catch his breath and compose himself, then turned and hurried to catch up to his new employer

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

Her voice came into his mind, 'I am sorry Darius. For what it is worth, my feelings for you are as strong as my feelings for Arleena.' The thought had a tinge of sadness to it that could be felt.

He felt her words, and his thoughts were a turbulent river of contradictions and realities. He knew that her emotions were true, his link with her granting an intimacy no physical act could compare to. His frustration overcame him briefly, and his mind virtually screamed at her.

"Then why won't you fight for me?"

He took another long draw of his cigar, and waited with growing impatience for his ship to arrive. He had a sudden need to get off this planet.

Things changed slightly when he saw the naked woman.

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

"Where is she?" Michael muttered.

"Calm down chief. I'm sure she's on her way. The central worlds ship is taking up most of the front, she probably had to land and walk."

Michael sighed and nodded, "Yeah, your probably right."

Eve attained orbit, her scanners indicating the logical place to land and feeding the coordinates to her mainframe. She popped off an imminent landing message, her voice light and bubbly. She descended gracefully through the atmosphere, despite her age and ungainly lines. Eve hadn't chosen her ship's body, but she sure wasn't going to complain, it being soooo much better than just being dead. Presently, she landed in an abandoned lot, nearby the castle.

Eve concentrated, willing herself to perform the change that gave her a human form for a short period. A gift from the Gods that watched over King Turquine and his people, Eve could assume the form of a beautiful woman, but she reverted back to her ship form after 8 hours. The Gods had a sense of humor, it seemed. She could retain her ship form for as long as she wanted, and could only become human once in a 24 hour period. Using everything she had, the ship wavered shivered and became a billion, billion atoms, all glowing like sparks. They exploded outwards, a cascading shower of tiny stars, leaving behind a small, glowing form. It was a beautiful, naked woman.

Eve started walking then running towards the castle, her need to see and touch Michael greater than her need for air to breathe...

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

Turquine looked down at Tanis, his eyes glittering mischievously. "You know", he muttered in a low conspiratorial tone, "it will be a couple of hours at least before leaving for central worlds", and winked at her.

"My liege...blow in my ear and I'll follow you anywhere..." Tanis replied, her heart shining through her smile, a familiar heat growing inside of her. She stood up, taking his hand and virtually dragging him across the room, towards the rear where the kitchen and servants quarters lay.

He came as close to death as he'd ever been, yet it tasted so very sweet. Elwin stayed long enough to catch his breath and compose himself, then turned and hurried to catch up to his new employer

Shandaril watched him go, not saying anything further. She could have kept him here, and not against his will. But she liked this little odd man. She liked him enough not to love him, because in the end, that would spell his doom. Such was the curse she lived with.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
He felt her words, and his thoughts were a turbulent river of contradictions and realities. He knew that her emotions were true, his link with her granting an intimacy no physical act could compare to. His frustration overcame him briefly, and his mind virtually screamed at her.

"Then why won't you fight for me?"

He took another long draw of his cigar, and waited with growing impatience for his ship to arrive. He had a sudden need to get off this planet.

Things changed slightly when he saw the naked woman.

"We both know that would do no good. At best I could give a place equal to Arleena, both in my kingdom and in my heart, even in my house. But you would not take it. You are a noble man Darius. You would not leave your people for my sake. We both know that. Arleena can share me with any man, because mortals die. In the end, I shall be hers. It is easier for her to share than it would be for you. And one thing you and I share is our devotion to our people. You would not be able to leave yours, and I would not be able to leave mine. But there are vacations."

Her mind filled him pride in his nobility, saddness at the truth of her words and hope in her final statement.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eve attained orbit, her scanners indicating the logical place to land and feeding the coordinates to her mainframe. She popped off an imminent landing message, her voice light and bubbly. She descended gracefully through the atmosphere, despite her age and ungainly lines. Eve hadn't chosen her ship's body, but she sure wasn't going to complain, it being soooo much better than just being dead. Presently, she landed in an abandoned lot, nearby the castle.

Eve concentrated, willing herself to perform the change that gave her a human form for a short period. A gift from the Gods that watched over King Turquine and his people, Eve could assume the form of a beautiful woman, but she reverted back to her ship form after 8 hours. The Gods had a sense of humor, it seemed. She could retain her ship form for as long as she wanted, and could only become human once in a 24 hour period. Using everything she had, the ship wavered shivered and became a billion, billion atoms, all glowing like sparks. They exploded outwards, a cascading shower of tiny stars, leaving behind a small, glowing form. It was a beautiful, naked woman.

Eve started walking then running towards the castle, her need to see and touch Michael greater than her need for air to breathe...

The guards barely recognized the woman from her last time here. They didn't take any notice of her nudity, only let her pass. The guards at the door looked from her to Steele as she caught his attention.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"My liege...blow in my ear and I'll follow you anywhere..." Tanis replied, her heart shining through her smile, a familiar heat growing inside of her. She stood up, taking his hand and virtually dragging him across the room, towards the rear where the kitchen and servants quarters lay.

"We're taking some rest before I must leave", Turquine said on the way out.

Shandaril snorted, her own body reacting to thiers.

"Some call it rest, some call it work..." Arleena said with a wink.

"Lying does not become you father, but I shall delay our departure as long as I can", Lauralin replied smiling.

The big man blinked once, realizing that he really was seeing a a fast-running and very naked young woman running past him. Steele returned the incredelous look of the guard, raising an eyebrow while he drew on his cigar.

"A perfect ending to this little party..." Steele allowed, unimpressed by the laxness of the young guard...he should have stopped her, though she was obviously unarmed.

Through the open door came the small man, Elwin. He smiled when he saw Steele, and approached him quickly, thrusting out a grizzled hand.

"Elwin Sherbull, Soupman, at your service, sir. How can I be of service to you, sir?" He spoke slowly and clearly, straining to enunciate his words.

"First off, don't call me 'sir'..." Steele replied, smiling down at him.

"I apologise, your Majesty, for my indiscretion..."

"Elwin." Steele interjected.

"...and inept rudeness towards you and your House and..."

"Elwin." Louder this time, all to no avail.

"...and your Divine Bloodline but I am not worthy of your..."

"ELWIN!!" The roar that came from Steele hit Elwin like a wall, his small body buffeted by the force of the voice. The Soupman immediately stopped speaking, and stood at a ragged attention. Steele spoke again, his voice quieter, if not gentler.

"Elwin, if we're gonna work together, I need you to just be you, and treat me...like me. I don't hire employee's, I hire partners. Be yerself and speak your mind, because that's the guy I'm paying. So...my name is Darius Steele, but my friends call me just Steele. I hope you will, too." He put out his hand, engulfing Elwin's like an adult with a child. Despite the difference in size, the smaller man returned Steele's firm grip with gusto.

"You can count on it...Steele. Now, if ya really meant it about me speakin' my mind, I need to tell you that I think for a smart man like yerself, you seem to be acting a wee bit stupid."

Elwin looked up at Steele, no fear in his eyes. Before the bigger man could respond, Elwin continued. He tossed a thumb in the direction of the castle.

"In that room is a dame ya obviously love, but here ya are, standin' around blowing bubbles with an old man. Yer a daft one...Steele."

For a moment, he simply stood there, stunned into silence. His face darkened slightly, the anger emanating from him in waves. Then it was gone, replaced with an equally forceful feeling of sadness. He looked away from Elwin, and replied, his voice fallen to a near-whisper.

"I...listen, it's...complicated. She and I...well, let's just say that she has prior marital commitments that don't exactly coincide with having a new man in her life." He stopped, looking for words to clarify his thoughts. Elwin didn't give him a chance.

"She loves ya too, y'know...I've got an eye fer that. Let me ask ya this: yer a big, strong man, obviously fought alot an seen lots of action, and you musta won most of the time, 'cuz I'm standing here talkin' at ya. Unless...you always run from tough battles..."

Steele came to full attention, his anger rekindled.

"I've never run from a fight in my life,,,never!" His voice crashed down on the old mans head. Elwin waited for it to pass, then looked up at Steele defiantly.

"Then why start now?"

Just then, Steele's comm flared into life, announcing the arrival of his replacement ship.

*******************************************

Eve saw the men as she ran by, noting the surprised look on Steele's face...she had recognized him from her vid-records. She ignored them though, and ran past, hardly slowing as she hurtled through the half-open door. She didn't stop until she smashed into Michael, who was still close to the entrance, throwing her arms around him with passionate vigor. She sobbed into his neck, her nude body heaving.

<<OOC: Eve is yours now!>>

Lauralin and Arleena took in the nude woman with an appreciative eye then set about preparing Laura's disembarkment. Try as she might Laura wouldn't be left to go without her guards and as usual her friends stepped forward.

"Your not going without us", Baghtru informed her. Brook stepped forward to stand beside him. After some perfectly logical arguments on her behalf, which were countered by Baghtru's own rare and often stunning logical counters they were set to go with her.

Michael and Trevor would escort the king and Ariel would take Marcus. Like Tanis, Eve had wanted to go with but her special nature would be of great benefit to the two kingdoms new systems, especially if her own A.I. systems could be incorporated into the new computers.

Michael decided to take some 'rest' with Eve himself before departing on the central worlds vessel and Darlina spent her time watching over Anestia.

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

Shadowspawn sat on the throne of the Skullkingdom. This was interesting turn of events. He now had to be more careful. If they attained powerful allies then the whole game changed. He sat back, plotting his next move.

(OOC: Could you give Eves abilities in a telegram? Thanks.)

Steele finalized the arrangements with the orbiting ship quietly, then looked back at Elwin.

"I'm not...running from a fight. I'm choosing not to make a move in an unwinnable situation. I can't fight for her if she doesn't want me to be the victor, can I?"

The smaller man just shook his head, and looked away. A moment later, his body phased out, sucked into the ship by the transporter. Steele felt the familiar tingle of the beam, and prepared himself. As his body began to discorperate, he heard a dark and threatening voice in his head. It was vaguely familiar, as if he had heard it in a dream. It reminded him of an endless stairwell for some reason.

"Your debt to me is unpaid. I will collect shortly."

The words disappeared as he materialized on the bridge of the small ship. He downloaded the coordinates of Rafe's last known location into the navigation console, and felt nothing as the ship began to accelerate away from Dragonsreach. He touched the psionic link that had been formed between him and Lauralin, and was pleased to see that he could still sense her, if somewhat muted by the distance. He sent a last thought, tinged with sadness, as he faded away into the blackness of space.

"I will always love you."


********************************************************


I BELIEVE THIS CONCLUDES "DESTINY".
THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE FOLLOWED THE STORY, AND THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED (in particular, Dragonsreach).
KEEP YOUR EYES OUT FOR MORE TALES OF QUEEN LAURALIN AND DARIUS STEELE, COMING SOON TO A NATIONSTATES RP NEAR YOU!