NationStates Jolt Archive

This thread is no longer useful and goes against "Steel Butterfly Canon." It will be purged.

For a place where he had hastily left, Alexei mused, he had been to the planet of Bivens far too many times over the last few months. All of his journeys were for Allison, and this trip was no exception. It was raining in the capital, Corporate Cathedral, as it often did during spring on Bivens, and Alexei walked into a bar, wet, yet thirsty.

Throughout the Imperial underworld, Alexei still knew a few names and connections. All of them only had one man that they knew of who could possibly do such a thing, an underground bio-engineer only known to them as Graves. As easy as finding the name was, however, finding the man was downright impossible. For three days he had searched, and for three days he hadn't found anything except more rain.

"Where can I find Graves?" Alexei asked the bartender as the man poured him a drink. The bartender shrugged and went about his business. It was a busy night in the bar, and the bartenden didn't have time to talk about people who may or may not exist.

Allison was at home, Alexei thought, shaking his head as he stared into his glass, knowing he wasn't supposed to drink it. He was not allowed to lose focus, and for that reason he hadn't had a drink in seven years. She was probably worried sick, as if being blind wasn't cause for enough concern.

"Nobody finds Graves," a deep booming voice said behind Alexei. Alexei turned around to find a large black man standing behind him, seemingly as fat as he was strong. Not sure if the man meant that no one does find Graves or if no one is allowed to see him, Alexei sized the man up in front of him.

"So he exists?" Alexei asked, his unwavering stare focused on the man's eyes, almost a foot above his own.

"Not for you," the man boomed in reply, grabbing Alexei by the shirt. That was all Alexei needed, both in information and provokation.

Pulling back, Alexei punched the man in the face, knocking him out cold on the grond. The bar instantly grew silent, as nearly every head turned to see what just had happened. Alexei paused, and out of the corner of his eyes, he saw two men rush at him from the sides. Jumping into the air with his arms outstretched and his right knee raised, Alexei let loose a primal scream, blowing them both back into the walls with his powers.

Lowering his knee, his arms still outstretched, Alexei made a fist, flying down and punching the ground, sending shockwaves throughout the floor. The people around him collapsed onto the ground as dust filled the air. As it settled, the thugs in the bar found Alexei on the floor on oone knee. Emotionless, Alexei opened his eyes, lifted his head, and began the fight.

Blocking a punch from behind with a right forearm and then decking the guy in front of him with the same hand, he then elbows the guy in the back, grabs his head, and pulls him over his shoulder, throwing him onto the ground. He kicks the man in the front of him and another man behind with his left leg, then punches a man to his left when he's done. Reaching back again, he grabs a man by his shirt and throws him into the man he just punched. Stepping to his right, he triple kicks a man into the air and with the third kick sends him into a wall.

Landing, he punches out some guy with his right fist, punches a guy in the stomach with his left, and then kicks his legs out from under him, making them fly upwards. Latching on, Alexei swings the man into three others, knocking them all down. Two men rush him from the front at the same time, and Alexei trades blows with them both almost effortlessly, knocking them both to the floor in short time. Turning, Alexei grabs the one sneaking up on him by the throat, and chokeslams him through the floorboards.

The men, realizing their lack of a chance, open fire with machine guns. Calm, Alexei deflects the bullets at first as he walks towards the gunners, before simply stopping them with his abilities. With a loud roar, Alexei shoots the hundreds of bullets back at the men with his mind, tearing holes through all of them and dropping them to the floor in a pool of blood. He then leans back, pulling the bullets towards himself before hitting the floor at the last moments, causing the bullets to tear through the people he was fighting with before who were now standing behind him.

On the floor, Alexei hears the voice of the first, big man say "holy shit" and try to escape, but without even looking, Alexei stretches out his hand and closes the door right in the man's face. Slowly, Alexei stands, walking over to the man.

"I'm going to ask you one...last...time..." Alexei snarled as he walked towards the big black man who was cowering in fear by the locked door. Sirens could be heard in the distance, growing louder with each passing moment. "Where...is...Graves?"

"H-here...his address is on my d-datapad," the man stammered, his eyes widening as Alexei approached. "T-take it! It's your's!" he shouted, tossing the datapad to Alexei who caught it, placing it in the cargo pocket on his pants.

"I don't just walk up to the door, now do I?" Alexei questioned.

"N-no," the man said. "Tell him B-bubba sent you...he'll l-let you in!"

"Thanks...Bubba..." Alexei said, a wicked grin crossing his face. "Here ya go," Alexei tossed Bubba a machine gun, then slowly walked towards the back door. Bubba instantly raised the gun to fire, but the light click showed that the clip was empty, and Alexei laughed the whole way out.

Gun in hand, Bubba tried to open the door which Alexei had slammed shut but found that he couldn't. The police, on the other hand, had no problem busting down the door to find Bubba holding a machine gun as seventy or so people laid dead on the bar floor.

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Alexei Ivanova

There was a gentle breeze that provided temporary relief from the days heat. It was perfect day for a picnic, and a opportunity that both Emily and Jade could not pass up, they had both used it as an excuse to get out of the office and spend some time with their kids.

Emily was a single mother of one, while Jade was the single mother of two, both had lost their husbands during the Orion War. It was this common ground that had caused them to become friends over the years. And so had their children too, Emily’s son Robert and Makenzie Jade daughter had become almost inseparable, leaving Jason Jade youngest somewhere in the middle.

“Robert, are you wearing your sun screen” Barked Emily to her son who was off playing in the distance. After some delay she heard a yes response thrown back her way.

“You worry about him too much” said Jade in a bit of a mocking tone.

“Good know the boy won’t care of himself.” Answered Emily giving Jade a bit of look “the boy is too head strong like his father.”

“You sure he gets it just from his father”

“Well Makenzie definitely get hers from her mother” shot Emily back in response. The pair shared a bit of chuckle as they watched their children play. There was little doubt in either of them that their kids carried the same characteristics as them. Although neither of them knew if this was good thing.

“Do ever miss doing field work” asked Jade in an attempt to change the subject. Jade had removed her self from field status after the terrorist attacks in Tappee seven years ago. Emily last mission was the ill-fated mission to Procul, where only a handful of the original team had made it back alive.

“No, not really” said Emily “When I go back from Procul, the first thing that I did was hold Robert in my arm. He was still a baby, but when I held him I could sense that he missed me. I made both Robert and myself a promise, that I would never ever do anything that would take me away from him, and that I would do everything in my power to protect him. I would give me life to protect his.”

Jade just nodded, as made her self the same promise a long time ago.

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Emily Williams

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Jade Allenson

All around Grathmoras was construction of new building, it had taken the city some time to repair from the attacks seven years ago, but the healing process was now done
Downtown Grathmoras was a busy place; people stood almost shoulder to shoulder, each trying to get to their destination. People were so busy that they ignored their surroundings. Among thousands it would be impossible to eavesdrop to single a conversation, which was exactly what the two men wanted.

“Have you been able to obtain it?” asked the first man as he stepped around some man who was just standing there talking on a cell phone.

“Yes, our agent were able secure it” said the other man as the two came back together. “We have already been able to decipher it”

“And?” impatiently asked the first man. If he was not careful, then things could spin out of control and that was the last thing that he wanted. He needed information more then anything.

“For his parents shall fight the armies of the undead, and face a terrible evil bring to peace once again. However the ultimate cost of this peace shall be his father’s life. When this evil threaten to returns his mother will travel to the land of the undead and once again fight against their armies, his mother once again will help destroy the land of the undead which be destroyed in fire.” spouted the second man as if it where from textbook.

Suddenly the first man stopped dead in his track, some of the colour disappeared from his face. Like so many other he had heard the rumour of what happened at the colony of Procul. “Do you think that it refers to the events at Tatania, and Procul?”

“We’ve been able to put find this” quickly answered the second man as he handed the other a data. He gave him a moment to look over the data “Her name is Emily William” he explained “She was at Tantia, Steel Moon, and Procul. Was engaged to marry one Henry Kobe, who was listed as KIA at the battle of Steel Moon. Shortly after the end of the Orion civil war she had a child.”

The pair just stood their thinking of the ramification of what this actually meant, a smile came over the first mans face. “You believe this child is one that the prophecy speaks off.” He waited as the second man nooded. “We have waited 2000 years for the prophecy to be full filled, and now it has begun.” He glanced over at the second man “It is imperative that the boy must not survive. Use what ever resource that you need to find and kill him?” his voice was cold and detached.

“It may take some time, getting that kind of information will take so time. However, consider it done.”

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First man

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Second Man

Dodalla looked out at the Imperial city of Bivens, it was said the change was inevitable, a glance at the city served as a quiet reminder of the validity of that statement. Thing had changed so much since she had first come here.”

“Ambassador….Ambassador Dodalla!”

The words suddenly cause Dodalla to snap back to reality “Sorry” she said apologizing to the young man standing behind her. In truth she had never fully adjusted to her new job, even though she had held the position for some time now. It was not easy to simply undo years of military service and transition to civilian life, she had been force to make the change from Fleet Admiral to Chief Ambassador. I wasn’t the she did like being Tappee Chief Ambassador to Steel Butterfly; it was just that the job was rather boring. There was no longer the thrill of leading legion troop in the heat of combat; it was now replaced with diplomatic meetings with nameless bureaucrats about the current state of things.

She glanced over at the young man that was waiting patently in here door way “What can I do for you?” He had just been transferred in and she yet to take the time to remember

He shifted about for a moment, as he was uncomfortable in her presence “There was been an urgent intelligence update sent to you from the Tribunal, they say that it requires your immediate attention.”

She reached over and took the data pad “Is that so” There was a hint of interest in voice, though she didn’t get her hopes, nothing interesting had happened around her for some time. She took a moment to look over the report, it was in regard to the situation in regard to the planet Destroyer, and the possible withdraw of XIII. This wasn’t really anything new to her, it had been on local news for sometime now. Intelligence was slipping or they hadn’t given the events in Steel Butterfly much priority, Dodalla had a funny feeling that it was a combination of the two. Either way, the situation had caught the attention of the Tribunal, as it should have. Tappee had invested considerable resources to help bring peace to region during the civil war, and they very much wanted the peace to stay.

Dodalla let out a sigh as she thought of her options, she looked back up her aid “Contact the Emperors office, inform them that I would like to meet with the Emperor at his earliest connivance.”

“The Emperor” shuttered the aid.

“Yes the Emperor” shot Dodalla back angrily, thing like this never happened when she was in the military, her order were carried through without question. She hated more then anything to repeat her self. “He is a acquaintance of mine.” She knew that she was using the term acquaintance rather loosely. Dodalla had meet the Emperor during the Orion war long before he had become Emperor. She hoped that he would remember her, but she was sure that he had made many new friends since becoming Emperor.

“I’ll see what I do then” answered the aid.

“Just do it” shot Dodalla as she turned her attention back toward the city.

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Chief Ambassador Dodalla

"Rei?"

"Rei?" Allison said into the darkness, sitting up in bed. "Rei?" she shouted a little louder, her voice becoming more and more frantic.

"Do you need something, Allison?" Rei asked quietly as he entered the room. Allison felt a calm slowly seep into her mind, easing her body as it spread throughout her being.

"I...I'm scared..." Allison confessed. She really didn't have a reason to call him, and yet she felt as if she needed him there.

"Give it time," Rei said, coming closer. Allison felt him sit down on the bed beside her, and yet she couldn't even make out his figure.

"I meant Alexei..." She said, laying back onto the bed. "You didn't tell him to go this time...did you?"

"...no..." Rei confessed. Rei often had Alexei going on quests or missions for either his training or all of their wellbeing, and Allison had accepted this. She also had lived with the Aural for too long. She knew when he was lying, and since he knew this as well, he rarely tried anymore. Allison was incredibly intuitive for a human, a trait Rei often wished Alexei would pick up from her.

"Where do you think he is?" She paniced, "What do you think he's doing?"

"Please relax, Allison," Rei pleaded. "I've trained him well...and headstrong or not...he's a good man."

"I just hope he's not doing anything brash," Allison commented. Rei agreed. After a long pause, Allison spoke up again. "Could you teach me?"

"Teach you what, Allison?" Rei asked, sincerely hoping that he could help. He had grown quite close to the two of them during their stay on Thrakkon.

"Teach me to see without my eyes," Allison replied as if it was something done everyday.

"Ali I don't think that's..."

"No...like you do...like you're teaching Alexei to..." Allison tried to explain.

"Alexei's having visions?" Rei asked, intrigued.

"Dreams he calls them..."

"He's never told me of these before..." Rei said, concerned. It wasn't like Alexei to hide something from him. Then again, it wasn't like Alexei to leave without saying why either.

"He didn't want to tell me at first," Allison said. "But I know he does. He can predict things, only things in the near future...like a few seconds...and he can do things with his eyes closed...like catch a ball...things like that. I want to learn."

"Allison I don't think that's something I can teach you," Rei admitted, his mind drifting off to Alexei. Sure, he had this ability as well, but then again he was a real Aural. Alexei showing advanced abilities such as these was unexpected, even more so that he had never witnessed them himself. What more was Alexei hiding?

"Oh," Allison responded, trying to hide her dissappointment. "Cause I'm not like you guys, right?"

"Right," Rei said in reponse. Perhaps she was the lucky one.

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Rei Warheit - Allison Ivanova

Emperor Dave Bivens smiled as he looked up from his desk. The sunlight emerging from his window reflected off the glass which his desk was entirely composed of. For months, most of the planet of Bivens, named for his ancestors, had been shrouded in think clouds. Now, as winter was passing, the clouds were as well, letting the light warm the dreary capital. The young Emperor hoped that spring would soon arrive, and that this wasn’t merely the weather teasing them once again, getting their hopes up only to make fools of them all.

“You sent for me, sir?” a voice asked, shaking the young Emperor from his self-reflection. Bivens turned from the window, stood, and saluted the man before him in return. General Jack “Lionheart” Valkare was a war hero twice over, and Emperor Bivens was eternally grateful for his contributions and leadership during the Civil War. When piecing the remnants of the Empire back together following the Imperial surrender, and the victory of the resistance which they all had led, Bivens could not think of any other man more worthy of protecting the Empire. General Valkare had fought tirelessly to bring the Empire back to its former glory during the war, and Bivens knew he would not stop now that the physical battles had ended.

“Time to dig the old dress uniform out of the closet, Jack,” Emperor Bivens said with a smile. General Valkare cringed. It was bad enough that he had to wear formal wear during his day to day job. The dress uniform was above and beyond the call of duty.

“Tying the knot, sir?” Valkare asked, joking. Bivens frowned in reply. The Emperor’s relationship had been strained as of late, with too much politics and not enough time spent together. That’s what he got, he told himself, for falling in love with the sister of a leader who he was on less than friendly terms with.

“No, General,” Bivens replied, calling Valkare by his title and not his first name as a way of asserting his authority. “We’re having company. Admiral Dodolla is outside right now."

"And you need me for...?"

"It might be easier for her to talk with another military type," Bivens explained.

"I thought she retired?" The General asked.

"If you retired today," Bivens questioned. "Would you change...at all?"

General Valkare smiled, turning towards one of the many doors leading out of Bivens' office. The young Emperor was quite right, Valkare laughed. He'd always be the same. The military had that effect on a person.

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Emperor Dave Bivens - General Jack Valkare

A cold mist hung over the dampened streets that night, enshrouded by a veil of darkness illuminated only by the stars in the sky and the livelihood of the city’s nightlife. In the midst of the darkness, various colored lights were glowing brightly – as was every night in Blue City. Blue City was most likely the poorest city in the entire nation of New Genoa. Still, that didn’t keep the local government and local business from trying to “spice” up the city with bright flashing lights to draw tourists’ attention away from all the poverty. The city was vibrant at night, both legally and illegally, but still only a glimmer compared to the capital in the southern portion of the nation. Gambling, drugs, sex, and intrigue were all common sights. Homicide, suicide, and theft were all common crimes.

This was the night, though, when life would change. This was the city where the change would occur. In the veiling darkness, balding man stalked the night slowly, but surely. His eyes barely moved, but his mind scoured the landscape, looking for his marked destination. He took a moment to glance at his watch to see it was almost midnight – 11:43 to be specific. Grinning, he made his way to his destination – a three-family home of medium size.

“It’s time for bed, honey,” said the mother to her 12-year-old daughter. “Your father’ll be home soon and I don’t want him to see you up so goddamn late. Get to bed, I let you stay up three hours past your bedtime already.”

“Come on, mom,” the girl pleaded, almost hypnotized by the pictures on the television.

“No if’s, and’s, or but’s. Now get to bed already. I’ll be going to bed soon, anyway. It’s a repeat anyway; you can watch another time.”

Sighing the young girl complied, and flicked off the television before giving her mother a hug and scurrying off to her room. The young girl’s room was small, with only a bed, desk, and dresser occupying the majority of the space. A window looked out into the heavens to her left. Now, usually, in the summertime it would be open to let in some air in the otherwise humid weather. And that usual case was what the case was tonight, despite the previous rain.

The bedroom door slowly shut, as the girl was readying to put on her nightgown, her back to the window. The window creaked, but it had always creaked. There was no reason to draw suspicion from an otherwise mundane occurrence. It creaked again, though drawing again no attention from the girl. In an instant, the young girl’s neck was slit, her body going limp without even a whimper as the man in the darkness slowly laid her to rest on the bedroom floor. He searched the room, and proceeded towards the door.

The girl’s mother still was in the kitchen at this time, only a few minutes passing since her daughter had scurried off to bed. Upon hearing the door creak open, she obviously assumed it was her impetuous daughter leaving her room, perhaps thinking that her mother had already went to bed.

“Go to bed,” she said.

“Oh, don’t worry, she already is,” said a familiar, but unexpected voice. The man in the darkness approached from the shadows.

“Oh my God,” the woman stammered. “What the hell have you done?! Don’t you dare hurt her you bastard!”

“Betrayal was not an option. You made your choice. Thank you.”

The knife plunged into the woman’s neck and pierced her flesh easily, and before she could gasp in pain, her eyes rolled back and her skin fell dead cold. The mysterious man laid her to rest as well, etching a symbol onto her arms. After cleaning his knife’s blade, he straightened his tie, combed his bald head, and made way for the exit through the window.

The bodies were only the first, he thought to himself. But I will find you…

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The man in the darkness

“Holy shit,” Chad Flark said, as the light seeped through a crack in the curtains.

His head ached, as it did every night after heavy drinking at the bar down the street. Only five years had passed since the incident at Procul. Life in New Genoa remained the same as it always did. Incumbent President Derek Jackson had won the first election for the Neoliberal Party, marking a new era for classical liberalism in the nation. He had barely defeated Liberal Party candidate Ron Burgundy, but the opinions of the people seemed to speak loudly – the nation’s political climate was changing. Diplomatic relations had remained stable, and the government had even failed to comment on the mission at Procul.

Chad received a brief debriefing afterwards, where he filed his reports and such (including the details of Kurt Caesar’s death), but it otherwise had seemed to be a journey he had endured in vain. Whatever the government’s interest in Procul had been, it surely didn’t care anymore – or it was covering up its true feelings about the Procul incident. Surely, a dance with death that serious would provoke the government’s interests Chad had thought to himself.

Chad had changed too in five years time. The wounds were healed (both mental and physical), yet for the two weeks or so, he was utterly convinced that the life of a marine wasn’t his preferred line of duty anymore. He had left the Special Marines, the only career he had excelled at. He remembered approaching his commanding officer to announce his resignation as a Special Marine. The resignation process was tedious, but it vindicated Chad somehow – if only temporarily. Chad was now fully ready to move on with life. Yet, he did not. He still drank heavily, as if he was trying to drown away all his miseries in one giant chug of beer. But it wasn’t the horrors from Procul and the death he had seen there that was plaguing him.

After returning home at the Blue City airport, he was expecting to see his family for the first time in weeks. His mother, his father, and his older brother were all expected to be there that day. Yet, when he returned, all he saw was his brother, staring despondently at him. An intoxicated driver had killed his parents in a brutal accident while he was in Procul. The impact had put them in critical condition, and they died only hours later due to internal bleeding. Chad had missed the funeral, and he had missed his parents’ last hours. The pain soon tore through his heart. Soon after, his brother moved west to the city of Blueport to apply for a job. And strangely, they barely talked.

At this time, Chad had begun to intake more than his share of alcohol. It was first to drown out the screams at Procul and his inner demons that painted a picture of his parents last words as their car was devastated by the swerving SUV. He managed to forget Procul, and the pain of his parents’ death had been merely repressed, pushed deep down into the inner depths of his mind.

Stumbling out of his bed, he managed to pull a stained white T-shirt over his head. Zipping up his jeans, he flicked the television screen on with the remote and sat back on his bed, running his hands through his untamed hair.

“Reports indicate that Mrs. Maelstrom and her daughter Valerie were murdered around midnight…”

Before the rest of the report had finished, screen had gone blank, and Chad rose from his bed. The marine’s life may have been his best profession, but he couldn’t expect to live on welfare for the rest of his life. Chad had to work, even if the pay was minimal. It was enough to pay the apartment’s bills most of the time, and to feed his habit. After quickly brushing his teeth and straightening his hair, he left for work.

Several hours passed through yet another mundane workday. Chad spent most of his time as a mover, helping moving families with transporting their possessions to new homes. The pay was decent, and Chad was still physically fit to do the work, even if his liver was being pumped with alcohol every night to the point of involuntary expulsion in his bathroom. Every day after work, Chad would pay a visit to the local bar down the street from his home and spend several hours there.

The bar was dark and damp, casting a shadowy mood over the area. Several men sat on the stools as the bartender stood hunched over the ledge, apparently having a conversation with one of his regulars. This bar didn’t seem to have many women visitors, and the lady’s restroom had been perpetually vacant for years. Noticing the door opening, the bartender turned to greet the man entering.

“Hey Flark; the usual?” he said.

“Yeah,” Chad responded, “the usual.”

“Reports indicate Mr. Flannigan was murdered in a similar fashion to the bodies found earlier this morning – possessing the same eerie ‘V’ markings on both his arms. Witnesses say they spotted a mysterious man in a suit enter Mr. Flannigan’s apartment complex ten minutes before his murder. Detective Sean Penn…”

“What the hell is that?” Chad croaked, glancing at the television.

“Didn’t you hear ‘bout the murders, man? Two in a day – and in similar fashion. Pretty damn suspicious if you ask me. It’s been all over the news,” the bartender responded.

“Ah, fuck it,” Chad said. “A homicide in this town is as natural as a rainstorm in the rainforest. Nothing special. The crime rates here have skyrocketed, man.”

“Still, two murders done so meticulously in the same way in one goddamn day has got to be setting off some alarms. Strange shit, strange shit. If there’s another body in the next week, I’d say we have ourselves a fuckin’ serial killer.”

“Ah, I don’t give a shit anymore. Pour me another and put it on my tab.”

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Chad Flark

Light from the candles danced on the surface of the walls casting ominous shadows as brief gust of wind made its way through the small room. The walls themselves were a pale brown stone, which had stood for the last 2000 years, a testament to the temples age. However, the room it self was rather plain, simple in design it was 8x8 with no windows and a single door the lead in the main temple.

Over the age many like Efira had come here seeking wisdom, not from others, but from the inner reaches of their own minds. Surrounded by the numerous candles Efira sat in the centre alone only to her thoughts. She sat there still with her leg crossed, and her arms gently rested on her thighs. As it was customary she wore the gown of Aperis it signified her role within the temple.

Closing her eyes she began to focus, every action was calculated and methodical. Each breath got slower and slower, she could even fill the time between each heartbeat become longer.

Suddenly images and emotions began racing through her mind, the image where going so fast that they were a blur, and she felt almost intolerable suffering. When she first started receiving these vision seven years ago she was overcome, but now with careful meditation she could control them. Allowing her mind to become detached from her body the images started to slow down, until a single one became clear.

Opening her eyes Efira was no longer in the mediation room but instead in the image that she had just seen in her head. Aware of her surroundings she began to move about.

She was now in some city that she couldn’t recognize, even of there had been some familiar landmarks they were all but gone. Night had fallen some time ago or at least she had though, there was no moon, the sky had been black out by pillars of black smoke that were rising into the heavens. Fire burning off in the distance gave off an eerie glow. Looking around her Efira hardly see any building there were still standings, most had collapsed in the street, those that were still stood were on shaky foundations.

After looking past debris in the street she could see human bodies littering the street. Though not all of them, most looked like soldiers. They looked similar to Tappee soldiers; they still looked very different from the one she knew. Mostly it was their armour, it bared Tappee Dominion crest, but looked much more advanced then anything she had ever seen. Some her been crushed by falling debris, but most looked like they had been killed in a gun battle. Efira kept walking, the only constant were the bodies, and from time to time the ground would rumble.

After some time she found herself standing in front of small building, it was of the remaining few that was still standing. Slowly she began scanning the building from side, after finishing the scan she could feel her heart sink, she knew this building and thus why it was still standing. As panic set in as Efira tried to figure out what do, she wanted to know more, so made her way through the main entrance.

Quickly she ran through the building, like in the street there were bodies everywhere, in quest to find to find the truth she gave them little attention. As she went down another corridor that went she heard a strange, but yet familiar sound. Slowing her pace she started to make her way toward the sound. Finally she came on to a lobby, unlike the other sections of the lobby there were two still alive although they were both trying to lower the number.

There was a metal cling as the two locked swords; one had their back to Efira, from where Efira she looked like a woman. The other was man who looked to be in his late thirties. Both were warring some type of heavy armour, it looked similar to mid evil armour but they way the moved it looked to be more advanced, the man wore red while the woman was in jet black

“Where is it!” barked the man as he lounged

“Some place you’ll never find it” answered the woman. With both skill and grace she step aside as the mans momentum carried him past her and the two switched position. Efira lost her breath hearing both the voice and finally seeing woman face. Even though it had been seven year, it was that face that had haunted her dreams.

“Samantha” utter Efira as she took a step back.

“Efira…Efira” Efira was startled to feel a hand on her shoulder, and suddenly every thing changed. She was back sitting in the meditation room. Looking up she saw sister Koris kneeling in front of her. Going to stand she sat back down, her action had been responded in utter pain.

“How long…”

“You been in her for the last two days, we were rather worried about you” interrupted Koris, knowing what Efira was going to ask her. “Did you see anything interesting this time.”

Efira answered with a single word “Perhaps”

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Efira

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Samantha

Admiral Dodalla sat patiently in the reception area waiting to meet with the Emperor, in truth she had been surprised that it had been so easy for her to set up a meeting with him. Then again, given the current situation it was in both their interests to solve this problem rather quickly and efficiently.

Sitting beside her was her aid, and much to her annoyance he kept shifting about uneasily. Dodalla wasn’t sure if it was nerves or that he was simply impatient. She allowed things to continue for a while until she her self had enough. “Is some wrong?” her voice was stern and cold.

Her question must have got the young man off guard, as he jumped a bit. It took him a moment to correct himself “No.” he stuttered. There was a brief pause before he asked a question of his own “What was it like?”

“What was what like.” she answered in response as she looked him in the eye.

The Aid paused for a moment trying to find the right words “The war, what was the war like?”

It was then that Dodalla realized the closets that the young man had ever got to the Orion War was in some university history class, now here he was with all the hero’s of a war long since over. It was a thought that had never crossed her mind, for her it was nothing more then just another day at the office. “Thing back then were a bit more simple then they are now” she attempted to put things in to the current context to help him understand.

“Simple” he asked somewhat confuse “How where thing more simple then they are now?”

Dodalla paused for a moment to prepare her response “You see back then, we knew who the enemy was. For there is was simply a mater of destroying the enemy. We knew what we had to do, and did it.” She glanced over the windows then quickly brought her attention back to the aid. “Now things are not so black and white as they are in war. Now even if one can identify the enemy, dealing with them is an entirely different story.”

“What, you just can’t eliminate them?” asked the Aid

Sighing Dodalla just back in her chair “The Emperor is walking a fine line, a miss calculation be cause his empire to fall. You see if he deals with this new threat was force, then he stir memories of the former regime, then others may raise against him. However, if he does nothing he will appear weak. If that happens then other may use the situation to their advantage. It’s a damned if you do, or damned it you don’t situation.”

“Then why are we here?”

For the first time in the entire conversation Dodalla allowed her self a smile “To simply bring more cards to the table”


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Chief Ambassador Dodalla

[OOC: I apologize for how busy I've been this summer, and I want to make sure that you don't think I've forgotten about this. I should be posting, and I've been bouncing ideas around, however I will not post shit just to post it. My posts in this thread need to be of a certain quality, a quality I simply haven't had the time for lately. Regardless, you can check out Realm of the Risen: Black (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=9530881#post9530881), the sidestory I am writing myself, in the meantime. Thanks for your understanding.]

The rain had subsided, but the city was still drenched from the downpour. Alexei was no exception, and as he approached the building he ran his fingers through his hair, wiping it off his forehead.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” A guard grumbled in a gruff voice.

“Used to be,” Alexei muttered, looking up towards the man’s eyes. The guard had to be nearly a foot taller and a hundred pounds heavier than Alexei, and Alexei was hardly a small man. Nevertheless, there was something about Alexei’s glare that made the guard feel uneasy.

“Well move along then,” the guard ordered, crossing his arms in front of him. “This is private property.” Alexei looked down at the datapad in his hand, making sure that this was the correct location, and then shifted his gaze back to the man before him.

“Bubba sent me,” Alexei told the guard, just as the man had told him too.

“I don’t know a Bubba,” the guard replied. Alexei frowned; this was going to be more difficult than he wanted it to be.

“Your boss does,” Alexei assumed, his glare remaining strong.

“Who says I have a boss?”

“Bubba…”

“But I don’t know a…”

“Listen,” Alexei snapped, stepping so close to the massive guard that he could feel the man’s breath on his forehead. “Enough bullshit. I’m here for a man named Gabriel Graves. Either you take me to him, or you tell me I can’t see him, and I find him anyhow. Make up your mind, big boy.”

Scowling, the man shoved Alexei away from him, but Alexei was much thicker than the man had expected. Alexei pushed him back in response and the guard stumbled backwards several feet before regaining his balance.

“Last chance,” Alexei snarled, tightening his fists at his side.

“For you,” the guard replied, raising his gun at his side. Before he even had a chance to fire, Alexei was right in front of him. He grabbed the guard’s wrist, held it out, and then with his right hand broke the guard’s right forearm with a single blow. The guard’s hand went limp, and he dropped his weapon right into Alexei’s left hand, which fired it off three times right into the guard’s oversized gut, dropping the large man to the floor. The guard wailed in pain, and without looking Alexei stepped over him, shooting him in the face as he walked into the building.

The foyer was massive, but all Alexei noticed was how empty it seemed. There were no windows, stairs, furniture, or even doors. There was, however, a man. Alexei could feel him from across the room.

“I sure hope you’re not here to apply for a job as a guard,” The voice said, jokingly yet strangely serious. Alexei grunted in reply. “Then again…perhaps you would make a…”

“Are you Gabriel Graves?” Alexei asked, cutting to the point. Why was it that everyone talked so damn much?

“It depends,” the man replied. “Who wants to know?”

“Do I look like a man sent by another?” Alexei asked, squinting as he peered through the darkness.

“Most people fear death, stranger,” the voice said in the same half-serious tone. “They don’t seek out Graves.” Alexei scoffed at the stupidity of the man’s one-liner. He hadn’t the time for this.

“I heard he could help me,” Alexei said, struggling to keep his composure.

“Perhaps he could,” the man replied. “But why would he want to?”

"Most people fear death..." Alexei responded, raising the weapon from his side.

“Ah,” the man said, smiling. “Very clever.”

“Wish I could say the same for you,” Alexei muttered. “It’s not wise to piss off someone as they’re aiming a gun at you.”

“Most people fear death, Alexei,” the man said. Apparently everyone in the galaxy knew him by his voice, he sarcastically grumbled to himself. “I on the other hand…”

“I have an offer for you, Mr. Graves,” Alexei said, making a guess. “I need your services…I will pay well…”

“I’m sorry,” the man said. “I haven’t been an agent for some time…much less a mercenary…”

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Alexei continued. “My wife…is nearly blind…and will be shortly. Word is that you could help her.”

“Hospitals are the best place to get an optical…”

“I don’t want a fucking optical implant,” Alexei snapped. “I know what you do, and I know you’re damn good at it…but you have to understand…I will do whatever it takes to help my wife. If you stand in the way…”

“You’re not a very good businessman…”

“I don’t pretend to be,” Alexei replied. “Will you do it?”

“You know the ramifications of my actions, don’t you?” Gabriel asked. “You know that if any one of us is discovered, all three of us, yourself, your wife, and I, we all die?”

“I don’t fear death any more than you do,” Alexei responded.

“You will bring her here,” Gabriel commanded. “You will bring the money as well. We’ll talk about how much it will be once I see the extent of her blindness. In the meantime, you will talk to no one. Understood?”

“Of course,” Alexei replied. He nodded, turned around, and dropped the gun. The weapon clanked on the metal floor as the sound echoed through the open room.

“How did you hear of me?” Gabriel asked as Alexei approached the door. Alexei turned and kept walking. Gabriel Graves had no need to know.

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Alexei Ivanova - Gabriel Graves

A cloud of smoke casually made its way through the air, like a serpent it eventually made its way into Travis nose. Under normal circumstances he would detested the sensation, but with the amount of alcohol that he had drank nothing seemed to bother him, it was just as he wanted. Only with copious amount of alcohol could he numb the pains of his existence. “Give me another” Travis muttered as the bartender walk. Within moments of his request, yet another bottle found itself sitting in front of him. Travis was more then obliged to help the bottle fulfil its existence as she he grabbed the bottle taking a quick swig.

On the other side of the bar Arnold slipped into the bar, his presence was hardly noticed by the various bars patrons, at this point most of who were struggling to just walk. Understanding peoples desire to simply drink their problems was well beyond Arnold’s understanding. As he made his way deeper into the bar he started scanning the room for Travis, finally finding him seated at the bar counter.

“So this is were you spend your free time” said Arnold as he walked up and took the empty seat beside Travis.

“How did you find me” stuttered Travis, Arnold could smell of alcohol on Travis breath. “Would you something to drink” asked Travis holding up his bottle.

It hadn’t very hard for Arnold to track down Travis, there was but a handful of bars within the city, not mention it was Arnolds job to track down those who did not want to be found. “It wasn’t that hard.” finally said Arnold answering Travis question. “I just that you would like to know that we’ve been called in for a briefing tomorrow at 10:00, and perhaps you might want to be somewhat sober.”

“I’m fine” shot Travis back in response.

They had this conversation many time before, and the last thing that Arnold wanted was to have it again, especially here. “his death was not your fault, you were not even there, so you should stop blaming your self.” Arnold threw a some money down on the counter in some vague attempt at a peace offer. “Don’t miss the briefing, if you do I can’t help you anymore.”

“Fuck you!” yelled Travis as Arnold turned and walked away. When Arnold finally left he turned his attention back to the bartender. “Give me another.”

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Travis Sampson

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Arnold Tiesto

“Why are you here?”

“I come as I please.”

“What are you doing?”

“What I always do...”

“Why?”

“Because I was told to...because I have to...”

“We can’t have anything happen...not here...not now...” Dr. Julian Rane pleaded. The man he was talking to seemed only a few years older than himself, however Dr. Rane knew better.

“We don't get to make that choice...” The man replied.

“Haven't we dealt with enough?,” The Director of Intelligence questioned.

“I can assure you that our involvement will be minimal...nothing complex...” the man said with a smile. “and after all...I’d know.”

"Nothing with you people is ever minimal..." Rane muttered. The man turned, his black trench coat flowing behind him, and left the office as quickly as he had come.

Dr. Julian Rane was far wealthier than even his exalted position would suggest. Jobs and investments had proven far more than worthwhile for the Director, and Rane would never truly have to worry about money. Nevertheless, he chose to. He could have left for retirement years ago, but he chose to stay as well. Success is what drove him to succeed, a never-ending cycle in which he simply became wealthier and more powerful with each passing day. While his peak in power had been all but reached, as he was second only to the Emperor, the peak in wealth was non-existent, elusive.

The Orion Sector was a place full of economic divides, and yet the divides themselves were hardly clear. The distribution of wealth throughout the sector was in the shape of a bell-curve. Most were of average income, which in the Empire was far greater than the average elsewhere. Still, there were always the extremes of society with those literally poorer than dirt, as their value was less than that of good potting soil, and those beyond wealthy. Rane knew both of these extremes personally.

The Director of Intelligence grew up poor, and when he alluded to this he made sure to add that he was truly poor. As both an intelligence agent and a diplomat, Rane had seen too many advanced societies where being “poor” simply meant that you spent your money on illegal drugs instead of on food for your family. While “poor” kids across the universe shot each other for a momentary chemical escape, Rane and his childhood friends scrounged for worn shoes and scraps of bread. Still, all poor kids die the same...alone.

One would think that the fact that Rane was the only one of his group of friends still alive, much less successful in life, would give the Director a certain respect for life itself. This was only a half-truth. Rane, long ago, realized that he only respected life worth respecting. As an agent, Rane has been the dealer of death, disregarding the lives of others on a monthly basis. Still, he had whole-heartedly believed that his leaders were doing what was right.

Little did he know that not only was life not merely black or white, but that black and white did not even exist on the spectrum. All of life was grey; all decisions he made could be taken either way. Still, the decisions had to be made, and Rane had to be the one to make them. Now, he was the one who made the choice as to whose life was worth respecting and whose wasn’t. It was a convenient position for a man who served death daily now from behind a desk, as opposed to monthly before from behind a firearm.

Still, at least what he did now was real, solid, not like those who came to visit him on occasion. Not like those whose dominion over reality put them above those who they were equal to. Julian didn't like the Temporal Guard, and they knew it. Nevertheless, they never stopped from contacting him on a regular basis, taking up time that he'd have to explain later, forcing him to lie to everyone, including the Emperor. Dr. Rane had no problem with fabricating the truth, however he liked it better if it was on his terms, not someone else's.

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Dr. Julian Rane