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IC:

The Draconian Swan, a marvel of engineering the latest in a fleet of passenger ships to be launched after King Kurt II’s coronation. The ship was splendidly decorated and despite its expensive looks was rather cheap to travel by. The ship, like others in the fleet travelled between the Draconian homeworld and its colonies. That took four and a half days through the jumpgate built by the Five Civilized Nations.

Since it was a long journey, there was plenty for the passengers to do outside of their cabins. There were several cinema screens, several swimming pools, a couple of gyms, and a rather large shopping centre amongst other things. The passengers didn’t really have an excuse for being bored.

However, as the ship headed for the jumpgate heading away from Draconis Nightcrawlis, one passenger was bored. Laharl stood at the window, looking at the disappearing planet and yawned. To most people he looked like a kind of blue haired elf, but he was in fact a demon, prince of the Netherworld. But of course all that was top secret. Too many bounty hunters looking for demon blood to sell on the black market, so the elf look was ideal.

“This is fucking stupid,” he muttered to himself.

No one replied as he was in his cabin alone. He continued to stare out at the disappearing planet, as bored as ever.

Elsewhere a young woman by the name of Temari watched over her three young charges, Eamonn, Ichigo and Kimiko. They were heading for the colony for reason only known to them. Eamonn, as always, was stood in the corner watching the others. He looked fourteen but was actually twenty-one, he wore dark sunglasses so that no one could see his eyes and he spoke nothing.

The ship also had a few taverns on board, in one a scruffy man, his face hidden away under a hat like the ones detectives wore in films, was sat drinking away his journey. It was a far cry from his favoured tavern The Red Cow, now long since burned down by vampire hunters. Since then he had decided that the colonies would be better for a vampire like him, people were moving to the colonies all the time and vampire hunters would be scarce. Putting down the empty tankard, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Another,” he told the barman.

** *

For every universe, there’s an alternate universe an infinite number of possibilities in each. In one such alternate universe, the kind King Kurt II was not a king, instead he was an evil Sith Lord by the name of Darth Karask. Draconis Nightcrawlis existed only as a huge Sith empire, controlled by the Darth Karask. Dressed in long black flowing robes, his face hidden by a mask he watched the repair of a hypergate on a large viewscreen. He growled under the mask, it had been damaged by Jedi rebels as it was a vital link between parts of the empire.

Behind him stood his first in command, General Flack. The pale General’s dark eyes followed the Sith Lord.

“The repairs will be finished tomorrow my Lord,” the General said.

“As they should,” Darth Karask replied. “Find the Jedi rebels who did this and execute them, torture them as much as possible I want examples made of them.”

General Flack bowed, “As you wish my Lord.” Slowly he backed out of the room, leaving Darth Karask alone.

His eyes never left the screen. “Accursed Jedi, I shall make your deaths slow and painful,” he growled.

Voran Yiq was sitting in his cabin. He had been out to explore the Draconian Swan but had decided that the items the shops had were worthless, the cinematics were horrible, and all the people were just plain boring. "God I can't wait to get off this dumb ship." Voran wouldn't have even gotten on it in the first place but he had no choice. He was currently fleeing authorities for killing a man in a manner that they considered extremely depraved.

He looked in a mirror and saw his reflection looking back at him. He was 6'2" with red hair, red eyes, and light skin. He decided that it was getting old and screwed up his face. He now had light brown hair, dark skin, and green eyes. He laid down on his bed and tried to go to sleep.

Wilmer Knapp, a rich gem dealer, walked through the hallways of the Draconian Swan. Beside him was his bodyguard, Marcel D'Aubigne. Both men were from Earth; Knapp is a German and Marcel is a Frenchman. Knapp started over in the universes near SOL but a couple of years ago, he and Marcel travel to Draconis Nightcrawlis to find more gems. Knapp did not have worry about his gems in his room because he hired four mercenaries at the last world to guard them. Two mercs guarded the front door and the other two mercs were in Knapp’s four-bedroom VIP cabin. The four mercenaries were armed with a Blastech E-11 Blaster Rifle and a Republic DC-17 Blaster Pistol each.

Knapp and Marcel walked into nearest bar, the one the vampire was in. “Something strong.” said Knapp to the barman.

The vampire took no notice of them as he drank alone. The barman looked up, nodded and turned around. A moment later he placed a glass in front of Knapp and poured a drink into it.

"£1.75," he said.

Knapp pay for the drink and took a drink. "Not to many people here right now." he said as he looked around the bar.

The barman nodded. "Not the most popular tavern on the ship," he explained. "In these lower decks we tend to attract the, let's say, shadier patrons."

He then took a cloth and began wiping down the bar top.

As if on cue, Mal stepped out of the hallway into the empty tavern. He seemed a little dissappointed at the meager crowd but took a seat at the bar anyways and looked around. His blue hair clung to his cheeks in a few places, strands that managed to escape his hair tie. He smiled sheepishly at the barkeep.

"Um. . . whatever the local liquor is" he said, looking around. He spotted the three sitting at one side of the bar and absently ran a collection of gold nuggets through his hands. He debated wether or not to go talk to the three, but decided against it rather quickly.

The barman looked at Mal, scratching the stubble on his face. "Mead, ale, wine, whiskey etc," he said.

"mead? is that. . . honey right? oh I love honey, I'll ahve some of that! Say. . . " He said, suddenly dropping his voice low "who are those two over there?" HE said, pointing to the two near the pale sickly fellow. "I've never seen anyone dressed like that, do you know where they are from?"

"That'll be £2.50," the barman said, filling up a tankard with mead. "I don't know, the loners Draconian I'm sure."

Mal looked at the barkeep as if he had a second head. "Oh, money, right" he said finaly, handing the barkeep one of the golden nuggets. "That's enough, right?"

The barman looked at the method of payment, "What kind of backwards place are you from?"

The barman nodded. "Not the most popular tavern on the ship," he explained. "In these lower decks we tend to attract the, let's say, shadier patrons."

He then took a cloth and began wiping down the bar top.

“Yeah, the ones near the upper deck have to many people in them.” said Knapp. Marcel saw a blue haired man walked in, “Boss, check him out.” he said low enough for a Knapp to hear.

“Blue hair?” said Knapp “Now, I have seen everything.” He down the last of his drink, “Come on, Marcel.” he said after he put the glasses on the bar with a £50 under it.

“Right, boss.” said Marcel. The two men walked out of the bar.

"Blue hair's quite common," the vampire quietly muttered to himself.

Mal stood and walked over to the vampire slowly sipping his drink. He took a seat next to him and tried to strike up conversation as the bar emptied.

"Hey, how are you!" he said, his voice irritatingly cheerful. "I couldn't help but notice that you seem to be a local here, can you tell me anything about it and it's customs?" He pulled out a pad of paper and a pen, as if he intended to take notes.

"This is a ship kid," the vampire replied in a gruff voice, he didn't even bother looking up. "No ones local to here."

This place is incredible thought Vergenic as he walked around to get his berrings and find a map of this ship. They really should have something like that standard issue.

There were of course holographic maps to the ship posted all around the ship, easy to access and easy to understand.

There were of course holographic maps to the ship posted all around the ship, easy to access and easy to understand.

Finding one, Vergenic went to the nearest bar in hopes of finding something to water his mouth.

The atmosphere of the tavern he chose was dim and rather quiet. The barman looked up as he entered, there was only two patrons in the tavern.

"Er...hello, and how are all of you doing?"

While the barman went back to cleaning glasses, the vampire just ignored the newcomer.

Not that friendly an atmosphere thought Vergenic as he sat at the near end of the bar.

The barman continued to watch him as he put the clean glass away.

"So what do you serve here?"

"Mead, ale, wine, whiskey etc," the barman said.

"Mead, ale, wine, whiskey etc," the barman said.

"I'll have some scotch."

The barman poured him a scotch, "£1.85," he said.

"Here you go" said Vergenic giving the bartender the money.

The barman took the money and passed over the glass of scotch.

Mal shruged and looked at the new guy entering the tavern. He stood and walked over to him. "Hey" he said with all the energy and enthusiasm of a three year old on speed. "That other guy isn't exactly talkative so I hope you don't mind a little friendly conversation." He looked around as he sipped at his mead. "Nice ship, don'tcha think?" He asked absently, sketching the bartender on the pad of paper he had.

"Yes, it is a good ship" replied Vergenic, a bit surprised by his enthusiasm.

Darth Karask watched the screen in front of him once more, the repairs to the hypergate were due to be finished any time soon. The mask and the long black slowing robes hid his true form, revealed only to those closest to him. To everyone else his true form was a mystery.

Once again he was joined by General Flack. He stood in a dark blue uniform, a long scar ran over his right eye. His eyes were on the crew fixing the hypergate, something was wrong. An unknown ship had exited hyperspace near to it and rammed the hypergate, exploding upon impact. The jumpgate shuddered and the actual wormhole changed from blue to a strange kind of yellow.

On board The Draconian Swan everything seemed calm until a sudden jolt sent shockwaves through its structure. With each jolt things were sent crashing to the floor all over the ship like it was in an earthquake. When it stopped everything went quiet.

“Hey who messed up my room,” Laharl yelled at the top of his lungs.

If anyone could hear him yelling, they ignored him.

In the tavern, the barman quickly began clearing up the broken glass.

“Interesting,” the vampire calmly said.

"What was that?" queried Vergenic, not expecting an answer.

"Nothing I've encountered going through the jumpgate," the barman said.

The expression upon his face was one of worry.

"Well, I seriously doubt this is good."

The vampire tipped his hat forward. "When a ship shakes like that it's never good kid," he said.

The vampire tipped his hat forward. "When a ship shakes like that it's never good kid," he said.

"I see "not completely serious" comments are not known to you."

The vampire turned his head and looked at him through cold dark eyes. "Let this be a warning to you kid," he began. "Pissing off a vampire is one of the worst things you could do."

The barman kept an eye on the vampire as he cleaned up. He knew he could be trouble, after all he was one half of the notorious Gunn brothers.

The vampire turned his head and looked at him through cold dark eyes. "Let this be a warning to you kid," he began. "Pissing off a vampire is one of the worst things you could do."

The barman kept an eye on the vampire as he cleaned up. He knew he could be trouble, after all he was one half of the notorious Gunn brothers.

"R-r-right" replied Vergenic, obviously shaken.

"Hmph," the vampire replied. Still with a drink in hand he drank the last of it. "Another."

The barman nodded, taking the glass he refilled the glass.

Knapp and Marcel where bounded into the walls of the hallways. “Damn, that has never happened on one of their ships.” said Knapp. “I have to check my room.” he said. the two men headed to his room on the top-level.

"Wait here," Temari told her three young charges before leaving their room. They too had rooms on the top-level.

The young blonde woman left the room to check what was going on.

As Knapp and Marcel made it to the top-level, they saw a young blonde woman. “Miss, do you know why the ship did what it did?” asked Knapp.

Temari looked at them, her eyes narrowed. "No, what do I look like, a crewmember?"

“Funny.” said Knapp. A smile was seen across Marcel’s lips. “How about we find one then.”

Voran woke up suddenly as the jolt sent him crashing to the floor. "Wad was dat !" He quickly got up, put back all the objects now on the floor, and walked out. He found a map and tried to look for where the captain might be.

“Funny.” said Knapp. A smile was seen across Marcel’s lips. “How about we find one then.”

"Well we're in the wrong place to find a useful crewmember," Temari told him. Without waiting she began walking off.

Voran woke up suddenly as the jolt sent him crashing to the floor. "Wad was dat !" He quickly got up, put back all the objects now on the floor, and walked out. He found a map and tried to look for where the captain might be.

The bridge where the captain was stood trying to figure out what was going on was of course offlimits to passengers. There would be no way for Voran to get there.

Mal stood shakily and ran towards his cabbin. He reached it just as a flood of passengers bolted to find out what was going on. He swung the door open, dropping the goofy demeaner just as he closed it behind him. He grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder as he felt the reassuring weight of the weapons against his back. He flipped up the matress of his bunk and grabbed a second duffel bag. He opened it and dumped dozens of round cylanders into the first bag. With a look around the cabin to assure he had everything contraband, he slung the bag over his shoulder and opend the door, looking as non-chalant as ever.

"Whats going on?" he asked, trying to find a crewman or at least a viewing portal to find out what was happening.

There were other people wandering around wondering what was going on. At one end of the corridor stood a man in the ships uniform.

"Please return to your rooms, there is nothing to worry about," he said to the crowd.

"Well we're in the wrong place to find a useful crewmember," Temari told him. Without waiting she began walking off.

The two men took off after her. Knapp is a VIP on this ship, he could maybe talk to the captain.

Now, where can I find someone to explain all this?

"Damn offlimits." Voran muttered angrily.

There were other people wandering around wondering what was going on. At one end of the corridor stood a man in the ships uniform.
"Please return to your rooms, there is nothing to worry about," he said to the crowd.
"Nothing to worry about. Yeah right. A shaking ship is always something to worry about." He said making the people around him look scared.

He ran back to his room and loaded his pouch with bunch of items. "I'll show them offlimits." He started walking to the bridge.

The two men took off after her. Knapp is a VIP on this ship, he could maybe talk to the captain.

Temari headed down to the imformation desk, looking around there were dozens of passengers but no crewmembers. Even the information desk staff were nowhere to be seen.

"Dammit," she cursed.

"Damn offlimits." Voran muttered angrily.


"Nothing to worry about. Yeah right. A shaking ship is always something to worry about." He said making the people around him look scared.

He ran back to his room and loaded his pouch with bunch of items. "I'll show them offlimits." He started walking to the bridge.

Of course there was no way to get to the bridge since it was behind a locked heavy door. The ship weren't going to take any chances on it being hijacked. There was no way for anyone who wasn't a highranking member of the crew to get there.

Temari headed down to the imformation desk, looking around there were dozens of passengers but no crewmembers. Even the information desk staff were nowhere to be seen.

"Dammit," she cursed.

Damn it! said Knapp to himself

Temari headed over to the windows and looked out. Usually hyperspace was blue, but as it looked there was no blue, only yellow.

"Strange," she thought to herself.

Knapp looked out the windows, too. "Okay, something is up." he said "That is usually blue not yellow. Right?" he asked to the blonde woman.

Temari nodded. "It would seem we hit a hyperstorm," she said. "Then there is nothing to worry about." She began to walk off. "Except for a few shakes now and then."

“Oh…Okay.” said Knapp then the two men walked to Knapp’s room. The mercenaries cleaned up most of the mess in there.

Eamonn was quietly sat in the corner while the two other Genin watched the telly when Temari finally returned.

"So what was it?" Kimiko asked, her purple eyes looked up at the young blonde woman.

"Hyperstorm, nothing to worry about," Temari replied.

Behind the black sunglasses, Eamonn's eyes narrowed. He knew it to be more then a hyperstorm.

Where is everyone?

((ooc: I'm here, I'm just waiting for something to happen beyond the ussual pleasantries. . . my character is ready to go whenever the GM gets things started))

Eamonn waited for the other three to finally go to sleep before slipping out. He had to find out what was going on, there was something more to it then a hyperstorm. Silently we walked through the corridors without really planning on going anywhere in specific.

Perhaps that person can help thought Vergenic as he spotted a figure.

Eamonn soon arrived at one of the areas that passengers could come and sit and talk while watching out into space. Though the windows he could tell it wasn't a hyperstorm. Hyperstorms didn't turn hyperspace yellow like it was now. Looking around he saw no one of interest.

The hypergate has malfunctioned, he thought to himself.

"Hey, you, do you know what's going on?" called Vergenic.

Eamonn took no notice of him and walked off.

Eamonn took no notice of him and walked off.

Well he's certainly not a people person

Finding a computer terminal, Eamonn set to work hacking into it like he had been taught to do from his friend Namus. It would be his best chance of finding out what had happened to the hypergate. If someone were to disturb him it would be their fault if he killed them.

Now where's someone I can ask

Voran was heading to the viewport when he bumped into Vergenic. He looked outside into the yellow space and realized what was going on. Damn it, how did this happen.

"Do you know what's going on?"

"Trouble." responded Voran. He walked back to his quarters and pulled out a laptop and set out to hack into the system.