NationStates Jolt Archive

This is an Invite RP for nations of The Enclave. Maybe this will change later.

IC:

Cina stood on the tower and looked into the darkness. She was on guard. An absolutely useless service if anybody would have asked her. What should this be good for in an army that used sensors and high-tech security systems to secure their bases? But she was only a trainee and nobody ever thought about asking her. So she had to stand sentry this night. And because she had used her psionic powers to cheat in a war game.

That’s unfair, really unfair. And only because these humans can’t do the same. Damn, narrow-minded … human Lieutenant Sander.

But nevertheless Cina was happy to be in the Imperial Army. She was one of the first elves in the armed forces and so it was only natural that there had to be problems at first until everybody got used to the other species. Although Cina doubted that she would ever feel well when she had to train with one of these giant Atlantids.
She shuddered. They were really scary for someone who had never seen one of these lizard like humanoids. And to train weapon less close combat was much too often … painfull.
But back to her current situation.
She still stared into the darkness and tried to see something in the night and sobbed. Unfair.
Suddenly she heard something from behind her back. A loud shouting from the officers’ mess. Cina turned round to see what happened and watched a man hastening out of the mess. He carried a long cylindrical object and looked directly at her. Some more officers followed him and obviously tried to stop him from doing something.

What’s going on there? Cina asked herself. Then she recognized the man carrying the object. Lieutenant Sander? What the hell …oh god, is that a LAW? her face turned pale.

What does he want to do? were her last thoughts before the tower turned into a ball of fire.

_______________________________________________________________

“What the hell happens out there?”, asked Bernhard Bonner, police commissioner of New Landing City, “Twenty-three dead in the last 12 hours. And all of them either Elves or Atlantids. I ask you again: What – The – Hell – Happens?” he stopped walking up and down and stared at the man sitting at the chair next to Bonner’s desk. He was clothed with a black dress, or maybe it was a dark blue and a white shirt. Over all this he wear a coat of the same colour as the dress although it was quiet warm outside. He had introduced himself as Rowald Bergren, Imperial Security.
“What? Do you know it?”

The man looked at the commissioner and crossed his legs.
“The things are a little bit complicated. As you said, all of the victims were either Atlantids or Elves. So they were all persons with at least fundamental psionical or telepathical abilities while the assassins were not.”

“I know that. You don’t have to tell me things I already know. Tell me why they did it!”

“That’s the problem. They had no cause.”

“So you want to tell me they just decided to go and kill some psionics? Just for fun? That’s crazy. They must have had causes. And if that were some racist causes or something like that. I can’t believe that citizens of the Empire kill psionics of no cause. ”

“Oh, there was a cause to kill them. But it was not their cause.”

“NOT THEIR CAUSE? What by the hells of Sin’dar do you mean with ‘Not their cause’?
Lieutenant Sander, Fire-chief Anders, Principal Hermann. Those are only a few of the assassins and all of them were upright citizens until yesterday. Do you want to say they were some kind of mercenaries?”

“Mercenaries sell their services on free will but those who killed the psionics didn’t do so. They were controlled.”

“Controlled? How can anybody …”, Bonner cut his words, “You don’t want to tell that …but that’s only a myth. An atlantidian myth, older than humankind. You can’t mean that.”

Bergren simply nodded. “We asked the legend tellers and all of them said it would be, especially, ”his voice turned awful,” Beal’riuk. And she knows the legends better than anybody else.”

“We ...we have to … we … what can we do?”

“Nothing at the moment. That’s why I came here. You are not allowed to talk to anybody about this and you are not allowed to take any actions in this case. This is a job for the IS.”

“But we HAVE to do something.”

Bergren stood up and approached the door. “We will do something. And I say it again: You are not allowed to talk to anybody about this or take any actions. This is a direct order from King Benjamin. And you’d better listen to his orders.” He left the office.

Bonner’s face had turned pale and he wiped the sweat from his forehead. Nobody ever ignored a direct order of the Emperor.

_______________________________________________________________

OOC: Alright, this is the situation. All over the Empire hundreds of Elves and Atlantids have been killed in the last 12 hours. All were killed by humans but only few of these assassins had been known because of racism or violent behaviour.

Underaloz, it would be great if Liane (I hope you remember her?) could appear. I’ve got some surprise for her ;).

(ooc: okie dockie)

She was simply beautiful. Yo Ashiba couldn't get his eyes off her.

"Ambassador Ashiba?... Ambassador?"

Ashiba turned his head and got back to the table. Tom Hillsburry, chief of security at the embassy was looking at him with a puzzled face.

"I hear you, Tom, I hear you," Ashiba finally said. "But what does it have to do with us? Sounds like a Earth II internal problem, don't you think?
- The last reports state that 248 citizens have been killed. According to the AI, there is a definitive pattern here: all victims were not humen and, as far as we know, all perpetrators were."

Ashiba sighted. He didn't like this AI thingy. Who knows what the war-goers of Valinon could have put into that thing? Beside, having this program connected to the whole security network of the embassies wasn't really appealing. And it had cost a lot.

It was not worth it.

"You know I don't really trust this... program," the ambassador replied with a grin. He pointed at the reports before him. "That's pure speculation if you ask me. Until now, no one from Underaloz has been involved. I don't see why we should worry.
- But...
- I don't say we shouldn't propose our help to their government. But we all know how opened to foreign assistance the Imperial Security is. And I doubt they won't take care of this, do you?"

Hillsburry bent back onto his chair.

"Ambassador, 37% of our staff here is non-human. Elven and scaven for the most part. We cannot ignore the possibility of an attack. We must re-enforce our security."

Ashiba pondered Hillsburry's last words but the ambassador didn't seem to be that focussed on the current issue. It was driving the chief of security nuts. After countless seconds, Ashiba finally opened the mouth:

"Do as you wish, Tom, but I tell you this is a waste of time and energy.
- Thank you, ambassador," Hillsburry said, quite happy with this unexpected acceptance.

He stood up and headed to the door.

"One last word, Tom," Ashiba said, breaking Tom's movement. "Contact the Imperial Security and tell them we wish to help. It's not because we know they'll refuse that we shouldn't offer."

Without waiting for Hillsburry's eventual answer, the ambassador turned at the window, glancing regularly at his elven bodyguard.

This Liane is definitly the purest expression of beauty.

"Milord? Lord von Manen?" the Lieutenant who interrupted the conference seemed to be nervous. Nobody wished to disturb a lord, especially not this one, Lord von Manen, vice chief-instructor of the Imperial Security. And absolutely nobody would like to do this when he had bad news.

The men and women sitting at the large oval table looked up and the huge man at the top turned around to face the Lieutenant and grunted a single “What?”.

The Lieutenant swallowed.
“Sir, we have to more dead.”

“Damn. Who? Atlantids or Elves?”

“Erm … Atlantids, Sir. And … and …”

“What? C’mon Lieutenant, we don’t have the whole day for it!”

“Sir, one of them was Eal’sard.”

“Eal … by God, you don’t mean Eal’sard, the bodyguard of Andar’partek?”

“Yes, Sir. He and … and the Legend Teller are both dead.”

That was a hard hit. Not only had Eal’sard been a friend of Lord von Manen but to loose a Legend Teller was nearly the worsest thing that could have happened. The Atlantids would be shocked. And if the murderer was again a human this could have fatal consequences. No human had ever killed a Legend Teller. Even the try was one of the most abominable crime known in the Empire. Although the IS knew that the murderer didn’t act on his own free will this was a catastrophe.
The Lieutenant tried to say something more but hesitated. Finally he said: “Sir, the … the assassin … it was Eal’sard himself.”

Suddenly the problem of a human killing a Legend Teller didn’t seem to be such a big problem anymore. An Atlantid killing a Legend Teller was something impossible. And it meant that not longer only humans were under control of this strange power. And still nobody knew how to stop it.

_________________________________________________________________

Some hours later von Manen sat in another office at another table but the problem was still the same.
In between the scientists had found out that all victims of the last 24 hours had on thing in common: all of them had a psi-level of more than 30*.

Von Manen looked at the two men sitting on the chairs in front of the desk.

Sword-squad. Not even me has ever seen one of them before. It’s curious how common they look like.

“You know about the situation?” he asked and the older one of the two men nodded. He had short black hair, blue eyes and was about 180 cm tall. He seemed to be in the mid-fourtees. The other man was younger, maybe 30 years of age. He had short black hair too but brown eyes and was only about 175 cm tall but seemed to be physically stronger than his companion.

“So you know why we can’t risk to send someone else although this is not a very tricky task. The ambassador of Underaloz offered his help and King Benjamin thinks we should listen to them if they have some knowledge that could help us in this case. He wishes to see the ambassador and you two have to bring this message, “he pointed at an envelope on the, “to him and escort the ambassador if he decides to follow King Benjamin’s wish.”

Again the man nodded and took the envelope. Then they both arose from the chairs and left the office without saying a word.
They entered an elevator and the younger man pressed the button for the underground car park.
When they left the elevator and headed towards an official IS vehicle the older man said the first words: “Jimmy, I know what you are thinking about and I will only say it once: NO you will NOT drive the car!”
Jimmy murmured something about old men in general but opened the door on the passengers side of the car.
A few minutes later they were on their way to the embassy of Underaloz.


*OOC: on the Estran-Hauer scale. For comparison: a usual human has a level of about 15 to 18, most Atlantids are between 25 and 40 (Legend Tellers reach a level of more than 100) and the common elf is placed at 35 to 40

(ooc: Jimmy... that rings a bell... fill me in so that I don't make any mistake)

Yo Ashiba was staring at his plate.

"You call that an egg?" he said with an angry voice

He was having a com with the chief.

"Well... sir... we do with what we have. The chickens out here are quite peculiar... if you can call them chickens actually.
- Listen... I don't care about excuses. These eggs taste like rotten meat. I am not an atlantid for christ sake! Just order some double head snakes. We have enough space here to raise an entire colony. Contact the McMurphy corporation, I'm sure they can handle that."

The ambassador raised his finger, automatically cutting the transmission. He stood up and walked to the window.

"Rainy day," he muttered to himself. "And not even this little satisfaction that a good meal brings."

He turned the head. His bodyguard was standing there.

"Don't you elves ever eat?" he asked Liane.
"We do, sir," the elf answered with her melodious voice. "Less than human beings though.
- Yes, and your food is less tasty from what I know. What's the name of this bread you make?
- Lemba.
- Oh yes," Ashiba said with a smile. "Well, I would kill for some tasteless lemba."

Liane didn't answer. The ambassador observed her some seconds. She had been recommanded by the Council itself. She was part of the arrival of the Empire on the Enclave.

Which was pretty close to be a disaster, Ashiba thought, remembering the reports he had read about it.

The comm rang.

"Don't tell me the snakes are already here," he joked.

He pressed the button.

"Yes?
- Ambassador, we have a delegation from Earth II here. It seems they have a message from King Benjamin.
- All right," Ashiba answered a bit surprised. "All right, bring them in."

He faced the door.

Probably a nice and protocolar negative reply.

---Post deleted by NationStates Moderators---

faggit faggot foo foo foo fighter go go launch transformers armada BOOM UNICRON ATE EARTH TWO HAHAHAH YOu stink like a sock get it socks smll so they stink and you stink so ur a sock hehdhe

huh? did anybody here this noise? I could swear I heared something.
____________

OOC: Yep, Jimmy Douglas Tremain, former lieutenant commander of the Imperial Space and Air force, is the first surprise for Liane. And I'm sure you don't guess what's numbre two. :mrgreen:

____________

The door opened and two men entered. Both dressed in black and silver IS uniforms.
They took of their black barrets and placed them under their shoulder straps. The ambassador had never seen badges of rank like these two men wore: two crossed swords in a circle of something that looked like laurel. The older one of them had a small star at the centre were the swords crossed.
They bowed their heads.

"Excellency." the older one of them said respectfully while the younger man looked at the elven bodyguard.

"Hi, Liane." Jimmy Tremain said. GreeneyeBlueeye

Hearing this the other man turned his head to face Liane.
What Liane saw should have been impossible; the man looking at her was ... Mace Bader.

Liane stared at Jimmy then at Mace. Her mouth opened slightly then she closed it. Ashiba gave a quick glance in her direction as he had heard her name pronounced.

Damn, I've never seen her that surprised. Well, I have never seen her surprised. Even that day when this Atlantid tried to smash my... hmmm... no time for this.

Liane slowly got back to her senses. She took a protocolar pose as if she wanted Jimmy and Mace to understand she was on duty.

"H... Hi," she said with a barely audible voice.

Ashiba looked back at the older soldier.

"Good morning, sir, how may I help you?" the Ambassador asked with a diplomatic smile. "I heard about a message."

Could be these special corps our intelligence reported about. I thought these were rumors.

Bader turned back to the ambassador.

"That's right, excellency. King Benjamin IV sent us to bring this letter to you." he took the envelope out of his pocket and gave it to the ambassador.

________________

Dear ambassador of the United Coorporations of Underaloz,

we, King Benjamin IV, have heared about your generous offer to help us in this difficult times. We have decided that it would be of advantage for both of our nations to work together as this thread is not only a thread to the Empire.
We have sent two of our best men to escort you to our residence and prevent you from any harm if you decide to follow our wish.

King Benjamin IV,
Emperor of Eras, Grayson and Masada, Protector of the Second Kingdom of Eras, defender of the Empire and Großschwert of the Holy Order of Aran'szartuk

____________________

While the ambassador read the letter Jimmy talked to Liane.

It's good to see you again, Miss Liane.
I never had the chance to apologize for what happened last times. I ...hadn't been myself.
Oh and I think I should introduce my partner to you. You know his brother Mace; this is Markus Bader, his twin brother.

Liane seemed shocked once again. She stared at Jimmy and opened the mouth but she didn't speak.

How come you can talk in my head? she thought intensely to see if Jimmy could hear her think. Now I'm turning crazy.

Ashiba let his eyes wander around the room. He was thinking intensely. The japanese man, in his early 50s, seemed to grow taller as ideas were forming in his mind. He looked at Bader.

"All right, I'll follow you gentlemen. But I wish to take a little escort with me."

Jimmy smiled.

The transformation had some err... side effects. Add a little training and you get what you see now.

___________

"Of course, excellency. But I should tell you that no weapons are allowed when you meet the King. I'm sure you understand this."

Liane smiled at Jimmy. It was nice to see him alive and kicking. She turned at this new Bader she didn't know before.

He's the exact copy of Mace.

Ashiba smiled.

"Of course, I understand. Liane, get a group of 5 marines ready.
- What corporation?" she asked
"Whatever, a mix if possible and do it quickly. Standard equipment and one of this flying boxes from Valinon. We'll have to let the guns out to meet the King."

Liane walked out the room.

Jimmy followed Liane with his eyes.

Still the same

______

"Thank you for your understanding, excellency." Bader replied.

(ooc: double post forever :P )

"You're welcome. Anyway gentlemen, since we're waiting for this little escort to be ready, may I offer you something to drink?" Ashiba waving at the bar.

(oh yea!)

"Sure. Thank you excellency. Something non-alcoholic would be good." Bader said.
Jimmy simply nodded.

Ashiba smiled as if he was about to make the best of jokes ever.

"Two orange juices," he said out loud to the walls.

Seconds later, two traps opened onto the bar and glasses filled with an orange liquid got out of them. The ambassador turned back at the people from Earth II.

"Some technological toy we bought to Valinon," he said with a smile. "If you wish to seat."

"Im...pressive, excellency." If he wants to paly "Thank you." Tremain said and took a glass as well as Bader did.

"Yes, very impressive isn't it?" Ashiba replied proudly. "The technological gap between the Empire of Valinon and the UCU makes me dizzy sometimes."

The Ambassador took the glass of wine next to the plate. He grinned, thinking about how bad the egg tasted. He walked behind the bar and sat in front of Tremain and Bader. He stared at their badges acting as if he hadn't spotted them in the first place.

"Intriguing," he said genuinly. "I don't remember any of your officials wearing this symbol."

"That's not as astonishing as you may think. We are members of a special squad of the Imperial Security. You won't see much of us out there." Mace thought for a moment "But maybe this will change now until we regain controll of the situation."

(ooc: I thought this was Marcus :P)

"Now you got me interested!" The Ambassador replied. "Special squad you say... and to think I pictured the Imperial Security as an already very special part of your army. So you're specialized into...?"

(ooc:oww, never try to watch a funny movie and write a rp at the same time. And it's Markus [with 'K'])

ic:

"Myth'."


(ooc: short but precise)

Ashiba raised an eyebrow. Within all the diplomats of the UCU, he was undoubtedly the most atheistic. He had had countless argument with Michael Vaughn, former president of the Council.

Now I understand why I've been assigned here, he thought, sarcastic. Purgatory I guess.

"That's... interesting," he said finally. "I'm not that much into religious matters. Do you think these killings have a symbolic reason?"

We are not religious in the usual meaning, too. But we believe in the Holy order of Aran'szartuk .We do so because the legends conected to it are true. As well as Aran'szartuk was a real beeing.
And in this case one of the oldest legends known to the order seems to come back. And not in a symbolic reason." Markus replied.

Jimmy added: "We will have to face something very old. And ... but maybe King Benjamin can tell this in a better way. We should wait with further explanations until we met him."

"Well, you know," the Ambassador joked. "For christians, Jesus did exist. For historians too. The real question is whether what's said about him in the bible is true or not."

He took a sip of his wine.

"Anyway, I guess you're right. I'd better wait for this meeting with the King then we..."

Liane's voice came out of the speaker behind Ashiba.

"We're ready, Ambassador."

Ashiba smiled.

"Good, good. Gentlemen..."

He pushed a button next to the speaker and a secret door opened behind him. With a little movement and a childish grin, he invited the two men to follow him.

These guys seem to love secret toys Bader thought while he and Jimmy followed the ambassador through the secret door.


(OOC: the ambassador will be surprised if not shocked if he gets to know more about the holy order and the legends, oh yes, he will. *very bride grin appears on face*)

The door led into an elevator. Ashiba used a magnetic key he had in his pocket. After a dozen seconds, they arrived in a big room, probably the garage of the Embassy.

Liane was there with 5 men in the typical outfits of the UCU marines. Sigma? Sotek? WP? They all looked the same to Bader and Tremain. A man in a penguin-like suit walked to the Ambassador.

"You're suit is ready, Ambassador.
- If you'll excuse me for a second," Ashiba said to Markus and Jimmy.

He then followed the man behind a folding screen.

Liane was barking orders at what seemed like a crew of technicians.

"I need a test and I need it now."

The youngest bent as to avoid her wrath. All in a sudden something jumped into the air, it seemed to open like a chinese puzzle. In a matter of seconds, a big container had appeared... and it was floating at about 1 meter from the ground.

Markus and Jimmy looked at eachother.

They really love those toys, don't they?Jimmy asked.

It seems as if. But don't forget that we are not better. We only use different stuff.
But tell me; is that the same Liane you and my brother met at your first visit on the Enclave?

She is.

Now I know why you were so fascinated by her. And I'm sure Mace was too.

"Good," Liane said as the box was getting back into its primary stage. "Put it in the van."

She turned at Markus and Jimmy. She simply smiled. Her face seemed to radiate. But then her eyebrows bent.

"Where is the Ambassador?"

Before Jimmy could answer this question with something like: 'He is being dressed' and propably added: 'with a penguin suit.' Markus simply said: "Over there." and pointed at the folding screen.

At that exact moment, Ashiba appeared in what seemed to be a uniform. He seemed surprisingly comfortable in such an outfit and his averall attitude had changed. He seemed taller, more intelligent. He looked like a real leader.

"All right, I'm ready. Are you?" he asked Liane.

The elf nodded respectfully.

"Good. Good," the Ambassador muttered to himself.

He looked at Jimmy and Markus.

"Do you want me to join you in your own vehicule or should we proceed the other way round?"

"If you don't mind we'd prefer our vehicle. This would prevent difficulties when we approach the palace."

"As you wish," Ashiba answered. "I'll let the escort follow us with the van."

Liane opened the mouth as if she had to disaprove. The Ambassador raised his hand.

"That's an order," he said imperiously. "Gentlemen, I follow you."

"Erm..we had to park our car at the C deck. Could anybody lead my partner, Mr. Tremain, to the deck so he can bring it down here?"

Ashiba had one of his childish smiles. He nodded at a technician. The ground trembled slightly and the car literally got out of the ground, three of four meters before Tremain.

"Is it that car?" the Ambassador asked with a playful tone.

Bader and Tremain stepped back in shock.

"When did you move the car?" Tremain asked while Bader was hectically looking for something in his pocket.

"Well, we don't let people park randomly," Ashiba said a bit surprised by their reaction. "There's no magic in there, just a network of elevator and tunnels. No one entered your car, don't worry."

"That's not the question, excellency." Tremain said while Bader finally found what he had been looking for and pulled out a small silvern pen-like looking object and pressed a button on it. He sighed.

"Sir," Bader continued, "the positon where we parked the car had been fixed and stored. Moving the car without permission means activating the self-destruction automacy. That's, "he smiled, "one of the causes why nobody would try to steal an IS vehicle."

(i gotta kill the forum)

"That's not the question, excellency." Tremain said while Bader finally found what he had been looking for and pulled out a small silvern pen-like looking object and pressed a button on it. He sighed.

"Sir," Bader continued, "the positon where we parked the car had been fixed and stored. Moving the car without permission means activating the self-destruction automacy. That's, "he smiled, "one of the causes why nobody would try to steal an IS vehicle."

(i gotta kill the forum)

(no shit? :P )

Ashiba stared at Bader.

"Are you saying you brought explosives into this very embassy? I hope you are kidding."

(no shit :evil: )

"No explosives, excellency. But the destruction mechanism radiates a light stream of neutrons that would elliminate every form of life within a radius of five meters." Bader answered the question.
As I said before: Nobody steals IS property."

"Not sure I want to get inside this car now..." Ashiba muttered to himself, staring at the vehicule.

He looked at Bader.

"I thought you would appreciate not to have to go search for the car... oh well!"

"I'm sorry, Sir. I should have mentioned that before but I never thought that ...
But don't worry, as long as the moving is authorized nothing can happen."

"Don't worry officer. I understand this kind of... securities. Anyway, I'm in your hands now."

(ooc: time to go see the King :) )

Bader nodded and pressed another button on the pen-like object and the doors of the car swung into open position.
He pointed at the four seated car and smiled archly:"If you want we can take your whole escort with us, excellency."

(ooc: wait, you can put 8 human beings onto 4 seats?)

(they have got toys too :wink: )

Ashiba bent at Bader.

"You'll have to give me the address of your car dealer," he whispered at Markus' ears. Then, out loud: "Seems like a good idea. Can we use your trunk to put the box for later usage?"

"Sure, just a moment."

Bader bent into the car and switched on something.
Suddenly parts of the chassis opened and several metal sheets appeared; then the whole car seemed to strech and a few seconds later the car had doubbled its length and numbre of seats.

"Your men can put the box into the trunk now. Would you enter the car yourself now so we can leave? King Benjamin IV is waiting."

Ashiba had stared at the car during its transformation. His eyes were filled with envy. Bader's last words drew him out of his dream.

"Ah... Yes... of course... the King... Let's go!"

He entered the car, followed by Liane and the 4 marines.

They left the building and headed towards the city-center where the imperial palace was. In some distance three inconspicious vans full of marines followed.
Although still nobody knew it there was war. War against an unknown enemy you can not see.
After a few minutes (IS vehicles are equiped with devices to turn the traffic-lights green) they reached the center and the palace.
It was a tower, small for a city with more than 13 million inhabitants, about 50 stories high and in the national colors dark and light blue.
The car entered the underground car park where they were already expected by a group of 4 marines and two officers. All of them were atlantids.
Markus stopped the car and opened the doors.

I could swear I didn't see any red light,[i] the UCU Ambassador thought while getting out of the car. [i]That's strange, I don't...

He spotted the Atlantids. He always felt uncomfortable when confronted to this specie. He tried to smile and waited for them to speak while Liane and the marines were lining behind him.

(ooc: I swear I'll come and burn this damn server)

(ooc: yeah, burning down the house)

The marines and officers saluted in front of Bader and Tremain. Then one of the officers, a lieutenant colonel it seemed, said: "Ssir, hiss majesty jusst asked where you and ambassssador Ashiba are. He iss impatiantly waiting to ssee him."

"Alright, lieutenant colonel. We'll hurry." he turned. "Ambassador, this are lieutenant colonel Aler'bren, commander of the palace guard and his adjutant Captain Esren'chalder. If you would now follow me to the elevator?"

(oops, wrong nation)

(ooc: Northern Germany! AHA! :P)

Ashiba followed the men. As he was walking, his attitude got more and more protocolar. It gave the feeling the man had been a soldier before.

(ooc: you knew that (once). that's the nation I told you the joke [two planets meet...] with :) )

If Markus or Jimmy would have looked behind them where the ambassador and his staff followed they would have seen his new attitude. So only the imperial marines and the officers who were following the men from Underaloz on their part and the surveillance cameras saw it.

They enterd the huge elevator and one of the imperial marines pressed the button for the 40th floor.
The effects of the speeding up tried to pull them down to the ground at first but then it became better.
After 20 seconds the elevator stopped and the doors opened. They led into a splendidly equiped hall.
The floor was laid with thick red carpets, golden ornamets reflecting the light of the diamond chandaliers dominated the walls and georgous gobelins hung there.
At the other side of the hall, nearly 100 meters away a huge wooden door was guarded by two atlantids dressed in something like dress uniforms.

Ashiba bent to Liane.

"You'll wait for me here," he whispered. "I don't think I'll need your protection anymore. Unless you're that curious?"

Liane seemed to hesitate. Ashiba smiled.

"All right, let the men here. You come with me."

The marines, hearing this, looked at eachother and at Bader and Tremain.

It's alright Tremain send to them You will stay here with their escort. And take care, you know what I mean. The lieutenant colonel nodded.

Together with Ashiba and Liane Tremain and Bader walked over to the door. The two guards opened it and watched the two intruders with suspicious looks but led them pass. Behind them the door closed and cut off any contact.

They now were in a rarely furnished office, the opposite of the hall before.
In front of a glass wall that allowed a view at the southern part of New Landing City stood a large and massive wooden desk. Between the desk and the window-wall a young man of about 25 years set on a comftable chair.
He looked up from some sheets of paper he and smiled. His green eyes faced Markus and Jimmy, rested on Liane for a moment and finally focused the ambassador.

"Your majesty." Bader and Tremain bent.

"This are Lady Liane , "Bader said, " and Ambassador Ashiba of Underaloz."

Ashiba bent at the King, showing perfect knowledge of the Empire's etiquette. Liane just stood still, clearly defining her position as a personal guard.

"Your Highness," Ashiba simply said, still bent, waiting for the King to talk.

But the King didn't say a word but looked at Liane, his smile more or less frozen.

Tremain stealthy looked at her.

Bent. Markus introduced you as Lady Liane of Underaloz, not as a bodyguard.


(*takes knife to stab forum*)

(*takes knife to stab forum*)
(* gives knife *)

Liane bent in a little hurry. The gesture was far from being protocolar.

Why the Hell have I been brought here?

I'm sorry. As soon as the ambassador told you to come with him into the office we should have told you not to look like a bodyguard. His majesty would have seen this as a sign of mistrust. His office is one of the safest places in the Empire. But to Lady Liane he wouldn't have said anything. Jimmy replied.

"Lady Liane, Ambassador Ashiba, we are glad to see you here. Please, take a seat. Agent Bader, Agent Tremain, we will call you if we need something." Benjamin said, smiling again.

Ashiba walked to his seat and sat, showing Liane what the proper way to do so was. She imitated his movement. In fact, she did it extremely well now that the surprise had gone. Wasn't she an intriguingly beautiful elf?

As soon as Bader and Tremain had left the room Benjamin came to the point of interest of this meeting.

"Ambassador Ashiba by the offer of help you made to us we assume that you know about the situation in general?"

"Well, your highness, your intelligence service is very efficient when it comes to hinder information. But given the important number of killings, a simple analysis can bring some ideas."

Ashiba bent a little, looking the King into the eyes.

"There are many things we don't know about your culture. However, we are neighbours and that, for my nation, means a lot. Whatever your problem can be, we'll do our best at helping you."

"It's good to hear that our nation has got such neighbours. And that's why we are serious when we say that we are very sorry that we brought this plague to the Enclave and to you.
And it is a plague you can't imagine to be worser we think.
We apologize for all what we have done but you have to see that this was the only way to bring this plague away from earth. If we are not able to stop it all we can do is to hinder it from eliminating all humankind."

(scary, eh?)

(scary, eh?)
(ooc: what have you brought onto the Enclave!!! As if there weren't enough sh-t on it ;) Shame on you!!! :P )

That wasn't the kind of answer Ashiba was expecting. He bent back into the seat, pondering the words.

Apparently, he believes in what he's saying, the Ambassador thought, relying on his unique ability to detect lies. This would confirm that the Empire has a secret so huge only a fist knows about it.

Ashiba smiled finally.

"Whatever you brought here, you highness, I'm confident we can get rid of it. We could even open the gates and throw it in," he said with a light tone, then, getting much more serious. "However, I'm a bit displeased to hear you have hidden such a threat from us. You could have at least tell the Council. I do hope you'll let us know about what this is all about, because I am convinced secrecy always work for the wrong side."

He waved his hand.

"The past is the past. If there is a threat, we will help you."

(ooc: I know. I'm open for epic things. Armageddon, Ragnarök and co... :wink: )

"I admit that we hid something but we thought we would have time. At least a few centuries until the break out. But somehow the moving, maybe the gates must have changed something. Maybe they gave wrong signals? We don't know.
But what we know is that something very old, and I mean realy old, awakened. And I'm afraid that "throwing it through the gates" won't work. Unfortunately we don't know what it realy is."

(ooc: can't wait :) )

"You'll need to tell me a little more... or at least give me someone from the IS that I could get information from. And you'll understand I'll have to refer to the council about the situation."

"I understand perfectly. And if you wouldn't have mentioned it yourself I would have asked you to tell your council about it. Especially because this can happen in Underaloz as well as in every other nation on this planet.
But you are right, I should tell you more about the plague.
First of all: What do you know about the atlantids? Do you know what they are, how old their species is? About their past?"

Ashiba managed not to grin too much.

"To be honest, what we know about atlantids is what you let us know. So, in short, we know nearly nothing except for their peculiar tastes."

"Oh, I thought we would have given out at least SOME informations.
Well, so I'll have to tell you about the atlantids."

He rose from his seat and turned round to look out of the window.

"To make it short: The atlantids are an incredible old species, much older than humankind. And so is their civilization.
They were the ruling species on earth when the last dinosaurs lived. 65 million years ago. They flew to the moon when we humans were nothing more than a glitter in the eyes of God.
And then, 65 million years ago, when they were on top of their might, the plague appeared and destroyed their civilization. Nothing was left after this so they were not able to hinder the great asteroid from hitting the earth and eliminating nearly all kind of life on earth.
Only few of the atlantids survived.
Then, a few tenthousend years later they again had build up a civilization and again the plague appeared and destroyed everything.
And so it happened again and again. All in all they had ten civilizations comparable to ours and all of them went down. Destroyed by the plague.
By their Legend Tellers they were able to remember the past. To remember things that happened ages before and so they knew about their history and decided not to build up anpther civilization only to see it being destroyed.
They decided to wait until someone would have found a way to defeat the plague.
Then, after endless ages of waiting, the humans and other species appeared and the atlantids had the hope that we might find some way to defeat the plague.
And so we are here, now and with our current problem." King Benjamin turned and looked at Ashiba and Liane, waiting for them to reply.

(I had lots of time to think about this concept, so it might have become hard to understand. :? If you have questions feel free to ask or let your characters ask)

Liane's eyes were vibrating. As an elf, she had no problem to understand what such a plague could mean. Fate is what her people would call such a thing.

To a much more materialist mind, such as Ashiba's one, all this thing could be realistic but...

"I can understand the notion of a recurring disease, but what you're talking about seems so abstract to me. What is this plague? A illness? How does it manifest itself?"

"As I said before we don't know what it is." he sighed, "It might be an illness or some kind of a curse. We don't know. But it only appeares when the civilization reaches some special level of technology, culture and knowledge. That's why we thought we would have centuries before it appears again. But the use of the gates must have been a sign that we reached this level.
And how it manifsts? You see it when you look at the reports. Beeings killing beeings. It seems to only infect those with a low psionic level but those kill the ones with high psionic and thelepatic abilities. It had always been this way. And at the end ... nobody will be left." he sat down again, now he looked somehow powerless as if telling the storie and thinking about the situation would have cost all his energy.

"I see," The Ambassador said with the look of man who actually didn't see. "Would you happen to have historical data about these past events? I mean, something material rather than storytellers. We have this AI we bought from Valinon. Maybe this machinery could spot things that a non-mechanical mind couldn't..."

"We have all this in electronical form of course but the datas came from the Legend Tellers. And if they tell a legend it is as if you would have seen it with your own eyes. Of course there are inaccuracies but legends not older than twenty or thirty generations are very accurate. Atlantid generations of course so these stories are about twenty- or thirtythousend years old.
And the oldest legends with less than fifteen percent divergation from what is supposed to be the truth are about twenty MILLION years old.
You should know that the Legend Tellers give their knowledge to the next generation by thelepathy and litterally 'burn' these informations into the brain of the next Legend Teller. They are more accurate than any known technollogy." it was obvious that, for Benjamin, it was impossible that an AI could ever be more accurate than the Legend Tellers.

"Oh... All I'm implying is that a software, devoid of feelings, may very well analyse the legends a very different way than we, organic beings, would."

The King thought for a moment. Then, with new energy:

"Hmm ... I think we could try it. Although I doubt we will get any usefull results. But that's exactly why you are here, to give new ideas."

He pressed a button on the desk.

"Reian? Come to Our office. Imediatly!" he turned back to Ashiba.

"Do you have psionic or thelepatic abilities?" he asked

"Err..." Ashiba babbled with a puzzled look. (OOC: something like this: O_o )

"Oh, I see, you don't." he smiled and then looked at Liane, "But you have. Would you like to know how a Legend feels like when it is told by a Legend Teller? So you could compare the Legend and the datas given by the AI."

Liane looked at the King, uncomfortable.

"That is a path I have turned my back at, you Highness," she said with a sad tone. "I am not sure to have the proper qualities for..."

It was obvious she was lying. She blushed (which made her look even more beautiful).

"I guess I could give it a try," she whispered.

"Wonderfull. Accidentally, "now he was lying, but not as obviously as Liane, "one of the greatest Legend Tellers alive happens to be at the palace today. I will send for her. She will be enthusiastic to tell you. I'm sure she never met an elf before."

He pressed another button on the desk and sent someone to ask the Legend Teller to come. At this moment the intercom rang.
Benjamin activated it.

"Majesty, technican Reian is here."

"Let her enter."

The door opened and a being of ethereal appearence entered the office; obviously an aquaner [see nations description].
The body seemed to be to weak and breakable to survive outside of the water; the skin was half-transparent and gleaming. The whole entity seemed to glow from the inside, colored streams of light seemed to flow under the skin (imagine those "lighted" jelly-fishes).
Slowly, like hovering over the ground, the being approached and bent infront of King Benjamin not looking at Ashiba or Liane.

"Majesty." Reian said with a silent and melodious voice.

"Reian, we need the datas about the plague. Store them on a datacube and give this cube to ambassador Ashiba of Underaloz." Benjamin turned to Ashiba, "Do you use datacubes to store digital datas or something else? We didn't ask you."

Ashiba looked uncomfortable... he tried to be as polite as possible.

"Well, you highness surely remembers the commercial treaties between the United Corporations and the Empire. Every electronic device from Underaloz complex enough to treat data now comes with a slot compatible with data cubes... as you personally requested in the treaties."

"Did we? Oh yes, there were so many thinks that we forgot about it. Thank you for reminding us, ambassador.
Reian, you know what to do."

"What ever you wish, majesty." Reian answered, bent and left the room.

Ashiba looked at Liane. The elf wasn't moving but a storm seemed to be raging inside her mind.

I wonder who you really are, the Ambassador thought.

A few moments later the intercom rang again.

"Ah, this must be Elen'pankre, the Legend Teller."

Benjamin left his chair, nearly jumping up, and opened the door himself. Then, even slower than Reian before, an old looking female atlantid entered the room. Without the face her whole body bowed down by age was covered by a black robe.
Slowly she stepped towards Liane, supported by Benjamin.

With an unexpected strong voice she asked: "You are the one who can listen? I will tell."

Liane's right hand trembled slightly. She bent respectfully at the Legend Teller. She didn't know what to expect, she didn't know if she had the same skill as her mother.

(ooc: actually she's incredibly powerful. Just never developped her powers)

Elen'pankre streched out her left hand and caressed Liane's head (what will look a bit ... umm ... funny. As you know atlantids have biiiig hands).

"So young. But don't worry my child, nothing will happen to you. What do you want to know. Which legend shall I tell? The legend of the peacefull land? The times of the first ice? The awakening? or, "she smiled, "the legend about the ape that started to walk on two legs?"

(I don't know how you manage to do this, but I need some ours of sleep a day. See you later. G'dnight ... or day.)

(I don't know how you manage to do this, but I need some ours of sleep a day. See you later. G'dnight ... or day.)
(well I'm exhausted what do you think? I'll prepare an answer later, night!)

Liane turned at the King, apparently seeking for an answer.

"I... I don't really know," she said with hesitation.

King Benjamin IV looked at the Legend Teller.

"We need the "Plague of civilizations"."

Elen' sighed. "Oh Ben, Ben. Such a sad story for such a young girl?"

"She is strong enough. You know it."

"Yes, yes I know it. But such a sad story shouldn't be her first legend."

"It was my first legend. And I'm still here."

Both of them seemed to have forgotten that they were not alone.

"Yes, you are still here and she will be, too. But nevertheless it's a sad story. But it's ok, I will tell her." she looked at Liane, "You don't have to fear anything, my child. You are strong enough to make this an easy walk. Are you ready to listen?"

Liane's face had turned completly white as she had heard the Legend Teller and the King talk. Ashiba, who she always thought to be immature and cynical, put his hand onto herse, such an unexpected attitude from this man it seemed. He nodded at her.

"I trust you," he simply said.

She looked at the King for a second or two then her eyes went onto the Legend Teller.

"Do it," she whispered with a broken voice.

Elen' looked back at her, then at King Benjamin. He nodded.
She placed her hand onto Liane's and nearly covered her whole forearm with it.

"You don't have to do anything. Just listen and see." the Legend Teller said then it began.
First there were only fragments of pictures, black and white, blurred and without meaning,two-dimensional like photographs. Step by step the pictures came faster and gained depth but still they were blurred and without color.
Then Liane had the feeling to fall, to fall into the pictures. She was no longer a spectator but part of what she saw. The pictures formed a reality around her.
Strange looking buildings with organic shapes all around her; Atlantids walking over the streets, sitting in their hovering vehicles; Strange but somehow familiar looking plants and animals.
Liane realized that she herself looked like an atlantid. And she felt like one.

"Unbelievable," she muttered in the Atlantid's ancient tongue.

(Can't ... post ... damn ... forum ... argh)


Suddenly the scene changed: the peacefull city had turned into a slaughterhouse.
People run over the streets in panic, some of the towers burned but nobody tried to put the fires out. Explosions could be heared and smoke filled the air.
Liane felt the same panic and pain the Legend Teller whose reminiscence this was had felt. She was Liane but she also was the Legend Teller. She knew what happened, why it happened and where this would lead to as far as the atlantid had known herself.
She saw the end of a whole civilization, her civilization.

A tear ran onto the elf's face. Her whole body was contracted. She had grabbed Ashiba's hand and the poor man was biting his lips, trying not to shout because of the pain. He looked at the King who seemed at the same time calm and preoccupied.

King Benjamin saw Ashiba's expression.

"I hope you can still do it?" he whispered.

_______

The whole world as she had know it broke into pieces when more and more people were infected by the plague. Nobody knew how to stop it and every day the situation became worser.
More than 100 million dead had been reported during the last four days and every hour more died. Not because they were ill but because others were and killed them.
Public life had come to an end because everybody could be the one who kills you the next moment.
Fear and panic dominated her feelings. Followed be endless sadness.

Ashiba's hand was nothing more than pure pain.

"It... It'll be all right," he replied to the King with difficulty.

Liane was seeing all of them fall. Parents, lovers, everyone. It was like a rampant disease progressing with a mask. You could feel the eyes looking at you but still couldn't see what was after you.

Then, graciously, the scene changed again. It was still the same place but month or years later.
It was calm. Only time to time an animal sound could be heared. Nature had begun to reconquer the city but still the signs of devastation were visible. Destroyed vehicles lay on the ground, skeletons between the wracks, most of the houses were burned down.
Without Liane there were no atlantids alive in this city. Maybe there were others in the other cities; a few.
Liane felt that the plague hadn't left many of them alive. She tried to find others with her senses but only twenty or thirtythousend answered her call. Thirtythousend of three billions. And only a fist of Legend Tellers.

Then the reality seemed to fade away. The objects became transparent, unreal.
Suddenly Liane felt her own body. It was a deorientating experience to switch from a standing body to a sitting one.
The Legend was over.

Liane realized her eyes were wet. In a shameful gesture, she passed her hand onto them. Looking down, she realized Ashiba's hand was within herse. And it was bleeding.

"Oh... I... I'm sorry," she said with a thin voice, letting his hand go.

Ashiba moved his fingers with a contracted face.

"Well, I guess I can still push buttons," he said with a smile as if he knew what the woman could think of him.

"Do you need aid?" Benjamin asked Ashiba.

_____

Elen'pankre opened her eyes and looked at Liane's wet eyes.

"Are you alright, my dear?"

"Do you need aid?" Benjamin asked Ashiba.

"Oh, no, don't worry," the ambassador said.

He opened his shirt and an electronic panel showed up on his chest. He entered a code, closed the shirt and looked back at the King.

"The MS Corporation can do miracles."

His hand slowly stopped bleeding.

Elen'pankre opened her eyes and looked at Liane's wet eyes.

"Are you alright, my dear?"

"I... I guess so..." Liane answered after a second.

God, I knew some of them were strange but that's... King Benjamin thought.

"Very practical."

"Ben, I said it would be too much for her first legend." Elen' said reproachful. "You may have forgotten how you felt after this legend because it is more than ...very long time ago. But ..."

"I know what you want to say." he interrupted her. "But you said she is strong enough and nothing happened to her." he turned to face Liane.
"Lady Liane, are you really ok. I know this legends can be very real."

Liane breathes softly. Slowly, she was getting back to reality.

"No doubt you would have a big success if this were to be used for entertainment," she said with a little smile. "This sure isn't like a DVD."

She shook her head as to clearly realize these were just someone else's memories.

"I'll be all right. In fact, I thank you for this honour. I can feel this is not something you do lightly and I hope I'll be worth the trust you put into me."

"Spoken like an elder." Elen' said, "I'm sure you are.
And you are right, we don't give this to everybody. Merly because only few can hear the legends without loosing themselves. A weaker mind than yourse would have been flushed away by the intensity of the legend."

Elen' smiled: "And yes, sometimes we use it for entertainment. You should once hear what happened to Ben's Grand-grandfather when he tried to ..."

"Elen', please." the King's head had turned red, "I doubt this is the time to talk about such storys.
By the way I'm sure that the data cube should be ready now. I'm wondering where ..."

At this moment the intercom rang again. It was Reian who informed them about that the datas were stored.

"Alright. That was our sign. The agents Bader and Tremain will bring you back to the embassy. Of course only if that's neccessary. I don't know if you have to be there to transfer datas to the AI?"

Ashiba grinned.

"You know, you may find me a bit old-mannered, but I don't really trust electronic networks. There are far too many ways to plug onto them. If you don't mind, I'd prefer a physical transportation. In short, I agree with your agents bringing us back to the Embassy."

"So be it." Benjamin replied. He pressed a button on the intercom. "Bader, Tremain you can enter."

The two opened the door and bent respectfully.

"Agents, Ambassador Ashiba and Lady Liane will return to the Embassy now. You will escort them And make sure that Reian gives you the data cube I've ordered."

"Aye, Sir. We'll do so, Majesty.
Ambassador, Lady Liane if you would follow us. Your marines are waiting outside."

The marines were lined up. Checking the clock behind them, Liane realized the experience had taken a few minutes only.

I thought it had taken years.

Ashiba looked at her, anxious, then he turned and Bader and Tremain.

"Gentlemen, I think we should hurry."

"That's right, excellency."

Bader pressed the Call-button next to the elevator door and the door opened.
They entered the elevator and a few seconds later and several dozent stories deeper the door opened to the underground car park where Reian was waiting with the data cube.

"Ambassador Ashiba," the female aquaner said, "I think this is for you." she stretched out her left hand holding the cube. Although her fist was closed the cube was visible through her hand. Then she opened her fist and let the cube fall into Ashiba's hand.

"Heavy secrets in a light cube," Ashiba muttered to himself. "Thank you, madam."

He turned at Liane.

"Are you feeling all right?
- Yes, I'll be fine, thank you for asking, Ambassador."

But fact was the elf looked worried.

Bader and Tremain walked over to their car and opened the doors.
Then suddenly Bader placed a hand next to his ear and paused as if he would be listening to something. After a few seconds he turned round.

"We will have to take another route this time. There have been problems along the shortest way to your embassy."

"Problems?"

Ashiba gave Bader a questioning look. He thought quickly about a solution and finally looked up at the ceiling.

"Do you air transport around here?"

"Of course. The marine detachment of the palace has got some LTAVs. We could use them to get to the embassy. The marines are at the next building. We'll have to take the tunnel." Markus answered.

Jimmy looked at Liane and saw her worried expression.

Are you alright? What happened?

(ooc:LTAVs are those vehicles the marines in your "I think my boss needs a girlfriend" thread used.)

I just met a Legend Teller, Liane thought, hoping for Jimmy to catch it.

"LTAVs," Ashiba said with a grin. "Yes, I've read reports about their capacities. Saw some of them before. I guess it's time to have a try."

He turned at the Marines.

"You'll go back to the Embassy by ground. Act as if you were escorting me. Agent Bader, is it possible to have someone driving your car to the Embassy so that the decoy is complete?"

"Sure, no problem." he again took the silvern pen-like looking object out of his pocket and pressed another button on it. A display appeared and Bader inserted some datas.

"Now the car will be driven by auto-pilot. If you would now follow me? This way to the tunnel."


So it is true what I've heared; that Elen'pankre is here? Jimmy sent.
She told you a legend? this was more a statement than a question

Yes, Liane answered mechanically. And I hope the story will have a happy ending.

Ashiba had watched the control panel with great interest.

"Yes, of course... we follow you. Liane! You come with me."

He got closer from Bader.

"Really," he whispered to his ear. "Is there a way to get one of these cars?"

"Ahem...cars? You can buy similar cars everywhere, even in Underaloz I suppose. They are nothing special. Just usual ground vehicles." Bader answered. He seemed to feel somewhat uncomfortable. Then they reached a the wall.There was no sign that there could be an entrance but Bader and Tremain kept on walking towqards the wall. A second before they broke their noses Bader said something in strange language: "verliset, net gefondn" and simply walked through the massiv wall. Tremain followed him.

I wish cars in Underaloz could have all these nice options.

Ashiba stopped as he saw the Bader and Tremain heading right into the wall.

"But... you..."

Then Bader babbled words he didn't understand... and the disapeared. Liane and Ashiba looked at one another.

"Oh well," the Ambassador finally said.

He raised his arm, putting his hand before him and began to walk prudently through the wall.

As soon as Ashiba had crossed the wall he found himself in something that looked like a desinfection-cell in laboratories which work with bio-hazardious materials.
Bader and Tremain both looked at him, smiling.

"The latest holographic system. Very useful to cover secrets." Tremain said while they waited for Liane to enter.

Ashiba laughed slightly, uncomfortable.

"Yes... very effective."

Liane stepped inside, in pretty much the same gesture Ashiba had.

"Alright," Bader said, " now please close your eyes and don't breath for the next ten seconds! And, if possible, don't move. We will be scanned."

edit:oops, wrong nation again

They both closed their eyes and stood still, hardly even breathing.

A femal voice sounded from hidden speakers in the walls:

"Scanning beginns. Please keep your eyes closed and do not move. Scanning beginns."

A light flashed.

"Scan in progress.
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1"

The light extinguished.

"Scan completed.
Warning: abnormal metal concentration detected. Access denied. Please enter PIN-code"

A screen appeared on one of the walls, showing a three-dimensional picture of Ashiba's body. The implantates were shown in a bright red.

Bader turned round and looked at Ashiba.

"What are these ... things?"

(OOC:They are made of metal, aren't they?)

(OOC:They are made of metal, aren't they?)
(OOC: actually a much lighter composite, but no biggie)

Ashiba blushed slightly.

"Well, just an artificial heart and some other health management devices. I had... some problems in the past."

Seeing the 3D model, one could easily spot the problems surely had been quite extreme. Nearly all of Ashiba's left side was filled with electronic boxes. An impressive network of wires was running all over his body, even up to his brain.

"Oh yes, I see." Bader looked at the screen. "Ok, I think this is alright." He pressed some buttons on the keypad under the screen and the screen disappeared. Then the air-lock at the other side of the cell opened and unveiled the entrance to the tunnel.

"In this case:Let's go!" he and Tremain entered the tunnel.

Liane stared at Ashiba while they were following the agents.

"We all have our little secrets..." he whispered, apprently ashamed.

Now she will see me as a robot, like everyone else. So long for the romantic dinner I had in mind.

As soon as they all had entered the tunnel the floor began to move and transport them to the other ending.

"And to think you looked surprised when we moved your car," Ashiba said out loud to Bader, trying to bring some good mood back around him.

Tremain chucled but Bader only looked at Ashiba, hesitated for a moment and turned again without having said anything.
The tunnel seemed to have no ending. More than ten minuted passed until they saw the air-lock under the marine building.
The floor stopped and Bader opened the door. The room behind was an exact copy of the cell they had passed before.

A dozent of imperial marines were waitng at the other side of the holographic wall when they left the tunnel.

"Agent Bader, Agent Tremain." a huge and strong looking human Captain said, " What can we do for you and your guests?"

"We need a LTAV."

The Captain simply nodded, turned round and invited them to follow him to the elevator.
When they left the elevator they were at the 20th story were the LTAVs and other aircrafts were parked.

The Captain pointed at one of the LTAVs. They loocked like oversized motorbikes without wheels but with four seats, small wings and lots of weapons.

"You can take this one if you want."

"Alright, Captain. Thank you." Bader replied then he turned at Ashiba and Liane.

"If you would take place at the two back-seats."

Liane sat immediatly, without discussing. Ashiba pondered the vehicule but finally sat into his seat.

"Are we sure this is completly safe?" Ashiba asked Liane as softly as possible.

He was already regretting his own decision.

"It is safe. Don't worry." Bader said while he took place on the driver's seat. "Until you let Jimmy drive of course." he smirked and ignored Tremain's look.

"Alright ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seat-belts please. Here we go." the turbines started with a loud 'ROAR' and the LTAV started to hover.

Floating made Ashiba dizzy.

"Oh god..." he couldn't help to mutter.

Liane smiled.

And then an army of Canyoneros drove through and decimated the region.

And then an army of Canyoneros drove through and decimated the region.

(always these silent sounds as if some ants were whispering)

Tremain smiled, too.

"And now ... we gotta go flying!" Wahoooo!

The LTAV left the platform heading towards the embassy, nearly 50 meters over the ground.

"Ready for the speed?" Bader asked.

And then an army of Canyoneros drove through and decimated the region.
(ooc: no. now go away)

bump?

bump?
(ooc: damn, I missed your post :? sorry)

"Err... not really," Ashiba said in a breath.

"They always say so the first time. You'll see it's fun." Jimmy laughed and looked back over his shoulder, "This will only be a short flight so don't worry, excellency." at this moment Bader pushed the throttle control and the environs became indistinct. The passengers were pushed back into the seats.

Next time I have an idea, Ashiba thought while Tremain was looking at him, I'll shove it up my...

He got suddenly pushed against his seat. His jaws contracted, his eyes wide opened, he tried not to be scared too much and stopped thinking.

Twelve seconds later the embassy appeared between the city-towers and Bader slowed the LTAV down.

"I think you will have to call the embassy so we are allowed to land. Use the radio in front of you." he pressed a button on the control panel and a radio came out of the back of Tremain's seat in front of Ashiba.

Ashiba stared at the radio.

"Ash... Ashiba speaking," he said with difficulty. "Calling the Embassy, over.
- Underaloz Embassy speaking," answered a strangely perfect feminine voice. "Identity confirmed. What can I do for you ambassador?
- Authorize the landing of a LTAV..." he had difficulties to breathe. "I'm in it... heliport...
- Yes, Ambassador, clearance has been granted. Anything else?
- Y... Yes... prepare the conference room. We need to talk.
- As you wish, Ambassador, I always enjoy talking with you. Over."

Stupid AI, Ashiba thought as he was recovering from the efforts he had made.

"Alright, we have permission to land." Bader said over his shoulder.
He brought the LTAV down to the embassy's roof.

"Well, make it quick," Ashiba muttered.

Then he realized what he had just said.

Bader looked at Tremain, Tremain looked at Bader and then both of them looked at Ashiba.

"Whatever you wish, excellency." Bader said and pushed the throttle coltrol and the speed control down. The LTAV seemed to rest for a short moment then the nose dropped and now pointed directly at the embassy building 100 meters under them. And then the LTAV and it's passengers fell like a stone.
8 seconds later they were only 10 meters over the roof when Bader activated the air-brakes and pulled the nose up. The supports of the LTAV slightly touched the concret then it stopped, hovering a few centimeters over the ground. Bader landed the LTAV.

"Fast enough?"

Ashiba's face had turned green. He bent his head out of the LTAV and threw up. Almost immediatly after, he gave Bader a angry look.

"Remind me not to get in one of these things ever again."

Bader gave him a blanck look but Jimmy just chuckled and jump of the LTAV. Markus followed him and stretched out his hand to help the ambassador out of his seat.

(ooc: like to join, however, I'm lost. What else is new. Anyone you need me to play?)

"Are you all right, Ambassador?" Liane asked with a neutral tone.
"Yeah... yeah... as much as I can, at least."

Ashiba waved at Jimmy and Markus.

"This way."

He lead them into an elevator then guided them within a intricate network of corridors. He stopped before a wall.

"Open," he said at the cement. And the wall turned onto itself, revealing an intriguing room.

It was a huge and highly technological room. Bader and Tremain could easily see this was not on par with Underaloz's known tech-level. There was a gigantic screen in the center and Ashiba walked to it.

(nice to see you, Rave. :) At the moment I've got no special characters in mind we would need but I can tell you that this will [more or less soon] become a hunting. We will have to hunt the person/thing/phenomen(sp?) responsible for the murders (more will follow, riots...[don't want to say too much]). Just choose a character and be who- or whatever you want to be. It shouldn't be a problem to find ways to keep you buissy :wink: )

Tremain whistled.

"Not bad, really not bad." he said while he looked round.

Ashiba didn't answer. He put the data cube into the reader and the screen flickered. A feminine voice echoed into the room.

"Good Afternoon, Ambassador.
- Yeah, hi.
- What may I do to serve you?
- I need an analysis of these data. As soon as possible.
- What are we looking for?
- A threat. Its form and methods of action.
- The search is in progress. I see you are not alone. Hello, Liane."

Liane bent, apparently uncomfortable.

"And..." the voice seemed to hesitate. "who are those gentlemen?"

"Err...Agent Tremain," Bader pointed at Jimmy," and Agent Bader, Imperial Security of the Empire of Earth II. You are the AI Ambassador Ashiba talked about I suppose?" Bader and Tremain, but especially Bader, seemed to feel as uncomfortable as Liane. To talk to someone without at least feeling a presence was something new and somehow scary.

"It's always a pleasure to talk with officers of the reknown Imperial Security," the voice continued with the same neutral tone. "but I am under the impression you feel uncomfortable. Maybe you'd appreciate something to drink while I'm working on these data?"

Ashiba sighted and gave quick glance at Tremain and Bader.

"At least, she is civilized," the ambassador said with a sarcastic tone.
"Thank you, Ambassador," the voice said, apparently ignoring the sarcasm.

The two Agents made faces as if they had to think about Ashiba's words. Then Tremain shrugged his shoulders.

"You should have seen what Anderson and Erich did when they had to escort Ambassador Mubaragh of Egypt. That was on earth of course.
And I don't need anything to drink, thank you."

"Me too." Bader said.

"That's too bad," the AI said. "I have just learned the composition of 537 of your cocktails. Do you want to have a sit?"

Sofas got out of the floor.

(ooc: let me know what the AI is supposed to find from the data)

"Oh, thank you." Bader and Tremain sat down.

(I didn't even know there were so many different cocktails. huh!)

(The Star of Alushia, an antique [the atlantid meaning of antique] ornament. Always before the plague appeares it dissapeares but it had always been there when a new civilization rose. Without the plague itself this is the only thing all the legends have in common)

(Where are you currently?)

(At the embassy of Underaloz in Earth II)

The woman's emerald eyes darted across paper work upon her desk. She ran her hands through her fiery red hiar that fell softly over her right eye despite her effort to push it away. She bit her lips slightly, knowing there was work to do...and tried to occupy herself to keep her from sleeping. I can't let it happen again... she thought to herself.

The woman's emerald eyes darted across paper work upon her desk. She ran her hands through her fiery red hiar that fell softly over her right eye despite her effort to push it away. She bit her lips slightly, knowing there was work to do...and tried to occupy herself to keep her from sleeping. I can't let it happen again... she thought to herself.

(The Star of Alushia, an antique [the atlantid meaning of antique] ornament. Always before the plague appeares it dissapeares but it had always been there when a new civilization rose. Without the plague itself this is the only thing all the legends have in common)
(ooc: thanks :) )

"Hmmm," the AI said several seconds after the two agents had sat down. "Interesting..."

Ashiba raised an eye-brow.

"What is interesting?" he asked with an intrigued voice.
"The Star of Alushia.
- The what?
- Probability is 98.6% that it is not a coincidence," the AI continued as if Ashiba hadn't talked. "It appears the ornament always vanishes just before a new disaster. It also seems that the ornament re-appearance corresponds to a new rise of the Atlantid civilisation."

Ashiba turned at Tremain and Bader, observing their reaction.

I'm sure this can't have eluded them. It seems too simple. And what would this Star have to do with all this? Would it be... magic?

Then he remembered he didn't believe in magic. But he also remembered Liane. The elf seemed to be digging into her newly implanted memories. Her face was contracted by the concentration.

"The Star of..."

"...Alushia" Bader and Tremain said at once.

Tremain continued by making some grunt-like sounds and a picture appeared in the heads of Ashiba and Liane.

A jewel of the size of a human fist, deep blue but crystal clear and perfectly shaped and cut set in an ornamented silvern mounting.

"You want to say that the Star of Alushia may be responsible for the plague?" Bader asked the AI.

_____________________________________

The woman's emerald eyes darted across paper work upon her desk. She ran her hands through her fiery red hiar that fell softly over her right eye despite her effort to push it away. She bit her lips slightly, knowing there was work to do...and tried to occupy herself to keep her from sleeping. I can't let it happen again... she thought to herself.


No, you can't, that's right. a soft and silent voice in her head whispered.
But what do you want to do?

"I never said the jewel is responsible for the plague," the AI replied with a dogmatic tone. "Given the data I have, all I can tell is that the appearance and disapearance of the Star of Alushia occurs exactly before and after the fall and rise of the Atlantids' civilisation. Like I said, there are only 14 chances out of a thousand for this fact to be coincidental."

"Don't mind her," Liane told Bader. "She's always nitpicking."

Ashiba didn't say a word. He was still puzzled by the image that had magically appeared into his mind.

I hate these kind of tricks.

"It can't have anything to do with the plague, "Tremain said, "As far as I know the Star is still in the Historical Museum of Atlantida. I didn't hear anything about that it had been stolen or otherwise disappeared."

"We can find it out easily. We'll just have to call the director of the museum and ask him." Bader suggested.

"Should I set up a transmission, Ambassador?" the voice of the AI echoed in the gigantic room.
"Yes, sure," Ashiba answered with an anxious inflection.

Some seconds of silence.

"Museum of Atlantida. What can I do to serve you?"

(ooc: now up to you for what follows ;) )

(the earth opened it's all devouring mouth and the post fell into the darkness.
I say it again: I'll stab this forum!!!)


"May I?" Bader asked Ashiba and continued without waiting for an answer.
"This is Dr. Bader, Professor for Atlantid-Human History at the University of New Grayson Hall. May I talk to Professor Heinlein?"

"One moment please, Professor Bader. I'll have a look if Professor Heinlein is at his office." the female voice at the other end of the connection answered.
For a few seconds they heared a relaxing music. Then again the woman:" I'm sorry, but it seems as if Professor Heinlein is still on holidays. I don't actually know when he will be back. But maybe his assitant can help you?"

"His assistant will do."

"Alright, just a moment, please, while I connect you."

Another cuple of seconds with music, then a deep and smoky male voice:" Dr. Albers, Assistant Director of the Historical Museum of Atlantida."

"Ah, Dr. Albers, this is Professor Bader, NGHU. I tried to talk to Professor Heinlein but maybe you can help me as well. As far as I know your museum ownes the Star of Alushia?"

"That's right, Professor Bader. It was a present from Queen Elizabeth to the museum a few month before she died."

"So the Star is still part of your historical exposision of the Atlantids?"

"Not at the moment. A few weeks ago Professor Heinlein brought the Star of Alushia into the safe. He said it would be to unsafe during the restaurations of the west-wing. I didn't see it since this time."

"But you are sure that the Star is in the safe? You didn't open it to have a look?"

"Only Professor Heinlein can open the safe. Why do you ask such questions?"

"Since when is Professor Heinlein on holiday? Was it the same day he brought the Star into the safe?"

"Yes, yes it was. But would you please explain why..."

"Thank you very much, Dr. Albers." Bader interrupted him. "Have a nice day." he hoped that the AI would understand the hint and end the transmission.

"I think Heinlein has stolen the Star of Alushia. But to be sure we would have to have a look into the safe."

No, you can't, that's right. a soft and silent voice in her head whispered.
But what do you want to do?

The woman looked around, her eyes heavy in exhaustion. A black turtle neck was donned on her slender figure, and a scarlet scarf around her neck which nearly matched the color of her hair. Her eyes flickered to stay away, as she poured her seventeenth cup of coffee. How could she stay away...if she fell asleep again...I want...to see my star... her head throbbed...and her eyes closed... The woman fell asleep, placing her head unwillingly upon the desk, and knocking over a small name plauqe upon her desk: Dr. Aysha Collens

It smuggled a picture of its into her dreams. Of course not it's true appearance but as a person of her reminiscence. Or her dreams, this was always hard to say when the host was asleep.

"You shouldn't work so much, darling." it said with a reproachful and anxious voice. Like a mother would have talked to her child or a loving husband to his wife.
"There are more important things to do. And who should do them if you break down 'cause of too much stress?"

Yes... but what...what should I do? she replied, as the phone rang next to her, but she did not here it. It's gotten out of hand...I don't beleive I'll be able to control it...everytime I fall asleep... she trailed off, knowing she had fallen into the darkness of her unconsciousness again. People are dying...

"Yes, people are dying. But I can tell you how to stop this. Wouldn't you like to know how you can save their lifes? It's easy. You just have to want to save them." it continued. The person in her dreams placed its hands on her cheeks and looked deep into her eyes. "You just have to want."

Ashiba sighted.

"Bit of a rushed conclusion," he said. "But I suppose you can access the safe... as an IS member."

Liane stood up.

"We have to check," she said as if she was deeply involved in all this.

Aysha looked up at the manifestation of what seemed to be a man. I want to save them...I do. That's what I want...but..I can't...go to sleep if...I want to save them...Guide me to the sta----
"Dr. Collens?" she heard a voice and opened her eyes suddenly to one of her co-workers tapping her on the shoulder. "are you alright?" She pushed some hair from from her eyes, and sighed heavily. Her hand shook as she reached for her cup of coffee, almost drained.
"Fine," she said, her voice slightly shaking. "I'm fine...."
"Are you sure?" he asked, insisting.
"Yes...just need to get some sleep that's all." She leaned back in her chair, dreadfully tired. Plaques and certificates were on the wall behind her. She reached in a drawer in her desk and took out a folder, and flipped through it. She ran her hands over the pictures. "Alushia..." she whispered, and the phone rang again. She picked it up off the receiver after the third ring.
"Hello?" she asked.

Ashiba sighted.

"Bit of a rushed conclusion," he said. "But I suppose you can access the safe... as an IS member."

Liane stood up.

"We have to check," she said as if she was deeply involved in all this.

"Right. Lets go." was everything Tremain added. He didn't say if he answered Ashiba or Liane.

"We shouldn't waste time and go imediately."

____________________

(is she the woman of the museum?)

(mmm? Could be if needed... :wink: )

Dr. Collens ran her hand over the book in front of her, various articles hung out of random pages. "Hello?" she repeated. She looked at the pictures of the star in front of her. Sometimes...I think it is alive... she thought to herself. Degrees in astrology hung on the wall, shadowed by the dim lighting in the room. "

"Right. Lets go." was everything Tremain added. He didn't say if he answered Ashiba or Liane.

"We shouldn't waste time and go imediately."
Ashiba pointed at Liane.

"You go with them," he said. "If you need men, take them. I'll stay here and see if we can't find a pattern in the way the jewel disappears and reappears.
- If there is a pattern, I will find it," the AI replied with a neutral tone.

Yeah right, Ashiba thought. At least I won't have to fly in one of those things again.

Liane walked to Bader and Tremain.

"Ask me what you need."

Bader shook his head.

"I don't think it would be good to involve more persons than absolutly neccessary at the moment. It's too risky."


(mmm? Could be if needed... )

(just thought; a Doktor, the phone call. Could have been when the others called the museum)

"Hello?" Aysha repeated, then placed the phone back on the hook. Alushia...the name dwelled within her mind. Alright...Alright...the safe then... she said softly. I must go see it again...She tucked in the pendant around her neck into her sweater, and left her office, the photos on the table. "Leaving early Dr. Collens?" a man asked her.
"Something urgents come up, excuse me..." she said softly. "I may be gone for a while..."

(ooc: I'm lost on everything before I started, though attempted to read. I get the jist of it...the safe is...that's where I'm lost. :? :) )

(it's at the Historical Museum of Atlantida. Atlantida is a city near the southern coast, a bit more thn 5 million inhabitants :) )


Yes, go, go. You will help to save a lot of people. the voice whispered, nearly unheared but impelling.

Yes...yes. I will.. she replied half consciously as she stepped into her car. It would not be a long drive. The safe was in the Historical Museum of Atlantida, a city on the outskirts of the current one. A very small populated town as far as she was concerned.

(I dunno where she is from but Atlantida is the 8th most-populus city of the Empire :D [see the nation's description page])

Where you are going to the ones responsible for all the dead are. I will show you a way to stop them. You will stop the killing. the voice continued. With every passed moment it gained more power and strength in her head.

(You've never been to summerset, have you? :wink: )

I will... she said softly. The killing is my fault...it's all my fault. But they? If I stop them, will my dreams stop? Will people stop dying? she paused for a moment. Yes...yes they will.. she reassured herself.
She had always been a woman of science, but since the accident, she could never explain what was happening...and let what ever spoke to her, take over.

(no, never. so she is from there? that would explain :) )

Only few of its former vessels had been so willingly to follow its words like this. She was so easy to use as if she was nothing more than a marionette and it the player. Usually it would have had to fight against the barriers every being had to protect its mind but here it was as if the barriers had fallen long time ago.

Yes, if you do it right you will never again see anybody die.

Bader shook his head.

"I don't think it would be good to involve more persons than absolutly neccessary at the moment. It's too risky."

"Then go. Now," Ashiba said. "I have a bad feeling about this.**"

Liane glanced at Ashiba but quickly walked to the secret door. She pushed the hidden button and the wall opened.

I wasn't aware she knew how, Ashiba thought.

Liane led Tremain and Bader back to the roof. Back to the LTAV.

(ooc: ** couldn't resist ;) )

( :) maybe he'll feel much worser soon :D )

Bader and Tremain both followed Liane through the labyrint-like corridors back to the roof where the LTAV stood.

"Alright, this will be a longer flight, approximative one hour to go to Atlantida from NLC." Bader said to Liane just before the LTAV the roof, heading towards south-west.

"All right," Liane said. "Just give me one minute."

She took a very small communicator out of her pocket.

"Sigma Agent #46-N8-YU-ELF," she smiled at Tremain. "I need a standard suit and equipment level 4. I need it now." She cut the line. "It shouldn't be long," she added for Bader and Tremain.

22 seconds later, a marine appeared with a suitcase. It was entirely night-blue with a greek letter encarved onto it. He didn't say a word and gave Liane the case. She didn't even check it.

"I'm ready now," she said as the marine was walking away.

"So lets go." Bader said and had pushed the speed lever and the LTAV shot up into the air. Bader turned the nose of the LTAV into south-western direction and activated the horizonzal-flight mode.
A few seconds later the embassy disapeared behind the other buildings of New Landing City. Soon the overflew the city-wall and then it didn't take long until the whole city became invisible between the hills and forests.
Sometimes they saw smaller cities appear and disappear untill the finally saw the Cooper-Wall-Mountainring, the borderline between the plain lands and the coast.
The LTAV climbed up to 3000 m.

"If you fell unwell just ask for a breathing-mask, ok?" Tremain said to Liane when the air became thinner.

"We'll be there in half an hour." Bader informed them.

"I could use a mask," Liane admitted. "I wouldn't like to be tired when we arrive."

Jimmy opened a box under his seat and let his hand wander around in it untill he found what he was looking for then he gave Liane the mask.

"Just press it over nose and mouth and plug in the tube at the oxygen-tank. The link is next to your left leg."

"Some day you'll have to tell me how you can breathe that high," Liane shouted to cover the noise of the LTAV propulsion just before she put the mask on.

"I can do so since we met this wolf. You remember what I mean? But don't ask me why Bader can do so, he never told me."

Markus. Mace. The wolf. Yes, she remembered. She thought Tremain had died in the process. She was wrong. Apparently he grew stronger. It was so strange she was to meet him again. Funny how this Legend Teller had awaken old memories in her mind. What did her mother use to say?

Nothing happens by accident.

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

His skin was dark and his eyes red. If they had been closed, it would surely have been difficult to see him in the depth of the castle. But they were wide opened.

"He is not ready, you said it yourself.
- I don't think we have enough time now. We can't let it happen.
- Is it worth the risk? What if he died? We need him.
- If he doesn't go, we won't need him anymore. We won't be anymore.
- How does it concern us? I don't understand.
- That's why I command."

(ooc: little hint for Earth II ;) )

( :) don't worry, I didn't forget)

The Copper-Wall-Mountainring fell back. Only 15 min. untill Atlantida would come into sight.

__________________

You're talking about me?

The question was not really formulated but suddenly appeared in the mind of red-eyed creature.

Arsham is worried, Baar answered. He thinks you are not ready for what's to come. He'd surely prefer to keep you hidden in a rabbit hole.

Arsham sighted. His red eyes grew thiner.

In a rabbit hole? You know that rabbit holes have the bad habit to lead you to strange places.

Baar smiled at the reference to the Gates. She stared at Arsham.

"You see, he's far less frightened than you."

The dark elf turned his back at the throne and walked out of the room, without a word.

It's time to have him killed, Baar thought. He's getting far too pretentious. This could prove to be dangerous.

She had a sarcastic smile and her eyes seemed to flicker.

We need to talk, she sent to the One. We need to talk as soon as possible... and face to face.

Mace Bader left the shadows next to the door where he had watched the scene from without being recognized. Pale light fell through the hall, first on his black hair where it was absorbed, then on his emaciated face. His eyes, deep in their sockets, looked like small lakes of darkness in his colorless face. Nevertheless he moved with agility when he approached the throne.

Baar's eyes widened subtlely. Seeing her surprised was quite rare.

"You sure have made some progress," she muttered as if she wasn't really talking to him.

"Seems as if." he answered in a neutral tone, his voice was rough as if he hadn't spoken for a long time. "What..." he cleared his throat, "What do you wish?"

"Hmmm. You'd better get used to speaking out loud again. Chance is you'll have to go out shortly. Don't tell me you haven't sensed it. It's like striping the walls."

dp, deleted

Why should I ever talk again? You tought me how to use my mind. Even in the world out there I won't have to speak. Whom should I talk to and why?

(ooc: because you always speak twice? :P )

"You know how to hinder yourself physically. Don't use your skills before persons unable to comprehend them and, more importantly, those able to comprehend them. Especially your former friends."

His former friends... what happened to them? He didn't know and didn't want to know, not really. But a small part of him still tried to remember. A very small part, well hidden deep within him. Most of the time not even Mace knew that this part still existed.

"I will do so. If you wish no one will ever find out what I am able to do."

(yes, just because of that. yes just because of that)

"I am not eternal, Mace. Sooner or later, you'll have to lead our people. Unless someone like Ansham tries to get rid of you. But I seriously doubt any of them could."

She stood up and walked into the room. He hadn't seen her out of the throne for a long time. She seemed older than before. Tired maybe.

"You shouldn't deny your origins. I know this helped in developing your abilities, but still. No one should ignore a part of himself. If he does, it will undoubtedly become a weakness. Be aware, Mace. Always on guard. Always conscious of what you are. All of it."

"As if I ever could forget." he turned his face to the light and his eyes became visible. They were usual human eyes. Then he blinked and when he opened his eyes they had changed. From blue to amber, the pupil from circular to oval.
He again looked at her and repeated: "How could I ever forget?"

Deleted

Yes... She repeated to herself, stepping out of the car. Dark sunglasses covered her evergreen eyes as she slipped into the museum. I'm coming for you, my star... she said softly, a thought that was uncontrolled. "Could someone help me here?"

The young man behind the cash-desk looked up.

"How may I serve you, Miss?"

Take care, he's not a friend! the voice rumbled in her head.

I won't trust him... she repeated. She looked at the man, and turned from him. "No, no that will be quite alright..." She continued past him, ignoring his reaction, and in search of the safe. In knowing that there would be a lot of security, as far as she was concerned...she needed to find a way to cause a distraction, or power outage, either one would work for her, though she fancied one more than the other.

Bader turned round and pointed at a small black point at the horizon.

"That's Atlantida."

A few minuts later they over flew the city-wall of Atlantida and Bader throttled the speed and activated the HUD to find out which building was the Museum they were looking for.

"Alright this building," he pointed at a large three stories high building in a green park, "should be the Historical Museum."

He landed the LTAV in front of the main entrance, attracting a lot of attention.
The man behind the desk looked through the glass door to find out what was happening outside and forgot the woman when he saw that one of these cool military vehicles stood in front of the stairs leading up to the door.

"Whoo! What's that?"

Aysha noted the distraction. A military vehicle? I must get to it before they do... She silently brushed by the desk at the end, swiping an entry card tag. She darted quietly down the hall, then stopped momentarily, before writing name upon the card, if verification should be needed: Kathren Renolds. Best if any one asks, not to know who I am.. she thought to herself... The safe...where is it...hmm...

It saw through her eyes so it knew what happened outside of her body. And it had seen the ones who had come with the LTAV. The young man who was of the same race as its host was although he had something animalic, the woman, a species it had not seen very often since its awakening a few month ago. And the older man who looked human but wasn't. Something of him seemed familiar to it although it had never seen someone like him.
All of them were enemies, all of them were able to resist its might. And there was only one cause why they could have come to this place.

You have to hurry, they are behind you, my dear. They are those who kill. Get your Star and they will have to stop.

Her eyes flashed amber momentarily, like those of a cats, and returned to their normal emerald state. It was having it's effect on her. She glanced back, and broke into a run, stealthily traveling as best she could down the corriders. She knew where it was...she had been there before.

Chan'laruk, one of the security guards of the museum, stopped short when he saw an unknown woman on his monitors. He checked the camera number, it was the corridor at sub level 1 where he was, too. And she approached fastly.
The Atlantid jumped up from his chair and left the ready room to intercept her.

He heared her footsteps before she came around the corner and blocked the corridor with his bulky body.

She looked up to him and was startled, jumping back slightly. Her red hair twisted in tendrils, and was pinned half up, what lay down fell straight with a saoft wave at the bottom. She wore a long white sheer coat, and she fished around in her pocket for her identification she had swiped. She looked at the man, her emerald eyes looking up to him. "Dr. Kathren Renolds," she said, flashing her card very briefly before putting it back in her pocket. "transfer from Summerset." She spoke with a heavy accent, clearly not from that town...as far as he could tell. "Research for the archives." she said with total confidence.

"Transfer from Summerset? Nobody told me about this." he said suspicious and tried to find her thoughts ... and stepped back in shock. He couldn't find anything, as if something blocked his thelepatical powers from reaching her mind - something that only few humans were able to do as far as he knew ... and he never would have thought that outside of the Empire someone could be as strong as this woman had to be to completely screen her mind.

He placed his hand on his side-arm: "Who or what are you?"

___

You have to act, he will stop you! He is an enemy! the voice in her head shouted

She heard the voice, and it tortured her. She closed her eyes, and slowely looked up to him; now catlike and amber, the pupils slivers. There was a deep growl in her thoat. "Maybe then, you were miss informed." I must get to my star...he is the enemy! He's killing! He must die... She lunged at him, her nails sharp from filing, like a vicious predator.

Chan'laruk lifted his arms to parry her attack and her nails cut deep, bleeding scratches into his thick, leatherlike skin. Again he stepped back and starred at her unbelievingly. Never before he had seen something like this.

His huge, shovellike hands formed fists and he prepared himself for giving the wall a new color, a deep red. His mouth opened to release an intimidating roar but it was nipped in the bud. Chan'laruk's eyes opened wide and he fell onto his knees. His hands covered the ears as if he wanted to protect himself of a loud noise.

She watched as he fell to the ground, and to ensure her safety, she delivered a blow to his head with the thick heal of her boots, which travelled up to her calf. Without hesitation, she slipped past him, running down the hall. Someone may have heard that...and with blood on her hands, and a cut running down the side of her face, she rushed toward her destination.

Baar suddenly fell down on the thrown.

"Not now. It's too soon," she muttered.

Did we take too much time?

She looked intensely at Mace.

"You should go. It drawing near from what it's been seaking for."

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

Liane jumped out of the LTAV.

"I have a funny feeling," she muttered to herself.

(hehe: you have got absolutely no clue what "it" is :) *jumps round like a little child, singing: I know something you don't know, I know something you don't know...* :lol: )

Mace looked back at Baar, at his Queen. His eyes turned blue again and he paused for two, three, four seconds before he nodded.

"Whatever it is, it will not succeed, you have my word." he turned round to leave the seal.

_________________

"Yay, you're right. LTAVs are the best way to get some fun. Hey, Markus don't you..."

Markus lifted his right hand and interrupted Jimmy. He stared at the building, his eyes half closed as if he saw something he couldn't believe.

"We've got a problem." was everything he said before he ran up the stairs that let to the main entrance.

"What? Markus, wait!" Jimmy shouted but Bader didn't stop. "Come on, Liane." Tremain said and followed Bader.

She opened the door at the end of the hallway quickly, entering a room filled with darkness. She flicked the lights on, and they flickered with hesitation. She saw at the back of the room, what she had came for; the safe, her star.

Bader ran through the lobby without taking care about or even recognizing the young man at the cash-desk. He opened the door to the stairway and followed the stairs down to the next level. A few seconds later he reached the unconscious security man and had nearly past him when he stopped. Something was wrong; not only that a human (as far as he could tell at the moment the aggressor had been human) had finished an Atlantid but ... he couldn't tell what it was, only that there was something.
Bader kneed down next to the Atlantid and investigated the long scratshes on the arms. It was inside of the body, but this were the places where it had entered. Bader still could say what It really was but he was sure that it was nothing natural. He rose and continued to run down the corridor; it was obviously what the aggressor's aim was and if Bader was right he had to hold him up.

Liane was following the two men. Her standard handgun in the hand.

I should have put the protection suit when I had time, at the Embassy, she thought as she got passed the uncounscious guard.

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

Arsham looked deeply at the man before him.

"You understand this is not gonna be easy," he said.
"Yes, my Lord.
- And you think you're up to the task?
- I'll do my best, my Lord," the other replied with a sadistic smile.

Arsham pondered the man a few seconds more.

"All right then go... and bring me his head."

The man nodded. One or not, a non-elf shouldn't be a match for him.

Bader entered the room through the open door and didn't even have to see her to sense that something was absolutely wrong with the woman in front of him.

_______

At the same moment when Bader entered the room it knew that it was in trouble.

Open the safe, you need the Star or you'll never be able to stop them it screamed to make her hurry.

Bader entered the room through the open door and didn't even have to see her to sense that something was absolutely wrong with the woman in front of him.

_______

At the same moment when Bader entered the room it knew that it was in trouble.

Open the safe, you need the Star or you'll never be able to stop them it screamed to make her hurry.

She turned the dial to the lock as it clicked for the third time. She pulled it open with all her strength. My star... She said, reaching into the safe as quickly as possible. Just then, a man entered the room. My star...give me what I've come for.

And in the safe was ... nothing. No Star of Alushia.

And in the safe was ... nothing. No Star of Alushia.
(ooc: hahaha! Mean storyteller! Mean, mean, mean! :P
Now, how about something completly different ;) )

"All right, sir. Your passport is in order, welcome to Earth II.
- Thank you."

The man nodded slightly, took his brief case and walked to the exit. He stepped on the sidewalk and called a taxi.

"56, Sard'hak street.
- Sard'hak street? It's in the middle of the Atlantid neighbourhood," the taxi driver replied with a grin. "Are you sure about this?
- Definitly.
- Turist I see."

The driver started the engine and engaged the car into the highway. The man opened his briefcase, took a file and began to read. He had to decidide which agents would be part of the team. Given the fact he didn't know what was going on at all, it was quite an uneasy task. But he smiled. He liked uneasy tasks.

(ooc: you know Agents of the IS?)

She stepped back in horror. You lead me here for nothing. She turned back to the man, blocking her way out, slowly inching her way to the door, her amber eyes fierce and excentric.

(ooc: IS? who talked about IS? :P )

"Jesus f-ck!"

The man looked through the windshield. A few cars, stopped in front of the taxi. A truck was blocking the street.

"Probably a delivery," he said.
"At that hour?!?" the driver barked. "Sh-t!
- Oh well, nevermind. Is there a subway station around here?
- Right behind this corner," the driver replied after a slight hesitation. "But I think it won't be long.
- Here, take that."

The man had given a few hundred Schwertmarks and walked out of the taxi without a word. While joining the sidewalk, he gave a quick glance at the truck's side. It featured an enormous McMurphy corp logo. He turned at the corner.

She stepped back in horror. You lead me here for nothing. She turned back to the man, blocking her way out, slowly inching her way to the door, her amber eyes fierce and excentric.


It hadn't expected such difficulties so it took some nanoseconds more to react than under normal circumstances. The mission was a failure and more complications were to be expected; the first already stood in front of the vessel. It calculated the chances to bring the vessel out of this situation. All in all the woman had potential.
After another dozend of nanoseconds it decided to risk the try; it would be interesting to see what this being at the door really was.
And if the vessel got lost ... there were enough other vessels.

You still have the chance to be victorious. The Star has to be somewhere else. You will find it. But first of all ... destroy the enemy!
It focused her concentration on Bader, who was still standing at the door, waiting for the things to come.

________

Tremain suddenly stopped and lifted an arm as a signal for Liane to do so, too.
They were about 50 meters away from the room Bader and ... who ever else were in.

Her fists clenched, her nails were so long and sharp that they dug into her skin the harder she gripped. She looked at Badar. He was standing in her way out of here. Her amber eyes flashed, and like a wild animal, her demeanor changed completely. As she got closer, she lashed out in full force with both arms, driven toward his neck. the enemy must die...they kill. We must stop him...

Most of Bader's attention was concentrated on catching up as much as possible about her mind... or about the mind of what controlled her. He was sure that it wasn't her who did these things. So he looked more or less unconcerned.
Only the smaller part of him reacted upon her attack. She tried to hit his neck so he ducked, moved under her hits and came up next to her, all this in the split of a second so she couldn't even recognize that he had moved before she saw him standing next to her right. The expression on his face hadn't changed. He still tried to contact the controlling mind.

A confusing mix of two voices, thoughts, dominated her mind. One was outraged and asked for revange; it tried to protect if Bader felt right. The taste of righteousness was connected to this voice. The other one was ... strange, without real emotions, cold and calculating, somehow mechanical. It seemed familiar to Bader although he wasn't able to determine where he had felt something like this before.

Then he heared what Aysha heared:

Don't surrender. He is dangerous but you are dangerous too. You can beat him. You must beat him!

Apparently...there are some things both of you don't know.. she replied, getting back her conscious voice momentarily. Her usually emerald eyes now alive with rivers of amber. Her reactions became more precise, until she realized, that there was no one between her and the door now. She rushed toward it, turning the handle violently and tugging it.

Markus' fingers closed around her shoulders from behind like steel clamps and stopped her movement.
She could feel the heat of his skin through her clothing. Then one of his fingers came in direct contact to her skin and something like a slight shock, accompanied by little blue sparks running over her body, hit her.

The voice in her head grew silent.

"Argh!" She let out a cry as she felt the grip upon her shoulders and the shock flowing throughout her body. The voice in her head ceased as a violent pain seared through her head. She fell to her knees, then to the ground. Tears flowing from her eyes in pain. Her breathing was fast, and uneven as she took in gasps.

Bader followed her movement, still holding her shoulders so she couldn't jump up and escape ... although this option seemed to be impossible at the moment. He kneed behind her and whispered calming words into her ear and directly into her mind.
____

Tremain nodded.

"Alright, Liane, we can go on." he said and walked over to the half opened door.
____

Mace stepped out of the tree, a waterlike effect marked the place where he had opened the gate for a few seconds then it dissapeared and everything seemed to be normal. Just someone who went for a walk through the park.
Mace's eyes faced the Museum and the LTAV in front of it.

So we are not alone. Nice. he thought and crossed the grass, heading towards the building.
He could fell the mighty entities inside but their powere was nothing compared to his. Although ... naa, nothing.

Where does he stay? Mace asked himself. I thought he would be faster.

"Get off of me!" She yelled out her head still hurting, and immense pressure on her shoulders. Her emerald eyes turned amber momentarily, then flickered out. Underneath her white jacket in her left pocket was an identification; Dr. Aysha Cullens, however the pocket was well hidden in the side, a white zipper camoflaging with the white fabric. She felt incredibly weak.

Markus placed his right hand on her neck; he didn't grap strong but hard enough to let her know he still had her. The he took her left hand with the other one and looked at the blood on it.

"Jimmy, what do you think could this be?" he asked Tremain when this one opened the door. "You've got a better nose than me."

Jimmy kneed down in front of the woman and took a deep breath. The sides of his nose vibrated.

"Metal. More than usually and not only iron. There is something in this blood that's made of metal, platinum maybe. Is this the blood of the guard in the corridor?"

"I'm sure it is."
______________________

Interludium I

In Waldheim, a small city at the outskirts of New Landing City with not more than 60000 citizens, Peter left the main building of the Aeran'bortek Institute for Psi Researches. A slight smile lay on his lips and with hidden contempt he looked at a group of visitors on their way to the exhibition.

Yeah, go, knowless slaves, go and find your freedom. These unholy thelepath' will never rule your live again. They say they would be our friends ... they would try to protect us ... we are all the same ... pshaw! he spat out They are an abnormality that has to be extincted. And we will do ... yeah! We will do.

A small piece of Peter's mind shuddered when it heared this thoughts and tried to break out, to regain controll ... but It was too strong. The resistance of what had once been Peter Erikson ended, darkness fell over the piece of mind.
Peter took a small black box with a red button on it out of his pocket, waited untill the last visitor, a young girl of twelve or thirteen years had entered the building and pressed the button.
His brown eyes reflected the fire and the light danced on his pupils while he laughed.

"Get off of me!" She warned once again, her eyes beginning to rekindle their flame. All was not lost. She gripped the hand around her neck, driving her nails deeply into the exposed flesh. "I'm warning you..."

"Hey, hey." Markus said to her while dropps of blood run down his hand and arm, "Calm down. We just want to help you."

"If you want to help me," she said, the anger in the voice rising at her assailant. "Then take your hands off of me!" She gripped tighter around his hand viciously. "I don't want to hurt you..."

Jimmy looked at Markus if he could need some assistance but he only nodded negativly.
Her nails digged deeper into his hand and more blood flew but arkus didn't feel any pain, or, at least, was able to control it.
Then it happened; first it was only a silent sound, like a moskito but with every second the sound became louder and louder; waves breaking at a cliff, a nearby train, a staring jet and it still became louder in his head.
Markus pressed his hands onto the ears in a useless try to stop the noise; Aysha's nails caused deep scratches on his hand.
Markus staggered back. He breathed hard, the face a grimace of pain.
______

Inside Aysha's head it reappeared.

Now! Finish them!

A deep vicious growl was emited from her throat as her eyes flashed amber, and remained that way. She had been rekindled by her rage. She watched as he staggered back, and immediately spun around, throwing a kick at his head toward the temple to render him unconscious.

The kick threw Markus to the ground. The noise was still in his head but slowly it grew silent. It wasn't anymore impossible for him sense more than the noise.
___

Jimmy prepared to engage if neccessary but held back himself.

Aysha stared him down. He was now between her and the door. Blood ran down her fingers, her nails stained sanguine. She whipped out her hands to the side of her, and walked purposefully toward Jimmy. Her eyes were catlike, and her manor one of a predator. Two were down, one to go.