NationStates Jolt Archive

R -- Cougar, you look like you're searching for something.

The shifter runs to a secluded area, letting the dog follow him. After there are no witnesses, the shifter, irritated at the dogs, decides to take it out on this one, shifts to a young dragon, and eats the damn dog. After wards, he turns to a fly, and lands on a nearby wall.

"Master. its just to hard, the dogs keep attacking me." The shifter prays.

"Ahh, is it to hard for the wittle shifter?" Kajeenith mocks, his voice filling the shiter's mind, and not in its normal tone.

"Master!" The shifter wails

"Grow up and get a grip. Your a shifter for cryin out loud. use the brains I gave you and figure something out. Until then, don't report back until you have something significant to report." Kajeenith said, then he was gone.

The shifter flew off, looking for records. After all, what's one more fly?

"I hate it when you do that...*turns around*I was looking for you

No records the shifter can find.
*************************************************************
R -- Well, you've found me.

"Rhenna and I got talking earlier, and came to a conlcusion: my talents can be useful to Rendelmar and it's students"

"You want to start a class."

Essentially, yes

"Subject matter, age group, and desired times?"

Close Quaters Combat... I'd say from thirty to roughly sixty. In that time I can teach them all they really need to know, the rest comes through practise... mid-afternoons are the best time, as I have classes with Vedt in the morning

"how many times a week, and should it be a required or optional course?"

Optional.. and twice a week is good enough.

Renor nods. "Request granted, if you can find students."

Cougar smiled,"Now the real test begins"

Indeed. *Renor disappears.*

I hate it when he does that... now, who would be interested... Shan might be able to help me

He set off to find Shan, having a vague idea where he might be

Shan, Jovin, and Ashra are in the first jungle room that Cougar'd attended a lesson in. They're deep in, working on building something.

Cougar moved carefully, watching for traps all around him, before coming upon them,"And this is?"

S -- A tree house.

Cougar laughed,"Ah yes, I remember you saying something about it... Shan, can I talk to you a moment?"

"Yeah." The boy dropped down, landing on his feet.

"Listen, Renor just gave me permission to start a CQC class, Mondays and Fridays, in the afternoon. Know anyone who would be interested?

"What age group are you looking for?"

thirty to sixty

"Maybe seven to ten students."

Can you convince them?

Yeah. I'll speak to them after Rhenna's class.

Thanks. Go back to your treehouse, Shan. ENjoy

Shan jumped, giving himself a levitative boost which landed him back where he'd been.

He smiled, and went back to his own magickal training

*Later*

8 students agree to take the class.

Cougar rubbed his hands in the chalk dust, and awaited the arrival of any potential trainees

Shan, Jovin, Ashra, and five other students file in together, exactly on time.

"Punctual. Good. Now, do you know why I have arranged this class?"

A - Combat training.

Yes... and no. This is unlike combat as you know it. We will not be fighting with swords, or staffs. In this form of combat, your body is your weapon, and your instincts are your defence.

S -- Ah. Hand to hand.

If this were a class were marks were given in the traditional sense, Shan would get top marks right now. This form of combat is known as CQC - Close Quaters Combat. It's a skill learned by elite soliders galaxywide, and now I want to teach you

The students nod. That was what they were there for in the first place.

Right, pair off, and spar with your fists, feet, anything you want. I want to see what you can do before I start to teach you properly

Shan and Jovin pair off, etc.

They've all obviously done this before, and they're all fast.

Cougar watched for a few minutes, then called a halt,"Good. You're all very fast, as befits your race, and you've obviously had limited training in this area. I can make you better"

At the call for a stop, they had all gathered in a pretty much straight row.

They waited for instruction.

Tell me, in turn, what you think your greatest weakness in this form of combat is

Speed, blocking, accurate attack, etc.

OOC:
Brain malfunction.

Alright. I want each one of you in turn to try and strike me, in anyway you like. I will stop you, and show you how to do it yourself, understand. Shan, you first

Shan walks up to within 7 feet of Cougar, then he launches into motion, going in for a punch to the human's ribs.

At the very last moment, he twists on his forward foot, launching out for a kick to Cougar's abdomen.

Cougar blocked the blow with one arm, slamming his palm into Shan's upper thigh, aiming for the nerve. The blow was so quick it was hard to follow,"Good technique, but when you started you shifted the weight to the back foot, telling me you would kick. If you were punching, the weight would go to the front as you lunged for it. Next"

Jovin came, rushing forward, then leaping, fist outstretched. When Cougar caught him, he would swing forward to catch the human with his feet.

Cougar didn't even bother with a block, he merely stepped out the way,"Clumsy, and foolhardy. An attack like that will only get you beaten. Next"

OOC:Alright yoda

IC:The shifter thought.

"Master, I think we need to get some Dopplegangers, I cannot seem to find written records that could be of help." The shifter prayed.

"Fine then, I sensed magic in the Queen, so stay away from the royal family, but I want you to spend the next few weeks observing the people, and select for me, those that are in the key positions of government. Find for me, their daily activities, and weaknesses in them, to where I can get them alone long enough to use a doppleganger to switch them," Kajeenith said.

The shifter flew off, and would spend the next few weeks, would carefully observe the people of Valshanth, dismissing none, investigating all. Listening to the same words they heard, reading the same things they did, going to the same places they did, everything. Nothing escaped notice. Privatly, the shifter enjoyed watching them in the open in secret.
It was his private world, all by himself.

Most of the heads of government come from aristocratic houses, and aside from that, their homes and offices block anything that wants to spy on them.

OOC: Do you SERIOUSLY think that Kaymiril doesn't have experience with this sort of 'abberation?'

OOC:These are IC not OOC. These people have been out of the loop for a long, long time and simply assume that creation has never experienced the likes of them before. If it seems like I'm making an OOC assumption ICly, I'm not, its entirely the way the Characters are. Besides, your in for a twist.

IC: The shifter was frustrated. None of his attempts to spy on them worked.
He had failed entirely.

"Master, what now?" The shifter had asked.

"You have failed me entirly shifter. Kill their Queen or Die trying. I don't want you in my service if you cannot complete the task." Kajeenith replied in the flies mind.

"Yes, Master." The Shifter said with hesitation. He may have been a willing spy, but a murderer of an innocent that had never wronged him brought him pause. He decided he would simply take a diffrent route. Kajeenith didn't care anyway, so he was free to do what he wanted. He buzzed down and around looking for Queen Kaymiril VII. He knew full well what she looked like.

When he finally found her, he buzzed around her a couple of times, to get her attention, and then shifted to normal form.

"By the command of Dark God Kajeenith, I must kill you, but, I don't want to. His commands must be obeyed, but you've never harmed me. I might be many things, but I'm not a killer, not in cold blood. Therefore I ask instead, that you outright kill me, to remove me from his horrible grasp, or at least, call in someone who will. I have served Kajeenith for many terrible years, and have never known a moments peace despite his promises. I ask you this only because he has long since removed my ability to kill myself. He is a horrible monster that abuses and maims all who come within his grasp. This form is not my true one, my true form has been so horrib;y maimed, that it is no longer habitable." The shifter says quietly. He neals, hoping his request is granted, and he is at long last removed from his pained and tortured existence.

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

Kajeenith had speeded up the poor blond woman's pregnancy, and she had long since died in child birth. Kajeenith's son was a healthy happy baby demi-god. Kajeenith smiled at his son. and his son was happy, for there was no place in all the world so safe, as in daddy's arms.

Kajeenith quietly waited, for the time of the night of darkness. A time when no moons shone on Ephseus, and the powers of the darkness was at its greatest. Then, he would regain his full power.

"I will grant your request," Kaymiril VII said, summoning her weapon and leveling it at the creature.

With a flick of her wrist she sent one point of the crescent blade into the beast's heart, then called in Mith. He took the beast into the Valshanth and restrained it, then left, and the Queen summoned Renor.

The Master of the Black Class began casting a necromantic spell...one to bring the creature alive enough to answer questions. And answer them he would.
***************************************************************
A -- Anyway, we ought to get some rest. We leave first thing for Chathdelmar.

Cougar spent the next hour or so teaching these students basic CQC techniques, and was impressed by how quickly they learned. After only an hour, they were sparring much better than when they began,"Well done all of you. You've improved no end, and much faster than anybody else I've taught. You're dismissed"

The students leave as quickly as they came, heading off to other things.

Cougar sat down, and made quick notes in his shorthand. They basically picked up on things that he had noticed about all of them. Preferences, where they liked to strike, how they blocked, how they moved. It was all relavant in the long term... still, he couldn't shake off the feeling that they didn't like his methods.

Tough s**t he thought,It's done me good, and although Drow are slighter, they are faster, a good advantage. They can learn this, and have it to hand if the time comes, or they can't, and use different methods. Either way, I think that went all right

He finished his notes, and stretched his muscles out, feeling the vertebre in his back click slightly, barely audiable, but he knew it was there. He felt like a proper sparring match, and set up his holgrams to be his equal, if not superior. It was always good to lose once in a while

When he was finished, a voice spoke up from behind him.

"This may not be my area, but the third opponent's balance was a touch off. You could have ended the fight easier if you had exploited that."

The cloaked figure was standing their casually, leaning against a wall.

Cougar whipped round, his hand almost going to his weapon out of reflex, but he stopped himself,"True, but his blocking techniques were compensating for this definciency. Breaking through that defence was too difficult, so a different method had to be found."

"Really? I thought he'd left himself quite open on his left. In any event, I came to ask you your opinion of your first class."

Renor stepped forward, closing some of the gap between himself and his pupil.

Cougar switched the projector off, and stood there, thinking briefly,"Could've been better, but could have been far worse as well. Why?"

"How the teacher feels about the class is important to everything about that class."

"They learn well... I just believe my methods might be too... well... human, for them"

"As ours may be too Drow for you at times. See what they do...they should find methods to make up for their lack of humanity...our speed normally counteracts our lack of strength...but you might want to consider other building stones of combat. They need to maximize their physical strength, you might want to consider a weight-training course. They already have stamina well above-average, but you might want to test their limits."

Cougar shrugged,"I'll have to think about it. I'm sure that taking a class was a good idea... I'm too alien"

"Ask Rhenna or Vedt to help you with the lesson plans. They should easily be able to give you all the assistance you need."

"I will... once I decide if the class is worthwhile continuing

"Very well. Also, Rhenna has been sent out. She didn't get the opportunity to tell you, so she requested that I tell you, instead. She should only be gone a standard Kaymirilian week -- 10 days."

Cougar nodded slightly,"Alright. Thanks for telling me"

Looks like I'll have to ask Vedt *shudder*

Renor nodded, then left.

Note to self: when spending quality time with wife, don't hope for it to happen again soon... for it will always be the case that she will get sent out the day after. Ah, sweet irony

He laughed slightly at his own train of thought, then picked up his stuff, and having returned most of it to his room, got some dinner, practiced with his Gunblade an hour or so, and then settled down to reading the book once more.

That technique I used against Phish must have a name, ah, here we go...

Veldrin

Veldrin is an extremely powerful effect that when used correctly can cause massive damage to either a single enemy or a group of enemies.

It is a combination of two fire attacks -- a direct and a spiral. The spiral is generally the stronger attack (although some masters argue that the direct should be the stronger).

Warning: If used incorrectly, this attack can cause fire damage to the caster as well.

For more information, speak to a high-level Pyromancer. These can be found in Chathdelmar.

Hmmm, go to Chathdelmar to learn more... Phish did suggest it. Not right now obviously, but sometime soon maybe. I want to focus on that direct energy wave I was working on for a while... I'll have to come back to this

He closed the book, and returned to the room to sleep. He crashed out almost immediatley

Night passes into day.

Cougar rose, and went about his daily buisness until class was finished, when he approached Vedt,"Can I speak with you?"

Vedt's attention was focused elsewhere, and the mage telekinetically shoved Cougar out of the way as a blade flew toward him. This blade was stopped mid-air.

"Reldos, you will have to be more careful if you believe that a clumsy attack like that will gain what you desire."

Rd -- "FOOL! Do you think it was the human I was attacking?"

Vedt sighs, then looks at Cougar. "Be so patient as to allow me to deal with this. I will not be long."

Vedt grabbed the blade, and stepped forward. The Rendelmarian apprentice grabbed another blade and lunged at him, but was stopped by a spell that manifested as a red center with blue 'shielding' around it.

Vedt caught the pupil telekinetically, then teleported him to the medward, sending his glider to speak to Vrasha. He then turned back to Cougar.

"You wished to speak with me?"

Cougar sat on the air for the time it took to deal with the other student, and remained so when Vedt spoke to him,"Yes... Renor suggested I speak with you regarding my class"

"Ah, yes...hand to hand, I believe it was. What assistance do you require?"

"I believe my teaching methods are too alien to be applied effectively. I need some help"

How were you attempting to teach them?

"I started them off sparring one another, hand to hand. Then, I asked them what they thought their weaknesses were. After having had each one attack me, or at least attempt it, I showed them where they had gone wrong, and taught them how to recitify the problem."

"Your problem -- if any -- probably lies in the way you phrase things...and in your lack of demonstration. These children have been trained all their lives to see and do, to reach out magickally and know what you are doing with your fashka. This is different, so show them, and then help them through. Our physiology is similar enough to yours that what works for a human should work for a drow...except that fast, indirect attacks should be emphasized, rather than strong, direct attacks. Teach them both, but ours is the way of the shadow."

To demonstate such techniques is most likely to result in injury, especially in Drow... but I will attempt such a thing, for I am still the student

See, this is why I dislike you.

"I suggested you show the students, Cougar, not hit them. Then, yes, you might wind up hurting one of them."

It's hand to hand combat of a completely different nature. You cannot truly show someone a technique until you make them expierence it themselves

"Try it just once, I will suggest to you. Either that, or schedule individual time for each one, and teach them by sparring. You would have to spar at just about their level, though."

Cougar sighed, exapserated somewhat. This was the problem with working with these people, they had functioned in one way for such a long time that their minds seemed closed to new ways of thinking... although he suspected he was the same to them. Closed-minded, with a singular goal, and a one track mind way of thinking. He breathed deeply, using an old mediative technique he had learned when he was a child, to quell the fear within him,"I'll give it a shot"

Vedt nodded, a signal that the meeting was over.

Cougar left Vedt to his own devices, and went back to his own training, using his own methods. Human they may have been, but they did the job for him

*10 days later*

Rhenna gets back at around eight in the evening, completely exhausted. She goes to the room and collapses onto the bed.

He was reading through something, making brief notes as he did so, when she walked in and collapsed,"Welcome home"

"Thanks...it's good to be back. Rough week?"

"Other than realising how I don't fit in Rendelmar at all... no, not really. I won't bother asking about you, because I know I won't get an answer"

"Not much of one." She stayed where she was a moment, thinking, before pushing herself into a sitting position.

"You don't have to stay here if you don't want to...I know you've never realy felt at home here."

"It's not that... normally, I see this place as my home, but some things happened this week that have caused a slightly coloured view to emerge... it'll pass soon enough

She nods.

"You look shattered, get your head down, we can talk in the morning"

She nods and lays back down, falling asleep fairly quickly.

He smiled, and kissed her forehead,"Good to have you back" he whispered, so as to not wake her up. He couldn't sleep for some reason, he didn't quite know why, but his dreams had taken a turn for the more disturbing in recent weeks. Now he'd returned to insomnia, fuelled by caffeine and enhancements

She sleeps for a solid eight hours before waking up. (four in the morning)

He's still there, awake.

She blinks and sits up. "Have you slept at all?"

He looked first at his watch, then at her,"I think I dozed off around midnight, and got about an hour, hour and a half"

"Nightmares again?"

"Seems that way... it's not one memory though, it's a thrown together mixture of many of them"

She moves behind him, starting to rub his back and laying her head on his shoulder.

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

He shivered slightly,"You're colder than normal... in any case, it's nothing to worry about. I just wish I knew what caused them, and how to make them stop"

"You could speak to a gray-class...and I know I'm cold...I was further north than normal...in the mountains, where it's always cold."

"I see... no, nothing seems to work. I get by, I'll be fine"

"So you've said..."

He got the distinct feeling she didn't believe him, and would be keeping a closer eye than normal on him, but he pushed it aside. Suspicion was not something he wanted to add to his list of troubles right now. He put one of his hands round his back, and laid it on hers

She moves her arm so that it's loosely around him, allowing him to hold her hand in an easier way. She was also starting to warm up.

He smiled,"I missed you this week... there were times when a friendly face would've been very welcome"

"Not everyone here is your enemy, James...only a few. And just so you know...I missed you, too."

"Good. Still, I came to see how much I don't fit in here"

"The difference between you and us is not the fact that you are human, and that we are drow. The difference is that we grew up here...we know what it means to live here...we...understand this place. You have not had a chance to yet."

I should realise that... but it came to light in the combat training. The folly of my ways became so glaringly obvious, I had to take a full day out just to get my head sorted.

She nods.

The rate I'm going, and given my situation, I'm not going to get to expierence it either. I've done all the growing I can... I'm not welcome here

That's not true.

The only person who truly wants me here is you, and that's only because I'm your husband. I somehow doubt Renor ever intended for me to come here when he first started training me

"James, the most dislike you've recieved from anyone came from me when we first met. Look how we ended up...but I'm not going to keep you here if you truly don't want to stay. Maybe you don't really belong here, as much as we would both like to think otherwise."

He turned around to look at her, a slight glitter in his eyes, coupled with some at the edges,"I'm sorry Rhenna... I really do want to stay here. Magick has opened doors to me that I never thought could exist. I've done things men have never done before, seen things men have never seen before.. I'm just... off the rails slightly, lost my way. Starting that combat class was a bad idea... I'll have to cancel it. It's a shame, but it's for the best. Rendelmar is MY home... and it always will be"

A slight smile barely touches the corners of her mouth as she puts a hand to his cheek.

"Good...because I really didn't want you to leave."

He put his hand to hers, and held it there,"I wasn't planning on going anywhere". His eyes met hers, and he smiled ever so slightly, before kissing her softly

She kisses him back, just as softly, letting it linger.

He continued in this vein for a while, before breaking it gently, and resting his forehead on hers,"Damn, I really did miss you this week"

"I know you did."

This wasn't arrogant, or matter of fact. This was a gentle, understanding, reciporocating acknowledgement of what they had both felt over the past ten days.

"I just wish I'd had five minutes to tell you I'd be leaving."

You can't predict when stuff like that will come up. It's fine... though I have to admit, being able to hear it from you would've been nice... still, you can't have everything

She nods slightly.

He put his arms round her, and drew her close to him, settling the moment

She sits there with him, glad to be back at home, until she has to get up to go teach.

He sensed this,"You've got a few hours yet"

"I know. And until then, I'm here."

I'm glad you're here... feels good

She smiles softly, and gives him a kiss.

He smiled, kissing her and closing his eyes...

The path you walk on has no end. Each step you take is paved with the corpses of your enemies... Their souls will haunt you forever... you shall have no peace... Hear me, Snake! My spirit will be watching you!

His eyes snapped open

She felt the kiss stop abruptly, and pulled back.

"What's wrong?"

He blinked a few times,"I... don't know. A voice, one I recognised, telling me something"

What did it say?

It was,"The path you walk on has no end. Each step you take is paved with the corpses of your enemies... Their souls will haunt you forever... you shall have no peace... Hear me, Snake! My spirit will be watching you!... but my codename is Nightshadow. Snake... that only happens once in a lifetime, human-wise"

I don't understand.

The shifter drew in a breath. One thing appeared diffrent about the altered shifter, his skin was deteriorating at a highly accelerated pace, almost as if a spell of some sort were eating it. one thing was for sure, there wouldn't be a Shapeshifter for very long.

Kay VII cast an anti-decay charm around the shifter.

"What do you know of Kajeenith's next plans?"

I don't understand.

He paused,"Just a second... I need to think... alright. As you know, SHADOW uses codenames to identify operatives without revealing their true name. Now, these are user-specific, that is to say, they are unique. However, the best solider is given the title of 'Snake'. Just that, nothing else. The Master used that codename... and I am still Nightshadow."

I see.

"I'm sure theres a reason for it... I'll figure it out eventually"

"Perhaps you are his successor, then. When a master dies, the Chosen steps up. We are not the only to use this system, though we may be the only to state it so bluntly."

"I know for a fact the assasins use a bluntless much like yours when describing such a thing... it may be the case, but until I am given the name, I remain Cougar... the problem with being Snake, is that they are sent on solo infiltrations... among the most difficult assignments... and the most trying to complete

"Assignments that have to be done but do not promise to return the operative alive."

"I was looking for a less morbid way to say it, but essentially, yes"

She reaches up to run her fingers through his hair. "If it is so...I have faith in you. You've overcome the 'impossible' before...we all have."

"'Nothing is impossible, but it is merely improbabale'. I can't remember where I heard that last, but it seems to fit the situation nicely... ah, now that feels good"

She smiles. "We happen to specialize in improbability here." She eases him back, sitting beside him and continuing to run her fingers through his hair.

He lay there, his hands laced behind his head,"I wonder... maybe I should contact him, and find out for myself"

"Contact whom?"

"Barbarossa. As Commander-in-Chief, he's the one responsible for handing over the title of 'Snake'"

She nods.

"Or maybe... no, too far-fetched"

"What is?"

"Contact the Master himself... I know Eldrad can do it"

I could do it, James. So could just about anyone here that's over two hundred. It is one of our darkest secrets...but we have that power...as you have seen.

"Yes, I've seen it used, and I kept my mouth shut. I'll have to think about it... Eldrad cannot show people the spirts, only convey their messages. He's a member of the Psyker unit, and a natural necrovoyiant. Their motto is,'The dead are not silent... you must listen closer than you dream'"

I met him once. He was at the Tower.

Warning, Warning. Dangerous ground approaching, suggest extreme caution

"I may go and see him later, then. Might take the Interceptor out for a spin, hasn't been flown in over a year"

She nods, continuing to stroke his hair.

"What about you? Back to the daily grind I presume?"

Pretty much.

He unlaced his hands, and put them on his chest instead, one on top of the other, continuing to stare at the ceiling. He felt content where he was, but also an odd feeling was corsing through his veins, one he did not recognise. He decided it must be nothing, and returned to enjoying what she was doing

"What are you thinking about?"

"Life, the multiverse, and everything... no, I'm not really thinking. I'm just enjoying the moment... it's been a while since you've done this particular thing"

A week and a half...the night before I left.

He smiled, and leaned up to kiss her,"Long enough"

She smiled, kissing him back.

He smiled, and lay back down, laying his hand on hers as he did so

She lays down next to him. "It's good to be home."

He rolled onto his side to look at her,"It's good to have you home"

At seven o'clock, D'anthe came to bug her to get up. She waves her glider off, then kisses Cougar.

"Well, looks like it's back to the 'daily grind' now."

"Could you do me a favour? Eldrad is well known for not being where he's meant to be... so I've got to go and find him now. Could you tell Vedt where I've gone?"

She nods, getting up. "I'll do that, although I've no doubts that he'll know you've gone as soon as you have."

"That's what worries me *kisses her* I'll see you later"

She kisses him back. "Have fun."

She walks toward the door. "D'anthe, come on. I know that if I leave you here with him, you'll bother him no end."

The raven perches on her shoulder as she steps out.

He laughed at her comment to D'anthe, and then dissapeared from Rendelmar, arriving next to Eldrad,"Pretty good placement I think"

"A touch to the left Colonel, and I wonder what the result would've been... not that we are here to find that out. There is a reason for your presence, is there not?"

C -- You are a necrovoyiant?

E -- Yes. From birth

C -- Can you contact someone for me?

E -- *Looks at him*Depends who you have in mind

C -- The Master

E -- *muses*Tricky... very tricky... give me time

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

Eldrad stood in front of Cougar, his hands wrapped in dark energy, his eyes shut, chanting a spell. The air thickened, the outside world became see-through... and there were millions upon millions of people wandering around. Cougar looked around in wonder.

E -- We ask for an audience with The Master

A figure stepped from the crowd,"It has been granted... you're looking well James"

C -- *Gestures*What about Eldrad?

E -- I can maintain this spell for a short time... be quick Colonel

TM -- What is you wish to know?

C -- *Hesitantley*Were... you raising me... to be... Snake?

TM -- *sighs*Yes... I was. However, when I was assasinated, there was none to complete your training. I left instructions with Jacius that he give you the name when he believed you were ready

C -- And when will that be?

TM -- I cannot tell you that... you must find it for yourself. You have the potential, you've shown everybody that. But being Snake *voice becoming gradually more distant* Carries a responsibility like no other... you must be the best you can be... and then some... and don't let it take over your life... It was good to see you again son

C -- *Quietly*And you, dear master.

The world returned to normal, and Eldrad stood,"I am sorry I couldn't give you more time, Colonel. That spell is difficult to maintain even for short perooids of time... I will not be able to work magick for at least twenty four hours

C -- Thanks Eldrad... I need to think

E -- Certainley

Cougar walked off, thinking carefully to himself about what the Master had told him

OOC: Going for dinner, should be back soon

Rhenmet spoke briefly with Vedt, then went about her daily business.

As Cougar walked, he thought carefully about what The Master had told him. He finally returned to the Interceptor, running his hand along the cool surface, now cleaned by the enginners of the Chimera. He smiled, and popped the hatch, clambering back inside. It felt good, if odd, to be back in the fighters cockpit once more. He tested all the systems... green across the board.

Lifting the craft off the surface, he gunned the engines and took off for open space. He passed over Kaymiril on his way up, throwing a salute out the window, and then left for open space

**********************************************************
*2 hours later*
The slender Interceptor came down towards the surface of the planet. At the controls sat a very confused James Cougar. He had been a Colonel, but professional jealousy had got him thrown out the unit. Now, he was a mercenery, working to his own strict moral code. He'd left his old life behind... his friends no longer wanted anything to do with him. Renor was dead in his mind, and that had ended his training... the Chosen had not wished to continue it, not sharing his master's views. He cursed softly, and stepped out onto the blasted rock, looking around. Only on Ballis could he find peace and people like him...

Rhenna was in the middle of the class when she felt her Bond go dead.

She paused mid-sentence, looking around.

S -- "Rhenna...are you all right?"

Rn -- "Yes...class dismissed."

*Later*

Rn -- He's not dead, but I can't feel him anymore! I don't know where he is, or what happened....

V -- Rhenna, calm down, or you'll break a scale.

The half-dragon was pacing back and forth...Vedt hadn't seen her this agitated often, and it was always cause for worry.

V -- Maybe you can locate him. Come on.

They go to the Room of Sand, and Rhenna casts the Beacon spell. The closest she can get is the galaxy.

V -- You really are agitated.

R -- *Appearing* Did you expect much differently? Rhenmet, calm yourself. I will find him.

Renor takes up the spell, and locates a small desert planet.

R -- "I do not know what it is called, but there it is."

Rn -- "I'm sure it's on the Dauntless's ...ugh...I don't know the word. Databanks. I'll find him. D'anthe."

R -- "You are in no condition to go. Vedt would be the better choice."

Rn -- "Master...with all due respect, I have to go. I'm his wife...and he might be hurt...I don't know what I might find...but I love him, and I must find him. The same cannot be said for Vedt. For Vedt, it would merely be...a job. I will find him...and hopefully bring him back."

Renor nods, and Rhenmet teleports to Mithdelmar. She goes straight to the Dauntless and starts the preflight, while filing through the database. "Come on...where are you...Ballis. How do you set this d*mned thing..."

After much trial and many profanities she manages to get it set on a course to Ballis, and takes off.

Cougar sat in the bar, sipping the spiced ale he'd brought with some of his remaining money. He shook his head, and thought about everything that had happened... there were gaps in his memory that he couldn't plug, and he didn't like it. He had the strangest feeling he was meant to be somewhere else, like he was connected to someone by something other than a comm-signal, but he dismissed it. His knowledge of magick may have been limited, and he knew of spells with effects such as that... but who in their right mind would have bonded with him? A scruffy-haired, beaten, cynical soldier. It would've been even worse if a Drow had married him... he couldn't put anyone through any more pain. He lived off the grid, by the sword and the gun. He sipped the ale again, and couldn't fight of that feeling

What am I doing here?

Rhenna lands the shuttle and exits, then closes it up, sealing it.

"D'anthe, see if you can locate him in the city."

The raven pecked at a scale, which was already starting to crack badly, and flew off.

I hope he's all right...

D'anthe would find a sprawling city, very low technology base, but still a haunt for smugglers, mercenarys and pirates. It was that simply because it was so far removed from the normal galaxy. Finding Cougar was going to be like finding a peace of straw in a massive stack of needles. However, D'anthe would find him in a bar, not too far from the landing pad

The Dauntless was easily the newest ship on that port. If Rhenna looked left, she would see his Interceptor, blackened in places by precision laser fire

D'anthe flew back to Rhenmet, having located Cougar, only to find her looking at the Interceptor.

"What happened?"

She looks at D'anthe, who cheebles at her for a bit.

"Let's go, then."

She started heading for the bar, taking no real notice of just how conspicuous she was.

There was some murmurings in the crowd, which parted before her. Drow were known for how much they hated humans... why one had come to a world populated by them was a thing to be feared.

As she entered the bar, all eyes turned, including his, sat as he was in the darkest corner of the bar. There was something familar about this woman... something he couldn't put his finger on. He finished his ale, and slid even further into the shadows

One man smiled as she passed, unaware of the reputation Drow carried. As she passed by, he patted her on the behind,"Hey there beautiful"

She turns her head slightly towards the man, glaring at him from out of the corner of her eye.

"I give you one warning, and one only. Leave now, and do not even look at me again. If you do, that moment will be the one that you die."

The man was drunk, and although he heard her, he pushed on,"Aw, c'mon babe... how can you deny yourself someone like me?"

The scales on her hand hardened and thickened, and her arm lashed out, cleanly taking off the guy's head.

She let the crowd gape for a moment before disintegrating him, then she looked around.

"D'anthe, are you sure he was here?"

*Fluff, "Krawwk." Shake*

"I don't see him. Maybe he left...let's try somewhere else."

The crowd all backed off, whispered mutterings inherrent,"Who is she... what does she want... are all Drow able to do that"

As she was walking towards the door, she would feel cold steel on her temple, and a very familar voice,"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

Her first feeling was one of relief. He was there, and didn't sound injured. The second was one of unease. Why was he pointing the gun at her?

D'anthe moved from her shoulder to the top of her head, wings spread threateningly.

"D'anthe, stop. I'm here looking for you, James...you disappeared."

The weapon wavered, then came away and was holstered,"I know I dissapeared... I did that over a year ago. You never answered my question"

She stepped back to face him. "No...you disappeared less than a day ago...I had the worst time trying to figure out how to plot a course on the Dauntless. Don't you remember me? Anything?"

He moved out of the shadows, and motioned towards a table,"Sit down... in answer to your question, the last thing I remember clearly is Renor leaving for Derscon... he never came back"

She sits down. "Derscon? James, that was almost two years ago. Renor's fine...he helped me locate you...he married us a little over a year and a half ago...check your left breast pocket if you don't believe me."

He did so, and brought out the battered picture. His eyes went wide,"This makes no sense... Rhenmet, this makes no sense whatsoever"

"It might not...not right now...but you have to believe me. I didn't give you my name when you asked for it...so how did you know it?"

I don't know... you're familar to me, and yet not at the same time, if you get me. Although why you're looking for me after nearly two years, to the day, that I left... strange coming from the person who once said I was the most ineffuctual mage ever... more a hindarance than anything

Tears start to glisten in her eyes, but she holds them back. "Is that all of me you remember? We've been married a year and a half...we were speaking this morning...and that's all you remember? What happened, James? What's wrong?"

"I don't know... I remember a flash... never seen anything like it, not long ago. When I woke up... I couldn't remember anything. It's like my memory has been wiped clean"

She stands up, going to him and putting a hand on his arm.

"Come home with me...we can figure this out. Mith can...or someone from Snake Eaters...come home."

He looked down at the hand on his arm, and in spite of himself, smiled at her,"Alright... we'll do it your way. Renor told me you were honest... and he was my master. I trust his judgement"

As he was speaking, a voice rose and the high-pitched whine of a phaser beam set to high stun rang out across the room. It hit Rhenna square in the small of the back

Rhenna stiffened briefly as the beam hit her, and began to collapse.

D'anthe lifted off, headed straight for the man that had shot his owner. He attacked the phaser with his talons, and pecked vicously at his face, while his wings beat around the man's head.

Cougar caught her in his arms, fear on his face. He pulled his pistol from the holster, and without looking, fired two shots, one into each of the man's legs. The man collapsed, blood gushing from the two wounds,"D'anthe, leave him, get back over here... Rhenna, can you hear me?"

D'anthe flew back over to him, landing on his shoulder and chattering angrily at him.

Rhenna, meanwhile, made no response.

"D'anthe, shut the hell up! I remember.. snatches, mere glimpses, but enough to know I love and cherish her. So, either make yourself useful, or I'll turn you into scrap metal, understand?"

He ran his hand over her brow, brushing the hair out the way,"Rhenna... I know you can hear me... I don't remember everything, but I remember enough to know."

Rhenna stirred, trying to come back to conciousness.

D'anthe fluffed and shook, then slid down Cougar's arm. He hopped to her shoulder, then reached out and plucked a scale from her cheek. It wasn't broken yet, but it was damaged beyond repair.

Rhenna's eyes snap open as she brings her hand to her cheek. "Ouch, D'anthe..." She shakes her head as if to clear it. "What happened?"

"You got shot... most likely by a friend of that one you killed...excuse me"

He left her and wandered causally over, his boots making an ominous thud everytime he put his foot down. He stood over the man who had pulled the trigger,"Let me make one thing quite clear to you: touch me, or my wife, again, and the next round will be in your head. And that goes for the rest of you!"

The crowd quailed under the tone of this man's voice. He was new, to be sure... but he'd already proven deadly. And he was married to the Drow woman... god, a couple like that would've been deadly together.

He strode back to Rhenna, and knelt next to her,"How you feeling?"

"Dizzy."

"A phaser set to high stun will do that to you... look, I'm not going to claim I remember everything... but I know who you are, and why you are so special to me... but it's patchy at best"

She nods.

"Now, what do you say we get out of here, and continue our conversation in a little more privacy?"

"Sounds good."

He smiled, and helped her to her feet. As they were walking out the bar, he dug a credit from his pocket, and flipped it off the end of his finger. It clinked in the open till,"Sorry about the mess"

She walks with him, mostly steady on her feet.

"Where should we go?"

"The Dauntless isn't far...unless you know of a better place around here."

"No-where here is going to be truly safe. The Dauntless sounds like the best place"

She nods. "It's just to the right of your Interceptor."

He led her to the ship, and tapped the keypad ("Don't know how I know that combination, just do") to let them in. He looked around,"Now this is familar"

"Well, we went from Snake Eater Prime to Kaymiril in it after the Kaelis Ra incident, we went with Renor to that one planet with the Leviathan Project in it, you've used it several times to go back and forth, and Lord Barbarossa just brought it back for the Queen's coronation."

He shook his head,"So many gaps... and I don't know why."

"Neither do I. Let's go to your home planet first...it may be an implant malfunction, and they know more about how to deal with those."

He nodded, and sat in the pilots seat,"I can still pilot these things... but I've got one thing to do first."

He tapped in a few commands, and the Interceptor lifted off the pad, launching for Kaymiril. He set the course in the Dauntless for Snake Eater Prime, and then left it. As the craft tunneled through the malstrom of the warp, he found himself going to sleep

After he was asleep, D'anthe perched in front of Rhenna.

Are you okay?

"I'm just glad he's back. I was so worried...and I didn't know if he was going to come home...I didn't know if he'd believe me."

You were afriad of losing him.

She nods, and the tears that had been building up throughout started to flow down her cheeks. The metallic raven hopped up to her shoulder, putting a wing around her head.

After she'd been crying for a few minutes, he was wide awake. He didn't know what had caused him to wake, but something definatley had. He had the oddest feeling that he could feel what she was feeling. He looked over at her, and his face fell,"What's wrong?"

There was geniune concern and worry in his voice

She shakes her head, moving D'anthe and wiping at her eyes.

"I'll be fine."

"I'm sorry to say this, but I don't believe you"

"It's been a long day."

"Along with scale breakage... no doubt caused by myself.*hits the console*Damn it!"

"Calm down. That won't help you remember, or help my scale grow back in faster. And just so you stop blaming yourself...scales only start to deteriorate when huge amounts of a stress enzyme are released into my blood. It's a dracogian defense mechanism to let them know when to retreat."

"Alright... I just wish I knew what caused this memory loss... coming up on Snake Eater Prime"

The ship came out of warp, and plunged into the atmosphere. He brought it to rest on the landing pad,"We need to get to the Icarus Building. It's not far"

"Yes...you pointed it out once."

She stands.

He took her hand, and led her from the craft,"I don't know how long this is going to take, just so you know"

"I'll still be there when you get out."

He took her to the Icaurus building, where he was admitted quickly, and Rhenna was shown into a waiting room, with the assurance,"We shouldn't be long"

*********************************************************
*One Hour later*
"Mrs. Cougar?"

Rhenna had been working on something that Vedt's glider, Arvoth, had been transmitting. No use to just sit there and be worried.

It took her a split second to recognize 'Mrs. Cougar' as her name, but when she did, she looked up at the doctor.

"Yes?"

"I'm Dr. Peterson, I've finished treating your husband. We also discovered what the cause of his extensive memory loss was"

"What was it? And how soon will he be able to come home?"

"He can go home tonight, after he wakes up. I had to have him unconciouss for the scans, for safeties sake. As for what happened.."

He walked over to the wall, and activated a projector,"This is your husbands cerbral cortex. Here, the memories are stored. Your husband has memory engrams imprinted on the two hemispheres of the brain. These are responsible for his ablity to remember things that many would believe obscure... it is basically an enhancement on his photographic memory"

"After your husband took off this morning, he was attacked in space by a ship of unknown origin, according to what he can garner from his memory. They attacked the ship, culiminating in an EM pulse weapon that, contray to what it was meant to do, scrambled the data contained in the engrams for a specific time peroid, namely the last two years. Look at this"


xjshriBFKn0274m0902139ndiewnvosnbslfkgnaoi28745941sdfkhafqwaowneffoingewnrgo000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 000000000000000000000000000000

"It goes on in a simialr manner for sometime. We were able to restore all the data... when he wakes up, he'll remember everything as it was, and also what happened today"

She nods. "That would explain the damage to his ship...thank you, Doctor."

OOC: Gtg, prob will be gone for a coupla hours.ttyl.

"It is my pleasure. If you wish to see him, I can take you. He will be asleep for the next few hours though"

She nods. "I would like very much to see him."

When she got there, she thanked the doctor again, then sat down beside him, taking his hand.

"Don't do that to me again, James." She knew he couldn't hear her...but she had to say it, and better sooner than later.

As the hours progressed, she slipped into a light, uneasy doze.

Kay VII cast an anti-decay charm around the shifter.

"What do you know of Kajeenith's next plans?"

SS - What doea anybody know of his plans? The only things I know of, are the things everybody knows.

He plans on killing Warfare and throwing him out of creation entirely.

He plans on destroying mortals.

He plans on ruling the other gods with an iron fist.

and there are rumors that he plans on sacrificing his own child on the night of darkness to regain all of his lost powers.

I don't know specifics of his plans, only The Executioner would. You had no need to use necromancy on me to learn of this, I would have told you in life if you had but asked. Any of those forced to serve Kajeenith would.

She nods. "I would like very much to see him."

When she got there, she thanked the doctor again, then sat down beside him, taking his hand.

"Don't do that to me again, James." She knew he couldn't hear her...but she had to say it, and better sooner than later.

As the hours progressed, she slipped into a light, uneasy doze.

He finally woke up, albeit groggily, at about eight in the evening, Snake Standard Time (6 hours behind Kaymiril, I use), and looked around from where he was laid. His memory was slightly hazy... but he remembered it all. This was the side-effect of the treatment, his memories, though returned, would be hazy for a few hours. It couldn't be helped. He felt a slight chill on his hand, and looked over, smiling and frowning simultaneously,'Oh boy... am I in for it when she wakes up

He turned his head to look out the window at the setting sun, it's red and gold hues bathing Snake City in a blast of light, deep shadows contrasted with wide, sweeping boulevards of light up the main streets. In the distance, he could see the Adminstrium rising above the skyline, dominating the city like it always had done from the very birth of the nation. He smiled, and lay there, his mind trying to rid itself of the haziness within

She woke as he shifted, and looked down at him. "You're awake. How are you feeling?"