NationStates Jolt Archive

A preview of coming attractions:

It was supposed to be peaceful, and reward us for our enduring faith. How then is it we have come to this? My home is destroyed. My church is destroyed. My family and friends are all dead, plucked from the bloom of life and fed to the voracious disc that even now torments me further, deepening the madness in which I find myself. I have seen the face of the Antichrist himself in the accursed Raijin Dekker, who brought this upon us. I pray constantly, but I realize that it is now only a matter of time before I lose faith entirely, and join all I have loved in the throes of hell.

~ attributed to Father Christopher Benedict, deceased

To whom do you pray at a time like this? There is nothing but chaos and devastation. Even now the disc brightens. Kata Kara. I am gripped by its power, and soon will be called to commit atrocities for which I will be left to lament in the cycle of Darkness. What have I done to deserve such a Fate? Is there still hope for atonement or am I doomed to annihilation?

~ Slasher Kailar Kedon, Order of Andretara, age 27

When sacred is profane
And most have gone insane
Will you come to fight
With Darkness and with Light?

~ Kiros Valiyos, chapter seven, stanza thirty-five

I read the book. I saw the movie and played the game. Heh. The Conception. Reshape the world to your image. It was great - the options were limitless! But it was nothing compared to the real thing. We'll get through this...somehow.

~ Alexei Dekker, age 17

******************
The Conception - OOC thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=423764)

Torokara - 21 June 2007 - 6:00 PM

The travel bans went into effect silently and efficiently, as most things did in Krioval. The tranquility, however, was broken by an unauthorized demonstration in Dakura Park, where a group of apocalyptic Christians shouted to passers-by that the end of the world was at hand, possibly within the next year. As it would turn out, members of the Order of Andretara showed up on the scene about fifteen minutes later, words were exchanged, and tempers escalated. A war of words became a war of fists, and then a shot rang out in the midsummer afternoon.

A Slasher had, fearing for his life, fired a plasma rifle at point-blank range, managing to overload the weapon and kill twelve people in an instant. The police managed to arrive two minutes later, having been initially told that there was a small scuffle. What they found was a massacre. A blood-spattered sign lay on the ground, its owner no longer in any condition to lift it, now or ever again. It said, simply, "The End is Near."

Paladin Media Service broadcast:

Hello, this is Johan Kelos. This afternoon, it appears that two warring factions, the Order of Bralos and the Order of Andretara, squared off in Dakura Park in Torokara. The Bralosians were apparently staging an illegal, but peaceful, demonstration in the park protesting the Festival of Fighters, claiming that the sinful and debauched nature of the party would rouse the wrath of God. The Slashers, on the other hand, were likely more interested in provoking a fight, but their motivation, outside of the longstanding rivalry between the groups, is still unknown.

The fight escalated quickly, according to witnesses, with an unidentified ninja detonating a plasma rifle. Current reports indicate that twelve were killed by the blast, and approximately fifty individuals have been transported to hospitals for treatment of serious burns. Dakura Park has been closed pending a more thorough investigation.

In other news, if you had travel plans this evening, you no doubt know by now that those have been canceled by the Commander's banning of all nonessential traffic as of six o'clock this afternoon. All travelers are advised to contact their airline, spaceline, or travel agent for rescheduling. The ban is expected to be lifted at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, when the security situation improves.

But if you're stuck in Krioval for an extra day, why not show up for the Festival? There will be plenty of good food, drinks, and prize giveaways on all levels of Torokara, as well as the other Terran cities. And...(a woman appears leaning over Johan)...thank you, Marie. It appears that the travel ban has been lifted for people wishing to travel to Terran Krioval only, until seven-thirty. So now nobody has an excuse to avoid the festivities. I hope to see you all there! Thank you for watching Paladin this afternoon.

Michiko had had an early dinner, shared companionably with the Grendel, Perigrine, and her mate Jason of Theao, a fine man and most worthy of her friend. He had spoken of the CADRE that he served with, and that was an impressive organization. She would have to see about instituting such an organization. She had her Hands but they were few and far more limited in scope.

The sun was still high in the west, for it was only 6 pm and dark would not fall till nearly ten. She left the drapes open, for she had heard that there were to be spectacular fireworks displays later, and the broad balcony would provide an excellent viewing gallery. Until then she'd curl up on the deeply plush chase lounge and read some of the pile of books she'd bought on the way back to the Hotel D' Or. She'd told The Grendel and Perigrine that they were free for the night, that if anything untoward occured she'd contact them via bracers. And to go and have Fun!

She winced as the news broadcast brought word of the incident between the Order of Bralos and the Order of Andretara. 'Oh Valkai, I hope you weren't there, that you are safe' Michiko worried, as she used the remote to turn the news service. Picking up the top book, one Koro had recommended, she opened the cover and settled into one of her favorite pasttimes, reading.

Koro, true to his altruistic nature, had suggested several "offbeat" titles, making liberal references to the occult author Hikaru Xalo, who had written on such issues as apocalyptic legends in Krioval (and elsewhere), and how older stories included mention of arcana considered lost to time. He had grinned awkwardly when questioned as to his choices, and admitted, "I really only looked at the pictures. They're just so impressive!" While that was true, he had absorbed every word of those texts when he was an impressionable boy of only nine. Even now, he was aware of the irony of his situation. Fifteen years earlier, he believed in the Conception as one believes in air. Then came all the scientific training that had driven him nearly to atheism. Now he was High Priest and Raijin Dekker's second for when they would actually attempt the venerated - and devastating - ritual. He helped organize the platform from where the announcement of the festival, and conclusion of the ritual, would take place. Altar goes there. Torches over here. The setup was shockingly austere for such a dramatic unleashing of force, he thought, but it made sense. Efficiency remains key apparently, even when destroying and remolding the world. Deep below him, the priest could feel the gathering of the restless souls that, for one reason or another, refused to relinquish their attachment to the corporeal world and accept the help of the Gods. They would fuel the Conception, and in the process, be released from their ceaseless torment.

Nearby, Raijin was furiously scribbling on a sheet of paper. It joined an ever-growing stack. "What's going on?" Koro asked him.

"Writing," came the quick reply. When Koro continued to look at the older man, he continued. "The list of attachments I have to this world. I need to eliminate them from my mind. Many of them will not make it to the next."

Koro noticed that his name was at the top of the list.

An old woman in the robes of the priesthood cursed silently. She had not expected *him* to be so bloody-minded. Koro Vartek was still a good man, if not the best choice for the High Priesthood. Of course, he was elevated only after almost half those eligible declined and people had jokingly written the boy's name on the ballot by way of protest. But half plus one was still a majority, and so Koro, with no formal ecclesiastical training, was now in charge of religious affairs - and completely at the whim of Raijin whose influence over the faithful was already something of concern to the veteran clerics.

She had objected repeatedly to her contact's insistence on eliminating Director Vartek completely from the scene of Kriovalian religion, and by extension, politics. Finally, she had acceded after what felt like hours of recrimination and blackmail. But she decided at the last second to renege on her promise. So Koro Vartek was still alive in part due to her double betrayal. The priestess gathered up as many belongings as she could and she emerged from a side door in the monastery. Her destination was Torokara. The voice in her head was ruthless in its command - find and warn the High Priest, and in doing so, be redeemed from earlier treachery.

Michiko lost herself in the book, a well-written treatise on the old arcane legends of Krioval. Mythologies had always been her favorites; she had spent many, many nights in her child hood reading, and in time, discussing them with her father. Access to the planetary AI was sporadic in the backlands, and a luxury they often had to forgo, but books were a necessity, to both her and her father.

The oversize, leather bound edition was graced with splendid artwork and Michiko found herself returning time and again to pictures of the feminine deities of Krioval. Tara, She of the protective darkness, She who defined the concepts of fate and governance; and Her opposite, but not, merely the reverse of the coin, Soltiri, all things revealed in Her universal light, freedom, release, all bonds dissolved. Jenara and Shiara, sisters that danced eternal counter point but each so necessary to the other - Water and Fire, innocence and passion, aeons long endurance and sudden unopposable strength. Associated with dark, an interesting change, especially for water, but considering the relationship island nations had with oceans, perhaps not so unusual. And last of all Ashala, the Balance, She who was all of Nature, without one specific form, but many small ineffiable glimpses of Her.

Michiko sang to herself, her voice soft in the quiet of the room, as she let images flow unfettered through her soul.
“The moon in her phases, and the tides of the sea
The movement of Earth, and the Seasons that will be
Are the rhythm for the dancing, and a promise thru the years
That the Dance goes on thru our joys, and our tears”

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

The song is the pagan version of Lord of the Dance, and can be found here for the full words:Lord of the Dance (http://www.sacred-texts.com/bos/bos503.htm)
The melody that this song is written for is an old Shaker hymn Simple Gifts - you can hear the melody in Aaron Copeland's Appalachian Spring

Darvek Tyvok awoke from a deep sleep around six-thirty, vainly trying to remember what, and who, he had done the night before. Awareness slammed into him like a sledgehammer, as did the worst hangover the Kriovalian had ever experienced. After retching ineffectually to dispel the raw force of the alcohol toxicity, he returned his thoughts to the past few days. Apparently Koro had become tired of either Darvek's propensity for disappearing for several days at a time or he'd figured it was time for an "upgrade". So much for finally finding someone to take home to meet the family, even if he wasn't much more than a boy. The Director shrugged off the memory for a few minutes and shuffled into the bathroom, poured a glass of water, and attempted to drink it, getting sick at least twice in the process. Finally choking down the liquid and some pain relievers, he looked at the time in sheer wonderment. Darvek cursed loudly, noting that he had missed the tournament, slept through most of the day, and was unable to remember anything about the four (or was it five?) women he'd brought home the evening before.

Of course, if the rumors were true and Raijin was technically single again...Darvek Tyvok, you must be sicker than you thought, he admonished himself. That was then, and besides, if the boy's with him now... The arguments continued back and forth, with Darvek realizing that the only mornings after being with Raijin were those where he could drink whatever he wanted the night before and not feel like hell. Why can't women ever have his combination of power?

Michiko looked at the inscription at the top of of the page. It ws very reminiscent...'Yes, the map!' the thought as she brought out the map Raijin had given her, and compared the two sets of symbols. They matched, but the translated word in the English language description below did not make sense. She asked Valiyos, the Krioval AI, and was rewarded with the disheartneing information that the English language translation was an approximation, meant to keep the size of the treatise down.

That was highly frustrateing to the Empress, and she spent a number of minutes muttering at the parsimony of the publishing house. The 'logos', the core concept of a word or a phrase was of vital importance if one intended to understand a subject. Then she brightened, remembering that the bookstore also had the book in Kriovallian.

It was only a few blocks away. On the well secured fifth level she shouldn't encounter any trouble in so short a distance she decided. She'd already disturbed Perigrine's and the Grendel's time off already, she wouldn't bother them for something as minor as this. Michiko did however tuck a force lance into the pocket of the loose unstructured jacket she threw on as she stepped out the door

Soon she was at the book store, comfortably lost as to the time, with an ever growing stack of books by her side

Saul Kovaly yawned and stared at the blank page sticking out of his portable typewriter. The old machine was less convenient than a proper word-processor, but on long nights after his daily report was sent to the paper, it was normally a comfort. Here, he could do what he enjoyed, rather than what he simply did for a living.

At least, what he normally enjoyed. So far, he'd gone through fourteen page-one's and gotten maybe half a paragraph at most before rejecting it.

"The"

one word. The. so far, it was the only thing that was coming.

"The... Hell with it. I'm going to go out." he finally snarled. The old Smith Corona just sat there, as he pushed back from the hotel-room's convenient desk, picked up his overcoat and hat, and...

stoppped.

he put the hat down, and the overcoat, walked back to the writing desk, pulled out the hotel ashtray and a bottle of something, it was at least liquor-coloured from the wet bar, and started to type again.

"The sun beat down on the park outside the stadium,the bald shaven eye of a fire god. Peaceful or not, blood was going to spill.."

The posse had reached the bar, and was in the process of getting pleasantly drunk when something strange happened, Roger had just tossed in a pair of cards and gotten his draw, he recieved two of the same card, it was not strange because he recieved two identical cards, instead it was strange because he recieved two IDENTICAL cards, there were no differences, every bend in one was in the other, every mark, every bit of damage that the card had ever taken, it was all on the other card, the exact same card, except for the image upon that second king of spades, because the king of spades never looked like Roger before...

Raijin walked up to the platform, which would be broadcast to all parts of Krioval simultaneously. Dimensional manipulation was truly a blessing, and that it was apparently a device useable by the Gods made it all the more rewarding. The Commander was wearing a simple outfit, surprisingly austere for an event such as the five hundredth Festival of Fighters. Yet nobody commented. They watched as the man walked, not quickly and not slowly, to the focal point. He looked completely at peace as he motioned toward several people apparently out of sight. Two men joined the Commander. One was Koro Vartek. The other was Kiv Andros. The silence was shattered by murmurs and whispers upon seeing the two standing on either side of Raijin, apparently unconcerned at the presence of their rival. The three stood, seemingly oblivious to the chatter around them and watched as the sun touched the ocean waters to their west and slowly melted into them. "Half an hour until darkfall. Then come the fireworks."

Michiko looked up as the clerk spoke discretely

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but we are closeing now."

"Oh! I'm sorry" Michiko realized that she was the only patron in the store and that she was keeping the clerks from their holiday "I didn't mean to keep you" She held out her crediwand "Please hold these until tomorrow, but I'd like to take this one" She indicated the thick dictionary of anchient Kriovalian "with me tonight."

Hurriedly, yet still polite, the shop clerk ran the wand through and returned it, and began to set Michiko's choices aside as Michiko hurried out the door. She had seen one of the viewing screens on the way there, and she didn't think she'd make it back to the hotel before the opening broadcast would be made. The sun was already well hidden beyond the buildings to the west, even from the vantage of the fifth level.

Finding the screen, mostly because a few well dressed visitors had already stopped to watch, Michiko settled on a bench. She noted that both Kiv Andros, and Koro were with Raijin. She wondered what that meant

The last of the twilight faded from the western sky, leaving the stars to shine brightly. The moon was nowhere to be seen. Raijin, flanked by Kiv and Koro, returned to the center of the platform, looking at the crowd that had assembled. He swallowed the revulsion that swept through him. Even as they cheered him on, the Commander knew their true motivation was, at least for many, the chance to abandon common decency was the compulsion for attendance. In the background, a soft tune played. If one were paying close attention, the song would be identified as an ancient hymn warning against the evils of excess. Raijin thought it a particularly appropriate prelude.

He stepped forward slightly and spoke. "I am glad all of you are here to witness this." Raijin continued unemotionally with a brief discussion on the history of the warrior class in Krioval as well as the importance of the Gods in the modern, secular age. The assemblage remained respectfully silent, though eyes were rolled surreptitiously and the general mood was one of impatience. The paladin felt a surge of adrenaline, and a small smile began to form. The music had also amplified in volume slightly, and continued to grow louder as Raijin pushed headlong into the conclusion.

"I have dreamed of this day for twenty years," he said, his voice beginning to take on a songlike quality. "And yet I thought it would never come." Stirrings in the crowd indicated they had noticed several oddities. One was the cylindrical device behind the Commander, which had begun to illuminate a pattern in ancient Kriovalian letters. The other was Raijin himself. On his face, markings had appeared - two lines starting at his hairline and descending below his collar, with lines diverging from the main two across his cheekbones. "You finally notice change when it is before you as this," he said, disdain creeping into his measured tonal vocalization. With a fluid motion, Raijin Dekker pulled at his shirt, the material giving way to reveal an intricate network of markings, forming a knotwork pattern derived from the original two lines, and extending in nearly all directions. More surprisingly, they were glowing fiercely. The musical track shifted to match the mood - heavy and ominous. Raijin sang the remainder of the hymn:

"Those who fail to take charge fear the Dark
Those who hide in caves fear Nature's Force
But those without spirit are truly lost
They will come to fear the Light!

Val-i-yos!
Var-o-kai!
Kir-os So-lo-kaaarrrrr-oooo!"

The cylinder's sections rotated furiously and flickered in time with Raijin's markings as the ground shuddered. The Commander left the ground with power coursing through him. An old man, in priestly garments, screamed out, "Dear Gods, no", which earned him a dismissive look from Koro.

"Old man, it is already done." And so it was. The stars winked out, one by one, and the moon would not rise that night, though nobody noticed. They were too busy staring off as entire cities were vaporized and the tremors grew closer and closer, finally striking the base of Torokara. The first level disappeared twenty-eight seconds after the power had been called forth, and the shockwave propagated up the height of the massive city, glass exploding from windows, stone that had been solid for centuries crumbling in mere moments, and metal bending and snapping underfoot, being drawn inexorably upward in grand mockery of the force of gravity.

The laws of nature rallied bravely, and the detritus fell quickly toward earth, which for some, was several hundred meters away. Of those who perished, the lucky ones were either crushed or impaled, but for the unlucky ones, a long fall toward the sea, which appeared to be drying up before their eyes, awaited. Perhaps the grandest miracle of all was that the superstructure of Torokara, and the other major cities, had withheld the opening salvos, and the world which had gone from order to chaos in so few seconds.

But natural laws are often beholden to motivated deities, who know that even the most reputed and sensible law can be, and sometimes is, repealed. The curvature of Earth went flat, and then inverted entirely, enclosing all of Krioval into a spherical shell, on the interior surface of which remained the broken ruins of an advanced civilization. Overhead, at the center of the sphere, a bright and unnatural light emanated. The Kata Kara, the Disc of the Conception, had formed, and was even now draining the souls of the recently dead. History would later show that between ten and fifty million people died in the Conception, which all told, took one minute from initiation to completion. And this was only the beginning.



Translation:

Comrade-in-arms
Move with great force
Force of the Fighter for Light (Solokaro)

Shu'aa na-Daanish Mash'al continued to read and reread from the huge number of ebooks and such he had purchased.

It gave him a method to pass the time. There wasn't really all that much to Krioval once one got past desires of the flesh and darker desires, in his opinion. And having worn out his entourage, he found himself peacefully alone, and more then happy to read and watch through the window, wondering at the possible deeper meanings of texts which certainly discussed things metaphorically - after all, could this be true?

As the sky went dark and the world became it's own universe, the older man looked upward and said in a small voice "Oh dear."

This might have been commented on had his son, Jalil, not been formerly engaged in treating himself to further refreshment elsewhere; and had that "refreshment" not gone from something cool and liquid to something a bit taller, brunette, and rather inebriated perhaps further commentary could have been gathered.

As it was, the greatest comment came from underneath a Bugatti Veyron parked inside a DLE shuttle, still waiting for clearance to take off. The shuttles graviton shields had come up unexpectedly, sealing in the few who had remained inside.

The single one who had involved himself with the car merely swore as a torque wrench came down on his exposed knee - and continued working on the engine, as it were.

The Typewriter managed to survive relatively intact. Saul noted this as he tied off the gaping wound in his thigh-fraction of an inch further, and I'd be as grave a man as Mercutio... He'd gotten fifty pages when the world turned inside-out, and not even three shots into the bottle.

"Well, Saul... I would say this might classify as the story of the century..."
he muttered, and tested the improvised stitches and dressing.

They seemed to hold.

He limped over to the gaping hole where the motel's balcony had been.

The city was in chaos.

"yep. Story of the century..." he muttered again, "not Pulitzer prize, more like Hugo award, though..."

"... We were just going to eat something. Couldn't this have waited for, oh, another hour or so?"

TWO TIMES (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=341769&page=1&pp=20) within a few weeks. What the hell have I done to deserve this? Can it be... No, that was 15 years ago, and I just stole her lollipop. FOR GODS SAKE, JUST HER LOLLIPOP!

One had to admit it: Suffering this kind of event, two times, in such a short amount of time, just had to result in the mild amount of frustration Akina was suffering from, right now.

Besides, the few splinters of glass that had resulted in her left cheek's mildly purple colouring hadn't been especially pleasant, either.

Well, she would cope with it, somehow...

What a life. Wonder how a biography would sell...

Shu'aa na-Daanish Mash'al continued to read from the book of Eutrusca (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9035389&postcount=17) :


In the beginning was Myrth. And on the first day Myrth spake and lo, there were Forums. And Myrth saw that they were good. On the second day, Myrth created users. And Myrth saw that they were messing up his Forums. In his wrath, Myrth did strike many of them down, and the remaining users were terrified of his great wrath. To appease the wrath of Myrth, the users did make obiesence by including his great Name in every poll they used. And most of the time, Myrth is appeased.

"What utter codswollop. Everyone knows there is no Myrth..." He flipped the page, looking for any reference as to why the stars had gone out.


OOC: It didn't have to be done, but...

Kolte Savren meditated deeply. He was seated at the top of the high-rise apartment complex where he was currently staying. The cityscape loomed before him. It seemed to confirm his notions of darkness he recieved through the Force. Something was amiss, something that would affect countless lives in devastating ways. While he did not yet know what was to happen, he knew this. He could no longer sense Xander's presence. With all the turmoil boiling among the natural energies, it was a wonder he could even still sense the Force itself.

The bleakness became even more evident when the backup power generators failed, one by one, leaving the emergency lights - and the Kata Kara - as the only sources of illumination. The devastation was extensive, and even the regions protected by the cylindrical devices were not immune. Just about anything made of glass in the entire place was now in tiny shards on the ground. In most cities, half of the buildings were in ruins, and of those remaining, none had been spared some degree of damage. More striking, however, was the total lack of ocean - it had become a desert through some means, and was now the only way for one to go from city to city, should the need arise.

"Now we prepare for the Creation," Raijin said, looking at his two companions. "Anything important before we get going?"

"How long has Kiv been a part of this?" Koro asked, more out of curiosity than anything else.

"Two years," Kiv replied. "It wasn't an easy decision. Given the alternative..."

"Alternative?"

Raijin jumped into the conversation. "A cybernetic society. Krioval was beginning to lose its humanity. I decided we couldn't allow that. Strange how it was the combination of Varik's love for science and Adele's longing for Kriovalian dominance that led us here. I guess the sins of the parents sometimes do become the burden of their children." He turned to look at the two other men. "In any case, that path is now blocked, and we pick a new one. Or rather," he said, gesturing over the wasteland extending in all directions, "they do. Now, we have an appointment that we need to keep. A hospital one level down. But before we go..." The paladin walked to the cylindrical device and touched several of the runes in succession, causing the device, and his strange tattoos to glow briefly and then return to normal.

"Think of it as a more interesting version of a teleporter. Problem is, I can only go between the ones that are already active, and the Conception shut them back down. So we're walking to the hospital. I hope he's still there."

"What in all the ..." Michiko's stunned voice trailed off as she managed to avoid the large number of falling and flying objects as the earthquake sundered the buildings nearest her. Gravity tossed her first up, then roughly back down wrenching a cry of fright and pain from her.

Then the word for world became sphere...

Michiko closed her eyes for long minutes, trying to reconcile what she had seen. Then she looked about, wincing at the sight of so many in the limp stillness of death. Here and there though, moans and cries arose, and she moved to find those still living. She brushed blood out of her eyes, ingnoring the pain of the many small cuts flying glass had wrought.

She stopped and stared at the back of her hand, and her forearm. Embossed on her skin there, in gleaming gold, was the Feather of Maat (http://www.crystalinks.com/maat.html), the ancient Egyptian symbol of truth, justice, morality and balance, and from it 'grew' an imago, a bas refief tattoo of a vine, strong and twining about hundreds of half seen images, half seen artistries of the forces of nature, from the destructive fury of the tornado, to the weal of sunlight in spring.

The back of each hand held symbols of balance, while she discovered that the palms of her hands were dichtomies, the left imprinted with the ancinet symbol of life, energgy, of 'all-in-motion'- the flyflot. The right held a symbol she did not recognise, but felt was that of stagnation, of death, the negative

She swallowed heavily, unsure of what to make of the unexpected manifestations, but unwilling to take the time to try and figure that out. There were those that needed her help, and Michiko Jones had ever been willing to put herself in harms way to help those in need

Resolutely she began moving debris, trying to reach those that still lived.

"Raijin Dekker, I so want to kick your ass, couldn't you think of a better way to fix what ever needed fixing? Don't you know better than to wake the gods? They get cranky when woken unexpectedly"

Her communications bracer was, she noted incidentally smashed into wreckage, and that her wrist throbbed badly. She didn't remember being hit there but she had been rather occupied. Looking past the tattos for the flesh underneath she could see that it was already beginning to swell somewhat and it hurt more with each moment. Though she didn't think it was broken, she took the force lance and a strip torn from her jacket to create a makeshift brace for the wrist.

She hoped her people were okay. The death toll looked to be truly [sarcasm on]outstanding[/sarcasm off]. She put that aside as she reached the first still living body, and slowly knelt down next to the man who had both lower legs burried under a fair amout of debris

"Let me take a look at you and then I'll see if I can get you out"
******************************************

Perigrine looked around at the cavernous area that had been created by the falling debris. She and Jason had been strolling hand in hand through the carnival area, and only idlely paying attention to the broadcast of the opening ceremonies.

Then the earthquake had begun and the tearing of the earth had thrown them apart. When she finally was able to stand, the dim lighting not bothering Neitzschean eyes at all, she could not find him in the chaos.

The screams of children turned her about to see a handful of young ones scattering away from a cook cart who's grill caught near by flamables into open and spreading flames. There seemed to be no other adults about, and she could not, would not, leave the children to fend for themselves. Most of them had numerous cuts but none seemed to be harmed too badly.

"Here, come over to me." She made her voice one of calm authority, and soon had a flock of frightened children huddled about her. She soothed them as the lighting grew ever dimmer. "Don't worry, here, hold on to each others hands. There, see. And I'll be the leader." She crouched to be at their level, drawing her eyes to her "Now see I hvae special eyes, and so I can see, and won't let you trip"

Her vertical pupils were opened to their widest and the tapetum in the back of her eyes glowed vivied gold in the remaining bits of light. Some of the children let them selves be convinced, but one or two continued to cry.

"Here, lets...hug, yes, hug, and we'll all feel better." She drew the children into a circle

Jason realized that the quake had flung him throught the window of a nearby shop and that part of the building had collapsed, causing him to lose track of Perigrine. He began tearing into the rubble trying to get to Peri. While he was battered by some of the building that hadn't collapse he managed to break through. Seeing Peri was okay, but that a number of children with injuries, he ran over and gave her a quick kiss before tearing his shirt into strips to bind the injuries of the children.

Perigrine felt tears prickling at her eyes, seeing Jason appear from the gloom. She savored the brief but joyous kiss. As he moved among the children bandaging those injured, she returned to comforting them, and easing their fears as best she could

"Jason, I have a tube of medical nanos in my pouch for those most injured...We need to find a way out into the open. The ceiling, such as it is looks none to stable."

She waited untill he had finished working with the children, then called him slightly aside, for the first time acknowledging the dislocation of her right shoulder.

"Jason, I could just manhandle it back in but it would be better if you would do it, less damanage to the tissues"

Both of them would be harlequined with bruises, as neither had escaped a heavy battering during the quake.

"This may hurt." Jason replied as he took her arm and popped it back in, doing it so he minimized damage. "What do you think is the quickest and safest way to the surface?"

"Thank you my love" Perigrine let herself rest against his shoulder for a second afterwards, though she had made no sounds when he slipped the ball of her shoulder back into the socket

She looked about assessing the damage as best she could in the near dearkness, though the burning cart provided some light. Fortunately it was rather isolated and showed now signs of spreading, as there was not air currents to carry flaming embers. Her memory provided her with an accurate rememberance of when they last passed a series of support pillars and an escalator up

She pointed back that way, and explained "I doubt it's operating, but it would be an opening to fresher air...if we can get past that rubble"

Smoke was beginning to foul the air, and there was also the definite reek of death. The children might not know consciously what it was, but it was keeping them on the edge of uspset.

"Why don't you lead the way with the children between us?"

"Alright." Jason said as he picked up one of the children, who happened to still be injured, and headed in the indicated direction, following a path that would be easiest and safest to walk.

Aside from the general destruction and the disappearance of the sea, a truly bizarre aspect of the Conception world was that there was absolutely no intrusion of nature into it. There were no further tremors, and the air was deathly still. Not a single cloud formed in the sky, as if the Kata Kara would be offended at the very idea of being shadowed, even for a moment. All in all, the atmosphere was one of languor and stasis, and even the frenzied rescue efforts underway were muted by the Disc and its baleful light.

************
"Raijin Dekker, I so want to kick your ass, couldn't you think of a better way to fix what ever needed fixing? Don't you know better than to wake the gods? They get cranky when woken unexpectedly"

Pressure built beneath the woman's temples by way of response. A voice similar to the Commander's echoed in her consciousness. What makes you think this was unexpected? Do you think that we are blind, or that Raijin-karo is careless? Not-Raijin paused, the strong yet contained voice diminishing. Then it resumed. It remains to be seen whether he will make the ultimate sacrifice.

A new voice intruded, feminine, though wild. Nice artwork. A giggle, then, Nature and balance, huh? We never thought you would be coming back home so soon!

Then there was silence.

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

As for the man whose ass Michiko longed to kick, he was running into his own brand of difficulty. The way to the hospital was blocked. By a street gang, from the looks of things. Worse, the group had sighted the three travelers, and were closing in. "Wonderful," Kiv said, noticing the gang for the first time. "They even have weird markings just like you do."

"They do?!" Raijin looked closely at the incoming group of mostly teenagers. "Huh. Well, I guess it doesn't hurt to try. Sha Kasadan!" he called out.

The would-be assailants slowed, and eventually stoped about ten steps from the three. "Slasher Raijin?!" one of them asked.

What makes you think this was unexpected? Do you think that we are blind, or that Raijin-karo is careless?" Not-Raijin paused, the strong yet contained voice diminishing. Then it resumed. "It remains to be seen whether he will make the ultimate sacrifice.

"And how many of these deaths are needless? Can you say that all of these deaths are truly needed? I know he's not careless - but perhaps he cares too much" Michiko did not stop moving the debris as best she could, though as the pressure built she freed one hand to rub at her face, wincing against the near pain. "and can any mortal really concieve, really understand death and destruction on this scale?...Yah, I know, I'm a soft hearted wimp."

Then she did stop what she was doing for a second, looking 'heavenward', and her voice was still, and small, and very, very afraid

"Wait one there... what do you mean ultimate sacrifice?....Oh, you !..." Her voice went horrified "Oh don't you dare. To put him through this and take it from him. Balance and responisbility! Please!" And she wasn't ashamed to beg

"Nice artwork." A giggle, then, "Nature and balance, huh? We never thought you would be coming back home so soon!"

Michiko's eyes went wide, and her thoughts whirled confusedly. 'Me, coming home? I've never been here before, and I'm no one special....but she, yes it was feminine, she recognises me?...and the artwork is so beautiful.' She turned her thoughts back to the matters at hand, as she moved the last of the rubble. Her hands had taken more cuts and she wiped them tiredly on her pants, before moving to check the man's legs

"This is going to hurt" She apologised in advance. The man, once well groomed and well dress nodded exhaustedly. Michiko had managed to find out that he was a visitor, an junior executive in Krioval for the scientific exposition. They'd both half chuckled at the likelihood of that taking place now.

The female voice takes the opportunity to continue. You carry the blood of this nation within you, though perhaps not enough to have been called from outside the borders of Krioval. Do you wish to join in the Conception, and strive to the dawn as a being of this land?

Not-quite-Raijin also persists. I am interested by your thoughts. Tell me, would it be more appropriate for Raijin to be killed or given immortality for what he has done? The consciousness withdraws, but obviously waits nearby for a reply. Both Michiko and the man she is treating notice that their wounds are healing apparently of their own accord.

You carry the blood of this nation within you, though perhaps not enough to have been called from outside the borders of Krioval. Do you wish to join in the Conception, and strive to the dawn as a being of this land?

'What? how...my mother...' Michikos thoughts battered like frantic doves as the cage of her mind

"Yes, I might not know the mysteries, but I'm willing to learn the dance" Michiko spoke into the 'mostly unknowable' with conviction.

I am interested by your thoughts. Tell me, would it be more appropriate for Raijin to be killed or given immortality for what he has done?

Michiko's thoughs sparkled with laughter "Neither. You kill him, he doesn't learn and grow, or shoulder the responsibility for what he's done. You make him immortal, you do the same thing - give him a good long life. Let him live up to his potential. Then when he's ready, give him a nice vacation and then send him back round again. Isn't this the only way for us to truly join with you, to understand and appreciate the divine?"

She looked down the mans once shattered legs, and her mind voice was breathy with delight

"Oh, thank you!"

"Yes, I might not know the mysteries, but I'm willing to learn the dance"

Accepted. Michiko feels the pressure of judgment, followed by the relief of having passed. You will have to figure out where to go next on your own, if you are to have power here. The female voice fades.

"Neither. You kill him, he doesn't learn and grow, or shoulder the responsibility for what he's done. You make him immortal, you do the same thing - give him a good long life. Let him live up to his potential. Then when he's ready, give him a nice vacation and then send him back round again. Isn't this the only way for us to truly join with you, to understand and appreciate the divine?"

Perhaps that is 'the only way' for some. It is not our only way, or this would serve no purpose. Still, your response is honest and intriguing. The male voice fades. Michiko gets the feeling that she has influenced something important.

Shu'aa na-Daanish Mash'al had managed to survive the earthquake - he might have entirely missed its presence had he not had to grab his drink as it slid for the edge of the table, so deep was he into his reading of ancient texts, rife with hints and possibilities. It would be several more hours of relative time before he moved from his seat.

Distantly, his son looked up at his newest conquest and said "Yes, dear, I really did make the earth move. Care to feel it move again?"


Somewhere, a god would be watching, and weighing the difference in the potential worlds incorporated in the personages of ancestor and descendant... it would not be long before things started to happen...

Perigrine passed the last of the youngest children though the gap to Jason. They had to enlarge the opening and the mass of rubble was very unstable. She backed down and held out her hand for one of the larger children.

"Just climb slowly" She said enouragingly, taking a moment to wipe tears from his eyes. The smudges left behind brought a grin to her face. "There now you are a proper Keeshka warrior"

The boy looked at her blankly and she raised her voice so every one could hear the story of the legendary Keeshka people and their long fight for freedom. It did seem to distract them from the dangers they still faced.

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

You will have to figure out where to go next on your own, if you are to have power here.

Sometimes you had to walk away from things right in front of you to get to where you could do the most good for the most people...and sometimes the needs of the one outweighted the needs of the many.

Michiko stood, helping the man to his feet, as she considered what the goddess had said. She knew she had done some small good, where would she do more?

"I...I have to go, but would you help the others here, start organizing what rescue you can." She asked the young man who nodded and began to move to the next person.

"Alright." Jason said as he picked up one of the children, who happened to still be injured, and headed in the indicated direction, following a path that would be easiest and safest to walk.

"ROGER!! There's somebody up ahead of us!!!"

Sargeant Major Kosutic was on point, being covered by Tomcat and Poertena, the rest of the posse followed shortly after, with Desperaux and Roger sandwiched safely between Denat, and Cord and Pedi, while Erkum and Krindi took up the rear.

They had left the bar nearly an hour ago, and headed off in random directions, just wandering together and reminiscing, then everything went to hell, and now they were working their way through the rubble, looking for a way out.

Jason finished helping the children up, and ensured they were away from the hole, and pulled Peri up, smiling at the story that had helped cheer the children.

As Perigrine eased through the narrow opening with Jasons help, keen Nietzschean ears caught voices, but they were aways away...and more... the wail of an infant, faint so very faint, but close

"Hush every one hush" She urged her small group to silence, and listened harder in the quiet.. Then she moved a few feet away, motioning for the children to sit down and rest. Then she moved again, and pointed, she had triangulated the nearly inaudible cries.

She looked at the massive sheet of concrete that 'roofed' the area the whimpers came from. She knew that it would not be easy but that she and Jason could perhaps move it enough. The slab looked to weigh about six tons, and moving it required a different strength than just lifting. That his strength matched hers had come as a pleasant surprize. Most humans could come nowhere near a Neitzschean in strength, but Jasons genetic engineering had obviously included such benefits.

"Okay Jason, we need to lift that slab. I want you to take the 'down' side the lift is easier there. We'll 'walk' it five steps to the left, then set down." Perigrine met his look gravely, she meant no insult by taking the more dificult position. She knew her abilities with absolute certainty, and this was not the time for ego play.

Carefully they maneuvered into position, and Perigrine began to breathe deeply, flushing her body with extra oxygen. She smiled slightly as she noticed him doing the same. As one they crouched and found secure hand holds.

"Ready?"

In unison they slowly lifted, letting the straightening of their legs do the work, the strain showing in their faces, and the hard exhales. The twelve thousand pound 'flake' of cement and rebar reinforcing rods, didn't want to move, gravity had settled it into place and was unwilling to release. Then wills that refused to accept this joined in unison, prevaled, and it was rising

Hard breath, energy burning at tremendous rates, eyes locked, each supporting the other

"Five steps Jason my love" Her voice strained out, a hoarse half whisper

"One" And the ground shivered faintly

"Two" Lungs burned and heart rates elevated as their physical structures absorbed the abuse they were subjecting bone, ligament, and muscle to.

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

"Here take my jacket for bandages" She called after the young executive "and look around in the shops near by, you should find some food, water and other supplies, but be careful of unstable structures."

That brought a thought of Valkai, and she sent a brief thought winging out. 'oh, I hope you are well and safe from all of this. and that thought led to a knowing of what she should do next. Carefully she stripped off her clothes and made a carryable bundle of them, the heavy dictionary with in.

She looked at her wrist, it was swollen but she'd been using it so it wasn't broken. She undid the splint and tucked the forcelance in with the dictionary. Then she was Changing, and immense white gyrfalcon, it's feathers painted with all the symbols her hands arms and shoulders had been swooped down to grab the package from the park bench.

Then she was beating wings skyward. 'Highguard, it's what protects you' she chuckled to herself as she thought of the motto of one of Tanara's most prestigous marine units. It would let her have a better ide of what had happned, and information at a time like this was vital.

Jason braced and triggered one of the implants, letting a muscular booster flow throught him, boosting his strength. When Peri gave the count down, Jason lifted at the same time she did and they moved the slab to the side.

A different voice entered Michiko's thoughts. I wouldn't go too much higher, unless you want to become one with the Disc. No, no, down and to the left, he continued, anticipating her search. It is good to see you again, but would the circumstances be a bit different. Never thought he'd actually *do* it.

Below Michiko, and to the left, stood a white-robed ninja. Miss me?

Her heart leaping into her throat as she heard his mind voice, Michiko tipped on one wing following his directions down. The heavy bag, pumped once, swung twice and then fell free in an arc to land close to his feet.

*'Kai* her mind voice caroled as she dove, then Changing as she neared the torn ground, landing hard but upright, and two bounding steps and she was in his arms

"Missed you? Oh yes endlessly, Oh Valkai, yes" She hugged him tightly "Oh 'Kai, I think the Gods are talking to me or, I've gone mad, I'm scared that I don't have the answers, don't have the wisdom..and oh how is it you always end up in white and me with nothing on?..and it looks like all the ocean has gone, your favorite spot isn't probably there any more..." She knew she was babbling, but didn't care as the tears came.

Sargean Major Kosutic was not a woman who shouted very often, when she did it usually meant trouble, in this case trouble was a man and a woman trying to shift a massive block, and while they were doing that they couldn't see the, well they could only be described as "things", cereeping up behind them, and the children with them, well that solved things for Kosutic, she opened fire on the first thing in line, the hypersonic crack of the bead rifle, magnified by the echoey chamber they were in, was like an aural vesuvius, and if Kosutic and the posse hadn't been wearing their helmets they would have been deafened, as it was the children had probably all suffered some temporary hearing damage.

Roger and the rest of the posse were not far behind her, as they raced up the tunnel to find out why she was shooting, and when they saw why, they opened fire as well, cutting down the creatures with ruthless efficiency and, borderline glee in Rogers case, he hadn't killed anything in weeks and he was getting antsy, cause he hadn't gotten laid in weeks either.

After the last of the things seemed to be down(they'll be back, in greater numbers) Roger and his permanent bodyguard group of Pedi, Cord and Desperaux, advanced towards the people trying to shift the block "Hello there, you look like you could use some help."

The Kata Kara flickered briefly. Even as the weapons fired at the panicked children, a presence manifested, sigils flashed into existence, and a voice filled the chamber. Your attack is made void. By all means, should you desire union with the Kata Kara, continue on this path. An ethereal barrier blocked the terrified families from the trigger-happy foreign soldiers long enough to allow their escape. The voice continued, So, have you come to accept the power of the Conception?

When you are concentrateing on lifting, and more importantly moving, what is well into the maximum you can, you don't appreciate interuptions. Still Perigrine refrained for verbally ripping the intruders to shreds

"Do you need help?"

"N..O" She managed as the last step was made, and the slab could be released, creating an opening large enough to allow her into the space below.

So, have you come to accept the power of the Conception?

"What?" Perigrine couldn't help but laugh, the question was completely off the wall, and she did not stop what she was doing. Which now involved inspecting the space she and Jason had created an opening into. "Of course, Neitzscheans believe in conception as one of the major purposes of life...Thought this is not" She looked up and back around at the destruction "Normally what we define as conception, ours is usualy a little more ...creative rather than destructive. But I'm willing to give you a chance."

She looked at Jason as she prepared to ease into the crawlspace, and shrugged. She had no experience with discorporate entities, much less beings that she strongly suspected considered themselves gods.

"And besides some one has to take care of the future" The Nietzschean looked at the children huddled fearfully together. To her they were the future in a most tangible and fragile form. They, more than any, deserved protection. Before she dropped down, drawn by the renewed faint cries she looked at the strangers, her voice wrathfull. "What in the hell you you shooting at? There are children here and you endangered them!"

The she wiggled in and past more rubble, ignoring the damage knife sharp edges did to her light weight dress and bare arms. Her nanites would see that the injuries would clot quickly.Her muscles ached and she could feel the burn of lactic acid build up, but the cries of the infant were coming clearer

Jason grunted as he dropped the slab. He then interposed himself between the strangers and the children as he saw Peri ease into the opening. "Power of Conception, looks more like power of destruction." He muttered to himself. "I'll give you a chance thought." He said outloud as he made sure the aggressive idiots couldn't hurt the children.

Walking stick firmly in hand, Shu'aa left his "secure" hotel room to look to the streets, perhaps to get a better feel for what was going on.

Utter, utter chaos. The sky was blank - save for a rotating disk of indeterminate color but mostly gray - and the people...

Everyone was acting much as though this were the end of the world as they knew it.

"But I feel fine," mused Shu'aa. He turned back on his M-TCOD, reviewed more texts looking for references to disks - ignoring the general chaos around him as one would ignore the play of small children.

The chaos, for the most part, ignored him as well.



Most of the remainder of the Vastivan group had either scattered for cover or found uses for their strength or character in calming the public, tending to the wounded, looking to extinguish the rising fires - or simply finding a calm place to ride out the storm.

Jalil, on the other hand, downed a fistfull of pills with a swallow of water and went on with the orgy in his room, having completely lost track of sex or orifice - completely engorged in primordial lust.

Raijin looked at the group approaching him. "Hai." The Japanese affirmative had infiltrated Krioval's language centuries ago and had lodged permanently, though linguistics scholars lamented the corruption. Raijin used the word as a strange formality, usually when he would have preferred to dissent or evade a question. "Though I don't exactly go by 'Slasher', these days."

The leader walked up to him, her features unreadable. "Prove it," she said simply.

"If I did, you'd be unable to stand."

"Whatever. You can't do it. We're leaving."

A shadow briefly flitted across Raijin's face. "Don't blame me." He paused. "Kai...ten...var." True to his earlier words, the girl crumpled to the ground even as she raised a hand to ward off the invisible force. She recovered slowly, and glowered at the man.

"Didn't have to use a power word," she said, sulking.

"Would you have believed me otherwise?" he asked. Not waiting for an answer, he plowed on. "How many devices have you sighted?"

"Seven. Two were still active."

"Devices?" Koro asked. "Like that one up on the sixth level?"

"Pretty much." Returning to the girl, the paladin continued, "This is level five, right? How's the hospital?"

"Under control of Raijin's Army, just like you wanted."

"Well, Jenai, you've done well. Should this all end reasonably well, you'll get a promotion?"

"To Director?"

Raijin choked back a giggle. "Not quite. You've got a few years to go first. Anyway, we need to check up on someone there. Can you take us to him?"

"Him?" Jenai asked, not understanding which patient was sufficiently important to require Raijin's personal attention.

"The fighter from Vastiva. Something tells me he's going to become rather important to the Creation. But we shouldn't discuss this in the open, especially when Kata Kara is so close to darkness...and the Judgment."

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

The Disc of the Conception diminished in luminosity over the next hour, going from the bright bluish white of its fullness to a bright gray, then darker, and finally to the almost-black shade it now adopted. Activity had slacked off as darkness fell, partly due to one's habits of keeping indoors when darkness fell. But this was not the ordinary dark of evening. There were no brilliant sunsets, nor were there stars in the sky. The only light came from the dim automatic lights. As people slowly adjusted to the alien landscape and the coming "night", many felt a strange heaviness in the air.

Just as the last bit of light faded from the Kata Kara, the first screams issued forth. Terrified shrieks ending in sounds akin to strangulation broke out, one by one, and then in a violent flood, filling the entirety of the world with high-pitched reverberations. People watched, aghast, as parents, children, friends, and others collapsed to the ground in the darkness, hands attempting to cover their ears and eyes as if to block out a vision of the seventy-five hells themselves. Seconds later, the observers would also receive the presence, and would mimic those close by in their desperate attempts to close out the images and sounds that assailed them. Most emerged from the ordeal unharmed, and some bore simple markings that they would later understand connoted protection. Many children would, in fact, not register the horrors of the visions at all - their innocence had spared the worst parts. But for some, the dishonorable, the manipulative, the envious and paranoid, the cold-hearted and the vicious, the effects were amplified as they were forced to relive their greatest atrocities from the perspective of their victims. Intent served to mitigate or magnify the strength with which one was judged, but ultimately, each Kriovalian citizen, and those foreigners who had accepted their fate in the Conception, were cleansed of their sins.

Those who were unable to withstand the process screamed the longest and the loudest, and in the end, lost the battle with the Disc, their soul being the prize. The bodies now bereft of a spirit were left to dissolve into dust. Thus the Judgment came to Krioval, and the souls of the evil went to the Kata Kara for purification, and from where they would be used to restore the shattered world in the image of those with the greatest impact.

One such location where the Judgment was especially severe was in a hotel room, where the use of drugs and sex managed to offend even the leniency of the Gods toward such things. The blatant irreverence of the Kriovalian women to the Conception led to the doom of over half of them, with the others sufficiently shaken to have their desire completely ablated. One would even go on, after the Creation, to become a Jenaran priestess, swearing off sex for the remainder of her life. As for the foreigner at the center of events...

Jalil stumbled around the now-empty room, his conciousness a swirl of images of suffering, of pain, of....

He poured himself a drink, looked at it... poured it back, still oblivious to the sudden appearance of several clouds of dust within the room. Instead he opened the window.

Wind tore into the room, dispelling any image of dust which would have resembled a human. Papers fluttered, pillows fell, curtains shook free.

Jalil stared out into the bleak night which had engulphed Krioval, half-aware and wondering.

Jenai led the Commander and two Directors into the hospital, several other "soldiers" keeping watch over the area. The pilot program had paid off, not only in suppressing crime in the slums of Torokara, but now, after the Conception, the traditionally secure areas retained the aura of order and stability. They crossed the threshold, noting that the door still slid open under its own power.

"Generators still online?" Kiv asked incredulously.

"Yeah. We managed to...uh...obtain a few extras too."

"No doubt from some of those stores that were mysteriously looted," Raijin said, scanning the girl's face for confirmation.

"Well..."

"Couldn't care less," the paladin said decisively. "I need to see the fighter."

"Second floor, third door on the left if you take the stairs."

Raijin, Kiv, and Koro climbed the staircase off to the left of the all but abandoned lobby. From there, it was easy enough to follow Jenai's directions and arrive at Gelt's room. He was still reasonably hurt, though the doctors had done a fair job at keeping the Vastivan in stable condition. Of course, the doctors now had bigger things to worry about than Gelt's condition, given the carnage that seemed to strike every six hours. The Commander looked at the other man briefly, and uttered a string of syllables under his breath. "It'll take about half an hour. Until then, I suppose we should all have a little talk about things."

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

The six Kriovalians sat in a former break room on the hospital's first floor. Jenai, Kaja, and Taru were from the group called "Raijin's army". The latter two looked on in awe at their counterparts - two Directors and the Commander. "Let's start with what we all know. About six hours ago," Raijin said, "I performed the final sequence of steps needed to bring the Conception upon Krioval. The only people who know of this ritual's existence are myself, a handful of Directors, higher-ups in 'my army', and, possibly, some of the Order of Andretara." The last group named elicited a sharp intake of breath from Kiv.

Raijin looked at the man with whom he'd spent much of the past several years working with, a question forming in his eyes even before he spoke. "You didn't know? Valkai knew of the Conception - well, both Valkais knew - though I was careful to conceal evidence of its preparation. Apparently someone else in the monastery found out, though." He motioned with his hand as Kiv attempted to interrupt. "Let me finish. The bombing at Bralos two years ago was connected with someone in Andretara, though I could never fully trace the link. It was among the most ham-fisted attempts to assassinate a Kriovalian civil or military leader, and of the four attempts on my life, it was the most blatant and excessive in terms of death. Someone found out about the Conception and intended to stop me." Raijin closed his eyes, as if deep in concentration, and inhaled. Then he said, "I was lucky, though. This man over here," he said, pointing to Koro, "managed to distract the sniper. The shot hit me right here, in my left arm. I have never since walked unshielded."

"So that's why you pushed me into the Directorship? To prepare for the Conception?" Koro, while not exactly happy with the possibility, also felt a thrill rush through him. Raijin Dekker picked *me* for this. Wow.

"Not entirely. Above everything else, Koro Vartek, your loyalty was unparalleled. By being able to dislodge Jevo Telovar, who had the occasional failing to keep confidences. Also, with Jonas Kessal dead for his treason, I put Darvek into the security division. This worked well since..."

Kiv seized the opportunity to interject, "...since Darvek is Darvek. But why all the secrecy, even between us? I mean, it's not as if I would've objected to Koro's inclusion, or the use of 'Raijin's Army'."

Koro responded. "I think I understand. If one of us were to be compromised in some way - your uncle, my fellow soldiers, other street gangs - it would still be able to go forward. Nobody knew enough to get in trouble...except for one."

"And I was the only one with the power to not only safeguard myself against most of the intrigue, but to also rescue critical elements from falling into the wrong hands. Truth be told, though," Raijin added, "Varik was the one to discover how to rebuild those cylindrical devices that we placed throughout Krioval. I simply figured out what they were *for*."

"Wh-what *are* they for?" a small voice asked.

Raijin smiled at the boy. "Well, Taru, they let a person who knows how to activate them travel through dimensional space, just like the space drive. You know about the space drive, right?"

"Uh huh," he responded, though it was obvious that the intracacies of transdimensional theory would be lost on a boy of seven years. "It lets you jump to other places!" Taru added brightly.

"Raijin?" Koro asked, also hoping to prevent a long dissertation on the methods of dimensional shifting. "Why is it that you...uh...two days ago...ya know?"

Kiv shot a look at the younger man. "You mean, why'd Raijin *do* you in Valak?" He chuckled at the priest's embarrassment. "My guess is that he wanted to. After all, he goes for 'em all at some point."

Kaja and Jenai tittered at the sudden shift in the conversation. Taru shrunk dramatically in his chair. "All of them?" he asked.

The Commander slapped Kiv on the back of the head. "Twit," he grumbled before turning to the boy. "You're a little young for me, just yet." Taru seemed to accept this answer. "As for why I did that, let's not compare my sex life to Darvek's. Put bluntly, Kiv, you were tired of me and Koro was not. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. Besides, if it's a huge enough problem, the Judgment should claim me." Mention of the impending bloodletting was enough to switch the subject yet again.

"So why wait until today to ask me to help?" Koro persisted.

"Because, Koro, first, I knew you'd say 'yes'. Second, if things fell through, it would have been best for you to be completely unaware. And don't give me that look. I've got fourteen years of experience on you, and that'll always be the case. I'll tell you the rest after the Judgment passes."

"Missed you? Oh yes endlessly, Oh Valkai, yes" She hugged him tightly "Oh 'Kai, I think the Gods are talking to me or, I've gone mad, I'm scared that I don't have the answers, don't have the wisdom..and oh how is it you always end up in white and me with nothing on?..and it looks like all the ocean has gone, your favorite spot isn't probably there any more..." She knew she was babbling, but didn't care as the tears came.

The ninja was grateful that he had decided to wear a large cloak along with his standard outfit. Deftly wrapping it around the sobbing Michiko, he held her until the worst of it subsided. "Yeah. Our Gods tend to do that. As for what happened, I think it's the Conception. How Raijin learned how to do that's beyond me, but here we are." Then Valkai noticed her markings. "I'm not surprised that you were chosen."

"Not surprized? Why?" Michiko looked up at him. "Apparently my mother was at least part Kriovalian...'She' said...and I think the 'She' is Ashala. The books Koro recommended said 'She' is the Goddess of Balance and Nature, and that pretty obviously the statement they are making aren't they..." Michiko looked closely at the tattoos again, awed by the stunning artwork, then resumed explaining "said that they hadn't expected me home so soon."

She sniffed and half under her breath, completely unaware of how bitter her tone was "Home, something I've never had"

"Okay Valkai, you obviously got further in the books than I did...."

She broke off as what light there was disappeared and the soul racking sounds began. Looking up at Valkai her eyes were wide with distress and sorrow. Michiko threw the cloak around him, wrapping both of them with in it as she buried her head in his chest, seeking comfort in his calm strength.

"I hope that what ever is concieved from this is worth it!"

the air smelt like blood, urine, and shit, mixed with the chalky undertaste of concrete dust and the pheremones of fear and confusion.

For Saul, this was an all-too-familiar smell. Combat zone. was what his nerves were telling him. indeed, it looked like the revolution was already starting.

"Gimme your wallet, old man." the one speaking, Saul knew, probably wasn't the leader of the four young-people wearing their 'colours' and flanking him in a rude box-formation.

Saul sighed, and reached into his bush-jacket, "You're sure you want this?" he asked, somehow, going from observer-to-participant in this little drama didn't bother him all that much. Something about the way he asked the question shifted the young tough's expression-the boy (how could he think of this hooligan as a child?) became uneasy, as did his friends.

"Givit." the young tough said agian, mustering a face of bravado.

Saul sighed, and drew out the item. "It won't do you any good now son." he said, and flipped his wallet at the spokesman.

"Traveler's Cheques." he added, "You should have caught me half an hour ago, I had a fair amount of cash, then..."

the two flankers rushed.

Saul was forty-four, and in the busted-up condition of a man who'd spent better than twenty years hopping from dangerous place to dangerous place, often being injured or wounded in the process.

Situational awareness can have a wonderfully salutary effect. He stepped forward, crossing the five meters between himself, and his wallet far more quickly than he intended to.
Behind him, the two toughs smashed into one another-like in a cartoon.
"You should probably see if your little sister is alright, son-I think she's afraid, and she may be hurt...." he told the boy-(why did I say that? I don't even know if he has a little sister...)

The chain vanished, the boy dropped the wallet on the ground, and sprinted away, looking terrified...

Saul was left wondering what, exactly, just happened.

{Saul, look at me.} he felt a wave of confusion, as if someone, or something, had spoken.

{turn around, scribbler, and look at me.} He half-turned, and raised his eyes

it was blinding and bright, eye-searing and impossible to ignore. Beauty and horror, power, an image beyond the ability of the mortal mind to absorb.

{You must choose.}

The voice was conversational as it addressed empty air. "You don't want to make a mistake. And removing all evil, all extremes would be that."

She wasn't sure if any attention was being paid unto her, she didn't really care. Sometimes just speaking aloud helped clarify the thought process. "You have to have the extremes to be able to see and appreciate the center. Though Heinlein was correct- moderation *is* for monks, and every one should have the choice to 'live large' should they desire. All of our vices have a purpose, and they are just as much a part of what makes us - as a race- 'us' as our virtues. Utter perfection would be stagnant, and such a waste. It's in our striving that we are our best, reach further, fast, higher."

Shalamar's voice changed as she looked up at the void dark disk above her. "In all their grubby, imperfect, limited selves they shine so bright. More than anything else to watch them grow, and 'be all that they can be' - even when you weep when they stumble and fall- thats where the joy is, the delight. But I think you already know that"

The wave of the Judgment slammed into the hospital shortly after the conversation there. Raijin watched with detached interest as the would-be soldiers winced slightly before returning to their earlier expressions. Then Koro, then Kiv, and finally...nothing happened. He wondered if that was how a person found not guilty of a crime by virtue of a technicality felt. There was no judgment on Raijin whatsoever, positive or negative. The Commander waited several seconds for the presence to pass from the room before regarding the two men and three children. "Good. All passed, just as I knew would be the case. Now for what some of you might not know about the Conception."

Raijin walked to a refrigeration unit, opened it, and withdrew a bottle of water. He relaxed visibly as he drank from it. "The Gods will contest for the Creation now. Eleven of ours, one 'other', and the Void." He shuddered slightly at the mention of the latter two. "I've taken great steps to see that the Unnamed God and the Void are not in serious contention. I think you'd all agree that a monotheistic Krioval would be problematic, to say the least, and one that doesn't exist at all would be a slight bit worse."

Kaja laughed at the last statement. "Where would *we* go, if there wasn't a Krioval?"

"Good question," the paladin responded. "And one to which I hope we never find the answer. In any case, that leaves the eleven.

"Tara, the Great Goddess of Darkness, who appears as a pale woman with dark hair and eyes, and who dresses in violet. Hers are the powers of concealment and control, and she wields them with ruthless efficiency. Those onto whom she grants her blessings are destined for greatness, while the recipients of her curses suffer enormously. She does not, however, mobilize direct force against any being, mortal or divine. Tara bonds only with Sefaro; she has no strong oppositions within the pantheon.

"Jenara, the Goddess of Water and Ice, who appears as either a young virgin or a withered priestess of fair skin and brown hair, and who is partial to light blue. She demands purity and strives to maintain innocence at any cost. Many healers and clerics benefit from her power, though they may not share Jenara's zeal for virginity. Aside from that, the Water Goddess is known for pacifism, and she leans toward order as well. She is the only of the pantheon to never take a partner, though her antipathy toward Solokaro is farily well known, if often overstated.

"Ashala, the Goddess of all Nature, who is both the planter and harvester, and as such is hailed during two months of the year instead of one. Her colors are dark green and brown, and her skin is tanned from time spent in the sun. Her powers are those of nature and time, and despite being a late addition to the pantheon, she is now predominant over any single elemental God or Goddess. Ashala has been known to take a few different partners, depending on the circumstance, but she is most often found with Ashiar. She can, however, join with either of the elemental Goddesses should they choose to accept her. She tends toward neutrality in all aspects, and as such, she mildly opposes any God or Goddess who looks to upset the balance. In other words, a nightmare to recruit for the Creation for any side.

"Kovaro, the God of Air and Wind, is a young man of great intelligence, who appears, well, much like our good friend over here," he said, pointing to Koro, who reddened slightly on the comparison. "Anyway, his attributes are knowledge and initiation, he grants them freely, and while peaceful, he tends to hang near to Gods like Solokaro or Ashiar, whose force he supports. Kovaro doesn't have strong oppositions, though he can be on the bad side of Koviros or even Tara on occassion.

"Sol Kiros, the Great God of Light, and also called the Creator. He has taken many forms, though most are of a man carrying a hammer with which he shapes events and people to come. His powers not surprisingly, are creation and unification. Sol Kiros, despite meaning 'Force of Light', is reasonably peaceful unless threatened, and he can be a force either for order or chaos. He is stably partnered with Soltiri, though he has in the past been associated strongly with Sefaro.

"Solokaro, the Fighter for Light, would be my patron God, and honestly, I look the part. With the powers of light and strife, it's no wonder that he's always shaking things up. His aggression is surpassed by only one other, Koviros, but his focus on the field of battle is unparalleled. Solokaro has matched up with any of the male Gods except Sol Kiros, who he regards as a father-figure. His antipathies are varied and entertaining, as he conflicts often with Koviros, Sefaro, and Shiara, somewhat less often with Jenara, and he's the only one who's ever stood up to Tara directly, though with interesting results.

"That brings us to Soltiri, Great Goddess of Light, who is often perceived as a woman with fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes, and whose songs can lull even the most chaotic or troubled soul. Her powers are those of revelation and freedom, and she is often invoked as protection against the excesses of her 'son', Solokaro. She is wise and peaceful, and as such, is not easily swayed by the intrigues of the others. Soltiri is singly bonded to Sol Kiros, and she occasionally opposes warlike acts through selective application of her powers.

"Ashiar, God of Earth, would be a lot like the *other* Director here. Big and strong, and devoted to stability and order. He doesn't tend to violence often, though when triggered, Ashiar is a force to be reckoned with. He has the unique claim to have partnered with both the 'Amazon' and the 'Crusader', and he is depicted equally with either of the two. Ashiar opposes Shiara and Koviros, though only to the degree to which order and chaos normally conflict.

"Shiara, Goddess of Fire, is known for appearing with brilliant red hair and a revealing dress of scarlet. Her powers of desire and force fuel an ambition matched only by the two Warriors, with whom she often butts heads. Being more closely associated with dark rather than light, Shiara is often portrayed as partnered with Koviros and in opposition to Solokaro, who she attempted to seduce but was rebuffed. Her fiery nature makes her the most aggressive Goddess, and she disdains the pacifism of most of her female colleagues.

"Sefaro, Great God of Darkness, and the Destroyer, can appear in just about any male form, but is usually accompanied with a weapon. He is also seen as extremely tall and imposing, and is used to getting what he wants. Sefaro's powers are those of destruction and resolution, and he is thought to come for the souls of people important enough to merit a God's personal attention. Sefaro is modestly willing to engage in conflict, but deplores aggression without necessity. The Destroyer once imprisoned the Fighter for Light to prevent the return of spring, but relented once Solokaro formed the tempestuous pairbond with Koviros, and later even took the Destroyer with help from Tara. As such, he is eternally faithful to his Queen, and harbors suspicion of anything associated with the Light.

"Finally, we have Koviros, the Fighter for Chaos. Originally created as a neutral being, he drifted toward darkness after Solokaro was created and pushed toward light. Koviros is the most warlike of the pantheon, often picking fights for little or no reason, and he tends to respect only those who can defeat him outright. He and Solokaro fought almost constantly before the Valarok, after which the two developed a grudging respect. Koviros spends much of his time with Shiara, who shares his lust for chaos and power."

The paladin was surprised that nobody managed to fall asleep during his 'synopsis'. "Sorry that took so long, but it's important. Those eleven will shape the Creation by their relative power. I'm still working on figuring out what the distribution was before the Conception, and believe me, I'm working on tipping the Creation in our favor." Nobody asked who was included in 'our favor' - it was obvious that all there had made that decision long ago.

He turned quickly at the opening of the door, still dazed and somewhat confused by the view of what had been a city.

A woman – beautiful, pale skin, wonderous complexion, fascinating eyes – stepped from the flickering lights of the outer hallway.

“How did you get up here?”
She gave a slight grin and a quiet laugh. “The city is in dishevelment, the staff has fled. The hotel is all but abandoned – there are some who think it may yet collapse.”
“Collapse?” Confusion played on his features again. “I have to get to my car…”
Another quiet laugh. “And go where, dear boy?”
“I have to… I have to…” His hands clenched and unclenched. He was standing there in nothing at all, he had to get to his car, he had to…
“Right now, you have to choose.”
“Choose?”
“Yes, and right now, dear boy. Would you like to play?”
“Play?”
“Yes, my dear Usman Jalil ibn Shu'aa na-Daanish Mash'al, racer of cars, despoiler of women’s virtues. There is a most wonderful game going on out there. Would you like to play?”
Play games… “Yes. Yes, I would like to play. What are the rules of the game?”
“The first rule,” her words came as a breathy whisper, “the first rule of the game…”

Ice cold lips met his - and this time, his were trembling...

"The first rule, is the pawns do not get to know all the rules."

And the lights went out and Usman Jalil ibn Shu'aa na-Daanish Mash'al screamed…

He woke up on fire, when the sun was blotted out by a bear... a small army of penguins in Nikes carried him up into the clouds, where a walrus fretted and ducks sang operas acapella... His arm was taken off by his old instructor and cast into a river, where a beaver made it into part of a wall and gave him a new one, made of mud and gold... A pair of underwear smiled at him, a bra danced beside his bed, removed itself and whistled about marshmallow sundaes with cold orange juice and crackers... cold, cold, cold water ran down his face; polar winds turned it to butterflies who fled at the approach of a man strumming a hammer and talking about tomorrow's sunset with a bear and a platypus...

Gelt sat up in bed - bed? I'm in a bed. Alright. Bed means I'm alive, I don't think they have beds in heaven yet - and rubbed at his eyes. The room was slanted, darkened; the floor had dipped at one end, his bed had run against it and over a pile of dust...

"...have to call housekeeping..." he mused. His arm was sore where the implant had come loose - blood stained the sheet, but the wound had closed. I must have been here awhile...

His legs swung over the side; he was careful to flex his feet first, to step carefully, testing to see if his muscles could handle the weight. Against his pallor, webworked scars stood out clearly. Must have been out a long time. Nothing was familiar, save in that unfamiliar "hospital" menage of disinfectant and old blood that fills all areas of healing...

African wind was hot, stank of locusts and sweat and death... he waved off a cup of water, looked into the hot equatorial sun ... the whine of shells, explosions blasting away - the sonofabitches were using the red crosses to center their guns! He ran towards the center of the MASH, rifle forgotten, had to warn them, had to...

His head shook - even that action still hurt....can still feel the sore places, how long have I been here? and he stumbled towards the door, one hand dragging the bloodstained sheet behind him.

In the hall - the quiet hall, the flickering lights Where is everyone? - he wrapped the sheet around himself, toga-style.

Voices? He moved towards the voices, listening to what they said...

"...his focus on the field of battle is unparalleled. Solokaro has matched up with any of the male Gods except Sol Kiros, who he regards as a father-figure. His antipathies are varied and entertaining, as he conflicts often with Koviros, Sefaro, and Shiara, somewhat less often with Jenara, and he's the only one who's ever stood up to Tara directly, though with interesting results.

Who? What? Gelt slid his body next to the door, quietly as he'd been trained - bare feet and nothing to jangle were greatly helpful here. Whomever you are, tell me more... like, where I am and why and how...
The voice partially granted his request, but only partially.

"That brings us to Soltiri, Great Goddess of Light, who is often perceived as a woman with fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes, and whose songs can lull even the most chaotic or troubled soul. Her powers are those of revelation and freedom, and she is often invoked as protection against the excesses of her 'son', Solokaro. She is wise and peaceful, and as such, is not easily swayed by the intrigues of the others. Soltiri is singly bonded to Sol Kiros, and she occasionally opposes warlike acts through selective application of her powers.

"Ashiar, God of Earth, would be a lot like the *other* Director here. Big and strong, and devoted to stability and order. He doesn't tend to violence often, though when triggered, Ashiar is a force to be reckoned with. He has the unique claim to have partnered with both the 'Amazon' and the 'Crusader', and he is depicted equally with either of the two. Ashiar opposes Shiara and Koviros, though only to the degree to which order and chaos normally conflict.

"Shiara, Goddess of Fire, is known for appearing with brilliant red hair and a revealing dress of scarlet. Her powers of desire and force fuel an ambition matched only by the two Warriors, with whom she often butts heads. Being more closely associated with dark rather than light, Shiara is often portrayed as partnered with Koviros and in opposition to Solokaro, who she attempted to seduce but was rebuffed. Her fiery nature makes her the most aggressive Goddess, and she disdains the pacifism of most of her female colleagues.

"Sefaro, Great God of Darkness, and the Destroyer, can appear in just about any male form, but is usually accompanied with a weapon. He is also seen as extremely tall and imposing, and is used to getting what he wants. Sefaro's powers are those of destruction and resolution, and he is thought to come for the souls of people important enough to merit a God's personal attention. Sefaro is modestly willing to engage in conflict, but deplores aggression without necessity. The Destroyer once imprisoned the Fighter for Light to prevent the return of spring, but relented once Solokaro formed the tempestuous pairbond with Koviros, and later even took the Destroyer with help from Tara. As such, he is eternally faithful to his Queen, and harbors suspicion of anything associated with the Light.

"Finally, we have Koviros, the Fighter for Chaos. Originally created as a neutral being, he drifted toward darkness after Solokaro was created and pushed toward light. Koviros is the most warlike of the pantheon, often picking fights for little or no reason, and he tends to respect only those who can defeat him outright. He and Solokaro fought almost constantly before the Valarok, after which the two developed a grudging respect. Koviros spends much of his time with Shiara, who shares his lust for chaos and power."


Gods? Goddesses? He listened as the voice - a man - paused then continued.

"Sorry that took so long, but it's important. Those eleven will shape the Creation by their relative power. I'm still working on figuring out what the distribution was before the Conception, and believe me, I'm working on tipping the Creation in our favor."

The hum of a refridgerator caught Gelt's attention, far more then the speech about deities did. He pushed off the wall, stumbled - more then half real lack of coordination - to the doorway and looked in at the mixed crowd within, mindless of the condition of his toga, of their possible reaction to the sight of blood, or much of anything else.

"Who do I have to kiss to get a drink of water?"

{You Must Choose.}

Saul closed his eyes with great effort. "If you choose not to de-cide, you still have made a choiice!" a snatch of an old song he'd heard playing when he covered... somewhere. echoed in his mind.

He opened his eyes, and really Saw.

The bright image was merely a disguise. Darkness, hungering obsessive and destructive, an appetite that can never be sated was before him.

"Not you." he said quietly. "Though it cost me my soul, not you. not now, not ever."

the void loomed at him, and...

was stopped. the ruined alleys echoed with its thwarted anger.

soft clapping from behind him, again-in the direction he'd been going.

"WELL done! I think you even meant it." a youth hopped down from a broken fragment of collapsed roadway.
the face was...familiar somehow. Saul felt an edge of memory as the youth approached him, beaming. "You are going to have to choose eventually, but it's nice to see a bit of backbone."

familiar...who??? the youth reached down, and flipped Saul's wallet up. "I think you dropped this." the clothes were not Kriovalian fashions, more like the faded greens of another place that Saul struggled to recall.
The boy was carrying a slug-throwing rifle in one hand. "I'll be watching." he grinned, revealing too-straight teeth, and crinkling asian eyes, as he patted the old man on the arm.

The spot the boy touched flared in agony that consumed him.

Saul remembered...

The protective suits were heavy and hot-especially this close to the equator. their helmets damped sounds from the helicopters. Saul carried his camera and an aid-bag, he'd volunteered for this in order to get an inside look at the story-a courageous move for a 'cub' reporter.
Ahead of them, the guide halted the group, and they brought up the excavators. "Echo sounding says the structure below remained intact, it's shielded, so there might be survivors..."

They dug, and dug.

Saul listened to the other rescue workers, he slipped pics of them at work.

The Rads were low today-the dust was blowing the other way.

"I've got a door!" one of them called out over the common channel.

Saul hurried over, and managed to slip pics of the crane lifting torn concrete and steel from the entrance.

"ready..." they unsealed it with a torch.

The first body to fall out had been sitting sentry on the entrance, a child no more than maybe eleven, clutching an obselete bolt-action rifle. Inside, was nothing but a tomb... the walls had held, but they had not saved the people within from the radiation burst... Saul simply took pictures, as the others in the team wept at the total annihilation of a people...

The boy was gone, and Saul was alone again. "Impossible." he muttered softly. but his arms throbbed with raw sensations.

"You Will have to choose, eventually. You're not allowed to just be a bystander this time. You are Involved."

"Who do I have to kiss to get a drink of water?"

Six heads swiveled to see Gelt approach. The young boy, Taru, was the closest to the refrigeration unit, and thus was the one to favor the request - at least the second half. Raijin was the first to speak. "Please, sit down. This appears to concern you as well. As for your offer, I think the boy is a bit young yet for that sort of thing. Have you had a chance yet to see how things have changed since your battle?"

When you are concentrateing on lifting, and more importantly moving, what is well into the maximum you can, you don't appreciate interuptions. Still Perigrine refrained for verbally ripping the intruders to shreds

"Do you need help?"

"N..O" She managed as the last step was made, and the slab could be released, creating an opening large enough to allow her into the space below.

So, have you come to accept the power of the Conception?

"What?" Perigrine couldn't help but laugh, the question was completely off the wall, and she did not stop what she was doing. Which now involved inspecting the space she and Jason had created an opening into. "Of course, Neitzscheans believe in conception as one of the major purposes of life...Thought this is not" She looked up and back around at the destruction "Normally what we define as conception, ours is usualy a little more ...creative rather than destructive. But I'm willing to give you a chance."

She looked at Jason as she prepared to ease into the crawlspace, and shrugged. She had no experience with discorporate entities, much less beings that she strongly suspected considered themselves gods.

"And besides some one has to take care of the future" The Nietzschean looked at the children huddled fearfully together. To her they were the future in a most tangible and fragile form. They, more than any, deserved protection. Before she dropped down, drawn by the renewed faint cries she looked at the strangers, her voice wrathfull. "What in the hell you you shooting at? There are children here and you endangered them!"

The she wiggled in and past more rubble, ignoring the damage knife sharp edges did to her light weight dress and bare arms. Her nanites would see that the injuries would clot quickly.Her muscles ached and she could feel the burn of lactic acid build up, but the cries of the infant were coming clearer


"There were creatures sneaking up behind you, we could not let the children be injured by our inaction and you seemed not to notice their prescence, we decided that they were probably attacking the children while you were busy, so we thought we would deal with them for you" at this point Desperaux turns to look at the place where the enemies had been, she sees nothing "What the hell, where did they go, we killed at least five of them, did they take their dead witrh them?!

Ten long minutes later Perigrine was back from her explorations of the collapsed area.

"Her name is Vallia, out of Kaname by Sahmiel." Perigrine said as she handed the filthy, blood soaked wailing infant out to Jason. Once he had a firm hold on the child she hoisted herself out of the opening and climbed down. No one needed to ask about what else Perigrine had found below, and her face invited no questions.

"I'm Perigrine Omega and this is my mate, Jason of Theao." She looked around the area, trying to match the tumbled remains to the vibrantly alive area it had been short hours ago. Shaking her head she looked at the armed and armored group of humans and aliens who's species she did not recognise.

"You can come with us if you like." With that she turned, took the infant girl, maybe three months at most, from Jason and headed quickly over to where the children huddled. Most of them were too exhausted and overwhelmed to be crying but others found the restless energy to whine or cry as were their natures. Perigrine spoke softly to them, let them see the baby. When one lad offered his tee shirt as extra warmth for she smiled and once Vallia was well wrapped showed him how to hold the infant properly. She was looking round to catch Jason's eyes when the remaining 'natural' light vanished, as the disc went dark.

Then pain that was every pain- physical and mental, heart and soul, enveloped her, a riptide pulling her under, irresistably dragging forth all that she was, had been forged to be, all she had done, and omited to do, was examined under a pitiless microscope. And it went on for an eternity, relentless, and was all but to much to bear, save for one adamant point.

Wlll. The will that has never broken did not now. Perigrine Omega out of Tomoe by Hannibal had too much yet to do to die, no matter how much it hurt not to.

*and I really don't much like any one in my mind without being asked....and I am no one's pawn and no one's symbol. Been there, did that, and have the scars to prove it. Give me a reason to work with you.*

"Who do I have to kiss to get a drink of water?"

Six heads swiveled to see Gelt approach. The young boy, Taru, was the closest to the refrigeration unit, and thus was the one to favor the request - at least the second half. Raijin was the first to speak. "Please, sit down. This appears to concern you as well. As for your offer, I think the boy is a bit young yet for that sort of thing. Have you had a chance yet to see how things have changed since your battle?"

Gelt accepted a seat - and the water - with a nod of the head and a smiled "thank you".

"Changed? You mean you don't build rooms with natural bends in them?"

Raijin looked at the Vastivan fighter. "I'm afraid that while you were unconscious, I did something rather...unsettling. Are you familiar with legends concerning the end of the world?"

Gelt scritched at his hair. "There's supposed to be a large boom, followed by a really bright light. Or, another version, everything slowly comes to a stop as the total energy isn't enough to move anything. Or some trolls come out and duke it out with some Gods and Goddesses and wipe out everything in the meanwhile. There's a lot of legends and beliefs."

He took another drink from the bottle. "So, what, the end of the world has happened and this is the hereafter?" He looks around.

The Commander considers responses for a while, and then returns to the conversation. "Can you walk easily enough, or do you need assistance? There is something that perhaps you should be shown." Passive voice from a very active paladin - never a good sign.

"Assistance good, I'm probably still about a quart low..." the half-grin makes it seem almost a jest - but the bloodstains on the sheet state otherwise. "Seriously, are you people staff or something?"

Raijin motioned to the two Directors to help Gelt to his feet. "You should be completely healed within the next hour or two. You took quite a bit of punishment earlier." Then came the fighter's second question, to which the Commander replied, "I am Raijin Dekker, Commander of Krioval. This is Koro Vartek," he pointed to the younger man, "and the one on your left is Kiv Andros." They made their way slowly to the door and outside. "And this," he said, gesturing in all directions, "is the Conception."

Jason saw the glowing light disappear and felt a surge of pain that caused him to feel as if he was being pulled in a thousand directions at once. He saw his actions as the people he had done unto, did unto him and while it was painful, it wasn't unbearable as he'd refused to violate his own strict code of honour.

Kolte broke from his meditation. The Force echoed so much pain, agony, and despair, it was impossible for him to locate Xander. He would have to do it the hard way. He stood, a foul wind blew through his spiked red hair. The broken building he sat on top of provided a perfect angle for him to slide down on his feet, and once he reached the bottom he flipped off and onto a cracked and seperated street. The horrors that met him were worse than he originally percieved. People were everywhere, their bodies broken, bleeding. Families seperated, children crying out for relatives no longer there. Kolte wished there was something he could do. He lifted a piece of a building off of a young girl, but unless she recieved medical attention soon she would die anyway. He assisted some people in clearing debris and found countless bodies of those crushed beneath the their own fallen dwellings. He wished he could stay and help but he needed to press on. Xander could be anywhere in this vast city of Torokara, and navigating it now would prove difficult. Still, he had to find Xander. He had to save him from the darkness that would consume him. He couldn't lose Xander like he lost Julina, there must be something he could do this time. Even if it meant physically releasing Xander from the darkness of this universe. With a stern expression on his face Kolte Force-leapt across the piles of debris, calling out to Xander through the Force.

The dieing passed, and Michiko unwound herself from Valkai. "Thank you..and no you don't have to tell me why you wre not surprised."

She stepped away from him and picked up her bundle. Looked at the clothes and shrugged. She was comfortable with her skin, and right that moment she didn't feel like appeasing any who might be offened. The other two items were what mattered. The book of words, in their oldest meaning - the logos- the intrinsic concepts of a language and thus the society that used it. And a weapon. That made an odd sort of appropriateness to her and she chuckled tiredly.

"The Way and the Weapon...no its just a tool, the mind is the ultimate weapon...Okay Ahsala...You may not have made the best choice, choseing me...I may be of Krioval, but I don't 'know' Krioval as some one who grew up within it would, I'm a stranger here..."

Her voice trailled away as she looked at the remains of Torokara "But maybe your people were becoming a stranger to you as well...They built and paved, what? Were tree museums next? The wild can't live here, it can adapt and adapt greatly - life finds a way - but when nature is forgotten entirely..."

"Okay Lady of the Dance, how to show them the web, the interrelatedness"

She snorted again, with a private thought that she doubted that Valkai would appreciate knowing. 'In the Great Rite the avatars of the Goddess and the God join for the renewal, the rebirth...and here this *is* called the Conception...I wonder if he would be up to participateing in the ritual for Kriovals sake, and do I have the courage to be so public?' she mused.

Valkai suddered as the Judgment's wake pierced his conscience. Through some herculian force of will, the ninja remained standing during the tumult. So, Valkai, younger of that name, you remain alive after all of this? How...interesting. Don't think we have forgotten about you, after all these years. You still owe much. Do not forget that. Then it passed. There had been no recalling of his life, nor a judgment incurred. As such, Valkai was left in even a greater state of puzzlement than the Tanaran empress.

Raijin motioned to the two Directors to help Gelt to his feet. "You should be completely healed within the next hour or two. You took quite a bit of punishment earlier." Then came the fighter's second question, to which the Commander replied, "I am Raijin Dekker, Commander of Krioval. This is Koro Vartek," he pointed to the younger man, "and the one on your left is Kiv Andros." They made their way slowly to the door and outside. "And this," he said, gesturing in all directions, "is the Conception."

"The... Conception?" Strange name for a hospital... "Alright. Where are we going?"

"The Conception is a ritual, and its aftereffects. While you passed time unaware, Krioval was transformed. Hence my questions about whether you were familiar with apocalyptic rituals. One has taken place here. If you look up," he gestured at the Kata Kara, "you can see the main effect. The Kata Kara, Disc of the Conception, processes the souls of the fallen in order to power the Creation. But I'm sure you're less worried about the metaphysical implications of this than perhaps in getting some more comfortable clothing." Raijin turned back toward the hospital. "Kiyoshi! Var-han."

A boy of about sixteen emerged, jogging toward the Commander. "Raijin-karo, what do you need?"

The paladin turned to face him. "This is Gelt, from Vastiva. He is here for the Creation, though he doesn't know his role in it yet. He needs to be clothed. Can you take him somewhere appropriate?"

Raijin returned to Gelt. "I do have one question before you leave. Should one who destroys a world be involved in its later creation?"

Again looking at Kiyoshi, the Commander said simply, "Be back soon."

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

Kiyoshi motioned forward to the Vastivan. "You can pick just about anywhere. The Army controls this level now." The boy touches markings on his face that, while not as elaborate, are similar to the Commander's.

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

"Ah, yes." Raijin was happy. Several minutes of looking in the wrong place had frustrated him initially, but he remembered that the cylinder had been moved at the last minute. "Just connect this to this...and now the activation sequence..." The runes glowed just as the device had on the sixth level during the Conception, bathing the small equipment room in ethereal light. "Now to test it." The paladin concentrated, and felt himself entering the dimensional portal. About ten seconds later, he was home - level six Torokara. Reversing the process was entirely the same. Raijin Dekker was now able to cover half an hour's walk in less time that it took to speak about such a travel. He left the room, closing but not locking the door behind him. After all, nobody else could enter the portals without a good deal of knowledge, and navigating the dimensional pathways was impossible without first knowing exactly where one was trying to go.

"Hey, Raijin!" Kiv called out from the hospital lobby.

"Yeah?"

"You get that thing to work?"

"Of course I did."

"Huh. Well, I think we might have to talk."

"About what, exactly?" Raijin was perplexed. Surely they had discussed anything critically important weeks ago, before the Conception.

"About the Creation. I need to know what you're using the kid for."

Raijin lowered his voice to barely above a whisper. "Koro Vartek is essential for the process. I told you that as long as a week ago. I also happen to like him."

"Well that much is obvious," Kiv responded in resignation. "I suppose *that* was to happen as well."

"I didn't plan it, if that's what you're worried about." The Commander paused. "We both knew that we'd be going our separate ways after we succeeded in this. It's on schedule thus far, and I have every confidence in him."

From behind a nearby wall, the High Priest had managed to catch most of the conversation. So far, it wasn't anything he hadn't already figured out. In fact, Koro had an even higher stake in the Creation than Kiv, though he didn't dare mention it - not just yet.

Perigrine levered herself off her face, glad that she hadn't had a child in her arms when she had lost consciousness. The children had taken fright at her sudden collapse, but otherwise seemed unharmed. She didn't know what brought the pain and the memories, but she know somehow they were linked to what was occuring about them. She moved over to check on Jason, relieved to see that he was alive and conscious. She stroked his cheek gently, then caught him in a fierce hug. Then she whispered something in his ear before turning back to soothe the children.

As she did a dimly lit emergency light caught her eye. They were closer to the arena than she'd thought

"Jason, the arena might have survived pretty much intact. That would be a good place to stay untill it lightens more. The children need to rest, it had food stocks and bottled water." She pointed out the sign with its guiding arrow

"I agree, it should also be safe even if there are other earthquakes later." Jason replied as he gave her a kiss, and then picked up one of the smaller children that would have problems keeping up with the rest.

In a secluded section of the stadium, as huge pile of debris begins trembling ever so slightly. Suddenly, it rises roughly three feet into the air and is blown apart from the inside. As the dust begins to clear, Xander Voltare floats back to what was once the floor of the hallway he'd been in. He had sensed the disturbance a split-second before the roof of the hallway had caved in, and had been able to hold off the debris with the Force until he was sure he wouldn't be crushed. He hadn't escaped unscathed, however, as his Jedi robes and cloak had been reduced to mere rags, and a deep cut across his forehead had left his face a crimson mask of blood. Taking off the cloak, he shook what dust he could from it and began wiping as much blood from his face as possible. The task seemed futile though, as the cut continued to spill blood down his face. Finally giving up, he ripped a large strip from a clean part of the cloak, and wrapped it around his head to cover the wound. Tying it off, he tossed the ruined cloak aside and reached down to his belt and unlipped his lightsaber. Bringing it up to eye level, he began turning over in his hands, inspecting it for any damage. Seeing nothing externally, he depressed the switch, hoping that the weapon wasn't damaged beyond use. Much to his relief, the brilliant green blade he had come to expect erupted from the emitter. He whirled the saber around a couple of times as a final test, and extinguished the blade. Closing his eyes, he reached out through the Force to locate his former apprentice, Kolte Savren. (sorry if I mispelled Megas) He felt the Force practically screaming with the pain and suffering of the world, and had to fight hard to pinpoint the former Jedi. After several minutes, he finally felt Kolte probing the Force, no doubt looking for him.

"Now is the time to confront him, to force him to face his demons..."

His deep, raspy voice echoed in the dark, and he turned and began to Force-Run off into said dark, heading in the direction of the apartment complex Kolte had been staying at. As he left the stadium, he saw the buildings that had once stood tall now laying in ruin. Eventually, he found himself at the ruins of the apartments. He looked around and saw bodies strewn everywhere, and not necessarily all in one piece either. He probed the Force, and snapped his head around to his left just in time to watch Kolte Force-Leap over a huge pile of debris. Breaking into a run, he made a bee-line for the debris. As he mounted the apex, he bent his left knee and Force-Lept up and over Kolte. Rotating and flipping, he ignited his lightsaber, forming a brilliant green sphere of light that descended in front of the former Jedi. Xander landed on his feet with his back to Kolte, and spun around, bringing his saber around in a sweeping motion as he dropped to his right knee, head hung so that his hair obscured his face...

The small goup found the corridor leading to the combatants ready room area was relatively unblocked. The entire area seemed mostly undamaged, though the banks of lockers have been tumbled over, and the various refridgerators while still cool, were with out power. The emergency lighting was on but very dim and there was no running water.

Perigrine set about pulling out gym mats to form makeshift beds for the children, with the large towels as blankets. She dipped hand towels into the warm but still waters of the jacuzzis, giving the baby and the smallest children hand baths.

"Jason, could you see what the coolers have in them. They were full earlier today with yogurt, fruit and bottled water."

Twenty Years Earlier

"Not bad for an initiate."

"Huh. So many ways to take that, ya know?"

"You've got a pretty big mouth there, kid."

"More than one way to take that too." The younger man held his ground, and the older man sighed loudly.

"One would think that one's elder and superior would deserve a bit more respect," came the response.

The younger fighter deflated at the words. "Oh. So that's how it is." He glared at the taller man. "Might've been nice to know that a month ago...Master Valkai.[/b] At that, the newly-initiated Slasher wheeled and stomped toward the door.

"Stop right there!" Granted, Valkai the Elder had nothing beyond the force of his words to stop the young man, but experience had taught him that it would suffice. "You know better than that, Raijin Dekker."

Raijin stopped but didn't turn around. "What am I to you, then? I mean, everybody's already found some reason to despise or fear me as it is. So why all of this?"

"Raijin, Raijin, come over here." Valkai waited for the other fighter to approach. "Understand this. Behind these walls, you and I are equal. You *know* that. Thus, I'm not going to insult your intelligence and waste our time detailing exactly how that is worked out. Outside this room, however, rank and authority matter, though, in your case, you do spend an inordinate amount of time upsetting the chain of command." The elder struggled to not grin and failed utterly. "But back to my earlier thoughts. While not bad for an initiate, and by which I mean your combat abilities, you will not rise far enough in the Order's ranks to justify staying here too much longer. This means, of course, that the timetable will have to be accelerated."

"Timetable?!"

"Heh. So many things I would have liked to show you personally, but we don't have the time for it any more. Our destinies will soon separate, though, ultimately, for good cause."

Raijin knew better than to dispute this. Valkai was a precognitive, and among the top five in the entire Kingdom...or whatever Krioval was these days. The younger fighter also knew that Valkai told the truth - Raijin Dekker was an exceedingly strong telepath, though he had never registered as such when tested.

"Raijin Dekker, don't even try to get into my mind. I'm one of the few who not only knows but can block you at will. Like in so many things, Raijin-karo, entry requires permission." Valkai chuckled lightly. "But anyway, I have a book here I'd like for you to go through. You're one of the few in this entire monastery who still appreciates the old faith, and one day it will serve you well." Valkai the Elder scribbled a note, signed it, and handed it to Raijin. "Show this to your instructors. You are free for six days to complete the reading. Then we will discuss."

Several hours later, the new Slasher was tearing through the antique tome with a ferocity normally reserved for combat. As it turned out, some of Raijin's fellow students were less respectful of his interests, both in literature and in sexual partners. A few ill-timed comments about Valkai earned one a shock bordering on injurious. He smiled evilly. "Whatever are the odds of that happening, when the sun's shining?" he spit at the interloper before returning to the text. It was then, on the 28th of September, 1987, that Raijin Dekker first read about a fated ritual called the Conception.

Shu'aa found himself telling stories in the middle of what used to be a promenade; the gathering was mostly children, or the wounded, or the downright scared. Still, the older man had no difficulty illustrating upon the air with sweeping gestures, his voice dipping and rising through the octaves to characterize the evil and the bold.

Laughter, surely, was his greatest payment, though he made no bones of telling bits which were off-color if one understood the allusion. Many did not - a few did. It made little different to the teller of tales.

Time passed, bandages were changed, wounds tended, and still he spoke on and on, his voice remaining firm and solid, even having spoken for hours without a break or drink. His walking stick made an excellent sword to wave about, or a banner, or a pointer to ask of one or another a question put to a hero or villian - or bystander.

Through all the tales, Shu'aa did not wonder or ask of the spinning gray disk so far above, nor did he make the slightest request for his person - such would be rude, and he had spent a life learning how best not to be such. Instead, he ignored it - and hoped it ignored him as well, even as the crowd grew, even as fears subsided.

Jason headed over to the coolers, and emptied them into others. Once the coolers were as full as could be he brought them back, before repeating the process. Once finished he began looking for blankets and additional first aid kits.

Kiyoshi motioned forward to the Vastivan. "You can pick just about anywhere. The Army controls this level now." The boy touches markings on his face that, while not as elaborate, are similar to the Commander's.

"Alright." What's next, some sort of hazing?

The sky had... well, vanished wasn't quite the right word, but it certainly looked sick. Gelt looked at his guide. " 'alf a mo, I've got to check something."

And with that, he turned and put his fist into a wall. "ARGGGHHHhhhh, DAMN that hurts... "

"What are you trying to do?"

Gelt tore off a bit of his wrapping. "Convince myself this isn't a dream."

"There are less painful ways of doing it."

"Possibly... owwwww... but Raijin said I'd be fine in a few hours, and I can't figure a better way to test it out so I can see it." The skin on his knuckles had been torn open and were bleeding sporadically - but the bones were still intact. The wrapping would stop the bloodflow fast enough "Ahh, that hurts."

"You expected it not to?"

"Honestly? I expected to wake up in bed with some nurse hanging over me adjusting tubes."

Kiyoshi regarded the foreigner with a mixture of concern and yet detachment. He then extended his arm and said simply, "Give me your hand, the injured one. It needs to be healed. Then pick out one of those stores." The boy thought for a minute. "Actually, there's one that's mostly intact. Ell-something or other, her name was. Said something about a trade delegate visiting a couple days ago." He laughed. "Strange, huh, that she'd be thinking of that now, after the world's been destroyed."

"Annella and Lucinda?" He barely noticed the warmth spreading through his hand. "Lucinda... I was supposed to meet her after the match..."

He starts to pull away, stops. "Yes, whatever you're doing, once it's done, you said you saw her alive in there?"

It was... a lingerie shop. What on earth will I find there to wear, besides maybe a pair of my underwear?... She's ok... maybe she can make some sense of this...

His senses still wavered between this is a dream and this is reality.

Kolte suddenly sensed Xander. He was drawing near very quickly. He turned in the general direction of the Force signature and leapt over a pile of debris. As soon as he landed, he saw Xander, or what was left of him. He looked as if he had been dragged for miles behind a speeder, obviously he was caught inside a building during the initial earthquake. Unlike Kolte, who was lucky to be on top of his apartment complex. He watched as Xander flipped over him, a move that surprised Kolte. He felt Xander ignite his lightsaber and anticipated the attack. He whirled and ignited his own blue-silver blade, pointed downward. It intercepted Xander's green blade with a loud electrical clashing sound, a sound completely unique of lightsabers, and held it fast.

"What is this Xander? Why are you doing this? You've turned your back on everything you once stood for!" Kolte yelled over the sounds of howling wind and screaming people.

Xander slowly raised his head, his hair falling away from his face. His once brown eyes had transformed into sickly yellow, and seemingly bulged from their sockets as his lower eye lids drooped unnaturally. His skin was also very pale, as if he hadn't seen the light of the sun in years. His mind, warped and distorted with rage, raced with images of death and destruction. After several seconds, he found a bit of lucidity.

"I'm here to help you, Kolte. You have been fighting your emotions ever since Julina was murdered, bottling them up inside so that you would never have to feel them..."

As Xander said this, he broke the saber lock and Force-Lept away from Kolte, landing several yards away.

"You blame yourself for Julina's death, wrongfully so. I know who the murderer is, and I am forced to look in the mirror at him every day of my wretched life. You will want to kill me now, but not before I have said my piece. When you chose Julina over the Order, I felt betrayed, abandoned, and forgotten. It triggered the reaction that would forever damn me. I tracked her down, and committed the atrocity that has haunted you for seven years. All because I was once a Jedi, and couldn't let go of my emotions. I have traveled the path you now travel, and look where it has taken me. There is only one way to alter your course. One of us must die. Either I am killed, and your reason for torment is gone, or you are killed, and forever prevented from traveling my cursed path. Now...prepare yourself!!"

Xander raised his saber, and launched himself at Kolte. He swung the blade at Kolte's head, then at his legs, and finally whirling the blade behind him as him spun off to his left...

Kolte leaned back to dodge the first attack, then leapt over the second. He met Xander's third strike with his lightsaber. His blade locked with Xander's, Kolte began circling to the left the same as Xander.

"Why? Why did it have to be this way? You were like a father to me, Xander! I loved you as much as I loved her! You should have been happy for me! Instead your jealousy consumed you..." Kolte shouts trailed off as his eyes began to well up with tears."You and her were everything to me. When I lost her, you disappeared; I had nothing left. Now I see that I still don't. Your not the same Xander that was my master, not anymore. You are right about one thing, one of us must die. Though I will not kill you to end my suffering, but to end your's, Xander. You must be set free from your own darkness."

Kolte collected his emotions and allowed them to flow freely throughout him. He felt the pain, the anger, the rage, the love, the remorse...everything that had been fighting to free itself for seven years. He brought his blade up and pointed it straight at Xander, his arm bent slightly at the elbow. The stance of the seventh form of lightsaber combat, Vaapad, in which the user allows the emotions within him to channel the Force, transforming him into a conduit of Force power. His physical appearance was unchanged, though he held a stern look on his face, eyes coldly focused upon Xander. His clothes ruffled in the wind as he stood upright, and he waited silently for Xander to make the next move.

Ten long minutes later Perigrine was back from her explorations of the collapsed area.

"Her name is Vallia, out of Kaname by Sahmiel." Perigrine said as she handed the filthy, blood soaked wailing infant out to Jason. Once he had a firm hold on the child she hoisted herself out of the opening and climbed down. No one needed to ask about what else Perigrine had found below, and her face invited no questions.

"I'm Perigrine Omega and this is my mate, Jason of Theao." She looked around the area, trying to match the tumbled remains to the vibrantly alive area it had been short hours ago. Shaking her head she looked at the armed and armored group of humans and aliens who's species she did not recognise.

"You can come with us if you like." With that she turned, took the infant girl, maybe three months at most, from Jason and headed quickly over to where the children huddled. Most of them were too exhausted and overwhelmed to be crying but others found the restless energy to whine or cry as were their natures. Perigrine spoke softly to them, let them see the baby. When one lad offered his tee shirt as extra warmth for she smiled and once Vallia was well wrapped showed him how to hold the infant properly. She was looking round to catch Jason's eyes when the remaining 'natural' light vanished, as the disc went dark.

Then pain that was every pain- physical and mental, heart and soul, enveloped her, a riptide pulling her under, irresistably dragging forth all that she was, had been forged to be, all she had done, and omited to do, was examined under a pitiless microscope. And it went on for an eternity, relentless, and was all but to much to bear, save for one adamant point.

Wlll. The will that has never broken did not now. Perigrine Omega out of Tomoe by Hannibal had too much yet to do to die, no matter how much it hurt not to.

*and I really don't much like any one in my mind without being asked....and I am no one's pawn and no one's symbol. Been there, did that, and have the scars to prove it. Give me a reason to work with you.*

"Ok Perigrine Omega, I'm Nimashet Desperaux, and this is my Mate, Roger Ramius Sergei Alexander Chiang MacClintock, emperor of man, and our companions are in order, left to right, D'nal Cord, Rogers mentor and a former Shaman, Pedi Karuse, Cords wife and student, Light of The Vales of The Shin tribesmen, Julio Poertena, former marine and armorer, never play him in cards, Denat Tral Cord, D'nal's nephew and Poertenas best friend, never play him in cards either, Rastar Komas Ta'Norton, Civan cavalryman and former prince of fallen Therdan, deadly fast with those four pistols he wears, Honal C'thon Komas, Rastars cousin and another cavalry man, former heir to the fallen Barony of Sheffan, never give him any mode of transportation with an engine, he will redline it, Adib Julian, crackpot marine, former armorer, never bet him on how fast he can disassemble something, you will lose, Eva Kosutic, High Priestess of Satan and former marine, she's insane, what more do I need to say, Erkum Pol, not the sharpest knife in the drawer but definitely the biggest man in his class, Private Pol has horrible accuracy but is very good with various blunt objects, avoid his table, Krindi Fain, commander of the Karnan Labor Battalion, Basiks own, also the only person other than Roger who can control Erkum, and Thomas Catrone, known as Tomcat, he's our best operative in this type of situation, I hope.

As She introduces each posse member they pass her by and go through the hole opened by Jason and Peri in order to act as scouts and a forward deployed guard, Rastar, Honal, Roger and Desperaux follow Peri and Jason through after everyone else has passed.

OOC: Mini- sorry but you've missed a few posts- notably #74 on - we've moved past that point and that last part of the post that you quoted, wasn't spoken aloud - my apologies but *'s are what I use to indicate mind to mind, or encoded commo communications.

*********************************************
Perigrine nodded at the introductions, not stopping getting the children as clean and comfortable as possible. She wasn't impressed with meeting an Emperor of Man, most humans fell far short of what she considered adequate for leadership positions.

"I didn't pick up anything living down him here, but theres enough dust and other odors in the air that I may have missed something. You all might make a security sweep thought the passable areas. Shock is going to wear off soon, and the baser natures taking over. I don't doubt that there's going to be rape, looting, and other madnesses."

She looked down at the tattered remains of her sundress

"This is the first time I've ever worn a dress, and what happens? I wonder if the universe was trying to tell me something" She mused philosophically as with the last child made tucked in the makeshift beds

OOC: Mini- sorry but you've missed a few posts- notably #74 on - we've moved past that point and that last part of the post that you quoted, wasn't spoken aloud - my apologies but *'s are what I use to indicate mind to mind, or encoded commo communications.

*********************************************
Perigrine nodded at the introductions, not stopping getting the children as clean and comfortable as possible. She wasn't impressed with meeting an Emperor of Man, most humans fell far short of what she considered adequate for leadership positions.

"I didn't pick up anything living down him here, but theres enough dust and other odors in the air that I may have missed something. You all might make a security sweep thought the passable areas. Shock is going to wear off soon, and the baser natures taking over. I don't doubt that there's going to be rape, looting, and other madnesses."

She looked down at the tattered remains of her sundress

"This is the first time I've ever worn a dress, and what happens? I wonder if the universe was trying to tell me something" She mused philosophically as with the last child made tucked in the makeshift beds


OOC: I was responding to the "You can come with us if you like" and that's all, I'm sorry if it seemed otherwise, on a side note I've been incommunicado at my grasndparents house for a couple of days and I'm responding to the posts in the order they occured, for which I already apologized in the OOC thread.

IC:

"We detected them on motion scanners, as well as thermal imaging, and when we saw they were advancing on you in a manner that seemed suspicious at the least, we opened fire to protect you, but to send out some of our minimal armor units(all two of them) I'll have to ask Roger."

She calls him over to meet Peri.

"Hello, my wife tells me your name is Perigrine Omega, it is nice to meet you, even under these circumstances," Roger does not hold out his hand because he sees her as being too busy to bother shaking. "We've put Krindi and Erkum in front, with Tomcat, Adib, and Eva, at the rear, I'm loath to send out Krindi and Erkum until we're ready to move out, since if we get hit now we would have lost most of our firepower when they left.

Xander completed his rotation as he listened to Kolte's lament, and looked on as his former apprentice began to finally release his pent up emotions. A single tear fell from his right eye, the last sign of compassion the elder man had left in him. The wind tore at his clothes, and blew his gray hair around his face. He collected himself and allowed the fifty years of combat experience he possessed to flow through his distraught mind, and began to whirl his saber around himself. Two strokes to the left, down then up. Two strokes to the right, down and up. One stroke across to the left as he shifted his position and a final stroke back to the right as he lifted his off hand to his rear, the saber held at the ready in front of him. This style was his specialty, the second Form of lightsaber combat, Makashi. Lightsaber fencing, in other words. He advanced on Kolte, and lowering the blade ever so slightly, flicked it upward at Kolte's saber and then down at the younger man's wrist. He finished off this salvo of attacks with an upstroke directed at Kolte's left leg...

Kolte knew Xander's style well, a form of fighting rampant with quick strikes made with a flick of the wrist. Its major advantages were how little of one's energy it took to use these attacks, and how far away it kept one's opponent. Kolte blocking the first two attacks by matching Xander's movements. He threw the left side of his body backwards to avoid the final attack and continued to turn, increasing the speed and power his next attack, a horizontal sweep at Xander's midsection.

OOC: Just...a way to get in.

Xander changed the direction of his upstroke to meet Kolte's blade and immediatly counter-attacked with a downstroke at his wrist and followed it closely with an upstroke aimed further up the arm at the elbow. He continued to advance on Kolte and aimed a third stike at Kolte's right shoulder, this time angling the blade to prepare for any parries he might need to make...

Kolte grasped the hilt of his lightsaber firmly with both hands to block Xander's next attacks with his blade. He could see that he was clearly outmatched by Xander in skill with the lightsaber, and needed to try something different. After all, random, unrelated attacks are taught by the style of Vaapad. He saw Xander cut down at his shoulder and brought his blade up. Using both arms he was able to push Xander's saber aside, and Force-kicked him squarely in the chest with his left leg. The impact sent Xander flying backwards into a jagged pile of debris.

Xander had sensed Kolte gathering his strength for his kick and had been able to brace himself somewhat, though there was little to be done about the debris. He threw his left hand backward and pushed with the Force in an attempt to clear his landing, but he only succeded in dislocating his shoulder from the impact. Pain momentarily immobilized him, though only for a few seconds. He attempted to stand but discovered that several pieces of jagged rubble had stabbed him in the back. He gathered his strength and launched himself forward with the Force, screaming in pain as the debris was ripped from his flesh. He landed several feet away and quickly fell to his knees. Closing his eyes, he threw his left arm backward while jerking his body forward, painfully relocating the shoulder. He slowly regained his feet, feigning extreme pain by keeping the shoulder turned away from Kolte and hunching slightly. He began staggering toward the younger man, and in a flash of dark anger, threw his left hand forward and used the Force to telekinetically push Kolte backward as fast and hard as possible...

During Xander's struggle to reorient himself, Kolte had used that time to carefully summon the Abyssal Fire of the ancient Sith. It was a technique that was thought to be magic by the Sith shamans who existed long before the Sith race was influences by fallen Jedi. Now he stood rigid, arms above his head, hands forming a ball of kinetic energy and superheated air. It was nearly two feet in diameter, the sheer heat causing the air around it to burst into flame. Kolte himself was protected from the flame by the Force, though his body seemed to shimmer and ripple as heat distorted the air around him. He sensed Xander gathering power for his Force push and brought his arms down, flinging the ball at Xander. Then he felt as if he had been struck by a brick wall as the Force slammed into him, carrying him backwards into a concrete wall. The wind was knocked from him and he was certain several of his ribs shattered. He slumped to his knees in pain and coughed up a wad of spit and blood. He struggled to look up, desperate to see what had become of Xander, knowing that one of two things had happened. Either Xander was somehow able to avoid the blast, or most of his body was now dissintegrated from the intense heat.

Kata Kara grew to half intensity and continued. The several fights already breaking out were testaments to the incredible force of the Disc. A strong will could resist the call of the Conception, and a stronger person could even locally still its effects, but many were at least somewhat affected. In many places, people already reeling from the Conception, the Judgment, and the sudden insight into their families' and neighbors' thoughts were inspired to convert nearby rubble into weapons. People who had barely squeaked through the Judgment were now set upon by those they had wronged, and after several anguished hours, their souls joined those of the damned in the Disc. Some even speculated that the most evil of the souls on Krioval were spared the punishment at the dark phase of Kata Kara to give just enough hope for survival, then to have it pulled as their own family realized the enormity of their acts. Certainly the Gods were capable of such a final torment, and on some level, there was an intense feeling of justice served from watching one of the most brutal drill sergeants in Krioval's military be bludgeoned slowly by his wife and six-year-old son for the countless abuses he rained upon them.

The final blow was dealt by the boy, with a lead pipe to the man's skull, and then the tension drained from him and his mother. Raijin, from his vantage point in the hospital, motioned silently to two teenagers. Walking outside, they approached the woman and her child, who wore looks of both fear and relief. They were ushered into the hospital. Outside, the broken body relinquished its soul, a small red orb, which struggled against the pull of Kata Kara. After a few seconds, the glowing ball moved upward, faster and faster, until it was invisible against the Disc. Kata Kara grew brighter still as the scene was replayed throughout Krioval.

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

"Annella and Lucinda?" He barely noticed the warmth spreading through his hand. "Lucinda... I was supposed to meet her after the match..."

He starts to pull away, stops. "Yes, whatever you're doing, once it's done, you said you saw her alive in there?"

"Almost done," the boy said, returning his concentration to the healing. Soon even the scars faded. "There." Kiyoshi thought on Gelt's words. He supposed visiting her shop could be construed as technically within the orders given, especially with the circumstances. "She was last time I checked." He considered further. "Yes. Lucinda. I didn't see anyone called 'Annella', though. She must be elsewhere." That, at least, was the polite way to phrase his thoughts. "We could go look, if you would like. Besides, it can be quite dangerous to wander aimlessly as the Disc grows brighter, unless one is of strong will. Are you?"

Kiyoshi began to walk slowly in the direction of the lingerie shop, hoping that his tone implied no disrespect, but still conveyed the potential danger. Raijin had said that first full-Disc would be the most dangerous, as the weakest in will and spirit would succumb earliest. As stronger and stronger survived, the petty violence would decline. Of course, that simply opened the door for various vendettas to be resolved, but those were neither random nor involving Raijin's Army. So it would remain, the boy hoped.

And in some places the violence was just that- brutal violence against those perceived as weaker, or different, or convienent.

Michiko didn't anounce her presence, gave no sort of warning - simply stepped from the shadows and hit the nearest two of the group from behind with the forcelance in staff mode. They fell- she'd set the lance on lethal, but the others waiting their turn with the trio of battered and only semi conscious young women were turning to face their attacker.

They made the mistake of laughing at the nude woman with the metal staff in her hands. It wasn't the laughter, but not taking her seriously would be their downfall. Used as a quarterstaff the Force Lance made a formidible weapon, even with out the lethal electrical charge humming though it. And while Michiko was no where near as proficient with it as Perigrine was, Perigrine had taught her well, and Michiko would have no mercy for rapists.

She backed away slightly to give herself room to maneuver, as the group moved towards her. Her voice was calm, almost amused, as she locked the boiling rage down tightly. "Valkai, care to assist?" Michiko ducked a chunk of heaved rubble and planted the staff firmly in the chest of one who'd darted in as she bobbed. The discharge was very audible, as was the sudden sharp scent of burnt flesh. He fell at his companions feet, blocking their way for a second.

"We could go look, if you would like. Besides, it can be quite dangerous to wander aimlessly as the Disc grows brighter, unless one is of strong will. Are you?"


"Enough to take a beating from the man-mountain without calling uncle. That'll piss in his cornflakes for quite some time to come...."

Thoughts of the tournament fade as he got closer... Ignoring the sounds of beatings and pain and bodies falling, he made his way towards then into the shop. Gotta be a dream. Weird sky, strange people, instaheal wounds...

Inside was a zoo abatoir. The walls had been burned, stripped, then apparently burned again for good measure. In the middle of it all stood the cash register, completely untouched. "Weird thieves you have in Krioval..."

That, or someone let a trade delegate loose in here with some cheap cigars and a flamethrower...

As no one had any interest in stopping him, moving about was easy - not that there was much to find. The shop, such as it was, was a wreck. Whatever had happened here, they'd missed it.

He found her in a back closet, hiding. Claw marks covered her features, her clothes were mostly in tatters - what remained, in any case. Makeup had poured off her cheeks... not waterproof, he thought, still stumbling into the new reality...

Xander's eyes widened as Kolte's ball of flaming Force flew towards him. He didn't have time to think, only to react on pure instinct. He put all his concentration into focusing the Force through his already outstrethed hand, and braced himself as best he could. Kolte's fireball struck his hand and exploded violently. Sweat cascaded down Xander's face, mixing with the dried blood on his face to give the appearence of him melting. He stood there as long as he could, but after several seconds he was forced to Force-Leap away from the flames. He touched down deftly with his left foot, and quickly jumped back into the air and began spiraling so fast that he was but a blur. The flames and superheated air struck him and would have destroyed him if not for his spiraling. Most of the heat was deflected, though Xander's robes were almost completly burned off his body. He ceased his acrobatic survival trick and touched down, dropping to his left knee to quickly catch his breath. As his breathing returned to normal, he stood and looked around. He quickly found what he was looking for: the pieces of debris that had stabbed him earlier. He stretched his mind toward the debris as he turned to look at Kolte, and snapped off the formal Jedi lightsaber salute as he launched the debris at the young warrior...

Kolte was amazed that Xander survived his attack, though he could see that his flesh was slightly charred, but even more so at the debris that was rapidly flying toward him. He quickly regained his footing and outstretched his arms, using the Force to slow the debris shards then finally repelling them to the sides. He focused on a large slab of concrete and lifted it with the Force. Using both arms, he swung his upper body in the direction of Xander. The slab reacted almost instantly, moving quickly towards Kolte's former master.

Xander smiled in spite in himself, for Kolte was proving to be even stronger than he had remembered. He narrowed his eyes as he gathered his strength to stop the concrete, and calmly raised his left hand. The slab stopped mere inches from it, and Xander slowly balled his outstretched hand into a fist. The concrete was crushed into several harmless pieces, which he allowed to drop to the ground as he threw his saber at Kolte. The point of rotation was at the center of the handle, and created a leathal disc of energy that would cut Kolte in half if he didn't deflect it. And even if he did deflect it, Xander had a surprise in store for him. He would simply pull the saber-disc back to him with the Force, a trick that his master had taught him all those many years ago.

Kolte called on the Force and studied the rotation of the blade speeding toward him. He read the sweeps carefully as his relaxed the muscles in his arms. The saber drew nearer, and just before the green blade cut him in two, he reached out and caught it at the hilt. His body spun around due to the momentum of the blade and once he completed the rotation, he lifted the lightsaber and pointed it straight at Xander, his stance for Vaapad.

"It's over, Xander! You have no weapon with which to fight!"

Xander was surprised that Kolte was able to catch the saber, but had to disagree with his former apprentice's claim. He thrusted his hand forward and unleashed a powerful volley of Force-Lightning on Kolte, which comprised of several different branches. At the same time, he threw his other hand out and ripped it back towards him, attempting to rip Kolte's saber from his belt. This combination of attacks would force Kolte to split his concentration so that he would have to ground the lightning on Xander's saber and allow his own saber to be pulled from his belt, or try to stop the saber and risk being hit by the lightning. Either way, Xander would gain the advantage...

Kiyoshi was the first to notice the reddish haze permeating the shop - it was subtle, and if not for Raijin's training and preparations, he might have missed it altogether in the carnage. He turned to face the stricken woman, intent on helping her heal when the boy noticed yet another oddity - the red haze was concentrated near her body. Kiyoshi moved slowly toward her until he was about a meter and a half away, then he swiftly moved into a defensive position and called out, "Soko-kai!"

Lucinda leapt at the boy, clawing at the air between them. Fortunately, the power invoked by Kiyoshi was sufficient for defense, and the ethereal shield held against the fury of her attacks. "What do you want with me?!" she screamed.

"Tell me what has happened here."

Her laughter was shrill and unnatural. "By what force will you make me, boy?"

Kiyoshi looked at her with surprise at her challenge, realizing that the Kata Kara was having a far stronger effect on her than originally was thought possible. He then said, in a quiet yet resolute voice, "Sefikaios. By the Gods, I expel this presence." Apparently it worked. The woman slumped to the ground, in stunned silence.

Still, the boy was relentless. "Tell me."

Her voice returned to normal, she said, "They attacked me. I couldn't stop them all, even with the power of the device."

"Device?"

"Yes. A cylindrical-shaped object, with ancient writings on it."

"Where is this located?"

"In the square, a warehouse on the northeastern corner." She paused to survey the devastation. "Are...are they dead?" Her eyes alit on the Vastivan. "...Gelt?" Shock finally overwhelmed Lucinda, and she slipped from consciousness.

Kiyoshi was momentarily torn between telling her the truth or sparing her in her delicate state. Truth won. "Yes." He turned to Gelt, who had somehow managed to keep his wits about him despite the possession of Lucinda and Kiyoshi's makeshift exorcism. "There is a ruined shop three buildings down, a short walk from here. Pick something out and return. I will stabilize her and we will take her to the hospital. Raijin will want to know about this." He considered the situation for a few additional seconds, nervously running his hands through his short black hair. "I am sorry you had to see her like this." He bowed to the other fighter and then returned his focus to the unconscious woman on the shop's dirty floor.

"Uh, yeah.... I'll just go, yanno, three doors down and be right back... she's going to be ok, isn't she?"

"Yes. Now go."

Gelt went.

What the hell was that... that red haze? He shook his head. Practical, practical, gotta be practical....

"Practical" meant stopping a few stores further down after outfitting himself in what he hoped was reasonably non-descript clothing. Fortunately, everything was in ruins - or closing in fast. Amazing decorator you have, Armageddon. Do you do windows?

In seeming response, the one nearest him cracked and fell from it's frame.
Great. The end of the world has a sense of humor.

It only took a few minutes more to find what he wanted and return, avoiding any casual glances in his direction.

The minutes slowly passed. Already having tended to Lucinda's wounds, the boy remained in the former lingerie shop, finding a reasonably clean corner in which to meditate. Any dangers would be revealed to him long before they could manifest. It was one of the first things that a candidate for Raijin's Army could even be considered for promotion. And so Kiyoshi waited, conscious of his surroundings. The Vastivan returned after what felt like an eternity.

"Good. You have returned, Gelt of Vastiva." The syllables were foreign, and felt strange on the boy's tongue. "We should return now. The Commander will want to know of the strong pull of the Disc, this woman will need to be healed, and I would guess you might have a few questions for Raijin-karo as well." Kiyoshi's eyes turned toward the floor. "Perhaps it would be possible for me to be of some help as well?"

She didn't have time to wonder where Valkai was as she danced aside from the grasping arms of a bear like man that had sidled in from her side. The Tanaran Empress had dropped another one but none of the men appeared deterred in the slightest. Their eyes had taken on a fixed, glazed look at made Michiko's skin prickle.

Another hunk of broken stone flew out of the semi darkness and this time she was unable to weave quickly enough. Pain staggered her back a step and blood ran freely from the deep gash that went down to her cheekbone. Another followed but fell short landing at her feet. Then she was going to her knees in a spin that built up enough speed so that when the ends of the staff cracked into the knees of the nearest two, those knee caps shattered audibly. The men went down with matched screams. Michiko came back to her feet, but slowly, for when she’d gone to her knees the right one had landed hard on the fist sized lump that had missed seconds earlier.

The ninja cursed softly. Of course she'd have to charge into a group of twenty. He'd managed to take down three assailants before a fourth got in a couple shots - one to his midsection and the second to the back of his head. They were enough to knock him to the ground, but not injure him. Still, he had lost track of Michiko, which he knew could be disastrous. Valkai pulled two daggers as numbers five and six charged. Down they went. Then he saw the empress fighting, and slowly losing ground.

"Hey you!" he screamed out. It had the desired effect, as one of the fighters turned to face the ninja. Big mistake. Seconds later, one of the daggers sailed through the air, just centimeters from the Tanaran's head, and lodged in the attacker's neck. His comrade turned to see the cause of the commotion and was rewarded with the second dagger, penetrating his left eyeball. Valkai then drew his short sword, intent on dispatching the remaining thugs. Those who still could, ran from the combined vengeance of Michiko and the ninja. Those who couldn't move, or were able to move only slowly, had their throats methodically slit by Valkai's sword. Even as their blood spilled onto the ground, a reddish aura formed over the slain bodies, coalesced into a series of spheres, and all was drawn inexorably toward the Kata Kara.

"They'll be the pillars of the new society - a real foundation of Krioval," he said dryly, almost chuckling at the untimely joke. Some things just didn't change, even if the world had been destroyed.

"Good. You have returned, Gelt of Vastiva." The syllables were foreign, and felt strange on the boy's tongue. "We should return now. The Commander will want to know of the strong pull of the Disc, this woman will need to be healed, and I would guess you might have a few questions for Raijin-karo as well." Kiyoshi's eyes turned toward the floor. "Perhaps it would be possible for me to be of some help as well?"

"Lead on, MacDuff. Though I'll admit to mass confusion." A thumb went towards the burned out room. "Why was all this necessary, considering how advanced Krioval is... was... whatever? And what is your point in all of this? What do you get for escorting me around, a continent or a closet?"

It would be some time before Gelt figured out the Vastivan question ("A continent or a closet") most likely wouldn't be understood as what it was - a question of "are you doing this for power/gain, or for your own humility?" - by most.

Michiko gave him a grim little smile. "Well some of them just couldn't help falling for me." And her joking faded as she looked at the Kata Kara.

"But will the evil be ballanced by the good Valkai, or will the foundations be weak and uneven?"

She looked at him worriedly as she moved to see to the three women. They were slowly beginning to realise that those who had been assaulting them were gone.

"Valkai, we need to get them to a hospital. Is one near by?"

She could see some shops, all but collapsed, but nothing that indicated a hospital

"Lead on, MacDuff. Though I'll admit to mass confusion." A thumb went towards the burned out room. "Why was all this necessary, considering how advanced Krioval is... was... whatever? And what is your point in all of this? What do you get for escorting me around, a continent or a closet?"

"Mac...Duff?" The boy shrugged it off. He picked up the unconscious Lucinda and slung her over his shoulder, waiting for the expected surprise from his companion; Kiyoshi was reasonably tall, but looked as if a strong breeze could topple him. "We stand between two worlds. The old world had to fall so that the new one, the one created in the image of the Gods." He spoke it without any particular emphasis or reverence, but as if stating simple fact. "The Conception reveals the true nature of people. So many people fighting each other, and for so little." His expression changed slightly to one of bemusement. "I watched you fight, Gelt-karo. Both matches. I mean no disrespect, but I wonder that your second loss might have had something to do with the methods of your earlier victory." He stopped, awaiting some kind of response from the Vastivan, and chose to defer the man's second question until the first issue could be satisfactorally resolved. Besides, the return to the hospital would take about fifteen minutes, in which Kiyoshi could determine for Raijin the nature of Gelt's disposition, and the form of his influence on the Creation.

"But will the evil be ballanced by the good Valkai, or will the foundations be weak and uneven?"

He had remembered this phrase ever since Valkai the Elder had instilled it in him years ago. And so it flowed from his lips effortlessly. "The evil will be rendered neutral by the power of the Void. Then, a force without body or memory, from the Disc will come the power to grant the Creation." He looked at Michiko intently. "Of course, I'm not really sure that all that means, but I'm guessing that the Disc has something to do with 'processing' the souls or something. Plus, it's not as if there's a shortage of neutrals heading up there." He shuddered at the thought that he was very nearly one of those neutrals.

"Valkai, we need to get them to a hospital. Is one near by?"


"Michiko, the world's ended. Even if we found a hospital, it's not like there's going to be doctors and such around, at least not in numbers that matter." Still, he scanned the shattered storefronts. A pharmacy! "Let's try over there," he said, pointing to a structure still standing, though the windows had blown out long ago. "Might have something useful. You have any medical training?"

Plus, it's not as if there's a shortage of neutrals heading up there

Michiko shook her head slightly "Neutral is not the be all and end all. What does it say about good? Each of the three brings something to the baking so to speak." Keen eyes caught his shudder, and sudden worry flooded through her. She longed to ask what brought about the fine tremor that wracked him, but felt she had no right to pry. Saddened she turned back to her examination of the women.

"Michiko, the world's ended. Even if we found a hospital, it's not like there's going to be doctors and such around, at least not in numbers that matter

Michiko could not help but laugh at that. "Obviously you don't know many doctors and nurses, Valkai. They are among the people that 'run to' - if they can, they will go to what hospitals and medical centers that they can reach. It's their nature."

She looked over at the ruined pharmacy, her eyes lighting up.

"Valkai, when I was with the teams- first Allard's 'Expendables', and then with Omega II - I had extra training focusing on four things. Pilot, Hostage Negotiations, Sniper...and Medic. I'm actually a some what out of practise but fully accredited Practical Doctor."

She couldn't help but smile slightly at the outrage some of her professors had expressed when they learned that she was a sniper. That was followed by a small wince. The long hours of schooling and clinic had been brutal. There were months she had felt like she would never have enough sleep or time for anything other than classes, clinics and more study.

"Lead on, MacDuff. Though I'll admit to mass confusion." A thumb went towards the burned out room. "Why was all this necessary, considering how advanced Krioval is... was... whatever? And what is your point in all of this? What do you get for escorting me around, a continent or a closet?"

"Mac...Duff?" The boy shrugged it off. He picked up the unconscious Lucinda and slung her over his shoulder, waiting for the expected surprise from his companion; Kiyoshi was reasonably tall, but looked as if a strong breeze could topple him. "We stand between two worlds. The old world had to fall so that the new one, the one created in the image of the Gods." He spoke it without any particular emphasis or reverence, but as if stating simple fact. "The Conception reveals the true nature of people. So many people fighting each other, and for so little." His expression changed slightly to one of bemusement. "I watched you fight, Gelt-karo. Both matches. I mean no disrespect, but I wonder that your second loss might have had something to do with the methods of your earlier victory." He stopped, awaiting some kind of response from the Vastivan, and chose to defer the man's second question until the first issue could be satisfactorally resolved. Besides, the return to the hospital would take about fifteen minutes, in which Kiyoshi could determine for Raijin the nature of Gelt's disposition, and the form of his influence on the Creation.

For that answer, he got a half-smile. "I didn't lose the second combat. Though you are right, one did have something to do with the other." Concern passed over his features, he looked up into the disk. "Do you mean Therassi is part of that now? Along with all the other fighters? Is that why you had us here, to fuel your.... recreation?"

For that answer, he got a half-smile. "I didn't lose the second combat. Though you are right, one did have something to do with the other." Concern passed over his features, he looked up into the disk. "Do you mean Therassi is part of that now? Along with all the other fighters? Is that why you had us here, to fuel your.... recreation?"

Kiyoshi's head tipped to one side as he thought of a suitable response. "In that case, I congratulate you on a very unorthodox victory." As usual, the almost complete lack of inflection in his voice made it impossible to discern whether he was being sarcastic or earnest. "The fighters are to contest for the power to influence Creation, if they so choose. I am not able to look directly at the Kata Kara, and those bound by its power are not easily identified, especially by one with my limited abilities. As for the Creation, while it is Raijin-karo's Conception, it remains open as to who will dominate the process of Creation, though I have faith that he will be strong in its shaping. We will ask him of the fate of any others you know, though the Disc may refuse to answer the call."

For that answer, he got a half-smile. "I didn't lose the second combat. Though you are right, one did have something to do with the other." Concern passed over his features, he looked up into the disk. "Do you mean Therassi is part of that now? Along with all the other fighters? Is that why you had us here, to fuel your.... recreation?"

Kiyoshi's head tipped to one side as he thought of a suitable response. "In that case, I congratulate you on a very unorthodox victory." As usual, the almost complete lack of inflection in his voice made it impossible to discern whether he was being sarcastic or earnest. "The fighters are to contest for the power to influence Creation, if they so choose. I am not able to look directly at the Kata Kara, and those bound by its power are not easily identified, especially by one with my limited abilities. As for the Creation, while it is Raijin-karo's Conception, it remains open as to who will dominate the process of Creation, though I have faith that he will be strong in its shaping. We will ask him of the fate of any others you know, though the Disc may refuse to answer the call."

A long stare followed. "No. I don't think I want to know. Not right now, anyway. Maybe... later. So," his voice recovered some of it's normal joviality, "I'm a mercinary for this? Or what is the contest this time? I'd bet against tiddlywinks..."

Saul made his way over a pile of rubble and found himself looking down at the aftermath of so much glass raining on the streets.

He carefully made his way down into the field of razor-sharp shards, stepping over bodies. An ambulance lay on its side, tumbled like a cleat-kicked can by a city bus whose uncontrolled path ended in the reinforced base of a tower-the impact bent the bus in half across the roofline.

"help me..." he heard a voice from the ambulance. Steeling himself for the worst, he made his way across the jagged layer of blades to the ambulance.

the driver was alive-pinned in the cab of the aid-car and half-flayed by the medium of shards.

"Hold still, I'm going to help you..." Saul said. he began to carefully dig and lift, trying to free the trapped aid worker-or at least, keep the man from cutting himself further and bleeding to death.
"Is there anyone in the back?" Saul asked.

The man nodded. "two..." Saul worked faster. the side-doors of the aid car were facing the ground, and the rear doors were covered in heavy debris-the only way into the aid-car would be through the driving compartment.

With luck, they're only stunned... ran through his mind. He desperately wanted the people inside the aid-car to be alive, to be able to be saved.

From a distance, others watched.

Saul ignored the pain from cuts-many, many cuts, as he lifted larger chunks away, then scooped pebble-grains of smaller shards, digging and digging...

"Stay with them Valkai. Let the presence of a Slasher reassure them of their safety." Her voice was low and fierce. Yes she well remembered that he had earlier said that he intended to leave the Order, but right now the traumatized young women needed the symbol of a protector, as much as they neded a protector.

"I'm going to go raid that pharmacy. And thank you for helping me."

Part of her hungered for a kiss and a hug, but she knew that such comfort wouldn't even cross his mind. She was the weak one, wanting his strength, his rock steady certainty to bulwark her even for the space of an embrace. Sighing inside she squared her shoulders, and strode towards the building, retracting the force lance as she went.

She made her way carefully, the entire area was carpeted with glass. Stepping inside she found a push cart and began stripping wreckage first of usable drugs, then of other things that would help the survivors of the armageddon. She worked almost mechanically, as her mind raced over other problems.

She was on her knees, trying to get the last of some unpunctured bottles of water when the faintest of scratching came to her ears. She stopped and listened hard. Michiko had no idea of what was on the other side of the wall, but she could imagine some one trapped, pinned in the wreckage. Then her questing eyes took in a mostly hidden hole in the wall, and suddenly she knew what she heard. "Oh and here I was hoping for wolves or tigers...something more cuddly, or majestic." She whispered to herself, half laughing, as her hands tore into the rather flimsy decorative wall covering to reveal a rats nest. One definitely dead large brown rat and three tiny ratlings.

"Come here, I won't hurt you." Her voice was other than her own and she could only watch as her hand reached out to scoop the trio from the disheveled pile of shredded packing that had been their home. Soothing, calming the shaking that threatened to topple them from her palm, her voice crooned softly. With many tiny cries and much quivering of nearly invisible whiskers the ratlings curled up in softly furred balls. Then the other presence was gone again.

"I guess that I am truly the speaker for those that can't speak for themselves...No.." Michiko's voice trailed off, and it was several moments before she continued, her voice much stronger "No, who are not listened to....I'm sure that you all have been shouting loud and long for some time."

It was awkward, one handledly, to make a tissue paper bed in the fanny pack she had appropriated, but eventually she slid the three into their new nest. She had already donned a sleeveless tee and jogging shorts from the stores small selection. The young women would almost certainly be upset by her nudity, considering what they had just been subjected to. She left the cart at the doorway, bringing with her only a school pack filled with bare essentials, and a canvas shopping bag filled with things the young women would need immediately.

"Valkai, I need to find Raijin."

Surprised by the Force-lightning attack and amazed that Xander would go through with learning such a technique fueled by anger, Kolte barely lifted Xander's lightsaber in time to deflect the bright blue talons of Force energy. He felt his own lightsaber ripped from his belt and fly toward Xander. He immediately turned Xander's saber to arc the lightning at his own saber, the electric-like tendrils knocking it off course. He worried that doing so may have damaged the saber itself. But there was no time for such thoughts, as he arced the continuing stream of lightning towards Xander himself.

A long stare followed. "No. I don't think I want to know. Not right now, anyway. Maybe... later. So," his voice recovered some of it's normal joviality, "I'm a mercinary for this? Or what is the contest this time? I'd bet against tiddlywinks..."

Gelt senses that his first response has had some sort of effect on the world.

"Contest? Nothing short of the power to shape a world, if the books are to be believed." The boy shifted topics suddenly. "Tell me, what is it you do for a living? Are you a fighter all of the time?"

"I guess that I am truly the speaker for those that can't speak for themselves...No.." Michiko's voice trailed off, and it was several moments before she continued, her voice much stronger "No, who are not listened to....I'm sure that you all have been shouting loud and long for some time."

Michiko senses that her actions have had some effect on the world.

"Valkai, I need to find Raijin."

"Oh Gods. Well, I knew this was coming. Look for any kids with the marks of Raijin's Army. They'll know where to start looking, unless, of course, they've been kept in the dark too." He sighed. "It's almost funny. No communications, no teleports now. I'm not so sure we were meant to have such things in the first place, sometimes. What about you?"

OOC: "Long ago in Mother Russia, where the human kind are few- many of the woodland creatures spoke and lived as humans do. Wisest of them used snow magic - tigers, bears and all the rest, but among four footed kindred, white wolf knew it best."

***********************************
"It's almost funny. No communications, no teleports now. I'm not so sure we were meant to have such things in the first place, sometimes. What about you?"

She looked up from giving the most injured of the three a hypo spray of trauma nanites. Setting the injector aside she sat back on her heels for a second.

"No, I think the problem lies with people, a society that forgot that face to face gives one so much more richness to communication, that accepting nature and it's 'inconviences' is better that blowing past them at the speed of thought. But communications and teleports are better than being without. It's human nature to be lazy - it's easy, seductively easy to let technology do it for us, but that doesn't mean we have to let outselves be seduced, to be lazy."

She sighed and ran the mediscanner over the woman's body, happy to see the damaged body beginning to rally.

"Look at what I'm using Valkai. Technology at its best. Allowing me to 'see' what - even if I operated, had I the skill and the means to operate under these circumstances - heavens forbid-I wouldn't, couldn't have seen."

"Neither life or death are sacred, neither is profane. If it truly was her time to go nothing could have stopped that- but without this technology she would have died most certainly.

Her voice was firm "... I shall always have the highest respect for human life and remember that it is wrong to terminate life in certain circumstances, permissible in some, and an act of supreme love in others. I shall never promise a cure, as only death is certain, and I shall understand that preserving health is as important as treating disease. When a patient for whom I have been caring dies, I shall have the strength to allow him or her to die with dignity and in peace..." She closed her eyes as solemnly she recited the oath she had made before the gods many years ago.

"...I am not a God and I cannot perform miracles. I am simply a person who has been given the rights and responsibilities to be a Healer. I pledge to myself and all who can hear me that this is what I shall become." Michiko concluded.

"And Valkai, I have no idea what the marks of 'Raijins Army' look like. The hospital on this level, being that its the fifth level, should be very intact, so we're going to take these women there. If you will carrry her, now that it's safe to do so, I'll help the other two."

Not taking any demural from him, she set about helping the pair to their feet.

Surprised by the Force-lightning attack and amazed that Xander would go through with learning such a technique fueled by anger, Kolte barely lifted Xander's lightsaber in time to deflect the bright blue talons of Force energy. He felt his own lightsaber ripped from his belt and fly toward Xander. He immediately turned Xander's saber to arc the lightning at his own saber, the electric-like tendrils knocking it off course. He worried that doing so may have damaged the saber itself. But there was no time for such thoughts, as he arced the continuing stream of lightning towards Xander himself.

Xander grinned sadistically as Kolte used his own lightning to knock the lightsaber off its course, and laughed maniacally as the electrical torrent lanced its way toward him. The darkest of anger was now coursing its way through his veins, and his power was ever-expanding. Without even having to gather his strength he propelled himself upward into the air over the lightning. His laughter now reaching an unnatural shrieking that pierced the air like a severely mistuned violin, he threw his saber hand out and drew Kolte's uniquely colored lightsaber to him. If he had still been capable of feeling pain he would have been screaming in uncontrolable agony as his charred flesh began to rip apart, for he had begun to flip and spiral as he ignited the silver-hued blue blade, forming the same sphere of light that he'd first used to attack Kolte...

Michiko senses she has had a strong impact on the world.

"And Valkai, I have no idea what the marks of 'Raijins Army' look like. The hospital on this level, being that its the fifth level, should be very intact, so we're going to take these women there. If you will carrry her, now that it's safe to do so, I'll help the other two."

"This is the fifth level?" He was honestly surprised. "I must be losing any sense of direction I had, though I guess that 'under the Disc' would be appropriate anywhere at this point." He lifted the designated woman carefully. "The level's fairly big. It could take a couple hours to find them, unless you're lucky enough to have a good map of the city - in its current condition."

A long stare followed. "No. I don't think I want to know. Not right now, anyway. Maybe... later. So," his voice recovered some of it's normal joviality, "I'm a mercinary for this? Or what is the contest this time? I'd bet against tiddlywinks..."

Gelt senses that his first response has had some sort of effect on the world.

"Contest? Nothing short of the power to shape a world, if the books are to be believed." The boy shifted topics suddenly. "Tell me, what is it you do for a living? Are you a fighter all of the time?"

"All the time? No - that would be a bit much. I do reclaimation work now and again, work for a travel company finding new locations. Sometimes an airline pays to have a new airport checked out beforehand. I've done stuntwork, run a limo service, checked for medicinal plants in some new areas... you could say I'm a Jack of all trades. Better then settling down most of the time.

"So, what side are we on, and how do we beat the other guys?"

"All the time? No - that would be a bit much. I do reclaimation work now and again, work for a travel company finding new locations. Sometimes an airline pays to have a new airport checked out beforehand. I've done stuntwork, run a limo service, checked for medicinal plants in some new areas... you could say I'm a Jack of all trades. Better then settling down most of the time.

Gelt feels as if he has had a small but noticeable impact on the world.

"Interesting. You do all this to keep moving, then? Or is there some other explanation as well?"

"So, what side are we on, and how do we beat the other guys?"

"I was told that it involves recruiting a divine champion and..." Kiyoshi looked at Gelt with mild surprise as he realized the nature of the Vastivan's question. "Are you saying you wish to join in Raijin-karo's vision for the Creation?"

As Jason gathered things like first aid kits and blankets, he came upon a rather nasty scene, four white males in thier late teens and early twenties, were beating a old man and his two young grandchildren. The four men were raining blows and insults in almost equal measure, where '******' was perhaps the mildest of the verbal blows. Jason dropped the stuff he was carrying and walked rather calmly over to the thugs.
"I suggest you stop that and go home to contemplate your worthless lives." He said in a tone made all the more menacing for the utter lack of inflection or anger.
"And your going to make us?" The leader asked rather scornfully as he and his men pulled out knives, a pipe and a steel chain.
"If I have to."
"Get him." The thug said as he charged forward.
Jason didn't move until the first thug got within a foot and swung his knife at Jason's throat. Before the man had time to even blink, Jason had caught the hand, and without a change in expression crushed the man's wrist. As the thug slumped down, the others charged forward. He shattered one of man's sternum, the seconds kneecap was demolished, and the third had his liver and kidneys pulverised. Jason then grabbed some of the supplies from the kits, and splinted the old man's arm, as well as bandaging the cuts of the children. He then gathered the remaining supplies as well as picking all three up onto his back and arms, carried them back to the arena.

Perigrine rushed to help Jason when he returned, bringing three more refuges with him. Their injuries were plain to see, though Jason's handy work in treating them was also plain to see. She helped him get the two children and the elderly man to where the gym mats had been spread out.

"What happened Jason? Are you hurt?" She asked as she looked Jason over carefully, relieved to find no obvious injuries

"Injured no, but..." Jason replies as he dashes into the rubble and is noisely sick. He comes back after he is sick twice more. "Not injured, but the boosters I used, have rather unpleasnt after-effects." He said as he collapesd/sat against a partially collapsed wall, obviously exhausted.

...he dashes into the rubble and is noisely sick. He comes back after he is sick twice more.

Jason feels as if he has made some sort of impression on the world, but it might simply be a side effect of his boosters.

"All the time? No - that would be a bit much. I do reclaimation work now and again, work for a travel company finding new locations. Sometimes an airline pays to have a new airport checked out beforehand. I've done stuntwork, run a limo service, checked for medicinal plants in some new areas... you could say I'm a Jack of all trades. Better then settling down most of the time.

Gelt feels as if he has had a small but noticeable impact on the world.

"Interesting. You do all this to keep moving, then? Or is there some other explanation as well?"

It was a long moment before he responded. "I'm unconventional - don't believe in settling anywhere just because it's the 'right thing' to do. There's a big world out there - provincialism doesn't work anymore. Besides," and he gave another grinning chuckle, "if someone else will pay me to do what I want to do, mores the better. It's a Vastivan thing."



"So, what side are we on, and how do we beat the other guys?"

"I was told that it involves recruiting a divine champion and..." Kiyoshi looked at Gelt with mild surprise as he realized the nature of the Vastivan's question. "Are you saying you wish to join in Raijin-karo's vision for the Creation?"

"If you mean jump into the cosmic sponge, no." A thumb juts upward. "But I don't like whatever it was that did that - so let's say I'm willing to hear what Ray has to say with a bit more favoritism then most. Particularly glowing red mists."

Kiyoshi looked at the Vastivan. "You interest me greatly, Gelt-varos." A brief pause, then, "We should hurry. If she wakes up like this...could be bad."

Stepping out under the Disc was not quite what Jalil considered a good idea - but it was necessary, to get out there, to see, to touch...

He stopped where one group was moving rubble, listening to the sounds of moaning coming from underneath; his performance was mechanical, direct - many would have assumed shock or confusion, and it was better that way.

The woman was alive; her baby had been crushed by the falling rocks, but her arms had not been able to unentwine themselves. She had spent hours cradling a corpse...

He made himself scarce as she was pulled away, never once removing his silvered sunglasses.

A wander further on, and he witnessed Jason pulverize three arrogant - and stupid - individuals who had apparently paid no attention to the beginnings of the festival. Jason might have no idea who he was - but he knew Jason.

Knowing this, he chose another path, staying away from the parks; instead he found his way through level four...

Two women were beating on a larger male; blood came down his forehead, hair hung loose. Jalil wasted no time, stepped forward, caught first the club then the pipe on the downswing. Both women glared angrilly at him for interfering.

Jalil threw both weapons down, pointed upwards. "If you kill him..."

The implication was there, unspoken, unsaid. They looked at each other, suddenly aghast at their bloodsplattered faces, the flecks of bloody flesh adhering to their bodies - and they ran.

Woozilly, the man looked up at Jalil. "Who... who... why...?"

Jalil simply turned on his heel and walked away, fully aware of what the next wave would bring - and how that man would react to the horror of the horrors he had inflicted, and had been inflicted because he had begun the spin of dominos...

Kiyoshi looked at the Vastivan. "You interest me greatly, Gelt-varos." A brief pause, then, "We should hurry. If she wakes up like this...could be bad."

The first bit gets a sardonic smile. "You're a bit young for me, but thanks."

At the second... the pace increases appreciably.

Xander grinned sadistically as Kolte used his own lightning to knock the lightsaber off its course, and laughed maniacally as the electrical torrent lanced its way toward him. The darkest of anger was now coursing its way through his veins, and his power was ever-expanding. Without even having to gather his strength he propelled himself upward into the air over the lightning. His laughter now reaching an unnatural shrieking that pierced the air like a severely mistuned violin, he threw his saber hand out and drew Kolte's uniquely colored lightsaber to him. If he had still been capable of feeling pain he would have been screaming in uncontrolable agony as his charred flesh began to rip apart, for he had begun to flip and spiral as he ignited the silver-hued blue blade, forming the same sphere of light that he'd first used to attack Kolte...
Kolte watched as the monster that was once his master leap forward. He seemed to be growing in power, even as his blackened body began to disentegrate. Horrified at what Xander had become, Kolte resolved to end this as quick as possible. He leapt forward and met Xander's attack head on. They circle each other with thrust, parry, slice, parry, their sabers met in unison. They followed no particular style of fighting, they only followed their instincts as they poured everything they had into the battle. Finally, their sabers locked as they struggled against one another's strenth.

Xander struggled against the younger man's physical strength, and his lips lifted from his lips in an unconscience sneer as he began to growl. The Dark Side of the Force was now flowing through him to such an extent that his body was becoming twisted and deformed. His eyes bulged from their sockets, his teeth rotting and the flesh from his cheeks ripping apart as his sneer widened. He broke the saber lock, forcing Kolte backward, screaming in a voice that was not his own, "This ends now!" He whirled Kolte's blade around himself as he spun forward, and gripping the blade with both gnarled hands, swung for Kolte's torso...

"Yes, master, it does..." Kolte said as he swung Xander's saber in anticipation of Xander's spin, and brought it down across Xander's arm, cutting off his hand at the wrist. He continued the motion, swiping his own saber from Xander's other hand as he spun, and brought both saber's around at Xander's midsection, slicing him in half at an angle through the stomach.

Perigrine quickly brought him a bottle of water and wrapped a blanket about him. Combat drugs could be very dangerous she knew, though her own nanites afforded her the same benefits with out the side effects. He was grey with exhaustion and that increased her worry for him.

"Here, sip at this" She made sure Jason had a firm grip on the bottle before going back to the cooler and bringing back several cartons of yogurt. She opened them up and passed them and a spoon to him.

"And there are enough mats for you to stretch out in something approaching comfort. You need to sleep." When he had finished eating, before he could rise she was lifting him and carrying him to the mats. She laid him down gently, making sure the blanket was warm about him. She knelt at his side for a few seconds, her own eyes drooping closed. She would go check again on the children and stand watch in a moment. They were her people now, she was responsible for them and she was loathe to trust their welfare to strangers. 'Particularly trigger happy strangers who feel the need to live in battle armor. And I thought we Nietzscheans were paranoid. Feels like they go looking for trouble, and only the worst of the Prides did that. Mostly we were content for it to come to us, though I have to admit that it did with amazing frequency.' she thought as she stroked Jason's amazingly blue hair 'I have to thank Michiko, if she hadn't been so intent on lieing to herself, she never would have come, meaning I wouldn't have come, and I wouldn't have met him...some one who accepts me, for all that I am, completely, who when I gave him the 'best of Stephen King' as Michiko called it, didn't run away screaming. Interesting author, especially the early works...' All thought drifted away for a moment

Jason took Peri's concern to heart and fell asleep rather quickly, the stress of the matches, as well as collapse of the city, had taken it's toll on him. He would wake up after a few hours.

The change in Jason's breathing brought her eyes back open. Careful not to distrub his sleep she kissed him gently on the forehead. Rising silently she moved among the sleeping children, listening and looking for any signs of distress, or nightmares. All were calm for the moment save the infant girl who whimpered for her mothers soothing breast. Perigrine scooped her up from the makeshift cradel and cuddled her to her.

"Hush little one, your mother sees you, your father guards you. She and he are ever there, within you, and I will make sure that you remember them as the years roll by. I will learn of her and him and sing you their songs, though you may not thank me as my voice is nothing rememarkable. As long as they are remembered they are there. Forgetting is a vice and one most have embraced far to well. We must remember, and in that memory not repeat the mistakes, and honor the efforts."

She rocked the child rhythmically as she stirred a carton of plain yogurt and began to spoon feed her, easing her hunger pangs

About four hours later, Jason woke, and raised himself up and looked around.

OOC: Been running errands for the last couple of days, sorry, but now I'm back.

IC:

Roger had finally decided to send Erkum and Krindi out to scout the area ahead of them for threats, when they reported back they noted a few sensor ghosts, but nothing definite, Rogwere had them rack out once they got back and sent out Kosutic and Catrone to double check Krindi and Erkums findings.

"Yes, master, it does..." Kolte said as he swung Xander's saber in anticipation of Xander's spin, and brought it down across Xander's arm, cutting off his hand at the wrist. He continued the motion, swiping his own saber from Xander's other hand as he spun, and brought both saber's around at Xander's midsection, slicing him in half at an angle through the stomach.

Xander felt the most peculiar sensation as the momentum from his spin carried him away from his now detached lower body until he landed in the dirt, face first. He used his intact arm to push himself over to his back, clutching his mangled arm to his chest. Wiping stray hairs from his face, he lifted his head with some effort and looked to where Kolte now stood. The young warrior had defeated him, and in the process helped Xander escape his own demons. The anger that had fueled his hatred now crept slowly away, and the pain took it place. Allowing his head to drop, he quickly took note of his injuries: A large cut across his forehead, stab wounds in the back, his lower body severed at the waist, his right hand lopped off at the wrist, and he'd been burnt to a mild crisp. Breathing heavily, he tried to speak but no words would come. Emotions and thoughts came flooding through his mind, and the world around him faded away as he remembered the day Kolte had been annointed a Jedi Knight. He'd never been happier in his life, never before or after. Shame filled his heart and brought tears to his eyes as he realized what he'd just put his best friend through, and a sense of self-loathing came to him so powerful he could barely contain it.

"I'm sorry Kolte...I am so sorry...I couldn't control my own hatred...I couldn't deal with my own problems...and you suffered because of it...I hope that my mistakes will guide you awa-" Xander's voice broke here, and it took several attempts to finish with, "away from the path I took."

Kolte's eyes began to well with tears as the emotions that were trapped within him continued to pour out, and new ones surfaced. He listened to every word his dying master said to him. His master, Xander, not the monster that stood before him only moments ago. He was back, for however little time it would be.

"Master...I, too, am sorry it had to be this way..." Kolte breathed between tears. "But it isn't done, yet." He extinguished his saber and a clipped it on his belt. Holding Xander's green hued blade high in the air he said, "Goodbye master, goodbye." He plunged the saber deep into Xander's chest, straight through his heart.

"Have you rested enough Jason?" Perigrine asked as she finished another check on the children. Some had awakened hungry and weren't finding the yogurt filling enough. Her own eyes were shadowed with weariness, and she sat down next to him.

"I don't know if we should stay here much longer Jason. One of the problems with mega cities like this is vermin. The human ones are bad enough, but I'm taking about rats and such. With nothing to keep them in check, they're going to come flooding up from the lower levels eventually. And city rats aren't afraid of humans."

She looked at the small group of mostly sleeping children

"And we need to warn as many as we can, I doubt they are thinking of this."

"What would you suggest we do, as vermin are not something we have to deal with in Theao. As to warning people we could use them." Jason said as he pointed to the Mini Miehm people. "Also, you need to get some rest, I can deal with any problems that come up while you sleep."

Perigrine nodded slowly, she knew she needed rest.

"I think we should get to the highest level, and out of doors if possible. This city might not stand if more earthquakes come. I've never liked cities like these, thats a dislike Michiko and I share....too easy to flatten, and none of us were meant to live in rat warrens. We need space, territory."

She stretched, then eased down into the spot where Jason had lain, and looked up at him with a somewhat sad, slightly wry smile

"Some honeymoon?"

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

Michiko closed her eyes and drew upon memory. "No not a map of now but memories from above from then and now." Her voice was absent as she stove to overlap the two memory plats, and form a new whole from it.

Carefully she brought up her memory of then, her own 'birds eye view'. Her memory while not eiditic was very close to it. Once it was firmly 'there' she brought up the other she had witnessed just a relatively short time ago.

"You know it would be a lot easier if your hospitals had roof markings" She quipped "Valkai...how close was the hospital to my hotel, and in which direction from it?"

If you couldn't solve the problem one way, you found another

"Ya." Jason replied with a grin. "Get some rest." He said as he leaned down and gave her a kiss, as he was down there he whispered, "I love you," in her ear.

The ninja thought for a few seconds. "There are at least three major hospitals on this level. One just northwest of your hotel. Another south, and the third was east. I don't know exact distances. Maybe about ten buildings or so?"

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

Raijin was the first to spot the boy and Gelt, though he was less pleased to see the woman on Kiyoshi's shoulder. He called down to some of the others in the hospital to bring her in, and to make sure that both Gelt and Kiyoshi were put somewhere for a few minutes. Things were apparently going faster than originally thought possible, and he needed a few minutes to think. He only hoped that the powers would grant them.

Slowly Michiko turned, eyes closed as she kept the visualization clear, letting memory orient her.

"There! Now just to find a way through all this rubble. Getting pregnant isn't messy it the birthing that is..Hey!" She shouted skyward "You got it backwards! Getting pregnant is supposed to be fun" That last was a mutter as was the rest "Or it's supposed to be. Sheesh I didn't even get pregnant the normal way, so who am I to say"

She acknowledged the distinct lack of normality in her life with a wry snort. Making sure both women were equally supported she began wending her way through the remenants of the city, though they were frequently forced to backtrack. There were many places where the mounds of rubble were simply too high, or too unstable to go across. Exhaustion was making itself felt, she found that she had to watch where she put her feet very carefully. She shook her head to dispell the heaviness that was dulling her thoughts.

A man staggered into the hospital, catching the attention of nearly everybody he passed along the way. That might have had something to do with his unusual walk, given his current physical condition, or it might have been the fact that nearly everybody recognized him. He was, after all, Darvek Tyvok, and second only to Raijin, was the most recognizable man in Krioval. Onlookers were deterred from straying too closely, however, by a rather prim woman following a few steps behind him, fanning herself almost methodically, as if to dispel the lifelessness around her. Few would guess it from their reputations, but the woman was Kara Tyvok, Darvek's older sister.

Before Kara could follow her erstwhile brother into the building, a youth accosted her. "Hey baby! Come all this way to see me?"

Kara was never one to be shocked. "Why would I do something as pointless as that? No, I came to see Raijin."

The boy attempted to cover his surprise at hearing the Commander's name without honorific, failed, and fumbled for a response. "Well, when you're done, how about comin' to see *me*?" Then he placed his hand on her shoulder. Big mistake. He quite literally never saw what hit him. When he regained consciousness, some two minutes later, Jimmy 'the Killer' had developed an astounding respect for women, especially those dressed modestly, and while his phobia for handheld fans would never completely disappear, with years of therapy, he would manage to control his fears.

Kolte's eyes began to well with tears as the emotions that were trapped within him continued to pour out, and new ones surfaced. He listened to every word his dying master said to him. His master, Xander, not the monster that stood before him only moments ago. He was back, for however little time it would be.

"Master...I, too, am sorry it had to be this way..." Kolte breathed between tears. "But it isn't done, yet." He extinguished his saber and a clipped it on his belt. Holding Xander's green hued blade high in the air he said, "Goodbye master, goodbye." He plunged the saber deep into Xander's chest, straight through his heart.

Xander gave a sharp gasp and jerked his head upward off the ground as his own lightsaber cut its way through his chest. His heart was destroyed on contact with the blade, which continued its path through his body to eventually sever his spinal cord, effectively cutting him in half for a second time. Sweat stood out on his forehead as Xander lifted his good arm to take the hilt of his lightsaber from Kolte's hand. He extinguished the blade, and looked into Kolte's eyes as he said in a barely audible whisper,

"I will always be with you, my old friend, so this really isn't good-bye...more like...see you later..."

With this, he gathered the last of his strength with the Force, and levitated himself into the air eye-level with Kolte. Gasping with the effort, he activated his lightsaber even as his vision began to swim. Knowing that he didn't have much time left, he whirled his lightsaber in a formal salute. This done, he gave a weak smile and tossed his lightsaber to Kolte. Xander felt the last of his stregth leave him and softly said, "Keep it," as he fell to the ground, the last of life leaving him...

Roger had been waiting for Jason and Peri to confront him, he eventually got tired of waiting and decided that when they awoke he would ask them exactly what was going on and what their intentions were concerning whatever it was that was happening.

ooc: Jason is awake, Peri is asleep.

ooc: Jason is awake, Peri is asleep.

OOC: I'm waiting for both to be awake, although cronfronting Jason might wake up Peri.

OOC: Lets keep OOC to the OOC thread why not? ( you could always turn those two posts into IC posts...)
*******************************************

Perigrine took Jason's whisper with her into sleep and thence into dreams. 'Only the strong survive. There are many forms of strength however, and each must chose which form of strength they will have.' Her father continued his caligraphy practise as he spoke to the five youngsters that sat watching and listening intently. 'Not all forms of strength are outwardly apparent. And the one that is most easily discerned is the least of the strengths.' He looked at his effort critically, nodded and set it to dry on the woven mat. Carefully he cleaned his brush and set the inkstone aside. 'Those who strut, and puff themselves up like a gaudybird hunting a mate, those who tell one and all of their exploits, and must see their name falling from every ones lips...Those know not of strength.' Perigrine knew why her father spoke of this, something ingrained in the Karasu children by virtue of their people's example. Two of those beside her were from other Prides, and had spent the morning boasting of their esteemed sires reputations.

In her sleep Perigrine smile faintly. Her father would approve of Jason and his quiet inner strength.

Change...

The dull crack of another breaking bone. The pain wracked efforts to raise the chest so the lungs could expand and take in another vital breath. Jaw dislocated and smashed in three places hanging awry, drool stained carmine with blood trickling past lips swollen purple with contusions. 'You are not worthy to have any mate..' The mallevolence filled whisper of her grandfather's voice. Her pelvis shattered under the systematic, unrelenting beating of her body. 'No one mates willingly with an Omega.' Ribs collapsing under the impact of as the massive Nietzschean landed with both feet upon her torso. The look of pleasure on his face as he he tried to beat her to death.

Perigrine awoke with a bitten back cry, jerking into an upright position before she was fully awake, her bone blades flared defensively. Tremors wracked her fiercely and her chest ached. Her whole body ached. It had been years she dreamed of the beating her grandfather had adminsitered. He had deliberately broken every bone in her body. Only the intervention of her father and the highly advanced medical technology of the Karasu Pride had kept her alive. She had been in a regen tube for months.

"Jason" She whispered as she fought her way to wakefulness.

Jason had, after ensuring that those who could move about and where healthy enought took care of those still injured, had returned to sit at Perigrine's side. He knew that, while she was strong, the stress and physical demands of the day had taken quite a bit out of her. Thus when she whispered out his name he was right there when she woke. "I'm here, Peri." he said as he hugged her to him and held her gently as she shook.

The Commander watched as Darvek and Kara entered the building as well. "Looks like it's time to have the 'big talk'," he sighed. "Let's get down there." He took the stairs slowly, both happy at Darvek's appearance and upset at its timing. The energy was moving at a level other than what it should have been, and Raijin knew that while coincidences ran rampant in the outside world, the Conception world was different. The unconscious woman bore some secret as well; the paladin would almost be willing to bet his life on it. And it was with this thought that he, Koro, and Kiv walked into the lobby, with Darvek and Kara on one side, and Gelt, Kiyoshi, and the Kriovalian woman on the other.

"We need to talk. Now."

The pain seemed to melt away as Jason's arms went around her and her eyes cleared. "Beloved" She whispered as she relaxed against him, and was almost instantly back asleep. Safe in his arms

***************************************
"We need to talk. Now."

"Yes we might just want to do that Raijin, or is this a private dance?" Michiko's voice was wearily ascerbic "If so, I think these act as my invitation." Against the black of the sleevelss tee shirt the tattoos were very visable.

She and Valkai had taken the three women to the emergency room and had left them in the care of the handfull of personell that had made it to the hospital. Upon learning that Raijin was some where on the grounds Michiko had been prowling the building looking for the seemingly invisible Commander.

Michiko looked over at Darvek "Your doll looks better than you do right now."

She cocked her head at Gelt, her look openly impressed "I didn't expect to see you up and about any time soon."

To Koro "You should have recommended the book sooner, I didn't get far enough in it."

Looking back at Raijin, she just gave him a look, then waited for a response

Jason remained where he was, with his arms conforting Peri. He smiled at her words and brushed a few strands of hair back into place, as he let her sleep.

"Yes we might just want to do that Raijin, or is this a private dance?" Michiko's voice was wearily ascerbic "If so, I think these act as my invitation." Against the black of the sleevelss tee shirt the tattoos were very visable.

"Sure, why not? What's that make us, now - six out of eleven? And I see we have a ninja here as well." Subtle coughing came from above. "Ah, Jarolar. I wondered if you'd be one of the others. So that makes us seven. Plus the ninja and the unconscious woman."

"Hey!"

"And the foreign fighter Gelt, and Kiyoshi, the...other fighter. And I'm sure more will show up as things progress. Let's go upstairs. There's a very nice conference room that barely sustained any damage at all."

"Your doll looks better than you do right now."

"Yeah, well. I got the date wrong. Thought all this was supposed to happen next week." He shrugged, as if he'd misremembered a birthday, rather than the day of the apocalypse. He looked at her markings intently. "Talk about going overboard."

"Yeah," Raijin added. "Ashala can be such a bitch."

"Ya know" Michiko gave Raijin his trademark back at him "She hasn't told me I can't kick your ass....I happen to think they're beautiful."

She wondered what they'd make of the three ratlings still curled in sleep in the belt pack.

"I don't suppose that confrence room has a nice buffet spead out, or some hideaway beds? No?...Ah well, I can sleep when I'm dead, or this Conception gets around to being a pregnancy" Her eyes flew wide in mock horror "Some one tell me this isn't going to take nine months!'

She cocked her head at Gelt, her look openly impressed "I didn't expect to see you up and about any time soon".

He rewarded her with a quirky little smile. "Modern medicine, ain't it a kick?"

As the pantheon's chosen began to assemble, so did the aeons of history. Few felt it stronger than Raijin, whose affinity for Solokaro was the stuff of legend. And the legend seemed to indicate that Solokaro and, well, nearly any elemental feminine deity tended to view one another with emotions ranging from concealed disdain to outright hostility. Ashala, in particular, brought out some of the worst in Solokaro, second only to Koviros. The chaotic God, however, had methods at his disposal for channeling away aggression in his lighter counterpart, while the nature Goddess lacked both the desire and the ability to charm Solokaro.

Interloping half-blood, being chosen by her just to spite me. He stilled the worst of the thoughts and considered her comments.

"Ya know" Michiko gave Raijin his trademark back at him "She hasn't told me I can't kick your ass....I happen to think they're beautiful."

"If that's the sort of thing you like." He sidestepped the "asskicking" issue for the time being. Like Solokaro, Raijin felt mild animosity for nearly any woman his own age, barring their having earned his respect. He may have initially felt guilt at dragging the empress into the Conception, but that had evaporated upon her arrival at the hospital.

"I don't suppose that confrence room has a nice buffet spead out, or some hideaway beds? No?...Ah well, I can sleep when I'm dead, or this Conception gets around to being a pregnancy" Her eyes flew wide in mock horror "Some one tell me this isn't going to take nine months!'

Kiv turned to look at her. "Absolutely not. In fact, if done properly, it should be almost as if no time has passed outside at all. Inside, well, nobody knows for sure."

She answered Gelts smile with an acknowledging one of her own "Yes it is"

Returning her attention to Solokaro's Paladin

'You know" Michiko's voice held not the faint tease that it had before, but was softly serious as she looked at Raijin, musing aloud. "You and He sound almost exactly alike, your voices...I thought it was you earlier, for just a second, then I realized it wasn't. The sense of presence was far different as well."

She shook off the memory and asked brightly "Confrence room? Big talk? The sooner it's done the sooner I can get back to helping people."

She let the others move past her, moving out of earshot. Then turning to Valkai, keeping her voice low.

"Thank you for helping me Valkai. I did take on too many at once back there, and without you it would have gone far differently. I should be safe here, there's no reason for you too keep watch over me..I mean I don't want you to put yourself out...I don't want to be a bother..."

She wasn't sure why Valkai had bothered himself with her, surely there were more important things he could be doing now than watching her. She scrubbed her face with her hands, wincing as they passed over the deep cut on her cheek. She'd put a light bandage over it but the area was swollen and tender.

"You don't have to stay if you don't want to, or have other things to do, or would rather be elsewhere."

'Oh, I am scrambling for words and I must sound like a fool' she thought miserably as she looked at the tall ninja searchingly

Roger was tired of waiting, he decided to confront Jason, even if Peri was asleep he might get some answers from Jason. "Ok Jason, what is going on, I've been waiting for you two to explain it, since you are obviously better aquainted with this place than we are, but I've got no answers so far, in fact, as far as I can tell we're the only people left down here, so how about you start with what you know about what's going on?"

"ROGER!! THAT'S NO WAY TO ADRESS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HELPING US!!" It sounded like Desperaux was awake, now he was in for it.

*In a whisper to Jason* "Help me, please, I take back everything I just said, just please help me."

Jason simply ignored Roger's rant until he got yelled at by the women in his party, and calmed down. "You arn't injured, or sick, so either get a bit of food, or sleep and ask again later." Jason replied

Jason simply ignored Roger's rant until he got yelled at by the women in his party, and calmed down. "You arn't injured, or sick, so either get a bit of food, or sleep and ask again later." Jason replied


"I'll be more polite about it, but please, nothing makes sense, I've never seen destruction on this scale without open warfare, and there was no warfare involved in this, I can tell, I'm not a man to scare easily at all, but I'm terrified by this, it makes no sense, it's almost like we no longer exist, because I can't contact any of my troops outside the country, and that worries me, alot, so please, just tell me what you know about what is going on." By the end Roger was almost begging, he was out of his depth and it showed, he was shaken up and not tracking very well at the moment, so Desperaux started to move towards him to take him away and get some rest.

"You get some sleep, in your present condition you wouldn't understand anyways. I'll explain it to her after she's put you to sleep." Jason replied gesturing to Desperaux.

"You get some sleep, in your present condition you wouldn't understand anyways. I'll explain it to her after she's put you to sleep." Jason replied gesturing to Desperaux.

"All right, I'll accept that, and you're probably right." At that he finds a comfortable patch of ground nearby and promptly goes to sleep, Desperaux comes to where he is lying and cradles his head in her lap as she turns to Jason for an explanation. "Ok, what really is going on, I'm not as worried as Roger is, but that's because I'm not in charge here, he is, so what can you tell us about what is going on?"

Xander gave a sharp gasp and jerked his head upward off the ground as his own lightsaber cut its way through his chest. His heart was destroyed on contact with the blade, which continued its path through his body to eventually sever his spinal cord, effectively cutting him in half for a second time. Sweat stood out on his forehead as Xander lifted his good arm to take the hilt of his lightsaber from Kolte's hand. He extinguished the blade, and looked into Kolte's eyes as he said in a barely audible whisper,

"I will always be with you, my old friend, so this really isn't good-bye...more like...see you later..."

With this, he gathered the last of his strength with the Force, and levitated himself into the air eye-level with Kolte. Gasping with the effort, he activated his lightsaber even as his vision began to swim. Knowing that he didn't have much time left, he whirled his lightsaber in a formal salute. This done, he gave a weak smile and tossed his lightsaber to Kolte. Xander felt the last of his stregth leave him and softly said, "Keep it," as he fell to the ground, the last of life leaving him...
Kolte caught the saber with much effort, trying to hold back his tears as he watched his greatest friend and mentor slowly die in front of him. Xander fell to the ground and he couldn't hold them back any longer. "What have I done?" He half-cried half-whispered. "Master!!!" He screamed to no one in particular. He put his head in his hands and began to weep for his fallen master, his comrade, who was killed by his own hands. He wanted to believe what he had done was for the best, that it had saved Xander from his own dark demons. He needed to know that Xander was now in a better place. He needed to talk to him one last time. Somehow, he would find a way...

"There was a massive earthquake, and out of that a few things happened. That," He points to the disk, "What appears to be a loss of inhabitions, and a number of odd physical and mental effects." Jason replied

Perigrine spoke quietly "That was no natural earthquake. My homeword was subject to them frequently. And I've never heard of an earthquake causing that."

She too looked toward the disc.

"And my communicator isn't working either. My link with Shadow Dancer is down and that didn't happend even when I was a couple of kilometers under a planetary crust."

Staying in Jason's arms but sitting a little straighter she continued

"And then we have to consider the voice from nothing earlier. The one that spoke of something called the 'Conception'. My people don't believe in gods, but I am willing to take it under advisement with adequate proof."

"Wether it is divine intervention, or some fantastically advanced technology...right now the most important thing, as far as I am concerned is the future." Her voice was thoughtfull "and those children, and the others else where around here - they are the future. What will it be like for them?"

She let her eyes close, as she looked back in memory

"I can guess... My homeworld was destroyed. We saved many of my people, but like here, families were sundered, parents childless, children orphaned. I saw the effect on those children...unable to sleep for fear of terrible nightmares, every little trouble magnified by the fears lurking within...If I can, in any way help these children, help them keep a foundation of strength, I will." She spoke firmly, as she opened her eyes and looked up at Jason.

'You know" Michiko's voice held not the faint tease that it had before, but was softly serious as she looked at Raijin, musing aloud. "You and He sound almost exactly alike, your voices...I thought it was you earlier, for just a second, then I realized it wasn't. The sense of presence was far different as well."

"Huh." Raijin's expression and tone were neutral. "Did he say anything interesting?" So soon, so little of this will matter...

*****

"You don't have to stay if you don't want to, or have other things to do, or would rather be elsewhere."

He listened patiently. "Even if I wanted to, what would I do in this world? Where would I go?" He sighed heavily. "It looks like there are four powers contending strongly for the Creation. Raijin is one. He will soon determine the other three. Four major paths - Kara, Ranmyaku, Tenkei, and Jashin. Of course, most of the texts on these rituals were written by Japanese mystics shortly after the war, so they may be a bit pessimistic."

"You don't have to stay if you don't want to, or have other things to do, or would rather be elsewhere."

He listened patiently. "Even if I wanted to, what would I do in this world? Where would I go?" He sighed heavily. "It looks like there are four powers contending strongly for the Creation. Raijin is one. He will soon determine the other three. Four major paths - Kara, Ranmyaku, Tenkei, and Jashin. Of course, most of the texts on these rituals were written by Japanese mystics shortly after the war, so they may be a bit pessimistic."

"Yeah... uhm, can we have that in English for the less mystic among us? Just in case I see a boogum, I'll want to know whether to shoot it or invite it over for afternoon tea." The speaker's uncertainty with all of this is evident, even though his mannerism borders on propriety.

Koro could barely contain his excitement at knowing more than just about anyone else at the table. "Krioval and what is now Japan once fought a war. Afterward, we found books that described parallel rituals - suggesting a common theology at one point. They said that there were four paths that led from Conception to Creation. 'Emptiness', 'Disorder', 'Divine Punishment', or 'the Demon God'." His cheerfulness seemed wholly incongruous with the subject matter, and he barrelled forth with unsettling energy. "That's not to say that the outcome is something negative, but as you know by now, this whole thing's not exactly rainbows and moonbeams." He turned toward Raijin, as if to confirm his statements.

"Mostly right. Technically, the ancients, both ours and theirs, believed that those four powers were what brought one to the Conception in the first place, and that for Creation to occur, one was forced to predominate. The next step, naturally, would be to determine whether that force should be neutralized, reversed, or enhanced. I suppose if one wanted to completely obliterate the world, for example, the Conception might prove a very nice vehicle toward such an end." Raijin looked at the assembled group. "I have detected two other groups attempting to harness the Kata Kara in order to power their versions of the Creation. Kiyoshi here," he identified the boy to those who hadn't yet met him, "tells me of a fourth. There will likely be more in the coming hours, though they will be winnowed to four. From there, the four powers will contend for Creation." What he didn't say was probably as important as what he did - Raijin Dekker intended to be the victor in that contest - not that it really needed to be said. Anyone who hadn't yet figured that out was really behind the curve. But what of his intentions, and which path did he claim as his own?

"Did he say anything interesting?"

"Yes He asked me if you should die for bringing about the Conception, or become immortal."

She would let him wonder about how she had answered. Raijin was a good man, and while she did not necessarily agree that the Conception was the right way to have solved Krioval's problems, she could see how he might have though it was. 'You can only work with the best available data' she thought to herself 'but you didn't have to call Ashala a bitch, though the best of us are...Bright, Independant, Tough, Creative, Honest...so deal with it' she concluded as her mental dialog turned tart.
******************

Now she sat quiet, listening intently and trying her best with her mangled empathy to discern even more from what wasn't said, what was reacted to, and what wasn't. She still felt so terribly out of place, so short of knowledge and worse, wisdom.

She looked at Raijin consideringly, feeling a subtle dissatisfaction with him that she was certain wasn't hers. Ashala didn't much like him, but if there was anything that Michiko knew well, it was that personal like or dislike didn't enter into the equation. She let her mind float free leting both herself and Herself look at the various factors dispassionately.

Far distant, Jalil still walked the streets of Krioval - the name of the city was completely irrelevant now, there was only here and now as far as he cared. Here and there he aided, sometimes he did not, sometimes he passed by silently.

From a corpse he lifted a long blade - only to hand it to a passing woman with a tip of a non-existant hat. She will kill him with that... and in doing so, will propogate a potentiality which cannot be otherwise...

Each and every step took him around the city, staying mostly to the shadows, passed by by gangs or scroungers - which did not stop him from finding needful things and passing them about as needed.

It was entirely coincidental the screwdriver was close at hand, allowing the current to be turned off at just the right moment, allowing a family to depart their transport without being burned down... just as it was coincidental for a pair of scissors to be in a pocket, perfect for cutting away a choking bit of rope... or a coating of wax prevented a runner from quite getting out of the way of a gang intent on taking it's revenge for believed wrongs - right or wrong, it still saught street justice, final and brutal.

Jalil passed through the carnage, passed by the needy, passed from shadow to shadow, his visage intent on everything and nothing at all... paying attention only to a path he alone saw clearly behind the wall of his mirrorshades....

Jason held Peri and replied, "Your right, ensuring that the children are taken care of is the most important job right now. So are you willing to help?" He asked Desperaux.

"I see, I don't understand all that well but I get the gist of it, I see what you mean."

Finally, Kolte stood. His eyes were still wet with tears, his clothes ragged, his body beaten and bruised. Several wounds announced their presences with pangs of sharp pain, a few of which would leave nasty scars. Kolte lifted a flat slab of concrete and straightened flat. He lifted the two seperate pieces of Xander's body onto the slab. Raising his hands in front of him, Kolte summoned a smaller, weaker version of the Abyssal Fire spell and fired it at Xander's body, engulfing what remained of it in flames. After an hour or so the body was completely burnt to ashes, destroyed by the intense heat of the flames. Kolte retrieved a small money pouch from his hole-ridden tunic, and used the Force to gather the ashes and place them in the pouch. He pulled the strings to close it and replaced it in his tunic pocket. He would return he ashes to Naxderia, Xander's home planet, under the protection of the Megan Empire.

He looked around himself, the somber grays and blacks of burnt rubble and smoke flowed through the atmosphere. The destruction seemed endless. He began walking forward, stumbling over debris here, nearly tripping over a steel frame there. He continued wandering past countless dead bodies and monotinous scenery until he came upon an area where many that were still living had gathered. Walking through the people he eventually noticed a person sitting with a female companion by his side. They were discussing something that Kolte could barely make out, but he thought they had said something about saving the children. The voice sounded similar. He neared the two and realization hit him like a brick wall.

"Jason! Finally, someone I know. What the hell is happening here?" Kolte gasped as he limped his way toward them.

"Oh, hi Kolte. How have you been? As to what's happening, that's the million dollar question." Jason replied as he waved Kolte over. Once he got closer, "Desperaux, this is Kolte, Kolte, this is Desperaux." Jason said as he introduced the two.

"Oh, hi Kolte. How have you been? As to what's happening, that's the million dollar question." Jason replied as he waved Kolte over. Once he got closer, "Desperaux, this is Kolte, Kolte, this is Desperaux." Jason said as he introduced the two.

"Nice to meet you, Nimashet Desperaux, and in my lap is my husband Roger."

Perigrine sat up from where she had lain mostly hidden by Jason. She took in Kolte's tattered and bruised appearance no comment, but handed over one of the first aid kit's Jason had found, and some of the bottled water to the Jedi.

"I'd offer you a dose of trauma nanos, but with the limited supply, I'm holding it for truly serious injuries. There's some yougurt and fruit in the fridge. I'm Perigrine, Jason's mate" She remembered that they hadn't been introdruced earlier that day.

Perigrine glanced down at her bracer, and bit of a curse as memory surfaced.

" Communications are out, but this..." She tapped with one chipped fingernail, the latest addition to the constellation of gems in the device. "This isn't. It's from Cats Keep, a Matrix crystal. And it's linked to Michiko. I thought that the lights within had shown movement, but I was too busy, too tired."

"Michiko is the type that if there's a medical center, or a place where the injured are being gathered, she'd make her way there. I say we try and get to where she is. She's a natural organizer and has experience with disaster like this."

If the total destruction of Tanara's capitol wasn't quite to this scale, but there wasn't much that was.

Perigrine sat up from where she had lain mostly hidden by Jason. She took in Kolte's tattered and bruised appearance no comment, but handed over one of the first aid kit's Jason had found, and some of the bottled water to the Jedi.

"I'd offer you a dose of trauma nanos, but with the limited supply, I'm holding it for truly serious injuries. There's some yougurt and fruit in the fridge. I'm Perigrine, Jason's mate" She remembered that they hadn't been introdruced earlier that day.

Perigrine glanced down at her bracer, and bit of a curse as memory surfaced.

" Communications are out, but this..." She tapped with one chipped fingernail, the latest addition to the constellation of gems in the device. "This isn't. It's from Cats Keep, a Matrix crystal. And it's linked to Michiko. I thought that the lights within had shown movement, but I was too busy, too tired."

"Michiko is the type that if there's a medical center, or a place where the injured are being gathered, she'd make her way there. I say we try and get to where she is. She's a natural organizer and has experience with disaster like this."

If the total destruction of Tanara's capitol wasn't quite to this scale, but there wasn't much that was.


"Well then, I guess we better get moving, no time to waste if, and if you have friends then we can probably get somewhere safe." It was Roger, speaking from Desperauxs lap, and he started to rise, but Nimashet held him down and made him rest some more "Roger, you're no use to anyone if you end up running on the ragged edge of sanity because you're dead tired, this isn't Voitan, or Sindi for that matter, time is not as critical as it was then." She the forced him to lie back down and get some real, honest to god sleep, before Peri or Jason could even chime in.

"Oh, hi Kolte. How have you been? As to what's happening, that's the million dollar question." Jason replied as he waved Kolte over. Once he got closer, "Desperaux, this is Kolte, Kolte, this is Desperaux." Jason said as he introduced the two.
Kolte barely managed to nod to Desperaux. He could feel the exhaustion begin to overwhelm him. He would need to sustain a deep trance for several hours to heal due to the severity of his wounds.

"I'd offer you a dose of trauma nanos, but with the limited supply, I'm holding it for truly serious injuries. There's some yougurt and fruit in the fridge. I'm Perigrine, Jason's mate"
"That's quite alright..." Kolte said. "I think I'll just..." Kolte began to sit down. "Wake me if anything...happens..." He managed to say before he lay down. Within seconds he was out cold. Whether he was sleeping, unconscious, or in a trance, no one could tell. Most likely it was a little of all three.

Saul found the passenger-and the aid worker. Futility came down on him like a ton of bricks. Both were dead, killed when the aid-car was slammed by the bus.

The passenger's passenger wasn't, however. Hope rekindled.

He lifted the newborn gently, remembering other places and times. He wrapped the baby-a girl, in his own coat, and carried her out of the ruined ambulance.

The driver's lifeless eyes, dead even while Saul was digging to free him, stared at nothing at all.

If I remember correctly, there's a hospital... this way. the tiny heartbeat was strong, but the infant was silent.

They should have some formula, or something...

The windows of the city, piled three feet deep, crunched under his wingtips as he walked in the direction of the hospital.

Sh'uaa continued his storytelling in the park, rekindling hope to a growing crowd. Someone had brought him water in a bottle; it was half empty, yet he felt no need for more... the tales he had heard, had read, had listened to and had dreamed of, all came tumbling out, filling the empty spaces, banishing the darkness...

Four powers moved swiftly to establish dominance in the coming struggle for the Creation. Soon, they would come into direct conflict with one another, and it would be a bloody and devastating affair. Raijin attempted to listen to the conversations in the hospital's conference room, but his mind's eye busily sought out the opening salvo in the metaphysical battlefield's widening front. He visualized the newly rebuilt Bralos cathedral. It had cost millions upon millions to painstakingly get every detail perfect, and it had only reopened officially in March, barely in time for Easter services. He watched with anticipation as the robed figure made its way to the entryway and then disappeared within the structure's massive interior. He could have followed mentally, but Raijin Dekker wanted to savor the moment, and not knowing every detail heightened the experience. Ten minutes passed, and the paladin hoped that he was making reasonably coherent conversation despite his near-total lack of concentration on those in his physical presence.

Two minutes later, Bralos, or at least the neighborhood containing the cathedral, exploded. The robed figure removed the heavy outer cloak and hood. She looked upon the wreckage with feigned terror, efficiently concealing her deep satisfaction. The priestess hoped that this act would, in some way, restore her to a position of grace under her master's direction.

In the hospital, a slight smile crept along Raijin's face. He figured that all hell would break loose within the next three days.

Perigrine looked over the all but unconscious Kolte, and moved to put a blanket over him.

"None of us are doing any too well it seems." She went over and got every one more of the yogurt, pasing it around

"It's healthy if monotonous, and I've survived on worse."

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

Michiko listened to the conversations on going through out the confrence room and desperately tried to keep her eyes open. She found her eyes drifting shut and shook her head fiercely. She had to pay attention.

"Raijin, or Koro, can you explain what the four paths are, what they mean? And most important of all - this ones for you Raijin, which do you mean to take, and why?"

She needed Raijin, or some one here to convince her that she was with the right group. She had realized that Ashala did not like Solokaro and his chosen Paladin very much. However Michiko believed that Raijin truly wanted the best for his people, and she wanted to hear the words from his own lips. Koro she had trusted, and felt comfortable with on first sight, the others save for Valkai she did not know. 'And Valkai...here because he has not better place to be. How about out there helping people? On the whole maybe you can only help a few at any one time, but you keep on helping and it grows, it snowballs, it entangles. They don't call it grass roots for nothing..or of course you could have said what I would have given much to hear...that you were staying with me because you wanted to stay with me' Her silent laughter was bitter and firmly she turned back to waiting for Raijin to answer her questions

"Your right, I would suggest we ensure everyone who is old enought to be productive gets sleep, then we would be able to take care of the little ones as well as ourselves with much better ability." Jason said as he was passed the yogert. "Thanks dear." He said as he blew Peri a kiss.

"Raijin, or Koro, can you explain what the four paths are, what they mean? And most important of all - this ones for you Raijin, which do you mean to take, and why?"

Nineteen years earlier

Master Slasher Valkai worried about the rapidly rising fighter sleeping next to him. The day before, Raijin had been ambushed by six other Slashers seeking revenge for a thorough whipping in the fighters' tournament two weeks earlier. From the witnesses of the brief battle between the Dekker boy and the others, it was obvious that the attackers meant to do a certain level of bodily harm, though they hadn't thought to do permanent damage. In the end, it didn't matter. None of the assailants landed a single blow. Raijin's words following a particularly nasty brawl only a few months ago echoed in Valkai's ears: Any number may attack me, but no more than four will ever walk away.

He was true to his word, as the two largest, and latest to arrive at the melee had been killed. Micah had been scandalized, naturally, though punishment was out of the question. Not only had a Slasher defended himself from a sneak attack by superior numbers, but attempts to penalize Raijin for certain behaviors often backfired in creative and painful ways. But Valkai was equally impressed and disturbed. He engaged his precognition and peered into the fighter's future, something he often considered inappropriate. Not only will he perform the Conception, but he'll walk that path?! The symbols that had been carved, through some etheric force, seemed to confirm his farseeing. Not wanting to probe too far lest he contaminate future potentialities through detailed observation, Valkai withdrew to the present.

Raijin chose that moment to awaken and turn to his lover. "Hey. Sorry about yesterday. They knew that'd happen, though."

And yet so many choose to ignore the signs. Well, your future should be an interesting one, though I'd hoped that you might take a different direction... "I suppose. You really need to learn how to avoid some conflicts, though, Raijin. Not every one of them is worth it."

Present

The Commander ran the words through his mind repeatedly at Michiko's question. He could be direct, which suited his current mood, or...avoid some conflicts...not every one of them is worth it. So he tried. "Four ways of leading from Conception to Creation. The path of Emptiness, of Chaos, of Divine Punishment, or of the Evil God." He waited for her second question before replying, "Which would you want for me to travel? You do seem to have quite the vested interest in the outcome of the Creation."

Michiko smiled gently at Raijin's last words but her eyes were intense.

"Quite the vested interest?" She took the three tiny rats from their nest in their belt pouch and cupped them in her hands "Raijin, I'm getting nothing out of this save bruises and worse, and a lot of heartache. However for reasons beyond my ken, I'm the voice for those who've gone unheard for too long. Those you all might forget." Her voice was fierce "Call me your conscience if you must, call me a jumped up interloper if you want...I don't know these paths, what they entail, what the outcome of taking each path might be."

She stroked one of the ratlings as it uncurled and stuck an inquisitive nose over the edge of her palm.

"I don't like the sound of Divine Punishment- if the Kriovalians have strayed from the Gods, there is some fault of the gods in there with the human fault." She ticked off on her first finger

"The evil - and you said demon god earlier ..often in Oriental mythos a demon was more of a trickster, an uncertan principle rather than evil. However I'd still want to know more." She lowered another finger

"Emptiness strikes me as Maya, the illusion of all things that some espouse.. but as the old saying goes "The sword in your guts or the lover in your arms...Maya? no! Very real indeed..." She tapped off the next finger, taking a moment to scratch the ratlings head gently

"Now chaos, life is chaos, in an wierdly orderly fashion if some scientists are correct...and certainly we spend our lives trying to seemingly stay one step ahead of it...""Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit." ...Henry Adams if I remember correctly."

"So based on just what information, or misinformation, I have now, I think I'd chose Chaos"

Perigrine looked over the all but unconscious Kolte, and moved to put a blanket over him.

"None of us are doing any too well it seems." She went over and got every one more of the yogurt, pasing it around

"It's healthy if monotonous, and I've survived on worse."

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

Michiko listened to the conversations on going through out the confrence room and desperately tried to keep her eyes open. She found her eyes drifting shut and shook her head fiercely. She had to pay attention.

"Raijin, or Koro, can you explain what the four paths are, what they mean? And most important of all - this ones for you Raijin, which do you mean to take, and why?"

She needed Raijin, or some one here to convince her that she was with the right group. She had realized that Ashala did not like Solokaro and his chosen Paladin very much. However Michiko believed that Raijin truly wanted the best for his people, and she wanted to hear the words from his own lips. Koro she had trusted, and felt comfortable with on first sight, the others save for Valkai she did not know. 'And Valkai...here because he has not better place to be. How about out there helping people? On the whole maybe you can only help a few at any one time, but you keep on helping and it grows, it snowballs, it entangles. They don't call it grass roots for nothing..or of course you could have said what I would have given much to hear...that you were staying with me because you wanted to stay with me' Her silent laughter was bitter and firmly she turned back to waiting for Raijin to answer her questions


Desperaux thanked Peri and proceeded to eat her yogurt, and then she woke up Roger to eat his, and traded places with him, going to sleep herself as Roger watched over her.

"You sound just like her." Raijin struggled against an unseen force to remain composed. He lost. "Even now she grows more powerful within you. And why, one might ask, would Ashala call on you for assistance? Did you even ask? Or do you even now dream of fashioning the Creation in her form, the verdant green supplanting the cities and population of the world? You have already gone to efforts to save rats in a land where thousands of souls go to the Disc every hour." His eyes and the strange markings on him radiated light. "It doesn't really matter, in the end. Ashala intends to fight me for the Creation. You have accepted her assistance. Thus, you contend for the Creation. Though..." The Commander paused and thought, and his eyes returned to normal. "If you are to try for it, seek out your travel companions. They are on the third level at the arena. From there, travel east to Tevanor and then north to a forested island. She has a temple up there, and your link to her will allow her to give you information as needed. Take the ninja if you do go. I do intend to speak with you later, as Creation approaches, so don't die."

Michiko was on her feet in a second, her eyes flashing fire.

"How dare you accuse me! I am the only one in this damn room that has bothered to help any of 'your' people. Why do you think I came to the hospital, how do you think I got this?" She touched the deep wound in her cheek, the bandage soaked with serum and blood. "I fought some of your crazed people off three young women that they were rapeing. I watched Ashala heal a man shattered legs. What have you and Solokaro done for the people of Krioval? Sit here and pontificate?" Her snort was filled with distain.

"As for what I seek, you haven't the faintest notion. And it would do you not one bit of harm to remember that with out the land, without nature where would your fine cities be? None of the technology, none of the people would be here. Creation should be a partnership, not a fucking contest. Cooperation is a hallmark of mature people and civilazations. Obviously YOU haven't reached maturity yet. I thought you had the good of your people in mind when you caused this. I guess I was wrong. All you want is power."

"Well Raijin Dekker, I hope you choke on your precious power."

"Who I sound like is myself. I can only go on what I know, and yes I am an outsider here, and all I'm trying to do is help as best I can. Fine, you don't want what help I can give. I'm sorry if it's not much help but it was freely offered. Valkai will go where he will. Please don't take your upset with me out on him. He's never done anything to hurt you and I don't know what I have, but ..."

She shrugged, tucked the ratlings back in the belt pouch, picked up her small bundle of book and force lance.

"Thank you Koro for all your kindnesses." She then turned back to Raijin "And thank you too. It's been...instructive."

With out looking back she turned and left, not letting the bewhilderment, or her hurt, show.

Valkai waited until they were a fair distance from the hospital and the influence of Raijin's Army before speaking. "So it's finally come to pass after all. It appears that it's not enough that Solokaro brought consciousness to mortal beings. If only I understood what motivates the Gods sometimes, though in the case of the Light's Fighter, it likely stems from a need, conscious or otherwise, to demonstrate his capability. He is, after all, the only being to ever become a God. He did it through force of will and force of arms. I wonder if he intends to reshape Krioval in that image."

**********

Six hours later

"Was that really necessary?" Koro asked. He and Raijin had finally managed to get a few minutes alone, though it had been challenging to find reasons for Kiv and Darvek to "go patrol for a few hours".

"What do you think?"

"Yes. Explain it to me."

"Michiko was chosen by Ashala to contend with me, chosen by Solokaro. Then there are the other two."

Koro looked back at Raijin. "The God of the Christ-worshippers...and the void."

"In my own way, I'm protecting the lady Empress from danger. The other two forces must be destroyed first. Then her Chaos and my...path...will be the remaining forces, which will then resolve on basis of influence gained."

"Your...path."

The paladin's face reflected the conflict within his mind. "Jashin. The coming of the evil God. In this case, Solokaro, who was considered barely better than a mortal and who rose to a position in the Kriovalian pantheon by fighting off the Annihilation. Of course, his 'evil' was solidified by his steadfast refusal to play by 'the rules'. It didn't help, at least so far as Ashala and others were concerned, that the newly appointed God of Light was a wrecking ball when it came to established relationships." Raijin suppressed a giggle. "Ashiar, Kovaro, Koviros, and even Sefaro, though the last with quite a bit of help from Lady Tara. You can see why some women in the past worried greatly about their husbands when they went off to fight." This time, the giggle slipped through. "But he's given me a good deal of his power for this Creation, and that makes me Jashin." At that, all traces of mirth dissolved into a mask of tension.

"Yeah." Koro smiled mischievously. "But you're my Jashin. It remains to be seen, though," he said, his fingertips now beginning to trace the Commander's marks, "exactly how far the evil goes."

**********

Even as the priest and fighter moved toward ever closer toward their singular act of defiance against the atmosphere of death and devastation, others were acting in deliriously thrilled compliance with it. The bombing in Bralos had sent people running for cover wherever they could find it, with chunks of masonry and twisted beams of steel crashing to the ground in the footprint of the cathedral. Those within the shattered structure had been killed instantly, and even as the woman who had planted the explosive device made her way to safety, those under her master's employ were quick to "mop up", picking off survivors of the blast and, in some cases, attempting to spread the geographic extent of the destruction. So thorough were the killer squads that few escaped the city of Bralos alive - nearly ten million were killed within two hours' time.

Three men reveled in their intense satisfaction when all was over, and the souls had been drained into the Disc. Three paths still remained open, but the fourth had been prevented fully. The remains of Bralos, scattered and partially submerged under the encroaching sands that had once been ocean, stood as testament to the immediacy and brutality that pushed toward a Creation, any Creation, so long as the nightmare could end.

Michiko had raided the hospital's pharmacuetical supply, carrying away a large carton of trauma nano vials and a pair of hypo injectors, stuffing them into the back pack that she had used to hold the things for the three women she and Valkai had brought to the hospital. She'd stopped on her way out to check on them, and was pleased to see that they were receiving care.

I wonder if he intends to reshape Krioval in that image."

"I've heard Perigrine's stories of Neitzschean society. The similarities are unpleasant, and I don't think that's a good foundation for a healthy society. There are other things that are just as important as will and fighting ability."

After she and Valkai had left the hospital she had made a beeline, as best she could to the remains of her hotel. She was pleased to see that although it was deserted, it had not sustained total destruction, and with an hour or two of digging she had managed to liberate Perigrine's weapons case and her PALADIN armor. If she had to go up against Raijin Dekker she wanted every advantage she could get her hands on. She made a stop back at the pharmacy she'd started to loot earlier, and then at the plaza where for her, the disaster had started.

The man she had rescued had freed many more and now they came with her. Most were visitors to Krioval who had no idea of where to go and so followed her unquestioningly. She'd had each of them load up on as much 'survival' gear as possible

Michiko had just finished manuevering through a narrow opening, very close to the arena,when she looked at Valkai and asked, or maybe it was ambushed.

"Why are you with me Valkai? Is it only because you don't have anywhere else to be?

Gelt merely followed his "keeper" for now, having little better to do. Every now and again, he would finger the monofilament whip he'd found, or play with the hilt of the throwing knife still in an arm sheath.

"A mercinary position, following a kid, in a city gone absolutely bonkers. And me without a towel...." He made a mental note to find one, and soon.

Over six hours had passed, sleep refreshed, and food and water had been had by all in the small group of survivors in the back area of Torokaras arena...

"Some how Michiko know where we are. Her icon is all but at our current psotiion." Perigrine commented softly to Jason as she finished feeding and changing the infant girl they had rescued from the tomb.

"Could you waken Kolte? I think we may need to get ready to move quickly when Michiko arrives. I'm going to make sure that every one has a gym bag, equipment bag or something of the sort. The equipment locker is a shambles but useful things are still salvagable, and the bigger children can carry a little."

With a warm kiss for her mate Perigrine moved to where Roger and company had set up shop and advised them of Michiko imminent arrival

Over six hours had passed, sleep refreshed, and food and water had been had by all in the small group of survivors in the back area of Torokaras arena...

"Some how Michiko know where we are. Her icon is all but at our current psotiion." Perigrine commented softly to Jason as she finished feeding and changing the infant girl they had rescued from the tomb.

"Could you waken Kolte? I think we may need to get ready to move quickly when Michiko arrives. I'm going to make sure that every one has a gym bag, equipment bag or something of the sort. The equipment locker is a shambles but useful things are still salvagable, and the bigger children can carry a little."

With a warm kiss for her mate Perigrine moved to where Roger and company had set up shop and advised them of Michiko imminent arrival

"Okay, I guess we won't have to go to the hospital then, will we? Oh well, I'll have everybody get ready, if shes on her way here something may be wrong, and I'm going to set up some sort of defense, if she's made someone angry and they follow her, you tow and the Posse unprepared will be no match for them, and, yes, before you say anything, I'll make sure nobody shoots without asking for identification at least twice." Roger then got up, leaving Desperaux to sleep, and went to get the rest of the Posse together, calling Kosutic and Tomcat back from their scouting to prepare for anything that might be following Michiko with hostile intent.

"Alright." Jason headed over to wear Kolte was sleeping and shook him awake. Once he was awake, Jason informed him that a friend of Peri was heading this way and she was nearly here.

"Alright." Jason headed over to wear Kolte was sleeping and shook him awake. Once he was awake, Jason informed him that a friend of Peri was heading this way and she was nearly here.


After he delivered all of his orders to the returned Posse members Roger went to see Jason and try to learn more about Michiko.

"So what's she like, smart, dull, good looking, plain, will she have friends with her(OOC: Valkai and the rest count as friends in my book, but I'm not sure if you can mention them or not.), and most importantly of all, is she in any kind of trouble, if there are any threats to this group I need to know, my Posse are the only ones who are really armed for something like this, and there aren't enough of us to keep you, Peri, Michiko, and all the children safe if anyone makes a real attempt to get past us, so please, tell me everything you know."

Kolte awaked quickly to Jason's prodding and sat up. He noticed that someone had placed a blanket over him. He was thankful for that. He nodded to Jason once he had finished informing. He stood. His legs were a little shaky. His flesh wounds had healed for the most part, but his ribs were still tender. He would have to take it easy. He followed Jason over to where everyone else was getting ready, and offered his help carrying anything.

"Michiko's fairly smart, and while looks are subjective, she is attractive. As to if there are people with her or her being in trouble, couldn't say, havn't seen her since after this." Gestures to the general destruction. As to defending both me and Perigrine, you don't really need to worry. Obviously you didn't stop by the tournament earlier today." Jason replied as he began working a couple kinks out of his neck.

"Michiko's fairly smart, and while looks are subjective, she is attractive. As to if there are people with her or her being in trouble, couldn't say, havn't seen her since after this." Gestures to the general destruction. As to defending both me and Perigrine, you don't really need to worry. Obviously you didn't stop by the tournament earlier today." Jason replied as he began working a couple kinks out of his neck.


"I'm not too sure about Peri, and I bet you'll be protecting her, because I think she'll be too busy protecting the children to protect herself, and I think the only people left to fight will be the Posse, but at least we might be able to hold off anything long enough for you and the kids to escape."

"I've heard Perigrine's stories of Neitzschean society. The similarities are unpleasant, and I don't think that's a good foundation for a healthy society. There are other things that are just as important as will and fighting ability."

"Solokaro's vision is one where the Gods are far more interventionalist than they have been in the past several years. Understand, he isn't called the 'Unbalancing God' for no reason. He believes in strength and efficiency over other forces. To his credit, though, he'll find the balance between order and chaos. He'll polarize toward light even if he brings a dark God along, and he'll definitely polarize toward aggression, especially if he brings a dark God along. Solokaro won't abide other forces interfering in the pantheon's will in Krioval either. Should he win, I'm willing to bet that Christianity in Krioval won't even be a thing of the past - he'll alter the threads of time to eradicate the missionary presence directly. It's tough to say whether this would be a positive force or not."

"Why are you with me Valkai? Is it only because you don't have anywhere else to be?"

The ninja looked at Michiko questioningly. "You ask that an awful lot. Do you want me to leave? Or do you require some extremely personal statement before one can travel with you?"

Gelt merely followed his "keeper" for now, having little better to do. Every now and again, he would finger the monofilament whip he'd found, or play with the hilt of the throwing knife still in an arm sheath.

"A mercinary position, following a kid, in a city gone absolutely bonkers. And me without a towel...." He made a mental note to find one, and soon.

Kiyoshi took a moment to interrupt Gelt's thoughts. "Gelt-varos, if you were to control the Creation, what form would it take?" He paused a moment to let the question sink in before redirecting the conversation entirely. "Is there anything that I could help you find? You seem to be looking for something."

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

It was entirely coincidental the screwdriver was close at hand, allowing the current to be turned off at just the right moment, allowing a family to depart their transport without being burned down... just as it was coincidental for a pair of scissors to be in a pocket, perfect for cutting away a choking bit of rope... or a coating of wax prevented a runner from quite getting out of the way of a gang intent on taking it's revenge for believed wrongs - right or wrong, it still saught street justice, final and brutal.

Jalil passed through the carnage, passed by the needy, passed from shadow to shadow, his visage intent on everything and nothing at all... paying attention only to a path he alone saw clearly behind the wall of his mirrorshades....

Jalil senses that he is having a profound effect on the coming Creation.

"I'm not too sure about Peri, and I bet you'll be protecting her, because I think she'll be too busy protecting the children to protect herself, and I think the only people left to fight will be the Posse, but at least we might be able to hold off anything long enough for you and the kids to escape."
Kolte cleared his throat loudly.

"And there's always me. I intend on helping as well. My injuries are not too severe that I cannot fight." Kolte stated, even as his hand clutched his side. With two lightsabers, he was also now more equipped to handle multiple threats.

"I'm not too sure about Peri, and I bet you'll be protecting her, because I think she'll be too busy protecting the children to protect herself, and I think the only people left to fight will be the Posse, but at least we might be able to hold off anything long enough for you and the kids to escape."
"She can more than take care of herself." Jason replied, "and we'll have him on our side, and he's an excellent fighter." He said indicating Kolte.

"You ask that an awful lot. Do you want me to leave? Or do you require some extremely personal statement before one can travel with you?"

Michiko found herself coloring at that. He'd done it to her again. Taken hopes that should have died and made her a fool again. She shrugged and hid her shame in busying herself in finding an 'energy bar' and peeling the wrapper off. It'd been about twelve hours since she'd eaten, and she guessed that it was the same for him. She offered him the bar as she replied

"No, I don't want you to leave, but if you want to leave...I hate people to feel obligated, or indebted -that they 'owe' me something. People should be where they want to be, not where they feel they *have* to be. Forced gratitude is poisonous." She hesitated a second then continued

"What 'I want' should be something you take into consideration only if you want to. You shouldn't do what 'I want' just cause 'I want' you to. I'm no ones master...I'll willingly be some ones partner, some ones friend, and work with them. Ruling 'over' isn't fun, working *with* is. Sharing is. Being an individual - and proud of it, but still part of the greater whole. I far prefer cats to dogs.'

She watched as the others of the small cotterie of survivors negotiated the twisty passage one by one, but not with out help. The entire group working together to get through the dificulty, hands reaching out to steady, or lift, or just to offer comfort.

"Thats the way it should work Valkai. I saw an old, old "movie" that had been saved as a holocinema before the solid copy deteriorated. A natural disaster over takes a city divided by differences in appearance. They must learn to work together to survive. In the last scene a small child says the line that was the whole point of the movie. His rescuer asks him if he can see his parents in the crowd, so he could reunite them. "they all look the same".*

She looked back at Valkai as she took out another bar and all but inhaled it. "And Raijin is wrong if he intends to make this a theocracy. People must be free to worship as they choose. The most valuable thing a person can have is freedom. Did you know the various languages of the indigenous people of the North American Plains had no word for freedom. The concept was so integral, so basic, to their understanding of the universe and themselves that they had no need for the word. Because anything other than absolute individual freedom of choice was unknown." She mused as she thought over what Valkai said about what he percieved Raijin's intent to be. She didn't doubt him at all. He knew Solokaro's Paladin far better than she. Though her growing body of evidence did agree with him.

"Like the very old song says..."I will choose a path that’s clear, I will choose free will"** She half sang the lines to herself

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

Perigrine held up her hand for silence. "We've got company. I hear voices..and yes one of thems Michiko's."

She turned her head trying to track a more exact origin location for the voices.

"Jason, just down from where we are theres was an entrance to the 'at the rail' seating, remember we used it the first time we came down here. They sound like they are in there, perhaps hoping to find away into the arena proper by going over the railing."

Perigrine didn't hesitate as she headed out to intercept the new arrivals.

"Alright." Jason replied as he followed, as he could hear multiple voices and some of them may have needed aid.

Kolte cleared his throat loudly.

"And there's always me. I intend on helping as well. My injuries are not too severe that I cannot fight." Kolte stated, even as his hand clutched his side. With two lightsabers, he was also now more equipped to handle multiple threats.

"Well I'm glad to hear that we're not alone in this at least, but Jason, if we get in trouble I want you and Peri to take the kids and run."

"What 'I want' should be something you take into consideration only if you want to. You shouldn't do what 'I want' just cause 'I want' you to. I'm no ones master...I'll willingly be some ones partner, some ones friend, and work with them. Ruling 'over' isn't fun, working *with* is. Sharing is. Being an individual - and proud of it, but still part of the greater whole. I far prefer cats to dogs.'

"Well, what I want is to travel alongside you. My reasons remain my own, at least for the time being. Sorry," he shrugged, "but that's the way it's got to be for now."

"And Raijin is wrong if he intends to make this a theocracy. People must be free to worship as they choose. The most valuable thing a person can have is freedom. Did you know the various languages of the indigenous people of the North American Plains had no word for freedom. The concept was so integral, so basic, to their understanding of the universe and themselves that they had no need for the word. Because anything other than absolute individual freedom of choice was unknown."

He couldn't resist the jibe at her comments. "And those people have been gifted with what Fate, exactly? Anyway, it's your Creation attempt, not mine, so whatever you'd like to see is what you should push for. Just be careful."

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

Kiv was first to speak. "All right. I think it's time we actually sit down and discuss this."

"Agreed," Raijin answered. "Before we get into the details, though, remember that many of the people killed in the Conception world will be reincarnated. The exceptions, naturally, are those the Gods deem insufficiently worthy of another chance."

"And how many of those are we talking about?" Darvek asked.

Kiv looked at the other Director. "Between twenty and a hundred million."

"This is regardless of who performs the Creation?"

"Looks that way."

"Now," Raijin continued, "if things go even remotely close to the plan, we'll get to the goal first. Here's how things should look afterward..."

Several minutes passed. "But Raijin, how will we explain where all the Christians went?" Darvek asked.

"We tell the truth. They were ambushed, bombarded, and massacred. For once, it's not our fault that things worked in our favor."

"Some people are going to complain that Krioval's become a theocracy," Kiv added.

"People complain about everything. Try satisfying everybody and end up miserable yourself," Raijin countered. "In any case, do you all have any objections to proceeding with the next phase?"

"I'm good," Darvek said.

"Nothing's set in stone just yet, so I can wait," Kiv added.

"Let's do it," Koro concluded. The chant goes...

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

The four men chanted the arcane words for several minutes in the brightening aura of the Conception Disc. Bathed in an ethereal glow, power surged through the sixth level of Torokara, and an earsplitting sound of snapping metal and breaking concrete broke the stillness for an instant. The highest level of the city, now detached from the base, ascended majestically toward Kata Kara, ceasing its upward motion only to avoid colliding with the Disc and being absorbed. The Disc pulsed, and a message was transmitted into all capable of hearing it.

I shine at my brightest, filled with the souls who will form the next world. Eight cycles of my intensity will pass, and then will come the Creation. Those who are of sufficient strength and purpose may seek entrance to the highest place, and there determine the shape of things to come.

As the message faded, the awestruck people listening below resumed their earlier struggles for survival.

"And run where exactly, this is a defensible spot that has water and some food." Jason replied as the ground started to shake.

Xander felt as though an eternity had passed, though he knew it was only hours. The sensation of dying was quite peaceful, in reality, especially when your living body had been destroyed to the point his had been. Normally, when one who is strong with the Force dies, their bodies fade away, transforming into the Force itself. But, Xander had somehow managed to retain his identity, and had been focusing his energies so that he may return from the Force. Finally, some time after his death, he re-entered the physical plane only feet from his own blackened funeral pyre. He was in esscense a wraith, a concentration of the Force so that he could appear to those still living. He knew that physical contact was lost forever to him, but perhaps...He concentrated on the concrete slab that had served as his pyre, and lifted it into the air with the Force. He maintained this for only a second, though, because he felt himself being pulled apart by the Force itself. His power was greatly limited, at least for the time being. Perhaps he would be able to increase his power over time, but for now he would have to accept what he had. He felt that Kolte wasn't far from him, and decided to attempt to disapperate and reappear in Kolte's general location. He allowed himself to fade into an almost non-existant state, and then re-focused himself into the physical plane. He had succeded, though only partly. He was almost completly transparent now, and he knew that only Kolte would know he was there...

Michiko looked at Valkai and nodded as he spoke of holding on to his reasons. She had been wrong to be so pushy.

"Just be careful."

"I'll make sure of that" Perigrine's voice was cool, her face remote, carefully hiding her intense dislike of the man who'd hurt her friend so. She gave Michiko a look over and frowned at the bandage on her cheek. "Avoidable or un?" Michiko gave her a look that clearly said 'later' and Perigrine rolled her eyes, but let the matter drop.

"It looks like you've collected a group too" Michiko looked over to where Jason and the others that had followed him out stood. "We need to get moving. It's not safe here and Raijin is causeing more damage to structures that are already close to collapse. And I need to get to a certain place."

I shine at my brightest, filled with the souls who will form the next world. Eight cycles of my intensity will pass, and then will come the Creation. Those who are of sufficient strength and purpose may seek entrance to the highest place, and there determine the shape of things to come.

Perigrine looked at the tatoos adorning her friend.

"Let me guess. Michiko you run to trouble like a moth to a flame." She shook her head more than half admiringly, and with more than a touch of rue and exasperation. "But that what makes you, you. I'll get every one ready. We were considering getting out of the city. Safer outside."

"The violence is growing" Michiko nodded "We'll need to move as quickly as we can."

Perigrine nodded and waved Jason and the others over, and made hurried intorductions of those that Michiko hadn't met yet, Roger and his group, and Kolte.

"Michiko Jones, Emperess of Tanara, Roger McClintock Emperor, Empire of Man, and Kolte, Jedi...and Michiko says we need to move on out at best speed. Lets go get the children."

"What do you know of what's happened that we don't?" Jason asked "And what is Raijin's part in this?"

Michiko grimmaced, and tried, wearily, to marshal the information she had

"This is not a natural occurance. Raijin Dekker did a ritual called the Conception. Thats what caused this...destruction and death. The glowy disk is the Kata Kara, where the souls of those who die go to fuel the Creation which come soon.

Raijin decided that Krioval was going to the pits and needed major mojo to change it. He woke up the Gods. I am the chosen of Ashala. Thats what these tattoos indicate. Goddess of nature and balance...I think that sometimes when I do things it counts toward something but I'm not completely sure."

She sighed and scrubbed her face with her hands

"No one is required to come with me. It's your choice but theres a place, outside of Torokara that I need to get to. You are welcome to accompany me. I think it's going to be safer there than here.

As to why I'm going ...I have to, my conscience, my soul, won't let me not help if I can. I think Raijin unopposed may create something even he really doesn't want. I intend to stand against him. I intend to speak for those he is over looking, and any other who wish me to."

She smiled wryly and continued again "I'm not trained for this, but I can only do my best. I'm going to sit down and eat another of these wonderfully nutritious food bars, and rest for about five minutes, then I'm heading out with who ever wants to come with."

Micah Andros had heard the reverberating words from the new center of the world and despite the monastic training, cursed loudly. If Raijin or the Disc noticed, neither gave any such indication. He stormed toward the entryway, where the Slashers were returning victorious from the devastation in Bralos. Emotions surged through the normally reserved overseer of the Andretara monastery; unrestrained exultation at the defeat of the upstarts in the shattered city and fury toward the floating citadel that housed the Commander and his cohort, already awaiting their turn at Creation. "I'll make it up there if it kills me," Micah growled, and he turned abruptly. Heading into the underground labyrinthine passages, he struggled to remember the location of his secret device, the one that might just be of use in the coming hours. It would take over forty-five minutes to find, but when he would arrive, Micah Andros would again be a happy man.

As Michiko slid down to her haunches to start wolfing down another bar, Perigrine noted her weapons case, and scooped it up.

"Yes Peri, there's a set of your 'working blacks' in there, even if they are covered with debris dust enough to make them pale grey." She looked over to Jason and added

"Jason, I found part of your equipment bag hadn't been crushed, so I salvaged some of your weapons- they're in there with Peri's."

Perigrine headed back to the changing room.

Michiko stopped eating long enough to look at Valkai.

"Valkai, is there an airport here? I think that trying to reach that island Raijin spoke of on foot is not going to be possible, even for a small fast moving group. I think we need transportation."

"And run where exactly, this is a defensible spot that has water and some food." Jason replied as the ground started to shake.


"Just run, as long as you escape the kids will be safe, we found you just before you would have been attacked, and they'll probably be back, if we get attacked just tell me that you and Peri will take the kids and escape, ok?"

Roger was shouting to be heard over the shaking, and at that it was hard to hear himself.

*over Rogers comm system*

"Krindi, Pol, make sure the roof doesn't crush us, blast it into nothingness if you have to, just make sure no one gets crushed."

As Michiko slid down to her haunches to start wolfing down another bar, Perigrine noted her weapons case, and scooped it up.

"Yes Peri, there's a set of your 'working blacks' in there, even if they are covered with debris dust enough to make them pale grey." She looked over to Jason and added

"Jason, I found part of your equipment bag hadn't been crushed, so I salvaged some of your weapons- they're in there with Peri's."

Perigrine headed back to the changing room.

Michiko stopped eating long enough to look at Valkai.

"Valkai, is there an airport here? I think that trying to reach that island Raijin spoke of on foot is not going to be possible, even for a small fast moving group. I think we need transportation."

"So, Michiko I guess? I'm Roger, Emperor of Man, and I may have the answer to your problem, I arrived here in an assault shuttle that was modified for VIP transport, it's at the nearest airport I know of, and should still be flight worthy, if you're willing to use it."

Kolte nodded when he was introduced by Peri. To Michiko's invitation for anyone to go with her, he said as he pointed at the children.

"I am here to unfortunates like them escape this destruction. If going with you accomplishes that, then so be it."

He continued to listen to the discussion, not bothering to offer his input. Whatever they decided was fine with him, so long as it meant getting out of this (literally) god-forsaken place. Midway through the discussion, Kolte began to sense something stirring in the Force. Something was drawing near. It was strange, the presence was oddly familiar to Kolte. He scanned around and to his left he saw Xander. His master had returned. Kolte was overjoyed. Xander seemed to be hovering only inches off the ground, his body surrounded by a light blue aura. Kolte held in his exuberance, for he did not know if the others could see Xander or not. Kolte slowly walked away from the group, and once he was several yards away, he spoke.

"Master, you have returned." Kolte said with a smile on his face, tears began to well in his eyes.

"With some difficulty, old friend,"

Xander replied, speaking quietly to avoid alarming the children. He was sure that only Kolte would be able to see him, but he wasn't too sure about anyone else hearing him. He brought his meta-physical hand up to Kolte's shoulder near his neck in a gesture he hadn't used since Kolte was a teenager. He let go and walked off to his right and crossed his arms.

"I have a feeling that I won't be around for very long, though. I returned in front of my pyre and decided to disapperate and reappear here, and it took a lot out of me. I'll have to return to the Force and gather my strength again soon, but you needn't worry. I will always be with you, as will the Force. And I trust that you will make good use of my lightsaber," he finished with a smirk.

"Master, that may not be necessary. You see, since we have been apart, I have studied many arts of the Ancient Sith, hence the reason I was able to use the Force to conjour a ball of fire during our battle. My point is, the Sith possessed knowledge of many things that can be done through the Force, all of which they mistook for magic. Included in their knowledge are many necromancy spells." Kolte said, hinting to his master at what he intended to do. The fact that Xander's spirit was able to keep itself seperate from the Force made it all the more easier to attempt. Now Kolte waited for Xander to finish the thought.

"I am here to unfortunates like them escape this destruction. If going with you accomplishes that, then so be it."

"Thank you Kolte. Every bit of assisstance is appreciated." Michiko replied earnestly to Kolte, then turned to Roger, a small, wry smile on her lips

"Empire of Man...Thats one I haven't heard of...This may just cheese Raijin off, that he let the Emperor of Man out of his hands" She was so tired that it made some sort of sense to her. She checked her pack and noted thankfully that she did have some stims with her. She'd wait to use them though.

"Very pleased to meet you Roger. Now, how many can that shuttle hold, if it hasn't been smashed flat? and do you have your own pilot? I can fly nearly any thing but some one familiar with it is always safer."

Jason nodded to Roger, not in true acceptance, thought in understanding. He followed Peri to see what was useful and what was trashed.

Valkai waited for the commotion to wind down. "Go ahead and try flying that thing. When it gets sucked straight into Kata Kara, don't blame me. Gravity doesn't work the way it normally does here. See?" He pointed to the now-detached sixth level of the city, floating midway between the top of the fifth level and the Disc. "There is another way, though. Do any of you have problems with transdimensional travel?"

"There is another way, though. Do any of you have problems with transdimensional travel?"

"I was hoping that that was some sort of independant antigrav" Michiko joked weakly, but her tentative smiled died at the look on Valkai's face.

"I'm willing to try it." She finished the last of the bar, and stood, pocketing the wrapper rather than add to the litter. It was a ingrained consideration for the environment.

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

Pergrine opned the substancial case and began handing Jason's weapons to him. Once they'd been seperated out, she stood and gently stepped into his arms. One hand tangled into his sapphire locks and drew his lips to her. The kiss was long and rich with emotion.

"Jason, I love you, and I have had more happiness with you in these few hours than I have had in my entire life."

Then she was turning away, pulling out her working blacks and beginning to change. Soon she was fitting her many small weapons about her, her katana strapped comfortably across her back. Her eyes were dark and remote above the veil but she grasped Jason's hands and squeezed them tightly. Then she was turning about and striding from back to the Empress.

Jason enjoyed the kiss, and returned her comment with a loving smile. He strapped on the pistol, and noted the only ammo cartridge remaining were the pulsar rounds. He then loaded, and modulated the rounds, while leaving the gauntlets and blades, but taking the staff. He then followed Peri, using the staff as a walking stick.

"I'm willing to try it."

"In that case, we'll need to find one of those cylindrical devices that our good friend saw fit to scatter around the city. Places where the destruction was least would be good places to look."

She finished the last of the bar, and stood, pocketing the wrapper rather than add to the litter. It was a ingrained consideration for the environment.

Michiko senses she has had a small, yet decisive, impact on the world.

Saul's journey was longer than he'd anticipated by a great deal. Detouring around shattered rubble too rough to cross, climbing around shaky heaps, and looking for signs-any sign, that would point him to a safe place for the child led him on a circle-chase ever upward. then, the very earth shook again, and the pavement behind him split.
There were screams of tortured re-bar and rumbling masonry as the segment he was on lifted away from the rest of the city.

Airborne, he realized how far he'd travelled.

Oh dear. The child started to cry, and Saul dug out a formula-pack he'd found in the ambulance with the infant.
"There there... it will be better soon..."

the babe nursed from a nutrient packet in something resembling quiet.
Long way down... Saul looked at the receding base of the city, and up at the growing sun-disc. I hope.

"Master, that may not be necessary. You see, since we have been apart, I have studied many arts of the Ancient Sith, hence the reason I was able to use the Force to conjour a ball of fire during our battle. My point is, the Sith possessed knowledge of many things that can be done through the Force, all of which they mistook for magic. Included in their knowledge are many necromancy spells." Kolte said, hinting to his master at what he intended to do. The fact that Xander's spirit was able to keep itself seperate from the Force made it all the more easier to attempt. Now Kolte waited for Xander to finish the thought.
Xander stroked his ghostly beard as he pondered Kolte's remarks.

"I know of one technique that the Sith developed that involved forcing a wayward spirit into a clone of themself, but unfortunately I'm short on clones at the moment. Let's see, my pyre was blackened but free of ash, so I assume you have my remains tucked away on your person at the moment, but unless you can restore my body, I'm rather at a loss as to how necromancy would help at the moment...unless we used a different body, but that would be so confusing..."

Perigrine halted, putting up an arm to gently stop Jason, and her hand flicked to discretely direct his attention.

Michiko had found the children. Down on one knee, then sitting, she had unzipped the pouch carrying the ratlings and was now introducing them and the children to one another. Squeals mixed with oohhs and ahhs rose and fell, each child reacting as to their fears, nature, and experiences. Her voice carried softly over the hubbub, calming here, laughing with there. She listened to their names and used them as she set about getting to know them. Her attention was wholly on them, the adults fading into background, in a manner that drew the children in and engaged them. Emboldened the children began to speak more freely, venturing snippets of information about themselves, and asking questions.

Carefully she set one rat in the cupped hands of a fair skinned blonde girl who'd managed to eel in next to her and sit tailor fashion. The boldest of the three crawled on his on into the hands of the oldest boy there, the one that Perigrine had hold the rescued infant, Vallia, for a time. The third offered to the most timorous but not pushing the issue when the youth backed away. Several minutes later he was tugging at her sleeve and holding out his hand. Which a warm smile that crinkled her eyes the last onw was tipped into his hands for slow, fascinated inspection and stroking. Michiko dug out a food bar, and breaking it up, let the children help her feed it to the hungry young ones, showing them how soft the fur was and how twitchy ratling noses made whiskers dance and quiver

"Yes they are baby rats Kiv...no, Marilee, they don't eat people normally... yes they can carry diseases” A gently tickling poke into a toddlers belly button, producing a gurgle of laughter. “No more so than bright eyes here -these are babies too… touch gently now." She tried to answer the barrage of questions, catching those she could, especially those asked in the more hesitant and fearful voices. Seeking to reassure the traumatized youngsters and turn their attention to the lesson at hand.

"Where'd you get them?" One of the bigger boys asked loudly as he craned his head over two smaller girls.

"I found them living in the walls, Gordon, but their home had fallen in." One of the children wailed and Michiko brought up her free hand to cup a quivering cheek. "Yes I know it looks like everyone else's did too Mark. So we’ve got to bring them with us, help them like we’re helping each other." With gentle pressure she drew the lad in to a one armed hug that left him leaning against her shoulder, eyes calmer and snuffles dieing away. "Oop’s happen. The best we can do is do what seems right and help those that need us. We will get through this, and them too." She spoke strongly, subtly making sure her voice carried to all those in the group. She ruffled a head of tousled black hair and charmed a smile from down turned lips “Each of us one by one and all of us together.”

"Who put crayons on your arms” One of the girls, wide-eyed reached out and stroked the very visible tattoos on the Empress’s arms.

Michiko’s laugh rose again “Ashala did….What?…no I don’t think they’re going to wash off.” She answered a new barrage of questions, sharing what little she knew of the Kriovalian goddess’s and god’s, cheerfully accepting corrections from her young audience if they offered “I knows” to correct her mistakes.

Not worrying how long it was taking Michiko did her best to allay the children’s fears and concerns, as openly and honestly as possible, choosing her word to fit the understanding of her questioners. She didn’t try and hide that there would be ‘more scary things’, ‘strange things’, probably even ‘too weird to be cool’ things, happening. She drew the listening adults in to the conversation, but didn’t let them dominate it. This was the children’s time. And the adults recognized this and tried as best they could to reach out to them, add their reassurances to Michiko’s. Her tired but ready smile brought smiles from them in return. Slowly the orphaned children and shaken adults began to form a whole. Time and again they were reassured that the adults were here to protect them, help them, and would do their best to explain. That it was okay to cry and be afraid, but to not let fear stop them. Her glance swept over the adults making sure they understood and would take their part in caring for the children. Letting them know that she knew that they would not let her down.

Perigrine pulled Jason close and whispered in his ear “That’s what got her into trouble in the first place. That terribly earnest face and the fact that she *knows* that deep down inside each of us, there is a hero just waiting to be let loose, a ‘white knight’ shining within.”

"Restoring your body is part of the necromancy, actually. The ashes merely need some water and a few basic chemicals and minerals and I should be able to alchemically restore your flesh. It makes me hate the fact that I cremated your body in the first place, but I doubt you could have ressurected in it, it was nearly cremated anyway. You return to your...domain... and regain strenth while I prepare the ingredients." Kolte said, matter of factly.

"Restoring your body is part of the necromancy, actually. The ashes merely need some water and a few basic chemicals and minerals and I should be able to alchemically restore your flesh. It makes me hate the fact that I cremated your body in the first place, but I doubt you could have ressurected in it, it was nearly cremated anyway. You return to your...domain... and regain strenth while I prepare the ingredients." Kolte said, matter of factly.
Xander was impressed with Kolte's knowledge of the ancient arts, but didn't comment. He was already beginning to fade anyway, and knew his time was short.

"I shall leave you to your work, then Kolte. May the Force be with us both...oh, wait! Do you think its possible to restore me to a younger body? Just a thought. Until next we meet..."

Xander allowed himself to fade away into the Force, and entered a meditative state, once again gathering his power for the transition into the physical realm...

Kolte chuckled to his master's comment. Restoring Xander to a younger body would be nice, in theory. However, it was best that Kolte try to restore it to the way it was when Xander's Force-spirit left, making the transition back all the more easier. Now, how to go about collecting the materials. Water would be the hardest thing to find, the refugees needed every bit they could get. Also, staying with the current group, someone was bound to disapprove of his actions, especially at a time like this. So Kolte reluctantly decided to set out on his own. He approached Jason and Perigrine, discreetly calling their names to get their attention.

"You've been very kind to me...and I wish I could return the favor, but I must go now. I have some...business to attend to, alone. I do not know if I will return to you or not. If I don't, I hope that you all get out of this place alive. I wish you well, goodbye."

With those words, Kolte turned to leave. His mind focused on all the materials he would need and how he would enact the binding of Xander's spirit to his body.

"She's an romantic." Jason said with a slight chuckle as he watched a ratling crawl up one of the kids arm.

I wish you well, goodbye."Kolte said as he turned to leave.

"Fare ye well, and be cautious." Perigrine replied as she watched Kolte leave, then turned back to Jason. She didn't know what drove him, but hoped he would fare well.

"She's an romantic." Jason chuckled.

"In many ways you are right. Despite the fact that she knows the ugly side of things far too personally, she still believes in people."

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

The time that Michiko had spent sitting with the children reviatalised her and she got to her feet with out needing help. Solemnly she belted the carry case for the ratlings around one young girls waist, and smiled as the lass carefully gathered up her new charges and settled them in safely. Stretching and twisting to limber muscles she went back to Valkai.

"I remember seeing the Parliament building building when I was aflight. Other than the immense amount of shattered glass it seemed remarkably untouched. A museum on the fifth level seemed relatively undestroyed. She named off two places that remained prominent in her memory "Also the hospital where we found Raijin was nearly undamaged as well. However I'd guess that "Raijin's Army" might dispute our passage?"

The question wasn't much of one, she was all but certain if they tried to make it back to the hospital there would be combat. Michiko hoped that Valkai might indicate one of the other two as possible locations, but would risk the hospital and potential combat if it was necessary.

Xander had been gathering himself when he realized that he could communicate with Kolte without manifesting in the physical realm, and he was assisted by the fact that Kolte was carrying his two most prized possessions: his lightsaber, and his body. It wouldn't require much strength, so he focused and called out to his friend...

"Mind hurrying up my friend? It gets kinda lonely...here, for lack of a better word..."

"Actually," the ninja said, pointing toward the other side of the arena, "there's a smallish one behind that very door. Once we enter the transdimensional portal, make sure to follow the map very carefully. We don't want to get lost in there."

"I am here to unfortunates like them escape this destruction. If going with you accomplishes that, then so be it."

"Thank you Kolte. Every bit of assisstance is appreciated." Michiko replied earnestly to Kolte, then turned to Roger, a small, wry smile on her lips

"Empire of Man...Thats one I haven't heard of...This may just cheese Raijin off, that he let the Emperor of Man out of his hands" She was so tired that it made some sort of sense to her. She checked her pack and noted thankfully that she did have some stims with her. She'd wait to use them though.

"Very pleased to meet you Roger. Now, how many can that shuttle hold, if it hasn't been smashed flat? and do you have your own pilot? I can fly nearly any thing but some one familiar with it is always safer."

OOC: I've been away, forgive me for responding to an old post, but it still seems relevent to me.

IC:

"Well, if it's not trashed we've got Honal to fly it, and it should be able to hold all of us if we squeeze, but if we get many more people it'll be pretty iffy, it's made to loft a plattoon of marines, so we should be fine."

"Thank you Roger, but I think Valkai has a very accurate assessment of the situation. The gods have decided that some of the 'laws' of nature aren't very applicable right now." Michiko looked toward the once sixth level of Torokara and frowned. "And Valkai says one of the interdimentional cylinders is here. That makes far less distance we have to travel. The remains of the city are starting to come apart at the seams, and I'm not just refering to the landscape. The violence is getting worse and worse, and while I would like to gather up more, I have those already here to think of and save for your group, myself and bodyguards, none have combat ops training."

She looked over at Valkai questioningly. "Valkai, how 'long' does this dimentional travel take? And the announcement that was made, it refered to eight cycles. Do you know how long each cycle takes?"

"Assuming you know how to read a map, it shouldn't take more than a few minutes." Valkai paused thoughtfully. "As for the cycles of Kata Kara, they appear to take about six hours. So we've about forty-six hours left, judging by how bright the Disc is right now. Should I start inputting coordinates? Exactly how many people are coming?"

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

Kiyoshi looked at Gelt intently. "Tell me, why are you here during the Conception? Do you seek to contend for the Creation as well?"

Michiko stopped and did a quick head count. She had collected nearly twenty seven at the plaza, they hadn't encounted any others on their way here, though she had at times though she heard people in the distance. There were fifteen children including the infant. Roger's people numbered thirteen, and then there were Perigrine and Jason. She noted that Kolte had disappeared, and frowned slightly.

"Counting Kolte there are sixty of us right now. Lets take an hour to do a sweep of the area close to the arena. However."

Michiko turned to Roger "I want you and your people to stay here and guard those already here. I'm going to take Jason and Perigrine. A small group will move faster."

Looking over to Valkai "I'd prefer it if you stayed here and kept an eye on that device, perhaps started setting it."

Jason was doing a few stretches, as well as a few simple staff moves. He was working on working a kink out of his back and just to relax, the moves flowing into another without consious thought. He would be ready to move out when Michiko was.

Perigrine appreciated the limber movements of her mate, watching silently as Jason stretched out. Then she stepped in beside him, her movements in harmony with his, but with a jo stick, as she had not packed a staff. Her nano's had taken care of the heavy lactic acid buildup in her muscles, but staying flexible was always a good idea. Her face was serene, eyes almost closed as she glided through the kata

Michiko stopped and did a quick head count. She had collected nearly twenty seven at the plaza, they hadn't encounted any others on their way here, though she had at times though she heard people in the distance. There were fifteen children including the infant. Roger's people numbered thirteen, and then there were Perigrine and Jason. She noted that Kolte had disappeared, and frowned slightly.

"Counting Kolte there are sixty of us right now. Lets take an hour to do a sweep of the area close to the arena. However."

Michiko turned to Roger "I want you and your people to stay here and guard those already here. I'm going to take Jason and Perigrine. A small group will move faster."

Looking over to Valkai "I'd prefer it if you stayed here and kept an eye on that device, perhaps started setting it."


"Ok, that was my plan, but I appreciate the support, the violence is definitely flaring up, I'm just surprised we haven't been hit yet."

The God of Irony, and Murphy who is His prophet took exception to that statement, because just as Roger finished speaking, a gang of thugs showed up with some pretty heavy weapons, as evidinced by the shots that suddenly went cracking past Rogers head.

The groups Chameleon suits would probably stop anything they were hit with, for a while, but eventually the suits would fail, and then they were fucked, but Krindi had a solution to that problem, firing mono-net shredder rounds at the enemy, they sliced through skin and bone like paper, and stone like wood, but eventually they stopped, and there were still quite a few thugs left, well, time for Pol to lend a hand.

Erkum Pol was massive, even for a Mardukan, he stood nearly 4 meters tall, and was armed with a plasma cannon that would normally be mounted on a tank, but he was still Erkum Pol, which is why his first three shots blew very large holes in a wall, the floor, and the sky, coming nowhere near the attackers. Oh well, the rest of the Posse should be enough to handle this, and they opened fire, the hypersonic CRACK! of rifle and pistol beads punctuated by the BOOM! of Rastars revolvers and Honals shotgun, as they layed into the threat, Rastar and Honal began to move forward, forcing the Posse to hold their fire for fear of hitting them, all except Roger, who continued to crack out single shots with inhuman accuracy.

"Valkai, get moving on that transport will you, we can hold them until you're ready, but not if you take forever about it."

Then it was back to shooting, Rogers shots now accompanied by Tomcats and Kosutics, who had gotten an angle to fire while Roger yelled to Valkai, but only 9 guns couldn't hold them forever, and the gang slowly advanced, ducking from cover to cover, and keeping Honal and Rastar with their heads down, and they would soon be cut off if they weren't careful. They were obviously intent on something unpleasant, but what they wanted was not readily apparent, they seemed to be here and attacking just for the pleasure of the injuries they might inflict, striking at what seemed to be undefended women and children for ne better reason than that they were there.

There, Kolte thought, water and traces of about 30 elements essential for the human body to function. He had just finished placing all the minerals he had gathered on a large stone slab before he heard Xander's voice. It was time. He was ready.

"You can manifest, now, master. I have the necessary materials." Kolte thought. He directed the thought into the Force, and through the Force into Xander's ashes, the only thing that stilled seperated his spirit from the Force. He awaited Xander's transition with the anticipation of a 5-year-old at a birthday party.

There, Kolte thought, water and traces of about 30 elements essential for the human body to function. He had just finished placing all the minerals he had gathered on a large stone slab before he heard Xander's voice. It was time. He was ready.

"You can manifest, now, master. I have the necessary materials." Kolte thought. He directed the thought into the Force, and through the Force into Xander's ashes, the only thing that stilled seperated his spirit from the Force. He awaited Xander's transition with the anticipation of a 5-year-old at a birthday party.
Xander refocused his energies and willed himself into the material world, manifesting at Kolte's side. The transition was much faster this time, and his body was much more opaque than before. Looking at the slab before him, he said without a trace of humor in his voice, "Now tell me how exactly you plan on turning that into my body, whilst planting me inside it?"

"It's really basic alchemy."

Kolte pointed to some water.

"The body is 85% water. That will come in handy."

He pointed to large clumps of animal fat.

"The polysaccharides contained within this animal fat will allow me to reform your tissues."

He pointed to a pile of medicinal tablets.

"Those calcium chews will allow me to rebuild your bones."

Finally, he turned to Xander, an earnest, yet completely serious expression on his face.

"I will require complete concentration on this task so as not to screw anything up, so I will enter a Jedi trance. As soon as the body begins to form, begin transferring your energies to the midichloriansinside. That will produce quite a mental strain, since you will be focusing all of yourself into your Force powers. You'll have a nice bit of a headache when you awaken. Do you understand what you're to do? And do you wish to attempt this?"