NationStates Jolt Archive

Eamonn nodded.

"In what way?" Namus asked, his eyes closed. "There is magical interferrence attempting to get into this line, I would be wary in what you say."

Baron Skye's hologram never turned from Sevren. But the voice responded. "And all they shall hear is static, if anything at all." At this close range it would have been easy to note that Skye's mouth did not move as the voice worked.

"There are no auditory input/output devices built into this particular device. I simply require the capability to see the intended recipient of my attention in order to initiate clairsentience and sending capabilities. However, if you would be so kind as to explore the possibility of adding falsehoods to their collected information I would be grateful indeed."

The voice roamed about the room as it continued to speak, closing in on the three Genin as if conducting a cursory inspection.

"I see you hired ninjas to assist in the situation, Sevren."

"I... err... I needed protection that could stay out of casual sight."

"Are those dracolich bones outside?"

"Yessir."

The voice wafted over to Eamonn. "Answer honestly. Do you believe your students to be up to the challenge of defeating whatever creatures these necromancers send? I have no doubt that there will be some form of escalation occurring with each defeat these nefarious individuals suffer. Much though I realize that you would have confidence in your students, I find myself wondering if this would not be a project better handled by multiple teams at the very least. I am simply curious as to whether or not I should plan for this fiasco being made into an impromptu Chounin exam."

Eamonn's expression never changed. "They are Sands best Genin," he said. "They are of course up to the job otherwise thet would never have been sent on this mission. Do not let their ages fool you, they are better than some ninja's my own age." He went quiet for a moment. "I would not worry about an impromptu Chuunin exam, it would give them good practice for the real thing."

"As it should be, I suppose. If it is not hiking up a treacherous mountain into a cave filled with illegally enhanced neo-nazis, it is a protection mission involving undead dragons and the ultimate nasty-gram. It is never routine when it comes to us, it would seem."

"Mister Namus, it is noted that there are arcane signatures registering under the ambassador's bed, one by the window, and one just in front of the fire escape door. Unfortunately, identifying such things is far more difficult for me than simply locating them."

Namus nodded. "While we're at it, you may want to get a better firewall," he mentioned. "From here I can make you a cup of coffee."

Hearing what Baron Skye told Namus, Tavan walked over and looked under Sevrens bed. "Yeah, I can certainly feel it under there."

"Indeed?" Skye's voice asked in response to Namus' comment. "If you would then be so kind as to make it black with two sugars I would be appreciative. And then, if you are actually capable of managing such an order from this glorified walkie-talkie I would seek to hire you on as a consultant with quite a healthy salary."

On the other side, Namus procceded to make the coffee, black with two sugars. The cup of coffee was then delivered to Baron Skye.

"You see, using your network I am able to get around," he explained. "Fortunately I am not malicious, but I warn there are some who could cause harm this way. In this case I would refer you to the Kukai Foundation, the only company to have created a firewall that can keep me out, they would make better consultants than I."

"A... firewall... is not necessary for an unconnected system. This is a hard line. In and out with hardwired destinations. How the bloody 'ell did you pull that off?"

Skye's voice surged towards Namus, and an invisible force pushed Namus away, gently though with strength of iron, and the holodisplay began to pop panel after panel. Skye's image vanished as parts rearranged and realigned with lightning speed. Suddenly, everything stopped and Skye's voice continued.

"Sevren why did you not tell me you had this reciever upgraded with transmitter components?"

Sevren quirked an eyebrow. "I was not aware that it had been so modified."

The voice took on a newly icy tone, and several arcane circles formed around the transmitter. "Blasted necromancers. I shall show them the true meaning of a dataplague! Tell me Namus, do you know the difference between scrying and hacking?"

"Internal firewalls can in some cases be required, especially between locations," Namius mentioned. "If one area is compromised then it'll help stop them getting anywahere else."

He opened his eyes and stepped back, rubbing his forehead.

"One is seeing into an area by magical means, the other requires a computer to gain access."

"Close," Skye's voice replied, as the holodisplay began to hum with a surge of internal energy. "Very close indeed.

"I put it to you, mister Namus, to understand that the difference between scrying and hacking is in all actuality quite infinitesimal. One knows roughly what he seeks in the execution of both tasks, and there are certain external apparatus involved in pursuit of the objective: information. You might say that the coffee that rests on my desk is a result of a simplistic hacking job, but it is important to note that what you committed is actually termed 'cracking'. Quite a difference, truth be told. Cracking a computer, in essence bending a computer to the will of the offender and causing damage to one or more components, is very much akin to using scrying to target a particular individual with harmful magicks.

"In conclusion, the only true difference between the two concepts is the form of energies involved. In the same manner that these daring deviants have desecrated my device, I shall turn the interface against them.

"Mister Namus, if you would be so kind as to inspect my work, I believe I have crafted a suitable counterspell that will leave at least one member of this thoroughly determined cabal as nought but a gibbering wreck for the rest of his days. They destroyed my embassy, and they tampered with my communications systems. I do believe it is high time that they learn that their unconventional war causes unconventional casualties, do you not agree?"

"Yes, I agree," Namus said, closing his eyes once again. He began searching over the network. "But it seems they have already given up, I cannot sense the attempt that I sensed before." He opened his eyes once again. "Your counterspell should work if they should try again."

"I doubt they will... it is unfortunate that my detection capabilities are hampered in this respect. They may simply be different energies, but they are still different, and it is difficult for me to locate signatures without direct concentration. Do any of the other signals remain?"

Namus shook his head, "Nope, they might have sensed me," he admitted. "That would have alerted them."

Tavan stood up from beside the bed. "The arcane signatures are still here though."

"That is exactly what I need," Skye's voice replied, drifting towards the bed. "I should hope that they remain in their original position."

"They're either traps or scrying attempts," Tavan mentioned. "There is only a slight possibility of being able to send something nasty back to them via the arcane signatures." He rubbed his chin and sighed. "But these are powerful necromancers, they're not stupid enough to allow anyone to do such a thing without a trap."

"Of that I have no doubt, but it is also necessary to point out that from where I come from, there is a simple rule: 'No matter how good you are, there is always somebody better than you.' In a realm where such attrition is commonplace, I feel it something of an accomplishment that I have lived as long as I have and seen enough to note that not a single moment of that time was wasted. That being said, accomplished necromancers they may be, but I do indeed suspect I have dealt with worse, and very much understand the methods they would use."

Lights sparkled from under the bed as more rune circles fell into place.

"Magical energy is actually something of a fingerprint. It is unique to the invoker or invokers and is actually very much a part of them. There is always some life energy poured into the magical workings of various spells, be they simple scrying spells or arcane traps. In this manner, it is actually quite a simple manner to work a hex using their own magical emplacements as the targeting apparatus. Should the trespassers ever feel it proper to utilize their own workings in the future, they will most likely wake up two weeks later with an extreme case of dyslexia. As you or your colleagues would no doubt understand, mispronouncing magical writing often leads to unfortunate, if not quite explosive, consequences."

The voice moved to the third signature and more rune circles fell into place, fading away soon after.

"If the rest of you would be so kind as to look for any other signatures, I am afraid that my sight is somewhat strained at such a large distance and I cannot see if there are any others. I have checked on the well-being of my wayward ambassador, and now must return to matters of state that unfortunately wait for no man."

And the voice faded, although everbody in the room would have felt the distinct sensation that the man had bowed with a flourish before dissipating contact.

Eamonn nodded at the mention of magical consequences. He had no time to say anything before Baron Skye's hologram went and instead turned to Sevren. "Even so it may not be wise to stay here," he said. "I would expect another attack to be much larger than the one we just experianced."

Sevren sighed in response to Eamonn's comment. "And I wanted to keep this low key... perhaps it would be better to allow such a thing to be handled by those trained in not being noticed. I shall allow one of my Psions to remain here and keep in touch with the Primarch. As of this point, I shall place myself in your protective custody. I do not know of any better protected areas than those that I have just found desecrated by these necromantic interlopers, so I suspect anything you can think of will be just as, if not more effective than anything I consider."

Eamonn slowly shook his head. "The safest place is the hidden village," he said. "But we know what happened there and recently what happened here." Though his eyes were hidden by his sunglasses, they narrowed as he thought over the problem they faced. "In truth, there is nowhere on this planet that is safe for you."

"To leave the planet would risk upsetting relations, and I am not willing to take such an action even in such dire circumstances."

Eamonn nodded in agreement. "Then we will have to head for a less populated part of the planet," he suggested.

Tavan meanwhile was checking the magic that Baron Skye had used, it had seemed rather interesting.

Closer inspection of Baron Skye's magical signatures revealed that they were not powered by magical energy, but by psionic energy that seemed to twist itself around the magical signatures of the necromantic interlopers. The rune circle around the necromantic signature was extremely complex, indicating to the more experienced practitioners that it was not one circle but several overlaid on top of each other.

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"I agree," Sevren replied, "but once again I have no idea where a good place might be, as I have never been beyond the city limits until yesterday."

"Interesting," Tavan said to himself.

"I'm sure we could get somewhere nice and quiet in the countryside," Eamonn then said. "Despite our large population we still have vast unpopulated areas."

Tavan stood up and walked over to them. "You're welcome to stay at one of my families mansions," he offered.

"That seems as good a suggestion as any, at the moment," Sevren said.

Tavan gave a smile. "I know the perfect one," he then said. "It's in the Cheydinhal Mountains. Lush forests and lakes with snow tipped mountains."

Sevren looked out the window again, smoke and rubble visible even from this great height. "And hopefully," he said, "a goodly number of anti-aircraft batteries."

Tavan shook his head. "No, magic yes," he said and looked in Daniel's direction. "Maybe even dragons." He managed a smile. "Sometimes there are dragons in the area and they are rather loyal."

"Yes... I suspect that would be a suitable, if not superior option. I would like to retrieve some clothing first however. I am feeling rather dusty after all that has happened today, and am presently beset by the urge to spend the rest of the night at the bottom of a pool... I do hope it has a pool..."

Tavan shook his head. "No pool, but there is a lake," he then mentioned.

Namus stretched his arms and cracked his knuckles before suppressing a yawn, going through computers like that usually took quite a bit out of him.

"It's our best option right now," Eamonn said of Tavan's offer.

"What is a lake but a pool with more tenants?" Sevren asked as he headed off to the rather small closet in the corner. He was about to open it when he paused slightly and looked at the two magic-workers. "Um... I think I shall let you two clear the area before I go opening doors that possibly should not be opened..."

Tavan raised an eyebrow, "How do you mean?" he questioned him.

"The Baron said he could not see if there were any more signatures, so I would like to have you two make sure that opening this door will not result in some explosive rune burning my face off..."

Namus looked toward Tavan who nodded.

"That can be done, just give me a few minutes," the silver haired man said before sitting down.

Sevren stepped away from the closet to give the two warders room to work. "A few minutes in exchange for maintaining facial integrity is an acceptable trade."

Tavan stepped forward and held his arm out. "Gwyrdd ca hynny a hud Mai," he then said, closing his eyes.

The room took on a green tint, save for the signatures which Baron Skye had lready detected which turned a very dark green.

"Looks clean," Namus mentioned.

Tavan said nothing, he just stood there not moving.

"Alright."

Sevren opened up the door and pulled a single suitcase out from the top shelf.

"We always travel light," he said as he moved back towards the elevator.

Something dark green moved across the floor toward Sevren.

"Hold it!" Tavan yelled.

Sevren stopped cold approximately as Tavan had gotten to the letter L in his shout.

Tavan opened his eyes and drew a sword from beneath his robes, before leaping across the room and plunging his sword into the dark green shape. A strange green goo bubbled from where the sword had pierced it and emitted a rotten egg-like smell.

"Ah fuck that stinks," Daniel complained, covering his face with his top.

Sevren turned to regard the very dead and very smelly thing that had come after him.

"I feel as though I should recall what that thing is, but right now my nose is screaming epithets at me for daring to expose it to such a heinous stench."

Tavan knelt down beside the dead thing, he didn't seem to be effected by the stench. Perhaps he was using magic to keep the stench from him.

"A demon familiar," he said. "Demon summoners tend to use them, usually the victim is dead before they even know it's there. A good job I was watching your back."

"A bloody imp?" Sevren asked, then turned away from the icky thing. "Never mind. I suspect it is time that we make our exit."

"One for the maids to clean up, a shadowbeast," Tavan mentioned. He held his hand out and a red light came from it. "Now no one can ressurrect it, the staff here are quite safe now."

Eamonn looked toward Sevren. "The sooner we leave, the better."

"Will we be going through that portal again?" Daniel questioned.

Sevren looked out the observation window towards the wreckage of the embassy. "The controls were in there. No, I think that we shall need more mundane means of transportation."

"Like a car?" Tavan asked. "If so, I'll go get mine ready."

Sevren nodded. "Yes, if you would be so kind. Much though I would prefer an aircraft, I suspect it would be unwise to be caught in the air should more of those dracoliches decide to come over."

Tavan managed a smile. "But my car can fly," he pointed out. "It's also certified for short space flights between this planet and it's moons."

Without waiting for a reply he headed out to get his car.

Sevren was, of course, directly behind him. "You'll have to pardon my anachronistic thinking with respect to cars. Centuries of using spacefold portals for anything over a half hour's walk away has made me and mine somewhat 'quaint' in that respect."

As they approached the 'car', Sevren beamed. "OO! It has windows!"

Tavan unlocked the car and sat in the drivers seat as the others climbed in. There was more then enogh space for all of them as it seemed much larger inside then it did on the outside.

"This feels like a road trip," Daniel grinned.

Sevren looked inside, then outside, then back inside, then entered the car.

"I do believe this is something like a tardis. Quite interesting indeed."

"A little yes, a magic spell actually," Tavan admitted. "Best not to imagine what wqould happen if the spell was to be deactivated if the cars full."

In the back seat, Daniel and Katsuo laughed at the mention of it.

"Now if everyones ready we can leave."

Sevren was already buckled in, his attention rapt on the windows.

Once everyone was strapped in, Tavan pulled away. Onto the motorway, the silver-haired man tapped something on the dashboard before leaning back and putting his feet up.

"Make yourselves comfy, it's a three hour journey," he warned.

"Three hours?" Daniel groaned. "It's too small in here."

Sevren's attention remained riveted on the scenery outside, suprisingly enough watching the ground move past brought him no end of amazement.

During the journey, Daniel and Katsuo had begun to play a game that really annoyed Katana. She had ended up knocking their heads together and had it not be for Eamonn a fight would have taken place. For the rest of the journey the two boys just whispered between themselves.

Eventually Tavan drove off the motorway and took to a country road. There was no other traffic around as they drove up to a large, ivy covered mansion. He parked the car in front of the main doors and they got out.

"Here we are, Hammerfell House," Tavan announced. "Completely out of civilisations way."

For the duration of the trip, Sevren's attention remained riveted on watching the world go by. As they came upon the Mansion and exited the vehicle, Sevren raised an eyebrow and whistled slightly.

"When I think back to the embassy, I have the suspicion that my time here might spoil me for any possibility of return to my official venue."

Daniel looked up at Sevren. "How so?" he asked.

The others were already heading inside the mansion.

"Well, apart from my room in the hotel, the majority of my accomodations were rather spartan. I do not complain when I say this, but I suspect that I will feel quite 'coddled' here..."

Daniel put his hands behind his head and grinned. "So long as you don't mind hearing Cyredathems training to all hours of the morning," he said. "And the fact that dragons often fly around this area and fight one another."

"I can turn off my hearing."

Tavan heard that and laughed. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get used to it," he said. "Now come inside, it looks like its going to piss down."

Daniel quickly headed inside.

Sevren stayed outside to let the rain hit him for a few seconds before walking into the mansion. "I always enjoy the smell of the rain as it first comes down. The coolness of the water also never fails to refresh."

"You're strange," Katana remarked before disappearing through another doorway.

Tavan looked over at Daniel, "Show our guest to the guest rooms, you know where they are."

Daniel nodded and looked over at Sevren as he headed for the large staircase. "Come one."

The painting that decorated the main hallway seemed to stare at them as they moved, their eyes watching intently.

"A very nice locale indeed," Sevren commented as he walked through the halls. "Spacious, but not overwhelming. A very fine balance indeed. I would venture to use the word cozy, but those paintings are giving me... what is the term? Heebie-jeebies?"

"Well you give us the heebie-jeebies," the painting of a young silver-haired man replied.

"Ignore the paintings, they're just dumb A.I. really," Tavan warned.

"We're hardly dumb."

"Hmm!" Sevren said, studiously observing the painting that had rather abruptly retorted at him. "Curious indeed... do these paintings have touchscreen qualities?" He poked the character in the painting on the forehead.

An arm appeared out of the painting and poked him back.

"There see how you like it," the painting replied.

Tavan sighed and shook his head. "Great Uncle Tiber please don't taunt the guests."

"He started it."

Sevren grinned happily. "Interactive ancestry, quite interesting! Holographic qualities as well or is it just animated paint?"

"It's what I guess you could call animated paint," Tavan said. "It's painted the same way that old earth paintings were painted."

His eyes rested on the painting of his great uncle.

"Of course the difference is in the materials used, in this paint tiny particles are mixed into the paint and as they dry, they form something similar to the inside of a computer."

"Like liquid metal but with paint? Very interesting indeed! I shall have to ask the GRM representatives about this." He turned around and began to walk away. "In any event I suspect your great uncle would appreciate being left to himself once again."

"Damn right I would," the painting scowled. "Leave me in peace and don't ever think of poking me again, I know how to electrocute you."

Tavan sighed. "They also take on the personality of their subjects," he then said.

Sevren turned at the painting's threat and poked a finger at it. "One word: Turpentine."

Turning back to Tavan before continuing off, he winked slightly.

"You know this means WAR!" the painting yelled at him.

Daniel was waiting for Sevren at the top of the stairs. "Come on, the guest rooms are this way."

Tavan shook his head and went to join the others in the living room.

Sevren couldn't help but widen his grin as he headed off after Daniel, leaving the snarling painting in his wake.

"You're in the mansion of a well renouned family of vampire hunters so I'd be careful which paintings you piss off," Daniel warned before opening a door. "Well I guess this'll be your room."

In the room was a large fourposter bed. To one side was a full length mirror next to a dressing table, a large walk in wardrobe and a door leading to an onsuite bathroom. There were also paintings all around the room.

"Well, he did start it," Sevren replied, "besides, it must be boring whiling away the years stuck to a wall."

He walked into the guest room and looked around slowly. "Snazzy!"

"Even if it's only dumb A.I. though," Daniel then said.

He looked around the room, taking in the look of it and eying up the paintings. One painting of a young silver-haired woman flashed him as soon as he looked at it. He shook his head and quickly looked away.

"It's based on an old Earth era, the Victorian era I think."

"Artificial or not, it is still a sentience. Whether it is silicon or synapse performing the necessary functions, the result is yet the same." Sevren spotted the 'flashing' from the corner of his eye and smirked. "Definitely bored."

"Victorian, eh? Vampire Hunting family indeed, even choosing the requisite aesthete for interior decoration."

Daniel just shrugged. "Fighting with paintings aside, you'll be safe here," he then said. "I'll leave you to settle in, we'll be downstairs if you wish to join us."

"Understood," Sevren replied while still scanning the room, "I will be down in a few minutes."

As Daniel left the room, Sevren set about unpacking his modest assortment of clothing and randomized gear. He then stopped and looked at the paintings around him, smirking when one stuck its tongue out at him, and unzipped the bottom portion of the bag. He drew out a thing metal box with several cords wrapped around it and a small selection of datacrystals.

"A war he wants, a war he shall get. A ha. Ha ha ha. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAaaa..."

A thunderclap shook the room mid-laugh and Sevren walked out the door, sheepishly ahem-ing himself.

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He arrived in the common room studiously flipping through the various datacrystals, whistling merrily.

Tavan looked cross at Sevren when he entered the room, his armd crossed. "There are rumours going through the paintings that you are planning to take Great Uncle Tiber up on his war threat, don't," he warned. "I do not wish to have to pick up the pieces and explain to my parents why the mansion blew up."

Eamonn looked equally displeased. "We were hired to protect you from harm," he said. "This will not help."

"What's he good at, Aerial sims or first person shooters?" Sevren asked, holding up the data crystals.

"I don't know and I don't care, you are not fighting any paintings," Tavan said and left the room.

"Aww," Sevren said as he sat down. "I was really hoping to give those paintings something to do, too. He might even have appreciated a real time strategy game."

"Like Tavan mentioned, the painting take on the personality of the person in question," Eamonn explained. "The last time Tiber Cyredathem got involved in a wargame, several foreign cities were levelled."

"That's what the datacrystals are for though. I do not hook them up to national defense grids. That box I brought is a reality simulator. Sure, you need a NIJack to actually use it, but the box prevents that whole issue about accidentally launching missiles at people."

"They have a holosuite here but all it consists of is fighting vampires," Daniel sighed.

Sevren's moping instantly vanished. "REEHEEHEEHEEALLY? Can others participate in this holosuite?"

"Oh probably," Eamonn replied. "So long as you stay on the right side of Tavan."

"The holograms would likely appreciate a change of pace, I think. After all, how would they react if the vampires suddenly started attacking with the Luftwaffe?"

He held up one of the datacrystals in illustration.

"Can't we just leave him somewhere?" Katana remarked, looking rather bored.

Eamonn gave her a cold stare, but that was hidden away by his sunglasses. Somewhere outside came the sound of what appeared to be something large flying in the air. Eamonn disappeared outside to investigate.

"Is that one of the dragons outside?"

"Probably," Katsuo remarked, looking up from his puppet. He had been working to fix a bit of damage it had taken. "Silver dragons are common around here."

"Hmm... say, what kind of dragons were those skeletal thingies made from?"

"Dead dragons, had their skeletons stolen," Katana mentioned. "Necromancers always steal bodies."

Daniel shuddered at the mention of it.

"Can you tell what type of dragon it was, though? From its bone structure?"

"Most times, but only in a lab," Namus mentioned. "Takes some study but in most cases they can successfully identify the dragon."

"Ah... I have no idea why but for some reason that makes me feel disappointed. Can I see the holosuite?"

Namus stood up and headed toward the door. "Come this way then," he said.

Just then from outside came the sound of screeching tyres.

As Namus began leading Sevren and the others to the holosuite, he walked out into the hallway and noticed the front door open. Standing nearby was someone who looked just like Tavan but maybe a couple of years or so older.

"Zathar?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"

"We have a little trouble involving a group of vampires and necromancers," Zathar explained.

"Necromancers?" Daniel gulped. "And here I was hoping to get away from them."

"My. They ARE relentless, are they not."

"It depends on if they're the same necromancers that are after us," Katana pointed out.

"Sorry, wouldn't know what group these lot are," Zathar replied. "Didn't stop and ask them."

"Bloody hell," Sevren said with a sigh, "You have multiple renegade bands of necromancers?"

"We have over six billion people, what do you expect?" Zathar replied. He folded his arms and leaned against the wall. "They're like all the different vampire clans, there are different groups of necromancers and there are rather alot of solo necromancers as well."

Sevren's eyes widened in disbelief. "How many of them ARE there? Why was this not included in my briefings? Not only do they control a portion of the planet but they also have regional chapters and freelancers? You will have to pardon me, I am going to go ponder things in my room whilst you lot deal with malevolent goths and long-fanged people who hiss a lot."

He gave an exasperated sigh as he walked away. As he reached the edge of the living room, he turned towards the front door and shouted "Leave me alone, you skull-clacking sycophantic nutcases!" before departing in a huff.

Zathar shook his head. "Perhaps they didn't want to make it look like a big deal," he said. "Besides the only necromancer whom has any contol of a county is Gahlagæer, whom is actually a damned chiled."

He looked over as Tavan reappeared.

"Of course they aren't regional chapters, they're separate groups and do tend to fight each other," Tavan said. "No doubt they're after you to increase their own power."

But then Sevren had cursed out the necromancers and stormed off.

"Touchy, isn't he?" Zathar remarked.

The whole concept was foreign to him. He had been willing to accept seditionist elements, as even the Godulans had some small pockets of resistance, but this was on the scale of a full blown rebellion. Sure they might have been fractious and contentious, but bloody DRACOLICHES. What. The. Hell. He'd known there were Necromancers. He HADN'T known they were so numerous. He WISHED that they would get off his back.

Whatever else, these necromancers were certainly succeeding in angering Sevren. Whenever he tried to do anything to relieve his stress HUP there's a skeleton with a machine gun HUP there's a demon in yer toilet HUP your soup has spontaneously turned to poison HUP HUP HUP. Bloody hell.

Sevren flopped down on his bed, far from the noise outside. Several of the paintings were still giving him suspicious looks and he raised the little metallic box. "Its a VIDEO GAME CONSOLE."

"Katana, find out what Sevrens doing," Eamonn ordered.

Katana nodded and headed upstairs to where she thumped her fist against the door of Sevrens guest room. "What are you doing in there?"

Back downstairs, Eamonn moved over to the front door. There he could see the clouds overhead darkening. Two silver dragons flew about overhead.

"I think our little problem has nothing to do with yours," Zathar said.

Eamonn nodded.

"Sulking, if you do not mind," came Sevren's response. "Though judging by the clouds outside I suspect that I will not even be able to do that without undead creatures and their creators roaming about the countryside being a general nuisance that I rather plainly cannot seem to avoid."

"Oh fine, be like that," Katana replied. "You wouldn't even be interested to see why the Cyredathems are such feared vampire hunters?"

"You were hired to protect me from danger. I would prefer not to increase your workload by flinging myself into harm's way just so I can get a better view of any fighting that might take place. Whether you deem it sensitivity or self-pity, I can only respond that this bed is very comfortable and quite conducive to wallowing in general frustration."

"Oh I hope one of the vampires comes flying in through your window," Katana remarked and walked away.

"It is your job to prevent that," Sevren replied, listening to Katana's receding footsteps.

"Bloody hell. I hate my job. 'Family business' he said. 'Relay messages and conduct trade negotiations' he said. 'Long and prestigious tradition' he said. Dammit Sirzan, soon as the opportunity comes I'm going back to commanding battleships. Least then I can kill shit that wants to kill me. Diplomat schmiplomat. I feel like I'm sitting here going 'eeek! save meh save meh!' at every damn corner. What I wouldn't give for a Straight Arrow. Maybe a vampire SHOULD come through that window. I REALLY want to punch a hole into something."

Sevren reached up and flexed his fingers, listening to the metallic cricks of his knuckles as he inspected the contours of his hands. So perfectly human in appearance, but he could tear a car in two with his bare hands. Only thing was he wasn't ALLOWED to, but those diplomatic stipulations didn't mention anything about self defense.

The Holosuite had been so promising and Sevren needed to refresh his skills, but damned if his very presence seemed to be stirring up all the ghosts and goblins throughout the area, like some sort of bugle call...

Sevren sat up and blinked a few times in thought. How DID the little bastards find him at the pizza joint? Why DID the vampires and necromancers get uppitty within twenty damn minutes of his arrival at this house?

Either the necromancers had a very fast circulating newsletter, or something had not as yet computed.

Sevren stood up and turned to walk out of the room.

Zathar and Eamonn were still talking at the bottom of the stairs. A couple of other silver-haired Cyredathems had joined them and a few of the paintings seemed to be relaying the conversation back to Sevren.

"No I can safely say that these aren't the Brotherhood of the Wraith," Eamonn said, inspecting clothing that one of them had brought. "Which is a good thing, that means they don't know we're here, yet."

Zathar nodded. "That just means they're after us instead," he replied. "I guess we must apologise for bringing them here."

"No need to, you didn't know we were here."

"A question for the people with magical skills that I have no hope of ever understanding," Sevren said as he came down the hall, "I do know that there are kinds of moths that give off an odor when they're in heat that has an unwanted effect of bringing in damn near every single predator in the vicinity. Not saying I am in heat, but is there any kind of aural tag in your recollection that has similar effects?

"I may not be what these creatures are after, but I am starting to get the suspicion that something about me is getting them all hot and bothered."

"We don't know what the Brotherhood of the Wraiths interest in you is other then something about you will give them a great power," Eamonn said.

"Not certain about aural tags myself, I just hunt vampires," Zathar admitted. "I can only pick up a vampires aural tag if I concentrate hard enough."

"Something about me will give them great power, okay, but how do they know that? How did they come to that conclusion?"

Eamonn just shrugged. "We've not been able to find that out I'm afraid," he said rather coldly. "All we knew is that they were after you for that reason."

"You might not be able to find out what it is they want from them, but perhaps you might be able to find out what it is they want from me. Believe me, I am as clueless as you lot are, but perhaps there is something that your divinations might be able to locate."

"Divinations?" Zathar looked blank for a moment. "Don't do that kind of thing myself nor does Tavan, my grandmother does."

His face still looked rather blank.

"Problem is, she is back in Exetergrecia."

"Well, I should hope that if we were to go back that the necromancers would not have set up roadblocks without the local authorities' notice."

Eamonn shook his head. "We won't be returning to the capital right now," he said and looked over at Zathar.

Zathar nodded and began walking off. "I'm right on it."

When he had disappeared into another room, Eamonn turned back to Sevren. "This is the safest place for you right now," he stated. "Those vampires outside won't get near here and the following necromancer are only looking to pick up any Cyredathem bodies, those ones aren't planning to attack us."

"Is this a typical occurrence though? Them coming over the hillside all snarling and growling and whatever else it might be that such creatures do?"

"Oh this is our fault," came a female voice from behind them. "Killed one of their princes and they're not entirely happy about it."

"Well then!" Sevren said, his mood suddenly brightening as he turned around to regard the individual who had replied to his question.

"If it is only because of your actions, then I find my suspicion of being some sort of triggering presence most happily refuted."

The silver-haired woman, Kethoro, folded her arms and nodded. "You're quite well hidden from your enemies here," she said. "And safe too, those vampires won't get far, the sun shall be rising in a couple of hours, they'll be running off soon."

"Is that typical?" Sevren asked, cocking an eyebrow. "Them coming up at such a compromising time?"

"They're pissed off," Kethoro explained, hiding a yawn. "Most of them look like new generation thin bloods anyway, so they're expendible in the eyes of the higher generation vampires."

"Hmm," Sevren replied, scratching his somewhat unshaven chin... despite his bio-mechanical body, he still had to deal with a stubble. "I would have thought master vampires would be somewhat more patient and efficient with their expenditure of resources. Apparently you are afflicted with a rather large force of very stupid vampires. The more and more things occur, the more I wonder whether we should have asked for Skye to send more assistance than simply assisting with cleaning out my hotel room. If I understand correctly, he might be able to assist greatly in dealing with those blood-sucking lampreys."

"Gangrel, not exactly the smartest of the different vampire clans," Zathar remarked. "Brutes the lot of them, they prefer brute force over resonable force."

"Oh don't worry, we deal with vampires all the time it's what our family does best," Kethoro assured him.

OOC: Vampire the Masquerade / Hunter the Reckoning now? Heh.

"I have no doubts as to your capabilities, as I would suspect less proficient vampire hunting clans would not last long enough to be able to craft such a comprehensive security system using specially-treated ancestral portraits.

"All the same, however, I will not set foot outside to watch. I'm trying to keep away from trouble, so I would prefer to not Ooh and Aah on whichever side of whatever battlefield. Unless they're pulling out howitzers, whereupon I will rather happily descend into whatever bunkers might be present..."

"You could always watch it on the telly," Kethoro suggested.

"That... I can do," Sevren said thoughtfully, then turned around and walked towards the gathering room. "Nachos... Nachos and cheese... hmm... now that I think about it I could use a burger or two as well... bloody hell I'm hungry."

"Kitchen's that way," Kethoro said, pointing towards a different door.

Daniel put his hands behind his head. "Well someone has to stay with the client," he grinned.

Sevren spun on his heels and headed through the indicated door. "Nachos... nachos... nachos..."

"Chicken shit," Katana remarked before heading outside.

Daniel stuck his tounge out at her and followed Sevren into the kitchen. "Nachos? Pff pizza," he replied.

Inside the kitchen there were all the usual parts to a kitchen, an oven, cupboards and a large walk-in fridge and freezer.

"They are not mutually exclusive," Sevren replied, beelining for the walk-in fridge. "I find myself hungry enough to down significant amounts of both... it would seem that were this mansion to come under siege that we would not be at a want for ice cream at least. Heeeeeeeeeere pepperoni..."

"Pizza!" Daniel yelled, raiding the fridge.

He was hanging from the top of the fridge by way of his tail, taking out as many pizza's as possible. Putting them in the oven he turned it on and went back to the fridge.

"Now drink, mead or coke?"

His stomach rumbled at the mention of icecream.

"Check what icecream they have."

Sevren stood before what seemed to be an entire grocery store display of ice cream. "I do not think you will need to worry about not having a particular flavor. I'll take the Mead. Vegetables, Fruits, one very large slab of bacon..."

Sevren walked out of the fridge and towards one of the cuboards. Opening it up, he grinned. "Pot noodles."

"Pervert!" Daniel yelled hearing the mention of Pot Noodle and mimicking the commercials. "I always though the Cyredathems were dirty minded."

He then collected a case of mead from the fridge.

Sevren raised an eyebrow, not quite getting the reference, then delved further into the cupboard. After several seconds of things being scooted around and the occasional comment of "Lucky Charms? Who would have thought it?" a crinkling sound confirmed his acquisition of what he so vehemently craved.

"Scooped for better dipping! Indeed indeed! And there is the cheese dip, as well, oh fraptious day, caloo calay!"

Daniel grabbed the pizza's from the oven and withe the case of mead carried by his tail, he headed out to the living room and turned the telly to the Cyredathems security channel. High technology meant hi-res security cam pic in colour and with sound.

"It's starting," he yelled to Sevren and began shovelling down slices of pizza.

The first camera showed Kethoro and Katana heading down the driveway. He could see a gang of vampires at the end trying to break down the gates.

Sevren laid several bags of Nachos down and sat before the television as well.

"I suppose Katana wishes to do some form of combat training?" He asked as he saw her walking purposefully along towards the hissing, spitting, and otherwise very unpleasant vampires.

"Yeah," Daniel said with a mouth full of pizza, he had terrible manners just like the King did. "Any chance she gets, she'll practice."

On the telly, Kethoro raised her hands and electricity appeared to come from her fingers and headed straight for the gates. Once the electricity hit the gates, the vampires were electrocuted and after several moments, caught fire and exploded into dust.

"So I guess wooden stakes are outmoded?" Sevren asked while splitting his attentions between a slice of pizza and some nachos.

"They're still used," Daniel replied and gulped down some mead. "Just that sometimes there are better ways to kill a vampire."

"Like a tactical nuke?"

Daniels eyes widened. "No, those are banned here," he said. "Too messy and to easy to involve innocents."

"At least tell me you lot have sunray spells."

"Knowing the Cyredathems, probably," Daniel said, stuffing yet more pizza into his mouth.

"They would not be a proper vampire hunting if they did not have means to conjure forth mystical beams of sunlight to annihilate the enemy. It also has the added bonus of working as a spotlight, if one does not mind seeking out vampire shaped piles of dust. I remember the Baron commented about the spell some time back, there is a distinct War of the Worlds quality to the spell and how vampires seem to dread its application."

"Well honestly I don't know all their spells and shit," Daniel admitted. "Though you do find that each Cyredathem specialises in a specific area, like Tavan specialises in magic."

On screen, they could see Kathoro staking a vampire with a good old fashioned wooden stake. The vampire instantly exploded into dust.

"True," Sevren replied whilst alternating between pizza and nachos. "Baron Skye mentioned that there are many types of vampires floating about with different strengths and weaknesses. He said that the only real way to classify them in any reliable sense is to determine what it is they feed on. The most common one is the Blooddrinker, of course, but there are also Genestealer and Demon vampires. Demon vampires are the rarest of the non-phages, as they can only feed on underworld energies like the Warp and hellfire, so they often enlist in causes that expose them to such things in a predatory manner. A very hefty number of crusaders for good come from that particular species."

"Never heard of the last two kinds," Daniel admitted and let out a rather large belch. "Only type in Draconis Nightcrawlis are blooddrinkers."

He paused to gulp down mead.

"Though there are rumours of psi-vampires."

"Vampires with psionic capability or vampires that can feed off of neural energy? There's something of a critical difference."

"Umm..." Daniel began and paused. "I don't know, just heard they were psi-vampires and different from other kinds."

"No matter, its nigh impossible for a MindSyphon to appear naturally or through any kind of bio-engineering."

Sevren popped another nacho into his mouth and watched the 'television' intently.

"You mean taking the lifeforce from someone?" Daniel asked.

"No, those are Soultakers. Mindsyphons feed on synaptic energy and knowledge, absorbing it for their own usage. Their drain requires more effort to become lethal, but what they lack in direct combat capability they more than make up for in cunning and nearly unrivaled psionic power. There are Willsapper vampires as well, who actually feed off of the usage of their dominating glare. The only issue with those three is that their numbers are ridiculously low, being that they ARE phage-level."

Daniel looked rather blankly at Sevren. "Umm... guess I'm only good with Draconian vampires," he shrugged.

Out of the window, he noticed the first rays of sunlight appearing over the horizon.

"Fight won't last much longer."

"Oh good. Maybe then I could actually get some sleep. I have not gotten a wink since... actually, three nights ago. The brute came in the first night, I couldn't sleep the other because we were getting alarms all over the place, and this night."

"Heh, thats nothing," Daniel grinned. "The Kazekage never sleeps at all."

"Hmm, seems you and I have the same enemy," a voice commented.

Daniel looked to where the voice had come from, his eyes widened and he almost leapt from the settee. "Fuck! Gahlagæer!" he gasped.

Sand appeared from his gourd, swirling around beside him.

"Hmm, you don't havve anything to worry about," the damned child known as Gahlagæer said. "I'm here to offer help."

He grinned at them, his eyes which were all black seemed to shine. He didn't look to be older than fifteen, but in fact he was many hundreds of years old.

OOC: Sorry, dealing with a bunch of other threads.

"Well bugger," Sevren said as he stood up, still popping a nacho into his mouth and chewing without looking the least bit perturbed. "If it isn't mister hard-to-spell himself. So is that a rejuvenation effect or do you just possess people?"

Gahlagæer raised an eyebrow. "Oh you mean how young I look?" he remarked. "I'm a damned child, offspring of two lichs. Think Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, I don't grow older."

Gahlagæer continued sitting in the armchair and smirked at them.

"Well, that now makes three reasons for you being such a pest out of the way. Sacrificial purposes are out as a matter of course, and my blood would make a lousy reagent for necromantic purposes considering that it is not the original. So it all comes down to a single question:"

Sevren took a breath and continued: "What the hell do you want, ya bloody bone knicker?"

Gahlagæer just smirked at that. "Like I said, you and I we have the same enemies," he said, keeping his eyes on Sevren. "The Brotherhood of the Wraith."

"Bloody hell," Sevren replied, then turned to Daniel, "How many dissident factions ARE there around here?"

Gahlagæer raised an eyebrow. "Dissident? I wouldn't really call them dissident, they just do what they want," the damned child explained. "Problem is that they hate me."

Daniel placed his hands behind his head. "Can't see why they would," he said sarcastically.

"Aw, the woeful life of anything resembling an authority figure," Sevren replied to Gahlagæer while rubbing his thumb and forefinger in a 'world's smallest violin plays mournful songs for you' gesture. "There is no rule on the books that I know of that dictates that dissident factions cannot develop dissident factions. It must be SO aggravating, reaping what you sew.

"Sure you may 'do what you want', but goodness forbid you should ever have somebody do what they want when it comes in direct conflict with what you want.

"But enough with the provocation from me and pity-mongering from you, explain your reason for coming here and please avoid the 'poor me' act. Straight answers are such useful things."

"And in wanting to destroy me they want you and if they ever managed that the King would be next," Gahlagæer pointed out. "You and I, Mr Aktei, are the only being between the Brotherhood and the fall of Draconis Nightcrawlis."

Gahlagæer shook his head.

"You appear to belive that the Brotherhood of the Wraith have something to do with me, you are quite mistaken Mr Aktei. Just because I dabble in necromancy, does not mean that all necromancers are followers of me. Take those necromancers outside, they followed the vampires from their location in the capital which is quite far away from my home of Dark Valley."

"I fail to see how capturing or disposing of me would cause that form of cascade. I am nowhere near as well protected as the sovereign during standard operational conditions. And I do once again seek to assert that intentions of sacrificing or bloodletting me will be useless, the identity of the entity with such goals in mind is irrelevant. Taking me hostage at all would be calling down the thunder in and of itself, and is the very reason I seek so hard to protect myself utilizing local assets. I am trying to avoid causing an international incident.

"Whether they work for you or against you is also irrelevant. You work the same energies, and from what I am told you are quite proficient at doing so. Had you sought to assist me it would have been nice had you advised us of such after... I would say the Brute. I suspect that fellow was meant to break down my door and carry me off, but he did not expect Dalziel, not in the slightest, nor me to be quite as... feisty... as your run-of-the-mill diplomat.

"It would have been so nice had you maybe offered any assistance before my embassay caved in beneath a trio of undead dragons. That has left me a tad sore."

"It was only seeing the undead dragon attack on the news that I first heard about this," Gahlagæer replied. "They capture you, that's an international incident, I help you thats not an international incident."

Gahlagæer smirked.

"The King and I have a mutual understanding, I make no effort to expand Dark Valley and he doesn't send an army in to try and take Dark Valley once and for all, Kings before have tried all have failed.

"Bottom line is you need my help."

"Such does indeed explain why you have not been scraped off this planet with a rusty fork, and I did ask a while ago. Though I suspect the bottom line, as you put it, is not so much that we need your help as much as you recognize the need to help us, however grudging such may be.

"I am not afraid to die, but you, sir, should be very much afraid of what would happen if I do. You have heard of us, my people? The Godulans put very much stock into the phrase 'No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy'. They won't care whether its some rogue element that will have nothing to do with you that perpetrated the act of my demise. They will simply care that it was Necromancers that did it. If you are at a stalemate now, however cordial, do you understand what such a development would bring?

"No, it is not a case of us needing your help, but a case of you needing to help us for your own sake."

Sevren retrieved another Nacho and sat back in his chair, keeping Gahlagæer in his sights at all times.

"Speaking of your own sake... What's so special with you and this planet anyway? There are certainly enough unsettled worlds that you could turn into your own personal Mordor, but you stay cooped up in your 'dark valley', perpetually at odds with the rest of the planet."

"Well if you were at home somewhere, would you really want to leave?" Gahlagæer replied. "I like Dark Valley, I have lived there too long to want to leave and besides someone else is already doing the evil Mordor like planet anyway. Ever heard of Lady Nocturne?"

Daniel shivered at the mention of Lady Nocturne.

"Unfortunately, my ambassadorial briefings only included information on governmental figures that I would be dealing with, internal intrigue is rarely included as the Godulans take great pains to separate themselves from such unless otherwise provoked. What, did she beat you to the punch?"

Gahlagæer grinned as he watched Daniel cover his ears, he knew what the damned child was about to say and he didn't want to hear it.

"Lady Nocturne controls an area of space around Svartalfheim," he said. "Some say she's Sith, others say she's Goa'uld. Who knows she could be both." Gahlagæer's grin turned cold. "But what is known is that she is the Kings sister."

Sevren sighed slightly and shook his head. "Why is it always the sister? Is it something about being overly emotional? Weak of will? Bloody hell, its the same way with the Coredians and that blasted Fiona Masaki."

"Oh it's a woman thing," Gahlagæer shrugged. "The son is always heir and the daughter is there just to look pretty. Daughter is mad about it, hides her anger then she hits that time of month and wants to take over the nation."

"Certainly seems that way, of course our only experience with such conflict is the Masaki family and if that is not a dysfunctional bunch I know not what would qualify. I swear, its like a never-ending sequence of plot complications with them. Like some sort of role playing game where people tell stories on the fly or something..."

"Life is but a story, it has its storyline plots," Gahlagæer then mentioned. "But they are thought up by the Norns whom weave our destinies. I have heard of the Masaki family, after all I have met Masaki twins and I do believe that whomever chooses their destiny loves to torture them as much as the Norns enjoyed torturing the King and pissing him off."

By now Daniel, who still held his hands over his ears had closed his eyes and was humming something.

"Of course, Lady Nocturne is a sore subject for the royal family."

"So is Fiona for the Masakis. Wait a minute... enough with the small talk, I am supposed to be cautiously apprehensive, not chatty... what do you mean when you wish to offer assistance and why? If these people are not 'with you' then I should think that one such as yourself would have sufficient illicit resources outside your little 'containment area' to initiate an underground war.

"What is stopping you from offering assistance to the King himself? That Dracolich attack WAS quite public in nature. No doubt offering to assist in the removal of increasingly antagonistic necromantic elements would garner you some form of goodwill with the authorities."

"An underground war?" Gahlagæer questioned. "I have thought about that and it is happening as we speak, I am fighting renegade necromancers and their ilk within Dark Valley but I cannot go outside the county.

"That would nullify my agreement with the King and will end with him senslessly sending troops to their deaths in Dark Valley. However I can help you, I have something that you'll be able to keep track of them with."

"Wait, if you cannot go beyond the county borders... how are you here?"

"I can leave, but only to certain areas like here and for diplomatic purposes such as this," Gahlagæer explained. "Here is out of the way and the Cyredathems will keep an eye on me."

Gahlagæer looked up at the walls.

"See the paintings have returned and are now scowling at me."

Sevren looked around at the various paintings for a moment. "I did not even notice their departure in the first place, but I do indeed note their snarl-grr-ness. No doubt in a matter of seconds there will be a stampede of vampire hunters roaring into this very room."

Sevren leaned forward and picked up a slice of pizza and another cheese-laden nacho. "I may not get the chance to finish any more off."

"Oh I can already sense them walking back up to the house," Gahlagæer smirked. "Well those that haven't gone after the fleeing vampires of course."

"Meh, well. What is this thing you speak of with which to 'keep track of them'? I admit I find myself remaining suspicious of your intent, but if what you offer is on the level and you are speaking the truth to us, there should be no trouble notifying the Baron that you and your ilk are not wholly behind the pursuit of my eventual passing."

"You may be lucky they might want you alive," Gahlagæer said. "Sometimes we must do things we do not want to do, such as I coming to the Cyredathem residencey."

The damned child reached inside inside his shirt and brought out an orb.

"The orb of the All Seeing Eye. This will allow you to see your enemy."

"An all seeing eye, eh?" Sevren commented as he reached forward to take the small sphere. "Heard about them in my Fundamentals of The Arcane class... one of the other nine-year-olds did a report on it. He got an A because the report was less about the history of the device as it was about how the kid used it to study for the report. Using a divination stone on itself is apparently harder than it would seem."

Gahlagæer nodded. "Be very careful with what you see with it," he then warned. "You may see something that will make you want to pull your own eyes out."

An arrow whizzed past Gahlagæer, narrowly missing his head before burying itself in the wall behind him. He and Daniel looked up to see a girl a little younger than Daniel stood with a crossbow pointed at the damned child.

"How did you get in here?" she demanded.

Gahlagæer just smirked.

"Trust me, when it comes to seeing some freaky stuff, one only has to read our planar history books. Spending an amount of time living in a world in the 'wacky region' of dimensional space lends a surprising resilience to the wierd. We never did understand why carnivorous teddy bears were in such consistent abundance..."

The arrow thudded into the wall and Sevren did not even flinch, in response to the girl's question:

"My assumption is that he teleported in. Very out-of-nowhere-ish."

"I'll ask you again," the girl began. "How the fuck did you get in here?"

Gahlagæer smirked as she was joined by an identical twin sister. This silver-haired girl was carrying a large sword drapped over one shoulder.

"Yes, good old teleportation a favourite of the King I understand," he said. "Now if you don't want to break the agreement I have with his majesty, then I suggest you two sit down and don't threaten me."

"He has been made aware of the ramifications of deceit in the matters concerning my safety, and operating on such lines I am confident that he is not here with the intent to cause trouble."

Sevren smirked slightly. "At least until he is done with my particular issue, anyway."

The two girls looked at each other before sitting down near Daniel. The identical twins kept their eyes on Gahlagæer, he just smirked back at them.

"Oh I may be a damned child but I'm not one to start an intergalactic incident," he said. "But when it comes to getting rid of my enemies like the brotherhood I will do whatever it takes."

"'Whatever it takes', hmm?" Sevren's smirk widened slightly. "I think you will find that us Godulans place special meaning behind that turn of phrase. Doing whatever it takes comes as a matter of course for us."

He reached out to Gahlagæer, or more specifically the orb in his hand. "As you are providing me with this particular device, I hope you do not mind if I... test it out first?"

"Within certain limits of course," Gahlagæer replied. "Certain thing I would not do myself.

"Of course be my guest, if you need to learn how to use it..."

Gahlagæer smirked.

Daniel and the twins were rather unnerved by the look Gahlagæer gave. Being that he was meant to protect Sevren, Daniel leapt up and grabbed the orb.

"Don't want any tricks from you," he scowled.

Gahlagæer's only reply was to grin at the young ninja.

"Well, we know it does not explode on flesh contact now. Tell me, does the device scry with respect to past events?"

Gahlagæer shook his head. "No I am afraid not, it only deals in the present," he explained.

"Damn and blast... though perhaps not. Daniel, did you ever get a decent look at those people in the pizza place who sent us that explosive letter?"

"Well we do have CCTV footage that you asked for, remember?" Daniel pointed out.

"So we do, so we do," Sevren replied. "In all the confusion though I'm afraid I have no idea who would have it..."

"Security back in Suna would have it," Daniel mentioned.

Sevren's response likely came as something of a surprise to the various others in the room, as his sudden screech of exasperation was strong enough to rattle windows and ruffle curtains. It stopped as quickly as it started, leaving the diplomat staring up at the ceiling with clenched teeth and his hands scrunched up before his chest like claws. He relaxed in stages, first his arms coming down, then his shoulders, then eventually his eyes, leaving him slumped forward in his chair.

"I have GOT to stop forgetting that things here are not like they are at home. I have been back and forthing all bloody day and I am most assuredly not in the mood for more bouncing around..."

Sevren brought his hand up and ripped his thumb off angrily. Despite the violence of the act, there was no blood involved, and he placed the thumb on the coffee table in front of him. He banged his un-thumbed hand on the arm of his chair, and a small metal spike clicked out, which he immediately grabbed with the thumb and forefinger of his other hand, then yanked out. It came easily, trailing a small cord that glistened in the ambient light of the room.

"You lot might not have photographic memory, but I do. Literally. Part and parcel of the face-match programming I have that allows me to remember people and positions at diplomatic functions. Names, birthdates, psych profiles, political allegiances, so on and so forth. A pity that I have not had time to fully calibrate it for your government, but it still works just fine. What can I say, us Godulans have a Johnny Mnemonic thing going."

Sevren held out the small spike and cord and indicated the 'TV' that previously displayed security feeds of the battles outside. "Pray tell, will that Viewscreen there accept this form of input?"

Daniel sat blinking at Sevren.

"Should be able to hook you up," one of the twin replied.

"Capital!" Sevren said, standing up and approaching the monitor. "Its unfortunate that my cybermod does not include the holoprojectors common in the newer models. They would prove useful in this situation, but they were introduced after I came here and I have not had the chance to order them through the mail. Still, next best thing."

"Well when you get back you should order one right away," Daniel then said, breaking out of the shock of seeing what Sevren had done.

One of the two girls looked around at the screens. "I do wonder how we'll get it in," she wondered.

The dismembered thumb flexed and wriggled, eventually shuffling its way to the corner of the coffee table closest to Sevren.

"It does not have to be a perfect fit. Just... enough of one."

Daniel shuddered as he saw the thumb wiggling.

"Here plug it in here," one of the twins then said.

Sevren placed the spike within the connecting socket and turned the relevant viewscreen on. At first it showed little more than static, but then his left eye twitched slightly and an image appeared on the screen. Daniel and the others could recognize the scene as one of the corridors of the embassy, at least on the periphery of the various reports that were apparently being read inhumanly fast.

"Spam, Irrelevant, Dull, Spam, Dull, Irrelevant, Spam, Wrong address, Dull, Mom asking me why I haven't called, Spam, Anthrax, Spam, Irrelevant, Dull, Research Report, Dull, Wordy, Irrelevant..."

"Whooooooooooooooooooa!"

The view on the screen came up just in time to see one of Sevren's psion assistants flying across the corridor ahead, followed by a dull thud and a "Damn, broke a nail! You bastard!"

Heavy footfalls came up the corridor and a surprisingly large man in a black trenchcoat and a liberal amount of tattoos emerged at the intersection ahead, just as alarms started going off throughout the complex.

"Ambassador Aktei, we have an intruder in the complex!" Came a voice on the intercom, Katana would be able to recognize the voice as Dalziel.

"I am aware, Lieutenant. Converge on my position."

"Roger that Ambassador."

At Sevren's response, the big man in black turned his wild-eyed glare on the ambassador and stalked forward. The view shifted, as though Sevren were backing away from the approaching humanoid.

"Let me guess, you were sent by those bastards who keep sending me the death threats."

"Grurrrr..." the man slammed his fist into the wall on his right, leaving a massive hole and another Psion going "BLOODY HELL! I JUST PUT A PICTURE THERE!"

"Okay, so you are strong, I will grant that. But how is your peripheral vision?"

"Grur?" came the brute's reply just before the Psion behind the wall reached through the hole and grabbed his trench coat, pulling him back and slamming him into the wall a few times before the wall itself gave way and the brute went crashing through. Sevren's view moved forward to survey the destruction, just in time to catch the brute flinging the psion into and through the far wall.

The distant voice of the Psion in the other room now replied with "Oo! We got a Marlin here!"

The brute whirled around and charged at Sevren, grabbing him by the neck and slamming him into the other side of the corridor.

"So..." Sevren's strained voice began, "How... many... pounds... of... PCP... did they... give... you..."

"GRAWWWWR!" The brute reared his other hand back to deliver the knockout blow. Suddenly, Sevren's arms came up and grabbed hold of the brute's arm, followed by Sevren's legs which wrapped around the around and initiating an armbar. Using the force of stretching out his body and his leg grip on the bigger man's shoulder, Sevren pushed the Brute away from the wall and whirled around, throwing the brute off balance and driving his face into the floor. Though with the speed of the act, the only thing that could be seen was a blur of motion and Sevren suddenly sitting on top of the face-down brute and holding onto the big man's right arm with his legs and the left arm with his hands. Sevren cinched up and a couple dull pops could be heard, followed by the Brute's suddenly high pitched scream of pain.

Sevren let go of the arms, jumped up, and brought his knees down on the brute's back just as the large man tried to get up without the aid of his now limp arms.

A much nastier crack, and the brute's legs went limp.

Sevren stood up and stared down at the snarling and whimpering brute as Dalziel and a pair of rumpled Psions came bursting around the corner. All three of them sighted down the barrels of some strange rifles they were carrying, and Dalziel advanced.

"Sir, are you okay?"

"None the worse for wear, I am pleased to report. Remind me to send my father a missive thanking him for pushing me so hard in wrestling. Are the authorities on the way?"

"Yes sir, they will be here momentarily."

"Capital."

"This is from them, isn't it."

"I would venture to agree. This one was strong, but unprepared. I fear they might grow more desperate. Perhaps it is time to acquire assistance."

"Try to be discreet sir."

"I know I know... perhaps local resources would prove effective..."--

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The screen cut out, and Sevren looked at the others. "That was the incident with 'The Brute' I told you about before the bombing at the Pizza place. Big, strong, and spoke in grunts, so the designation I gave him is not really all that far off. We suspected he was artificially enhanced through some sort of magic etched in with the tattoos, turning him into some sort of high-powered go-fer. As you can see, he failed in his task."

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

The screen activated again, showing the five of them, Sevren, the three ninjas and Eamonn, eating away at their selected orders. Surprisingly, in this one, thought processes seemed to be reading in.

They are bloody KIDS. I hope this bunch knows what they're doing. Seems awkward to put the protection of foreign ambassadors into the hands of such youthful types.

Sevren's gaze drifted momentarily to Eamonn. That one just radiates ouch-making. Truth be told I suspect I'd have gotten my money's worth if they'd just sent him. All in all does not strike as a bad trade.

The gaze switched to Daniel, who snarfed on his pizza as though it was trying to run away. Hrm. Goofy. If I did not know better I would say that in anime terms he would be the main character and the comedy relief all rolled into one. Why is it that I suspect such will be enormously necessary at some point?

*at about this point the real Sevren took on a look of dread as he realized why his thoughts were being read and not normal sound.*

To Katana. Hrm... WHOA... no no no. Do NOT go there. Jailbait. Gotta remember: here, people actually are as old as they look. I just know I will be eating sneaker inside the hour.

*Sevren coughed, took a deep breath, and looked studiously at the ceiling while whistling innocently.*

To Katsuo. Kitty kitty! I wonder how he, or his kitty, will like the atrium at the embassy...

To the couple sitting nearby. A strange click and a whirr as the view magnified slightly to get the two in more detail.

Clothing says money. But they're only having soup? That just reeks of a quick getaway. I smell a rat...

But then, that could also be the blue one's pizza. What the hell is ON that thing?--

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The screen paused. Sevren coughed again. "I... forgot about that bit. I can switch between making mental notes and audio-recording in the program... needless to say, that is the people I want you to Scry, Daniel."

Daniel stared at Sevren. "I won't tell her if you don't," he said.

Gahlagæer nodded. "I recognise the brute as work of the brotherhood," he said. "Those people I don't recognise however."

"Can we get a copy of it?" Daniel then asked.

"I believe so, if there is any means to record what is displayed on this viewscreen there should be no trouble with acquiring a copy."

to Gahlagæer: "They bolted just before I got a rather explosive bit of information. Apparently an explosive runes spell or a variant thereof written out as an alka-seltzer advert. If the others had not emphasized the wisdom of a swift retreat at that point than I would be standing before you all somewhat uglier and a good deal more dead than present conditions have allowed."

"Here," one of the twins then said before messing around the back of the screens. She took another wire and plugged it into one of the paintings. "There we can record it."

"It was an exploding note," Daniel pointed out. "It's what we ninja's use."

Gahlagæer rubbed his chin. "Then perhaps the brotherhood have ninjas in their employment."

"DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNN," came Sevren's immediate reaction to Gahlagæer's comment, followed with a rather sheepish grin. "*Cough* sorry, for some reason I just thought that was necessary."

Sevren then turned his attention back to the viewscreen and started the replay over again, making certain to mute the television this time around.

Gahlagæer raised an eyebrow at Sevren.

"It's recording," the twins announced.

"Well, it does sound like some important revelation," Sevren said. "If they have ninjas as well it would seem they are trying to match me move for move."

"Depending on if they had missing Nin before coming after you," Gahlagæer then pointed out.

"I suspect they would not have sent the Brute had they been able to draw on more... tactful resources."

Gahlagæer smirked. "Sometimes I send out something nasty to see how the person would react," he replied. "Then I can see where they are strong and where they are weak." His black eyes turned to Sevren. "I'd expect them to do the same."

"While true, would it not be more efficient to allow the hypothetical ninjas to do the reconnaisance themselves?"

"Perhaps it was they who sent it or perhaps the brotherhood sent it so that the missing Nin may see their target in action to discuss the price upon your head," Gahlagæer then thought.

"You recognized the Brute as an operative of this 'Brotherhood', so I doubt he would have come at the behest of some hired guns. In the point of the latter, I would be curious as to why a group that feels the need to pester me so much would be so... considerate... as to send the Brute just to give these hypothetical ninjas some basis for a price quote."

"Well let's put it this way, if you were going to do something for some one wouldn't you want to see what it was like first?" Gahlagæer questioned him. "Often from what I have seen the ninjas recon first, but it's not beyond the brotherhood to give a little demonstration first." The damned child leaned forward. "That brute was taken down to easily."

"Actually, he resisted my counterattack quite profoundly, though the view does not show it. But what then about the Dracoliches? Had the ninjas been the ones operating, particularly after that point with the explosive letter, would it not have followed to have them attack with somewhat more force rather than simply sending necromantic constructs? That was an EXTREMELY overt move, bringing far more attention to this whole situation than even I would like to be made public."

"Well of course I don't know exactly how the brotherhood thinks or I would have wiped them out long ago," Gahlagæer replied, folding his arms.

"Indeed, which is why I would not mind if Daniel would attempt to get the image of these people in his mind so he can trigger that All-Seeing Eye."

"Why me?" Daniel gulped.

"Because you are holding the bloody thing? You did speak of making sure it did not explode in my face or turn my brain to mush or impose some other cripplingly dire fate upon my person. It only seems fitting that in order to do so you must first activate the device. That way, if we end up removing your presence from this room whether by stretcher, coffin, or skillet, we will know that our necromantic guest here is not true to his word."

"Oh thank you," Daniel scowled. "Remind me to haunt you when I get spread around the room."

"But you will have passed knowing that your duty was fulfilled," Sevren replied with a toothy grin, then held his thumbed hand up as if to ward off an attack. "I kid, I kid. Besides, if you remember what Baron Skye did at the hotel, you would recall that there are means for the subject of a scrying device to reach back through the connection and play hell with the device or the diviner. An arcane trap on the All-Seeing Eye is truthfully the least of our worries, for at best our Necromantic benefactor would install merely a temporarily incapacitating trap instead of anything more... violent. If you were to have a heart attack, have your head explode, or disintegrate, one could legitimately wager that the backlash directed at the slayer of the king's son would be tremendous indeed."

"And you know I would not want a war against your father," Gahlagæer then assured him.

"You could just be saying that," Daniel scowled.

"It would also be 'tactically inadvisable' to do such a thing. The destruction of either of us with so many witnesses in the room would tag Gahlagæer as the focus of your father's wrath as well as that of the Baron, not the least because blowing you or I up would be somewhat undeniable proof of collusion with this 'Brotherhood'."

"Not to mention that I myself would be caught up in any blast in here," Gahlagæer then pointed out.

Sevren gave Gahlagæer a startled look. "'Would be'?"

He turned towards the twins and any paintings nearby. "Somebody please get Tavan in here."

"Fine," one of the twins said and headed out.

"Well think about it, enclosed space and debris would most likely take out the whole room," Gahlagæer said. "Simple explosion knowledge."

"That implies knowledge that the trap 'is' explosive in nature... AND exists," Sevren replied. "I was only thinking the trap would be personal in nature, so right now I no longer feel safe even with letting Daniel take the potential disintegration."

"If it were personal, it wouldn't matter then Daniel tries it first," Gahlagæer mentioned. "I have no reason to want you dead now do I?"

"I'm sorry, but right now all previous speculation went out the window. I'm just gonna see if Tavan can check it for traps and wards."

"Fine by me," Gahlagæer shrugged. "You will not find any."

"Better to be dead certain than certainly dead," Sevren commented, then looked back at the twins.

"Do you need any more? My thumb is getting a little... impatient..."

True to form, Sevren's thumb stood at the corner of the Coffee table closest to him, occasionally hopping up and down with a certain level of disembodied enthusiasm.

"Nope, we've got it," the twins replied.

"Capital!"

Sevren took the spike out of the monitor and retracted the cable back into his hand, then reattached his thumb. It flexed a couple times as if to settle itself back in, then settled down, now appearing as though it had never left Sevren's hand.

"Now, where exactly is Tavan?" he asked, extending a pointer pole from his right index finger and tentatively poking at the all-seeing eye.

"He's coming," the twins mentioned. "Fighting off vampires in the shadows."

"Oh good. I believe I shall return to my nachos then."

Sevren sat back down in his seat and returned to the snack foods spread out before him.

The twins stood staring at Gahlagæer until Tavan finally arrived, incidently crashing through a window fighting a vampire whom was on fire. He finally managed to stake it and the vampire yelled out before bursting into dest and flames. The small fires were quickly put out and he turned to glare at Gahlagæer.

"How dare you come here."

"I dare because I can," the damned child replied. "And I do believe the diplomat here requires your skills."

"Indeed," Sevren said, in between bites of nachos, "If there are not too many snarling and hissing fanged things to take up your attention, would it be possible for you to check this little divination device for potentially explosive tricks and traps?"

Tavan dusted himself off. "Well the rest of them are being dealt with by the rest of our family," he said. "So let's see it then."

Daniel passed over the orb and Tavan began looking over it. Gahlagæer now appeared to have a martini in his hand.

Sevren ate another nacho. (shrug?)

"So far nothing," Tavan mentioned. "It's clean so far but I've barely scratched the surface."

Gahlagæer took a sip from his martini glass. "Told you it would be."

Tavan glared at him. "I'll find something, your as trustworthy as Loki."

"Ouch," Gahlagæer smirked.