NationStates Jolt Archive

"Wait... where are you guys going again?"

Unfair? Tal approached Blade. "Erm... how are we going to do this? And what about Lydia?" Zena, wait up! Whatever happened to the jet? Wait.... exactly how far into my mind are you?!?!

Crap, forgot about her. Zena doubled back. "How do two angels carry three people without making a second trip?" She inquired. "Unless one of us carries her and she hangs on to someone else. As for the jet, how do you think we're getting there? The Popemobile?"

"I never fully came out and said I was going, I tohught Z was inviting, or rather, telling me to come along."

"You're coming with us to Vancouver." Zena said in such a manner where it would make Blade sound like a fool to resist.

"Oh, good point. Well I guess its up to you... unless Zena.... never mind. And Zena, I could carry two people, but Blade having extra dense and heavy bones doesn't help at all. No offense meant, Blade." You didn't answer my question.

Oh, sorry, I'm just hearing your topmost thoughts. The stuff that floats through your head, but doesn't stick. And obviously the questions you direct to me. "Then you take either Aozora and Lydia, or Blade. That seems to be the closest weight distribution."

"Well, I think that it should still be up to Blade, but if he's fine with it..."
That's actually somewhat scary. Sorry, it's just that I'm not even sure of what you can all do. It's not like I can read your mind. Can you delve into someone's mind like that?

"Umm.. right... sure..." He said in an uncomfortable manner, "I think Lydia should be okay, we are trying to get back a comrade that could help us save her father..." he looked away, "Fine... consider me in.." He then looked over at Tal, "I'm not THAT heavy. At least the last time I checked I wasn't."

"Are you saying leave Lydia here, just to be safe?" Zena inquired, unsure of what was going on now. If someone's defenses aren't strong enough, I can read their mind like an open book. It's easy to put thoughts and memories into someone's mind too. But mind control, that I can't do.

"I think this place is pretty safe... It would have to wouldn't it? So I guess I'll head off with you guys whenever you're all ready..."

Tal laughed. "Fine then. How heavy are you?" That's pretty neat, actually. It could be really useful too. So... is it usually just normal humans you can do that to, or anybody in our group?

"Last I checked I was about 258 pounds, there is some magic involved with the whole dense bone process. That's why I don't weigh as much as I should."

Anyone who's mind I can overpower. Though I can't do anything to Methua if that's what you're getting at. "Alright then. Tal, you've got less of a chance of dropping Blade." Zena said, matter of factly.

Tal nodded to Blade. "That's not bad at all!" He turned back to Zena and sighed. I figured as much. "I figured as much. Well, I suppose we should get going." He walked over to Blade. "Uh... should I just grab you under the arms? It's up to you..."

Zena grabbed Zora round the middle and took off out the window again. Race you to Rome's airport! She giggled in Tal's head.

"I suppose whichever way is easiest and will keep you form dropping me..."

Not fair! I don't even know where do go! He could help but laugh a little out loud as he grabbed Blade under the arms. "Hope you don't mind going fast." Before he could answer, Tal zoomed out of the window after Zena. He could see her ahead of her, and he put on an extra burst of speed to keep up with her.

"Like I said, just don't bloody drop me." Okay, so what to do if he drops me... let's see, reinforce the skull and spine. Make legs a little less dense so they can crumple underneath me...

Zena let Tal catch her. Airport's just down there, the jet should be ready by now. She started her decent toward a small jet ready to take off in the now much smaller airport. As she landed, a guard bowed to her and Aozora before they boarded the plane. Also, you'd want to strengthen your legs incase tucking and rolling doesn't work. Zena sent to Blade.

Tal sighed. He knew Zena had slowed down on purpose. He landed next to the plane and set Blade down gently. "Well... honestly, I expected something bigger."

"Bigger isn't always better." Zena said. "Besides, this is more fuel efficient and it'll work for our needs. Aside from that, why were you expecting something bigger? You know I don't like to show off much."

My mind is my own, though thanks for caring. "If it gets us there..."

"True. It's just.... you seemed so excited when you said the Pope Jet... plus, if I remember correctly, the last pope had a bigger jet than this." He was grinning when he said this. "But whatever. I suppose it will do." With that he walked up the steps to the jet.

You're very welcome Blade. "I still have that one Tal." Zena said, buckling in. "But it's not fast enough for us right now. And on top of that, we don't need the popemobile with us." She pulled a remote out from under her seat. "But I've got every satellite channel and satellite radio on this thing." she grinned and passed Tal the remote.

"I'm going into hibernation now, wake me when we get there." Blade closed his eyes and multiple runes appeared on his body. He was now in a state much like deep sleep, no floating thoughts would go through his mind, there would be no dreams, he would only hear half the things going on around him.

Tal raised his eyebrow. "Really now, do I seem to be type to listen to music a lot? Especially nowadays, with all the artists either swearing or insulting or making sexual references." He put the remote on an empty seat. "No thanks, that's not for me."

OOC: Post 777. Hmm.....

Zena waved her hand and the remote flew to it. "It's been getting better." She said, turning on the radio. Gospel music filled their ears. "Now this isn't so bad, is it?"

OOC: Blade's actually gonna have some recollections and old memories, if Zena listens in fine but be sure to remember in his current state that would be difficult.
IC:

Blade was alone in blackness, nothingness, silence. It was an old memory, one torn apart by time, ravaged and distorted. He found himself chained to a wall, only blackness was around him, he could see anything...

Tal shrugged. "To be honest, I don't really listen to this either. As a full-fledged angel of God, I can tell when praise for him is honest and sincere. You'd be surprised how little that actually happens. On radio anyway. It's always the best to listen in on an actual service as the choir sings..." Tal voice seemed to drift off, then he looked at Blade. "That certainly is odd. I wonder if he has dreams....."

OOC: Hmm, I could have her listen in every once in a while.

IC: "Then you'll be glad to know I was present when this was recorded." Zena said absentmindedly looking at Blade. Her powers kicked in and she caught a glimpse of what he saw. "Whoops, apparently he does."

"So... you're the new one I assume. The meat I've been sent here to change into a weapon." Said a voice to Blade. He was silent, "Nothing to say to that? Oh well." He still didn't do anything, chained to wall, he couldn't do anything. He simply let his head hang. "This is going to hurt, but hell, at least you can keep a little of your soul." With that a pain shot through his body and everything went black once more...

OOC: Okay I'm about to go off for about an hour or two.

Tal shook his head. "That doesn't mean it's sincere. Honestly, who wouldn't sing anything to please a.... Pope?" He turned to Blade, but said nothing.

"High Priestess." Zena corrected. "And you'd be right, if these weren't people that the last pope himself handpicked to be the Vatican's choir."

Blade now found himself being tortured, ten yeears had gone by since it started. The process of becoming a weapon was to break the future weapon's will. It had taken them so long to do it, but soon enough he had no self. His body was ravaged and cursed. Scars were carved into him, runes tattoed into the scars. Then he was trained, another forty years went by as he was turned into a monster. His white hair had grown out to his ankles and his reflexs had been improved beyond human capacity.

Zena looked to blade. "I don't think he's doing so... ahhh." the latest bit of vision threw Zena fully into the dream. She stood there, unable to do anything, unable to change anything, unable to be seen in Blade's memory.

Blade was fighting another person, some shadowy figure that was obscured in a impenatrable blackness. He fought with the two swords he carrys with him everywhere, he violently slashed about and was brutally beat down everytime until he was too broken and bloody to do anything else. This was repeated day after day until he got better. His scars never healed, his mind was gone. He was a slave.

Zena kept watching this as a bystander in the memory while her physical body's eyes glowed bright. She was trapped in here until they could awaken Blade.

The next scene displayed in more depth Blade's torture, the separation of limbs only to have healers reattach or regenerate them so he could lose them again. Several bladed objects being stabbed into him repeatedly or being used as piercing. Then came the horror that any anti-human weapon could not escape. The next images were Blade slaughtering his family and friends during a demonic raid. Other images sprang forth of him slaughtering anything that got in his way, creatures both human and inhuman fell to him. Nothing mattered and over time he began to enjoy it, then came a word, "Congrats." When he turned around he saw Umbra, standing there with a smile in full demon forth, black wings spread wide, "You've done it, Bladedancer. You're perfect, a fine creation. Now then, I am your creator, now I shall command you, not Satan or any other, only me." Blade nodded and kneeled before muttering, "My master..."

Zena wanted to break down and cry, but hit the demon that did this was also on the list. She didn't understand how anyone could do this to anyone else. It was horribly cruel, and yet, it had happened, and right before her was the undeniable proof.

The next scene was from when Blade had snuck into a meeting for the next course of action against human kind. He could hear Umbra yelling and arguing with the other demons about what to do, they wished to push forward and eradicate, Umbra wished to hold back and wait. The others united against Umbra and Umbra began yelling that there was no point in trying to end humanity, to achieve dominance, he knew such an action would only force the heavens to take more action. Blade remembered something Umbra had said to him, "As your creator you obey me and me alone, do not follow the orders of the others. They are bold and foolish and blind, no, you were special Bladedancer, this is something they won't ever tell you. You are not only my creation but my kin, my brother, I didn't create you to be their weapon. I created you as an example of how useful humans could be, how the two combined made something beautiful. I'm afraid no one would agree with that, neither humans nor demons but you are a grand creation, never forget that." As Blade remebered the line the room exploded into yelling and soon after fighting. Umbra cut down many of the generals without breaking a sweat, the others became fodder for Blade's weapons. Umbra looked at him, "Fool, you should have fled, this is my fight and mine alone."

Zena continued to look on, in shock of what had just happened. She was beside herself. On one hand, demon generals were gone, on the other, Blade was a powerful killing machine as he'd demonstrated here.

The next scene would be the last, Umbra walked into the halls of a Demon Lord, his scythe was out and he wore a small grin. Bladedancer and Sharpshot were behind his. But instead, SHaprshot had a longbow on his back and a crossbow in his hands. They were both loyal to Umbra, the only demon who was nice to them. Sharpshot fired his shots at the Demon Lord as Umbra and Blade charged forward, then everything went black. The next thing he knew, the fortress was destroyed and Blade was on the ground in his own blood, he staggered to his feet and looked around seeing only chaos and destruction. Umbra was on the ground, he was wounded but he'd survive, Sharpshot had taken the least amount of damage. Umbra cast a spell and they found themselve's in some mountains, it was cold and there was snow as far as the eye could see. A demonic gateway crumbled behind them, "Now, Sharpshot, Bladedancer. We are free, they may try to hunt us, but we are free." The two nodded at Umbra, then Blade awoke.

Tal shook his head. "Don't be so sure. Something isn't right with this music. But, I still..... Zena? Zena? Zena!" Tal stood up. Zena's eyes where glowing brightly. He tried shaking her, but to no avail. He then turned to Blade. Is she.... He walked over to Blade and shook him, somewhat violently, in an attempt to wake him.

ooc: hi, remember me? i kinda signed up but didn't see the thread til now. I'll try to jump in, but if not...no big deal...

ic:

"Brother, I shouldn't even be here," Uriel (http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o49/takeshi_018/206cc155a34d4d72.jpg) said.

"And I thank you that you came," Raphael answered.

"Well, I hope this helps," Uriel replied, handing him a large leatherbound book.

"This is it?" Raphael asked, "It seems larger than I remember..."

"That's just your human perception," Uriel said. "That's it-"

"The *Angelus"

*Book of the Angels/the Angelic Bible

OOC: Hey, I remember you! So, where is Raph at?

IC: After that last vision, Zena awoke. "Blade, you never told us any of that." She said, looking one of her closest allies in the eyes.

Tal sighed as he slumped into his seat with relief. "Thank God you are alright. I don't think Blade will wake up anytime soon, so... what happened? You are ok, right?" His concern showed in his eyes as he asked Zena this.

OOC: Good to see you! Also, I kinda offered an explanation toward angels falling, and I referred to Raphael. Hope you don't mind, it's a few pages back and really long if you're interested.

Raphael turned his gaze at the broken stained glass. It was an image of himself, pictured as was usual in human art.

"Don't be getting sentimental now," Uriel said. "You have a task to complete."

"I know. And thanks again, Brother."

"I'll tell Father you said hi," Uriel joked before disappearing in a blast of feathers.

Raphael looked down at the book in his hands. Somewhere in it, he was sure there was an answer. He opened it and read the beginning.


Once long ago, before there was such a thing as time,
the World was shrouded in Darkness.
Then came the splendor of Light,
bringing Life and Love into the Universe,
And the Lord of Darkness retreated deep
Into the Shadows of the Earth...
But there can be no Good without Evil,
No Love without Hate, no Heaven without Hell,
No Light without Darkness.
The Harmony of the Universe depends on an Eternal Balance.
All who live upon and without the Creation of Earth
Must understand and keep this Balance.

OOC: Tal, look at the end of post 793.

IC: "I'm fine. But I saw Blade's dreams and I wish to talk to him about them." She said, moving to a seat next to his.

ooc: tal, would u mind summing up/filling me in? and thanks for the reference ^_^

OOC: To Syl: That's greys post... what of it?

To FUS: From the start? Lemme see... Well, everybody got together, Tal had issues with his emotions / a pity party (that's in the same post with the reference, #704) They went to Methua, the bad dude who has a scythe. He steals souls, already stole Alehkra's. He was attacking Zena's when Tal stepped in and took the hit for her (basically). A demon named Beelzebub is trying to take over Iceland.... Tal's better now thanks to Zena, Umbra's talking to Beelzebub... they're in a jet, on their way to....? not sure. Anything I miss/any questions?

ooc: that about does it. and thanks again. raph is somewhere...in the city he settled down w/ aya...he's searching the Angelus for a way to reverse what happened. basically, Heaven is fighting the war, but only on the sidelines (unless mersk has said different).

OOC: Next to Tal? Or Blade?

IC: Tal looked over at Blade. "I'm not sure how to wake him. He said he's hibernating, and, well... I tried shaking him, but that didn't work. I'm not sure what to do." He sighed and looked over to Zena with a sad look on his face. "I'm sorry. For both of us. You've had to endure our worst memories and help us out. You must be exhausted, and yet you're still trying to help. Please forgive us." Tal took the moment to look at Zena. "Are you sure you're doing fine?"

OOC: I'm not trying to god-mod or anything, but I had thought of a plan of action if you came back and wanted Raphael to return to angel again. I'll have to PM it to you sometime, I kinda forgot some details, since I thought you were gone for good. Also, it kinda wasn't that great of an idea in the first place, so yours is probably better.

OOC: Look at the last two words: Blade awoke. And we're going to Vancouver, where Methua is. And if we can get Raph back to normal, that'd be great. And next to blade.

IC: Zena shook her head. "I'm fine. As for worst memories, well, Josh's dad visiting was exactly pleasant either. Don't worry about it though, I am half angel and High Priestess, it's my job to help others regardless of who they are and my own needs."

OOC: Next to Tal? Or Blade?

IC: Tal looked over at Blade. "I'm not sure how to wake him. He said he's hibernating, and, well... I tried shaking him, but that didn't work. I'm not sure what to do." He sighed and looked over to Zena with a sad look on his face. "I'm sorry. For both of us. You've had to endure our worst memories and help us out. You must be exhausted, and yet you're still trying to help. Please forgive us." Tal took the moment to look at Zena. "Are you sure you're doing fine?"

ooc: i'm gonna take over aya, hope mersk doesn't mind

ic:

Raphael stepped out of the church calmly. He walked over to where Aya waited patiently.

"How'd it go?" she asked.

"Fine," he answered, "Uriel says hi."

"Hehe, now, which one was he again..." her voice trailed before looking at the book, "Is that it?"

"Yes, the Angelus," Raphael answered. Before he could say more, he felt the others. "We need to get to them soon."

"Follow me," Aya chided, holding out her hands. He grasped them and in an instant of light, they were gone...appearing next to Tal and Zena. "Hiya, remember us?" she greeted.

ooc: in the interim, Raph taught her how to awaken her angelic powers...

OOC: Jolt died for me :(

IC: Zena jumped, hitting her head on an overhead cabinet. "How in blazes name did you get up here?" she screeched out of shock and slight fear. "We're at 10,000 feet going how many odd miles an hour and you just pop in here like it's nothing! But to answer your question, yes, I do remember you." she then spotted the book and her eyes widened. "Is that what I think it is?" she asked, having a feeling she might regret asking.

"Okay, what the hell are you people babbling and screaming about? And I am awake Tal." He slowly sat up and stretched, "Who are they? And how the hell did they get on this plane?" Said Blade looking at Raph and Aya.

Tal had been more startled by Zena's reaction then by Raphael and Aya. "Zena, surely you're used to people blinking next to you by now?" Tal turned to the two. "It is very good to see the both of you. Tell me, how are you doing?" He felt his eyes drawn to the leather bound book. He instantly recognized it, especially after Zena's reaction. "And sorry Blade. I could have sworn you were still out."

OOC: Me too.

The runes on Blade's body soon disapeared, "No worries, you know now. Please tell me something... what was Zena babbling about just now?"

Tal looked at Zena, then back to Blade. "I can't be sure, but I think she saw some of your memories, then these guys showed up... right? Or were you talking about the book?"

Zena barked out a laugh. "All three actually. I was startled when they arrived, I'm terrified of what I saw in Blade's dreams, and I'm positive that's the book I've been reading about lately in some of the texts I found. You'd be surprised at just how many popes didn't go through most of what I've covered in the past couple years." She looked at Aya. "It's been far too long." She looked to Raph and said in mock indignation, "And I can't believe you never stopped by and brought her along with you!"

"You... you were in my dreams...? Why? I said my thoughts were my own..." Blade wasn't exactly angry, yet. He was more in a state of confusion due to his sudden waking up from hibernation. "Who- who are they? I don't recognize them..."

Tal turned to Raphael. "He's still a little groggy, he'll come around eventually. Now Raphael... something must be serious for you to have come here, and especially with that." He nodded at the book. "You do realize what you are doing by having that with you here, right?"

Tal looked out the window. "I'm worried about Umbra... I'm going to look for him." Without waiting for a response, he passed through the plane and flew off towards Iceland.

OOC: I'll be off for the next few days, I probably won't get on much, if at all. It's my turn for a vacation. :) Sort of.

"Okay, what the hell are you people babbling and screaming about? And I am awake Tal." He slowly sat up and stretched, "Who are they? And how the hell did they get on this plane?" Said Blade looking at Raph and Aya.

Tal had been more startled by Zena's reaction then by Raphael and Aya. "Zena, surely you're used to people blinking next to you by now?" Tal turned to the two. "It is very good to see the both of you. Tell me, how are you doing?" He felt his eyes drawn to the leather bound book. He instantly recognized it, especially after Zena's reaction. "And sorry Blade. I could have sworn you were still out."

OOC: Me too.

"We've been away," Raphael answered, "Training."

"Raphael taught me to awaken my angelic powers," Aya explained. "That's how we got here."

"And I've been learning to use my powers as well," Raphael continued. "Now we come to reunite, in hopes that there lies an answer in the Angelus."

ooc: gtg, work. tal, if you wanna explain the angelus to the rest, go ahead...also, u can add exerpts from it, if you want...

"You're mistaken, I was dragged in by a call for help to try and stop him... it's not one of my priorities... you on the other hand are. This 'Moon God' means nothing to me as of yet." Umbra looked to the angel, "Hmm? Very well angel, I'll tell your friend the message."

"Well, I don't care what your priorities are." said Beelzebub. "If you came here to do something, make it quick. If not, stop waisting my time."

"Ah, finally." Umbra walked around the human in front of him and toward Beelzebub with a wide toothy smile on his face. Once he was only couple of yards away he pushed forward and rushed at Beelzebub with amazing speed. He brought his scythe in for a nice wide, powerful sweep.

Beelzebub dodged the scythe, and then swung his sword towards Umbra's head.

Umbra simply moved back one step to avoid the sword. "You're at a disadvantage here, my scythe has a much great reach than your sword." He stepped forward and gracefully performed a spin bringing his scythe round in a 360.

Beelzebub dodged the second strike and shrugged. "Well then it's just harder to fight me when I'm closer to you." he said. The demon came closer to Umbra and stabbed at his gut.

Umbra took the stab with a smile, "It's harder to dodge me when you're closer to me." His other hand, which was actually more like a clawed gauntlet came down with significant force at Beelzebub's arm. A human arm could be easily ripped off by something like this, hell, Umbra had taken off several limbs of demons with such a swipe in the past.

Umbra's strike hit Beelzebub's arm and caused him to lose his grip on the sword. He swung his other hand with incredible strength at Umbra's face.

Seeing as Beelzebub had let go of his sword Umbra jumped backward to avoid the punch. As he moved out of range he brought the scythe down once more onto Beelzebub. He hoped that like anyone else, missing with his punch would cause him to stumble.

"Blade, this is Rapheal and Aya. They kinda, vanished, when the rest of us left Sanctuary. And I didn't try to get in your head, it just kinda happened. Powerful memories can draw me in like someone reeling in a fish from a lake." Zena explained, gesturing for Raph and Aya to take seats.

Blade nodded with a dull, half-dead look on his face. "What did you see that was so powerful?" He asked slowly.

"I saw everything." Zena said cautiously. She didn't want to reveal what she saw without his permission. "From the first dream until you woke up. I was simply pulled in and forced to watch it all."

"Then you must've seen my memories... I dream them and re-live them when I sleep but I rarely remember them when I awaken from my slumber. I can only imagine what you saw... There are so many memories... Which ones were they specifically?" He spoke in a slow monotone, like a machine that was loosing power and shutting down. He was still groggy and not fully aware of everything around him due to his sudden awakening.

"I saw the expiraments, fighting the council, Umbra's instructions, Sharpshot, and escaping Hell." Zena said the most notable parts. She had trepidation at first but spoke faster. "I couldn't do anything but stand there and watch." she was close to breaking down. "It was as if I was there when it happened, a bystander."

Beelzebub simply grabbed the scythe and pushed it back. He picked up his sword and swung towards Umbra. "Is that all you got?"

Umbra smiled as Beelzebub grabbed the blade of the scythe. "Idiot, you went right into it anyway." The scythe blade glowed red as it began to eat away at the very essence of Beelzebub. "You should research your foes a little more... whenever a hostile touches my scythe, a little piece of them is eaten away. That's the reason why I love this weapon so." Umbra stomped the ground and darkness began to surround the two, "Let's see where you go when there's no one to run to."
---------------------------------------
Blade shook his head, he was beginning to awaken now, "Oh, just that... I see."

Beelzebub closed his eyes for a moment, while he bottled up the pain. "I've had worse." he said and shrugged. Beelzebub swung again, this time aiming for Umbra's neck.

Umbra ducked and spun performing a quick whirlwind uppercut. (Spinning, aiming for the ankles, then knees, and then bringing the scythe up diagonally.)

Beelzebub jumped away from the scythe and then stabbed towards Umbra's head.

EDIT: there, thats better

OOC: How does one block that?

OOC: i dont know, i didnt really think about it

OOC: yeah... if you try blocking with a sword it'll trip you. If you jump he'll come around and hit your knees. Only way is actually back, it's very hard/impossible to block a scythe unles you have a shield... and this is a demonic scythe.

OOC: but still, U aimed @ his ankles & his knees. what was i supposed 2 do? have my char lose both his feet?

OOC: You jump backwards...

OOC: Guess what? I'm back!! At least marginally. I may miss a day here and there, but for the most part I'm able to start getting on again. Now, could someone please give me a rough overview of what you people have been doing while I was away?

OOC: GW U know that's a really good idea, i'm gonna change the post i sent so Beelzebub does that. welcom back mer.

OOC: Guess what? I'm back!! At least marginally. I may miss a day here and there, but for the most part I'm able to start getting on again. Now, could someone please give me a rough overview of what you people have been doing while I was away?

OOC: Here goes: Beelzebub appears, bothers Pyro, Umbra is summoned to kill him... wait you know that part. Anyway, I intro a new char named Alex Silverkin, he fights Beelzebub and then leaves. We blinked to Texas then to Rome. Josh is still with big bad, Zena+Blade+Tal are on the pope jet trying to find Josh. Tal went off in search of Umbra. Werewoves are in Zena's tower which apparently has no stairs or elevators.

OOC: What werewolves? And why Texas? Why was there blinking in the first place?

OOC: Yeah... & Rapahel is with zena & the others, and blade had this wierd dream.

OOC: Oh, your werewolves weren't with us when we fought the 'moon god'? Oh in that case, Syl essentially wanted a one-on-one between Josh and MG (Moon God) so I had Mirage blink them out to a random location (Texas).

Umbra bent back until his hands met the ground and brought his legs up at Beelzebub's chin in an attempt to kick him.

OOC: Alrighty then, let me just go back a bit, find when this thing happened, and I'll have Methua react somehow, then I suppose I'll have to wait for Sylvonia.

Beelzebub dodged the kick and swung at Umbra's chest

OOC: gtg

OOC: I'm not even going to try to catch up, I'm out.

And the human thread will start as soon as this is over.

Umbra completed the move and pushed off the ground with his hands into the air and performed a flip. He then spread his wings and floated about fifteen feet above Beelzebub.

OOC: I'm not even going to try to catch up, I'm out.

And the human thread will start as soon as this is over.

OOC: Where were you last?

Back in time when everyone 'cept Josh blinked (Yes, I can do that. Its my damn thread)

IC: Methua gave his slight smile at seeing Joshua stay behind. "Well, what have we here? It seems you've been forgotten, hasn't it? Though, knowing you, I think its quite possible you stayed behind on purpose. Rather foolish, if true."

OOC: Where were you last?

Hmm... seven hundred posts back.

OOC: -_- What were you doing and who were you with?

OOC: Nice to see you back, but did you have to show up while I was at work? Also, Joshua's out cold. And I thought you HATED timewarps? :p And the building has stairs and such, it's just that her study is cut off to help deter intruders and would be assassins.

IC: Zena hiccuped. "What do you mean? You sound so casual about something to horrific." She was mortified at his reaction, most people would be wide awake after someone had been forced into their head while they slumbered.

Joshua's eyes opened for a brief moment before closing. He lay there, unable to move, lacking even the will to move after an assault like that. He just lay crumpled on the floor, listening for any sound that someone he knew was there.

Umbra completed the move and pushed off the ground with his hands into the air and performed a flip. He then spread his wings and floated about fifteen feet above Beelzebub.

OOC: shouldnt U try to avoid my hit. just a tought

OOC: I actually did already, and you actually shouldv'e been going for Umbra's back, imagine a slinky. Umbra bend back and kicked so he wasn't facing you, by the time you try striking again, he just pushes off the ground and goes over the attack and you at the same time.

OOC: Nice to see you back, but did you have to show up while I was at work? Also, Joshua's out cold. And I thought you HATED timewarps? :p And the building has stairs and such, it's just that her study is cut off to help deter intruders and would be assassins.

IC: Zena hiccuped. "What do you mean? You sound so casual about something to horrific." She was mortified at his reaction, most people would be wide awake after someone had been forced into their head while they slumbered.

Joshua's eyes opened for a brief moment before closing. He lay there, unable to move, lacking even the will to move after an assault like that. He just lay crumpled on the floor, listening for any sound that someone he knew was there.


OOC: He is? why exactly is he knocked out? Well, disregard that post then. Except for the back in time part. And yes, I do hate timewarps, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

IC: Methua grinned and knelt by Joshua. "Well now, what have we here? Poor Joshy, out cold and left behind."

ooc: so, last i knew, i was w/ tal and zena. so, is josh there too, and by default, i'm there w/ him? also, mersk, i kinda took over aya.

OOC: Well thats not very nice...May I ask where she is so I may take her back? And Joshua got left behind.

OOC: Well thats not very nice...May I ask where she is so I may take her back? And Joshua got left behind.

ooc: well, i just did it to reintroduce my char. she's w/ raph right now. should i tg you the details of what went on in the interim?

OOC: Probably.

OOC: He is? why exactly is he knocked out? Well, disregard that post then. Except for the back in time part. And yes, I do hate timewarps, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

IC: Methua grinned and knelt by Joshua. "Well now, what have we here? Poor Joshy, out cold and left behind."

OOC: Tal knocked him out for interfering with his fight with Methua. And Raph and Aya are in Zena's Pope Jet somewhere above the Atlantic ocean with Blade, who apparently dreams memories.

IC: Joshua groaned and opened his eyes. "Not who I wanted to see upon waking up." he commented, more to himself than anything. He vanished and appeared clear across the room from Methua. "Did I miss something?" he asked upon noticing that it was just the two of them in the room.

ooc: TGed you...

OOC: Tal knocked him out for interfering with his fight with Methua. And Raph and Aya are in Zena's Pope Jet somewhere above the Atlantic ocean with Blade, who apparently dreams memories.

IC: Joshua groaned and opened his eyes. "Not who I wanted to see upon waking up." he commented, more to himself than anything. He vanished and appeared clear across the room from Methua. "Did I miss something?" he asked upon noticing that it was just the two of them in the room.

Methua smiled. "Your friends left you here, my boy. Isn't that rather obvious? Yes, you are here all alone with me. How fun, how fun."

"Well thank you Captain Obvious." Joshua said while bowing as if before royalty. "Anyway this works out for the best. I've no interest in fighting a soul thief as it stands. I'd prefer to sit and talk. I've got questions, and you seem to have all the answers." Suddenly Zena's implanted memory realized that Joshua was awake and played itself in his head. It was a simple message asking him where he was and that they were going back to Methua. "And while we're at it, perhaps a change of venue would be nice. Tal and Zena don't seem to like you much, and I can see why, and probably want to try kicking your ass again."

Methua shrugged and sat down crosslegged, and spread his hands. "Ask away. Although, would you be so kind as to halt with the patronizing names? I'll admit that perhaps soul thief is fitting, but Captain Obvious? Not only is it immature, but not very nice at all."

"I'm tired and abandoned, take your pick of reasons why I'd say that kind of thing. At any rate, where did you get your information that there is a god that wants you to kill people to make their lives better?" Joshua too sat down, but not before a small cushion materialized from the floor.

"Zena... casual is not really the term. I've seen so much more than you could ever imagine, what you saw was proof of that. There are other memories, drawn out ones that have much more gruesome details..." He looked at her, more sorrowful than tired at this point, "I am a monster... Why don't you get that yet? This is me, who I am, I am a weapon... I used to cry myself to sleep after I regained some of my emotions but I'm dead now... That's why I don't care what happens to me... I'm already dead..."

Zena sighed. "I know, but I'm not used to that kind of thing so seeing all that is horrific and shocking to me. And you may be a weapon, but you're not a monster. A powerful being changed from what you were originally, sure, but I don't see you as a monster. But that could very easily be the fact that I'm a priestess talking."

"Perhaps... it's a shame that you have to be subjected to that but it is what it is. That was my past, something I cannot change... So I assume you realize exactly who Umbra is, don't you?" He wondered if she was trying to hide something.

"Yes I do. And I'm not hiding things, I just don't know how much you want revealed." She didn't have to read his mind to realize that concern. "And you're right, it's no use crying over spilled milk."

"I honestly don't care, if people want to suffer knowing my memories, let them."

"That's an interesting way to look at it." Zena said, slightly affronted.

"What's so interesting about it? I just honestly don't care anymore." Blade spoke in an emotionless monotone.

"That's just it. Most would care. It's just unusual to find anyone who wouldn't care about something like that." Zena's voice was the opposite of Blade's.

"I'm obviously not 'most people,' in fact I'm not really 'most' of anything. Nor am I really a person at this point. What am I to do? Keep crying my eyes out? No, I formed resolve, to slaughter every last hostile demonic creature that bothers me or humanity. That is my purpsoe now, my self-given purpose."

"I know you're not most, but it's still shocking to me. Is that so hard to understand? At least I can fully agree with your 'self-given purpose'."

"Your shock isn't really that suprising, I imagine that's how most would feel. I'm just saying that after everything was done to me, you have to understand that I.... to an extent, got use to it and accepted. Thus I now fail to really care about the fact that all this happened to me... I just use it to fuel my never-ending grudge."

"Ah, well, I guess I can work with that. I don't really have much choice anyway do I? Besides, it's better to work with you than against you from what I've seen." Zena looked out the window. "We seem to be getting close."

OOC: I'm hoping the dream sequence can explain making things go nutty fast, and Mereshka, when can we continue with the TBCS mission 1?

"Thankyou, I think... I believe that was a complement..."

"Take it as you see fit." Zena said. "But yes, it was meant as a compliment."

"I'm tired and abandoned, take your pick of reasons why I'd say that kind of thing. At any rate, where did you get your information that there is a god that wants you to kill people to make their lives better?" Joshua too sat down, but not before a small cushion materialized from the floor.

"Zena... casual is not really the term. I've seen so much more than you could ever imagine, what you saw was proof of that. There are other memories, drawn out ones that have much more gruesome details..." He looked at her, more sorrowful than tired at this point, "I am a monster... Why don't you get that yet? This is me, who I am, I am a weapon... I used to cry myself to sleep after I regained some of my emotions but I'm dead now... That's why I don't care what happens to me... I'm already dead..."

Methua cocked his eyebrow. "Whoever said that I am doing this for a god? True, there is a divinity I worship, though incidentelly its goddess, not god, but my crusade has been started because of my own reasoning."


Lydia scowled at Bladedancer. "Oh? And if you are a monster, than what does that make me, hmm? Are you saying that I'm a monster too?"

"When I said god I meant it in a gender neutral sense. But that leads me to two questions, what goddess do you speak of, and what is your reasoning?" Joshua sat on his cushion, still listening. "Though I do fear that if this discussion is to continue, we may wish to move. Zena will probably be here with reinforcements within the hour."

Zena meanwhile laughed at Lydia. "I love it when someone listens to wording."

OOC: Don't forget Aozora's in the plane too if you wanted to use him.

"Why would you think that? When I say I'm a monster I only mean me... I doubt anyone could ever fall as far as I have..."

OOC: Theres a plane?

IC: Methua nodded. "Feel free to take us anywhere you wish, I really have no preference. Although, if neccesary, I'll take us myself. And, to answer your questions, I worship the Goddes Nala, who is among my people the goddess of love and the night."


Lydia, surpressing the urge to smile, scowled even more. "Yes, but if you're a monster, than what does that make me, as one who loves you? If you are a monster, than I too must be a monster because I love you, or at the very least evil. Or am I so unimportant to you that you've completely forgotten?"

Joshua nodded and they found themselves sitting in the New York library. "I have a feeling the resources here will help. But you still haven't enlightened me as to your reasoning for this or as to why you call it a holy quest if your deity didn't tell you to do this."

Methua taped his lips for a second before replying. "Well, think of it this way. This world is not in a good state. Even before the demon invasion, there was war, starvation, and tyranny. Just take a look at the state of Africa. There was almost constant war, starcation, and of course, tyranny. The people were miserable. They had no hope. A man could neither feed his family, due to many times inhospitable landscapes, and maurading soldiers. Nor could this man protect his wives and daughters from being raped by said soldiers, or his sons from being captured as slaves, to be used as fodder in the wars for those tyrannical rulers. This man is in a wretched state, constantly being tormented. I bring to him release, so he is not required to live the torture that is known as life."

"That's not fair... You're making an insult out of a simple statement..." Blade was looking away from her while he spoke.

Lydia cocked her head. "Well, what kind of person would love a monster? By saying that you are a monster, you imply, if indirectly, that I too am a monster. And for that matter, all of the rest of us, as I'm sure everyone here cares for you to some extent."

Aozora, meanwhile, chuckled. "She's Alehkra and Deserae's kid alright." He muttered under his breath.

Blade groaned, "Loving a monster doesn't make you a monster. Just the same, loving a werewolf doesn't make you a werewolf... it makes you a sympathizer. Plus, all monsters are different..."

"But to be a monster means you have no redeeming qualities whatsoever," replied Lydia, "and any person with good qualities themselves qould revile and push away said monster. So, either all of us here are monsters, or none of us, as I'm fairly certain that none of us revile you, nor push you away."

"Why am I keeping you from insulting yourself...? Or why does it at least seem this way?"

Lydia at last couldn't keep from smiling, and put on her innocent puppy face. "Because you don't want to think your little Lydia is a monstor, and as such you are forced to admit that you yourself are not a monster." She now openly grinned, and slipped her arms around Blade's neck. "So there, I win."

Raphael had kept himself away from the others. He still felt a bit uncomfortable, considering the time they'd spent apart. The seclusion he and Aya had walled themselves in had shielded them from what was going in, and now that they knew, it was a shock. So instead, Raphael poured over the Angelus, reading page after page, confident that the answer was within it.

ooc: mersk, since its your thread, i leave it to you to decide what the Angelus says.

OOC: The what? I'm sorry, but I must have missed whatever you're talking about while I was gone.

Blade groaned again, "When did it become a competition...?"

Lydia smiled widely at that. "I'm a girl, its always a competition. Haven't you learned that yet?"

"Apparently not..." Blade said quietly.

Lydia frowned. "Oh come on mister grumpy. I'm trying to cheer you up, the least you can do is give at least the semblance of being happy that I care for you."

"But I am happy that you care about me. I'm happy that someone like me could have a group as caring as all of you. That will never change."

Lydia took her arms from Blade's neck, put her fists on her hips, and did her best to look strict, which was rather spoiled by how much shorter she was than him. "Than why don't you try acting like it? If you're so happy, then stop acting all deppressed."

Blade looked at her, "Well... I..." He didn't really know what to say at this point, things were a little too confusing for him. "I don't know anymore... can we just pretend Zena didn't infiltrate my dreams?"

Lydia again smiled, and gave Blade a hug. "Sure, whatever you want. Only if you stop calling yourself a monster."

"Fine, that's an easy enough promise to keep."

Lydia nodded happily. "Alrighty then, thats good enough for me."

"Well now that that's sorted out. I guess all that's left is finding Josh and killing that bastard who keeps stealing souls. Doesn't sound too hard if I do say so myself."

Lydia sighed. "Perhaps you shouldn't underestimate him, hmm? I mean, hes obviously not normal, now is he? I think perhhaps we should plan this whole thing out before someone else gets hurt, or loses their soul."

"Agreed... However, I do have friends here to help me. I'm sure when this all ends, everythign will be fine."

"But by 'releasing' them, you also don't give them a chance for their lives to get better. Release a child, and you may stop the person who finds the foolproof cure for cancer or even that annoying common cold. Release a parent, you could destroy a child's life and cause the same effect. How do you know that what you're doing won't do more harm than good in the long run? You don't even give humanity a chance to become better, you're just killing for the sake of killing." Joshua spoke with passion, even though he doubted it would stop Methua.

Zena snorted. Ya, you got that right Zora. I do wonder where Joshua is though. She froze. "Guys, Methua isn't where we left him. It's as if someone went and blinked him away or he found a way to mask himself. I don't know where he is."

"Nothing new, Josh probably came to." Blade said calmly, "This only means Josh isn't dead yet. Hopefully."

"But by 'releasing' them, you also don't give them a chance for their lives to get better. Release a child, and you may stop the person who finds the foolproof cure for cancer or even that annoying common cold. Release a parent, you could destroy a child's life and cause the same effect. How do you know that what you're doing won't do more harm than good in the long run? You don't even give humanity a chance to become better, you're just killing for the sake of killing." Joshua spoke with passion, even though he doubted it would stop Methua.

Zena snorted. Ya, you got that right Zora. I do wonder where Joshua is though. She froze. "Guys, Methua isn't where we left him. It's as if someone went and blinked him away or he found a way to mask himself. I don't know where he is."

Methua smiled kindly, with the air of dealing with one of limited intelligence. "Realize tha humanity has had many chances to overcome their natural warlike tendencies. Since the beggining of your race, there have been battles over food, land, or such petty things as injured pride. Even now that they have greater chances to do good, with increased technology, they do nothing but make war, and take advantage of those unable to deffend themselves. No, it is best for you all for you to move on, to escape this life. It is saddening, I know. I do not enjoy what I do, yet it is neccesary, as a rabid dog must be put down, so must humans be eradicated."

Joshua shook his head. "No, humans are getting better. They're evolving and coming to peace, even if it is slow. Look at the Middle East. They fought and fought and fought, and now they've made peace. There were so many wars, but then they united under peace treaties and the fighting almost completely stopped. Africa was slowing coming around too. Sure there were still some bad spots, but are you going to let a few bad apples spoil the bunch? You're generalizing things. You gave the example of one man, but what of the woman fresh out of colege, making her own way in her new world? She's landed a great job, has a good boyfriend, and even moved into an outstanding uptown apartment. Things are looking nowhere but up for her. Are you going to kill her for the sins of others?"

Zena sighed. "Or they moved and Josh is still in trouble."

OOC: I'm going off the whole part that we're 11 years in the future from here, so don't criticize me about the peace in the middle east. Also, I'm going to bed, good night folks.

OOC: To bed before me? Blasphemy!
IC:

Blade nodded, "That is also quite possible."

OOC: Actually its nine years in the future.

IC: Methua sighed and shook his head. "Do you have any idea how many times peace treaties have been made over the course of history? And do you have any idea how many times such treaties were broken? Think of this as the calm before the storm. And times will be even worse after the demonic invasion. After humans collect themselves, it will be the crusades all over again. And you misunderstand me. I am not a punisher of the wicked. Had I believed humans were all evil, I would simply let them kill each other, and stay out of it. No, it is for that woman that you speak of that I do the things I do. It is to spare her what those who are wicked will ineavitably bring to her. As I mentioned earlier, I do not enjoy what I do. It is a terrible thing to kill, yet sometimes it takes horrible things to further the cause of good."

Aozora put his arm around Zena. "Don't worry love, Joshy's a crafty bastard if nothing else. i'm sure he'll be fine."

"Plus we always have Mirage as a backup." Just then Mirage blinked into the plane, "No, Blade, don't you dare drag me into this you miserable bastard." And with that Mirage blinked back to the garden.

Lydia laughed. "Maybe you should have asked him before including him, hmm?"

"How come Zena is the only one who can command people...?"

Aozora laughed. "Simple mate. A combination of being the High Priestess of the church, and her killer looks."

"Means nothing to me or Mirage. Try again."

Aozora grinned. "Then call it simple force of will. And being female, that alone gives her an insurmountable edge over us poor men."

"...But this is Mirage we're talking about. I'm sure 'he' doesn't actually have a gender."

Aozora raised his eyebrow. "Then why do we refer to him as he? Even if he doesn't technically have a gender, he has the personality, at least insofar as he has one, of a male. Its whats in your head that counts in arguments, not whats in between your legs. At least for guys. For girls, that can help them in arguments against us just as well."

"Mirage has acted like a guy? Really? I thought he acted like an emotionless whatever the hell he is up until Tal separated from us back at the garden. And believe me, I've known him for a little bit longer than you have, he's more nuetral then you think. 'He' is used because he likes to use a masculine voice though his thoughts are anyone's guess."

Aozora grinned. "And there, you just proved my point. I don't know about you, but I tend to think that if someone is emotionless, they're male. But, maybe its just because all the girls i know have very vibrant personalities."

OOC: The what? I'm sorry, but I must have missed whatever you're talking about while I was gone.

ooc: in my previous posts, Raph appeared w/ the Angelus, the Angel Bible. In it, he's looking for answers

Aozora grinned. "And there, you just proved my point. I don't know about you, but I tend to think that if someone is emotionless, they're male. But, maybe its just because all the girls i know have very vibrant personalities."

"Well then you're simply bias. Girls can indeed be emotionless, just because you haven't met them doesn't mean they're not out there."

Aozora cocked his head. "Then why does he prefer a male voice?"

"Because typically males are seen as dominant. Think about it, Mirage using a male voice makes it seem more of a leader than if it were to use a female voice. A true fact in many cases, if only on a subconcious level. In many cases, Mirage has actually been a mirror, and as such spoke exactly like the person that spoke to it."

Aozora grinned. "There you go then. Males tend to be more dominant, and Mirage wishes to be dominant, therefore showing some semblance of a male personality."

"And your point is still proven wrong. If it's masculine, that does not make it male. And the fact that it wishes to be dominant is simply due to the fact that such illogical creatures such as humans and most all mammels for that matter typically only follow male instruction. It is more doing it for your comfort than anything else."

ooc: in my previous posts, Raph appeared w/ the Angelus, the Angel Bible. In it, he's looking for answers

OOC: No offense mate, but doesn't that seem like something you should have asked me about? I'm okay with it, but still.

"And your point is still proven wrong. If it's masculine, that does not make it male. And the fact that it wishes to be dominant is simply due to the fact that such illogical creatures such as humans and most all mammels for that matter typically only follow male instruction. It is more doing it for your comfort than anything else."

Aozora seemed about to reply, then thought of something. "You know, it seems we're going about this all wrong. Wouldn't it be easier to just ask Mirage?"

"Honestly, it took you that long?" Said Mirage, he was sitting in a seat near the front of the plane.

Aozra laughed. "So, our emotionless friend, what do you consider yourself? Or, perhaps a better question, would you rather argue with a man or a woman?"

"Niether one suits me."

"Well, what if the argument is inevitable?"

"Typical human thinking. If the argument was inevitable I could simply choose to not participate. I would not take a stance unless it was something important. Something that required me to prove a point for whatever reason, arguing for the sake of it is a waste of time. Arguing with someone who is intelligent about something that actually matters to me is important. I'm not sexist however, and therefore, I don't care. It doesn't matter which sex wishes to argue with me, they will recieve the same treatment." Said Mirage, using Celestial's voice instead of his typical one.

OCC: sorry ive been gone, am i still with your char mereshka?

Aozora shook his head. "No, you misunderstand me. I'm not asking how you will treat either one, I'm asking which is the better at arguments." He thought for a second. "Let me put it this way. Would you rather argue with me, or Zena?"

OCC: sorry ive been gone, am i still with your char mereshka?

OOC: Yup, but I don't remember what was going on last.

"If either of you were to argue with me for no reason I'd think both of you were idiots and would most likely walk away." He now spoke in Gold's voice.

OCC: well i said I surrenderd, that's about it, your char is standing in front of me.

OOC: Alrighty then.

Octavius shrugged. "Alrighty then, whatever you want to do. So, why exactly are you here, in the heart of werewolf territory?"

Aozora sighed. "Its really hard to ask you questions, you know that? You assume too much. I never said we'd be arguing for no reason. Lets say the argument was over something that was actually important to you."

"You assume that I actually care and that I for some reason am going to be straight forward when I have no reason to be. I actually wonder why this subject is so important to you. Or is it that you simply want to start an arguement right now?" Mirage was now using Aozora's voice, hoping this would have a greater effect.

OOC: Alrighty then.

Octavius shrugged. "Alrighty then, whatever you want to do. So, why exactly are you here, in the heart of werewolf territory?"

Aozora sighed. "Its really hard to ask you questions, you know that? You assume too much. I never said we'd be arguing for no reason. Lets say the argument was over something that was actually important to you."

Kash shrugged and put his hands to his sides " Well, I didn't know it was werewolf terrirtory out here chief, otherwise I wouldn't be in this position. I thought there were other humans here, i geuss i was mistaken." He held his shoulder from the injury he had sustained when he killed the camp.

Aozora shrugged, ignoring the voice change. "Not really. I'm just trying to prove my point, which was somehow lost during the course of the discussion. My point, was that girls have a nearly insurmountable edge over us men when it comes to arguments."

"If that is such a fact then why did you bring me into it?" Mirage said in his normal voice.

Kash shrugged and put his hands to his sides " Well, I didn't know it was werewolf terrirtory out here chief, otherwise I wouldn't be in this position. I thought there were other humans here, i geuss i was mistaken." He held his shoulder from the injury he had sustained when he killed the camp.

Octavius laughed, and ignored Kash's wound. It wasn't done out of cruelty, he simply failed to realize that it was a serious wound, as too him it would have been naught but a scratch, and would have healed within the hour. "You don't know much about the state of things, do you? There are about thirty thousand humans left in North America, and about half of those are in Alaska."

"If that is such a fact then why did you bring me into it?" Mirage said in his normal voice.

"Well, it all began with Blade asking why people would do as Zena said, but not him. I said it was a combination of her force of will, her killer looks, and the simple fact that she's female. Blade said that wouldn't matter to you, as hes fairly certain that you are gender neutral, so you seemed the natural person to ask."

Octavius laughed, and ignored Kash's wound. It wasn't done out of cruelty, he simply failed to realize that it was a serious wound, as too him it would have been naught but a scratch, and would have healed within the hour. "You don't know much about the state of things, do you? There are about thirty thousand humans left in North America, and about half of those are in Alaska."

Kash shook his head " Yes, I havn't had much news lately sorry." He stepped foward towards Octavius " Things are not the same since the great war with heaven and hell." He tried to forget about the pain, and Typhon.

"It is indeed odd. I don't find Zena controlling in any way nor do I find her atractive and I am indeed gender nuetral. I am neither male nor am I female, this voice is one a stole from someone I killed. I used it to spy on someone else and decided I would keep it as I was too lazy to find another voice to use."

Umbra completed the move and pushed off the ground with his hands into the air and performed a flip. He then spread his wings and floated about fifteen feet above Beelzebub.

"Come down, you bastard!" yelled Beelzebub.

OOC: This thread is alot faster with Mereshka.

Octavius shrugged. "We tend to take such things in stride. My people were made for fighting. It is considered an honor to die in war, and death is celebrated, as we can return to the moon. It matters not whether we fight demons, or other clans, just so long as we fight."

Aozora grinned. "But you would do as she asks, would you not? And how in the hell can you not find her attractive?"

Umbra laughed, "What? You can't fly? Pathetic!" Umbra laughed again, "What kind of demon are you?!"
------------
"I came the first time for old times sake. I don't really plan on coming everytime she feels like making noise. And not having a gender means there's nothing to give me a reason to find her attractive."

Octavius shrugged. "We tend to take such things in stride. My people were made for fighting. It is considered an honor to die in war, and death is celebrated, as we can return to the moon. It matters not whether we fight demons, or other clans, just so long as we fight."

Aozora grinned. "But you would do as she asks, would you not? And how in the hell can you not find her attractive?"

" So uhh, what, your gonna try to fight me." he said eyeing the P-90 he had dropped. Kash's eyes came back up to Ocatvious,searching him.

Aozora sighed. "Well, if she were to walk up to you, do that thing that girls do whenever their asking something of a man, and asked you to do some insignificent little task, would you do it?"

Octavius smiled faintly "If I wanted to fight you, I assure you that you'd already be dead. No, I'm just curious as to what a human is doing here, as are most of my friends over there." He said, gesturing to the group of werewolves and vampires who were sitting in the building.

Aozora sighed. "Well, if she were to walk up to you, do that thing that girls do whenever their asking something of a man, and asked you to do some insignificent little task, would you do it?"

Octavius smiled faintly "If I wanted to fight you, I assure you that you'd already be dead. No, I'm just curious as to what a human is doing here, as are most of my friends over there." He said, gesturing to the group of werewolves and vampires who were sitting in the building.

Kash started to walk slowly towards the vampires. " Well, my camp was attacked by werewolfs, I ran and expected humans, but that's not what i got now was it..." He was nervous and slightly shaking.

"My wings were clipped long ago." said Beelzebub. "Now come down you coward. Either you fight me or go away."

Umbra laughed, "Clipped? Poor poor Beelzebub, lost his wings. As pathetic as ever, you think you even have a right to call me a coward. You have a goon do all your work and pick on those who are weaker than you. THen you pissed off as soon as someone gains an advantage. You're the most patheic thing I've ever seen. Be glad! I'm going to put you out of your misery." Umbra held up his hand and the skies became darker, black lightning could be seen and unnatural thunder bomed.

Aozora sighed. "Well, if she were to walk up to you, do that thing that girls do whenever their asking something of a man, and asked you to do some insignificent little task, would you do it?"

"If it was so insignificant I'd have to ask why the hell she was wasting my time and have her either do it herself or find someone else. My time is very important to me. Do not mistake my coming to help you as her having any fraction of influence over how I act."

Umbra laughed, "Clipped? Poor poor Beelzebub, lost his wings. As pathetic as ever, you think you even have a right to call me a coward. You have a goon do all your work and pick on those who are weaker than you. THen you pissed off as soon as someone gains an advantage. You're the most patheic thing I've ever seen. Be glad! I'm going to put you out of your misery." Umbra held up his hand and the skies became darker, black lightning could be seen and unnatural thunder bomed.

"You think a little storm is going to scare me?" said Beelzebub and laughed. "Well then, stop showing off your weather powers and and fight me. The weather on this island is already awful enugh."

"Scare you?" Umbra laughed over the sound of the thunder, "No Beelzebub, this is going to kill you." WIth that lighting began to concentrate around Umbra's scythe and then began stricking the ground in random areas. Buildings exploded as the lightning struck them. "I have no reason to impress someone as pathetic as you, my only intention is to erase you from the world altogether."

Kash started to walk slowly towards the vampires. " Well, my camp was attacked by werewolfs, I ran and expected humans, but that's not what i got now was it..." He was nervous and slightly shaking.

Octavius cocked his head in confusion, and walked alongside him. "Werewolves? That doesn't make much sense, unless you attacked them first. Or...damn, must have been followers of the false god."

OOC: Actually its nine years in the future.

IC: Methua sighed and shook his head. "Do you have any idea how many times peace treaties have been made over the course of history? And do you have any idea how many times such treaties were broken? Think of this as the calm before the storm. And times will be even worse after the demonic invasion. After humans collect themselves, it will be the crusades all over again. And you misunderstand me. I am not a punisher of the wicked. Had I believed humans were all evil, I would simply let them kill each other, and stay out of it. No, it is for that woman that you speak of that I do the things I do. It is to spare her what those who are wicked will ineavitably bring to her. As I mentioned earlier, I do not enjoy what I do. It is a terrible thing to kill, yet sometimes it takes horrible things to further the cause of good."

Aozora put his arm around Zena. "Don't worry love, Joshy's a crafty bastard if nothing else. i'm sure he'll be fine."

"How come Zena is the only one who can command people...?"

OOC: I thought the original thread was in 2012 and this was 7 years after that... Maybe I got something mixed up.

IC: "So you kill her because something bad might happen to her? You kill her because her life is great? Where's the logic in that? Also of note, nothing good can come of you killing all these people. Humanity is getting better, we have stopped much religious fighting and we're working out so many other conflicts. It's not perfect, but it's better. And if you eliminate everyone, what happens then? Humans won't be able to get better because you've ended it all. And if you keep all the souls, then they will have no rest or peace in the afterlife either. And no peace or happiness is exactly the opposite of what you're going for." Joshua said indignantly.

Zena smiled. "Thanks Zora. And I get to command people cause it's my jet. Speaking of which, we should be nearly at our destination." An announcement sounded that they had 15 minutes to go. "You could set your watch by it." Zena remarked.

OOC2: let me know if I missed anything else important, I just looked at the few posts after my last one.

OOC: I don't think I ever mentioned the year...

IC: Methua sighed. "What I do is nothing compared to what she could face. She would be captured, raped innumerable times, and then killed when she outlives her use." Methua leaned closer. "Do you know why religious fighting had for the most part stopped? Governments no longer allowed it. If it were up to them, they would have kept right on executing heretics and whatnot. there aren't any governments now my boy. There is no United Nations to tell a country they can't wage war, there is no USA to step in whenever genocide rears its ugly head. You say mankind has gotten better. I disagree, yet even were it to be true, it is irrelevant. You see, it would no longer take multiple wars to kill off humanity. No, with technology at the point it is, it takes but one. One radical group of religios fanatics launching a nuclear warhead, and humankind will die. Not from that particular blast, but from the resulting nuclear wars. I am making sure that the good people in this world are spared a slow death from radiation. And after I am finished with my holy crusade, I will release their souls."

Aozora laughed. "I don't have a watch love. Alehkra always taught me to disregard such things, that I should be able to tell the time from the sun and moon."

"Methua, your entire war is based off of maybes. Something might happen or this could happen. But you miss the flip side. It could not happen just as easily. And there's no USA or UN because the demons ended all that. I clearly see your point, that's not the problem, the problem is that although it's slow, humanity is getting better and you fail to see that. Yes it too government to stop the religious wars, but it still ended. Crime rates have been dropping, and that's without the aid of the demons killing everyone off. Humans aren't perfect, but your actions and your reasoning is based off of the apparent fact that you expect them too."

Zena laughed. "You're screwed then if it's a cloudy night." she joked while closing her eyes and trying to sense Methua or Joshua again. "You know, I still have noth..." she stopped. "Crap. Mixed signals. I sense both of them both somewhere out east and right where we left them. Emphasis on somewhere."

OOC: So where'd I get 2012? O_o

OOC: Mer, did you respond to Mirage's last comment?

"Methua, your entire war is based off of maybes. Something might happen or this could happen. But you miss the flip side. It could not happen just as easily. And there's no USA or UN because the demons ended all that. I clearly see your point, that's not the problem, the problem is that although it's slow, humanity is getting better and you fail to see that. Yes it too government to stop the religious wars, but it still ended. Crime rates have been dropping, and that's without the aid of the demons killing everyone off. Humans aren't perfect, but your actions and your reasoning is based off of the apparent fact that you expect them too."

Zena laughed. "You're screwed then if it's a cloudy night." she joked while closing her eyes and trying to sense Methua or Joshua again. "You know, I still have noth..." she stopped. "Crap. Mixed signals. I sense both of them both somewhere out east and right where we left them. Emphasis on somewhere."


OOC: So where'd I get 2012? O_o

OOC: I've no idea.

IC: Methua sighed. "Tell me, Joshua. How old are you, exactly?"

"If it was so insignificant I'd have to ask why the hell she was wasting my time and have her either do it herself or find someone else. My time is very important to me. Do not mistake my coming to help you as her having any fraction of influence over how I act."

OOC: Mer, did you ever see/respond to this?

Aozora cocked his eyebrow. "So your saying that you have no affection whatsoever for her?"

Mirage nodded, "She's an ally, not a friend. I see no reason to have affection for her."

Aozora scowled. "Hmm...Then I'd say theres something very wrong with you. Out of curiosity, is there anyone you have affection for?"

"No. At what point did you forget that I'm not human? I'm not a creature bound by emotion like you and everyone else. I can exist outside and without it. I can make decisions much more easily, it makes me much better at what I do."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean you are required to have no emotions. Perhaps you sould try it. I bet you you'd suddenly find life much more enjoyable."

"Why is there a need to enjoy anything? I'm fine the way I am right now. Or is it just that you have a burning urge to convert anyone who's not like you?"

OOC: I've no idea.

IC: Methua sighed. "Tell me, Joshua. How old are you, exactly?"

OOC: hmm, that's a shame. I was hoping you would.

IC: "I'm 24, 25 in a couple months. And before you stole his soul, I was being educated by the oldest living being on this planet."

Methua smiled faintly. "Twenty-five and you know how to judge how well humanity is doing? Alehkra may be very old, but he is not the oldest." He spread his arms. "That title, belongs to me."

"I've read enough history to know how often wars broke out, where fighting was, the reasons, the technology, and then I had Alehkra, who taught me even more than I could ever have imagined. I've conversed at length with Aozora, another of Alehkra's pupils who knows even more than I and all three of us came to the same conclusions and realizations, so ya, I'd say I'm pretty good. As for your title, you won't have it much longer if we have our way. Now I've no intention of fighting you on my own, much less without knowing where a dear friend or two of mine are, but sooner or later, you will lose that title." Joshua's confidence was astounding, even against the odds he knew he faced.

Methua opened his mouth to argue, then suddenly grinned. "You know, its been a long time since I've ever been able to have any fun. What say you we make a game out of this little experience? Of course, you would have to ask your friends about it. Of course, it would not be without its risks. For instance, if you people win this game, I will halt my crusade, and move on to another place that requires my help. Were you to lose, however, I want your souls."

"I would love to consult my friends and allies about this offer, but I've no way of reaching them without leaving you unattended. Tell you what though. You tell me your terms, name the game, and I'll consult my allies about it. You meanwhile will wait here patiently and put your crusade on hold until this is over. When we get back, we'll decide what to do from there." Joshua knew he was asking for a lot. "Can you work with that?"

Methua smiled. "Or, perhaps I could go with you. I give you my word, I will not try anything at all while we are discussing it. It will be something of a parle. After all, have I not sat here talking peacefully with you?"

Joshua groaned. "I wanted to leave you here because I don't want them attacking you at 1500 feet. But if you insist, we can do that. I know you won't attack without provocation, you've proven that, it's them I don't trust to keep still."

Methua smiled in a rather unpleasant fashion. "Worry not, my boy, I am not without my deffenses. Shall we get going then?"

"So long as your defenses don't cause damage to the jet, I guess we'll live." Joshua said and they vanished from the spot.

Zena yelped when Joshua appeared in front of her. "Where have you been!?" she demanded, completely missing Methua.
"Aww, you missed me. I've been talking with him." he gestured to Methua and Zena looked ready to murder. "Don't worry, he has an offer you'll want to hear."

Methua smiled slightly. "Yes, as Joshua her said, I have an offer, which I'd suggest you listen to. You see, it has been a very long time since I've had any fun, and I suggest a game, with wagers appropriate to the stakes of course. Should you win, I will halt my crusade, and move on to another place requiring my help. However, should I win, I want your souls."

"And how do we know you'll stick to your word?" Asked Aozora. Methua thought about it for a second, then replied, "Should you agree to this, then I will give Alehkra his soul back."

"In that case, consider me gone." With that, Mirage vanished.

Lydia scowled when Mirage left. "So Mirage is fine with condemning my father to not being able to return to the moon?"

"What is your game?" Joshua asked sternly. "We won't agree to anything until you name the game. We also seem to be missing a few. Umbra, Tal, Alehkra, and Deserea to name a couple. Then there's the humans we're missing."

Blade shook his head, "Think about that entire conversation he just had with Aoxora and ask yourself if that was really all that suprising."
OOC: That was acvtually a post that was supposed to come before MEr's but oh well.

Methua shrugged. "I have no idea what the game is, as of now. It will probabyl be a series of challenges. As for the other people, they are free to participate. I'd imagine Deserae would be more than happy, seeing as how it involves me releasing her mates soul. I can't really speak for the others however."

OOC: UHC, the one who was controlling the humans, dropped out by the way.

Blade shook his head, "Think about that entire conversation he just had with Aoxora and ask yourself if that was really all that suprising."
OOC: That was acvtually a post that was supposed to come before MEr's but oh well.

Lydia bit her lip, tears in her eyes. "Yeah, but thats still cruel." She turned to Blade, and looked up at him. "You'll play the game, right? You won't let him keep my daddy, will you?"

OOC: Oh ya, forgot about that.

IC: "A series of challenges I can live with. Everyone fighting will pick one challenge for us all to compete in. If you can get more victories than any one of us, you will be victorious. The one choosing the challenge can make whatever rules he,"
"Or she." Zena interrupted.
"Or she wants so long as they don't give one team an unfair advantage that cannot be justified. Can we all agree to this?"

OOC2: I'm thinking of bringing in Kathy, a human character who made Josh's arms for an additional competitor. Provided that's alright with you Mereshka.

Blade nodded, "Being a weapon, I don't have much of a soul left to give so I've not much to lose. Yes, I'll participate."

Methua shook his head. "I have but one requirement: I choose the games and rules. Other than that, I really don't care what happens. And I can promise that the rules will be few, and lenient."

Blade nodded, "Being a weapon, I don't have much of a soul left to give so I've not much to lose. Yes, I'll participate."

Lydia laughed, and hugged Blade. "Thank you! Thank you thank you thank you!" She pulled away from Blade, and gave him a look that was completely inconsistent with her normal little girl attitude. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to thank you properly later." She promised.

Methua shook his head. "I have but one requirement: I choose the games and rules. Other than that, I really don't care what happens. And I can promise that the rules will be few, and lenient."

"I take it you don't like my idea?" Joshua inquired.
Zena meanwhile joked with Lydia. "Lydia, that's too much info."

Methua smiled and shook his head. "No, no I do not."

Lydia tried to look as innocent as possible. "I don't know what you're talking about Zena. I'm just going to make him brownies."

Joshua looked indignant. "And why not?"
Zena laughed. "Ya, then those brownies will end up all over the bed when you two, you know..." she trailed off, giggling. "Anyway, you two have fun after all is said and done."

Methua thought for a second. "How about this. You may all think up the challenges I face, and I do the same thing for you."

Lydia blushed. "And you say I give too much information!"