NationStates Jolt Archive

Jimmy felt a presence in his mind.

Who are you?

That is not important. Your help is needed. You must return to Assington.

Do I get a say in this?

No. You will return to Assington now.

Without warning, a telekinetic force far stronger than Jimmy could imagine took hold of him. The door was ripped off it's hinges and Jimmy was hurled into the open sky.

What are you doing?

I am retrieving you.

Jimmy had to endure the flight back to Assington in silence. The unknown force blocked out his powers so he was not able to contact Max or Sarah.

I guess that's all over then.

Yes.... yes it is.
___________________________

Jimmy stood in a dark cave, somewhere in Assington. Just a few hours ago he had been in the nation of Gehenna Tartarus until he was rudely yanked out of the nation by an unknown psychic.

Jimmy had been told to wait until others arrived. He was now sitting in this cave, waiting and trying not to let his temper get the better of him. The man who had brought him here was an extremely powerful psychic. That was all Jimmy knew.

OOC: There is room for 3 other characters (for now). I shall control Jimmy and the unknown psychic. This is all about the training of psychics with extremely powerful potential. The other 3 trainees shall be brought to the cave in a similar fashion.

BuMp!

(hope you don't mind me joining, and that I'm doing this properly. Yell at me if I've done it wrong / you'd prefer I didn't participate, ok?)

#107, Burkinshire Estates
Fort Jackson, Iansisle, the Commonwealth

Todd Andrews had always had the sneaking suspicion he wasn't quite the same as his friends. He always seemed to have the sense of things that were to transpire, almost as strong as he recollection of past events. The other kids at Public School #47FJ had looked at him like some sort of freak.

Of course, now that he was ten, he wouldn't be at PS47FJ much longer. Father's back was acting up again, and the local Westerton plant was cutting his hours and pay. Todd knew that soon he would be interviewing with the foreman, and then probably working himself. There wouldn't be time for school. That was really a good thing, he thought - not as if school had endeared itself to him or anything.

His younger brother Shane moved slightly, taking the covers a little. As his young, pajama-clad body was exposed to the cold, he felt a funny tingling sensation. He reached to pry the blanket back, when...

Your help is needed. You must return to Assington.

"What was that, Shane?" he whispered back. "What the heck is Assington? Give me the bloody covers!"

Suddenly, Todd felt himself ripped from the bed, the window flying open as he shot out and slamming shut behind him. Todd tried to scream, but no words came out. He heard the voice again.

I am retrieving you.

Retrieving? What the heck are you talking about? What's going on? Who are you?

The black waters of Troobodia Bay flashed below him, giving way to the peaks of Sentry Island, before he zoomed over the Pacific Ocean.

OOC: That's fine. Your welcome to participate.

IC: The force kept a tight grip on Todd until he finally reached the coast of Assington. The winds were swirling around him as he say in midair. After a few seconds of motionlessness Todd was sent spiralling downwards into a hollow tree. Then he was slowly lead away from the night sky and into the pitch blackness of an underground cave.

Stay here until the others arrive.

Jimmy stirred at the entrance of Todd.

Todd screamed slightly - and without any noise - as the tree came rushing up to meet him, trying to move his hands to cover his face. At last, his feet touched solid ground, and he grunted a little with the impact.

As the voice spoke one last time, he fumbled around helplessly in the cave. "Who are you? Where am I? What's going on!?" His eyes slowly adjusted to the dark, and he made out Jimmy's stirring. "Who are you?" he asked, now quite afraid.

(OOC: I'm debating if I should join or not...))

A grown man's voice replied.

"You're a little young to be snatched away from your nation. I'm Jimmy and this is....... a cave. I'm not quite sure what is going on either."

Jimmy walked over sat next to the boy.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you or anything like that."

Jimmy backpeddled as the man approached, butting up against a stalagmite (or other appropriate cave formation). Todd bit his lip, but the man seemed honest enough. "I...I'm Todd." He looked like he wanted to start crying. "If I've d-done anything wrong, I'm really sorry, mister. I j-just want to go home..."

Todd was runt-sized, even for his age, and was a fairly typical south Shieldian. His eyes were blue and his hair was a medium brown. Looking around the cave again - it was so alien when compared to Fort Jackson - he could feel tears welling in his ducts again.

(I'm out for the night; I'll check this tomorrow morning. Later.)

ooc: ok, cya. There are still two other positions. anyone else?

ic: "I'm not sure what is happening either. I was dragged away from what I was doing and dumped here. All I know is that more are coming."

Jimmy is 6 feet tall, with green eyes and jet black hair.

"M-more?" he asked in a soft whisper. Mommy had always told him not to speak to strange men. "More what?"

He shivered in the corner. He only had his pajamas on, and it was getting a little cold.

Kerrik leaned back in his chair, watching the ships fly past his head. He watched as each of the fighter jets banked into a perfectly orchestrated set of maneuvers, and he tried to predict where they would go next. As always, he was right.

Anderas Kerrik was of normal build, with dark brown hair that he kept trimmed short and spiked. He wore black khakis and boots with shirt with the symbol of the Kaukolastan Hunter/Killer teams on it and a pile of spent ammo casings on the back. He bobbed his head to some unknown hard rock song and murmured the antisocial lyrics.

"Hey! Freak!" Someone called. Kerrik knew it was himself that was being adressed.

"Yeah?" he replied sullenly.

One of the upperclassmen from the academy (military was mandatory in his nation) stood there with his girlfriend, both dressed in the latest fashions. The man pointed to the side, "Move! You're blocking my view."

Kerrik stepped aside. The man yelled again, "You're still visible! Just leave, freak."

Kerrik tried to smile, tried to be nice. "I'm sorry. I was here first."

"Doesn't matter. I'm better."

Kerrik turned, his fists clenched. His father would have pounded that jerk. But Kerrik was not his father. He was weak. He turned to leave, giving in again. A soda can pegged him in the back of his head.

In a flash of rage, Kerrik spun on his heel, snarling. His vision went red, and years of torment leapt into his mind with sudden clarity. He HATED that other man. He hated him with every aspect of his being. His rage and impotence fed on itself unitl he couldn't even see. He doubled over in pain, as if a weight had left his chest.

The other boy tumbled back, his face bloody. The girl screamed, and Kerrik ran. He ran as far and as fast as he could, stumbling over trash and debris. He tumbled into an alley, running from his own past and his own curse.

"Your help is needed. You must return to Assington."

"What?" Kerrik demanded. "Who the hell are you?"

"I am retrieving you."

"Bullshi-" he was ripped into the air. He should have screamed, but he was not afraid. After all, he was worthless. Even if he died, it would mean nothing.

(OOC: I'm debating if I should join or not...))

OOC: You're welcome to join. There is still one position left.

IC: Jimmy removed his jacket and handed it to Todd.

"Here, it's getting cold down here. There are more people coming..... I think."

Just as Jimmy finished his sentence another man fell through the hole in the cave roof and landed right next to him.

"Hello. Nice of you to join us."

*Yumi Mew, daughter of Janus Mew, spent her time attending raves and various parties. Though she was of royal blood, Yumi perferred that no one knew that, and tried very hard to live a relatively normal life. It was in a night club several days ago she discovered she was different from others. She was of royal blood, and by defination better then any other Krowemohian, but it was something else besides that. That night, when Yumi discovered she was different, the night club burnt down. She was the only survivor, everyone dying in the blaze SHE started. She was of course questioned about the arson by police, but she denied knowing what happened. A blantent lie.
Generally Yumi stayed away from the Shin-Ra Tower and her mother whenever possible. Tonight she was in a back alley, practicing her ability to cause objects to burst into flames when a voice filled her head.*

Voice: "Your help is needed. You must come to Assington."

*Yumi spun around.*

Yumi: "Who said that!?"

Voice: I am retrieving you."

Yumi: "Huh?"

*Suddenly she is yanked from the alley by an invisible force, abducted from her own home city and taken to the far away land of Assington. The dark furred blonde neko is thrown into a cave, landing on her butt with an oof.*

Yumi: "Ouch!"

*The neko had the look of a typical raver, wearing a torn shirt that hugged her upper body snuggly, and baggy khakis cargo pants with loads of pockets. Her catears were pierced, and she wore bright blue eyeshadow.*

Yumi: "Where the hell am I?"

Jimmy stirred at the new arrival.

"Hello there. Welcome to our humble cave...... somewhere on the coast of Assington."

OOC: I'll just wait for Kaukolastan to post before I go any further.

Jimmy stirred at the new arrival.

"Hello there. Welcome to our humble cave...... somewhere on the coast of Assington."

OOC: I'll just wait for Kaukolastan to post before I go any further.

((OOC: Good idea. I'll do likewise.))

Kerrik landed softly, which did amaze him, considering the velocity he had calculated. Maybe it was that surprise that made him keep his temper under control. "Where am I? A cave? What country? Who are you? Why am I here? Did you get sucked here, too? God my head hurts!" Kerrik turned away for a second, holding his head. "Must of cracked myself against a wall in the alley..."

He looked around, smiling suddenly and without warning, a rapid mood shift that defied his dark clothes and bewlidered others. "Well... I'm Anderas Kerrik. You?" He held out his hand, the studded bracelet glinting, "Oh, don't worry about the spiked stuff. It's just for people that piss me off."

Even as he spoke, his mind ran through the drills his father had taught him and the Academy had burned into him. He checked the caves other occupants quickly, evaluating for threats. Two other men, one obviously younger, and a young woman. His attention lingered there for a second, not for any tactical reasons, but just because he liked looking at her. SHe was back in the darkness, but he picked out something odd about her... something not quite normal. He logged it in his mind and continued checking. Satisfied he was safe, he relaxed in reality to match his relaxed appearance. Inside his leather jacket, he felt the comforing weight of his PDW, and he knew his butterfly knife was safely in his pocket. He dropped into the sand, trying to meet his fellow inmates? guests? something else? This situation would require much more information. Kerrik would just have to wait to pass judgement.

Now, if he could only get that girl to step into the light... he could figure out what was different about her... Kerrik's finely tuned mind never stopped running, even as he doodled in the sand at his feet, waiting for his questions to be answered.

Todd accepted the jacket, turning his eyes down slightly. "T-thank you, sir." He jumped when Yumi came hurtling in, landing a bit away from him and Jimmy, wrapping the jacket tighter around him. He tried to smile at her as Jimmy welcomed her, but couldn't. "Hello," he managed meekly, and without much sincerity.

It was a similar situation when Kerrik arrived. Todd just stared at him, letting the wave of questions wash over him. Without realizing it, he noted when the new arrival's eyes stayed on Yumi just a fraction of a second longer than they should have.

Kerrik let sand from the floor fall through his hands, watching each individual grain fall away. He waited for the answers to his questions, or even for someone to return his greeting.

OOC:This was for bumpage!

(eep - thought I greeted you. Oops!)

Todd watched as Kerrik sat down. He pulled Jimmy's jacked about him a little tighter, glancing about the room. "Hello, sir," he managed at last in his high-pitched voice, thinking it rude not to return Kerrik's greeting. However, something about the young man gave him the creeps, though Todd didn't know why.

"Hey." Kerrik stated. "I'm Anderas Kerrik. You are?"

He watched the smaller man squirm a little. He though to himself, "Oh, you're nervous around me, too. Great. I'm dropped in a dank, dark cave with four people, and one again, I'm creeping people out." He shrugged. "What can I do?" he stated aloud. "I'm getting out of here." he turned towards some light streaming in. "Any of you wanna come?"

"T-todd Andrews," he squeaked in his ten-year-old voice. Todd started as the man got up suddenly, looking at the light. He frowned. "Are you sure t-that's wise, sir?"

"Nope." Kerrik stated, pulling the studded band back from his left hand. "I don't have enough data to be sure of anything right now. But, if I can get out, and figure where we are... then I'll know if it was wise."

Kerrik grinned. "Besides, its better than being feed for whatever else lives here. Just consider that."

OOC: Where are Krowemoh and Assington? I wish they'd get back and advance the thread.

(heh, I dunno - maybe we should wait for them before going any further?)

The prospect of becoming feed didn't appeal to Todd, not one little bit. "I...I suppose not, sir," he replied, looking around at the cave's other inhabitants, then staring off to the darkness.

OOC: I agree. Let's wait on them.

IC: Kerrik felt guilty for scaring the kid. He pulled out a zippo and flicked it across his leg with expert dexterity. The small flame lit the cave. "Here, kid." he held out the lighter. "Anything goes for you, just yell." He swung his butterfly knife into his hand, letting it twirl into a blade with a flourish. "And I'll gut it." He patted the kid on the head and handed over the zippo. "I'm on your side, kid." he declared as he spun the butterfly back into his pocket.

Jimmy sat back against the cave wall.

"Hey. I'm Jimmy. I'm not sure why we are here. I do know that we are in a underground cave on the coast of Assington though. It seems we were all brought in here the same way."

As soon as Jimmy finished speaking the unknown voice that everyone had previously heard returned.

I have brought you all here for a reason. After careful observations around the world, I have found you four the most worthy of elite training. You all have great potential, some of you may not know it but it is inside you. I shall teach you to harness that potential and turn it into ability.

The voice echoed around the heads of four occupants of the cave.

Todd smiled as he recieved the zippo, watching Kerrik show off the knife. He smiled. "That's very good of you, Mr. Kerrik, sir...thank you." He managed to turn off the lighter before he set Jimmy's jacket on fire. Kerrik wasn't nearly as scary as Todd had thought him to be - an untrained mind, childlike superstition - who knows what made him think that?

Todd stumbled slightly as the voice boomed, or at least, seemed to boom in the cave. "P-potential?" he stammered, his voice raising to very high pitch. He was more scared now than he had been at any point since he had gone flying out the window of his Fort Jackson home. "W-who are you?" Not aware of his own powerful psychic gifts, Todd asked the question aloud.

*Yumi stayed in the shadows, watching the others. She heard the voice again in her head.*

Yumi: "And that's it? You effing kidnap me from my home, just because I have potentional? Well, listen here partner, I better see something that'll make this worth my while, otherwise I'm outro faster then you can say 'Wait don't go.'"

*She steps forward, her tail swishing back and forth absently as she waited for their mystery host to speak.*

Jimmy spoke up.

"Yes. I would like to know who your are. And perhaps you should inform the others of what kind of potential you are talking about."

You shall find out who I am in due time. It is time to move.

A large slab of rock was wrenched out of it's place to reveal a lit stairway heading downwards.

Jimmy gawked at this. He knew this guy was a powerful psychic but to pull solid rock out of it's place was far stronger than he had ever encountered before.

Todd jumped back when the rock moved, almost dropping the lighter. He glanced about at the others, his lower lip trembling just slightly. "M-Mister Jimmy, who is that guy? He doesn't sound very nice..."

Jimmy spoke up.

"Yes. I would like to know who your are. And perhaps you should inform the others of what kind of potential you are talking about."

You shall find out who I am in due time. It is time to move.

A large slab of rock was wrenched out of it's place to reveal a lit stairway heading downwards.

Jimmy gawked at this. He knew this guy was a powerful psychic but to pull solid rock out of it's place was far stronger than he had ever encountered before.

*Yumi blinked, then tried to concentrate on the slab of rock, imagining in her mind the molcules of the rock rubbing together faster and faster, creating enough friction to cause it to erupt into flames. However, she fails miseribly, and only a very small part of it bursts into fire, which quickly dies out due to lack of organic material to feed off of.*

Yumi: "I think I know my potential already. Whatever old man, I'll play your game. Mother always said I should be nice to my elders..."

Jimmy looked down at Todd.

"I'm not sure who this guy is. I don't think he wants to hurt us. Don't worry Todd. We'll make sure nothing happens to you."

He then looks over to Yumi.

"That's an interesting talent you have there. So shall we head off?"

*Yumi looks at Jimmy.*

Yumi: "After you. If it's a trap, I don't plan to be the first to go."

Todd smiled at Jimmy. He was nice; in fact, the sound of Jimmy's voice even made Todd calm down. "Thank you, Mr. Jimmy, sir." He braced himself, looking down the hole. "I'm ready to go, sir." He looked over at Yumi. She wasn't very nice, not like Jimmy or even Anderas.

Jimmy smiled.

"Ok then. Let's go."

ooc: I don't want to go much further without Kaukolastan posting first.

((OOC: Yeah. I'm fixing to log off soonish anyways. See y'all laterz. ^_^))

Kerrik watched the rock roll away, heard the voice echo in his mind. "Potential, huh..." his mind continues to roll forward. If this was an opportunity to get stronger, to gain more power... Kerrik's smile broadened into a twisting grin. He stared at the rock, calculated the weight. "My guess is, he's trying to train us to do that..." he muttered. "Yeah, I could go with that. I finally might be able to offer Father something useful."

He watched as part of the rock burst into flame, then died away. "Hey, rock doesn't burn, moron." he stated. "Whoever just tried that, learn some chemistry. You'd have better luck on something else." He glanced around, saw the strange girl, Yumi, staring at the rock.

His mind clicked. Pyronkinesis. A fire starter. Kaukolastan had done research into that, but it had failed miserably, and the subjects had all died... he knew the file by heart... he knew every file by heart. She stepped into the light, and Kerrik, for one of the first times in his life, was caught off guard. "Holy shit!" he gasped as he saw the tail and ears.

He tried to run through the human and cat DNA sequences, trying to find where they could be spliced. She had to be a hybrid. But why? She was know staring at him, annoyed. He put on his most gentlemanly expression. He bowed and pointed to the door. "After you, ma'am." He remembered her earlier comments, "After all, a trap may come from the rear, as well..."

Kerrik knew he'd have to watch her. He was very glad for his training, and the PDW, although he wondered how the powerful man would take to an automatic machine-pistol in his cave. He started into the stairs, observing everything carefully, never letting his hand far from his gun.

I'd like to get in, but my internet connection is uncertain...my psions could be used in this RP as they are very skilled. The Academy could be brought in as well.

*Yumi cuts her eyes at Kerrik as he exclaims upon seeing her.*

Yumi: "Never seen a Neko before, I take it?"

*She smirks, allowing Jimmy and the kid to enter first, then herself followed by Kerrik.*

Yumi: "If this old man is some kind of pervert, I'm first to claw his groins off. Agreed?"

*She stated as they went down.*

"Neko, hmm?" The thought echoed in his mind as he filed the data. His next thought was not spoken, for he was rather certain its reaction would be vicous, "Half-breed, genetic engineering, or convergent evolution? I wonder how the normal psychological and physiological traits will be affected. This could prove difficult to predict." He wanted to slap himself. "You're not in the Academy here, Anderas. Stop talking like that."

*Yumi's tail swished from side to side as she walked. The back of her neck suddenly started to itch.*

Yumi: Someone's thinking a little too hard about me...

*She casts a glance over her shoulder at the boy behind her.*

Yumi: "You know what's going on here?"

"Not as of yet. I'm hoping to assertain control of the situation and use some force multipliers to assume a balance of power shift- frag it!" Kerrik shrugged. "Sorry, get locked into Intelligence thinking style. Basically, I don't know what's happening, but I don't like not being in control. I want to find out, figure it out, and if necessary, get out."

*Yumi snorts.*

Yumi: "Typical male. Always gotta think he's in control."

*She chuckles cruelly.*


((OOC: I'm noticing a shift here... The characters I RP are starting to become b*tchy...))

"No, not think. Be." Kerrik returned her harsh laugh with a smile that was anything but friendly. It was cold, calculated, deadly, a little chunk of an icy soul that slid through a superficial warmth, a peek into the reason he was in the Intel service at only twenty-two. "If you aren't in control, you're reacting. If you're reacting, you can fall behind. If you fall behind, you die. Go through the Gauntlet... then lecture me on what I am."

Then the storm passed, and he smiled again, normally. "But hey, you don't care about that, do you?"

OOC: Hey, it keeps it interesting.

*Shrugging off Kerrik's words, Yumi turns her attention forward again.*

Yumi: "Well, as I always say, if you want control, then sleep with the effing TV remote..."


((OOC: We should wait for the others now.))

Jimmy lead the way down the stairs until they finally reached a well lit, marble floored hall. In the centre of the hall was a large round table, covered in food and cutlery. Several large oak doors stood on the side of the hall.

"Look at that. I could use some food."

The booming voice returned.

The food is for you. Once you finish we shall begin the exercises.

Kerrik glanced at the table, ran the possibility of poison through his mind. The odds were negative. If the man could have hauled them here with his mind, why would he kill them now? So, he pulled up a chair, and waited for the others to begin eating. He checked his knife, rubbed his finger crosswise. "Decent." he declared to himself. He helped himself to a drink of water. Some sort of exercises were coming, so he better be hydrated and fed.

Todd had given up being confused by what happened. In a strange way, the events now seemed distant, far away. He followed Jimmy down the stairs, wondering if he should be watching his back. He didn't know much about nekos, or whatever that girls said she was. All he knew was that she wasn't very nice.

The boy didn't like the sound of the loud man's voice - it hurt his ears. Still, the dinner looked good, and he sat down at the table, hunching over the food silently as he watched the others start to eat. Carefully, quietly, he took a few bites, wondering what the loud man meant by 'exercises'.

"Well..." Kerrik let his voice drop off as he twisted a piece of meat on his fork. "I wonder who our gracious host is?" He popped the morsel into his mouth. When he had swallowed, "I'm from Kaukolastan. I attend the Kaukolastan Military Academy, the KMA. How about you guys? Where are you from, and what's it like?"

Jimmy sat down and piled meat and vegtables onto his plate.

"I have no idea who our host is, but at least he feeds us well. I'm Jimmy and we are currently in my home land of Assington. It has been a while since I was here last as I had to leave due to some issues with the...... authorities."

"Issues?" Kerrik leaned forward on the table, grinning conspiratorily. "I've been educated on all types of government "issues". Which one did you get yanked on you?"

"They didn't approve of how I used my..... abilities."

Jimmy flashed a devious grin.

"Bingo. Fear... the greatest motivator in all government decisions." Kerrik laughed. "I've seen my father and his partners, all terrified of everything, fearing change..." His mind clicked. "I'm betting your abilities are why we're here."

He glanced around. "Maybe we share those abilites, for I can see no other reason for this assemblage. Now, if we can figure out why we have them, what they are, how to use them, and why we are being gathered..." He shrugged. "Who knows."

"I...I'm Todd," squeaked the little boy, taking an oversized bite of mashed potatoes. "I'm from Fort Jackson, in Iansisle. I go to school there, but daddy says he's going to get me a job at the plant." He seemed terrified, not sure what 'gifts' they were referring to. Of course, little known to Todd or the people around him, he had great psychic potential, concentrated in the areas of persuasion and prediction. Where it had come from, none could say, as Iansisle had no psychic tradition.

But for right now, all Todd knew was that he wanted to be back in bed in his dirty little room with his brother.

Deleted

"I'm guessing that is why we are here. I'm already fairly adept at my powers."

A jug of water levitated into the air, and made it's way toward Jimmy.

"Nice. Telekinesis. Our government did some playing with psyonics a few years back, but nothing came of it, except a bunch of psychos, paperwork, and bloodstains." He shuddered, remembering the gruesome datalog. "Nasty stuff, really."

OOC: Class in four hours... must sleep... catch y'all tomorrow. Don't get too far.

"Yeh. It can be in the wrong hands."

ooc: Ok.

"That's a really neat trick, Mr. Jimmy," said Todd timidly, watching the water float across the table. He paused. "Is that what we're here for, to learn to move stuff like the loud man?"

*Yumi sits next to Todd, the timid boy from Iansisle, and picks up a piece of meat, sniffing at it cautiously. Deciding it's not posioned, she takes a big bite out of it and chews. She listens as the other itroduce themselves. Swallowing her food, she does likewise.*

Yumi: "I'm Yumi Mew, daughter of Princess Janus Mew of Krowemoh. I'm heir to the Throne once mother steps down, or dies, whichever comes first."

*She shrugs non-chalently, as if she didn't care one way or the other. Watching Jimmy use his mind to float the water to himself, she clears her throat to catch his attention.*

Yumi: "Be a sweety and float it over this way, yea?"

*She holds up her empty cup with one hand, her fingernails on each finger sharpened to dagger points. They looked sharp enough to pierce skin.*

Jimmy grins.

"Sure."

Once his glass is filled he sends the jug of water towards Yumi, where it fills up her jug. He then spoke mentally to Todd.

"So what's your story Todd?"

"M-my story, Mr. Jimmy?" he asked. "I don't know many good stories, 'cept the ones everyone else already knows." His hand twitched slightly as he suddenly realized that the man was asking his life story. "Oh, I'm from Fort Jackson, in Iansisle. My dad's name is Sam, and he works at the Westerton Plant with my older brother. Mommy..." Todd cast his eyes down slightly. "Mom died when Shane was born. Daddy misses her a lot."

Jimmy spoke normally again.

"I'm sorry to hear that Todd. I'll make sure that you can return home once this is over."

Kerrik coughed into his hand. "Yeah, about that..." he paused meaningfully. "Just what are we here for? You seem to be the only one with real clue, here."

"All I know is that this guy is an extremely powerful psychic. And that we apparently have great potential."

Todd had to ask at last. "Mr. Jimmy, what do you mean? What sort of potential?"

"Things like what I did. And what Yumi can do. It seems we all have the potential to use very powerful psychic abilities. Even you Todd."

"My question is, why would he bring us here? Okay, the potential, that's nice... but why does he care? What does our "potential" have to do with him? I'd guess he means to utilize it. But for what? Is he trying to build a personal army? Train successors of an art? Is he an old perv trying to get his rocks off? What?" Kerrik slumped back in his chair.

"I'm sorry if I seem rude, but I don't much like being kept in the dark. I'm sure you can agree with that." He raised his glass in mock toast. "To fate that brought us here, and to our unknown host who keeps us... I toast thee!"

Jimmy also raised his glass.

"Indeed. I'm not sure of his agenda either. I think we'll find out soon enough though."

OOC: This always gets interesting soooo late at night. I got a calc test at 9 tomorrow... I'll check in tomorrow.

Is there any other (earlier) time you play NS?

ooc: it's 6 pm over here.

I usually get on after school, around 4.

It's Saturday tomorrow over here in AUS.

The weekend is probably our best bet.

I'll make sure never to get too far ahead before everyone has a chance to reply.

Todd didn't seem convinced that he had any sort of powers like Jimmy's. He hadn't ever made fire from nothing, or floated water about the table. But it didn't seem proper to contradict an adult at the dinner table. Instead, he raised his glass to toast, trying to stay quiet so he didn't embarass himself.

EDIT: I'm on more or less around the clock, but I may be fairly scarce this weekend.

((OOC: I'm in the US, on the west coast, and usually I'm on late at night.))


*Yumi rose her glass too.*

Yumi: "Cheers."

OOC: Sorry about that. I'm on the Eastern US time zone, so its about 4 in the morning when we play. I should be good this weekend though. :D

The mental voice spoke again.

Once you are finished, you are to continue through the large double oak doors behind Jimmy.

Jimmy wasn't surprised that this guy knew his name...... he probably knew everything about all of them.

"Looks like you've got a fan, Jimmy." Kerrik stated wryly. "Lay on, MacDuff."

Jimmy grinned.

"So it seems. Well I'm ready. What about you guys?"

Kerrik nodded at Jimmy, then kicked to his feet, springing out of his chair with a sudden burst of energy. With surprising agility, he dodged the table and twisted to a landing to the side of his former seat. He shrugged at Jimmy. "No way out but forward."

"Indeed."

Jimmy gets up and heads towards the doors behind him.

"Are you guys coming?"

Todd didn't really want to go through the door, but he seemed to have little choice. He nodded at Jimmy. "I'll follow you, Mr. Jimmy."

*Yumi finishes off her drink and stands.*

Yumi: "Same order as before. Jimmy boy first, Todd second, me next, and Kerrik bringing up the rear."

"Oh, of course, m'lady." Kerrik snipes with loaded words. "After all, we wouldn't want you to... meet an unfortunate end. The world would NEVER recover from such a VALUABLE loss." He follows her out. "And such a graceful personality, too..."

*Yumi cuts her eyes at Kerrik.*

Yumi: "Flattery will get you nowhere with me. And sarcasim will get you even less."

*With that she follows Todd, who is following Jimmy, who in turn is going wherever the voice in their heads is telling them to."

Yumi: "I am suddenly reminded of a keychain I once saw in the mall: 'I only do what the voices in my head tell me to.'"

"Yeah. And don't forget the: YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS THE VOICES TALK TO ME t-shirt."

*Yumi smirks.*

Yumi: "'You're jealous because the voices in my head pay rent.'"

"You're royalty... is the rent taxable?" Kerrik asked.

*Yumi shoulders rise up and slump down in the motion of a shrug.*

Yumi: "Sure, why not?"

Todd wasn't sure what Yumi and Mr. Kerrik were talking about, but they sounded mad, like the foreman at daddy's plant. He decided staying silent and doing what he was told would be the best course of action.

*Yumi tickles the back of Todd's neck with the tip of her furry tail.*

Yumi: "Hey kid, you don't talk much, do you?"

Todd almost jumped out of his skin at the contact. "Ack! Miss Yumi!" As his heart rate receded to somewhat near normal, he thought of a response. "No, suppose I don't really," Todd shrugged, trying to concentrate on where he was going. "I figure to leave the talking to those who know what they're talking about."

"Those talking usually don't know what they're talking about." Kerrik waggled a finger. "You just keep listening, and you'll learn a lot. Don't be afraid to chime in, but weigh you comments first." He paused and grinned at the kid. "Or just say what you want. It gets you punched, but it can be funny." Another pause. "Especially when you do get punched. That's just hilarious."

*Yumi giggles at Todd's response.*

Yumi: "For a kid, you're really smart. Most people talk, but they don't really know what they're talking about and try to act like they do, but they only make themselves look like idiots."

*She repeats the previous action, tickling the back of Todd's neck with her tail.*

Yumi: "And try to relax. You'll die of a stroke before your sixteen if you keep going at this pace... Oh, and don't call me 'Miss Yumi:' it makes me sound old. Just Yumi will do."

Todd wasn't really sure what Mr. Kerrik was talking about, or why it was funny, but figured it must be one of those adult jokes his dad was always telling at the pub and laughed to be polite. Then he thought about it. "I don't really like getting punched, Mr. Kerrik," he fretted. "Y-you're not going to punch me for saying that, are you?" Now he was afraid that everytime he said something, one person or another was just going to out and slug him.

EDIT: Todd didn't jump this time, but the contact made him nervous. There weren't many non-humans on the Shield, and those there were concentrated on the East Shield, far away from Fort Jackson.

"Thank you, M...er, Yumi. Dad always says I'm real bright, too. I'll try and remember just Yumi, too. It's just I was always taught to address my elders with respect." He shrugged.

"No, but I might kick y-" Kerrik halted, seeing the terrified look on the kid's face. "No! I'm not gonna hit you! I like you, kid. I'm just giving you a hard time. You have any brothers? You know, you tease 'em a little, but you wouldn't actually hurt them!"

*Yumi chuckles lightly.*

Yumi: "Don't worry Todd. Anyone tries to hit you, you just come tell me, I'll set them right for you."

*She grins, her sharp canines showing. As she spoke, she flexed her arm. Although she had no real muscles, it gave her a chance to show off her newest tattoo os a flaming 'pirate' catskull with a syrigne stuck in it.*

Todd was indeed terrified for a moment, but accepted Mr. Karik's explanation without question. "Yeah, I have two brothers - Mitch and Shane. Mitch's older - he's a teenager already." Talking about his family seemed to calm him down a little. "Shane's younger than me. I tease him all the time."

Yumi's canines scared Todd a bit, but he was determined not to let it show, instead glancing at the tattoo. It was a pretty picture, whatever it was - he'd never seen a syringe before. "Thanks, Mi...er, Yumi. Sorry..." Maybe she really was nice after all, though Mr. Kerrik didn't seem to like her too much.

((OOC: Crap, I just noticed my last two posts were made using my alt nation... Stupid IE... *Kicks her Internet Explorer 5.0 for being stupid.* Let's wait for Assington to get on before we go any further.))

(Ok, sounds good to me.)

OOC: Agreed.

ooc: hey all.

ic: "Don't worry Todd. You have nothing to fear from any of us."

Jimmy pushed the large doors open with his mind. This revealed an even larger hall that was completely padded on everyside and several useless objects were lying around.

"Oh look. We get to play with this stuff."

Jimmy casually strode into the room, observing his new surroundings.

Todd smiled. He thought Mr. Jimmy was the nicest person, though he was starting to come around to Mr. Karrik and Yumi. He followed Jimmy into the room, where his curiosity got the better of him, and he reached over for one of the trinkets.

The psychic voice returned.

In this room you shall practice and refine your abilities. And for those of you that have yet to learn of yours, you shall here.

Jimmy spoke up.

"I thought as much. Well Todd, this is where you get to learn a few neat tricks of your own."

Todd looked worried. Tricks were all good, of course, but he didn't think he could do any. And after he couldn't, the loud man would probably yell at him.

He looked down at the toys, wondering what he was supposed to do.

(How would I RP the training of a powerful telepath? I don't know if he'd really have any major telekinetic abilities: just the ability to know what people are thinking, and subtly tweak that. Or is that not practical? Sorry if I'm doing this all wrong - this is my first time RPing a 'gifted' character.)

Kerrik stared at a block on the floor. "Uh... move?" he asked the block. He tried to focus on the block, to push it. He wished it forward. Nothing. He willed it forward. Nothing. He imagined it forward. Nothing. "Oh, just cooperate."

The block ignored him.

"Forget it!" he pulled out his PDW and loosed a burst of automatic fire into the block. The block tumbled backwards on a stream of lead, and Kerrik lowered the smoking submachine gun. "There. It moved." He glanced around at the others and shrugged innocently. "What?"

*Yumi focused her mind on the block Kerrik shot, then imagined in her mind the cells of the block developing ultra-fiction amongst themselves. The block turned fire red, then bursts into flames.*

Yumi: "I've been practising for a few days already with my ability. Hmmm... I wonder..."

*She looks at another object, this one a beachball-like item. Instead of imaging the cells developing friction, she imagines them stopping all movement, then wills the ball object to become cold as ice. The ball starts to frost over, but Yumi's nose starts to bleed. She suddenly grabs her head and doubles over, the frost on the ball melting and running off as mositure.*

Yumi: "Ah crap! My head! Ugh..."

*Her head was starting to hurt, like someone was squeezing it with a vice.*

Yumi: "I'm okay... I'm okay, just got a headache... Nothing serious..."


((OOC: Cyrokenisis: The ability to make objects turn to ice. This is the opposite of Pyrokenisis. Heeheehee. ^_^
And Iansisle. Hmm... I guess maybe you could have Todd look at Jimmy and hear his thoughts, or something along those lines. Telepathy is a very cool ability... Heh heh, Todd could even learn to do the Jedi Mind Trick thing. *Waves hand.* "You don't need to see my ID. These aren't the P.O.W.s you are looking for. Move along..." lol ^_^))

Kerrik clipped the icicles off of his gun, then holstered it. "Hey watch the friendly freezing!" He pulled his leather coat off his shoulders for a second, trying to figure how to use his abilities.

He concentrated on that, removing the emotion from his mind, removing all other thought or feeling. His mind was a razor, cutting through the fog of life to reveal the deeper truth. "I can't move them, I can't read them, I can't burn or freeze them. I can't see the pieces, nor can I read their thoughts and emotions. What can I see?"

He tried to focus on the blocks and balls. He saw nothing. They were translucent, hazy. They were nothing to him. He could no more thouch them than one could hold fog. Discouraged, he turned to the others. But when he saw them, it was different. They were not the people he had met, but something else, glowing and bright. He could not perceive thought or feelings, but he knew they were there, they were true.

He focused on that light. "What is it?" He turned around, searching for more phenomena. Bugs glowed, small cave animals throbbed. He saw a bat, reached out with his mind, touched it. The glow sent a warmth through his body, a throbbing heat. He sought to cool it, to control it, to contain it, to shrink it. Without warning, the glow faded away, and the cave bat fell from the ceiling, dhalf-ead.

Kerrik stared at the nearly lifeless form for a second, watching the energy bleed away from it. He could let it die here, crush the light out of it. He crouched down, physically touched it. He willed it to live, he focused on it, giving a bit of himself to the creature. With a squeak, it fluttered away.

He opened his eyes. The real world and his perception blended into one. "Meta-psychic nergy. I can see it." He could perceive the flows around him, the life and decay, the creation and destruction. A river of this energy flowed beneath the world he lived in, invisible to the people who lived in it. He dived beneath the flow, harnassed the energy, the power. He held it in his hand, restraining it, learning it. He opened his hand and willed it forward. With a flash, the bolt of energy flew from his extended arm and shattered a stalagtite. It crashed to the ground.

"Pity. I was hoping to vaporize it." Kerrik sagged to the ground, exhausted. With every bit he tapped into, he felt burned inside. It was like elecricity across his heart. He was wobbly and weak. "I'm going to have to work on this..."

He fell to the ground. He let himself sink into the flows, not to tap, but to simply let the power flow through him, in him, around him. For the first time in a long time, he was at peace.

Jimmy watched the others.

"That's interesting. My turn now."

Since Jimmy was the only experienced psychic in the room, he decided to show it off.

Several large blocks ascended into the air, along with a few 2 by 4's. They began circling the room, performing aerobatics and complex moves. A beach ball moved into the centre of the flow. Jimmy decided he didn't like the beach ball...... so it burst. He sent a message to all their minds.

Telekenesis is very fun.

Without warning, Jimmy began to float into the air, the objects circling above him. The objects were circling almost too fast to see but Jimmy could see it all in his mind.

I've been working on this one.......

Jimmy raised his hands, and began to concentrate. He could feel the energy of his psychic powers flowing through him, all over his body. He focused on harnessing the pure energy of his mind...... Suddenly, several arcs of dark blue lightning sprang forth from his hands, hitting every object that was circling him.

Jimmy fell to the ground, drained of energy whilst the flaming remains of what he had just blasted rained around him. Jimmy eventually got up again.

"Well Todd. What would you like to do?"

ooc: The idea is that they will all teach eachother their abilities...... so by the end they all have a varied arsenal of powerful psychic abilities.

Todd let out a sudden yelp as Yumi doubled over, grasping for his head. He felt a rush of pain - but it wasn't his pain. He looked over at Yumi as he continued to have the feeling, but it didn't hurt anymore. The 'pain' passed as quickly as he had felt it, and a strange sense of calm swept over his young body.

Todd turned to the 'source' of the feeling, his entire body seeming to relax, and looked at Mr. Kerrik. In that instant, with Mr. Kerrik's calm becoming his own, he heard something in his head...not like when the Loud Man yelled at them, but something else, quieter. He added his own calm to Mr. Kerrik's, and they resolved themselves into voices, three of them. He had almost managed to make out what they were saying when the additional calm suddenly vanished - much as the pain had - and he lost them.

He realized that he was shaking slightly, and looked up at the other three people. "I...I think I heard you," he whispered quietly.

EDIT: oops - I posted this before I read Assington's last post. Assume this happens before Jimmy sends the message - sorry!

EDIT: oops - I posted this before I read Assington's last post. Assume this happens before Jimmy sends the message - sorry!

((OOC: Works for me. =^.^= ))

*Yumi stood slowly, watching as Jimmy floated objects around and then eventually blew them up.*

Yumi: "Neat. Heh heh."

*She looks then at Todd.*

Yumi: "Hey, if you can't decide what it is you're good at, maybe I can try to teach you to do what I do. Would you like that?"

*She wipes the back of her hand across her nose, wiping away the blood.*

Yumi: Note to self: Take it slow. Trying to master two skills at once won't be easy. First fire, then ice.


((OOC2: Text in Italics represents thought. Text in Italics surrounded by quotation marks equals telepathic messages. Exapmle:
Me: I think I'll send a telepathic message to the President Of the United States.
Me: "Hiya Dubya! Alien from another world here. We're gonna abduct you tonight and anally probe you for all your secerts. See ya then!"
See? Not so tough, eh? ^_^))

Kerrik opened his eyes, renewed. "All right. That was cool." He shook his head. "Wow, I'm seeing double."

"Hmm... I've got an idea." He focused on the unseen energies around him. "I wonder if I can..." He reached out to grasp the power, not to release, but to keep a hold on. He let the energy take the form of his thoughts. His memory and creativity formed the shapeless power into a projection that he could see, manipulate. His projection became real to the world.

He saw the psychic energy, the power of the mind, crackling in an arc from his hand, extending its pale blue flame in a wash four feet long. He brought his normal senses to bear on the energy, and he saw it as it appeared to the world. A simple sword rested in his hand, the "blade" the real world illusion of the destructive force it was. "Heh." ha laughed. "Check this!"

*Yumi blinks and looks at the sword Kerrik made.*

Yumi: "A sword. How... Quaint."

*She teasingly sticks her tongue out at Kerrik.*

"Well, hey, it's what I thought it to be..." He shrugged, then smiled. "Anyway, watch this!"

Kerrik swung the bastard sword into a stalagmite. With a flash of blue fire that cascaded across the blade, the stone pillar was dissolved into a flash of light and a blast of dark. The column of energy whirled and collapsed on itself as the shimmering "blade" cleared the ghostly outline of the former rock. The particles fell to the ground, and a slight wind whipped the chamber.

Kerrik fell, bracing on one hand, the "sword" held slighlty apart. "Wow. That really hurt. Remind me not to do that when I'm tired..." The sword vanished with a pulse of crackling energy, leaving Kerrik heaving for breath on the floor. "What a rush!" he gasped thorugh clenched teeth. "And by the way, feel free to mock me for getting ambitious." He grinned through the pain. "I am never doing that again!"

OOC: Semi-joke reference to another story I have.

Yumi: "Don't mind if I do. Come on Todd, let's laugh mockingly at Kerrik. Hahaha! Ha ha ha ha ha!"

*Luaghs like Mandark from Dexter's Lab.*

Kerrik, lay facedown on the floor, holding his head with both hands, chuckling self-depreciatingly. With a joking voice, he declared, "Hey, Yumi, here's a psychic signal!" He flipped up the middle finger on his left hand, still not looking up. "Read that one." He laughed to take the sting off, then ammended his commentary. "Todd, you didn't see that. That's a special, grown-up only thing."

*Yumi had already covered Todd's eyes with one hand.*

Yumi: "Don't look! Your virgin eyes must not be soiled by those with no manners!*

*She giggles.*

Todd had seen people get flipped off plenty before, living in the crime-riddled industrial sector of Fort Jackson, but decided to agree with the Yumi and Mr. Kerrik. "I didn't see what, Mr. Kerrik?" he asked innocently, declining to laugh with Yumi.

However, his mind was still focused inward. He had heard Mr. Jimmy's message, but was much more curious to find out what those other three voices had been saying. Alas, try as he might, with his concentration alone, they weren't any more than slight mumblings in the background.

"Good boy." Declared Kerrik, oblivious to the fact that Todd wasn't listening... mostly because he was too busy staring at the floor and trying not to hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears. "You know, I've had hangovers... but this... this takes the cake... Anyone got any advil?"

*Yumi shakes her head.*

Yumi: "None on me."

*She gives Todd's shoulders a good squeeze.*

Yumi: "Hey, you never answered my question. Would you like me to teach you to do what I do?"

Todd had been feeling Mr. Kerrik's headache in the back of his mind, and it was starting to distract his concentration. Sitting on the cold floor, he concentrated intently on the pain. After a quick moment - which seemed like an eternity to Todd - Mr. Kerrik's pain was an afterthought in him, something that he knew existed, but didn't obstruct him.

He was just starting to burrow deeper towards the voices when he felt something on his shoulder. For a moment he disregarded it - something Mr. Jimmy or Mr. Kerrik was experiencing - but it was too insistent to be shoved to the side. A moment later, he realized it was actually happening to him, and snapped out of his inward mind set.

"Huh? Oh, Mi...sorry, Yumi - sorry; I didn't notice you there." The slight Iansislean boy was shaking gently from the effort and the surprise. "T-teach me what you do? Like setting stuff on fire?"

*Yumi giggled.*

Yumi: "No, any dolt can set stuff on fire. What I do... Is art. I cause objects to become firey mini-infernos. It goes beyond just setting stuff on fire... Eh, enough of that crap. Yeah, in other words I just make things burst into flames. It's actually kinda easy. Not like making things turn into ice. Ugh, my head still kinda hurts from when I tried to do that."

Todd was intrigued, the soft voices in his head becoming a quick afterthought. "You mean that if you wanted to, you could snap your fingers and make my hair light off?" He seemed strangely impressed. "How do ya do it, Yumi?"

*Kerrik tries to listen through pounding headache.*

*Yumi grinned.*

Yumi: "First, rub your hands together, like this."

*She puts her hands together, her fingers pointing away from herself. She waits for Todd to do likewise, the continues.*

Yumi: "Now rub them back and forth, like so."

*She begins to move one hand forward against the other until her fingertips on that hand reach the middle of her palm, then she moves that hand forward, pulling the other back. Rinse and repeat.*

Yumi: "See? Your hands should start to feel warmer. That's because of friction. And I use that basic ideal to cause objects which normally wouldn't catch fire burst into flames, like I tried to do that rock. In theroy, you can cause anything to light fire, water for example, steel pipes, even 'fire-proof' safes. You follow?"

"Yeah, I got it," nodded Todd, glancing about the room. His eyes fell on a rock a few paces away, and he commenced rubbing his hands quickly at it. Naturally, nothing happened, and after a moment, he looked up. "Er, Yumi? I think I must be doing something wrong...it's not catching on fire..." He sounded embarrassed.

*Yumi giggled, messing up Todd's hair with one hand.*

Yumi: "No no, that was just to establish the idea behind my ability. Now, here's where the fun begins!"

*She takes a deep breath.*

Yumi: "Okay, now focus on something small, like that block over there. Imagine, in your mind, all the cells that make up that block. Will the cells to rub against each other faster and faster. That'll generate heat. Keep imaging them going faster and faster until it burns. It requires alot of concentration, and a good imagination. Go on, try it."

OOC: If nothing happens for a few more moments, I'm going to bed. It's 4:30.

OOC: If nothing happens for a few more moments, I'm going to bed. It's 4:30.

((OOC: Iansisle is offline anyways...))

OOC: Goodnight.

(sorry about that - I'll usually let you know when I'm getting off, but something popped up rather unexpectedly. I'll probably only be on about another half-hour, though.)

Todd certainly had a good imagination, but chemical research in the Commonwealth lagged behind other nations, and the notion of matter being composed of cells simply hadn't yet penetrated the public education. Todd took the meaning of the word in its sadly literal meaning, but couldn't think how inmates' housing would cause a rock to burn.

After he had exhausted himself with concentration again and nothing had happened. He turned to Yumi, beads of sweat running down his young face, and turned his eyes down. "I-I'm sorry, Yumi. I don't think I can do this. I even had my imaginary guards cover them in crude, but it didn't work."

*Yumi blinked, then sighed, patting Todd on the shoulder.*

Yumi: "You just need some time. Hmmm... Imaginary guards? Huh?"

"The cell's guards. I imagined they'd have them, unless they want the inmates to escape," Todd said, in a very serious tone.

*Yumi blinked several times, then burst into laughter. She calms herself enough to speak after a moment of laughter.*

Yumi: "You're cute kid. I don't mean cells like prison cells. I mean cells like atoms, the tiny stuff that all forms of matter is made of. You see me? I'm a collection of trillions and trillions of cells. The air we breathe? That too is made up of cells, but those cells are different from the cells that make us. They're also different from the cells that water is made of..."

*She stops, listening to herself.*

Yumi: What the? The kid's probably barely learning long devision. All this is way over his head!

(last post for the night)

Todd blushed, terribly embarrassed by his ignorance. However, he was sharper than the average ten year old, and certainly sharper than the average Shieldian ten year old. He quickly grasped the concept. "So, it's kinda like building blocks, right?" he ventured, his brain slowly storing the new information. "Do you know what they look like, so I can imagine them?"

EDIT: Yumi's last thought, somehow stronger than the other, subconscious monologues he had been hearing, almost registered without his even paying attention to it. He heard a brief female voice, but it was gone before he could concentrate on it.

Jimmy stepped up behind Todd as he laughed.

"Let me explain a few things to you Todd. Everything is made out of something called matter. All matter is made up of atoms, or cells. Just imagine them as tiny little blocks that all sit together to make bigger things. There are heaps of these blocks. Concentrate on all these little blocks rubbing against eachother very very fast."

Jimmy sat down, still recovering from his exercises.

"I think I'll have a go at this."

((OOC: 'Kay! See ya later!))

*Yumi kneels and draws a stereotypical atom in the dirt with one finger.*

Yumi: "Kinda like that. Some atoms might be slightly bigger, and have more of these little ball things spinning around it. But in general, that's what they look like."

*Yumi cat hisses at Jimmy.*

Yumi: "You're gonna confuse him!"

Jimmy flashes a sarcastic grin at her.

"No I'm not. I put it in simple terms."

A small wooden chair burst into flames on the other side of the room.

"It's not too hard."

Jimmy flashes a sarcastic grin at her.

"No I'm not. I put it in simple terms."

A small wooden chair burst into flames on the other side of the room.

"It's not too hard."

*Yumi sticks her tongue out at Jimmy.*

Yumi: "I'm not telling you how to freeze stuff! That's my secert!"

Jimmy grinned. He decided to show off even more by not speaking.

"I'm sure I'll work it out. Would you like to learn how to fly?

Jimmy looked over at Kerrik.

"Hey Kerrik. How's it going on the ground over there?"

It took Todd a minute to decide if he should listen to Yumi or Jimmy; on one hand, Jimmy had been nicest to him the entire time, and on the other, Yumi really seemed to know what she was talking about.

Eventually, he decided on the blocks, since he could understand that likeness better than Yumi's wierd diagram. He concentrated very hard on a piece of paper; it took all the effort he could focus at it, but the paper soon started smoking and burst into flames. Todd smiled at himself, before recieving Jimmy's message.

Where at first he had been unable to tell voices in his head from those in his ears, it now seemed almost second nature. Of course, he wasn't sure how to use his own psychic vocal chords, and so replied to Jimmy with his voice. "Sure!"

Kerrik answered Jimmy's question. "It's getting better." He started to rise, fell back on his rear. "Whoa. Dizzy." He finally managed to stand up. "Okay. Now that I got my own body back under control..." He rubbed his forhead. "Now, I understand the principles of hot, cold, and atomic motion... but I can't see them that way. Any clue on how to do that?"

He rubbed his hands together. "And, you gotta admit, that was pretty cool with the sword!"

"That was very cool with the sword. You will have to teach me that one."

Jimmy looked over the others.

"Ok. If you want to learn how to fly, listen up. First of all. Todd do you understand what gravity is? Nice work with the paper as well."

Todd smiled at Mr. Kerrik. "Yeah, that sword was a neat trick. Are you going to teach me how to do that?"

Seeing how he wanted to learn how to fly, Todd then turned to Mr. Jimmy. "Gravity? Like the thing that pulls everything down towards the earth?" Then, on hearing Jimmy's compliment, he blushed a deep red. "Thank you, sir. I never knew I could do that."

*Yumi shrugs.*

Yumi: "It was okay. Is it suppose to hurt you too as well as whatever you're trying to kill?"

"I don't think so..." Kerrik answered. "I think I'm just trying to "pull" to much power. You know, like trying to hold a four hundred pound barbell over your head when you've never lifted beyond seventy-five."

He shrugged. "I gotta work on it... maybe I'll try something smaller next time." He paused. "No, I won't. I know me too well."

"And how to do it... well, I'll try to explain. I'm having trouble seeing the atoms and thoughts, so I tried to do the opposite. Instead of bringing my perspective onto the things too small to understand, I tried to widen my senses to a scale we can't normally detect. Sure enough, there was energy everywhere. I mean, I can't think that we're creating our own power... we have to be drawing it, manipulating it, from somewhere else. Most people's minds can't understand, can't perceive, what's beyond the normal. What I think is that we're discovering these forces, not creating them."

He paused. "In accordance, we can tap into the power. I tried to take this to the next level. Instead of channeling it for some purpose, I tried to make myself a part of it. I tried to understand everything in terms of this power, and how it affects life, and death. I managed to draw some of this energy into myself, then control it, mentally creating an image of a sword, then "telling" the energy to conform to my mind. That "sword" you saw was my mental interpretation of a pure psionic energy stream. I suppose it's an extension of me... I wonder if I can make a gun... Probably not."

He glance over to Jimmy, upon hearing the other man speak. "Flight? You got my attention."

OOC: Twiddling thumbs, waiting for action...

"Ok. Basically, gravity is an invisible force that keeps everything on the ground. For any kind telekinetic actions, you imagine there is another invisible force all around us. To make something move or fly, you imagine that this invisible force takes hold of the object and moves it. So to fly you simply imagine that the force has taken hold of you and is moving you around. It's not particularly tiring unless you use a lot of force or speed. Any questions?"

"Will you guys help me after a smack into the roof?" Kerrik asked, jokingly.

Jimmy grinned as he looked up.

"You'll be right. As long as you don't tear up that padding with your sword."

"It's not a sword! It's a meta-psyonic projection!" He shrugged. "But, I see the point. I won't stab the padding, shoot the padding, burn the padding, or otherwise demolish the safety systems."

Todd was starting to get the hang of all this stuff. Clearing his mind, he concentrated on another sheet of paper - no need to start with something big and dangerous. He saw gravity as a big hand, which passed as if immaterial through the table below the paper, lifting it into the air. Actually levitating the object was much harder than imagining the hand. The thin sheet of paper seemed to weigh a hundred pounds.

As his mind cleared, Todd started to hear the voices again, at the back of his mind. He didn't think much of them, trying instead to concentrate on the task at hand. Suddenly, however, he clearly recognized Mr. Kerrik's voice - not only in the room, talking to Mr. Jimmy, but also in his head, saying something different! With a shocked gasp, Todd lost control of the paper, which fluttered harmlessly back down the handful of inches he had managed to elevate it.

The young boy spun around to Jimmy and Kerrik, his face shocked. "Mr. Kerrik!" he exclaimed, "I heard you!"

"Eh? Of course you heard me- Wait! You saw my thoughts?" Kerrik paused, thinking hard. "Nice job, kid! But now, I have to think of a way to keep you all out of my mind!" He shrugged. "Such is the price..."

(I'm assuming that middle part were thoughts? If not, disregard the relevant parts of this post.)

Todd grinned, concentrating hard again. With every attempt, hearing and seperating the voices - thoughts, actually - became much easier. This time, he heard the three seperate voices, two male and one female. He cleared his own mind somewhat, and Mr. Kerrik's voice came through the strongest again. He could hear Yumi and Jimmy's, but seperating the individual thoughts was much harder.

He opened his eyes (not even having realized that he closed them) and looked at Mr. Kerrik with a blushing smile. "Thank you, sir. I really wasn't trying to."

Jimmy grinned.

"It seems young Todd has his own natural abilities. Try talking to us with your mind...."

"Like this....."

"Also. When you're lifting things. Imagine that the force pushing upwards is far stronger than gravity. Imagine gravity is really weak on that object.

Todd blushed and started to deny that his talent was anything special, but Mr. Jimmy's thought-voice cut through his mind. It was much louder and more clear than the average thoughts. Todd concentrated very hard on the image of Mr. Jimmy, and on the words "Like This?"

Afterwards, he tried lifting the paper again. Imagining the gravity to be weaker did indeed help, but it was still much more of a struggle that Jimmy or Yumi or Mr. Kerrik made it look.

(if it's all right with all of you, I think I'm going to make Todd's weakest point his telekinetic powers.)

ooc: ok. I've got an idea that will make all of the characters really powerful further on. It works on the principles that the power of psychic abilities depends on how much energy your mind and body can channel. All the different methods just need to be learnt.

ic: Jimmy watched Todd.

"I can see you're having a little trouble with that. Do you want to focus on mind speaking and reading?"

Jimmy turned to the others.

"Once you get the hang of lifting normal objects. Try yourselves."

BuMp!

BuMp!

The psychic voice returned.

"Once you have taught eachother all that you know of psychic abilities, you shall proceed through the door on the other side of the room. There you shall reach new levels of power.

OOC: I'm speeding things up a little.

((OOC: I think this is dying...))

*Yumi grapsed the idea of Teleknetics easily, but it was applying it to herself that was difficult. N matter how hard she tried, she could not maintain flight for more then an instant. She raise a centimeter off the ground, only to fall back down an instant later.*

Ymi: "Damnit! This is really, effing hard!"

Jimmy grinned.

"You'll get the hang of it."

OOC: That is why I'm speeding it up to the big climax part.

((OOC: Oooooooo! *Imagines it...*

Old Guy: "Yumi, Todd, Jimmy, and Kerrick... I am your father!"

*Said like Darth Vader in Empire Strikes Back!*

Yumi: "Noooo!"

Old Guy: "You know it to be true girl! And that is not all! I killed Mufasa!"

Yumi: "MURDERER!!"

Umm... Okay, had to stop it before it got any weirder... ^^;; ))

Indeed.

I'm just waiting for the others to post. I've t/g them so they should know.

(eep! *pants* I'm back (I hope!).)

Todd nodded at Jimmy, telling him that sounded like a swell idea. (insert proper training here)

The Loud Man was back. With his mind so concentrated, Todd almost winced at how loud the voice sounded in his head, but looked up at Jimmy, then over to the door. "What do you suppose we'll find on the other side?"

Jimmy spun around to face Todd.

"I'm not sure. I know it is possible to experience major bursts of psychic energy levels. It happened to me once. Althoug, I have a feeling we aren't going to like it. Anyway, let's get back to teaching eachother techniques."

((OOC: Hurrying things up...))

*Time passes, and with much effort Yumi learns how to make herself fly.
She also teaches Pyrokenisis to the others, they catching quick. However, she choices to withhold knowledge on Cyrokenisis, keeping that an ability only she can use.*

After several minutes everyone was getting fairly good at telekinesis. Even Todd had managed to fly for a minute.

Jimmy looked over to Kerrik.

"Well. You haven't taught us your sword trick yet?"

Assington, could you please allow me in, plz? I was about to start a similar thread about one of my experimental units and the junior pilot, a fledgling psychic. #


do you think you could work that as well, plz?

plz telegram with your reply.

thank you,

No.26, CEO.

OOC: Hmmm. I'm not sure how I would fit you in. Unless you are brought in at the end and it leads onto another rp.

If there was an open space I would let you in..... but we're kinda full. :?

Flying certainly was a new sensation, even if it drained him almost completely. In the meantime, Todd did what he could to explain how he was recieving their untransmitted thoughts, but supposed he really confused them more than helped.

"I kind of get what you mean Todd. You need to practice on closing your mind when you don't want to hear thoughts."

*Yumi made a mental note to be more mindful of her thoughts in the future around Todd.*

Todd smiled at Jimmy. "I'll try and work on that, Mr. Jimmy. And Yumi, I'm sorry. I don't mean to."

Kerrik opened his eyes again, smiling, his mental wall constructed . That should keep my thoughts my own. "Boo." he stated with a smile. "I think I got it." he waved to a rock, and it skittered through the air. "Knew I'd get it." He turned to everyone else. "Now, the sword trick was mostly novelty value, but I do believe I can project the energy..." He let a bolt fly into a wall. "Yep."

"It's pretty simple. Ignore the atoms and molecules and physics, look beyond them. See the energy you're moving..."

Todd wasn't really aware he was seeing atoms and physics and whatnot, so the paradigm shift wasn't terribly hard. Soon, he was able to project small energy bursts. "Cool! Wait till the next time Shane tries to steal the covers!"

*Yumi does as Kerrick instructed, although catching on a bit slower then the rest, but getting it in the end.*

Yumi: "Cool."

*She points one finger at a nearby block, and a bolt of energy arcs from her finger to it, but misses by a foot.*

Yumi: "Almost got it..."

Jimmy launched a bolt of lightning into a near by table.

"I've already got the discharging of energy thing..... but how did you shape it?"

((OOC: This is getting tedicous. Let's skip ahead to the meeting the old pervert guy part, eh?))

OOC: ok. I have one more thing planned before they meet the unknown guy. It won't take long, and it's important.

IC: After a few more minutes of practice, Jimmy worked out how to shap the energy and was unleashing large dragons of psychic power.

"It is time. Continue through the door on the other side of the room."

On the other side, the wall split open to reveal another pair of large oak doors.

*Yumi, surprising enough, hops in front of James.*

Yumi: "I'll lead the way!"

*She had practiced enough so that with a snap of her finger, she could send a wall of fire out in front of herself. She was confident now, especially since her Cryokenisis was coming along quite well.*

Yumi: "Follow me!"

Jimmy had no objections and followed Yumi. He looked back at the others.

"You guys coming?"

"Ah, finally we meet our host..." Kerrik smiled to himself, following the first two. He seemed calm outside, but inside, he tensed, ready to open up with psyonics or his PDW.... or both.

Todd wasn't very keen on coming, but shrugged. "Sure, Mr. Jimmy, if you are," he said simply, straining his eyes to see and brain to hear beyond the door.

*Yumi leads the way forward, the trio of people following her lead.*

Yumi: "Let's see what the old pervert guy looks like, shall we?"

As all four entered the room, the door closed up behind them. This left them standing in a small room with only one, large black door in it.

This is the final stage. Once you have all passed through this, we shall meet and all questions shall be answered.

Jimmy stepped forward.

"I see. So what is the final stage."

I am going to maximize your power by creating an immense amount of stress on your mind.

"Hmm. I'd hate to burst your bubble. But this has already happened to me.[/b]

Jimmy. You have a far greater potential.

"Stress?" asked Jimmy, still forgetting that he didn't have to communicate with his voice. "That doesn't sound one little bit good."

Jimmy kneeled down next to Todd.

"I know it doesn't sound good. I can promise that it won't physically hurt you. It may make you feel very scared or angry though. I've done this before, it isn't pleasant but it doesn't hurt."

*Yumi scoffs.*

Yumi: "Great. Stress. It's just what we all need..."

I'm sure you will all cope with it. It will not hurt you. You may chose who goes first.

*Yumi shook her head.*

Yumi: "Not me. Soldier boy, you go first."

ooc: I think we're at the point where we shall have to wait.

ooc: I think we're at the point where we shall have to wait.
((OOC: Yup.))

BuMp!

BuMp!

Jimmy was sick of waiting.

"Ok. I'll go first. Let's get this over with."

Good. Jimmy, step into the room behind the black door.

Jimmy looked back at the others before he swung the door open with his mind and entered complete darkness. As the door closed behind him, all light disappeared. The rooms was made of black marble all over. Jimmy's steps echoed all around the dark chamber.

Once in what he thought was the centre, Jimmy could feel the external force lifting him into the air again.

You know the drill Jimmy.

"Yeh I know. Doesn't mean I'm going to like it though."

Jimmy closed his eyes as he felt the unknown man delve deep into his mind, sorting through his personal memories and dreams. Even the ones he could not remember himself. Jimmy had a dark past and he feared this was exactly what was going to be brought up.

First it started with memories of his childhood. A drunk, unemployed father and a whore for a mother. Jimmy had spent most of his childhood alone. If was with his parents, they were usually beating him. He could see it all again, the confusion and pain. Then it got worse.

His parents discovered his 'special abilities'. Instead of comforting him, they sold him to the military for experiments. Eight years of painful experiments and isolation flashed through Jimmy's mind. All the feelings of resentment and hatred he had bottled up began to surge once again.

He couldn't take it. Jimmy screamed out with a fury never heard before. The deafening cry echoing around the chamber. But it didn't stop. It kept playing over and over gain. Jimmy had to endure every painful second of it. The voices of his parents could be heard in the background, laughing and calling him a freak.

His distress was so intense, he could feel his brain pulsing with the mental strain being put on his mind. And still it grew. The images grew clearer and longer, every little detail over and over.

His father stood over him, telling him he was worthless and a waste of space, the electric probes digging into his brain, the beatings from his mother, the countless needles through his eyes. He couldn't take it. His brain was overloaded with so much stress and pain, it couldn't handle it.

Jimmy released yet another blood curdling scream as he finally snapped. The anger exploded out of him in one contiuous flow. He could feel the energy flowing through his brain and the rest of his body. The power surged around his body, giving the air a singed smell.

Finally all his rage was released. In one massive telekinetic wave. The power rushed out of him and met the rock. The others could feels as the whole underground installation shook. Then it stopped.

Jimmy fell to the polished marble floor, unconscious.

BuMp!

Once every character goes through something like that....... then they can all meet the unknown man and it can end.

Todd didn't know what was going on in that room, but he could tell he didn't like it, not one little bit. "I'll go next," he decided, holding up an arm to Yumi and Mr. Kerrik. "Mr. Jimmy just doesn't feel right."

Good. Todd, step into the room behind the black door.

Todd took a deep breath, and entered through the black door. There was no sign of Mr. Jimmy; what had become of him, Todd couldn't think.

"Hello?" he asked, in a very timid, shaking voice.

I am going to maximize your power by creating an immense amount of stress on your mind.

"Er, I don't really like..." Todd started, but it was too late. The loud man was inside his mind.

Just as Jimmy before him, Todd's mind turned to the past. Images of Fort Jackson, of the grim facade of the Westerton Motor-Car plant flashing into his mind, only to be replaced at once by the smiling face of his mother, who was now five years dead. She laughed and told him to finish his soup before daddy came home from the plant. Todd was crying. He didn't like tomato soup.

A man entered from the back. His mother turned. She had forgotten to lock the door. The other man stopped - he hadn't thought there would be anyone home, but Todd was sick that day, and mommy had taken the day off. Then the man swung with the heavy crowbar he had been planning to break the door open with. Todd couldn't tell what was tomato soup and what wasn't anymore.

There was Todd's father, with the police. They told him there was nothing that could be done; Todd's dad wanted them to dust for fingerprints. They shrugged and left.

Todd hid in his room and cried, and cried, and cried.

Then Todd realized that he was crying on the cold marble floor too. He hadn't ever remembered when mommy was killed before. He hadn't even remembered he was there to see it. With a tremble, Todd passed out on the floor.

Jimmy woke up in a room similar to the one he was just in. This one was made completely of white marble and was illuminated by neon lights.

He tried to move but after his body vibrated in pain, he decided against it. Jimmy could feel the immense power flowing through him, power like he had never felt before. He was still shaken by the memories he was put through but he would survive.

Kerrik watched the previous two enter the chamber. He leaned against the wall, his hand resting on his PDW and a smirk on his face.

You now, Anderas Kerrik. I will maximize your power by putting you through stress.

Kerrik almost laughed. Stress? He doesn't know stress... He stepped through the door. As it closed, he found himself back in the Jungles, gripping his M-4. What? Why am I here? This is over! The Gauntlet ended! This is just a memory. I have nothing to fear from this masquera- An explosion ripped into him, throwing him back onto the jungle floor. Blood was streaming from his ears and lacerated arms, and he was wracked by the pain of the concussive force. Too real. He put me back in the Gauntlet!

Kerrik rose to his feet, checked around at the terrain. There was a trail nearby, he saw the tracks. He ran for it, but when he arrived, he found himself staring at a sight he tried to forget in his dreams...

The Gauntlet was a training tool for the Junior Recruits. They were dropped into the Ivgor Forest, which was filled with Instructors, and told to find their way back, given only their weapons and some supplies and a three day timer. Kerrik had performed one of these training missions. They had been told it was real, but it was not. The guns fired lipstick rounds, and no one was ever hurt.

But something went wrong. The local villages rose up behind the Supreme Jihad Rebel group, and they shot down the Instructors' transport. The Recruits hadn't known this until things went to hell...

"Down!" Someone yelled as another mortar landed, blasting the dirt through the air. The blast echoed through the forest valley as the Recruits, armed with their M-4s and whatever real ammo they had scrounged from the last village they raided. The young soldiers, none older than 19, were shaking, crying, praying. The bullets tore overhead with tremendous force, snapping leaves and cracking the air. Behind a log lay Kerrik, several years younger. He was face first in the mud, his Cadet Lieutenant rank badge several yards away. He placed the M-4 over the log and fired blindly into the woods.

36 Recruits against an unknown number of Rebels. It was a bloodbath. Bullets flew, explosions roared, people died. The screams echoed across the valley as people died. Kerrik watched the terrifying scene repeat itself. He watched as his younger self rose and dived for another natural barricade. A young woman, Cadet Sheryl Conner, lay there, bleeding from a gunshot wound in the gut, but still fighting. The younger Kerrik rolled towards her, pulling out an auto-med kit. "I've got it!" he said, running the scanner. "Nothing too bad, Sheryl! he smiled, trying to ease her pain a little. Friends for years, they had litterally grown up in the same house... his Father was a Minister, hers was a cook for the family. Both had gone into the same unit by request, prompted by a slight tryst. Kerrik bandaged her wound, rose to fire again, blindly, trying to ignore what he was doing. I don't want to kill! Why are they attacking us?

The older Kerrick tried to turn away, but he couldn't.

A cry went up among the Rebels, ear shattering and terrifying, and they rose and charged into the recruits' gunfire. Kerrik and Conner fired and fired, mowing down the mass. Kerrik cried a little with each shot, watching the blood run red. The horde was upon them. A shot nicked Conner, blowing off a chunk of her trigger hand. "Shit!" she screamed, the M-4 toppling away. The Rebels dropped into their crater, three of them. Kerrik fired, spun, fired, dropping two. The M-4 clicked empty, and the third Rebel smashed him with the butt of his AKM.

Kerrik dropped back against the hard ground, his vision swimming, unable to rise. The rebel turned to Conner, who was trying to pick up her M-4. He kicked it away, drew his knife and closed with her. She fell back, weak from blood loss. Kerrik grabbed his M-4 tried to change the clip with fumbling hands and blurry vision.

The rebel picked Conner up, the man grinning evilly in the trickling sunlight. He drew back the knife, the blade flashing. "No!" she cried. "Please, don't!"

Kerrik had the clip in, his hand going for the trigger. The knife flashed in the sunlight, then turned red as the blood flowed. The M-4 snarled on full auto, blasting the Rebel forward, his back shredded. He fell, and Conner fell too, her body tumbling free, her neck nearly severed.

"No!" Kerrik screamed as the carbine fell away from him. He dropped forward trying to pick her up. "Please! Not like this!" There was no answer but for the blood flowing across his hands. I was too late! "No!" it wasn't so much a scream as a howl, savage and pained. Kerrik layed her down, spun to the battle, the M-4 back in his hands.

Bodies covered his view, but he could not see them. The dead blurred into a field of green and red. He spun, standing straight, almost immune to the incoming fire. The tears were dry now, the innocence burned from his eyes, his jaw set. The blood on his face was no longer a sign of injury but a representation of his soul. He picked his targets with prejudice, watching each rebel die in turn with vengeanceful lust, watching the men die not as fellow humans, but as dogs.

The older Kerrik swallowed back the pain. There, I've seen your tricks, old man! Let me go!

You think you're done? You know what comes next.

I don't want to see it!

You must!

The scene changed to a later time, but near to then. The sun was lower, not yet twilight but almost. 11 Recruits stalked through the jungle. Some where armed with M-4s and other Kaukolastan gear, but many were carrying Rebel equipment from the bodies behind them. All were bloody, all were angry, all were hurt, all were burned clean of humanity by the scorching blood of their friends' death.

Ahead, a small village lay. Men, women, and children milled about their lives, going to market, playing games. The younger Kerrik, leading the group, motioned, and the recruits split into three prongs. In the village center, Supreme Jihad Rebels were holding a meeting, receiving supplies from the village. Kerrik's lip curled. "Go."

The sudden eruption of gunfire cut down the small band of Rebels in the village center. The survivors scattered into the village, running for huts. They were diced by relentless shots from a triangle of firing lines. Return fire began to fling from the huts, as the rebels moved among the civilians. Kerrik rose with a scream and charged, the AKM in his hands bucking at random into huts and markets. Around him, the other soldiers were charging as well.

There was chaos in the village as the outnumbered rebels were cut down. There was a white flag from a religious center, and the return fire ceased. Kerrik clicked his radio, and the recruits stopped firing. The rebels filed out, dropping their weapons in defeat. Kerrik held up a bullhorn, speaking through it. "Attention Rebels. You have attacked us without provocation."

A rebel yelled back, cutting him off, 'You spoil our culture with your filth! We shall wipe the land clean of your people!"

Kerrik replied bitterly. "And what's to stop us from just shooting you?"

"You have to follow the rules. We don't. You must accept surrender, according to your own laws. We will triumph, for we are just, and your kind will bleed out on your knees... our knife at your throat!" the Rebel yelled back, and the gathering villagers cheered, jeering the soldiers.

Kerrik felt the bile rise, saw Conner die in his mind. His AKM raised, almost of its own. The shot resounded from the mountains, echoeing and shattering the stillness. The single round took the Rebel's head off.

The other recruits opened up on the rebels, their hatred rising. Kerrik picked up his bullhorn again. "You were given mercy! But you declined! For your crimes... you shall pay! Troops! Burn this down!" The recruits cried out, their pain and anger released. The gunfire turned on the villagers, mowing them down without care or concern. Kerrik stood in the maelstrom, the bullhorn falling away, his eyes half closed as the shots cracked by.

A flamethrower lit, its orange fury turning on the huts. The corpses stacked and burned, the villagers trapped in their circle by the troops. Not a person left the killing field, not one. The bodies piled in the lanes and market, the flames spread. And Kerrik stood among it all, unhurt, ringed in the flame, watching his younger self carefully orchestrate the butchery. A child ran. The younger Kerrik saw the kid running, slowly raised his AKM again. Their eyes met, and Kerrik's dead soul didn't care. The rifle cracked, and the child slid down the slope into the inferno, the blood running along.

The older Kerrik collapsed with a scream, holding his head, the memories flashing. The view spun around each corpse in turn as it burned, the charred flesh ashing to dust and the hollow skulls grinning forever skyward. Kerrik felt the ground sway, saw the faces fly at him, heard the screams he hadn't that day. He was trapped in his recurring nightmare, and this time he couldn't awake.

He fell prone, the memory searing his mind with terrible fury. In the distance, he heard the thumping of the rescue choppers approaching. He looked skyward, pleading for an exit. The Blackhawks gave none, their rotors kicking up the bloody dirt and swirling it about him, battering him. Soldiers were jumping from the helocopters, but not to end the slaughter. The carnage grew. Gunships circled the village, their chainguns snarling, ensuring the secret would remain. Kerrik saw the last villager drop dead, the massacre now without witnesses. The sound of the rotors smacking the air, the roar of flame, the falling debris, the screams... they all blended into a banshee scream that tore into him, into his tattered soul. His vision darkened, his mind attempting to escape into the darkness. But he was moored, stuck. "Why?" he screamed to the air, to nothing and everything, as he fell, collapsing into the nothingness, the bliss of unconsciousness.

OOC: That was long! I'm up way to late! Goodnight.

Old Man: "Yumi, you now."

Yumi: "Yeah yeah old man... Keep yer depends on..."

*Yumi waltz beyond the door, and into the next room, going to the center, on instinct.*

Yumi: "So... What now?"

*The scene flashed, some sort of funky transtition from the real world to an illusion. She was no longer where she was, but instead she was back at the Shin-Ra Tower in Tham.*

Yumi: "What gives? Why am I-?"

*Then she saw. Blood. On the walls.*

Yumi: "Huh?!"

*Slowly, she became aware of shouts, and gunfire.*

Yumi: "What's going on? What's the big idea?!"

*She was in one of the lower floors of the Shin-Ra Tower. There was blood on the walls and floor, but thus far no bodies. The sound of gunfire was distant, somewhere above her.*

Yumi: "... Mother!"

*She hastened to the elevator, sliding her personal access card to open it. This would take her straight to floors 69 and above, where the Royal Family was. The doors slide open, and a corpse fell out. Yumi screamed, and jumped back. She looked closely at the body. It was a human with pale blond hair, wearing a red and black uniform.*

Yumi: Foreign invaders? But... How?

*She grabbed the gun laying next to the corpse and kicked the body out, the elevator doors closing and the car rising. Up, up, up it went rising to the restricted access levels of the Tower. The gunfire was louder now. Yumi's blood boiled. How could foreign invaders get this far up the Tower? The upper levels were supposed to be invader proof!?
*The elevator chimed, and the door slide open. Yumi jumped forward, bringing up the rather heavy rifle to bear on any threat that showed itself. Nothing. The hall was clear. She could hear voices up ahead.*

Yumi: "Mother?! I'm coming mother!"

*She ran forward, towards the rooms where the Royal Family lived. A single gunshot rang out, followed by Janus Mew screaming. Yumi ran faster, dropping the rifle she had just acquired. Her adrenaline was pumping. Her mother was in danger, and she had to save her!
*Yumi rammed her shoulder into the door leading to Janus' room, and the door swung open easily. She took two steps into the room, and frooze. Rufus Mew lay in a pool of blood, the top half of his head gone. Another gunshot rang out, and Janus fell, a gapping hole the size of Yumi's fist in her head. Three soldiers clad in red and black stood over the corpses. Two were blonde humans, the other a dark haired neko. A traitor? Yumi trembled with rage, an accusing finger pointed at the three soldiers.*

Yumi: "You... You... You killed them!!"

*The neko turned to face Yumi, and the catgirl frooze, the words cuaght in her throat...
*The dark haired neko in the red and black armor grinned. It was Yumi. She had betrayed and killed her mother and uncle... But... Why?*

Yumi: "No! This isn't right! That's not me!"

Yumi 2: "Oh, but I am. I am you... And you are me."

*The world washed over black, and Yumi fell unconscious.*


((OOC: While you guys all did stress that had happened in the past, I decided to do stress that COULD happen in the future. Yumi may not act like it, but she cares alot for her mother and uncle. She has no idea who her father is, but Rufus Mew has been the closest thing to a father in her life. Yumi has also lead a relatively normal life, with no major stresses or truamas. I think I did good with this post. ^_^))

OOC: You all did good jobs. 8)

IC: Jimmy's strength was slowly replenishing. He opened his eyes to find Todd and Kerrik on the white polished marble floor, next to him.

Jimmy rolled onto his back to see a gaping black hole in the ceiling and Yumi floating down through it. As she cleared the hole, a block moved into place, completely sealling it.

Jimmy made his way to a wall and sat himself up.

"Are we done yet?"

Todd awoke just a few seconds after Jimmy. He blinked for a few seconds, then sat bolt upright, starting to scream. However, he caught it in his throat, choking back tears as well. He also saw Mr. Kerrik, and watched Yumi settle down gently. "I'd...never seen her before," he whispered to himself, before regaining his wits and leaping up.

"Hey, what's the big idea, anyway!?" he shouted in defiance at the invisible man.

*Yumi was floated down and gently laid on the floor, on her back. She curled into a small ball, whimpering softly. Her tail wrapped around her waist.*

Kerrik opened his eyes, felt the harsh light burning them. His hand tightened on his PDW, he rolled to his feet. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, his voice skipping a beat, his mind skipping along the edge of a million conflicting emotions.

OOC: This is the HK MP-7 PDW unfolded for combat use (stock still retracted, but forward grip lowered):
http://www.hkpro.com/mp7pdw.jpg
It's a Personal Defense Weapon firing 4.6 x 30mm caseless ammo, forty rounds per clip. He's using the red-dot scope variant. It's actually only the size of a large pistol.

Jimmy was now fully awake and watching the others.

"That wasn't a pleasant experience."

The voice returned.

I am sorry you all had to go through that. But it was necessary to maximize your power. All of you are now at 100% of your psychic energy channeling rates. You may find increased intellectual abilities as you also use 100% of your brain. Once you are all fully recovered, we shall meet... and feast.

Kerrik was now thoroughly confused. "Um, did he basically torture you guys with memories, too? And now he wants to have a pretty little banquet?" His eyes widened. "He's looped. He's definately nuts."

Todd hadn't liked that memory one little bit. He bubbled with rage for a second, then forced himself to calm down. It was surprisingly more easy than it had been in the past, when he was prone to sudden explosions of temper. He just shook his head, and sat back down.

'I can't wait to meet you in person," he muttered.

Jimmy was now standing up and taking in what he had just been told.

"No hard feelings. As long as you never do that again."

Jimmy wandered over towards Todd.

"You ok?"

*Yumi rocked herself back and forth on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest and making little noises.*

Yumi: "It wasn't real. I would never do that... It couldn't ever happen in a million years... It's all fake, just an illusion..."

*She sounded like she was trying to reason with herself, and generally failing.*

Jimmy turned his attention to Yumi. He wandered over and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Yumi. It's over. He was just playing with our heads."

"Real cute." Kerrik muttered. "Let's go meet our host." he stated calmly. "I have some questions only he can answer..."

Jimmy stood up straight, allowing Yumi to calm down.

"I agree. Let's go."

Another pair of large oak doors appeared out of nowhere on the far side of the room.

Proceed through the corridor behind the oak doors. Eventually you shall reach a large pair of polished marble doors. One white the other black. I await your company.

*Yumo hopped to her feet.*

Yumi: "I'm gonna bop that old geezer on the head for what he did!"

*She stormed off in the direction of the oak doors.*

Jimmy made his way over to the large doors.

"Calm down for a sec. Can't you feel the energy flowing through you? I never imagined being this strong."

Todd shook his head as Jimmy approached. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you." He stretched, shaking his head as if to clear it. Suddenly, as Jimmy was approaching the door, he realized what he discovered what he felt wasn't just water in the ear.

"Yes," he whispered, his voice getting progressivly louder. "Yes, by God, I do!"

Kerrik nodded, held out his hands, "But why? What is his angle?"

*Yumi felt the power too.*

Yumi: "I do feel stronger..."

*She managed to hear what Kerrick said, her hearing being better then anyone elses in the room.*

Yumi: "You can ask him that after he wakes up."

*She said, pounding one balled up fist into her other.*

Kerrik smiled coolly. "Business first, pleasure later. Besides, we can just kick the snot out of him in interrogation..." He turned to face the door. "Besides, I honestly want to know his goals. If they meet mine, I will hold no grudge."

*Yumi smirked as she came alongside Kerrick.*

Yumi: "Oh, but this is business. Pleasure is when I bite his ears off. But since I like you, I'll be a good girl and let you ask first."

*In a rather extragent show of her power, Yumi thrusts her hand towards the oak door, and it freezes over, turning into solid ice. She looks at Kerrick.*

Yumi: "You want the honors, or shall I knock it down?"


((OOC: Hope I'm not overstepping the bounds. ^^;; ))

OOC: Not at all.

IC: Jimmy jumped back as the door turned to ice.

"You mind giving me a little warning next time you do that. I some how think that this guy has little to worry about from us......"

Jimmy waited whilst they decided who was going to knock the door down.

"I could have just opened it...."

*Yumi smirked sidelong at Jimmy, her tail swishing back and forth.*

Yumi: "I couldn't help it there. I just felt... You know, this power. It flows through me, it beckons me to use it! Before a few minutes ago, I had to concentrate to turn things into ice. But now... A simply wave of my hand, or even, I don't need to wave my hand. I just need to think and my powers do it themselves. It's... Indescribable!"

*A low, errie chuckle escapes Yumi's lips, and then ice door erupts into flames, the ice melting, the waves of fire cascading down onto the floor.*

Yumi: "I really need to thank the old man for showing me the way..."


((OOC: Yumi is starting to act... Well, like a steorotypical good guy turning bad guy chara. I won't turn her into a bad guy chara, but once she gets back home, and assumes the throne, well... I'll let your imagination figure out the rest. :P ))

OOC: Power does that...... 8)

IC: Jimmy moved back further as the door flowed past his feet.

"I wonder how many doors this guy goes through?"

Jimmy made his way through the portal and into the corridor.

"Let's go thank him then."

Todd nodded and followed Jimmy silently. He wasn't yet sure if he should be thanking his 'host' or beating the stuffing out of him...given the chance of him getting hurt in the latter, probably the former.

O_O O_o!
OOC: Sorry for hijacking, guys! This story is good! Better than any Jedi training session i've ever seen, even puts Master Luke Skywalker to shame! So Yumi is falling towards the Dark Side. Sounds ominous. I like the description of the powers flowing through them, like it's the Force. You know, it surrounds, binds and penetrates us and all that. I would love for the kids to test their powers on some bad guys, even mind tricks.

*Waves hand. "You will not terrorize people." "I will not terrorize people." "you will go home and rethink your like." "I gotta get home and rethink my life."* ^_^

Kerrik grinned as Yumi totalled the door. "Nice." he stated. He acknowledged Jimmy's comment with an asceding nod. "Yes, that is why I wish to meet him before doind anything rash." He motioned forward, "Lay on, MacDuff."

Kerrik followed, his mind whirling as always, gears within gears within gears, fed by numerous cogs. Most men thought in terms of now or next, Kerrik thought in terms of eventuality, of termination. When he spoke of vengeance, he referred not to an immeadiate violent act, but of a life's work that could only be appreciated by the victim on the moment of their demise, whenever that may come. It may not be death, but a life wasted away to nothing over thin increments, a decay that is only appreciated in retrospect or from without. Nothing he did was without purpose, nothing he said was without reason. He did not simply want to know why he had been gifted and tortured, he had to know, the same as other men needed to breathe. Was this unknown man his benefactor, his creditor, his mentor, or perhaps something beyond any of that?

As they proceeded onward, Kerrik hardened his internal wall, building a solid barricade to any mental probe or attack. Physical confrontation was one thing, but mental was another. Kerrik craved one thing in life, the one thing he was never given: control of his own life. He cared not to control others, only to be allowed perfect freedom. To do this, he had to understand everything around him, not just the who what where, but the why. Every action had to be categorized, tiered, and judged relevant or irrelevant. He did not probe anyone else's mind around him, for they were his allies and associates, and therefore their own personal control was sacrosanct. (He did not call them "friends", for that word held a deeper meaning he did not give out lightly, if at all.) With them, he merely applied his standard psyche profiles and behavioral patterns to judge their actions, not out of any ill will, but to simply be able to understand them and even predict them. To his enemies, though... this new power would give him uncanny leverage. For now, Kerrik built his already impressive barriers into an impregnable mental fortress.

OOC: Just expanding on his character. He is a bad good guy (Right aims, bad methods) or a good bad guy (wrong aims, good methods), depending, though his nature is generally good. I want to keep him in the gray area to keep things interesting. But he is thoroughly loyal to those who are true to him, so he will do anything for his allies and even more for friends.

OOC: glad you like the story CoreWorlds.....

IC: Jimmy made his way down the dimly lit corridor, his steps echoing around the enclosed space.

Jimmy had changed a lot since the day he had left Assington. First of all, he was far more powerful than he could have imagined but he had come to a realisation. He had no purpose. He didn't know what he was going to do after this was all over or where he could go.

I guess it's back to the life of a thief for me......

He would always be able to practice his powers..... but even that would eventually become tiresome. He decided to relax for the moment and worry about things later.

BuMp!

BuMp!

OOC: Waiting on you to tell me what's happening. BTW, check TG.

After several minutes of wandering down the marble corridor, Jimmy reached a large stone door. The right side painted white, the left black. Jimmy gazed up and the heavy door and wondered how anyone moved that thing.

"Hey.... we're here."

I know. Open the door.

Jimmy looked back at the others.

"Would anyone like to open the door or shall I do the honours?"

*Yumi looked at Kerrick and smiled.*

Yumi: "Thinking what I'm thinking?"

*She held open her hand, a green softball sized orb of energy forming.*

Jimmy stepped away from the door, a large grin crossing his face.

"How many doors do you intend to destroy?"

Jimmy stepped away from the door, a large grin crossing his face.

"How many doors do you intend to destroy?"

*Yumi archs her back inward so she can see Jimmy behind her. Granted, he was upside down, but it worked.*

Yumi: "As many as it takes."

*She blows him a kiss, then snaps back upright.*

Todd flinched as Yumi prepared to take the door down. "I think our host might look upon us more kindly if we simply used handles," he suggested, biting his lower lip.

Jimmy's grin broadened.

"I think Todd has a point here. No need to destroy a door when you can open it...... So what's it going to be?"

OOC: Love the psychic story, as our leader, Akira is a powerful one. Now back to our regularly scheduled RP.

OOC: Glad to see you're enjoying it.....

BuMp!

OOC: Ok. We can either end this rp with everyone meeting the old man, then going their own way. Or we continue with certain 'missions'.

Either way i'm ok as I have plans for this character....

(lucky! I have very few plans for this character right now...I suppose I'll just plop him back down in Fort Jackson and see what happens.

At any rate, I'm sorry about my recent lack of activity in this thread. I've had a bit of a writer's block on this field, and could only manage a few quick sentences. I'm all for any way you want to take the RP, though, and will try to participate more.)

((OOC: Same here. I've got a few plans for Yumi Mew, but I'm all for anything you choose to do, Assington.))

Kaukolastan and I were discussing ideas for a mission given to each character. This mission can either continue this rp make an opening for other rp's.

I would like to continue this..... not for a long time though, as I have a use of Jimmy.

((OOC: Either way works for me, really. Sorry I'm not very helpful in the decision making process. ^^;; ))

([/shrug] Whatever you think is best. I have no immediate uses for Todd, so individual missions may be the best.)

OOC: Ok guys..... we'll go with the missions. I think we'll end it with the characters arriving where they are meant to go and begining their mission. That way it can be continued.

I'm working on an 'Assington Police 2' rp. You're all welcome and I'll be chucking Jimmy in there as well.

IC: Jimmy concentrated on the door for a couple of seconds, and to his surprise it opened with ease. He was amazed at how powerful he had become.

There were no lights on within the room, but a voice could be heard.

"Please... come in."

*Yumi closes her hand around the orb and walks through the door.*

Yumi: "Okay, we're here, show yourself ya old geezer."

*Her lack of tact was simply stunning and amazing.*

Todd couldn't help but feel a sudden twinge of fear at being in the same room as the Loud Man, but forced himself to walk in anway. He didn't stray far from the narrow sliver of light cast by the doorway, and tried to feel out the Loud Man's emotions - he failed miserably, of course.

Marius grinned at Yumi's blatant rudeness. With a command of the mind, several lamps around the room sprung to life with a dancing flame.

Marius sat in a large black leather chair. His dark black hair falling to his shoulders with streaks of grey appearing. His face was worn with scars but was fair in colour. He displayed a grin of perfect teeth as he arose, his black robe shuffling around his body.

"Welcome Yumi, Jimmy, Todd and Kerrik to my home. I am sorry to move you so suddenly and put you through that last exercise, but I think you would agree that it was worth it."

OOC: GTG. Be back later.

*Yumi opened her hand, looking at the green orb of energy in her hand.*

Yumi: "I'll say it was worth it. But messing with a girl's mind can be dangerious, yo. I take it you don't get out much?"

*She began to toss the orb up and down in her hand like it was a baseball.*