NationStates Jolt Archive

"It is currently a time of uneasy peace, things end up lax, I will admit."

Making a decision, Braun called after Vor'en. "Wait, if you leave Mitch's life in my hands, I will accompany you down the Paths of the Dead to retrieve Kaz. By doing so I will have completed my promise, otherwise, I will not be able to return in time to help before it's too late to rescue him."
"Braun, you know what will happen if we do that again."
"I know full well Marciel, but it is a price I am willing to pay to see that Kaz returns to the living, his time on this world is not yet over."

Kurt shook his head. "They should never let things go lax, even in peace," he said, "That's when they're more likely to attack."

Gabriel laughed at that. "Well, there'll be peace here so long as I'm present, or I'll know the reason why."

"So who's the big bad in these parts then?" Kurt asked with curiosity.

"So who's the big bad in these parts then?" Kurt asked with curiosity.

"They go by the name USSR, it's old Russia under communist rule. In what I call the base timeline, merely one I picked at random to use as a reference to everything else, they managed to obtain half of Germany and all of Eastern Europe simply by overrunning the territory at the end of the Second World War. In this reality, the German leader in the war, Adolf Hitler, he, how do I say this, ended up dying before he did in the normal timeline and Roosevelt didn't make his speech about unconditional surrender. That allowed the Germans to make a seperate peace with America and Great Britain and prevented the USSR from overrunning Eastern Europe and Germany. Since then a cold war has set in, the USSR wanting the rest of Europe on their way to world conquest, and the allied nations, along with the new German government dug in saying they can't have it. The alterations me and Arthur managed to cause weren't major, but they spread out like ripples in a pond, causing effects far beyond their size. I intended to see that this world doesn't go up in nuclear fire like others in similar situations, thus my dropping in every now and then to check on things."

OOC: Darn it :evil:

"Wow, this dimension is really behind the times," Kurt laughed, "First Germany, now Russia, America and Britain. In our dimension they all became other nations centuries ago. So what were the alterations that you made?"

Gabriel looked distinctly uneasy at that question and hesitated a moment before answering. "A lot of minor things mostly. A critical battle that had an unknown tank, plane or ship come out of no where and tip the ballance of the fight before disappearing. Some subtle manipulations of leaders to push them in the right direction. People's lives saved that would have otherwise died, the exposure of a Russian spy in the Manhatten Project. And then there was the big one, I don't normally do something that drastic when I enter a dimension, but chance decided to step in. Coming back from one of those battles I ran into Hitler's personnel transport plane. If I'd known whose it was, I might still have shot it down, put I didn't, and seeing the oppertunitty present itself, I shot it down. He didn't get out. Which I might add, threw something of a monkey wrench into our predictions, fortunately, it seems to have worked out for the best so far. The German's held at the Polish border, and the new German leadership surrendered to the United States and Britian ratehr than surrender to the Russians. Then the allies simply moved in, handed the countries back to their origional owners, over the USSR's vemanent protests I might add. And here we are today."

Gabriel looked over at Kurt. "You do realise that we didn't just move between dimensions don't you? We moved through time as well."

"Yeah I know," Kurt replied, "Still feels like this dimension is behind the times though since you keep mentioning dead nations."

"Yeah I know," Kurt replied, "Still feels like this dimension is behind the times though since you keep mentioning dead nations."

OOC This server just gets worse.

"Consider it a live history lesson then of how people lived back in these times. In case you two were wondering, our cover here is that we're investigating those odd occurances I mentioned for the American military. Our first stop is to see a Colonel in the 31st Armored Division. After that our interviewies will be a mixture of American and German military personnel."

"Abliet a different history from another dimension," Kurt quickly pointed out. "And thats where we'll have to speak German."

OOC: Gone to bed now.

OOC: Night.
IC: "That's right, some of the people we'll be speaking to don't speak English, only German."

"Right,"Kurt sighed.

He was not looking forward to spending a week here and neither was his sister. Talia was staying quiet for a change.

"I've learned that in almost every case that the fastest way to learn a language is to surround yourself with it constantly. And don't worry, it won't all be work. I guarrentee both of you, you do this right, and you'll never have to take another German class."

Kurt raised his eyebrows. "I hope so then," he remarked.

Rounding a corner the American military base stood in front of them. Fields of fire had been cleared around the base and signs warning of minefields were extensively displayed. A chainlinked, barbed wire fence surrounded the entire base. At the only entrance guards were stopping and inspecting everyon who entered or exited the base. From several bunkers the snouts of machine guns could be seen.
"Is this alert enough for you Kurt?" Gabriel ask wryly.

"Nah, too primative," the young prince grinned.

"I take it you didn't notice the underground vibration sensors or the infrared glasses some of the guards are using. And don't forget Kurt, their enemies are using technology even more primative than this."

dp.

Kurt just rolled his eyes, "Still primative tech," he replied.

OOC: Beats the server with a dead mackeral.

IC: "It may be primative by your standards, but it's quiet effective for this time period. Now look shapr. These guards are going to be a lot more professional than the last one."

OOC: I hope they do something to the server :x

"OK," Kurt replied and sat back in the seat.

OOC: See above OOC comment and upgrade to a shark.

IC: One of the guards moved into the middle of the road and held out a hand for the jeep to stop. When Gabriel brought it to a halt a few feet from him, the guard steeped around to the driver's side.
"Please state your business and hand your papers over."
Gabriel handed his papers over. "Captain Blackwolf and two Lieutenants here for an interview with Colonel Rodman."

Both Talia and Kurt then handed their papers over after Gabriel had done so.

OOC: Grim found this helps;

In IE6 - Tools - Options - Security - Trusted Sites - Sites - Untick https box - enter www.nationstates.net - click add

OOC: Thanks

IC: The guard carefully looked through each set of papers, looked at the occupents of the jeep, and then walked over to a telephone attached to the outside of the guardhouse. Picking it up, he spent a couple of minutes speakinh into it before hanging up and returning to the jeep.
"OK, you're cleared to go in, the Colonel is in his office and is expecting you. Have a good day." He said as he handed the papers back.

"Thank you Corporal." Gabriel replied as he put the jeep into gear. As the bar was raised he drove the jeep onto the base.

"Simple," Kurt remarked, "I suppose you have someone on the inside who knows you are?"

OOC: "Urge to destroy world rising."- Black Mage

IC: "No, in fact, no one knows me because this is the first time I've used thie personna in this dimension."

Making a decision, Braun called after Vor'en. "Wait, if you leave Mitch's life in my hands, I will accompany you down the Paths of the Dead to retrieve Kaz. By doing so I will have completed my promise, otherwise, I will not be able to return in time to help before it's too late to rescue him."
"Braun, you know what will happen if we do that again."
"I know full well Marciel, but it is a price I am willing to pay to see that Kaz returns to the living, his time on this world is not yet over."


Vor'en stopped, without turning around.. "If he wanted to still be living.. he wouldn't have done that.. but if you decide to get him back, im sorry, but your alone on that.." He continued walking, and eventually dissapeared off into the distance.


Mitch sat back some more, still lost as ever, untill Vox rose up, and went into the bathroom, twitching.. "now that is strange.."

"Drakka, I'd do it if I could, but we both know it would be a one way trip for us, and Kaz would need someone living to guide him back."
"Well, there's nothing for it than to rescue Mitch and see what we can do after that." Marciel thought.
"Right, let's get this over with."

Braun pulled his autoharp around, and taking a moment to get a bearing on Mitch, played the necessary notes. As the portal opened, Braun drew his knives and went through.

"Oh right," Kurt grimaced, that would proberly make things a little harder for them.

OOC: ::Voices chanting in the background:: "Kill the server, kill the server!"

IC: "So instead of personnel connections we'll have to rely on charisma, full proof paperwork, and a healthy measure of luck."

OOC: It was working fine earlier.

IC:

"OK," Kurt nodded.

"So what do we have to do," Talia asked, "Is it all just talking to witnesses?"

"For the most part. It's a good excuse for us to travel the countryside. But there'll be time for other things. There's a lot of beautiful countryside out there, you'll get a chance to see some of it. Mind you, it's a rare occasion when something unexpected and interesting pops up on one of these trips. Speaking of which, did I get around to giving you two sidearms?"

OOC: Damn server, took it off the trusted sites thing. Could be nasty is something got into the srver.

IC:

"Umm, no you didn't," Kurt replied.

Gabriel brought the jeep to a halt outside of a brick building. "Remind me to do so after this interview. You don't look like proper officers if you aren't carrying sidearms. Would one of you be so kind as to take notes while we're here. And feel free to ask questions."

OOC DP, urge to kill rising.

"I'll take notes," Kurt offered, raising his hand. He knew Talia wouldn't do it.

Walking into the building Gabriel stopped in front of a desk behind which sat a Lieutenant. "We're here to see Colonel Rodman."
"Right through that door over there, he's expecting you."
Gabriel nodded. "Thank you."
Walking over to the door he knocked, and after a second was told to enter. Behind a large desk covered with papers sat an old officer wearing the insignia of a Colonel. "Colonel Rodman, I'm Captain Blackwolf. These are Lieutenants Gunther and Hatterson."
The Colonel leaned over his desk and shook Gabriel's hand. "Welcome Captain, Lieutenants. Please sit down. Now what was it you wanted to see me about?"

"We're here to ask about an incident that occured on October 17th, 1944 that you were involved in."

"You mean that dammed tank, don't you?"
"Yessir, that would be the incident in question."
"Well, it's something of a story, would you people like refreshments?"
"Water's fine sir, thank you."

Kurt and Talia went to sit down. They would listen and let Gabriel do the talking until they decided they needed to ask something.

"Well it all started with an operation to take a small forest. My tank platoon and a couple of infantry companies started the assault early that morning. We had to cross and open field to get to it. We were about halfway across the field when our artillery lifted. About then all hell broke loose. My number two and three tanks were hit and exploded. Enemy artillery and morter fire started coming in and machine guns opened up on the infantry. We later found out the Germans had half a tank company in those woods, a mixture of King Tigers, Panthers, and Mark IV's, along with anti-tank guns and panzergrenaders.
About then my tank was hit, I lost my driver and loader, but the rest of us got out. It looked like the entire assault force was going to be wiped out when that dammed tank came out of nowhere."
The Colonel shook his head. "I've never seen the like."
"Could you describe it Colonel?"
"Yes, it looked more like a turtle than any tank I've ever seen. A completely smooth rounded hull. Double turreted. The main turret carried one of the largest guns I've ever seen on a vehicle. at least 155mm, it's second turret had some kind of rapid fire auto cannon. And it had at least three machine guns. And fast too, the thing moved like a bat out of hell. As I said, the thing came out of nowhere, all it's guns blazing, the tank commander, at least I'm assuming that's who it was, was manning the machine gun mounted in front of the hatch. Within a few seconds I could see several hidden German tanks burning. Most of the enemy return fire missed it, but the few shots that did hit simply bounced off. Now I don't know how much you know about German guns, but they could punch through any of our armor from a hell of a lot farther away than we could effectively hit them. Accurate too. Well to make a long story short, the unknown tank turned and charged the woods, it disappeared into them, and we could hear a lot of gunfire. Finally it stopped and we resumed our advance on the woods. When we got there, there was no resistance. Tanks, guns, soldiers, all had been destroyed and killed. And there was no sign of that tank. I thought for a while that it might have been some new secret weapon of ours, but then I started hearing similar stories from other people. And that's all I know sir."
"Thank you, I do have a question to ask though, did the tank have any markings that may have indicated it's country of origin?"
"Now that you mention it, yes, on it's side, it had what looked like a fox, or wolf of some kind in grey with a lightning bolt behind it."
"Thank you sir, I have no further questions, what about you two?"

Talia shook her head.

Kurt was silent for a moment before saying, "No we don't."

Gabriel got up and shook the Colonel's hand. "Thank you for your help sir, it's appriciated."

Back in the jeep as Gabriel was starting it up he turned to Kurt. "A very informative interview, sounds exactly like one of my incidents, except for one slight problem. I was never there."

"But that tank had your logo on," Kurt said. "Someone didn't nick your tank did they?"

OOC: Sorry about taking so long to respond, I'm ordering a new computer on-line and my mother was 'helping'.

IC: "Not my tank, no, but a close replica, not perfect, but close. The problem is, nothing like it should even be feasible for this dimension to contruct for at least another hundred years. The use of my signia concerns me as well."

OOC: No prob, time I got a new PC too :)

IC:

"The ones you helped may have been able to copy your tech maybe?" Kurt suggested.

"Like hell they would have. First of all they had no idea who was helping them, second, minaturized fusion bottle technology is way beyond their capability. Even if they had a chance to reverse engineer it."

"Can't always underestimate them," Kurt replied. "Though it did take our scientists several years to fully understand Goa'uld technology."

"Kurt, they simply couldn't, no matter how much credit they're given, copy the design. First, the Colonel had one of the better views of it, and even that was a mere external view. Second, they would have had to develop complex AI's, molecular bonding, Fusion bottle technology, and a few thousand other things that I won't get into. Further more, it still wouldn't explain the design on the side."

"Your future self then maybe?"

Gabriel kicked the jeep into gear. "Not possible, I can enter a time stream at anypoint, but once there, I can't reach any point before it. Or I should say there are very good reasons that I shouldn't go back to any time in the past."

"Ah right," Kurt replied. "Could it be someone else then? It does appear that time travel is possible."

"I don't know, but I intend to find out. Trying to shift timelines is a difficult process when only one person is making changes, no matter how small. When two start doing it, absolute chaos can result. Hopefully the rest of these interviews will give us some useful information. In the meantime, Arthur will be checking the timeline and the last several dimensions we've visited for any trace of jumps."

"Trace jumps, whats that?" Talia asked.

"Just a second." Gabriel said as he pulled up outside the guardhouse. A quick look over and the guard waved them on. As soon as the entrance to the base was out of sight, Gabriel continued. "When jumping through time, or between dimensions, an eddy of sorts is left behind, marking the entry and exit points. They can be used to track people or objects that use either or both methods of travel. But they usually disapear within a few minutes, meaning to track them, you either have to be there when they do it looking for them, or you have to backtrack through every possible moment they could have arrived, which takes a lot of time and effort."

"Ah," Talia replied, still confused.

"Don't get me wrong, it's a good question. It's just that to exlpain it more fully requires getting into nth dimensional mathmatics, trans-diverse time dialation, and advanced quantim mechanics, and that's just for starters. Think of it as taking a sheet a cloth, and then pushing a needle through, for a short period of time, there's a hole in the fabic for a short time, but it quickly closes up. But if you're watching at the right moment, you can see the hole."

"Oh I get it now," Talia said, cheerfully.

Kurt just rolled his eyes.

"Good, I'm glad I could clear that up." Passing an open field, Gabriel pulled the jeep over and got out. "OK you two, my bad, but I forgot to equip you with sidearms. You'll be hard pressed to pass as officers without them. So I'm going to give you a brief lesson and then issue you each a sidearm for the duration of our stay here."

"OK," Kurt and Talia said simultaniously

Gabriel pulled his gun from it's holster. "This is the gun I normally use. To outward apperances, it appears to be a Colt, Model 1911, semi-automatic, a weapon found throughout this century and into the next. In reality, rather than using chemical propulsion, it is a minaturized railgun. This switch here selects the ammo type, you can select from High-explosive, Armor Piercing, Armor Piercing High-Explosive, and Fletchette. It's bullet is a .50 caliber projectile. This switch controls the velocity, options are low, medium and high. At High velocity and with AP selected, it will blow through a heavy tank lengthwise, or several city blocks worth of walls. For normal usage, a setting of low is advised to minimise collateral damage. And this lever controls rate of fire, availible are semi-automatic, automatic, and full automatic. At full automatic, after a few seconds use, the barrel will melt, I'd recommend against either of you using it. The final lever is the safety, if you aren't shooting, that lever is to be on at all times. Because it uses railgun technology, there is no recoil, and projectile drop is minimal, mean that if you aim at a target, you will hit it. The ammunition supply is practically unlimited due to Arthur providing ammunition directly to the gun as fast as you can fire it. Any questions?"

"So basically, we're kinda cheating with those guns," Kurt commented, "Not that I don't like the gun of course."

"Kurt, what did I tell you during your sword training about cheating?"

"Umm.. I forgot," he admitted.

"When your life, and the lives of others are at stake, there is no such thing as cheating. If you're dead, you can't complain about cheating, and if you're alive, the other guy isn't going to be in much of a position to complain. Now are there any other questions?"

"Not really no," Talia said while her brother just stayed silent.

"Good, let's get started then." Gabriel pulled a pair of guns with holsters seemingly out of thin air and handed one to each of the siblings. He then tossed three balls into the air that darted off down the field and then blossomed into holographic targets. "OK, make sure your guns aren't pointed towards anyone, take the safeties off, and commence firing at your target. When I give the word, cease fire and put your safties on. OK, fire at will." Gabriel punctuated his statement by firing off the first of several rounds from his gun, the sound harsh in the quiet countryside.

The siblings looked at each other before pointing their guns at the target . They both took the safety off and began firing.

"Cease fire!" Gabriel said as he holstered his gun.

Vor'en just continued to walk the long trail home, till he came to have a confused feeling about him, then he stopped in the middle of the road. He looked behind him, and saw nothing but the ocean fading into the horizion, and he continued his walk.Eventually he gave up walking and simply transported himself to the entrance to the prision manor. Before knocking, he sighed, "they know also.." then he gently knocked.

Both stopped firing immediately and put the safeties back on.

"Well?" Kurt asked.

OOC: Damn Drognan, even your puppet nation is older then my nation :?

Gabriel recalled the three targets. "Kurt, not bad, but you need to drop your aim about five inches, otherwise, good shooting. Talia, you actually did better, shift your aim over to the left three inches. OK, strap them on and let's mount up."

Braun and Marciel came out of the teleport only a few feet from Mitch and saw....?

OOC lol didn't realize i was under this name O_O lol o well.. and i know :P made em a day appart cuz my friends told me to.. dunno

Kurt groaned and did ast Gabriel and told him. His sister had already done the same.

As Braun and Marciel step out, the notice they are inside a jail cell, which is actually well kept and not a slums jail. Mitch heard a footstep from Braun and jumped. "Braun?" He was in shock, "how did you get here?! i lost the disk.. and what happened back there? whats going on? everyone is.. i dont know! just.. different..." He looked back through the bars to see the three guys in the corner, and Aurora was still not to be seen.



Vor'en still stood outside, getting no response. He knocked harder on teh door, waiting again.

Gabriel put the jeep back into motion and before long they were racing along the country roads at a speed that would have turned a sane person's hair white. "So how do you two like them?"

"It's OK I guess," Kurt remarked, "Look primative though even if it can do more then a normal gun."

"Oh and that sword isn't?" Talia remarked.

"Swords are better then guns," he replied, too which his sister rolled her eyes.

OOC: Off to bed now seeing as its 4am :shock:
boy time flies when you're having fun :)

"When that young lady teleported you, the disk reacted by melding with your body, that's how I tracked you. And as for what's been happening, Kaz is dead, the power was too much for him to handle and he took himself out, along with a ship, and almost an entire town. Vor'en is moping and has taken off. And I need to either get you to Sabina fast, or negotiate a pardon so I can find someone to travel the Paths of the Dead with me so I can get Kaz back. That explain everything adequately?"

Mitch just sat in amazement. "Wow.. but.. wait that damn disk is melted in me?!" he yelled, and Felon, the demon one, yelled from his spot,
"Shut up you damned dog.."
Mitch just shrugged and looked back at braun.


Vox had gotten up a second before hand, and answered the door after Felon had yelled. "Vor'en..? vor'en where is kaz? what happened? tell us now!"
Vor'en brushed by him over to the others, and sat down, and Vox ran over quickly. "What the hell happened back there Vor'en?"

"Cool it Mitch, the effects will wear off in a few days at most. Now unless someone here's willing to make a deal, we're leaving."

Mitch sighed "we are in a cage.. how are we going to get out? there is three or four of them out there.. so how are we going to get out?"


Vor'en said nothing, not looking at any of them, and they consistantally asked about kaz, where he was, what happened to him, untill vox quietly whispered something, and they all sat back, still feeling lost. Vor'en just said nothing.

Braun put his hands on the door, and grabbing it, gave a hard shove. Corded muscles stood out tight under his sleeves. With a groan the door suddenly gave and went crashing to the floor. "That's how we get out. And as for the three or four guarding the place, we'll try and talk our way out, failing that, we'll teleport."

"So where are we headed now?" Kurt asked.

"Our next interview is with a current Commander of one of the new German airwings. It's going to take a couple of hours to get there, so sit back and enjoy the scenery."

"OK," Kurt replied and sat back in the seat. He wasn't going to enjoy a long quiet ride in the jeep, especially since his sister was also there. The young prince sertainly hoped that he wouldn't end up arguing with her.

Gabriel pointed out the sights as they drove along. "That's the remains of a bunker line, this small village is renowned for the best lager in Germany..." Once they passed through a bombed out city, bombedout buldings lined both sides of a rubble filled road, signs of fire could be seen everywhere. Gabriel was silent through the city, not speaking until it was well past. "That was where a bombing raid set off a firestorm, over ten thousand people died that night."

"No good ever comes out of war," Kurt remarked.

"There are times when war is the only answer, but there are no winners, and as you said, no good ever comes of them."

"Where abouts in Germany are we?" Talia then asked.

"The Northest part, Berlin is only an hour's drive east from here."

"Ah," Talia replied.

Kurt just looked around at the scenery, tapping on the side of the jeep with his fingers.

Gabriel sighed. "It was a bloody war, even by my standards. It was cut short by my actions, but stopping a world war takes time. And for a lot of people, time just ran out."

"Time waits for no man," Kurt said glumly, still tapping the side of the jeep.

"Time waits for no man," Kurt said glumly, still tapping the side of the jeep.

"Indeed, it does not." Gabriel replied absently, and then more responsive. "OK, look alive you two, we're almost there."

"About time," Talia remarked. Paitience was never her strong point.

OOC: All conversations from here on can be considered to be in German unless stated otherwise simply to make things easier.

IC: Gabriel came to a stop in front of the guard house and handed over the papers. "Captain Blackwood with two Lieutenants to see Commander Kipling." Gabriel's German was impecible, managing to get even the accent right.
After scutinizing the papers and making a call, the guard waved them through.

"I'll never get the accent right," Kurt muttered under his breath.

"Don't worry about getting the accent, just the language. I manage because I've done this for so long."

"I'll never get the language either," Kurt sighed.

Gabriel smiled a bit at that. "You'll get it, don't worry."
"Gabriel, we've got a problem." Arthur's voice suddenly came out of nowhere. "Whoever's jumping around hasn't left this dimension. And from what I've been able to find out, the USSR is getting ready to launch an attack any day now."
"Have you managed to to alert the NATO command?"
"Word is working it's way up the chain of command, but that's not the biggest problem. Whoever's done all this has managed to lock this dimension down."
"Hell and damnation."

"Locked down? Thats means we're stuck here," Kurt gasped.

He noticed the lock of horror upon his sisters face.

"Calm down both of you, it's not a permanent lock, it merely means that we'll have to find the person responsible and get them to stop." Gabriel's face hardend. "And if they don't do it willingly, I'll take more drastic measures. I'll see you both get home."

"And if we don't find him, what then?" he asked.

"Oh, locating him won't be a problem, whoever it is has a different dimensonal signature from everything else here. Getting to him is going to be the problem with this war starting up."

Kurt rubbed his temples, he was sure that he was beginning to get a headache.

"I hate you two," Talia remarked.

Gabriel brought the jeep to a halt. Two pills appeared in his hand, and a glass of water hovered in front of the two siblings. "Here, take these, they're chemical learning pills. By tomorrow the both of you will be speaking the language like natives, though without the accent."

Talia folded her arms, "I don't trust you," she protested.

OOC: How was that for a plot twist?

IC: A wail went up as the base's air raid sirens went off. All around people dropped what they were doing and ran for their stations. "Listen, I don't have time for arguments, now I could have lied, I could have slipped them into something you were eating, hell, I could had forced you to take them. But I didn't. And now there's a war on, I've got to get you back home, and frankly, there's a slight chance we might get seperated. And if that's the case, then you both need to be able to speak German fluently."

Off to one side the sound of jet engines warming up could be heard as the base scrambled it's planes.

OOC: damn server :x

OOC: Good one :)

IC:

"Just do it Talia," Kurt told his sister. He took the pill and put it in his mouth before taking the glass of water and swallowing it.

Talia was still reluctant. Still she knew that if anything happened to her then her other would not let Gabriel get away with anything. She knew she was going to regret this, but still she took the pill, placed it in her mouth and drank the water.

Gabriel sighed. "Thank you."
A sudden scream cut off any futher conversation. A flight of jets tore through the sky low overhead, red stars visible on their wings. One of them broke off and came in at the jeep, the only target still in the open. The time Gabriel had spent arguing with Talia preventing them from getting under cover.
Gabriel's eyes blazed. Finally, something he could take his frustration and anger out on. His gun appeared in his hand almost as if conjured there by magic. The fighter opened fire, small explosions on the ground showing where the cannon shells impacted. Gabriel's gun spoke once and the jet exploded in flames, it slammed into the ground and skidded, coming to a smoking, flaming halt only inches from the back of the jeep.

Gabriel had already reseated hiimself.
"Hold on, I'm getting you two out of here." He said as he floored the accelerator.

Kurt and Talia held on for dear life as the jeep sped away. They were too frightened to say anything incase the other jets came for them.

Gabriel said a brief prayer to any gods that might have existed that he'd had the jeep made out of titanium and suped up the engine. The guard at the gate waved wildly at him to stop before diving out of the way at the last second as the jeep slammed into the guard bar and smashed it aside.

Gabriel talked over his shoulder as he raced down the road. "OK, here's the deal. We're going to track down whoever's locked us in this dimension and get them to release the hold by whatever means are necessary. But I need the full cooperation of both of you. An argument, or refusal to follow instructions at the wrong moment and we'll all be up a creek without a paddle. I promised to watch after both of you, and that's still my first priority. Do you two understand?"

"Yes we do," Kurt replied.

"I just want to get out of this damned dimension," Talia remarked.

"That makes three of us. And you have no idea how much I regret having dragged the two of you into this. We'll have something better to run around in than this jeep shortly. But it takes time to for even Arthur to create something out of nothing."

"As long as its warm inside it I don't mind," Talia said.

Kurt rolled his eyes, how typical of his sister to be feeling 'cold' right now.

"I think you'll both be satisfied." Gabriel said.
Several minutes passed when Gabriel suddenly spun the jeep's wheel and sent it crashing through a wooden fence and into a small grove. Bringing it to a halt he got out and gestured at the other vehicle in the grove.
"Let me introduce the pair of you to our newest means of transportation. The Sparten."
A massive piece of machinery sat in the clearing. Smooth metal armor, painted in a standard European camoflauge pattern gleamed. From a massive turret emerged a giant gun, and from a smaller turret poked a chain gun of some sort. Racks of missiles lined each side, and machine guns sprouted from various places on the hull. Broad tracks kept it tight to the ground. Even on close inspection it looked as if the entire vehicle had been cast from a single mold.

"Wow!" Kurt gleemed, his grin was broad. "Looks awesome."

Thiws time it was his sisters turn to roll her eyes, she wasn't impressed.

"She's quite the machine. She's fast enough to give a race car a run for it's money. With indirect fire she can reach out to thirty miles, and with direct fire to over five miles firing a variety of 155mm ammo. She carries Headhunter short range anti-air missiles, and a 37mm phalanx cannon for air defense and use against light vehicles and troops. She carries three .50 caliber machine guns and a .255mm chain gun. Her armor is tough enough to withstand a hit from anything short of a direct nuclear strike. And in this particualr version, she seats three. You two feel like joining me in putting her through her paces? Say with live targets?"

"Definitly," Kurt nodded, "Safer in there then out here I guess."

Gabriel clammered up onto the tank and pulled open the hatch. "OK than, hop in. Kurt, grab the driver's seat, Talia, you've got operations, you'll be our eyes and ears, I'll tae the commander's seat and gunner's position."

Kurt climbed in and settled himself down in the drivers seat. Talia reluctantly climbed aboard as well.

"OK, let's crank this baby up. Kurt, since you're driving you'll be please to hear that this thing has an automatic transmission. You've got two pedals on the floor in front of you. The one on the left brakes the left track and vice-versa for the right one. The harder you press down and a pedal the more brake is applied to that track. That's how you turn this beast. And if you need to turn this tging within it's own length, simply slam one pedal down and don't touch the other one. The throttle's that lever to your left, the settings are displayed there. As soon as you start her up a holographic viewscreen should pop up in front of you. A word of advice Kurt, this isn't a car, you 'bump' something you aren't going to damage it, you'll destroy it. Talia, you're our eyes and ears, you're compartment will give you a full threesixty view of what's around us, you've got a variety of sensors to use, infrared, low-light, ground and air radar, vibration sensors, microphones, etc. When calling out targets use the clock system, twelve o'clock is straight ahead, six o'clock is directly behind us. The display will highlight targets, red is the badguys, green are allies, and white are unknown or neutrals. A percentage number will come up next to each target, the higher it is, the higher the threat it represents. We're depending on you to warn us about what's going on outside. I'm in control of the weapons on this baby, I've got a smaller and less complicated version of what Talia sees. Between the three of us, we'll get through this just fine."

"Right," Kurt replied. This was very new to the young prince, it was very different to the car he had only recently started to learn to drive in. For a start, the turning was done by braking. "Just tell me which way we're going."

Talia meanwhile was getting comfortable in her compartment.

"When you start this baby up, along with the holographic display of the outside, you'll see a compass. Head due east, and please try not to hit anything. There's going to be enough destruction running across this country as it is without us adding to it just yet. Now let's crank up and move out."

"Okie doki," Kurt grimaced. He pushed the lever and the tank began rolling forward. Hitting the right brake, he made the tank turn towards the east and was thankful that so far the way was unobstructed.

Gabriel punched a few buttons and sent a map to Talia. "Talia, I've just sent you a map, there's a red blinking dot on it. That's our target. When we get there, we'll find whoever's screwing with this dimension. Please use the information availible to find the fastest route to get there and send it to Kurt."

OOC: Death to the server!

"Alright," Talia replied, looking over the map. "Kurt just keep going straight ahead."

The young prince nodded, he kept going on course, turning only to to get on a dirt road. The tank went at a steady pace as Kurt didn't feel comfortable in going too fast.

OOC: Notice: Will not be posting tomorrow after 6:30EST.

IC: Gabriel clapped a helmet on his head, and pulling a piece of cloth attached to a stick from a small locker threw open the top hatch. With a flourish he unvieled the flag and sited it in it's holder. With a snap, it straightend out, streaming behind the tank.

"Putting up the target?" Kurt asked.

OOC: I'm am begining to have some serious issues with this server.

IC: The wolf and lightning bolt streamed out behind the tank as Gabriel rode with the hatch open. "No, showing the flag. I guarentee that no one on this side is going to shoot us while flying it, and it's guarenteed to cause every enemy in sight to shoot at us. And the second they shoot at us, they're dead."

OOC: Same here :evil:

IC:

"Thats reassuring to know," Kurt remarked.

OOC: Last post of the night, four posts in four hours because of sever problems has tried my patience to the breaking point. See you tomorrow.

IC: "It is isn't it. The Germans know just what this girl is capable of, they already faced it. But the Russians haven't run into her yet. And I expect that our arrival will be a very nasty surprise."

OOC: Now the servers fast :lol:

IC:

"Heh, should be interesting," Kurt grinned.

"Don't forget though, our goal isn't to stop this war single handed. Our goal is to get you both out of here."

"Yeah we know," Kurt replied, rolling his eyes.

A loud buzzer went off in the tank. Like a groundhog disappearing down it's hole Gabriel dropped back into the hatch, slamming it shut above him. "Talia, that's the incoming enemy aircraft alert. Give me an altitude, speed and bearing!"

A loud buzzer went off in the tank. Like a groundhog disappearing down it's hole Gabriel dropped back into the hatch, slamming it shut above him. "Talia, that's the incoming enemy aircraft alert. Give me an altitude, speed and bearing! Kurt, punch it, evasive action now!"

"Too many numbers," Talia said, "They keep changing, but I can tell its its coming up behind us."

"Oh thats a great help," Kurt remarked.

"Hey I'm not trained in this alright," she protested.

Double Post

"Cut the chatter, that's good enough Talia. Kurt, slew us around, one eighty!"
As the tank turned around within it's own length a roar filled it as a pair of missiles lept off the racks at the oncoming fighters. The 37mm Phlanax coughed into action, a high-pitched buzz remenisent of a denist's drill. The outer two fighters of the group detonated as the missiles reached them. The middle one was turned into confette as if ran into a nearly solid wall of delpleated uranium 37mm slugs.

"Wahoo, nice going guys, that's three down so far!"

"Back on our way to the previous target?" Kurt asked.

OOC This server is a complete joke now :evil:

"Back on our way to the previous target?" Kurt asked.

OOC This server is a complete joke now :evil:

Braun put his hands on the door, and grabbing it, gave a hard shove. Corded muscles stood out tight under his sleeves. With a groan the door suddenly gave and went crashing to the floor. "That's how we get out. And as for the three or four guarding the place, we'll try and talk our way out, failing that, we'll teleport."

Mitch just looked at Braun funny. "Well that works.."

Vox, Felon, and Zephyr jumped up, hearing the crash, and Felon yelled, "Stupid dog!"
Vor'en just sat there, he could already tell Braun was there. The three ran over and stopped right before Braun and froze, then Vox spoke slowly at first. "You.. you! What did you do to kaz?" Rage could be seen in his face, "What the hell did you do to Kaz!?" The other two stood there, mad as well, their faces could tell anger and pain. "Where is he?"

Braun's eyes burned hard with pain, and they speared all who stood before him. "I did nothing, Kaz chose the path he took himself. Despite mine and Marciel's best efforts, we could not pull him back from the brink on which he teetered. I have already made an offer to Vor'en to travel the Paths of the Dead and drag Kaz back to the world of the living, and he refused. Unfortunately until I can fulfill the promise I made to Mitch, I cannot attempt the journey myself. I will make all of you the same offer I made Vor'en. Release Mitch's life into my hands, and then I will travel with one of you to retrieve him. But time grows short. A soul does not long remain at what lies at the end of the Paths of the Dead before moving on beyond where even I can reach them. We nearly died trying to save him, and we are willing to do so again despite the price that we must pay."

"Right, and step on it Kurt."

Kurt nodded. He pressed down hard on the left brake and the tank turned 180 degrees to go back after their original target. He pushed the lever foward a bit to make the tank go a bit faster.

Racing down the road they came upon a convoy headed towards the front that took up the entire road.
"Kurt, stop alongside that officer there."

"Ok," Kurt replied and brought the tank to a stop near the officer.

Gabriel popped up through the hatch and leaned over to look down at the officer. "Major, get these trucks out of our way."
The officer looked up at this soldier, driving a tank without recognised insignia. "These trucks aren't going anywhere until they're fueled. And I'm certainly not moving them because some nut with no rank ordered me too."
"Right then. Those houses over there are empty correct?"
"Yes but why?"
"Get out of the way and you'll see. Kurt, houses on the right, we're going through them, we hit a basement just keep the throattle wide open and I'll handle it." Gabriel said as he slammed the hatch down.

"Right," Kurt said, accepting his orders.

Once Gabriel was back in his place, the young prince started the tank up once more. Almost instantly he turned right and went through the empty houses.

The tank tore through the houses as if they were made of confette. The oficer could only watch, dumbfounded, as the row of buildings collapsed behind the tank like a row of dominoes. The tank burst out of the last of the houses, at the front of the convoy, and roared off down the road.

"You're right, this tank does destroy everything it hits," Kurt grinned.

"I designed it to take on an entire army if necessary. I'd certainly hope that a couple of buildings wouldn't slow us down."

"Bet the officer wishes he had one."

"I personally don't care what he thinks." A beeping caught Gabriel's attention and he looked over at a moniter. Arthur had downloaded an update, and what Gabriel saw gave even him pause.
"Guys, I hate to say this, but there's ten hostile armored divisions between us and our destination."

"Oh great," Kurt groaned. "Tanks?"

Gabriel nodded, even though neither Kurt or Talia could see him. "Lots of tanks, Armored vehicles, artillery, and probibly air support. Talia, I'm going to be depending heavily on you to warn me what the biggest threats are. Kurt, when it starts flying, floor it and don't stop for anything. Ram the SOB's if necessary. If past experiance is any indicator, Russian welding has a lot to answer for."

"Right," Kurt replied.

"What would be the biggest threats?" Talia asked.

"The display will be giving percentages, the higher the percentages, the bigger the threat. But a good rule of thumb is aircraft, tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, and then infantry, in order of highest to lowest threat. Understand you two, I'm not expecting you to be performing like combat veterans. But compared to just myself and Arthur trying to handle all of this, you two are a big improvement. Just do your best and we'll get through this in one piece."

Talia just nodded and quietly kept a look out for the biggest threats.

"We should just be able to just floor it through the lot of them with this tank, right?" Kurt suggested.

"For the most part, yes. The problem is, we're going to have several miles at the very least to traverse under fire. And as tough as this girl is, she can shove only so many tanks aside at once. Given the number of vehicles we'll be facing, getting jammed in the middle of a big mess is a distinct possibility."

"Oh damn," Kurt cursed, "Are they all in one area or are they in a line? We could try and go around them."

"Oh damn," Kurt cursed, "Are they all in one area or are they in a line? We could try and go around them."

"They're all arrayed in standard formation. But unless you want to try taking this girl through minefields, forests, and some rather rugged terrain, straight through is our best bet. The good news is that since they're advancing the last thing they'd expect is a lone tank attacking them."

Kurt groaned. Why couldn't he have just been allowed to stay in bed instead of being out here. He already knew what his sister was thinking and that wasn't a good thing.

"Just blow up as many as you can then," he remarked.

"I'll say this for the Russians at least. They sure can pick an inconvient time to start a war."

"Like some countries in our dimension," Kurt replied.

"There is that. All right you two, you both have helmets near you, Kurt, your's is in a small compartment by your left leg, Talia, your's is in a compartment by your right shoulder. When we're thirty minutes from contact, put them on. They'll provide communications when it gets too loud for us to hear each other otherwise."

That wasn't a promising sign, at least Kurt didn't think so anyway. He was longing for his nicee comfortable, warm bed back at the palace. It would be better then being stuck in a tank, threatened by enemies from a bygone century.

Gabriel glanced down at the holographic map. "OK, helmets on, and look sharp, we're going right down the middle, and we're not stopping for anything. They can't really hurt us, but that's probibly not going to stop them from trying."

Kurt leaned over and retrieved his helmet from the compartment by his left leg, Talia did the same from her compartment and both put them on. Talia of course wasn't happy about having to wear a helmet.

A steady stream of numbers scrolled across the sceen in front of Gabriel. Manipulating the controls for the main gun he activated the communications link in the helmets. "Begining indirect fire, brace yourselves."
At three second intervals the main gun belched flame and smoke. Firing at targets Gabriel couldn't see, but he knew were there. Smoke rounds mixed with HE and mine deployment rounds began falling among the massed forces. Even with the sound proofing, the noise was deafening within the tank.
"OK Kurt, give this baby everything she's got. Talia, look sharp."

Kurt slammed the lever as far forward as it would go. Talia kept her eyes on the screen in front of her.

"Theres five jets coming in quickly ahead of us," she warned Gabriel.

Five missiles lept off the racks as Gabriel lowered the main gun in preperation for direct fire. Ahead, five fireballs lit the sky momentarily, before fading. The tank suddenly burst into the open on the top of a small hill and below, as far as could be seen, were row upon row of tightly packed advancing armored vehicles, the only openings being where his earlier fire had hit something.

"Straight ahead?" Kurt asked.

"Right down the middle, let's see how these guys like playing chicken. We mass more than they do and carry a lot more inerta, use it." Gabriel said as he started armor piercing shells began slamming into the tight columns. Often a shell would go clean through one vehicle and slam into another, destroying both."

Kurt nodded and centred the tank to go down the middle as Gabriel had suggested.

As they got closer, Gabriel switched the phalanx cannon over to automatic, and it began to fire at the more lightly armored vehicles and infantry, tearing swaths through them. Incoming rounds began to strike the tank, despite it's speed, each time it sounded as if someone had hit the tank with a giant hammer.

Kurt was finding himself unnerved by the sounds of the incoming rounds hitting the tank. Talia was just annoyed at being couped up in the small space.

"How much can this take?" Kurt asked.

"Well if you really felt like it, we could stop right now, and take a nap for the rest of the day without much of a problem." Gabriel answered as he located another commanded tank and destroyed it. He'd been paying particular attention to command vehicles, knowing that because of the way Russian soldiers were trained, they often fell apart without their commanders.

"Wait we've destroyed them all?" Kurt asked with a little surprise.

A trio of shells smashed into the tank's hull, emphasising Gabriel's dry response. "Hardly, but we could sit here all day, and they'd do little more than scratch the paint."

"Ah," Kurt replied, "Couldn't sleep with all that going on outside."

"Kurt, turn right ninety degrees, there's an opening. Talia, I'm turning control of the phalanx and the missiles over to you."

"We're in touble," Kurt remarked.

"Bite me," Talia replied as her brother turned the take 90 degrees.

Gabriel couldn't help but grin as he listened to the two siblings. "We're already through the first three divisions, let's keep it up."

"Will do," Kurt replied.

Gabriel hit a switch, and a long wailing howl went up, a howl that cut even through the noise and confusion of battle. A howl that caused back teeth to rattle and cold lump to settle in one's stomach. "It's time to show these guys exactly what this insignia means."

Kurt shuddered at the long wailing howl.

"Right," he said, "Just tell me what to do."

By now the main gun barrel had started glowing a brillent white from it's rapid firing. But the enemy divisions were starting to break up, deprived of their command and control, and hit by this demon on treads, individual commanders and drivers started to panic.
"Kurt, I'm sending you a direction to head in, take and don't stop. I'm going to have to cease fire for a moment until the barrel cools off. If someone gets in your way, ram them. Talia, keep their heads down."

"As you say," the young prince replied.

He took the tank in the direction that Gabriel had told him to take it.

Gabriel pulled his pistol out, and setting it for the maximum possible velocity, threw open the hatch and hauled himself up halfway through it, despite the shells and bullets that were still flying around. Sighting on a tank he pulled the trigger. The round punched through the armor of the tank right next to the barrel and detonated the rounds inside. The entire turret of that tank blew straight up to tumble through the air and crash back to earth. But Gabriel hardly noticed, already lining up on his next target.

Kurt shook his head as he kept the tank going. No matter what Gabriel would say, the young prince knew he seemed to enjoy taking part in battles.

As the tank broke clear of the armored forces Gabriel dropped back down into the tank. "Kurt head for those woods off to our right, we need to take a break for a minute. I don't think we have to worry about any pursuit either."
A glance in the rear moniter showed the entire valley as one giant mass of smoke and flame.

"As you wish Sir," Kurt replied. He then turned the tank to its right.

When the tank finally rolled to a stop, hidden within the small forest, Gabriel popped the hatch and slid out. "I'd suggest that you two get out and stretch while you can."
Gabriel looked back down the valley. "And you can be proud, single handed we've just stopped ten armored divisions that were spearheading the offensive, they'll be weeks simply trying to clear enough of the wrecks away to move vehicles through."

Kurt and Talia did as Gabriel had suggested and climbed out of the tank. Talia was glad to be out of it and took in the fresh air, though there was the smell of buring around.

"I can't wait to get back to a real dimension," she remarked.

Gabriel looked over the tank's hull as he absently answered. There was hardly a square inch that wasn't dimpled, scratched, gouged, or simply dented from the number of shell's she'd been hit with. A quick check showed that the small forcefield protecting the treads from enemy fire were still functioning. "Actually, the correct term Talia would be Home Dimension, all dimensions are equally real."

"The only real dimension to me is home," she replied, "this one is too odd."

"I will not disagree with you. But remember, it is all a matter of perspective. For me, this would have been recent history before;" Gabriel paused for a second, "let's just say before. Your world is the strange one to me."
Gabriel pulled himself back up onto the tank."If you're both finished stretching, let's go, we only have a short distance before we find out who's responsible for this whole mess."

Kurt was instantly back in the tank, Talia was a little more reluctant. Once seated back in the drivers seat, the young prince waited for Gabriel to get back in.

"OK Kurt, straight ahead, three miles, take it slow, we don't want to startle whoever it is. I'd like to avoid a fight if at all possible."

"Yeah, got it," Kurt nodded.

Ever so slowly, the young prince pushed forward the lever and the tank went on its way.

"Yeah, got it," Kurt nodded.

Ever so slowly, the young prince pushed forward the lever and the tank went on its way.

OCC: Where's Drognan? I've seen him listed in the main forum as being around.

IC: After a few moments the tank entered a small clearing where a not quite accurate copy of the tank sat. A man was standing next to it.
"Kurt, hold up. I'm going out to met this guy. I want you both to sit tight, something goes wrong, listen to Arthur, he'll take care of you."

OOC: I've seen him at the top and not post a couple of times before

IC:

"OK," Kurt replied, stopping the tank.

Braun's eyes burned hard with pain, and they speared all who stood before him. "I did nothing, Kaz chose the path he took himself. Despite mine and Marciel's best efforts, we could not pull him back from the brink on which he teetered. I have already made an offer to Vor'en to travel the Paths of the Dead and drag Kaz back to the world of the living, and he refused. Unfortunately until I can fulfill the promise I made to Mitch, I cannot attempt the journey myself. I will make all of you the same offer I made Vor'en. Release Mitch's life into my hands, and then I will travel with one of you to retrieve him. But time grows short. A soul does not long remain at what lies at the end of the Paths of the Dead before moving on beyond where even I can reach them. We nearly died trying to save him, and we are willing to do so again despite the price that we must pay."

Vox, Felon, and Zephyr stood there, angry, sad, and not knowing what to do. Vox turned as he heard footsteps down the hall and Aurora stepped out. Her silver hair glistened against the light. She slowly spoke, "Kaz did what he did only because he chose to do so, he would not want anyone to go down and save him, because it was his choice to go.." She looke at Mitch, "And as for my assassin, he is free to go.. I don't care anymore, he can even roam Drognan free so long as he does not take part in any vile or unlawful deeds."

Mitch looked up, and smiled slightly, "So I dont have to leave? I dont have to run?"

Aurora softly looked at him, "No Mitch, you do not."

The three others just shrugged it off, but they understood slightly more on Kaz's decision, yet they were all still down.


Mitch looked at Braun, "You dont have to take me now.. Im fine now.."

OOC life is goin everywhere right now lol so sometimes i only have time to check on what is going on, sorry i haven't posted

OOC: Going to dinner, be back in a few.

IC: Gabriel slid down the tank and landed lightly on the ground.
"Let's cut to the chase shall we? You've locked this dimension down, and set off a war that shouldn't have happened. I'm going to ask you once to let us leave."
The man surprised Gabriel by laughing. "And why should I do that? This is exactly where I want you. I've spent half a millenia tracking you down."
Gabriel tensed, his hand going towards his pistol, but stopping short. Gabriel could tell there was something wrong with the man.
"Should I know you?" Gabriel asked.
The man's face went red. "Should you know me you ask? You destroyed my interstellar empire, killed my armies and turned my fleets into space dust. And now you've destroyed my attempt to take control of this planet."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down?"
"And do you have any idea how little I care? It took me many clones to survive long enough to be able to track you down and follow you. I've copied your designs and improved myself until I can match you."
Gabriel realised then what had been bothering him, the man in front of him didn't 'feel' right. There was a feeling of mechanical parts as well as biological.
"What have you done to yourself?"
"Why don't we find out, hmm? I arranged for you to be trapped here so I could have the satisfaction of killing you myself, and I intend to do just that."
"I'm afraid that you won't enjoy this experiance that much then. However long you've been searching for me, time hasn't flowed the same for both of us. It's an old man you'll be fighting. But if that is your wish, I have only one request."
The man smirked. "Name it."
"I have two children with me who were also trapped in this dimension. Regardless of the outcome of this fight, I ask that you dropped the dimensional lock so they may return home."
"Very well, agreed."
"Kurt, Talia, I know you can see and hear everything through the tank's sensors, whatever happens, don't interfere."

OOC: I understand, good luck.

IC: "I'd leave Kaz down there if the life was his own to give. But it was not. One man has already condemed himself to death to insure that Kaz remains alive because he is needed here."

"OK," Kurt replied, he didn't want to sit helpless in the tank. He knew that Gabriel had done alot for him and so he wanted to help him. Still he knew he couldn't interfere, he'd just promised not to.

Aurora was supprised, "You mean to say he has died once?"

Vor'en still sat back in his seat, staying hidden from the rest, only because he knew. while Vox, Felon, and Zephyr were confused now from the ideas.

Gabriel warily watched his opponent. Suddenly, with more sperd than Gabriel had thought possible, the man launched himself forward. Gabriel only just managed to block the first pair of punches. The man was hilaciously strong. Gabriel shifted his weight and the man went flying into a nearby tree. The tree snapped under the force of the impact and toppled over. The man however merely got up and came at Gabriel again. The two of them fought back and forth, each landing blows that would have instantly killed most things. The man's mechanical components gave him a vicious edge in the fight, he would have been a good match for Gabriel in his younger days, but as old as Gabriel was now, it was begining to look bad.

OOC: Plot twist!

IC: Braun nodded. "Yes he did, but the person I was speaking of was Gabriel, who brought Kaz back from the brink of death once already. When he did, he knowingly signed his own death warrent. He gave too much energy, in addition to immediately aging him several biological years, it has sped up the aging process for him. Instead of the several millenia he had left, he has a few hundred years at most. He's dying. But he accepted those consequences because Kaz was importent to this world. His exact words to me were "Kaz being alive is necessary for this continum to continue existing, he is one of several focal points, too many of them have already fallen. If he should do so before another arises, then this world is doomed. It is for that I would sacrifice my life." So as you can see, Kaz does not have the right to choose to die, too much depends on his existance, at least for a time, and a terrible price has been paid to see that he survives. I intend to see that a great man's life has not been given in vain. If none of you will accompany us, we shall go ourselves, though if such is the case, there is little hope of success."

Kurt sat nervously inside the tank, he was expecting Gabriel to win the fight. He could imagine the consequences if he should lose. Talia wasn't taking notice of the fight as she was getting bored and restless.

The pair continued fighting, the very ground begining to crumble under their onslaught. Gabriel moved in for a kick to the man's gut when suddenly the man's hand flashed and Gabriel was blown backward, digging a big gouge in the soil. The front of his shirt was gone, and his chest was a seething cauldron of bubbling flesh. Gabriel tired to get up, but was unable. The man smiled at him. "Did I forget to mention I added some small energy artillery in addition to the rest of my mechanical parts?"

"Damn, I can't take him, not like this. I'm not half the fighter I used to be. Well I guess there's one thing I could try, though I'm not even sure I have the energy to pull it off." Gabriel thought.
"Arthur, get them out of here, now!" Gabriel yelled. Almost instantly the tank shot off, it's engines being pushed far past the safety limits.
Gabriel started to glow as the man stood over him. Faster and faster the light pulsed. Gabriel felt the energy surge through him, but it wasn't enough, he dug deeper, straining to grasp every last bit of energy he could. And even as he did so, he knew he was killing himself.
The man's eyes shot open in alarm. "What's this, what are you doing, stop, I command it!"
This time the smile on Gabriel's face matched the one the man had previously worn. "Mechanical devices, no matter how advanced, could never match what I once was. For they have no soul on which to draw their energy. No soul that can drive them past their limits."
The man turned to run just as the light blasted outward from Gabriel. With a flash the entire hill disappeared. When the light faded the entire hill was gone, and in it's place was a giant, perfectly round and smooth crater.

Aurora was shocked, she didn't even know what to say, as was everyone except Vor'en, who stood to look over the group, he was still unnoticed, and was thinking.

OOC nice twist.. im workin up sumdin, depends on how everything goes, probally figure 5-10 good posts.. it should be in effect.. muhahah! lol

Kurt and Talia stared in shook at what they saw on the tanks screen. Talia couldn't belive anyone would blow themselves up like that. Kurt just couldn't belive what Gabriel had done.

Arthur's voice broke through the shock. "Kurt, get us back there, ASAP. Talia, I've set the scanners to detect lifesigns, let me know the second you see something."

"Braun were you serious about going by ourselves? You know that would be hopeless." Marciel thought to Braun.
"Yes, even if there is the slightest chance of success, we must try, but I hope that one of them will join us. At least that way our own sacrifice will not be in vain." Braun thought back. Then he spoke out loud. "If any of you will offer your help, please do so now, time runs short."

Vor'en spoke, after Braun, "You mean that Kaz is holding the fate of this world as well? So that is why he was revived at such a cost."

Aurora's soft glance turned to a glare at Vor'en, "You mean you knew Kaz died once? Why didn't you tell me?"
Vor'en ignored the question, thinking more, waiting for Braun's response.

"Right," Kurt sighed, wondering why Arthur hadn't taken them back to the site himself. He turned the tank around and they made their way back.

Braun nodded solemnly. "Gabriel told me that it is merely Kaz's presence that is holding this world, this dimesion togeather at the moment. So long as he lived, a tenuious balance was maintained. But the number of factors is at a low point, and Kaz's death has completly thrown the balance off. Even now I suspect that the threads that weave this world are coming unraveled. Kaz must be brought back, at least until another is born who is also a factor. It is for that reason Gabriel did what he did."

Vision returned slowly. But even then it was inidistinct, as if everything was transparent. He coughed, and blood splattered the ground next to him. Dimly he saw the approaching bulk of the tank, but even the effort to raise himself was too much at the moment.

Vor'en pointed to the door, "We go out this door to start, lets go then because I dont plan on dying for at least another 2 thousand years, now lets go damnit!"

The rest just stood half confused except Aurora, who smiled.

Vor'en walked to the door, "Everything from room to componets can be found in the Portal Chamber.." Vor'en reached for the doorhandle and a light knock was heard on the door. He stopped and looked at the door. "Aurora who was supposed to show up?"
Aurora simply said, "Rondin was supposed to show up, damn angel is always late.."
"Good, thought someone unwelecomed was there, so are you ready Braun?"

"There's life in the crater," Talia yelled.

Kurt brought the tank to a halt. "Arthur, what do we do?" he asked. "Is it Gabriel?"

Braun stepped into the room. "I already have all the components I need, only you will be able to come Vor'en, more than two cannot use this method at a time." Braun pulled out an odd looking knife from his backpack. It looked frail, and nearly transparent. With a quick slash, Braun slit his right arm open, and then let the blood drip on the knife. Strangly the blood did not run off the knife, but seemed to be absorbed, the knife gradually taking on the color of Braun's blood, a red so dark that it was nearly black. Without bothering to staunch the bleeding, Braun flipped the knife around and drove it into the floor up to it's hilt. Only then did he pause for a moment to staunch the blood.
"Normally this spell requires the blood of a demon, but my magic is strong enough that the blood of a mere half demon will suffice. Once the portal is open, no one else must enter it or disturb the knife."
Braun pulled a small glowing orb out next and handed it to Vor'en. "Keep this, you will need it for payment if you wish to leave. The gatekeeper only accepts souls."

Braun pulled the autoharp around, the noted he played were harsh and discordant. The knife started to vibrate and suddenly a dark swirling mass sprang up.
"Quickly now, through the portal!" Braun said as he stepped through into the darkness that awaited on the other side.

"It's Gabriel, but get him in the tank quick, he's fading fast."

Knowing the lack of time he had, Kurt teleported outside. He quickley located Gabriel and teleported toaward him. Grabbing hold of his arm the young prince teleported the both of them back to the safety of the tank.

"Arthur, now what?" he asked.

Vor'en suddenly had a strange feeling about this, and reached for Braun through the portal, trying to pull him back quickly, "Braun no he isn't there!"

"Stand back." A blast of energy enveloped Gabriel, causing his body to spasem violenty for several seconds. Then with a groan Gabriel levered himself up.
"How long Arthur?" He asked.
Arthur's voice was faint with concern. "Not long."
"Hell, I'm sorry to say this you two, but we're not going directly back home. I'm not going to last much longer, and there's something I need to show Kurt first."

Braun turned around. "Then where is he? If he is at the end of The Paths of the Dead, we have a journey ahead of us, and time is short."

"He is somewhere near us.. I can feel him.. faintly.. but He is not through the portal.." Vor'en looked around, then looked to the door. "The knocking.." He ran out into the main room, where the same people still were, seeming that no one really moved around.
"Aurora did you answer the door?"
She shook her head, "No.. I forgot about it, You guys just ran through the other door to the portal chamber, why aren't you getting kaz damnit?"
"Because he isn't there.. he is right there.." His voice was low, as he pointed to the main door.

"All or part of him?" Braun asked.

Kurt suddenly felt as if his soul had just been torn from his body.

"What do you have to show me?" he asked.

"I dont know.." His voice was low as he approached the door, slowly "Dont you guys feel him at all?" The rest shook their head as he neared the door, "I know it is him.. I can feel him.."
Aurora shook her head, "Vor'en your gettin delerious over the fact you lost your brother.. he is inside that portal go get him."
Vor'en lowly growled but continued to the door, "I am not crazy.. he is right here.." A low knock was suddenly heard again from the door, and everyone looked, waiting for Vor'en to open the door, only so they could prove him wrong.