Whatever he'd been going to say, he left unsaid. "Yes, sir. Aananda-sensei asked me to meet her here. To go over security footage. I've been investigating the murders. I...I can leave. Just, if there's anything I can do to help...." He stepped out of the way so they could get into the lab without difficulty. "I'll just be out here."Tamrin looks over to his wife briefly as the door unlocks.
"If you've got information already, or even just some educated guesses, then come on in, son. We need as much intel as we can pull together, and we need it yesterday. I found something that needs to be checked anyway, which is why we're here and not the Infirmary," he says as they enter the lab.
"Right. I..." he stopped talking and hurried forward to help clear off some counter space so Tamrin had somewhere to set Vai down.
He swallowed hard when he looked at her limp body. Crying wasn't going to help anyone right now. "She doesn't look like the other murder victims. There isn't enough blood. The person who killed Kitty and Zilla and Ginni was really into stabbing. Like, really. Kitty was the first one and he cut her throat in addition to multiple stab wounds....there was so much blood. The other two I didn't get to see right away, but the infirmary reports indicate lots of stabbing. I don't see any stab wounds on Vai. Plus, this guy so far is sticking to a one murder per day schedule. That suggests that Vai was killed by someone else...this....this isn't like what happened to me, is it? Esperanza was trying to make me do things...that would hurt the people I cared about. When I hit my limit....my.....my grandfather had to....there's not a lot of options for getting out of being a Champion......I had to die.....she didn't do this because of Lumos, did she? She didn't....?" Guilt crashed into him as he looked up, pleading for some reassurance that his friend hadn't died because of his inept example.
"Right. I..." he stopped talking and hurried forward to help clear off some counter space so Tamrin had somewhere to set Vai down.
He swallowed hard when he looked at her limp body. Crying wasn't going to help anyone right now. "She doesn't look like the other murder victims. There isn't enough blood. The person who killed Kitty and Zilla and Ginni was really into stabbing. Like, really. Kitty was the first one and he cut her throat in addition to multiple stab wounds....there was so much blood. The other two I didn't get to see right away, but the infirmary reports indicate lots of stabbing. I don't see any stab wounds on Vai. Plus, this guy so far is sticking to a one murder per day schedule. That suggests that Vai was killed by someone else...this....this isn't like what happened to me, is it? Esperanza was trying to make me do things...that would hurt the people I cared about. When I hit my limit....my.....my grandfather had to....there's not a lot of options for getting out of being a Champion......I had to die.....she didn't do this because of Lumos, did she? She didn't....?" Guilt crashed into him as he looked up, pleading for some reassurance that his friend hadn't died because...
"There's another way to do it - it has its own emotional baggage, but it's a lot less...lethal. Vai just chose to do it...this way," Tamrin replies with a shuddering breath as he lays her gently on the table. "Maybe she was afraid that this entity could stop it because it was a technological solution."
"As far as who did it - they're really good with small blades. Vai died from a single puncture wound to the base of her skull, right at the brain stem. It was almost instant and painless, for what that's worth. She wasn't afraid of whoever did this, either."
He moves away from the table and toward the banks of lab equipment nearby, stopping at one of the multi-function analyzers. He takes the small book from his duster pocket, and gingerly places it in the scanning chamber, opening it as he does to the page with the firebird feather. He then seals the chamber and goes over to the controls.
"Whoever did this left an empty book with a firebird feather in it. That doesn't match the M.O. of this killer either. But it sure reminds me of a filthy piece of shtako that I've been trying to find and put in a hurt locker for several months. We'll see in a few minutes."
Unless interrupted, Tamrin sets the scanner to look for any other microscopic evidence on the book, and to perform a genetic scan on the feather to find a match in the student database. He uploads his visor's data to cross-reference the scans against the data from it as well.
"There's another way to do it - it has its own emotional baggage, but it's a lot less...lethal. Vai just chose to do it...this way," Tamrin replies with a shuddering breath as he lays her gently on the table. "Maybe she was afraid that this entity could stop it because it was a technological solution."
"As far as who did it - they're really good with small blades. Vai died from a single puncture wound to the base of her skull, right at the brain stem. It was almost instant and painless, for what that's worth. She wasn't afraid of whoever did this, either."
He moves away from the table and toward the banks of lab equipment nearby, stopping at one of the multi-function analyzers. He takes the small book from his duster pocket, and gingerly places it...
"Alton? He's a firebird and the Champion of Knowledge....and kind of an ass. I mean, he makes me look like a people person...but I don't know if he would do this actually. I mean, it could be interpreted as an act of mercy, sure, but for one Champion to murder another....it's an act of war. The other Champions would be forced to retaliate...they cant all abdicate. Some of them can't afford to."
Jacob sits next to Gareth, and peeks over his shoulder. "What are you reading?" he asks curiously. Looking at the strange, constantly-shifting language inside it, he adds softly "It looks... interesting, to say the least."
Jacob's eyes are now almost a blur as he looks at it. "It's Ignan! No, it's Sylvan? Wait, now it's Druidic!... I don't even know what that is...." A headache starts forming behind his eyes, and Jacob tears his eyes away from the book. "Ugh... my head..."
"Alton? He's a firebird and the Champion of Knowledge....and kind of an ass. I mean, he makes me look like a people person...but I don't know if he would do this actually. I mean, it could be interpreted as an act of mercy, sure, but for one Champion to murder another....it's an act of war. The other Champions would be forced to retaliate...they cant all abdicate. Some of them can't afford to."
"'Can't afford to abdicate'? Explain that," he asks, concern more than a little evident on his features.
"Alton? He's a firebird and the Champion of Knowledge....and kind of an ass. I mean, he makes me look like a people person...but I don't know if he would do this actually. I mean, it could be interpreted as an act of mercy, sure, but for one Champion to murder another....it's an act of war. The other Champions would be forced to retaliate...they cant all abdicate. Some of them can't afford to.""'Can't afford to abdicate'? Explain that," he asks, concern more than a little evident on his features.
"Every situation is a little different, but I've been watching all of them for the past year an I've learned more than they think. Nala can't quit being the Champion of Luck or she ends up back in her mother's power. So basically worse than a death sentence. Deception has Ryuzo so twisted around he thinks he's in control...and he won't abdicate his position anyways, because of Nala. Asch and Amada are basically being blackmailed by their Patrons, not that they'd ever admit that to anyone. Jim has become more and more withdrawn, so I'm honestly not sure if he's internalizing stuff or his patron just wants to stay neutral in this fight. Alton's pissed too many people off. He can't afford to be normal anymore. And Time...that's a seriously messed up situation. I don't know all the particulars, but even Esperanza called him excessively possessive. I don't think she could get away if she tried. As far as I know the only champions who still have genuinely good relationships with their patrons are Death and Dreams. And Madness, but mostly because Madness went all out during his turn as challenger and can't afford to stick his neck out for a long, long time. Look, don't get too hung up on this stuff...my knowledge of Patron politics ends when I died. Some things may have changed since then."
He moves away from the table and toward the banks of lab equipment nearby, stopping at one of the multi-function analyzers. He takes the small book from his duster pocket, and gingerly places it...
Stunned by the sudden intrusion, something he had not yet experienced, Kezzin fails to turn when he should and plows headfirst into a wall at full speed, there is a crunching sound, and Kezzin disappears.
A blood-curdling scream rips out from the previously stunned Firebird girl as she immediately doubles over, clutching at her head and sinking to her knees. Tears streak down her face as she runs out of breath to fuel her scream, and the scream itself tapers off as well.
Of course, this leaves the end result of a adolescent firebird panting and crying in the hallway, desperately clutching at her head, as if trying to ensure it was all there. A most unbecoming sight, to be sure.
"Letting them fight each other so we don't have to has a certain appeal...but I'd love to hear how you think we can influence the outcome of their little squabbles. Aside, of course, from giving them an excess of hope...nothing incites mistakes from enemies like letting them think they can actually win," she purred.
There a small pause here as the Blue considers her next few words carefully.
"I trust you have no compunctions about working with demons?" she asks, rather more quietly than they had been speaking before, perhaps so as to not spook the slaves. Dragons were one thing after all - noble and great. Demons were useful tools though, especially when aimed at the right target.
Sara will guide Simba down as told.
Midori simply nods and holds onto Sara, somewhat lost in thought. She sometimes wished that she had inherited [i]otousan's wings like Kousuke had.[/i]
pain, much of
Settro, having returned to the group, is about to answer Dave's question, before he goes hazy eyed and mutters
"I have... More Important... Things to do. It will solve itself. More important... I..."he looks up at everyone.
"Guys, do you need me right now? I knd a want to go for like, 5 minutes, at the most."
He moves away from the table and toward the banks of lab equipment nearby, stopping at one of the multi-function analyzers. He takes the small book from his duster pocket, and gingerly places it...
The book itself is plan, holding no secrets mundane or otherwise. It's simply blank. The feather is similar, though if Alton is behind this he was smart enough not to use one of his own feathers, since this one is from a female. With the sheer amount of firebirds around now it wouldn't have been hard to acquire.
Pops in behind Keme, catching the last bit of his end of the conversation.
"As the champion of Death I do not even have the 'check out' option. But as you say I have a good relationship with my patron."
He looks to Tamrin and Aananda
"My apologies, Sir, but has Vai...?"
He sees her small lifeless form, and his shoulders slump, like he did not want his assumption to be true. "I sensed the death of a champion, and Ephebe is suddenly under less pressure from Kronos...I am so sorry."
::Our Vai is gone, Love.:: he says to Ephebe, his sorrow apparent to his mate.
Tamrin nods to Krays as he returns his attentions to the scanner and it's less-than-helpful results. He goes over to the security console and requisitions data from the school's nanite cloud to find the individual that this feather did come from.
"If this was Alton, he didn't use his own feather. It belongs to a female firebird. We'll see if it's one of the refugees in a few minutes."
"And hopefully we can bring Vai back by the time that's done as well," he adds, looking back to Aananda. "We should probably have one of the clerics come here, though. I don't want any more of a spectacle with this than we already have now..."
"I can bring her back, no need for all of that."
"If it doesn't involve any strings or conditions from your Patron, then I'm all for it, Krays. If there are, then we'll do it the other way."
"Letting them fight each other so we don't have to has a certain appeal...but I'd love to hear how you think we can influence the outcome of their little squabbles. Aside, of course, from giving them an excess of hope...nothing incites mistakes from enemies like letting them think they can actually win," she purred.There a small pause here as the Blue considers her next few words carefully.
"I trust you have no compunctions about working with demons?" she asks, rather more quietly than they had been speaking before, perhaps so as to not spook the slaves. Dragons were one thing after all - noble and great. Demons were useful tools though, especially when aimed at the right target.
Fei's brow (hidden though it is) furrows at the mention of demons. He does briefly wonder why so many of Avalon's troubles seem to stem from demons...but it is only a fleeting thought as he continues his dual tasks of determining what the dragons' plans are, and what this place is for...
If he can see a means to remain out of direct sight, he will very slowly try to reposition himself so he may see the two of them as they speak.
Fei's brow (hidden though it is) furrows at the mention of demons. He does briefly wonder why so many of Avalon's troubles seem to stem from demons...but it is only a fleeting thought as he continues his dual tasks of determining what the dragons' plans are, and what this place is for...
If he can see a means to remain out of direct sight, he will very slowly try to reposition himself so he may see the two of them as they speak.
If Fei knows nothing else from his time spent around his sabumnim and meldanya's family it's that whatever flaws dragons possess, poor senses are not among them. Even his own Vai's relatively untrained senses are quite sharp, and this Vai has a thousand years experience on her. Any attempt at movement from his current position is going to be extremely risky.
"If it doesn't involve any strings or conditions from your Patron, then I'm all for it, Krays. If there are, then we'll do it the other way."
"Death does not mind resurrections. It just means they can experience death again at another time.
Anyway, he has not placed any strings on any that I have done in the past, including Keme. He is not aligned with Lumos or Esperanza."He pauses...
"I hope this whole mess doesn't make you reevaluate how you perceive myself or Ephebe, family-wise. The entire family is important to us, I hope you never doubt that."
"So, do you want this done now, or is there some tactical reason to wait?"
Pops in behind Keme, catching the last bit of his end of the conversation.
"As the champion of Death I do not even have the 'check out' option. But as you say I have a good relationship with my patron."He looks to Tamrin and Aananda
"My apologies, Sir, but has Vai...?"
He sees her small lifeless form, and his shoulders slump, like he did not want his assumption to be true. "I sensed the death of a champion, and Ephebe is suddenly under less pressure from Kronos...I am so sorry."::Our Vai is gone, Love.:: he says to Ephebe, his sorrow apparent to his mate.
Her heart sank. It was just as well that Lang decided to assist her landing.
::I was afraid it was the wrong one...the only good thing is that the rift isn't growing at the moment...Lumos has a lot to answer for.::
::Indeed. I am here with your father, mother and Vai's shell. Kemme is here also. Tamrin may want me to rez her, will that cause problems with the rift again?::
::Indeed. I am here with your father, mother and Vai's shell. Kemme is here also. Tamrin may want me to rez her, will that cause problems with the rift again?::
::it will start growing again. I..need to find a way to close it from this side, but I don't know how. I can't even get close to it since there's a danger of my getting sucked through.::
::Indeed. I am here with your father, mother and Vai's shell. Kemme is here also. Tamrin may want me to rez her, will that cause problems with the rift again?::::it will start growing again. I..need to find a way to close it from this side, but I don't know how. I can't even get close to it since there's a danger of my getting sucked through.::
::Shall I advise we wait till this is over, and the other Vai destroyed?::
::Please be careful, Ephebe.::
Shiro motions for Asha to take her turn.
Kevin looks around his transmution class room.
Many of the students were randomly trying to turn things, including themselves into other things.
One student succeeded in turning his arm into stone and then subsequently broke it to pieces trying to karate chop his desk in half.
Kevin sits in a front corner with his tail wrapped uncomfortably around his legs watching the chaos.
Shiro motions for Asha to take her turn.
"I'm Asha Soleil. Pyry is my little brother, which I only found out recently. I spent my life locked in a tower until the sun was evacuated and I was able to escape and come to this school....ummm....let's see.....we talked about this earlier, that I'm not supposed to talk about that stuff because it makes people uncomfortable.....oh! I know! I once watched some acrobats performing for a festival in the square outside my window. I liked to climb into the rafters so I could look out the window. I thought it was so interesting that I tried to learn to do it myself. Thats how I've been spending much free time for years now. I think I've gotten pretty okay at it. I can walk on my hands and do flips and stuff," she finished with a smile.
::Indeed. I am here with your father, mother and Vai's shell. Kemme is here also. Tamrin may want me to rez her, will that cause problems with the rift again?::::it will start growing again. I..need to find a way to close it from this side, but I don't know how. I can't even get close to it since there's a danger of my getting sucked through.::::Shall I advise we wait till this is over, and the other Vai destroyed?::
::Please be careful, Ephebe.::
::I don't know how long that will take. It's not exactly fair to Vai to make her wait that long. I just...need to find out how to close the rift. It will be tough on me until it's closed.::
He does as he's told, glad Mel has learned that he doesn't like the buzzy thing.
"Sorry, no wings. Not my type."
He pokes his tongue out at Arthur.
"Thanks. I don't think I need to worry about kids right this moment. And if I keep on messing stuff up, I might not ever."
He sighs.
When Mel apologizes, he stops her short.
"Hey now, it's alright. We got to help Vai. I'll take a little while being sick if it helps someone else be well. I'm glad you let me help you help her."
He smiles at her, reassuringly.
Mel instinctively rubs her hands together keeping herself warm, but as she centers her attention more on Tyb's well being she seems to completely adapt to the room temperature.
taking a seat on the bed. Listen you didn't mess anything up. and I really am glad you helped. I wanted to to realize that no matter what you are important. and to top it off... she pauses and leans closer to whisper (Arthur can hear this as well) ... I got Ace to shut up and do as he was told.
Mel give a little laugh at the thought of her control over Ace, as minimal as it was.
besides You can see now that you can do great things when you put aside petty differences and work together.
Ezillranitrix stretched luxuriously. "I have no objection to them, but they are usually unreliable. Not perhaps the best choice to hang all our hopes on, but better than working blind. You think this demon can actually accomplish real destabilization among the other champions?" She stalked over to a wall mounted intercom and demanded that food be brought for them before curling up again to continue the much needed scale massage.
"I think it's likely she already has. From what I've seen of her - she calls herself Kara - she is a Demon Lord of no small power. I agree we ought to be cautious in our dealings with her, but if our goals align for a time, we can use her as she uses us." The older dragon almost purrs in return as the slaves have found the perfect spot, just above her wing joints.
"Besides, I have other agents in place already, though I'd prefer not to draw attention to them as of yet."
::I don't know how long that will take. It's not exactly fair to Vai to make her wait that long. I just...need to find out how to close the rift. It will be tough on me until it's closed.::
::I can always talk to her and see if she's willing to wait::
Tybalt laughs a bit before he stops abruptly, jaw clenched slightly, but trying not to show that it hurt.
"That takes something right there. And you don't forget that you're the one who got us all together. Wouldn't have been anything without you." He smiles.
Mentioning that it's freezing in here last time made her snap out of it, so I better not. I'll watch and if she starts looking cold I'll say it then...
"So were you guys just here to visit or do you need me for something else?"
He asks, remembering that they probably had a reason for coming.
Ezillranitrix stretched luxuriously. "I have no objection to them, but they are usually unreliable. Not perhaps the best choice to hang all our hopes on, but better than working blind. You think this demon can actually accomplish real destabilization among the other champions?" She stalked over to a wall mounted intercom and demanded that food be brought for them before curling up again to continue the much needed scale massage."I think it's likely she already has. From what I've seen of her - she calls herself Kara - she is a Demon Lord of no small power. I agree we ought to be cautious in our dealings with her, but if our goals align for a time, we can use her as she uses us." The older dragon almost purrs in return as the slaves have found the perfect spot, just above her wing joints.
"Besides, I have other agents in place already, though I'd prefer not to draw attention to them as of yet."
Fei quickly scans the surrounding area, looking for a better vantage point from which to monitor this dialogue between the two dragons. He then waits to time his teleport to the arrival of the food that was ordered.
::I can always talk to her and see if she's willing to wait::
::I don't know how long that will take. It's not exactly fair to Vai to make her wait that long. I just...need to find out how to close the rift. It will be tough on me until it's closed.::
::Well, sure, if you're going to go and be all logical about it...thanks, love. I should have thought of that myself.::
::You have your tricks, and I have mine:: he says with mirth.
::I will suggest this to your father.::
"Tamrin, there are complications with there being two Vais. Instead of just ressurecting Vai, we may want to wait until the other 'her' is destroyed. I can ask her if she is willing to wait, of course."
"Right....different strings," he replies with more than a hint of frustration.
After everyone has landed, Lang saw to it that Ephebe was settled gently.
He releases the air sphere and goes to his teacher.
Master Blackscales, are you alright? we are at the temple now, we have set up a teleport room back to teh school if you need to go. we will be fine here. I'll see to it that Master Hito takes care of everything.
"Right....different strings," he replies with more than a hint of frustration.
"I don't know if you knew this, but Kronos has been extremely hard on Ephebe lately. With the other Vai coming into this time stream, it has caused a hole, or rift. She is compelled to try to close it so it can minimize damage to this time stream. Add on top of that Kronos is trying to force her to help Hope and Light, I think she's bearing enough on her shoulders. If Vai can wait, it'll give Ephebe a minor reprieve to gather her self for a fight with the other champions. If Vai comes back early she maybe a target for retribution for the other Vai or her Patron as well.
My wife is strong, Tamrin, but even she can only take so much..."Everyone in the room can tell he's worried about his wife, speech or no speech.
"That having been said, if you feel it's the better course to bring her back now, I will. Either way I will speak with her and ask her if she is willing to wait."
Tybalt laughs a bit before he stops abruptly, jaw clenched slightly, but trying not to show that it hurt.
"That takes something right there. And you don't forget that you're the one who got us all together. Wouldn't have been anything without you." He smiles.
Mentioning that it's freezing in here last time made her snap out of it, so I better not. I'll watch and if she starts looking cold I'll say it then...
"So were you guys just here to visit or do you need me for something else?"
He asks, remembering that they probably had a reason for coming.
Mel goes to a mediacal supply cabinet as she is talking pulling out various bottles and vials. she is reading athe lables and starts making some sort of concoctioon.
Well Tybs, I just was getting bored being confined to bed rest, so I though I would explore and say hi to some friends along the way, and Arthur there is my chaperone, making sure I stay out of trouble. she glances toward Arthur with a sly grin.
after a bit Mel looks like she is holding a syringe checking the dose.
she turns with a hand behind her back. and starts to walk toward tybs. Now, what kind of game do you wanna play tybs?
Tybalt's eyes get a little bigger and his mouth draws up some.
"The kind that doesn't involve a needle..."
He says, watching her warily.