I'm not bad. I'm reaally bad!
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Reeaallly? Someone, chop up that man!
In the Genetics lab aboard the scout ship, Nether Jumper, a man in a grey lab coat stands stooped over a console of blinking lights and shifting displays. A tray of uneaten food sits on a side table. No markings indicate what the console is for, it is obviously a self-creation. The man is alone, save for dozens of worker bots flitting about the room, tending to the numerous liquid-filled tubes of various sizes. Each tube is labeled, but the light from the liquids inside make them impossible to read from a distance. A lab bot presses a button on a side console and a small cloud of liquid nitrogen escapes as several small cylinders raise out of the floor. The bot places a test tube into an empty cylinder, and they recede into the floor once more. The man at the main console seems oblivious to the goings and comings of the robotic workforce. As the lab bot returns to its duties the letters G.MAN.E 110017 are legible upon its back. The bot is an older model, but several customizations are noticeable. A bell is heard above the hum of the equipment and a side door slides silently open. A cloud of mist from the doorway parts to reveal another humanoid shape entering the room. A protective suit hides its details. It is simply a biped, taller than a human, and slim but its gait yet glides effortlessly. Even in the cumbersome attire. He approaches the man at the console, who seems oblivious to the intrusion. As the newcomer's stance changes and it looks as if it is about to speak the man pauses in his work and speaks in a surprsingly youthful voice, "Yet another instrusion, Captain Valda? You know my position on the matter." The mercurial being freezes in place and stiffens. "I feel it is necessary, once again, to voice my concerns over the diversity of the creatures we are dealing with, Professor. It is your area of expertise, of course, but can we really trust the..." The captain is cut off mid-sentence with the wave of a wrinkled hand. "I realize that you believe the best course of success lies within your own species, but our travels so far should give you a sense of the Powers that lay outside your domain. Powers we need to harness should we seek to make the G.Man.E project truly successful." The skin on the old man's hands begins to move on its won, taking on an almost fluid texture. "This conversation is done. Wait upon the courier, so we may depart this realm before we are noticed by the others." "But, Professor, this being calling itself Loki, he appears dangerous. My crew..." "Enough! I care not for your fears. All is in control. Loki is not the worst we shall be dealing with. And his childish interference, making the subjects crave sweets is a small matter. And the Time Creature's abilities let us pursue multiple pathways in real time, rather than relying on simulations. Gird yourself, and have your crew do likewise, lest I contact your superiors. Now, leave me." Captain Valda bows stiffly, and his effortless glide out of the lab is absent as he is pupetted from the room.
The demon watches Jiminy's progress. This is the closest it's been in a long time. Or a short time. It has trouble keeping track. It wonders how its other incarnations are faring. A white flare of power from one of the scrying crystals catches its eye. The father is up to something. Something worthwhile. Its attention gathered, the demon decides to investigate. Pushing away the wards, bending time around them, it can't help but get excited when it sees the portal. It is also satisfied that it let the father have the lead. Soon it will be time to reel him in. And in doing so, the others. But, for now, the residue of the portal is what is important. If it could be duplicated...
"Good. It is done. The regression is complete. Things like this can't be rushed. They take time." chuckle YES. YES THEY DO. AND WE HAVE PLENTY OF THAT. "Yes we do. Now we can begin the reprogramming." A section of the lab's wall turns black, and the mishapen body of a dwarf tumbles out and lays upon the floor. The creature barely resembles the dwarf he once was. His lifeless hands still clutch the black blade, the gift from the one that will bring him back to life.
Sherrlyn stirs a little blood into her scrying bowl. 'Ahh, there he is.'
The duo finally take their eyes off of the scrying bowl. Nodding in satisfaction, they turn in their single body to the chamber itself. A command word is spoken and lights reveal the enormity of the lab. Rows of black cylinders go on as far as the eye can see. The demoness/sorceress head down a row, stopping occasionally. Looking into each one, Jiminy, in various conditions and ages, lies in stasis. She finally stops at a large cylinder. Inside is Jiminy as a grown man, draconic wings resting on his back, his face almost angelic. "So close, my love. But you still have traces of 'impurities'. Your new brother has been purged of them. Your sacrifice was not in vain. I love you." Another command word is spoken, and the form within the chamber is disintegrated. The dust swirls into the air as it too is destroyed.
The demon and the sorceress hum as they work. Heading over to the wall of shadow once more their hand traces the lines once more. A tapestry of light shows thru the blackness. Tracing one of the lines with a fingernail, they pluck it as if it were a harp string. They trun to look at the pillar of blackness that contains Jiminy. Tilting their ear as if to listen they release the string. Pulling another, they repeat the process. The smile of success crosses their shared face. Drawing a silver dagger with their free hand they lick the blade. Blood trickles on the blade. With the swiftness of a snake the blade slashes the strand of light, severing it. The free end coils away from the break, shrinking into the dark. A scream echoes from the pillar of dark. Spitting upon the end of the strand she still holds, the sorceress places it against another strand. It melds into the alternate timeline, changing the hue of the strand to a sickly yellow before it regains its usual color. The pair hum as they return to the workbench.
Long hours have passed. The demon finally allowing the mage's body to rest before finshing the work. A gleam in her eyes, the mage pushes another box thru a section of wall, sending it on to its destination.
Just as a heads up, I showed a guy from Barrok's Tower.com the game thread, and he showed an interest in joining. Minions. You can never have enough of them. ;)
Mine are better!We will have to argue on that one. I has been told that mine are magnificant!! :D A wet t-shirt contest then!
Mine are better!
Even in this timeless space, exhaustion takes its toll. The demon sighs thru lips that are not its own. After a moment, it smiles. Closing the lid on the box, it moves over to a section of wall. Touching its hand against it the wall shimmers, dancing to a tune no one can hear. The demon pushes the box thru.
Thrilling as their advances are Sherrlyn hates this place. Here the demon holds sway. Here the demon's power is the greatest. She has lost track of the time she has given up control of her own body. A part of her fears that she has lost it completely. No, she convinces herself, this has happened before. The demon has to return to the real world. Needs to. Living in a trap of its own design is the same as the trap it escaped. She watches her hands as they work, she feels the demon as it touches the knowledge in her mind, and she shares its thirst for 'more'.
Tamrin feels a burning sensation on one of his healed wounds. As he does, some of the wards of Ryo's house activate. Outside of the wards, the ground begins to shake. After a few moments the ground stills and the alarms silence. The coppery tinge of dried blood is tasted on Tam's tongue. It tastes 'old'.
While the areas within the wards are fine, looking out beyond them is an unusual effort. The lands immediately surrounding the house are 'watered'. Looking at them is like looking at the ground at the bottom of a shallow pond. The effect is slowly retreating from the wards. After a few moments it fades. In its wake there are small signs of its effect. Carcasses of small birds lay on the ground, as if they've been there for many years. The grasses have grown high, and young plants have grown to maturity. Others have dies from old age and neglect.
Tamrin feels a burning sensation on one of his healed wounds. As he does, some of the wards of Ryo's house activate. Outside of the wards, the ground begins to shake. After a few moments the ground stills and the alarms silence.
She picks up a clear vial of red liquid. "Your father's blood. Sad, isn't it? So plain.
She picks up a clear vial of red liquid. "Your father's blood. Sad, isn't it? So plain.
Far off, in a chamber without windows, hidden in a world of itself, a child cries. The woman working at the bench ignores him. Her shadow seems much larger than her form should create. It seems to move of its own accord, sometimes pulsing, sometimes changing. As the woman works with an impressive assortment of alchemical tools, her shaow seems to be working with something altogether different. It seems to be manipulating strands of light, forming complex weaves in some and straightening others. Here and there it snips off some strandsa altogether with scissors of shadow. Each time it does so it pauses, perhaps listening to the cries of anguish before they are cut off. Its smile is hidden within its shadow. Without turning to face him, the woman addresses the weeping child. "Now, Jiminy. I told you that they didn't love you. That they wouldn't love you. That they'll never love you. *sigh* But you had to see for yourself, didn't you? I rescued you from them, raised you as my own, shared powers unimaginable with you. By seeking them out you've endangered them, and forced our hands. In all of your years of searching did you ever find anyone that loved you as we? We only punish you now because we love you so. You will be better because of it." She picks up a clear vial of red liquid. "Your father's blood. Sad, isn't it? So plain. It does not contain what we seek. What you need to complete yourself. Still, it has its value. It has allowed us to strip out some of the weaker parts of yourself, though there is much weakness, many impurities, left behind to be purged. When we are done you will be pure, and you will see the depth of our love. All the time, all of the work, all of the energy we have devoted to you. You. You shall be the masterpiece. You shall be a god. And you shall have the power to raise Agartha to the surface world, where we shall hold dominion over the lesser. And we shall be by your side. And all shall love you as we." EDIT: In a dusty corner of the mostly spotless lab a mummified man sits at a small dinner table. His rich robes and the quality of the dinner service indicates a man of great import. He still grabs a golden goblet in his right hand and his eyes seem to be frozen in startled realization of his impending death. He bears silent witness to the activities of the lab's inhabitants, but a small noise betrays his presence. "Now Father, you know how important my work is. Please be silent. If you had been willing to take certain steps you could have shared in our future. Now we just have to rely on your clone. I don't love him they way I loved you. You know that don't you? All of this is for you. Because I love you."
I'm so misunderstood....
In the chamber with no windows, Sherrlyn works with the demon within her. The Shadow has been sealed away, to be dealt with later. At her liesure. But the pets have returned but without the father! In the demon's fury one of the hounds is almost killed. Why?! These beasts would have, should have, died before failing. Jiminy. Jiminy and his tricks. Yes, he has learned well. The beasts cower before her. The pack leader stands beside her, growling menacingly, awaiting the order to kill. She calms herself. The pack leader does not, but he is obedient. Despite the flames she can see blood. Ahh, perhaps the loss of one hound was not in vain. She places a silver bowl, covered in foul runes, in front of the two hounds. At a silent command, one regurgitates into the bowl. She smiles. Taking her wand she stirs the fluid. Blood separates from bile. Tam's blood. Drawing the blood from the bowl, she hangs it in mid-air, examining it. Smiling once again, she directs the floating bubble of the liquid into her alembic and begins her tests. Hours pass. Sherrlyn nods, and directs the fluid onto the circle carved into the stone of the floor. The demon speaks within her and the circle takes on a surreal glow. Jiminy is viewed, talking with his companions, and HER. In his hand he holds the bag of candy she had prepared earlier. She can see the stickiness on his fingers and his lips. Reaching out her hand she calls to him. He resists for a moment, an eternity. She commands. He is pulled to her. She savors his fear as he appears within the circle, weeping and trapped.
The two hounds left behind in the city lift their heads and sniff the air. They cautiously head out of the alleyway, then out of town. The other hounds, having picked up the trail of the hoverbikes, pursue at great speed, almost gliding over the ground.
As Aananda and Tamrin beat a hasty retreat, Tam's non-detection spells fail to cover the dust trail of the bikes. A Beast smiles. Two of the dogs fighting for scraps in an alleyway lift their heads and head off.
Behind the veil of her scring bowl the demoness smiles. Those guards are well known for their memories, and now the hunted have become the prey for more hunters. Their images will be spread far and wide.
Savoring the moment, Sherrlyn shuffles a small deck of cards at her table, drawing one. The Searcher. Hmmm... She draws another. The Hourglass. Well, this should be fun...
Cries of pain and fear can be heard from within the households, where a few souls had dared take a peek at the confrontation. The priestess turns her eyes to the new threat, but is unable to do anything within Tam's sphere. Cries of the mage with the metal hand are riased as people run for cover, trampling their neighbors in their blind panic. A horn sounds nearby, followed by 3 short blasts. The oncoming squad of soldiers split their attention from Tamrin to the newcomer. It is their duty to throw themselves in front of the threat, whilst they pray for the timely arrival of the Mage Guard. Seconds seem like minutes as the guard fight their way thru the panicked mob. Mere seconds later a series of portals begin to form in the area. Quicker response than they should expect. From within their silvery sheen robed mages and priests slowly pour forth. No call for surrender is made, no offer for parley. Tamrin is hidden from their view for now, so they turn to Ryo and the path he takes toward them. Streaks of Lightning shoot forth from one staff racing down the street, causing Kannic to evade and tumble out of the way, Magic Missiles from another, four striking Ryo, and a priest of some warrior diety Dispels the Gate behind Ryo. His eyes strain at the difficulty in doing so. Horns continue to sound, as if the town were under siege. The sound of war drowns out the cries of pain. 4 shadows disappear within the crowd. The demon smiles at the destruction. Time is worked against the heroes.
A bead of fire flies from behind Ryo as he walks thru the Gate, just narrowly missing Kannic's invisible form. It hits the area where there was a large group of people just moments before. The bead expands into a Fireball, blasting the few people still in the area. The cries of fear turn into full panic, as the bodies of those unlucky souls are flung into the air. Storefronts are blasted by the concussion, fires begin to catch, destruction spreads.
The crowd thinned, the patrol finds their way around the obstacle, a few of the townsfolk gather their courage enough to attack the renegade mage The mage watches the dancing before the battle with a bored expression on her face. The only thing of note is the technology. What new world has fallen into Agartha? And is the doorway still open? Where is the mother? That fool of a half-breed? Perhaps I should reset this? No. It's too minor to worry over. The Traveler and the Shadow have revealed themselves, and the Seer has opened a Gate. The Serpent must be on the other side of that Gate. Press her, and the mother will show herself. She would make a fine host, both the mage and her demonic parasite agree at the same time.
Kannic puts down the fresh plate of roast lizard and hurries to the Gate, turning invisible as he does. He steps thru. Seeing thru Kannic's Invisibility, "Ahh, the Shadow. I'm surprised you aren't at my door already. Your masters should have sent you here days ago. What? The Warping. Ah, I see. Your Fate has been turned. My son has touched you, hasn't he? No worry, I shall set it aright soon enough. Where are the others?"
The mage, and the beast sharing her body, looks on, thru her scrying bowl. At first she is pleased. The appearance of the illusionary cat has redirected the crowd away from their anger. It was a good plan. The messengers well worth the cost, but still it looks to be a failure. But...maybe not yet. Perhaps the others will show their faces, and therefore make themselves easier to find later. At least she has one of the bloodline now, and the problematic little cat. Yes, the game of cat and mouse has begun. Sometimes the mouse wins, sometimes the cat, but in time both fail. She traces the cat's aura back to the Gate. A Seer. My son links himself to strong, strange magic. Its taste is intoxicating. Good work, little one. Though you did not know it, your actions shall increase my power beyond the need for this facade. She smiles and watches. |