Loa Blood

[PoliteSuccubus]

Faith

"Ok, Ok." Faith stood very still. "Let me put my camrea in my pocker...Ok? I'll move very slowly. I don't have any weapons...I can't fit them into these pants!" While Faith kept the rest of her body still she slid her camrea in her pocket and hit the record button on her recorder that she had used when interviewing Price.

"I'll do anything you ask." Although she had taken years of training she didn't didn't want to test her skills against a metahuman in conditions like this. The problem with Gifted, from a defence standpoint, was that you couldn't count on the traditional vunuable spots like a regular human.

 

[SwampThing]

Kate hissed in Faith's ear "You tell those freaks not to come any closer."

"Ashes." Price swore, crouching at the mouth of the alley, "She's got Faith." He aimed his gun, but couldn't find a way to shoot without risking Faith.

The ground shook when Monolith, wreathed in flames, landed at the mouth of the alley. Kate had her gun trained on his face. If he survived the Church collapsing, the flare wouldn't hurt him, but it still might blind him, buying her some time.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

"Hey!" Faith yelled loudly. "She doesn't want anyone to come any closer! Just...stay where you are!"

In a quieter voice she asked, "Right...um, I don't know your name?"

 

[SwampThing]

"All of Argo knows my name. I'm Beckett. And I'll burn the Wheel down yet. I'll walk away from this, you just watch. Because I know who the Cuckoo is, and I'll trade what I know to just walk away."

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Monolith

The world was tinged in red. All I saw was my little sister, for thats what Faith was to me, in the hands of a madwoman with a gun. A low growl rumbled from my chest, and I glared down at the woman.
" Drop the gun, or by All that is Holy I WILL make you drop it!
My hands were clenching and unclenching. What was wrong with me? I had never felt a rage like this before.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Faith

"Really?" Faith couldn't keep the excitment from her voice. This could make her career!

Just then Monolith, she reconized him from Price's discription, bellowed his challenge.

"Hold ON!" Faith Bellowed back, holding her hands out to prevent him from taking a step. "I need PRICE! Get me Dectivive PRICE!"

"If you tell me something about Cuckoo then I can tempt the cops into making a deal. I mean, it's not like anyone saw you set a fire or anything...I'm sure we can work an angle to get you out of this for information."

 

[SwampThing]

Kate's grip tightens on Faith as the burning giant steps towards them. She's clearly frightened, but still feels she's in control.

"Try anything and she dies!" she shouts at Monolith.

"Hold it." Price says, stepping out into the alley beside Monolith. He slowly lays his gun on the ground. "You're outnumbered and surrounded, Kate. You're not getting away. Just give it up now before anyone else gets hurt."

Police officers move around the buildings, standing ready at the opposite end of the alley. They don't come any closer, though.

"I know who the Cuckoo is," Kate repeats, "I want to talk to the DA, or someone else with the power to grant me a full pardon."

Price nods "Okay, let the girl go, and we'll take you peacefully." When Kate doesn't move, he slowly reaches for his radio and calls the Chief.

Kate's eyes and gun are still on Monolith.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Monolith

" I'll wait Detective, but if she harms this child, I'll see to it that she never see's fire again."
I remained standing in the entryway of the alley, not moving, just staring at the woman with the gun and hammer.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Faith ponders for a moment, then desides to gamble.

"I don't know if this is a good time to mention this, but, I'm a reporter. If you want your story heard, I'd like to help you tell it."

She keeps her body loose and relaxed, ready to respond to anything Kate does defensively, and her voice is calm. From her converstional tone they could just be two girlfriends chatting over coffee instead of madwoman and hostage in the center of chaos.

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki was headed back to her new haven when she noticed a man speaking to one of the police. He was bald and had an Aralian tattoo on his head. A bounty hunter! She cursed softly and took off at a run. She was sure he hadn't seen her but he wouldn't give up searching for her until she was dead. She reached safety and hurried inside glanceing behind her. She then turned and headed to the back where Chapel sat still. "I'm ready for any help you can give me. There are bounty hunters everywhere. I don't have much time."

 

[SwampThing]

Chapel nodded wearily. "They won't be everywhere yet. The bounty hunters are just sniffing around for you here because it's an Aralian neighborhood. We been drinking all night. I'm tired. You're tired. Mark, he'll take you someplace safe to sleep. Later, we'll talk business.

"We can arrange your passage out of Argo, no charge, real quiet. You want to go to Southern Phrygia? It's nice this time of year. Or maybe Svetla? It's not all desert, you know, there's some pretty nice towns, and a little money goes a long way there.

"But you really want to be safe? Stay here with us. I could really use someone like you in my organization. Shit, you and me, we could run this town. No stinkin' bounty hunter'd dare step foot in it.

"Like I say, you go with Mark, get some sleep. Later, we'll talk."

 

[SpectralDragoon]

Dex looks on from the mouth of the alley, his gloved hand held close to his side, palm up with fingers out stretched. He figures that with all the other coverage here, he won't need to take a shot, so he magnifies his vision to the hostage couple, giving Reva a good view of what's going on, and also taking a few mental stills of the situation.

He looks at the girl and the woman and briefly thinks of Kryna, and how her and her brother made out at the hospital.

 

[SwampThing]

Kate Beckett ignores Faith's revelation, intent on Monolith staring down at her.

Within a few minutes, Price is in contact with the Minister of Justice, whose son disappeared in the first "Cuckoo" incident. Price is conflicted. He hates when politics interfere with the law, but he wants Faith to get out of this safely. Eventually a deal is struck. Kate will be held in a minimum security asylum for observation while her evidence on the Cuckoo is checked out. If her evidence leads to an arrest, or the recovery of the missing kids, she'll be set free. Even if the evidence doesn't pan out, she'll be held for a maximum of three years. Three years, Price thinks grimly, for all the death and destruction she's caused.

Kate agrees. She releases Faith, looking her deep in the eye and saying "We'll talk soon. For now, you just tell them anything that happens to me keeps those kids from getting rescued." A couple of officers cuff her and show her into the back of a squad car. She looks at Monolith with mingled fear and contempt. "You watch, I'll burn them all yet."

Price goes immediately to Faith. "Are you all right? I have to go with her. You'll be okay? Come by the station later." Before he goes he holds her tightly for a moment, and presses his lips to hers.

Then they drive off with Kate. The firetrucks are putting out the still burning debris, and the medics are helping the wounded into ambulances, Kell and Damien among them.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

"Wow." Faith stood there for a moment stunned by the kiss; but her mind was busy putting two and two together before she could properly enjoy it.

Where the Church of the Wheel and Cuckoo related in some way?

Then she saw Monolith practically dancing with indisision, his big hands opening and closeing. She walked over to him and mock-punched him in the arm.

"Hey, thanks for the great back up, big guy! I dont' think she would have caved so quickly if you were standing there glareing at her like that!" She tilted her head and grinned up at him. "Most people would have just said "sorry" when they knocked me down, not taken on armed asslaints."

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Monolith

I watched as Detective Price negotiated with the madwoman, then took her into custody. He looked like he had swallowed a bug, so I was guessing he did not get a deal he liked. Then Faith came over to me & punched me in the arm.

"Hey, thanks for the great back up, big guy! I dont' think she would have caved so quickly if you were standing there glareing at her like that!" She said looking up at me. "Most people would have just said "sorry" when they knocked me down, not taken on armed asslaints."

I looked down into her eyes. " I would not have you hurt little one." I stepped back, giving everyone room to leave the alley. " I must be going, I have a appointment to keep. Goodbye Tagalong."
I then turned & walked off, keeping a brisk pace so nobody could follow me.

 

[SwampThing]

The crowd parts to let the huge man through. The murmers travel almost as fast he does.

"Monolith . . ."

" . . . saved all those people . . ."

" . . . destroyed the Church . . ."

" . . . captured Beckett . . ."

" . . . working with the police? . . ."

And, for the first time,

" . . . superhero . . ."

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Faith

Faith frowned. Thought a moment, putting two and two together, and frowned deeper before breaking out into a run after the big guy.

"Hey," She called out. "Hey, hold on!" But the crowd closed after him like water after an oar had sliced through it.

Catching some of what they were saying she filed her revelation away for the moment and conducted on the spot interviews and snapped more photos while keeping a sharp eye out for other reporters. None yet. No doubt like the firemen they had been at the pior emerency.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Heroes at Large?

Story and Photos by freelance reporter Faith Honai

Early morning mass at the Church of the Wheel on Riverside Drive* is usually attended by older residents and young stay at home wives and their younger children. Today, however, escaped mental patient Kate Beckett made a breif apearence just as she had at several other inconsindental places around town. Her purpose? To set a fire.

This reporter arrived on the scene just as firefighters arrived from the scene of Beckett's earlier foray into arson: Colbus Lumber Yard on Iven Street. This fire spread to the neighboring Quinnick Paint Company warehouse. The Iven Street fire was apparently caused by a crude but effective bomb on a time delay fuse. It's purpose?

It seems to lure the firefighters from Fire Station #11 away from the scene of her next crime: The Church.

Beckett had used common gasoline to begin the Church of the Wheel fire, trapping several innocent church goers inside by padlocking the doors, and attacking passers by with a claw hammer and flare gun. She used this gun again to attack several Gifted who responded along with others to the cries for help inside the church.

One of the heroes was Monolith. Known only by his Gifted name this hulking ten foot tall metahuman is apparently made of black stone with glowing golden eyes. Much like the Golems of old Monolith seems to try to lend a helping hand where he can to humanity. (See Sidebar: Asylum Breakout, how many run free still?)

Monolith responded by breaking open an exit in the side of the church and holding up the roof as long as he could while others, Gifted and human alike, rushed in to save who they could. Many of the Gifted left the scene as quickly as they had responded, and were unable, or unwilling, to give their names to.

When this reporter was held captive by Beckett Monolith demanded my release and I honestly believe that his presence aided ending the conflict between Beckett and the police quickly with her being taken into custody by Dect. Price, head of the Speical Crimes unit.

Beckett bargained with the police by offering Speical knowledge of a investigation they were pursuing and quickly surrendered when Price was able to negotiate a deal for her with the Police Commissioner.

Before I could interview Monolith, however, he disappeared into a crowd of victims and rescue workers who parted for him and where calling him "Hero." Likewise the winged Gifted who rose from the flames left the scene before I could catch even his name.

Mr. Alianas Deev corrects me. "Superhero. See, they anit like us. Not anymore. They anit just heroes that can do that. Firemen, cops, they heroes. Them guys? Them Superheroes." (Cont. Page 3)

(OCC: * Mary could see the fire from her window so assumed it was by Nashai Ave, and Monolith could see it from where he was by the docks, and Faith saw it on her way to the Youth Hostel. Thus: Riverside Drive.)

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki nodded feeling better about her situation. She followed Mark to a modest but nice room. She thanked him and he left her alone with her thoughts. She sighed softly sitting down on the bed. She noticed there was a small bathroom with a shower connected to the room. Good she really needed one. She was covered in soot and burned all over her body. Standing up she entered the bathroom stripping quickly then stepping into a cool shower. She sighed as the cool water soothed her burns. After washing her hair and body she stepped out of the shower feeling much better. She then turned off all the lights and climbed into bed naked enjoying the feel of the sheets against her bare skin. Her mind wandered to Damien. She hoped he was ok. She missed more then she should. He invaded her thoughts constantly. She hadn't known him long but she felt as if he were one of the most important things in her life. She shouldn't feel this way. She would only cause him trouble. She would have to do her best to avoid him. Maybe she would take Chapel up on his offer. Sighing softly she closed her eyes pushing all her troubling thoughts aside and drifted into a restless sleep.

 

[Democable]

Damien layed in the hospital as his wounds healed themselves. His father had been there the whole time. Damien sensed him there.

Damien, why did you come back to Bay City?

Damiem heard Dumar's voice in his head. Damien answered back

I see no reason to tell you my buiness anymore Father.

Dumar smiled at his son and just shock his head

Your lucking for her aren't you?

Damien cringed even thought he was not awake.

Looking for who, father

Dumar placed his hand on Damien's arm.

She's alive and that's all you need to know, don't go looking for her. right now look for what's infront of you.

Damien smiled inside his mind and he knew exactly what his father ment. he felt his father's hand leave his arm and his presents leave the room. he called out to what was in front of him.


Nikki, please find me

OOC: Tag Siren

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki tossed and turned in her bed her dreams filled with Damien. They began with them making love but kept ending with her being the cause of Damien's ruin. "no" she murmured shaking her head in her sleep. Suddenly she sat up right in bed covered in a sheen of sweat her body aching for Damien and her mind scared to death of the depth of feelings she felt. Just then she heard his voice. It was faint but she had heard it Nikki, please find me . She buried her head in her hands. She couldn't, she had to stay away. He didn't realize how bad a person she truly was. She had killed two men and injured many others. She didn't deserve him. Yet she wanted him so badly. "Damien...." she curled into a ball and lay awake her thoughts tortured.

 

[Democable]

Damien heard Nikki's voice in the back of his mind

"Damien...." why couldn't she get him out of her mind. She found herself reaching out to him even as she told herself she had to avoid him. She couldn't help it though. She craved him, not just the sex but all of him. "Damien, I hope you are alright"

Damien smiled Yes dear, I'm fine. just healing myself. he felt her craving for him and something more What is wrong dear?

Nikki frowned angry with her weakness. She had to stop but how could she turn away from someone who seemed to mean the world to her? "Damien I'm afraid. There is much you do not know about me, things that you would surely dislike. I have no wish to cause you trouble or pain...yet I find it so hard to stay away from you"

Damien frowned to himself "Nikki, what makes you think i will not like anything abiut you, there has been some much trouble with my own life that i will not like about you. besides my father has lied to me most of my life."

Nikki shook her head "I'm a bad person Damien. I've hurt people, killed people. I can't control my power well enough to keep people safe. I'm...." she hesitated. She wanted to tell him about her conviction...but what if he turned away from her. "I'm a wanted person Damien" she said throwing caution to the wind. He had a right to know. "I've been convicted for murdering royality. Aralia will not stop until I am dead. I can't have you put in danger because of me. Bounty hunters would not hesitate to kill anyone who stood in their way."

"Nikki, I will help you control your powers as for the Bounties do not worry about them, I will make the nessary actions to protect you. My father belives he can help us, in anyway, I just need your approvel." He spoke in a soft toned voice to her

Nikki bit her lip. It couldn't be that easy, Aralia was a very powerful country. If Damien got involved it could mean trouble between the nations. "Damien, I want to believe you. I just don't know, everything has happened so fast. I don't understand how you got to me so quickly. I was sure I had gaurded my emotions after what happened but you slipped through all my defenses." She sighed softly hugging herself "How can you protect me against an entire nation?"

Damien chuckled to himself "you think my father has no power in Aralia, he does. but it's enough to move a few strings. yes you will still be wanted but the Hunters will be off your back for a while. at least until my father's influnce runs out. hopefully that will be a very long time from now" Now all Damien had to do was ask his father to call in a few favors

Nikki began to feel a sliver of hope but she refused to let it grow. "Even though I killed a prince? Will they really back off of that? I also killed one of their lead scientists." She didn't ad that the scientist had been her father.

Damien thought to himself with out letting Nikki know "Damn a prince, this might be a really big favor" "agian I will try to pull some strings with my father, Nikki. He likes you. that's why he stoped the police from taking you in."

She wished she was with him. She closed her eyes picturing his face in her mind, then something happened. She felt a sense of weightlessness then found herself by Damiens side. Yet it wasn't really her, just her conciousness. She had heard of this, astral projection. Yet she had never thought to experience it. It seemed the Loa Blood has more effect on her then she could ever imagine. Her eyes gazed at Damien she wondered if he could see her "Damien? Can you see me. Something strange just happened. I think I just astral projected myself. That or I'm dreaming"

Damien smiled to himself as he opened his eyes, he saw Nikki floating above him "yes darling i can see you" He reched up and tried to touch the astral projection of Nikki, he felt her whole body.

Nikki felt herself smile despite her earlier turmoil. Damien always had that affect on her. "I'm so glad your ok. When I saw you go down...I was so scared" She sat down beside him surprised she was almost solid in this form

Damien looked over to her and smiled "Darlin you should know by now that it takes alot to take me down, biesides we never finished our little game we started that night." He smiled even bigger

Nikki blushed remember vividly the game he spoke up. "Your such a man" she said but was giggling as she said it. Damien was not just a man, he was different from anyone she had ever met. He could never be described as merely a man. "I believe we may be able to find to finish our game but not before you heal!"

Damien smiled "yes heal first then finish our game. then i will talk to my father." Damien knew his father might not like what he had to say but it had to be done.

NIkki decided to change the subject she shifted to face him more "Damien tell me something about youself. You know my deepest secret. Yet I know nearly nothing about you"

Damien frowned slightly before he told her "My biggest secret dear is one of simplicity. My mother, I have been looking for her ever snice i was old enough to know she left my father shortly after my birth. i only wish he would tell me something about her. anything a name a place hell at least let her know i'm looking for her, if he's still talking to her.

Nikki frowned "My mother died when I was young. My father changed after that. Withdrawing from me and everyone around him." she bent her head. She missed her father, and she was responsible for his death...

Damien nodded slightly to her. "I'm sorry my dear but my body has decided to fall asleep now, so i must cut our conversation short. I shall be healed in a few days for now stay where you are

Nikki nodded "Sleep well" her hand reached out breifly touching his cheek then she was gone once again alone in her room.

Damien was also once agian alone as his body drifted off into a deep slumber..


OOC: JOint post by Soul Siren and Democable

 

[SwampThing]

When Nikki leaves her room late Thursday, she finds guards standing outside, in full Killer Bee body armour and assault rifles. The guards just nod to her as she goes. They seem to have been stationed for her protection, rather than to prevent her from leaving.

Chapel and Mark are sitting at the bar. The place is deserted except for them and a few thugs.

"Well," says Mark, "I found out who that new bounty hunter in town is. My boys are watching him as we speak."

"You see Nikkola," the old man says, "I have the power to protect you here in Bay City. If I help you to escape the country, I cannot help you once you are away. The hunters will be slowed, but sooner or later they would find you. Have you given any thought to my offer of working together? Of being the Queen Bee?"
____________________________________________

When Damien wakes, King Dumar is once again in the hospital room. "Your mother used to sing to you when you were sick. She sang so beautifully. She would have been proud of the way you use your Gifts to help others. Myself, I can only worry that if you continue to endanger yourself like this, I will lose my only son, as I have lost everything else."
_____________________________________________

Kell wakes up in a hospital bed in the burn ward. All around him are beds with badly burned people, Argon and Sejealan.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Mary

Mary paced the long apartment nervously, pauseing to look out the window that faced the fire and chewing on her fingernails; a bad habit she didn't know she had until now. When she fluxed, the nails renewed themselves.

Unable to stand it any longer she grabbed her coat and ran down the four flights of stairs to the street. Fire trucks and police cars sped past her and she followed them, along with a crowd of on lookers.

Out of breath she fought through the crowd, looking for Kell. Fear made her heart beat like trapped beast in her throat. When she finally spotted him he was being loaded on a gurney and then onto an abulance. The press of the mob kept her from running over there, but she caught the name of the hospital on the side of the veichle as it pulled away.

He hadn't been awake, but he had been alive, or they would have covered his face. Wouldn't have they?

 

[SwampThing]

Faith's editor at the Bay City Times is a weasly little man, bald with prominent ears. Orlanth Ingott leans forward and offers her a cigar, shrugging when she crinkles up her nose in refusal.

"This is a first-rate piece, Honai! We're lucky to have you on board. Keep on this Beckett thing, and see if you can't find anything out about the other "superheroes" working with Monolith. The guy with the wings is Prince Damien Dufray of Dracon Island. See if you can get any pictures of him. He's all the rage in the society rags. My neices are crazy for him, and we need that youth demographic."

At the police station, Price is a model of professional concern. But he brings her cofee the way she likes it, and when there's a moment between official statements, he says "I'm glad you're alright, Faith. I'm going to be swamped with paperwork tonight, but can I take you to that concert tomorrow? I know I'll look like a narc, but you should blend right in."

The huge, bearded Chief gruffly shows her to Kate Beckett's temporary cell. "She insists on giving her information to you only. You just make sure you tell us everything."

Two officers stand guard at the end of the hallway. There's a chair set up for Faith in front of a large shatterproof plastic window. Behind the window, Kate Beckett sits in a comfortable looking chair, sipping a plastic cup of tea and looking over the brochure for her plush new minimum security asylum.