Loa Blood

[Jacobo_Curious]

Kell

Kell narrowed his eyes and looked down.

Somehow... I'm not confident enough yet. I could go out on my own, but I don't want to. Here, I have support -- it's the safest place to increase my skills. I don't know my own potential yet. Of all the Gifted I've seen, it seems like I have the greatest variety of powers... how much better will I be in a year, even?

This is the best way. And Hell -- I get paid for it.

"I'd be happy to continue my contract," he said softly, "as long as there are still opportunities for me to, uh, test my skill." Ha! How melodramatic! He grimaced inwardly. "I... want to get that Queen Bee. She got by me, and I'm not happy with that. I--"

That's enough, Kell. No more.

"--yeah. As long as I have your support, I should be here."

Unless Mary or Amy get in trouble. Then I'm gone without a goodbye.

But you don't need to know that...

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Amy

The older man thumbed through the paper, glaring at his breakfast as though it had spited him. "Water women, giant flying red lions. What is this, the tabloids? What is the world coming to?"

"The world's always coming to something," murmured the young girl across from him, as she neatly and methodically cut her toast into little equal pieces.

"What?" asked the man loudly, glancing around his paper as he picked up his cup of coffee.

"Amy, I made you a smoothie!" an older woman called, poking her head through the door with a cheery smile. "And stop bothering her, dear. She spent all night working on college applications."

"I'm going to go with Kell to an art gallery soon," Amy said abruptly, her head still down, looking at her neatly cut toast.

Why do I do this?

"Kell?" her father said, taking a long drink of coffee. "You and that boy get along very well. He should ask you out on a proper date. Didn't he drop out, though?"

"Dad! It's not like that, with either thing!" Amy's face flushed slightly. "We're just friends. I'm... like his sister. He needs friends. And he didn't drop out. Bad stuff happened, and so he's living in a new place. He needs the semester to clear stuff up, at least. I'm sure he'll come back to school at some point."

"He could talk to a counselor," put in Amy's mother, who had stepped in with her own plate of breakfast. "But it's going to be hard in school, isn't it? Being... famous?"

"Hmph. Depends how he takes it," muttered the man. "Maybe he'll eat it up. From what Amy says, he's not like that, but then again, you think he's an angel."

Amy just blushed.

I guess I wouldn't be me if I didn't do these sorts of things.

Why do I want to be me?

Saying nothing, trying to ignore her father's teasing chuckling, she placed one piece of toast in her mouth and chewed small, quiet chews.

Because... Kell likes who I am. Which means I have to like who I am...

...funny... he's usually the one that... that...

He called me Angel once, as a joke... I liked it, but I never told him so... he'd've probably thought I was strange...

Oh, Kell...

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Monolith

I listened to Mr. Thorne as he talked, while muted in the background my TV played news footage of the atrocities committed by The Crusher, and the sacrifices made to help our fellow man by the normal people of Bay City. I was especially impressed with Kell. He had single handedly (no pun intended) saved over a hundred lives and helped many more with his Loa Gift.
"Mr. Thorne, I too will stay with your corporation, but in a probationary condition. I am waiting on some information, and if it surfaces, I will have to take a leave of absence. But I will promise you this, I am not going anywhere until that Beast, which the press named "The Crusher" has been put down for good!" I stood up from where I had been leaning against the wall and looked directly at Thorne.
"You have a security problem on your hands here also. Those sonics that Kell handled would quite possibly have shattered me. I know that the information your scientist just gained since my fight with that thing revealed I'm a silicon-based life form, and not a animated statue like I thought. Somebody has a Little too good information on us, and I, for one, am worried about it."
I crossed my arms and looked down at my employer. Hopefully he had a answer.

 

[SwampThing]

The Argon man looks nervously up at Monolith, stammering "Yes, well, the Killer Bees' advanced technology took everyone by surprise, including the army. But, er, couldn't their use of sonics be a coincidence? We don't know that they were planning specifically for you, after all."

Thorne quickly changes the subject. "I'm very pleased you've both decided to remain with us, and I'm going to reccomend generous raises for both of you. Of course, Monolith, you can still leave at any time. For now, we'd like you to remain close to the building, to provide security here, and to be close to the city center in case of further Draconian monster activity.

"Kell, I'm affraid our next assignment for you is not very glamorous, but neither will it be dangerous. We'd like to try some experiments using your creaton and destruction abilities on various materials and energy types. We feel there may be great industril applications of your talents, and that we can learn much by studying their application. The testing will be done out of the city at our desert research station."

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Kell

The young man blinked, a little worriedly.

"Well, sure, that sounds fine to me. I'm certainly interested, anyway -- I don't know what the range, or even the long-term effects, of my powers are going to be. When am I leaving, though? I made a plan... I mean, I promised..." He flushed a little, embarassed.

This is my job now. Just because I'm a minor doesn't mean they should make any allowances for me. Then again, they probably don't know HOW to treat me...

"...there's just something I need to do," he finished, trying not to sound too ashamed of himself. "Um, so, I won't be leaving immediately, right?"

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Faith

The tech geek, like all tech geeks, went into great detail on how to work the scanning machine she had to view the tape on. It was very hard to retain her cool; but necessary when she was basically using the equipment for personal use.

Hope came on the screen. Older, her hair cut in a short severe style, hands in the pockets of her lab coat the family resemblance between the two women was clear. But it was also clear that Hope lived under a lot of strain.

Hey Tagalong, I hope this finds you ok. Mom and Dad said you called about your new job and everything. That sounds great. I know I sure miss you, and so does the rest of the family. Dad said there was a problem with your account and so I asked some upper level manga's about it, and you'll find they've been un-frozen. Faith saw something that nagged at her, but couldn't put her finger on it.

I know you want to finish your degree, but I really do hope that you'll come home again when you do. I figured sending you a tape would be better than writing a letter. You can see it's really me and all that jazz. You writer's are always looking for plots and sub-plots Hope grinned, and her chipped tooth she'd never gotten fixed flashed at Faith.

I'm working at Arroyo Lab Facility right now, and I live here too, so you can reach me here if you want to write or call back. I'm making great progress in my work. You will just have to trust me on that, though, because of course I can't blab about it. But someday my name will be studied in text books. I know Mom and Dad don't approve of how much I've dedicated to my work: But what can they expect! They raised us all to be obsessive! Hope laughed and smiled again.

Well, there's really no other news. I hope to see you next summer sometime, you'll be done by then, right? Until then, I love you with all my heart. Be well and safe.

Faith kissed her fingertips and pressed them against the image of Hope's face before rewinding the tape and watching it again, sound off.

Something....something....She watched it twice more when she realized that Faith wasn't tucking her hair behind her ear after each major statement. She'd always had that habit. In fact, though she tried to break herself of it she'd be unable to and often came home with a lock of odd colored hair from the chemicals she used in her work.

Faith silently apologized to the tech geek now as she slowed the tape down. What had struck her as odd without knowing what now was apparent that Hope would give these little shrugs, as if she were just about to pull her hand out of her pocket and tuck her hair; but stopped herself.

Zooming in on the forward pocket made the picture grainy, and she slowed it down to watch it during one of the shrugs. What appeared briefly was not her sisters fine boned wrist, but a glimpse of metal and cable. Horrified she panned to the other pocket, but that hand remained firmly in the pocket.

But the shape of both pockets bulges were wrong. Faith felt her gorge rise in her throat when she realized what she was truly seeing. Hope had lost her hands and replaced them with some sort of cyborg components.

She turned the tape back on to normal speed.

I know Mom and Dad don't approve of how much I've dedicated to my work: But what can they expect! They raised us all to be obsessive

 

[SwampThing]

Thorne tells Kell they'll work out a schedule for him. "The research station isn't far, we can helicopter you to and from the city in a matter of hours. Just tell us the dates you need free, and I'm certain we'll be able to accomodate you. If you're available tomorrow, however, the lab boys are very eager to begin working with you."

The Argon man excuses himself, and leaves the two Gifted in Monolith's hangar.

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Mary

While Kell was out Mary went car shopping.

There was the cute and sporty, which was something Kell would love, but probably amass great amounts of speeding tickets in.

There was big and functional, which was something she could haul about large amounts of her work in but would be boring while just tooling about.

There was tucks with camper-top, which could haul stuff and still be somewhat fun but only two people could ride in; and mini-wagons which could haul things or people but seemed "mom"ish.

She finally chose a Orion Liftback. A older 4x4 in which the rear seats could be folded down to make cargo space. And it had a cargo rack on top as well as a bike rack on the back. The former owner had liked to sky, bike, etc but had broken his back white water rafting and needed to sell it off to pay for his medical bills.

Just to be kind she also bought some of his camping gear. The poor fellow in his neck and body brace remained chipper despite his circumstance and she was amused to see fliers for upcoming trips.

It took her a couple of blocks to get used to driving again. She honestly couldn't remember the last time she had. Maybe she should look though her ID's to see if she had a current drivers license. Could Kell get one since he was under age?

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki nodded at Chapel's direction and quickly left to begin packing. She was packed and ready to go shortly. She liked her new mansion. It wasn't overly big which was good otherwise it would be overwhelming for one woman. But it was a nice size and perfectly isolated. She took public transportation wearing a disguise. Any vehicle outside of ordinary would have been stopped immediatly due to the recent Loa robbery. No one thought to look on a local bus. She arrived at the fake drop off point and proceeded to make it seem as though it truly was the drop off point. She had brough a dozen fake cannisters of Loa Blood and now saw within the shade at an oasis in the desert awaiting this man called Ghost.

 

[amon_darknight]

Ghost

He is sitting in a dark ally, he loads his two handguns and puts the big 50 cal. handgun in the holster on his back. After he left the man that he shot in the knee cap, he ran off and searched for the bike, when he found it, he took it and ran and ducked in a dark ally where no one would go into, he searched the bike all over looking for the LOA blood, but it was not there. Ghost cursed to himself under his breath and he pulled out a lighter he stole from one of the thugs underground, he opened the gas tank and he looked around and made sure that no one was around so no one would get hurt, when it was safe he lit the lighter and he dropped it in the tank and he ran off fast and he heard the explosion. He than ducked in a dark ally and he was very tired, but he could not rest now, he had to get to that meeting point. Sweat dripped from his forehead and he saw a Biker stop at the sidewalk where a mailbox was and Ghost moved toward him and drew a gun on him.

“Get off the fucking bike and get on the ground!”

The biker complied and did as Ghost asked.

“Thanks.”

He took the bike and he sped off through the city heading to the drop off point. He got there and waited in the shade by a oasis, he looked to see someone approaching, he kept his hands to his sides and watched this figure close, for if he had to, he would shoot this dealer down and take the LOA for himself. He had the fire power, he looked to where his bike was and knew if he needed it, there was a shotgun loaded and ready for him to take, but Ghost was very tired, but he had to be ready for this, so he focused his mind and was ready for anything. He looked through his sunglasses and waved at the person approaching.

“Hello, are you hear for what I think you are here for? If not hit the road.”

He stood ready to shoot this person if they tried anything.

“Who are you, tell me a name, my people gave me a name. Tell me it or we will end this now.”

He was lying, but he thought maybe it would work, but only time would tell.

 

[Morgoth]

Now that he was no longer exposed to the Loa Blood, Dan Williams's mind was coming back. Slowly, but surely, his intelligence was returning. Though his insanity remained, he now recognized things for what they were. He was more controlled now, and was beginning to gain mastery over the Crusher. But Dan Williams was being subverted. His mind was being poisoned as the Crusher's thoughts filled him and his thoughts were clouded, evn overtaken by death and destruction. He sighed and turned off the small T.V. that he had managed to steal. He flipped to the news. They were talking about him. Calling him a "rampaging monster" and all that. Well, he didn't appreciate that. He wondered when the management here would notice that more and more of their janitors were just disappearing. Oh, well. He would soon need to move. A quick procedure. Dan Williams looked down at the rapidly healing bullet holes. He would need to find some sort of way to prevent something like that from happening again. He took a bite out of the arm and chewed slowly, thinking. He'd finish this one and move. No need to let food waste.

 

[Domhnaill]

Dalriada

Later on, when Monolith was alone, a dark figure covertly slipped into his hangar. Raising his hands in front of him to show his peaceful intentions, he said "We should talk. I have some information that I know you would be interested to hear. Now I will tell you this in good faith, and ask only that you owe me a favour. This information must be acted upon quickly, and it is something that must be done. I know where the beast hides...."
The man stepped back and waited for a reply.

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Kell

Kell had left quickly, not waiting to speak with Monolith, and had returned to the apartment to find Mary gone. He unlocked the door and, kicking it closed behind him, slumped down on the couch.

"...I guess it's break time."

Was she really going to go car shopping? I'm impressed she has that much money stored around. Where does she GET it?

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Monolith

I looked down at the man who had entered my sanctuary. He obviously knew something about security systems, as he had entered the Coda complex and not been detected. He had information I desperately wanted, but I would not sell my soul , even for this.
"I will do nothing that will harm myself or another, and nothing illegal. This creature is a menace to the entire city, and needs to be dealt with. Tell me where it is, and I will consider what request you have. Thats the best deal you will get."
I stood then, towering over the man. My eyes shone golden in the darkness, and he could feel the power running through my body.
"Where is The Crusher?"

 

[SwampThing]

There is a knock at the door. When Kell goes to answer it he sees an attractive Argon woman of about 30. Short hair, and a dark suit in the latest Locrian style.

"Hello. I'm Taela Barnes. I'm here from 'Art in Argo', you know, the magazine? I heard about the show, the ice cavern paintings, and I've been dying to take a look at them. May I come in?"
___________________________________

Detective John Price kicks open the door of the new Special Crimes Unit at Bay City Police Headquarters. He's wearing elbow length armored gloves of a new Coda material, and leading a green, humanoid cactus.

"For Wheel's sake, Jack, no-one deserves a face full of needles like that. You'll be lucky if they can save that guy's eyes. You know you're only making things harder for yourself, for all the refugees, by picking fights in bars."

"Fuckin' cops! I'm bein' repressed!"

"Give him the cell on the end Paul, the one with lots of light. When he's cact-out like this, sunlight sobers him up faster."

Price spends a few minutes at his overflowing desk, moving sheets of paper from one stack to another. Another gang shooting, casualties Aralian and Sejealan. A middle-aged man spontaeneously combusts downtown. Protesters at the state capital building, demanding that the government nuke Dracon Island. He was about ready to call it quits for the night when he found the medical report from the Ministry of Science.

"Ash . . . how long has this been sitting here?"

He read over the test results of the little blonde girl who'd disappeared after the asylum break-out. Not only was she Gifted, but her DNA was a perfect match for the anonymous genes GAIA used when they found the cure for cancer 15 years ago.

Price was still musing over that one as he drove home. The military checkpoints, and constant circling helicopters were becoming routine. So was driving past buildings demolished in some super-battle.

What he couldn't get used to was how clean his place was when he came home now. When Price saw Faith, he knew better than to ask her what was wrong. This was beyond that. He just went to her and held her.

"All day, all I see are people hurting each other. I come home, our home, and you're so full of light, and compassion. It means so much to me Faith."

 

[PoliteSuccubus]

Faith

Faith didn't answer him but instead, stood, and lead him to the bedroom where she proceeded to make furious yet silent love to him and fell asleep, tears of some unknown saddness trickling from between her dark lashes as she slept.

 

[Lady_Siren]

OOC: Didn't I get there before you ghost? oh well this works to

IC: Nikki was now in her full Queen bee uniform. She smiled at the man called ghost ignoring his question. She noted that the gun on the bike was loaded then met his gaze. "Your lying. The killer bee's give no names. Especially to one who is not their own." She braced her hands on her hips regarding him boldly. "As you can tell by my apparel I am not a buyer nor will there be one. You were lead here on purpose to be offered a proposition. You have talent Ghost. The Bee's could use your sort of talent." She shrugged "I realize you want control of the Loa but your petty robbery of one of our men, and your pathetic attempts to find it on your own are pointless. Join us and you will have a handle on where the Loa goes and what it goes for. The Bee's aren't the bad guys we are merely being fair with the world. Loa is the blood of all our ancients and all our races should have a right to study it." She paused "What do you say Ghost? If you choose to decline then I must warn you, we will accept no more interference with our work. If you choose to continue your meddling you will be dealt with. Even with your special talents you are no match for the Bees. I await your answer"

 

[amon_darknight]

Ghost

He looked at her through his sunglasses and he laughed.

“That is funny, you want me to join you and to do your dirty work. That is really funny.”

He laughed semi hard, he never took his sight from you and he never took his hand away from the inside of his jacket.

“Oh sorry, I have not laughed that hard since I was a little girl…”

He than had a serious look on his face and he drew the .50 caliber custom made large handgun on her.

“Don’t be throwing threats in my face woman! I warn you of that now, I am not a patient man, I lost the woman I love and the land I once came from is destroyed and I must find the pillagers, and the woman I lost, I lost that woman to this fucking LOA blood, I care not for its powers or uses, I only want to find her and get her back, but now with you people trying to kill me or get me to join you, that is not helping me. Besides, I don’t even know what the fuck a killer bee is, all I want is Aya back by my side and Marrow island avenged, and you are not helping me do either of those tasks.”

He gave her a stern look and he was ready for anything, a dry wind blew and you saw his jacket open and saw he was heavily armed, you saw two more handguns to his side and you saw a Katana strapped to his belt concealed under his jacket.

“Now, I don’t want to hurt you, if you are not the dealer or the buyer, than who are you? I am looking for this LOA blood stuff because I might find Aya there with it, so you know I was lying, big whoop, tell me where this stuff is, so I can find the woman I love. If your friend led me to a fake point and you now stand before me, tell me where the real drop off point is. On the side of your friends bike, I saw the letters LOA on it, and I want to know where the canister is, I searched everywhere, but it was not there, just what does everyone want with this stuff?”

He truly didn’t know to much about LOA, and he only wanted answers, you knew he was not going to shoot you, but if you made a wrong move, than he would act.

“I think your bees should buzz off, I will not join something I have no idea on what it is I am joining. I am no fool, but I tell you this, do not double cross me, for I have seen death and death will not stop me from finding the killers and my lost love, so now tell me about these honey bees or whatever you call them and than I will decide.”

He still held the gun to her, but he was more ready to listen than to act on you.

 

[Domhnaill]

Dalriada

Dalriada's eyes narrowed as he stepped back and looked up at the towering figure. "Look mate, I'm not a fuckin' charity agency. You help me, and I'll help you. You haven't got much of a choice. You know that without me you won't find that monster until it goes on another rampage and kills more people." He grinned, looking a lot more confident than he felt, trying to blackmail a giant stone man.
You either agree to do me a service - don't worry I'm not gonna ask you to burn down an orphanage for God's sake - or I walk. And smashing me head in isn't exactly gonna get you that info now is it?" Dalriada stared expectantly at Monolith, his eyes hidden by a visor.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Monolith

I looked down at the man, and made my decision.

"There is the door, take it now before I remember your trespassing on a secure facility. I'll sell my soul to no man. Now get out!"
I watched the man. If he made one wrong move, I was going to not be very nice.

 

[Domhnaill]

Dalriada

Dalriada's face twisted in contempt. "Gods, you Coda are all the same. You won't be happy 'til you've got everyone under your boot heel. Well if that's the way you want to play it, I'll seek help against this menace elsewhere."
With that, he turned to leave, raising his right arm as he did so. A blind grenade shot towards Monolith's face and emitted a blinding flash of light as Dalriada ducked out of the door.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Monolith

I was expecting him to pull something, so when he threw the grenade, I slapped it away into a corner of the room, where it exploded, still blinding me a bit, but nowhere near as bad as he planned it. I reached up and activated the comm device i wore.
"Monolith to control. There is a intruder in the facility. He is very clever when it comes to evading security systems, so be careful. consider him armed, but bring him in alive. He has information on the Beast."
I then moved out the door. I may not be subtle, but I had been running down punks for years as a cop, and had not grown any worse at doing it after my change.

 

[SwampThing]

Coda

The outer gates of the Coda facilitiy slammed shut. Security guards in face shields and body armor began spreading out through the grounds. Their guns are drawn, but they're holiding them low, ready for a leg shot if they see any unauthorized personnel.

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Kell

Kell blinked, unconsciously pushing his hair back and straightening it at the sight of a pretty woman. "Ah, yes, of course," he managed, opening the door and holding it open for her, even though the door would hold fine by itself. "Mary -- the artist -- isn't home right now, but I'm sure you can look at them. I'm Kell Claudas, her roommate." He managed to say that rather smoothly, almost without skipping a beat.

I guess it's the best term.

...what's Mary's last name, anyway? I hope she doesn't ask...

Kell led Taela into the room where are the paintings were displayed, and even though it was not the first time Kell had been in there, he could not help but stop, frozen by the paintings. There was something about them...

Her soul is in these.

These are memories as art...

...what? What does THAT mean?

"Beautiful, aren't they?" he finally said.

 

[Morgoth]

The Crusher punched a hole through the floor, stepping back as the debris fell into the sewer. He then snuck to the roof, killing two silently as he went. He needed to move, and he needed to move now. He shot into the air, hoping against hope that none of those blithering idiots below would look up. He landed on another skyscraper as far away as possible from the one he had been in before. Then, he snuck down. He wouldn't be able to kill anyone in this building. No, he would need to go beyond the city for his food now. Oh, well, this was just another stopoff point. He would move soon, but first he needed that steel plant. "Yes, the plant", he grinned maniacly.