Loa Blood

[cats]

Nia

One creature flashes threw my mind after another. Each was terrifying each was deadly, each caused me great pain. I still feared each for what it had done and each for what they still could do. The white grains of sand of dracon island were often red with my blood. The same red as my wounds.

I rolled onto my side and lifted my knees to my chest; I held them there. My violet eyes, that often glistened in the light as if some divine power of my ancestors was held with in, were now open wide and seemed to glisten with horror, the horror I thought I knew only to well. The pure white skin and the scarlet tears of blood contrasted the dull tone of the road.

I kicked the crusher in the face. I hit it in the side wounding it's kidneys. I had mortally wounded it with my spear. In it's dieing moment it had batted me away, and here I lay. "That is what happened..." The damp droll of the crusher glistened in the light, and I smiled. "That is all that had happened." I pulled my knees tighter to my bare chest.

 

[Morgoth]

He lay within the sphere and they swirled through his head. Memories, visions, dreams. He didn't know, he didn't care. Some were terrible, some were awesome. They came at random and left at random. And throughout the dreams, he could see a small group behind him, chasing him from memory to memory. He tried to take shelter in one of his family, but one of the figures blasted it away. He screamed shrilly, eyes wide with terror and ran to another of slaughter. Another figure destroyed it with punch. Another figure caught up with him and stabbed him through the shoulder. Another broke his knees. They began harassing him, killing him slowly. The light shone ahead. He could feel it! It was the light of redemption! It was the light of sanity! Behind him, the dark figures of evil and massacre moved to him. He was running, running to the Light. Then, he tripped. He screamed again, and tried to crawl forward. "I must... I must... I must reach it! I must stop this madness!" A heavy foot crushes down on his wounded shoulder and he screams again. The owner of the foot picks him up with a huge hand and turns him to face it. "Who... Who... are you?" he gasps out. "I am 5 in one. I am Dan Williams as who he has become. I am Mel. I am the Crusher. I am the nameless. And I am you, the last vestige of my old humanity. You've actually got a shape now. Well, rest assured. I'll consume you. Yes. I'll consume the final bits of you. Then, I'll shed my weaknesses and destroy everything! The fires will burn as I pay back those who dared face me! Now then. To kill you and take myself to 4!" With a laugh, he raised his fist and prepared to tear off Dan's head. A bright flash of light and Dan was gone.

did i do that?
He groaned, feeling for the first time the pain that wracked his body. Those others had been fighting him. they had been trying to kill him. He looked around him in amazement. He sat in a small bedroom. Furniture lay haphazardly around the chamber. A window, barely too small see through, was barred and locked with the shades drawn. Behind it, the faint distinctions of an alleyway could be made out. The only useable escape was a heavy metal door opposite the window. Dan went to the door, tepidly opening it. He stepped through the portal, careful to keep it open behind him. He gaped at his surroundings. It was like a massive warehouse. Boxes, some empty, some full sat around with no sense of order. Windows, some opened, some closed, were placed in much the same manner. He looked at his feet. He stood on a glass sheet. Turbulent waters stirred beneath him as sharks swam in rapid circles. In other places, the same glass sheets were present. Each one, however, held a different pitfall.
what is this place? what am i doing here?

A sudden rustle drew his attention. Dan Williams stood on top of a stack of boxes in all his terror. "This is your mind. This is the vast archives of your mind. That room you idiotically left is all that still belongs to you and just how much power you hold. As to why you're here, well that's pretty obvious. It's because you're stupid. Innately stupid. You shouldn't have left the room because when you're in there, i can't get you. Think of it as your only haven. This warehouse is a middleground, where the sentiences within my body fight for dominance. Now, let's get down to business. You already escaped me once. Let's not have a repeat", he answered with a smile, hopping down to the ground. Before Dan could even move, the monstrosity had him by the throat. It punched him, snapping ribs and puncturing a lung. He gasped sharply and another light burst.

Once more, he sat in his room, which was even less orderly now. He breathed shallowly, careful of his lung and ribs.
why arent i dead/\that hit shouldve killed me/\instead all i feel is pain/\and with my lung as it is i should be dead anyway
Dan went to the bed, sinking down slowly. He reached for a cover, found none, and sighed shakily. Then, settling himself uncomfortably, he drifted off.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

yeah yeah im fine"taking a swig from the proferred drink,gulping eagerly."and yes im gifted,though not like these things.He gestures broadly to the two huge creatures.
"well how long do you think it will hold the thing?"he asked the doctor,dropping the now falling apart trenchcoat,deciding it as worhtless now,stuffing the small box into his pocket."well,what the hell do we do now huh?"*he smiled a little crookedly,seemingly alright but he felt tired as hell still and his head spun if he moved to fast.he handed the doctor bakc the flask and watched quietly,leaning against the vehicle,eyes closing for a little rest

 

[SwampThing]

Dugan and Symphony work together to loch the HoverCarrier's electromagnetic clamps onto the grey force bubble. Soon, the strange vessel is in the air again, and moving slowly out into the Bay, towards the open ocean and Dracon Island.

The HoverCarrier heats frozen dinners while Dugan talks.

"I'm really not sure how long this little bubble will hold up, especially if he's awake and fighting against it. See, I only just finished my prototype force field design, and was on my way to join the fleet at Dracon, when the Crusher appeared again in Bay City."

Ahead of them, the skies above Dracon Island are covered in perpetual storm, the lightning flashing blood-red, then neon green, then black as void.

"When the Crusher first appeared, the legendary Drowned Woman showed up. She's not even supposed to be real, but that's not stopping anybody these days. She said the first of the great breasts had escaped his island prison. The first. It's only a matter of time before more creatures like him find a way off the island and past the fleet."

The long, green island grows larger. A ring of ships surrounds it, battlecruisers, destroyers, aircraft carriers, and the smaller GAIA science vessels. Most of Argo's navy, and a large part of the Aralian, Sejealan, and Revan navies, are on constant alert for escaping Drcon creatures. Even now, a few of the ships to the south can be seen firing on something huge and white. The great mutated seagull breathes clouds of black death at the swarming jet fighters, but doesn't fly past the defensive ring of ships.

"Ships and planes won't hold them in forever, we always knew that. The Argon government wants to nuke the whole island. But that won't work either. Most of the things down there would laugh off a nuclear explosion, and a few of them would actually absorb it, becoming even deadlier. Besides, there's still huge reservoirs of Loa Blood down there, and I don't want to know what happens when you irradiate that stuff."

The HoverCarrier stops just inside the ring of ships, floating above a white GAIA medical transport. Dugan keys the electromagnet clamp, and the grey bubble holding the Crusher hurls away from them towards the island.

"They'd try to kill him, Symphony, and that would make us no better than he is. Murdering anything different from us as soon as we have the power to do so. No, humanity has to move beyond that. So we'll contain him, contain them all, and then someday, maybe we'll find a cure."

Beatrice's voice sounds from the console. "All science vessels online and awaiting command, Dr. Dugan."

Dugan nods. "Send them the equations, and activate all generators on my mark." He passes a beer to Symphony, and drains one himself. Symphony has been watching the scientist drink steadily all day, and he never seems to get drunk. "Mark."

The twelve GAIA science vessels project beams of energy at the island. The beams cross, intersect, and merge into a great shimmering grey bubble, covering the whole of Dracon.
___________________________________________

The Crusher's bubble bounces on the surface of the water, once, twice, and then hits land. The field wobbles, fails, and dies, dropping the maimed and unconscious monster on a rocky beach. Nearby, a few seagulls fight over a scuttling green crab. One of the gulls grips the crab in it's tentacles, but the crab teleports away to safety.

The rocky beach rises into rolling green hills, turning into forest towards the center of the island. Deep in the forest, spires of violet crystal rise high above the trees. To the south, the island rises into grey mountains, and then falls away into several smaller, craggy islands, including the small nation of Kith. To the north lie Dracon's large cities, Draco and Tiamat, and most of it's monsters.

The sky above turns grey, the world suddenly cut off by a shimmering force field.
_____________________________________________

Bay City lies in ruins and flame, but slowly the survivors pull themselves from the wreckage. With the help of GAIA and thousands of civilian volunteers, the Emergency Services crews fight back the fires, dig people out of the rubble, and distribute food, water, and medicines. Offers of aid pour in from other countries, who all watched the destruction of the city from satelite photos. GAIA holds a press conference, and Argon spokesman Tyrell Beller explains that Dracon Island, and the crusher, have been sealed away for good.

 

[Morgoth]

The Crusher awakens, staring around him. "No. Not here. Not in my state!" he gasps. Then, he sighs. "I'll make do. But first, I must finish healing", he says, looking at his body in horror. "They dared destroy my perfection. Well, I'll be back for them. Sooner or later. I will track down the stone one and crush him. I will find the healing one and smash her. I will kill all of them", he says to himself, relishing the thoughts, the images. Then, he begins crawling towards the forest, ignoring the pain that flares through his body. He moves slowly, but at last he makes it to the edge of the trees, where he collapses against one and sinks into a feverish multitude of dreams.

 

[IDreamofBunnies]

Jen's eyes wandered to one side, avoiding Dr.Brewster's harsh unblinking stare. She had failed this test, of course, but what was she supposed to do?

"Jen, look at me."

It was difficult to hear him over the constant noise of the helicopter, but the sound of his voice accomplished the same effect, she turned and looked at him. One of the CODA security agents that had accompanied them handed her a headphone set so they could talk. She politely declined and established a network with Dr.Brewster. She chose a quiet, comfortable setting, a den not unlike the one at her parent's house.

"You did the right thing Jen, given those circumstances. That dreadful Gifted might have killed us. Still, I am disappointed with your lack of Fortitude. It is obvious that we shall have to intensify your training. What do you have to say?"

"He did kill us."

She manifested a flat screen plasma television on one wall and displayed the scene. Brewster smirked, finding his own death rather quaint.

Brewster was a leftover from a bygone day and was more than a psychologist. Hiding his thoughts from Jen was child's play. She was some community college educated IT professional. She was bright, true, and had a veritable alphabet soup of certifications that CODA coveted in it's employees but he had been trained to keep a serene manner and hide his thoughts during physical torture. He had applied his training to this...thoughtscape. For all their incredible powers, the Gifted had their limitations.

Jen is doing as well as I thought she might, she responds to all the verbal codes I have been slipping into her training. Now we must see if the other aspect has been going as well.

"Summer day."

Jen blinked and the setting changed from her den to the scene of a brutal massacre...of Brewster's imagining.

"Puppy."

Blink. A firing squad shot down a group of women and children, all in vivid imagination-vision. It was as clear as reality.

"I love to visit the Bay."

The entirety of Bay City was made manifest, devoid of it's people and then flickered out of view. Jen and Brewster were once again sitting in the helicopter, Jen had broken out in a cold sweat.

The strain is too much but she obeyed without even noticing. All is going according to my plan.

"Pardon me doctor, I have a headache." she said rubbing her temples. Dr.Brewster couldn't hear her of course but someone in his field found reading lips a useful skill...

 

[SwampThing]

Dr. Dugan returns Symphony to the overcrowded Bay City GAIA Embassy. "Look, you're free to go, and I thank you for your help. But we could use your help. Would you be interested in working with GAIA?"
__________________________________

Monolith remains in his catatonic state over the next few days. Coda errects heavy cranes to move him from the foot of their demolished building to the remains of his crystal structures in the park. The put up a pre-fab structure around him, and wait and observe while the Earth itself heals him.

The Chairman of Argo comes himself to award Monolith a medal for his services for the nation. The ceremony is televized across the country, with Monolith still unconscious.

GAIA sends out a press release, searching for a girl fitting Nia's description. They ask that she report to the nearest GAIA Embassy as soon as possible.

 

[Mirad182]

Rufus Dimane

Rufus watched as the creature dragged itself into the forrest and slep. He watched and when it awoke it would see him sitting in a tree looking at himself in the blade of a blood coverred knife. Blood streeming down his arm from a cut just below his elbow. His pale chest gleeming in the morning sunlight. The humanoid vampire with his black hair falling about his face.

 

[cats]

Nia

I spent most of my time in my room at the GAIA embassy. They did all they could to make me eat; many suspected I would starve to death. They were wrong, I couldn't starve. Hunger would never hurt me, I was certain of that much.

I was dressed now, and yet I still felt naked. I felt danger, fear had retaken me and it was as if I was in the island again. But now, now I had an idea of the pain they could cause. The pain the caused me the dishonor of being unable to finish my training both pale in comparison to the pain and dishonor I had now. The fear seemed so much stronger this time, so real. My body had healed all wounds I had, and yet the pain seemed only to grow from each day.

For all of my training, I was unable to defend myself. My families honor had never been so shattered. The training they sent me to was a waste, I couldn't finish it. I wasn't human any more my noble blood was tainted by the Loa's. The net result of all this and my time on that hellish island, is I became one of them. I have become a beast, a mate to be had. All I need now is a bastard child and my shame is complete. "Jei, was this how you felt? Was this shame the reason you vanished? Jei did our ancestors desert you too?"

I had been starring at the knife. "Jei, I chose to fallow your example. You were my role model in death." I placed the knife between my breasts and decided to pull it toward me. My weak hands and weak will had failed me and the knife had stopped. "You could not cheat me further foul spirits! I chose this path and reached the end." I had leaned forward to fall upon the knife.

The door swung open, a social worker of the embassy immediately dove and pushed my side turning me enough that the knife had only made a small cut. He had stood up and looked down upon me. 'Your life has meaning so don't throw it away. It's been weeks since that man brought you here and all you have done is dwell in the past. Look to the present or look to the future.'

I had turned my head up. "Why?"

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Symphony

Symphony shrugged."what do you have in mind,i don't want to become a guneai pig or anything like thta you know"Moving easily through the crowded rooms easily,his tall,lean frame slipping easily between people.The room must have been quite loud by the sound of it,though it seemed to be dimmed down almost silent aroudn the two of them.

Loki
his escape from the lab unnoticed had been due to the panic caused by the crusher,and it was still a blur to Loki.He had woken up in his bed,still dressed except for his shoes.What scared him the msot is that he had a nagging feeling of an itch at the abck of his head,and when he relaxed or stopped blocking ti out it started to sound like..like..like a..voice in his head,trying to talk to him,though it sounded wierd,as if whatever it was was trying to translate something into his head.Another thing was that he felt much more energetic,and his extra fat seemed to have dissapeared,and wiht muscles forming in its place.

But the scariest thing was when he looked at his computer he noticed that pieces of it were missing for no reason...

 

[Lady_Siren]

OOC: Hey I know I've been gone awhile but I'd really like to jump back in.

IC: Nikki entered the kiler bee hide out humming softly. Her mind returned to the fear she had put into those so called ninjas. She had left their market in ruins. Her psycic powers were realy growing. Though she still go reoccuring migraines. Especially after alot of mental usage. But it was worth it. The Bees respected her. And then there was Mark. He never talked about himself. She wondered why he joined the Bees. Shrugging she went to the bar and smiled charmingly at the bartender. "So any new news about the gifted lately? I've been out of the loop for a while so I need to catch up?"

 

[cats]

Nia

IC: My honor has further been robbed. I can't even kill myself to save my family's honor. I was now under closer watch. I had become what some called a cutter, some one they know is willing to die. I was looking out the window, I was on the second story and while lesser people would be foolish enough to jump, I knew it wouldn't do more then annoy those around me.

My fear kept growing inside me, those around me worried more and more and frequently did what they could to make me eat, and yet I never did. The doctors were baffled as well my weight had slightly increased in the last week, only five pounds, this didn't bother them in the least until they were told I hadn't been eating. I myself didn't care, fate could steal my good looks for all I cared, then I would be less likely to have further attacks like that one.

'Tell me,' I glanced at a social worker annoying enough to step in. 'Aren't you at least curious about your friends and family' "I can never show myself to my family again." 'I suppose you don't have friends. Tell you what I'll be your friend.' "Your not wanted. Now go." The social worker remained but in silence. I continued to look down out my window, wondering what happened to the stone man, what happened to the doctor, and why I must suffer.

 

[SwampThing]

Dracon Island

The Crusher sleeps at the base of a tree, his damaged arm and wing repairing themselves. On the right side of his body, the metal is no longer merely a coating, his regeneration has merged the metal with his flesh.

Dark orange fungi creep across the forest floor, and begin to plant their spores on the Crusher's metal body. The spores grow quickly, orange puffballs expanding and rooting him to the earth.

The forest itself moves. Rufus sees the trees walking slowly, trailing vines. The great tangle of plants surges southward, towards the mountains. A deer, eyes long dead and fur stained green, steps from the trees and looks at Rufus in the tree. Vines trail from it's spine to the branches above, linking it into the collective organism of the mutated forest.

Farther way, towards the crystals spires, something in the forest crashes and roars.

High above, strange lightning flashes, as the city monsters to the north pit themselves against the force field.

 

[SwampThing]

Killer Bees

Nikki found that Chapel's bar was one of the few buildings still standing in Little Aralia. The neighborhood had been far from the Crusher's route of destruction, but one of the jet figters he'd destroyed had fallen nearby, and the fire had claimed several businesses and apartment blocks. The whole city had been hit hard this time, including it's criminal element.

The bartender slid Nikki's usual drink across the bar.

"Well, GAIA was pretty serious about finding that missing girl, and real hush-hush about it too. I mean , the whole city's in flames, thousands dead, wounded, or missing, and they're looking for this one girl? She's got to be real valuable to someone. Stinks of Loa to me.

"Why don't you take a strike team and go shake down the GAIA Embassy, see what you can find out about her? I'm sure Chapel would appreciate the information, and the cops are spred so thin these days to give you any trouble."

"I've got a better idea," says Mark from the doorway behind Nikki. "Why don't you and I get the ash out of this town? Talk to Chapel about relocating to Bridges or someplace nice like that. Half of our businesses here went up in flames. The air stinks, the roads are for shit, the tunnels are collapsing . . . face it, Bay City is finished. You're the Bees' most valuable secret weapon, I'm sure they'd give you a better post if you asked for it."

 

[SwampThing]

GAIA Embassy

Symphony and Dr. Dugan are sitting in the crowded Embassy cafeteria. The noise of the large, busy room is somehow silenced around them.

"GAIA exists to promote peaceful co-operation between the nations, Symphony. We're trying to imrove life for everyone, all of humanity, the planet itself, all that shit. In the post-Loa world, the stakes are too high, the power being thrown around is too great. Humanity can't be making the same stupid mistakes we've been making for the last few thousand years.

"We believe the Loa Blood belongs to everyone, that your powers belong to you. What is it you want to do with them? I don't even really know what you can do yet, do you? I'd like to help you to better understand your own abilities. Whatever it is you can do, I'm sure there's some application that's beneficial to our cause. GAIA doesn't have a lot of money. I'm sure Coda or the Killer Bees would offer you more. Question is, do you want to help people? Do you want to make the world better?

"This city is in ruins, my man. I don't know where your family is, what your life was like before, what kind of job you had, any of that. But what are you going to do now?"
__________________________________

In Nia's room, Dr. Retalla sits on the bed.

"Look, after the destruction of the city, we sent for you. Not just because you have a Loa Gift, the beach is covered in refugees with Loa Gifts. We wanted you because you tried to stop the Crusher. You risked your own life to try to help others. And with your Gift, you can help others, Nia. Dr. Dugan sees great potential for your abilities, both as a field operative and, if you'll let us, as a medical donor. There are thousands of wounded in the city, Nia. Just think what a transfusion of your blood could do for them.

"You have the chance to help, Nia, isn't that worth living for?"

 

[SwampThing]

Loki

Behind his eyes, Loki sees a grid of light, extending to infinite horizons. Bright geometric shapes fly past, linked by streams of numbers, letters and code. Then the hallucination focuses, and he's seeing the Bay City Museum of Art. Detailed schematics of the building are superimposed over satelite photos of the building's current, ruined state. Finally, the image settles on a poster for an upcoming exhibit, a series of ice cavern paintings by an artist named Mary Monroe.

Loki knows that he's never seen the paintings before, but the ice caverns themselves look eerily familar.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Sympony
"well i guess you guys could use some help,but i want a promise that i wont be used as a freak and a scientific oddity understand?i want the same rights of any other worker here or ill leave"He smiles and snapped his finger,mostly for show as every sound around them besides themselves turned off completly for them.around them,the cafeteria wnet on loudly and noisily.

Loki
shivering a bit,wondering what the hell he was doing he was already dressing and heading out.His car started automatically but he didnt even notice it,his mind feeling fuzzy,blinking constantly.Somehow he managed to drive safely(and avoiding any security),and managed to make it to the museum.
The car ground to a stop and he turned it off,pocketing his keys and gettign out,taking the rubble-strewn steps tow at a time and entering the now open-roofed room holding the posters.

 

[Morgoth]

His eyes open slightly, and immediately zoom to the orange things on his chest. He takes stock of his situation and chooses to ignore them. They don't seem to be damaging him. He looks up, feral and terrifying. He calms when he sees no the stone man he was expecting, but a strange man crouched at a pool, washing a knife. "Who are you?" he demands. "If you're hostile, I'll blast you into oblivion", he says slowly.

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Kell

An orb of light shimmered, beckoning.

Kell.

"Yeah?"

It glimmered, seductive. Enthralling. Gorgeous. Love.

Hold me.

"I can't feel you."

It drew closer.

You're so cold...

"My heart."

In it gleamed his reflection...

Kell...

"What? What do you want!?"

...a hideous, disfigured face.

"Why must you continue to punish me!? You're gone! I failed! I know! I know! I know! I know! So why am I not dead? Why have I survived? Why is this all happening? Tell me!"

Kell! You are needed!

The orb shattered, sending shards of glass splaying towards him in a cacophony of tearing, splitting light...

"NOBODY NEEDS ME!"

You do not need to be redeemed...

"I must atone! I am the betrayer!"

Kell... I can't feel you either...

"No..."

Kell... you're so far away... everything you do... takes you...

"No, no, no..."

I failed you...

"I failed YOU!"

Kell... it's all over...

"Mother..."

Kell...!

<<--->>

"Kell...!"

The young man opened his dark eyes, slowly reaching up with a weak right arm to brush back his rakish hair. The room realigned itself around him. He was lying on a hospital bed. The room was white. He was looking straight into a circular lamp on the ceiling. He half expected it to shatter.

"...where am I?"

A young soldier and two medics were leaning over him.

"Kell, you've been out of commission for a while. That was the highest charge you've ever achieved! We think our power level meter is a success, and you're much stronger than we expected!"

Kell grimaced. "What...? I... don't remember..."

The soldier blinked. "You don't remember? That shockwave? You practically split the training room. The sergeant was taunting you, trying to get you to charge up your energy to see if our power level meter would function, and you unleashed an energy bolt straight into the ground! The scientists think you almost achieved projection! Man, if you could throw lightning bolts and ash, that--"

"How long have I been out? Where are Mary and Amy?"

The soldier looked grim. "Your friends are at your new house. You remember that, right?"

"Uhh... sure. It's coming back."

"You've been out for a couple days. Bay City has been taking some heavy damage in the meantime. Some guy called the Crusher... he's gone now, but the city's busted up pretty bad. We were going to wake you forcibly if it got any worse."

"Ash..."

The soldier raised an eyebrow. "What, ever heard of him?"

"Of course not. This just means I have more work to do."

A shockwave... is he serious? Split the ground?

"Man, we think we might give you a break and try and handle him with what we have. You probably can't take him, and we don't want to lose you. Anyway, Kell, buddy, you've been working yourself to death. I'm no super, but damn, you've been training day and night, not even leaving to see your friends..."

I will punish myself, and I will only get stronger...

"So what are you going to do, brother?"

Kell looked up at the soldier, and his young, handsome face finally cracked a smile.

"I think I'm going to have breakfast."

 

[SwampThing]

Coda's desert research base

Kell walks from the infirmiry down a long, echoing metal corridor. A few scientists stop and say hello, and the pretty receptionist gives im a glowing smile. Through a glass door off the corridor, Kell sees rows of animal cages, holding snakes, fish, dogs, rabbits, and monkeys. He's never been n that wing of the research base before.

The cafeteria isn't serving breakfst anymore, but the old cook grins at Kell at starts fixing the Locrian waffles that have been the young man's favorite since he moved out to the base a month ago.

The TV is showing news footage of the devastation in Bay City. It's worse than Kell imagined. Most of the city is charred rubble, and the staggering numbers of dead, wounded and missing scroll across the bottom of the screen.

" . . . Many of those left alive in Bay City are now homeless or jobless, their places of business dstroyed by the monster. Many are accepting the government's offer of relocation to Bridges, Argopolis, or any of the numerous farming communities north-east of the Bay. Others remain to help with the long process of rebuilding the city . . ."

The scene changes to a distant ariel shot of the countries naval fleet at sea, surrounding a shimmering grey dome of fantastic size. It takes Kell a few moments to realize that Dracon Island is inside this grey bubble.

" . . . GAIA spokesmen say that while the Crusher is still alive, thre is no longer any threat from it or the other Dracon Island monsters. The whole island has been sealed under what GAIA scientists call a 'force-field'. This new technology has never been seen, or tested before, and some military leaders remain unconvinced that the island threat has been neutralized. When asked what other applications this 'force-field' technology may have, . . ."

An elderly Argon woman in a dark suit steps between Kell and the TV. Dr. Lussus has been working with Kell for much of the past month.

"Kell, I'm glad you're awake, and I see you're getting caught up on current events. Monolith has done his part, the Crusher has been beaten. We will see if GAIA is able to hold him as they claim. But now the city needs you, Kell. They need their healer again. I know that you're still recovering from that very impressive power surge, but as soon as you're able to travel, I'd like you to return to Bay City, and help treat the wounded. We may be able to use your power to repair some of the building and infrastructure damage as well, but saving lives is our first priority. And I'm sure you're anxious to make sure you friends are alright."

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Force-field...

Theoretically, if one could isolate energy itself and stabilize it, creating not exactly matter but a solidified form of energy, and control it, one could project a shield of sorts, and thus create a controlled defensive mechanism rather than a natural offensive surge. Of course, one would need an extensive knowledge of the physics involved, and though GAIA apparently knows more than they have let on, it is doubtful that--

There I go again. Thinking about how it applies to me... but if I COULD do something like that, I--

"Kell, I'm glad you're awake."

He snapped out of his reverie and looked up at Dr. Lassus, focusing immediately. "Thank you, Doctor."

He listened intently to her report and nodded after she was finished, still chewing quietly on the last bite of his Locrian waffle.

"I'll do what I can. Any opportunity to practice my skills, I appreciate. And I'd be happy to be of service to Bay City."

It sounds good, doesn't it?

Still, who gets chances like these? Most people, once they commit crimes, never have the chance to redeem themselves. Now... I have all the time in the world...

Time, space, energy, matter, love, me...

Who am I? Who was I?

"Where is Mary? May I see her before I go?"

 

[cats]

Nia

IC: 'You have a chance to help, Nia, isn't that worth living for?' I turn to Dr. Rotella. "I can't be of much help." I glance away. "I didn't have a noble cause in mind when I fought the crusher. I simply thought I could use him to regain my family honor." I turn further away slightly looking out the window once more. "My families honor was only further harmed by my actions. I wish to end this suffering now." My body now turned fully toward the window. I let out a small sigh. "As long as I carry my families name, I take with me our honor. I have done enough harm to it. My life should end."

I took my hand and rubbed it up and down my belly, as if stroking a child still with in my womb. This is where I would barry the knife's edge, to end my life. "Unless I can leave my family honor behind I wish to do nothing but die. Much less be used as a tool." I looked down at the street again. "Besides this town is dead now. Any one who says other wise is a fool."

 

[Mirad182]

OOC: I'm in a tree not by a pool. I have blood streemng down my arm. And I'm looking at myself in the knife, that also has blood on it.

IC: Rufus looks from his knife then to the deer and then to the dark creature his metalic body now crawling with orange spores. "I.... I am Rufus Dimane." He stood and wiped the knife on his pants, and recheathed it. "As far as being hostile I don't think I need to at the moment." He jumped down from the tree about ten yards from the Crusher. "It seems you have been in quite a struggle my metalic friend I was just curious. You were quite a site, and half comatose to top it all off." his voice was sarcastic and calm. This to other, normal people, would seem quite a feat concidering th Crushers emence size. He pulled one pistol from its holster and planted a few bullets in the deer's flank. "I was just curious as to what happend to you, what you are, and how you got here. As if this strange energy that seems to envelope the whole island isn't curious enough."

 

[Morgoth]

OOC: Sorry, must have misread.

IC: "What I am? I am the Crusher, Dan Williams. I am perfection. I have recently come from the mainland. I was in quite a battle. I am currently regenerating. I came to be here because I dragged myself here from the coast. What of you? I ask you the same questions."

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Amy

So many dead. So many wounded. So much dirt. So much decay. So much hatred, permeating everything that seemed safe before...

There was always crime, always illusion, always pain. But never like this.

The sun peeked through the clouds, and she looked up at it, feeling the urge to cry.

Her parents and family were safe. She had nothing to be sad about. Nothing but all the pain she saw, her volunteer work at the hospital now of the utmost importance, as every free hand went to work rebuilding something. Her family would not leave, and she was glad. She would stay, to help rebuild. Suddenly, there were things more important than herself, and she did not feel alone. Yet, everything that had once been so important to her... school, going to university... she would have to reassess her priorities after this.

And Kell...

What will Kell do? Does Kell love this city? Does he love these people? I cannot help but do so. I know of no other way to foster love. But he... he focuses on himself. And I... I focus outside instead... I do work, so I don't have to worry about...

...and he thinks, and hurts himself, so he doesn't have to worry about things like this... unless...

Oh, Kell. I must talk to you. You must return. I have to ask you things...

Adjusting the shoulder strap of her handbag, Amy strode into the hospital. School, of course, was canceled.