Loa Blood

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Monolith

Bay City, Freedom Park

It has been over five months since the two Titans fought and destroyed a city. One was banished to Hell, the other trapped within the tomb of his own body. Over those months scientist from around the region had performed test, measuring everything from body temperature to the strange energy waves that the crystalline structures produced. Nothing was found that could wake the sleeping giant. There was no magic cure, no maidens kiss that would break the spell he slumbered under. The city rose and fell around his tomb, but still he slumbered on, unaware of the activity around him.
Alec Garyson was a young scientist. Intern actually, and grateful to be in on the project monitoring Monolith. He had started in the days following The Battle. Dr. Connors had brought him along with the rest of his team when CODA had asked them to monitor the big guy as he healed. That had been months ago, and the team had gotten many strange readings in the time that Monolith healed. Strange energies and lights that bathed over the still giant, until last month when the energy dropped down to a barely detectable level and hung there. Same boring routine. Check the monitors, check the leads and cables, stay awake until dawn. Well, the night started that way.

About 0130 the crystals started to glow, growing gradually brighter until the tomb was lit with green and blue lights, colors flashing off the walls and ceiling. Instruments started beeping, then screaming as power levels rose and set off the alarms. Alec woke from a light sleep to the scream of a radiant energy alarm, and the sight of blue and green lightning playing over and through Monolith. Suddenly, cracking sounds exploded around him. He barely had time to hit the ground when the crystal spires exploded, showering the tomb with shards. Alec stayed down until the dust settled, then rose. Before him sat Monolith, sitting up and looking down at him.
How long have I been out? And, where is the Beast??

Alec fainted.

 

[SwampThing]

Elsewhere

OOC: This dialogue replaces the beginning of Morgoth's last post.

IC: "Who are you?" Dan Williams demanded, his eyes blazing, his body tensed.

"I have no name, for I am beyond identity. I am she who was, and is, and must be drowned." Dan Williams doesn't hear the words, they come unbidden into his mind like steady, insistent waves.

"What do you want?" he continued.

"I am beyond desire, as I am beyond causality. I do what I must do, as certain as the movements of stars or atoms, or the refrain of an old familiar song.

"I am not here to judge you, Dan Williams, though you have comitted slaughter, destruction, and rape. Justice and morality are as nothing to me. I have brought you here to show you your future. One of many possible worlds. The world where you, Dan Williams, gained complete control of the Crusher's mind, body, and power, and realized your dream. The Blood covered the Earth, and every living thing was changed."

"It's for their own good. They may not want it, but I am ensuring humanity's eternal prosperity", he interjected. The Drowned Woman continued as if she had not heard him.

"Few survived those first seconds. Fewer still survived the years that followed. Now, only monsters remain. Monsters whose madness and power dwarfs the Dracon Island of your time. And yes, the crusher still lives in this wasteland, though you would noot recognize him. This is your legacy. You have ensured humanity an eternity of Ash."

As suddenly as she had come, she was gone.

OOC: The rest of Morgoth's post, the fight with the 3-headed monster, and the stone giant, are unchanged.

 

[cats]

From OOC

OOC: if this isn't needed let me know and I'll delete them.

Else Where

The Crusher, huge, terrible, rage and power personified, bursts forth from formless darkness into cool water thick with dead flowers, and then into open air and sunlight on high, snow-capped mountains.

The Drowned Woman floats in her wall of water, which floats in crisp, bright air 20 ft from the lonely mountaintop. The range of jagged mountains stretches for miles in all directions.

"Great Beast, I have brought you to the end of your days. You have laid waste to a dozen nations. You have murdered billions, and destroyed vast armies and mighty heroes. The last dregs of humanity have exhausted their nuclear arsenals to slay you, only to poison the earth and sky with radiation. They hide in their deep and secret places and wait for you to die. And still you live, until today."

Miles away, on a distant mountaintop, the Crusher sees faint movement. A black, winged beast. It is himself, the Crusher of this doomed future, wandering these empty mountains, a perfect killer with nothing left to kill. He is moving towards them, towards the Drowned Woman, and the Crusher from the past.

Bay City

Guards and scientists struggle to their feet around Monolith, their delicate equipment shredded by the flying crystal shards. Dr. Connor approaches the giant man cautiously.

"The Crusher is contained, Monolith, thanks to you. You beat it unconscious long enough for GAIA to seal it, and all of Dracon Island, under a force-field bubble. That was five months ago. The city is being rebuilt, but it is a slow process. Most of the surviving citizens have relocated to Bridges."

 

[Morgoth]

The black-winged shape reached him, dark and powerful. He is larger, more muscular, and terrible to behold. Hate itself seems to emenate from him, and he stares intently at his past self. After an eternity of the two studying one another, Dan Williams finally summons up the remainder of his will. "Is your sanity gone?" he asked tepidly. The Crusher cocked his head, and lets out a laugh. "Of course not, boy. I still live within this shell. I still think."

"What have you done?" demanded Dan angrily. The response was cold, thought-out, and logical. "I eliminated humanity's imperfections." "It was never meant to be like this. We were to make them perfect and live among them!" "Bah!" dismissed the monster with a wave of its hand. "We found that imperfection can only be eliminated by termination. Therefore, there can only be one perfect being. That being is us. And we have taken it upon ourselves to expunge the flaws of humanity forever. In truth, we have been researching a way to give us the ability to give birth. Once that has been done, our perfection will spread across the world. Think of it as repopulation. We are doing the Loa's work for them, of creating a perfect race. A race of us, each the pinnacle of life. Imagine it!" Dan fell to his knees as his mind was filled with the images of this new world. A world of conformism, but of peace and propsperity. A world that would eventually expand past this globe of dirt. A world of perfection. His eyes grew wide and light sparked in them. "Yes! Yes! Humanity is no longer necessary. Yes! OUR brood will carry on our legacy. The ruins of the world will give us the necessary tools to make us reproduce. Yes!" he whispered, standing. The Crusher laid a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Go now, back to yourself. Realize your dream. And take a gift from me!" it declared, then plunged its hand into Dan's chest. Dan stumbled back, gasping as blood splashed from the hole. Several black tendrils worked their way in and disappeared from sight. Shock blanketed Dan's features as he fell back, into the water. Darkness enclosed him.

In the middle of the living forest, obscured completely by the orange creatures, the Crusher's body shuddered once.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Rising to my feet I looked down at the scientist and technicians gathered around me. Some looked awed, some apprehensive, and a few were grumbling under their breath as they tried to salvage what equipment they could. I turned to the man who had spoken and looked down.
" Thank you for the information. Do you have my headset here, for I believe there is work for me to do. Inadvertently, I helped destroy this city. I am awake now, and I need to show the people of this city and the world that the Gifted can heal as well as hurt."
The man opened a file cabinet and brought out my ear-bug and throat-mic. I placed both on and powered them up.
"Monolith to base, I am active and ready to work. Please advise on the best place to begin helping to rebuild our home."

 

[Mirad182]

Rufus looked puzzle. "Can you control it? Can you change directions?" He wasn't about to fight her for he would surely loose. He couldn't even get close to her without getting turned into goo. He couldn't bring any water to her. If she could follow him he could get her to the ocean. He figured if it didn't help her at leaste she might be able to aide him. "I will help you. Concentrate. Try to control it. Focus. Follow me."
He backed away and looked around. His home was coverred in spiders. He thought for a moment. If she whent straight he could take out the spiders and reclaim his home for him. He found a stone and launched it into the hut, hoping to draw them out. He quickly ran around, jumping and sprinting until he was behind the dansing woman keep going. "Do this for me and then I will help you." He sat on a rock ready for them as they came. He put up his blades and waited for the woman and the spiders to colide. If the same thing happened to the spiders as what happened to the ant men he could be rid of them to. For the time being at leaste.

His heart was racing as more adrenaline mixed with the Loa. He was surprised that he could keep his intilect and emotions at a balance. He waited for them as.... a spider waits for it's prey... How ironic that now the tables were turned as they were. He had to be carefull however. If he got to close to her or if his emotions got the better of him he would be dead....

 

[Morgoth]

He screamed, eyes widening in horror as his powerful arms flexed, sending the orange fungus flying from him, his hands flying to his chest. It took him a moment to realize that there was no gaping hole in his chest, that he was not rapidly dying. he chuckled slowly, unsurely. "Not real... It wasn't... Of cou-" he was cut short when he saw a small black tendril poke through his wrist. Pain like he had never before felt enveloped him, and though he tried to scream, another black tendril came from his mouth, gagging him. The first began to twist around his hand, just as another tore through each of his ankles and through his other wrist, beginning the same process. The one that had emerged from his mouth began wrapping around his head. He quickly noticed, even in te midst of his pain, that each of the tendrils was elongating, slowly moving to join the one on top of his head. His throat no longer filled, he screamed. A scream that had filled the air of this forest too many times, the pain carried in it was unlike anything ever heard here, on this island studded with pain. The tendrils converged at his chest, twisting together and blanketing out all that remained of the creature known as the Crusher.

Dan Williams thought he knew what pain felt like. The pain caused by these tendrils had to be the epitome of that. When he felt the tremors within his body that signified a mutation, he knew he was wrong. As the blood began to leak, the tendrils sent spikes of darkness into his flesh. The sensation's strength was exponential when compared to its original amplitude. Obstructed from oxygen, Dan was no longer able to scream. And the mutations within him, unlike normal ones, weren't stopping. He felt several organs inside burst with their own, distinct "pop", and bones let loose loud cracks as they snapped. When a spike went through his skull, darkness took him.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

antmen

In the poorer district of Bay City,sewer covers along a number of streets were pushed up and off silently,the night quiet,no one outside for fear of the recent surge of gangs,due to the loss of order after the Crushers attack.chitin rustled silently as the Soldiers deftly pulled themselves out,combining in groups of ten on each of the three streets that ended in a combined cul-de-sac. Eight more split into twos and covered the four entrances into the tiny streets,capturing any gangers or those foolish or strong enough to wander freely at night.within moments groups of two split off and quietly stole their way into every house,biting or killing everyone they found wihtout any sign of remorse.women,children,the elderly,the sick,all were bitten and changed,escorted down into the sewers as dazed,new workers already starting to change.eventually the soldiers ran out of their venom,and simply started to bind and drag the last of them down with them for later,using gags and the like to keep them quiet until they could change them.
Queen had one human release before they made there escape,to create rumors and sow dissent,for who would believe that Ant-people suddenly burst form the ground and took 3 streets worth of people with them?They would only believe gangers had taken them for labor,and the young for training.
Queen was intelligent,and She thought it was foolish how humans,trying to warn others of themselves to danger,would broadcast it where anyone could watch with a television.
She was learning so much,especially when she found channels pertaining to the mechanics of weaponry...

 

[SwampThing]

Bay City

"Monolith! This is Paige! I'm so glad you're alive. Did you know the Chairman gave you a medal while you were . . . sleeping? You're a hero, you're famous!

"Coda wants you to be publicly visible as soon as possible, we want everyone to know that Bay City's protector is still with us. The orders waiting for you are to clear rubble and assist with errecting supports for new buildings. But there's something else you might want to check out first.

"Down in the docklands there've been a few strange reports . . . people missing . . . men in some kind of armored suits. The witnesses haven't been very clear, and it's hard to confirm how many people are going missing, or if they died in the battle, or just left town. It's probably just the Killer Bees. They've been a lot more active since the police force is so disorganized and overworked now. I'll direct you to where the sightings were reported."

 

[SwampThing]

Dracon Island

"Can you control it?" Rufua asks, "Can you change directions?"

The dancer wails, screaming "Mama!" She falls to her knees, trying to pound the earth with her six fists, but the earth squirms away from her, becoming frogs and flame and spun sugar.

"I don't . . . I can't . . . please, water . . ." the woman babbles, but she follows Rufus towards the ruined base, and the horde of metalic spiders.

The main group of spiders rush the dancer. Smaller groups spilling around her to the sides, some of them menacing Rufus. The dancer waves her six arms in complex rythmic patterns, and the spiders turn to chalk, and steam, and lace. One becomes a man's face, bodiless and bloody on the ground. A few explode, firing shards of burning metal. The shards become black tar, and spatter the dancer's crazed face.

She keeps walking, through the spiders, towards the base. It's metal wall writhes as she approaches, changing to stained glass, then to wood, rust, flesh, fog, cloth, still shifting as she leans against it, exhausted.

A few small spiders scurry towards Rufus. Each is the size of a small cat. Fast, organic metal. When they are nearly upon him, tiny machine-guns unfold from their backs and bellies.

 

[SwampThing]

Elsewhere

The nameless, bodiless entity bursts from darkness into water, from water into light. The Drowned Woman hovers behind it, within her wall of water.

Ahead of it, the nameless one sees the red plains of Svetla extending to jagged mountains on a far distant horizon. Only a few scrub trees break the monotony of the endless red earth.

Seven people sit in a semicircle before the entity. Three adults, three children, one very old woman. All are Svetlanders, red hair, red skin, wearing little for the harsh heat of their homeland. They look up to the nameless one expectantly, but welcoming. Without fear.

The entity has no ears to hear the Drowned Woman speak, but it knows her words.

"Nameless, you wish to be a friend to all. Behold your future, should you gain control of the Crusher's body, mind and power. Your struggle against the monster was legendary. Indeed, it laid waste to millions in it's fury against you. You bested it, yet now wear the body of a murdering beast, a creature known and hated across the globe. Save here.

"Here, deep in the Svetlan outback, you have found acceptance as part of a small and humble tribe. You use the Crusher's power only to help your few friends, and they, in turn, protect you from the outside world. You do not age, and generations of these simple villagers benefit from your wisdom and counsel. You know peace."

 

[SwampThing]

Bridges

Dani and Nia are soon lost in the maze of corridors off the main atrium in Hass' greenhouse.

"How hard can it be to find the way out of here?" Dani grumbles, a little drunkenly. Nia knows security won't let them stay lost for long, and won't be too happy to find them wandering around back here. The walls are warm and wet to the touch, the machinery that keeps the greenhouse alive humming softly.

Then, ahead of them, an exit. And laying across the corridor, blocking their path, a rumpled-looking man sleeping, with a battered plastic top hat pulled down low over his eyes.

"Hey!" Dani whispers louder than she probably intended. "You can't sleep here!"

 

[Morgoth]

Thought flooded its mind.
This is good?
Yes, of course. Here, I have friends.
I want friends in real life.
Of course!
I know what to do!
I'll take the body! I'll kick them out!
It turned, and a small face pressed out against one side, the side facing the Drowned Woman. The mouth opened. No sound came, but the lips moved. She understood. He was saying "Thank You." It floated back, back into the water.

It slammed into the body, jarring it slightly. Pain flooded it, and it tried to scream, but found that it couldn't. It wasn't in control. Someone was already inhabiting the body. It looked through the eyes, and all there was to see was darkness. Darkness and pain. With a whimper, but the hopes of a future lighting its way, it glided to its room.

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Kell

"Mary?"

The tall young man's eyes narrowed, and a chill ran up his spine. The house, that had seemed fine only moments before, seemed all wrong now, as though the universe itself had suddenly become to a stranger. His eyes glinted slightly as he turned, and he felt his aura begin to burn in his gut reflexively as he struggled to keep fear from rising in his throat. His hands clenched, his knuckles whitening, and his muscles tightened -- and he listened carefully.

Kell heard nothing.

He wanted to call out again, but he couldn't force himself to. He couldn't shatter the silence. In that moment, with nothing around him changing, with everything in statis, he felt as though he were not even there, as though he were a simple force of nature, a wisp of the breath of the planet. So he continued to simply listen, hoping beyond all hope that someone would respond.

But -- no, he did not hope. Kell knew he was alone. He knew what it felt like to be alone, and this was that feeling.

For that moment, Kell was a ghost. Silent, he felt as though he would rise up off the earth and through the ceiling. He did not know how long he stood there -- but he felt time had no meaning. Mary was gone. He was alone again. He had no one to protect again.

What do I do?

I have my mission... and Amy is still alone...

...but... what... why...

Without even realizing, his face suddenly twisted into a grimace of self-disgust.

Damn! Now I'm being weak again! I'll find out what happened and move on, that's all! And if I never find out what happened, it won't matter anyway! Huh! Just go, Kell!

He didn't move.

A boy who had lost all hope, and struggled to trust, his heart would not believe that she was truly gone.

He strained to hear with his very soul.

The sound of the knock jarred him.

Kell spun, his eyes narrowing again and flashing with rage and disgust. "Who's there?" he shouted, his deep, youthful voice strangled with outrage. The idea that it was Mary came to him, but he dismissed it immediately. Somehow, he knew that if it was Mary, he'd know. It wasn't. It was someone else.

His hands slowly beginning to flicker with white and black flame, his anima manifesting, he reached for the handle of the door, and slamming the locks away, tore the door open violently...

 

[cats]

Nia

IC: it didn't take Dani long to finish her conversation and join me. With a stagger she took me by the arm and pulled me alogn trying to get out with just as much aparent earnest as she ahd dragged me in to this place.

With a few turns she ahd found the stairs and we were quickly on the bottom floor dispite my fear of her falling down the stairs. I was fairly confident I kenw where the door was, how ever Dani had a difrent idea of where it was and she clearly was leading this trip. I blindly was darged alogn and quickly ended up in a green house.

"Okay Dani, I am fairly certin you are drunk." Well I'm pritty sure I won't make a very good impression on the snake lady if she finds me down here. "We beter go before we get into!..." Dani had taken me by the arm qand was pulling me down deeper into the jungle.

Out of the corner of my eye I spoted the silver pettled flowers of my home land. The kind we had in our own gaurden growing up. I was tempted to look but Dani clearly wasn't in the modd to ideal around in one spot for any reason. "okay dani can we stop now?"

'How hard can it be to find an exit.' yeah how hard can it Dani? When we get home you are so cutting back on licor for my sake if not yours. 'Hey! You aren't supose to be sleeping here.'

I looked ahead a bit suprised at what was going on. tehre was the door, by some act of Valous or the Wheel she had found the way out while drunk. Next to the door on the ground was what looked like a cheap childrens entertainer.

"Um, Dani maybe it's best if I do the talking till we get home." I carefuly aproached the man. Perhaps a bit reckless seeing how he could be armed but still it wasn't like he could hurt me. "Sir, should you be in here this late?"

 

[Floru]

SleepyHead

"Huh, wha?" A yawn emitted from Aijen as he leaned his head back, hat sliding back to reveal his eyes.

Jumping in surprise, Aijen frowned, seeing that he was caught. "Um, ah, I just was looking about and felt so tired that I, um, sat down and just went to sleep." He moved a hand to brush off his sleeves as if he had been dirty.

"I thank you for waking me up." He yawned after, feeling ever so tired. "Who are you may I ask?" No fear came from Aijen. He was confident that nothing worse could happen to him today from his ill luck from the rest of his day.

 

[Mirad182]

Rufus Quickly jumps behind the group of spiders. He slices his staff at a couple and attempts to plunge the blunt end through the head of another. He never stops moving. The spiders firing and trying to aim but because of his agility and speed have no chance of hitting. He sees a puddle of tar. He quickly leaps behind one and flips it into the tar. The gun facing towards the others. He continues to jump and dodge and slash at the mechanical monsters.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Monolith

"Yea, it was over in the waterfront district. One night the families were there, the next morning*Poof!*, they was gone! These people were here to stay! Slavers I say it was! Enslaving us poor defenseless folks to work in their drug labs!"
I looked down at the wino. He seemed lucid, and this was the fifth version of the same story I had received. Families, homeless persons, gifted, and cursed, all had disappeared in a eight to twelve hour period. Three streets of people just gone. No clues, no bodies. Signs of forced entry were on some doors, but they did not look like pry bars were used. I was no closer today than I was yesterday, and I had been searching for three days to find some clue. I thanked the man and he limped off, as one of his legs was now a tentacle, and did not support his weight well.
"Mr. Monolith, can I speak to you?"
I looked down to see a small silver-haired girl, looking up at me with three golden eyes. She was a cute little thing, dressed in a hand-me-down dress and clutching a old comfort bear.
Yes little one, what do you have to say?

"My Mommy told me not to talk to strangers, but your a hero, so I guess you are OK to talk to. I know what happened to the family in that building." She pointed to the run-down home behind me. " When I touch something, I can see what has happened, and sometimes what will happen. I was playing in there when I touched a piece of wood, and I know what happened. They were taken away by one of The Others. They are gone now, but they will be back, in the night. They need more people to grow stronger, so they can take over this world, like they did Monster Island. Look underground Mr. Monolith, thats where they stay." She started skipping away then stopped. She ran to me and hugged my leg, and when she stepped back her eyes were glowing slightly.
"Mr Monolith, you will be OK. Just follow your heart. And when you see your son, tell him to follow his too."
Then she was off, scampering around a corner and gone while I stood dumbfounded, for I have no children, nor could I in this form.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Antmen
In the other part of the slums that night,another 4 streets were completely vacated,as more and More soldiers were made more and More people could be taken at once.The sewers Had become only as exits,the entrances to the currently unfinished hive indistinguishable from the rest of the wall,even having the same thickness and type of stone,mortar,and metal.
He watched impassively as the last remaining "free" others were turned into workers.He had grown considerably,and now barely fit in some of the medium-sized tunnels.He was now More independent,for He had become Queen's Trusted,Her most loyal servant.His body had grown,monolithic beside his newer brothers(in terms,maybe a dozen ft. or so at full extended height,and Much longer).He was now a Guard-Type.His skin,where it was still human,was ridged underneath with chitin,his body as hard as stone,able to take most blows without even flinching.Queen was no longer in the warehouse.She now resided in the most deepest,secure room that He could fit in.Queen looked over the very modern-looking assembly line,where the new workers labored almost tirelessly,efficiently,like a robot assembly plant.
Queen had them making weapons.
Not just spears and swords,Queen had discovered how to make Firearms.
the new weapons were no where near as effective as a human's,but in under a few days they Had advanced past single-shot muskets,though it was onmly basic hang guns,nothing automatic yet.They could also produce more in less time,since a worker would work around the clock,then be bitten when it eventually ran down,turning into a new soldier to use the ever-burgeoning supply of weaponry.
Queen smiled,and He did too.His chitin rustled as he lowered himself to allow Queen to ride on him,and carried her to the new birthing room.
the room was cavernous,maybe about half as big as a football stadium,the floor covered in exhausted looking Workers.
Queen had progressed in strength,she could make 3 soldiers from each worker,and could bite a dozen or so more Workers at a time.

Queen would soon have her own army,and soon humans would learn that Queen was all,Queen was the beginning.....................



And The End.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Loki

Loki stared...
oh of course at first he gave a yell as a man suddenly ripped the door off its hinges,sending him scrabbling backward and tumbling down the small set of steps leading up to the door.
Without thinking his body curled,dodging an invisible security beam and he scrambled backward on his back,staring up at the fearful figure in pure fright.

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Kell

The flames quickly faded as virtue took control over passion.

Surprise filled his eyes as Kell stared down at the terrified person sprawled before him, and the young dark-haired man slowly lowered his hands, clearly feeling a bit ashamed of himself.

"S-Sorry," he managed, reaching back to scratch the back of his head tiredly. His eyes were soft, but dark.

What am I doing? Where's Mary? Where's Mary? Where's Mary!?

Kell, if you don't do something, someone's gonna die, you're gonna lose, you're gonna fail, you better go, go, go...

The youth's expression remained impassive.

"...what do you want?"

 

[cats]

Nia

Ic: I looked down at the poorly dressed person. I guess eh didn't make the acts. Not that this is a child's birthday party or something. The man brushed invisible dust off of himself and talked as if he had no fear of being caught.

With a yawn he thanked me for wakening him up. "Oh don't mention it." I guess. I looked over to Dani who in turn let our a yawn, the booze clearly in her breath. Then I to let out a yawn. It was rather late, or actually rather early. "So may I ask who you are?"

"We are a couple of lost guests from the party." I take a very subtle bow to try and act formal. "I am Nia, and this is..." I looked over to Dani and quickly realized I was going to have to guide us home. "This is my room mate Dani."

 

[SwampThing]

Dracon Island

Rufus is hit a few times in the shoulders and legs, tiny bullets tearing through his dead flesh. But the wounds are minor, and soon all the spiders are either dead, or transformed beyond recognition. Rufus' base is still flickering and changing as the dancer leans against it. The hillside around them is scorched, bloddy, and littered with bodies and debris from the battle. Nearby, the gaping tunnel mouth still leads down into the antmen colony beneath the island. Farther off, the Crusher's trail leads into the forest, towards the towering crystal spire.

 

[SwampThing]

Elsewhere

Darkness. Water. Flowers. Light. The metal form emerges onto an icefield, facing a battalion of heavy tanks, snow-suited soldiers, and hovering GAIA science vessels. Fighter jets circle above, their stark black forms silhoutted against the dancng light of the antarctic sky.

Here and there among the soldiers, the metal being spots Gifted standing, crouching, flying, waiting. Some weild archaic swords, others glow with unnatural energies. The black stone Monolith is among them.

"They wait to stop you. You and your altered army. You sought to change the world without violence or death, but now this final battle awaits you. Many have given themselves to your cause willingly, and your army is great. Now you have brought them to the antarctic ice, to find the bodies of the Loa themselves, and the nations of the world rally behind the flag of GAIA to protect this ultimate power from you."

The soldiers and superbeings before Mel are looking and pointing at something above and behind him. Turning, the metalic creature sees the Crusher flying low over the ice. The great beast has changed, it's metal armour having visibly taken control.

Behind the Crusher, also flying low over the ice, are an army of Gifted. Men and woman with tiger skins, frog heads, bone claws or flaming swords. The army is still a mile away, closing fast, and hundreds of Gifted are visible.

Still no shots are fired, but now the ice shakes and cracks. Behind the rows of GAIA forces comes their secret weapon. The first Gifted, the frost giant, the Revan explorer who discovered the Loa bodies. Thousands of feet high, the man of ice strides over the lines of tanks, and towards the Crusher's advancing forces.

 

[Morgoth]

Mel stares in horror at the sight before him. "No. People will die from this. There will be violence. This is impossible! No! I refuse to allow it to happen. I refuse to kill! To lead to deaths. But wait... Wait... There will always be killing. Unless... Unless, I change the order of this world. If I make humans perfect, there will be no killing. Yes! Some blood for the greater good!" His excitement took control. "Of course! It's all so clear. So clear!" he gasped as the realization struck him, forcing him to stagger under its heavy weight. His eyes wide, he turned to the Drowned Woman. "You have shown me the path! You have shown me what road I must walk! I will embark upon this great walk! I must go!" he exclaimed, then turned and leapt back into the water.


He comes into the body gently. Therefore, he is surprised when the pain hits. A pain so terrible it is unlike anything he's ever felt. He looks around. He's floating in darkness. A darkness that he cannot move in.