Loa Blood

[Lady_Siren]

As soon as the music stopped the trance seemed to end. Her gaze me Mark's and she knew he hadnt seen the man. "Mark something just happened" her eyes moved over the crowd but the man was gone. Thankfully she got the whole thing on Microrecorder. "The dancers were gifted. They entranced the whole audience. Including you.." she said softly smiling as if nothing was wrong in the world. "I was able to stay relatively unaffected due to my gift. I saw a sejealan man steal green stone from Mother Tifah's necklace then he just walked off into the shadows. I'm almost certain he didn't know I saw him. I got it all on microrecorder." the whole time Nikki's body language was completely relaxed and carefree.

 

[SwampThing]

Mark tries to hide his surprise, and guides Nikki to a noisy corner of the room, where hopefully they can speak in private

"Well, if you have it recorded, we should be able to blackmail Hass with the tape. Still, if the Cold Blood want that gem, perhaps we should try to steal it from them. Do you think you could follow the man you saw? It's your call, babe. I don't want you taking too many risks when we're outnumbered on their turf.

"And what about these Gifted performers? We're going to need them out of the way eventually. Perhaps we should try talking to them, see if we can learn anything useful."

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki nodded "they will need to be removed. It seems their power lies in their dancing." Nikki gave Mark a once over with her eyes. He did look very handsome in his disguise. "THey were women right? Well why don't you try to flirt with them? You are after all a very handsome Sejealan" she smiled " as long as you don't arouse their suspicions they shouldn't try to mesmerize you. Block your thoughts though. We don't know how far their powers extend. Meanwhile I'll see what I can do about finding that guy."

 

[SwampThing]

Dracon Island

The amethyst unicorn leads the Crusher back through the collective forest organism. Living vines writhe underfoot, and moss-covered animals watch them from a safe distance, but the forest does not challenge them. The Crusher has seen unicorns on Dracon Island before. Like the antmen and winged dogs, unicorns are one of the more plentiful mutated species on the Island. Most are white, with gold or silver horns, and they tend to travel in lage herds. Whether they were originally horses altered by Loa Blood, or whether they were created by a Gifted human, the Crusher never knew.

The unicorn leading him is completely different. It is not flesh and blood, but cold, hard crystal. As they draw nearer the towering crystal spire, a few amethyst swans circle overhead. Sleek violet cats patrol the base of the tower. At the spot where the Crusher lay, covered in moss and forest fungus for so many months, there is now a life-size statue of the Crusher carved, or grown, from purple gemstone. Arcing translucent wings catch the weak sunlight penetrating Dracon's force-field sky.

The unicorn's "voice" pulses in the Crusher's armour plating.

"The Purple Princess is lady and mistress of this land, and her word is holy law. She is supreme in power, beauty and wisdom. See how even in the minutes since your awakening, she honoured you with this statue at the place where she welcomed you, and sheltered you as you dreamt. Come, enter her tower and be welcomed as a friend."

A colossal archway opens in the siide of the seamless crystal tower. Inside, wide, ornate stairs spiral upward. Knights in heavy plate armour stand at attention along the stairs, crystal visors down, crystal halberds at the ready.

At the edge of the Crusher's senses, the huge weasel-thing slithers through the sky towards the metalic man-monster at hurricane speed. It's personal distortion field throws smaller creatures from the air, and bends back the branches of the forest trees as it rushes at it's target.

 

[SwampThing]

Bridges

"Make the Crusher suffer?" Otto asks Nia, clearly stunned. "The creature that razed Bay City, and is now sealed away behind GAIA's force-field? Nia, you must know that I care deeply for your honor, and am bound by my owwn to fulfil your request, but you place me in a very difficult position.

"For myself, acting as a private individual, there is little I can do in the face of gods or monsters. The considerable resources of Madame Hass, and the Cold Blood organisation, could perhaps breach the force-field and exact your vengeance on the creature. But they are not mine to command. Still, I vow to do whatever I can.

"Though you consider yourself tainted, you clearly have a deep sense of personal honor, which I greatly respect. And to have survived the Crusher's attack, you must be even more capable than I surmised. I wish you would consider joining our organisation as a teacher in our local dojo. It would be an opportunity to prove yourself, and to impart something of value to your students."

 

[SwampThing]

Bridges

Nikki finds the spot where the huge Sejealan had disappeared. Hanging curtains hide a sliding wooden door. The door is locked.

"Block my thoughts?" Mark grumbles to himself, moving through the crowd towards the stage. "How am I supposed to do that?"

Roza is surrounded by admirers and bodyguards. A few film producers have offered her contracts, and a basketball star has asked her to dinner next week. Mark finally works his way to the front of the crowd.

"Hello, I'm Tam Jett. I just had to say that was an incredible performance that was. You're very beautiful. I especially admire your tatoo . . . a crescent moon, why did you choose that design?"
__________________________

Symphony's cell-phone vibrates discreetly. Outside the greenhouse, beyond the limousines, police and ninjas, waits a dark, unmarked sedan with tinted windows. Doctor Bobby Dugan, hair wild and labcoat stained with take-away, opens another beer while he waits for a response from his wrist-mounted micro-computer/telecomunicator. The back seat of the car is littered with beer cans, chip crumbs, loose wire, and pencil stubs. "Hey this is sensitive operation, you sure you can't get us any closer?"

The front seat of the sedan is immaculate. The driver is a Svetlan woman in black leather and utility belts, blood red hair tied tightly back. Black wrapparound sunglasses cover her face and display information on the greenhouse and it's occupants. Black leather gloves grip the steering wheel. "It's because this is a sensitive operation that we can't get any closer . . . Doctor. Honestly, if GAIA hadn't assigned me to this extraction, you'd probably have driven your all-terrain mobile lab right up to Hass' front door."

 

[cats]

Nia:

IC: "Honor is important to us both. I understand that I am placing you into a dilemma, but for me to be with my honor once more, I must take some form of vengeance, if you can find a way to draw him out, or place me in," I really didn't like the idea of going back there, the crusher was tough, but there were things far worse then him in there. I knew that first hand, and returning there meant a lot of risk and a lot of pain. So much in fact that I stilled had an occasional dream of it's horrors. Still the creatures there left my honor intact, and that is why the nightmare of him still continue to haunt me with great frequency.

"In Valin tradition, to be a parent is the honor of teaching ones youth. Something we all hold sacred, is passing on life's lessons. To mistreat ones child or dishonor it is among the greatest disgraces. I gave up my children, because I could not honor them. I was incapable of doing so until my honor is restored."

"What we hold in highest regard, are sages, sensai, and teachers. The impart to all youth the wisdom of there own lives. if I can not teach my own youth, then I can not teach every one else's youth."

I turn away from Otto and face the other direction, to clear my mind. "My conviction is strong, and threw it I may regain my honor. A vow is sacred to you and me. Let me make a vow, if I am capable of restoreing my honor, I will impart the grace I've been given to all those I can."

I turn and step to wards Otto. "Help me restore my honor, and when I have it. Then I may be worthy to accept the honor you offer me."

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki paused at the door studying it. The lock was simple enough. Obviously they hadn't counted on a gifted catching the entire scene. If it wasn't for Nikki's psycic power she to would have been under the spell. Taking a deep breath to center herself Nikki reached out with her mind entering the tiny mechanism that was the lock and very precisely unlocking it. She pulled back a grimace passing breifly over her face. No matter how much she practice she still got a sharp pair right behind her eyes everytime she did something so precise. Luckily it didn't last to long. Opening the door silently she slipped inside her gaze searching out everything. It was a greenhouse surprisingly. Her eyes fell on a multitude of plants filling the room with a pleasing scent but uncomfortable atmosphere. Not to mention it was almost to dark to see. Only a few lanterns spotted the room. She reached out with her mind but had trouble sensing much. Had she been mistaken? She could of sworn he had come this way.

 

[Morgoth]

The gargantuan creature plowed into him, the impact throwing him back, slamming him into the crystal tower, ripping a tortured groan from his lips. As he fell, he saw the beast's tail tearing through the air towards him, and he raised his hands to catch it. Catch it he did, but the force drove him back into the wall. He raised his right arm, forming the liquid metal into a blade, then slicing down, severing the end of the tail.

 

[SwampThing]

The crystal tower remains undamaged by the titanic impacts of the two monsters. The forest around them is not so lucky, trees splintering and fragments flying hundreds of feet. The forest floor writhes in pain, and pulls away from the tower, opening a wide rocky clearing for the giant creatures to fight. The unicorn, and other crystaline creatures also seem undamaged, but they too back away from the battlefield.

The hairy beast screams and pumps blood from the stump of it's tail. A pulse of it's distortion field releases it from the Crusher's grip, and it swoops high in the air preparing for another charge.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Symphony
Symphony,after the performance,walked up to Roza,pushing almost roughly thorugh the crowd of admirers,silencing their arguments easily and changing their thoguhts to pelsant ones wiht soft music,most of them going glassy eyed.He glared at the man who had stepped up to Roza,but this man seemed well trained.the subsonic music wasnt enough to distract him.He spent a moment deciding waht to do,then gently pushed between the two of them,smiling falsely at Mr. jett."ahh hello Sir,please Miss Roza is obviously tired after the performance,i will be sure to contact you at her earliest free moment i assure you Mr. jett,Now come along Miss Roza,lets get you somewhere less crowded."He smiled with false charm and steered Roza away with one arm hurriedly,waving over a shoulder at Mr. Jett.
He stopped as his phone went off,pulling his cell out,flipping it open as he started walking again,a free hand practically dragging Roza along."ahh Doctor ever charming arent we?Of coruse we cannot get you any closer.Any clsoer and you would be charmed by the performance,as ive so thoughtfully done to madam Hass and her minions."He smiled and talked low into the phone,pretending to look happy,as if signing a deal over the phone,casting the illusion of a high-pay agent.He ushered Roza out across a small path from the back,comign up upon the unmarked Sedan,having hopefully lost any hanger-ons,sliding himself and Roza into the back compartment of the sedan with the good Doctor."ahh we meet once again in person Doctor,it is good to see you,though i cant say our surroundings are much improved."he stated dryly,eyes tkaing in the spread of crumbs and cans and whatnot

 

[SwampThing]

Bridges

Nikki wanders through the sprawling greenhouse, mentally probing the darkness around her. The air is steamy, rich with oxygen and heavy with flower scent. She passes from one long, plant-filled room to another, up a flight of ornate wooden stairs to another greenhouse level. Long supple leaves brush at her face and arms.

Nikki senses movement the moment before he strikes her from behind, and reacts just in time that his blow only numbs her left arm instead of knocking her unconscious. Nikki is sent flying through a wall of ferns, glass and gentle UV lamps, with a crash like a storm in the jungle.

The big man in the dark suit walks cautiously towards Nikki in a practised martial arts stance, green eyes steady, hands tensed into killing knives.

 

[SwampThing]

Bay City

The creatures now called antmen had obliterated the elite comando brigade that had been sent in after them. Deep-radar scans of the area showed them moving deeper, beneath the man-made tunnels of Bay City in further catacombs dug by the antmen themselves. They are too deep to effectively bomb out, but the planes remain in a holding pattern above them, ready to nuke the city as a last resort to contain the infestation.

In the ruins above the antmen colony, military police and GAIA engineers attempt to evacuate the remaining civilian squatters, but in the chaotic, sparsely-populated urban wasteland, that is proving to be a nearly impossible task.

At the edge of the ruins, where the new, rebuilt city begins, lies the cluster of low buildings being used as military command center. The commanding High General has spent a frustrating hour on the phone with the Chairman in Argopolis, petitioning for permission to bomb regardless of the civilians in the area. Now he joins the visiting VIP from the Ministry of Science, Abigail Archer in the war room. The operation's top military and science personnel sit in a circle around a hoographic projection of the tunnel system. Dr. Archer shows the High General a row of monitors, each showing a view of one of the upper tunnels.

"These are the robot-drones' cameras, General. The holographic display shows the position of the 20 drones in the tunnels. As you can see, they've been deployed at the surface, in a ring around the colony's known location, and are working their way down. These 20 drones are all 6-wheeled ATV tank types, and should be small enough to penetrate the main tunnels we've scanned on deep radar.

"What kind of armor and weaponry have they got?" scowls the High General, peering at the robots' specs on his personal viewscreen."

"Limited, I'm affraid." Archer admits. "Anti-tank armor and weaponry. We don't expect any of the drones to return. But they should last long enough to deliver their payload. Cobalt gas. It's a neuro-toxin, heavier than air so it will sink into the deepest tunnels, and should be deadly to the antmen based on the tissue samples we've recovered so far."

"But you're not sure." the General scowls again. Abigail Archer doesn't answer. It isn't a question. "That should flush them out, at least. What about Monolith? Mr. Lock?"

All eyes in the room turn to the silent man from Coda Corporation. the only non-government employee in the room. Mr. Lock hesitates before answering, savoring the anticipation, and the power of representing the company that owns the world's first super hero.

 

[cats]

Valous

IC: There must be some way I can communicate with him. I must get away so we can talk with ample time. There is no way those dark skin people will allow him to talk to me as long as I need. They hide the truth from me, they don't tell me what I want to know, they act as if I don't know, as if I can't know I am different. I can't tolerate this forced ignorance and I will find out with out there help. Even if that means I must leave behind those closest to me.

Wait what is this energy I am feeling. It seems to be coming from with in him. A sort of mechanical power. The same kind of power I find with in toys, or the TV mom and dad watch. I wonder if I can talk threw it, people talk threw the TV perhaps I can talk to it. perhaps I can use energy like that, I should be capable of producing small amounts, perhaps that will work.

I began to send my message to the machine with in the person. "Thank you for meeting with me. I must talk to you, for you see we are alike, we both are different from the others and I must know why! I can't bare the silence any longer, I must have a reason, but there are so many question that we can't talk here. My parents wouldn't understand. So please laying in the bed just inside this window is where I am take me in your arms and carry me away, away to any place in which we can talk. Please do me this favor."

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki groaned softly as she cautiously climbed to her feet. Her whole body ached. With a grimace she faced him her gaze taking him in. Not only had she been practicing her mental powers but also the art of hand to hand combat. She wasn't great yet but she could hold her own. Not wanting to give away she was gifted yet she held her mental powers in check storing energy should they be needed. "You really need some manners. Who are you?" she demanded as she prepared to defend herself.

 

[LadyRozes]

Roza felt overwelmed by all the attention she was getting, feeling extremely crowded in by all the people surrounding her. All that she wanted to do was curl up in her large shapeless jaket so she could hide from the crowd surrounding her. She knew that her performances caused simliar reactions before, but never had she been so saught after. Felling as thought she was drowning, Roza looked around, When a man in the midst of the crown spoke to her and she focused her attention on what he was saying...

"Hello, I'm Tam Jett. I just had to say that was an incredible performance that was. You're very beautiful. I especially admire your tatoo . . . a crescent moon, why did you choose that design?"

She large eyes widened.. she hadnt realized that anyone had seen her brithmark but before she could react or even comment about the mark, Symphony grabbed her arm and bodily drug her away. She kept turning back to seeing where the man that had noticed her mark went.

Blindly following Symphony to where ever he was taking her she felt as though she was pummeling into something she couldnt control. Feeling extremely neverous she sought the things which brought her comfort, but realized that it was still in her room, with all her things.

When Roza realized that they were leaving the greenhouse She whispered quietly knowing that Symphony would hear her, "Wait ... wait .. My stuff I .. must get my stuff..."

But before he could answer her question, they had apparently arrived at the destination that Symphony wanted them to be at. In Front of Roza there was an unmarked sedan in which an oddly dressed man sat inside.

When Symphony ushered her into the car her gaze frantically tookin all the wild assortment of items that riddled the back seat of the vehicle.

Feeling like she was being pulled in a direction entirely too fast, and she couldnt seem to keep up with, made her feel extremely vernalable. "W..w-where are w-we go-oing?" She asked.

 

[SwampThing]

Bridges

"Good question, Symphony, where are we going? I've got a hover-carrier waiting at the GAIA embassy, assuming you want to leave town in a hurry."

Shuriken richochet off the car's armoured tires, and three green-masked ninja leap from the trees onto the roof. The ninja dig in with climbing claws and grappling hooks, and draw their long, green metal blades.

The Svetlan driver peels out fast, and sends the unmarked car careeening down a garbage-strewn alley, knocking boxes and trash out of the way. She pulls tight corners, and grazes the walls, trying to shake the ninjas, but they hold on. The car merges with the fast-flowing traffic over one of the city's many long bridges. "A little help shaking these damn guys!" she yells.

"Anyone else want a beer?" asks Dr. Dugan.
________________

Nikki rises in the darkeened grreenhouse, broken glass falling from her dress and hair. The big man stops in a crouch just outside Nikki's reach.

"I am Komodo, and you are trespassing where you are most unwanted. Any who oppose the holy work of the Loa must die."

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nikki rises in the darkeened grreenhouse, broken glass falling from her dress and hair. The big man stops in a crouch just outside Nikki's reach.
"I am Komodo, and you are trespassing where you are most unwanted. Any who oppose the holy work of the Loa must die."
Nikki cocked an eyebrow intrigued by his words. Still cautious she relaxed her stance slightly to show she didn't mean him harm. "Komodo then. What makes you think I oppose this holy work you speak of? How can I oppose something I know nothing of? Maybe I can help you protect this holy work you speak of. I do not wish for us to be enemies." She held out her hands palm up. If she need to escape she could cause a diversion with her powers. But first she wanted to see if she could glean any information out of him.

 

[Morgoth]

The Crusher

He growled, unused to the new sensations flowing through his body, mixed as they were with the pain. His blood began to heat rapidly as he heated the air around him. Waves of heat pulsed off his body, and anything organic burst into flame. Within moments, everything within 30 feet was burning or melted, and the environment within 50 feet was lethal. Dan summoned even more heat to himself, and then waited. He would let the beast make the next move.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Symphony
Symphony patted Roxza's hand consolignly,holding ti gently."dont worry Roza,all your nthings are perfectly fine and currently being moved somewhere safe,We'll bring you to them soon,we first jsut have to get out of here."he murmered softly as he helped her into teh car gently.
"This Roza,is teh good Dr. Dugan,and though his appearance would belie this,he is actually a pleasent person to eb around...if a bit...untidy"gestures to all teh discarded food and cans and such."He sat them both down on the most clean lookign parts of the seats and gave the good Dr a small smile."it is..good to see you again Dr.,though i hoped it would be in a more...clean..surroundings."EH sighed and glanced at the garbage pointedly,murmuring just loud enough for only Roza,the driver and himself to hear."i hoped making you get a new unmarked car to pick us up would have lasted longer before being trashed."he sighed and shrugged,a hand comfortingly on Roza's shoulder."forgive me Roza,but i feared that staying to long would hamper ourescape from Hass,but now don't worry,because shortly we'll be en route to a secure location,isnt that right Doctor?.Yes,I would like to get ourselves away from at least this section fo the city,if you would be so kind"He smiled thinly,then sat up as the shurikens bounced off the car,then bracing himself as the car started driving wildly.He looked up calmly as one of them managed to rip a large chunk out of the roof as a piercing sscreaming noise exploded in hsi ears,making him tumble off."one down.."he said quietly and looked through the roof at another,managing to get another blast against it,making the figure tumble off the top,though teh third kept moving,realzing what that he needed to concentrate on it for a moment.He sat down flly and leaned back."cover your ears...now"he murmered and gave the otehrs only a few moment sto act before clapping his ahdns togethor heavily at the car roof,the air rippling as it fans out,a huge sonic boom exploding from between them as he gasps gnetly,bnarely heard in the resulting boom as the car roof rips back,sending the ninja flying itno a pileof garbage as he drops back itno the seat,rubbing his temples,face grimacing,still exhausted from the performance and the alte nights of the last weeks.

Antmen

The Drones had been following the tunnels,but so far had onyl found closed tunnels and a few solitary worked,who were remaking the traps already found and sprung.Abuot ten of them fell into pits and traps,tilting up and useless,wheels spinning.another five are duped into actually being eld around and around itno sewer systems and dropped into the city's water system,and two more are sealed in tihgt packed close-offs.the otehr three,however,make it to the first antechamber,and for the first time,surviving humans see what the antmen ahve done.The chamber is the hugest yet,and antmen and workers swarm Everywhere,almsot coating every surface as they work,hundred of thousands of tunnels leading off.A few workers are kileld outright form the drones,until a number of sldiers rammed the drones and tipped them,gutting them with sperars and muskets,the gas releasing,killing large number of soldiers and all the workers in the chamber.As the humans cheer at the cideo feed from teh only surviving drone,they notice somethign that chill them.A new type of ant,this one thickly chittened,completly nonhuman,skitters forward,apparantly uneffected by teh gas,its heavy antennae waving,lil sucker mouths inhaling some of the gass before spitting it back out with a gnetle exhale of air.A number of soldiers,backing from teh gass suddenly stop,antennae waving wildly before they grow a bit,skin and chittin thickening as lengths of chitin slip to cover their human mouths and nose in a V.They walk boldly forward into the gas,testing it,then start to go back to work as mroe of teh large ants trot in,feelers flitting through the air,suckignin the gas as their bellies turn blue,then start to pump out fesh air,cleaning the air industriously.The camera on teh surviving drone is removed and the screen goes black...
In the semi-rebuilt city hall,a number of politicians sit debating,ringed by phones and computers,which show improtant persons and military commanders.A rumbling starts to shake the hall as the ground in the middle of the circle erupts,showering dirt,gravel and concrete bits on teh politicians.A few pass out form heart attracks but msot survive,having alreayd lived through the first destruction of tehir city.These living ones witness the soldier ants pouring out,securing teh room,long handled spears and muskets holding off the security at the door as the politicians and picked up and grabebd easily,brought into teh tunnel,ignmoring their pleas as workers seal off the tuneel wiht multiple cave ins,booby traps,and misleading tunnels.The Antmen at the door stay,providing further defence at teh door,not allowing the humans ot get in for a precious few moments before the cave tunnel collapses at its mouth,closing it off.
The video feed comes back on a little bit after the attack,which ahd happened simultaneously during the drone attack.the camera swung a bit,wobbling a bit in hands unsused to holding sucha thing as it pointed at the politicians,who stared around in abject terro,some so scared tehy soil themselves as antmen wander among them on their own agendas,completly oblivious to them.A few large soldier ants keep the politicians at musket and spear point.The camera swings again and shows Queen.She has the voluptious body of a woman jsut coming itno her maturity,with exotic streaks of red covering ehr body in soft swirls.
She displays no true emotion to teh camera.
"Greetings above-dwellers.I am Queen."she says in a seductive yet deadpan voice."See your leaders now,weak and fragile,diconnected from each other,insane,sinful.I have watched what you call television.I am sickened what you humans do to each other.You kill,rape,steal,hurt,injure eachother for no reason,stalling your progress.What is wrong with you?how did you become dominant on this planet?No Matter,this is a demonstration on the fate of greedy,destructive humans."She turned and walked over to the politicians,who stare up at her.She leans down,cupping one's chin,tilting his face up and then side to side,a thumb stroking teh skin softly,then turned back to the camera."Humans,i find it foolish that you display information over what you call a television so readily.It has allowed us to learn where your leaders sat and debated,and of course,where your military headquarters is.We are the new dominant species on this planet,we are superior,We are perfect,We are One."She smield slwoly as He walked over,huge and powerful.Her slim hand came up,stroking his broad back gently."Meet Our military commander,if you would,second only to me."she intoned with a soft smile."i give Him the honor,though like any Soldier he is almsot an extension of myself."she chuckled gently,playing it up before gesturing.The video turned to pan the politicians,Queen,and Him in teh same shot.He took a smooth silver handgun gnetly,curtosy of the commandoes,and calmly and efficiently blew the brains out of one of the politicians,the smoke barely lifting from teh barrel and the first scream from teh politicians began before he shot another.By then the politicians had scrambled to their feet,running wildly towards the closest tunnel.He calmly handed the handgun away and took a modern-looking rifle and aimed carefully,firing in quick succesion.1.2...3..each shot caught a politician in teh abck of the head,killing instantly as the last one tripped,twisting an ankele,screaming and crying as he walked over,followed by teh camera and Queen.He stepped up to the politician and lifted him by his hair,dangling him almsot gently in teh air."Behold what will happen to those who defy us,those who stand in teh way of progress,those who debate and refuse sensible actions."She said gravely,then nodded.He moved in an almost blur,and before the poor politician knew his body was torn in half,falling down in two pieces,crying and bleeding,screaming and wailing for a full minute on teh vidoeo before a shot form a handgun finished him."Humans...i know you can rain attack from teh sky,but you will not reach us,we will burrow deepr and wider deeper and wider,and what will you do when another important building is broken into?how can you face us when we could erupt out fo teh grund Anywhere,Anytime?"She only miled at the camera,then wiped a spalsh of blood slwoly from her cheeck,and slowly licked it off,savoring its mettalic taste."This is your warning HUmans,surrender and die or ce converted,or die adn be converted.You have no true choices,fate is destined for you to lose.I will contact you again Very Soon,i assure you.

 

[SwampThing]

Bridges

Komodo's unblinking green eyes go to the Loa Blood vial at Nikki's throat. Mark and Nikki had known that Hass' organization is made up of Loa-faithful, so their disguises had included the black-market religious pendents.

"I see that you are of the faith." says Komodo, "You must know that Madame Hass represents the Cold Blood, that we are dedicated to furthering the cause of the almighty Loa in this world. They created the dinosaurs, humanity is but an accident. We will abolish government, economy, technology, order, and live as savage reptiles, for power is all.

"Who are you, and how is it you propose to aid our holy work?"
______________

The car carrying Roza, Symphony, Dr. Dugan and the Svetlan driver takes a few more sharp turns, narrow alleys, and criss-crossing bridges to lose any pursuit, and finally comes to a stop in the underground garage of GAIA's Bridges embassy. There are a few other cars, vans, trucks and ambulances in the garage, mechanics crawling over and under them.

"Hot ash, I hate ninjas!" The red-skinned driver steps away from the car, looking at the holes torn in the roof. Nice work, boy. I'm Olu. We're safe here, for now. Come on, I'll show you where you can shower and get some sleep. Hey Doc, you could use a shower yourself!"

"I'm the smartest man in the world, Olu, I don't have time for showers!"

The embassy is several floors of offices and workrooms. Later, Roza and Symphony join Olu and the Doctor in a cramped lounge overlooking the steamy canal city. Far away, across several bridges, they can just see the outline of Hass' greenhouse. Olu offers coffee. Dr. Dugan pours whiskey in his.

"Alright, Symphony, first thing, good job infiltrating one of the biggest mobs in the country. We'll need to completely debrief you on everything you learned about Hass' organization, everyone you met. Trouble is, now you took off, she knows you double crossed her. That means she's going to be looking for you, and someone as famous as you is not going to be hard to find. So it's your call, do you want to stay here in Bridges, where it looks like a gang war is heating up, or do we send you on a different assignment?

"And Roza, well, hi there. Sorry we didn't really have time for introductions. This is one of the many worldwide embassies of GAIA, the Global Administrative Inteligence Authority. We're a humanitarian, peacekeeping agency. Symphony has been helping us out as a sort of undercover operative. We understand that you two make quite a team, and we'd like to offer you the chance to work with us as well."

 

[SwampThing]

Dracon Island

The Crusher is engulfed in an orange fireball as the oxygen around it ignites. The retreating forest-thing is singed black, and the rocky clearing melts and bubbles. The weasel-beast sizzles in the air, hurtling toward the Crusher, screams, and explodes.

When the firestorm ends, the Crusher is standing in a pool of glowing magma. The unicorn, the tower, the Crusher statue, all of the crystaline objects are unharmed by the heat. The tower is not even warm to the touch.

The wide spiral staircase up the tower is lined with guards in crystaline plate-mail, holding their shining gemblades at attention. Finally the staircase widens into a tall room with lavender-tinted windows on all sides overlooking the scorched landscape and charred, writhing forest-thing.

The Purple Princess sits in a tall, ornate throne. She wears a wide violet gown, and a crown of crystal spikes. Her skin and hair are glisteniing, polished gems, like everything else in the tower.

 

[SwampThing]

Jackson

Leos' adopted father carries him in a sack to the train station. Harvy is overweight, but his years spent in Jackson's mine have made him strong. He slings the baby, already as big as a five-year old, over his shoulder like a slab of meat. Leos is sleeping off a hammer blow to the face and a traquilizer, but Harvy still wants the kid to be far away before he wakes up.

The shabby, balding, unemployed miner carries his adopted son around the back of the building. Three figures wait for him there, an Argon man in a green Sejealan suit, a tan Draconian woman in a long coat, and a tall figure in a heavy hooded cloak.

"Let's get this over with," Harvy says nervously, "I just want to get rid of the freak."

The Argon man steps forward and lays a briefcase on the ground in front of Harvy. Harvy hastily drops the kid, and picks up the briefcase, opening it to count the credits inside. The tall man in the cloak picks up the sack with Leos inside.

"Well," asks Harvy, "don't you want to hit him or something, make sure he's really one'a them?"

The cloaked figure pulls back his hood, showing a pale blue face, and a bald head covered in twisted, knobby blue horns. "That won't be necessary. I have a . . . Gift for recognizing . . . freaks."

Harvy takes off at a run with his briefcase, leaving baby Leos with the three strangers.
_______________

Leos wakes up in a moving train car. The three adults look at him expectantly.

"It's all right," says the Draconian woman.

"We won't hurt you," says the Argon man.

"You're among friends now." says the man with asymetrical blue horns.

 

[LadyRozes]

Roza looks around the room they gave her, it didnt look very different from the room Hass gave her. She had no idea what was going on, Everything seemed to be moving entirely too fast for her to catch up.

Shaking her head, to the fellow that showed her the room saying that she didnt need anything else. "Thank you..." she whispered. Looking around she realized she didnt have naything to change into because her stuff hadnt come yet.

She went into the bathroom and undressed took a shower and took the long robe that was hanging there. Obviosouly they were used to having people taller thna her around , so when she put the creme colored robe on, it feel to the floor.

Her long hair wet from her shower, turned into a burst of unruly curls hanging down her back.

She layed down to rest on the bed until, they came back for her and led her to the lounge where the Doctor and Olu were sitting with symphony.

After explaining everything to her, because it seemed like she was the only one that had no idea what was going on. SHe soaked in all the information.

"And Roza, well, hi there. Sorry we didn't really have time for introductions. This is one of the many worldwide embassies of GAIA, the Global Administrative Inteligence Authority. We're a humanitarian, peacekeeping agency. Symphony has been helping us out as a sort of undercover operative. We understand that you two make quite a team, and we'd like to offer you the chance to work with us as well."

She looked up at the person that spoke to her. Her golden brown eyes as large as a doe's caught in a spotlight. She looked everybit afraid, betraying every emotion she was feeling as it ran through her glassy eyes.

She looked away thinking, curling herself into a ball. A few seconds later she spoke in her slight accented voice, " This is a wonderful opportunity that I would love to take, but are you sure you want to hire me.... there are ... people... well... no matter, all I am saying is I could end up being more of a Liability than an asset. I do not think that it is wise for you to hire someone that you cannot garantee you know everything about.. You are an intelligence agency and I myself have no idea what my beckground is I cannot garentee, that I would be a great person to work with"

She looked up at the person expectantly..

 

[SwampThing]

Bay City

The dying robot drone cackles static at the antman Queen. Then it speaks in a woman's voice.

"Please, stop! Queen, this is Dr. Abigail Archer, special director of the Argon Ministry of Science. We have listened to your message and ask that you listen to ours.

"If you hate us for our murderers and rapists then you must value life and freedom. Our species struggles to exist in harmonious balance with other life. We wish your kind no harm. Our two species can work together and both become stronger, or you you can continue to fight us and be destroyed. You've seen our television, our wars, our atomic bombs. We can kill you, wipe you out, no matter how deep you burrow, even if it means laying waste to this entire continent. You have the mutating power of the Loa in you, but we have it too, we have powerful warriors who will rise to our aid. If you insist on war, only the most powerful shall live, and it will not be you. It is not too late for us to be allies."