Tales from th lost city

[Othermoose]

Quinn woke up in a small room with a loud yawn. "How'd I get here?" Quinn wondered getting out of the bed with another yawn and a stretch. "Oh yea, goo monsters and zombies in the sewers. Guess we won." He thought opening a small closet in his room. "Oooooo! New toys!" He exclaimed eagerly digging around the closet. He was happy to find his old clothes folded neatly on a shelf, with all of his treasures placed in a plain blue back. "They even got my color right." Quinn thought happily going through the backpack. After he was sure all his stuff was there he tossed the backpack onto the bed.

After a moment of picking through the clothes, Quinn pulled on a pair of dark blue combat pants and a black t-shirt. He then put on a pair of black combat boots, switching the black laces with blue ones he found in the closet, before finishing the outfit with a blue zip-up hoodie, which Quinn left unzipped as he pulled it on.

"Now for weapons." Quinn said, hoping they'd let him keep the various guns he'd found fighting Templars. He was ecstatic to find not only all of his old weapons, but several new ones. After grabbing his blue butterfly knife, and his father's revolver (which now had a fancy black holster) he started debating on what other weapons to take.

After a long argument with himself on the pros, cons, and coolness factor of each weapon; Quinn grabbed an Uzi and a desert eagle, along with several magazines of ammo for each weapon. He put the Uzi, and his father's revolver in his backpack, while he slipped the butterfly knife into his pocket, and the desert eagle into a holster in his belt. "Now for snacks!" Quinn exclaimed happily, grabbing his backpack and leaving the room.

Quinn sniffed his way to the kitchen and began raiding the cupboards and refrigerators. Quinn walked into the next room carrying: a two-liter bottle of Dr. Pepper, a bag of Cheetos, two plates of spaghetti, a meatball sub, a bowl of soup, and finally six peanut butter sandwiches. Quinn was surprised to see the room filled with his new teammates along with a woman in robes he didn't recognize. Quinn sat down at the bar, spreading his various foods out and began to noisily feast. After a few moments he turned around. "Hey guths. Whoths the chick in the robeths?" Quinn asked, his moth stuffed with half a peanut butter sandwich.

(Hey guys. Who's the chick in the robes)

 

[grdybiwife]

Don caught eyes with Lem at Elaine's description of them all. He'd assumed her and Edward had a thing but the term mated meant something way more than just a fuck. The supernaturals took that sort of thing very seriously but Edward was human and that made him susceptible to very human emotions like jealousy and possessiveness. Emotions that he would have great pleasure in toying with so long as they had to work together. He perked up at mention of magical dissection.

"Fuck that man," he said with a grunt as he backed away from the approaching witch. "I've enough with being used by your types. There's only one here who'd I let in my head," he said with a glance at Lem and she smirked a little, leaned toward Edward.

"I'm not sure what I could find about the bomb in your blood Don Hugh if you haven't seen it...I don't know what she could find either for that matter," she said, the last to Edward with a hand to his arm. She leaned over and kissed him softly on the neck. "If you want him to trust us...you...we have to find another way. He's been jerked around enough. More than the rest of us. Give him a reason to stay other than getting on your nerves," she said, all the while feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

She'd hoped they left him in the sewer, and when she didn't see him, Lem thought she'd gotten her wish. No such luck. She had to grit her teeth to keep from growling when she saw that little twirp come in, his scrawny arms laden with food.

Don followed her gaze and shook his head as he watched the boy talk with his mouth full. Kids today had no manners, but Don had more important things to deal with than a little rat faced boy.

"I ain't sign on to be some homing beacon," he said with a scowl as he made his way around the bar to grab two beers and sat next to only one who seemed to have a problem with what Edward was suggesting. "I don't know what you've got against her bruv but seeing as he's got her to protect him from whatever mojo she kicks up I'd say we need to stick together," he said to Jackie, handing him one of the bottles.

Lem was inclined to agree with the boys, her boys. If she learned nothing else in all her years on earth, Lem knew one thing and one thing alone. Wizards, no matter their affiliation were not to be trusted. Self-important and self-serving, no matter the time or place she met one, they were all the same. And she didn't like them. She tried her best to keep it to herself but she was certain Elaine could smell the distrust wafting off of her being.

"Maybe there's another way," she said to Edward, her eyes locked with his as her hand ran up his arm. There was no glamour in her gaze though, Lem only wanted to ensure that his focus was on her. "If we have an hour to wait for her to work up a spell then that's an hour we have to figure something else out. Something that we're all more comfortable with," she said with a pointed look at Jackie and Don, who looked hard at Edward.

 

[silvertongue217]

“You boys and your silly fears” Elaine said once again glancing at her nails before turning to look at Edward “you have your orders Edward my boy I will go prepare the spell that leaves you about an hour to figure some thing else out or not I really don’t care all that much either way” She said glancing back over at Jackie her features softened as she took him in for a few moments before she turned away.

“I’ll be upstairs preparing” She said waving her hand and watching as a small portal sprang into place “Jackie boy I hope you don’t mind I am using your room” she called before disappearing.

“Son of a” Jackie said shaking his head and looking over at Don “Trust me mate stay as far away from her as possible”

“I heard that”

Jackie growled and sank into the couch crossing his arms “We have a madman with a bomb who could detonate at any moment and we have an hour to figure it out before my new friend here gets magicked by my old mistress so let’s figure this bloody thing out eh?”

“I don’t know” Edward said sighing and running a hand through his hair before turning to the wolf pack “what we need is a hunter can you wolves track him? Figure out where he took this bomb thing? If we can figure it out we wont have to resort to such extreme measures” He said nodding at Don to show hey he was at least trying not to get his head magically opened.

So to speak

 

[grdybiwife]

Lil Ghost-resident seer/tagger extraordinaire

It had been a while but finally she had found a way to feel normal again. Sure it involved an obscene amount of pot, a good amount of petty crimes, and a constant barge of heavy bass music, but Giannick O'Leary had found a bit of balance in her life. Everything had a rhythm, that's what her Papa had always said. A beat to move to and after almost 5 years alone she'd finally found hers. Wake up, smoke a bowl, shower, smoke another bowl, get dressed, eat, smoke another bowl, find some bored housewives to entertain in the park while she told them hard luck stories of a girl abandoned by her parents just before the fog to guilt them into buying her less than inspired spray paint on cardboard, pick their pockets while they gave her hugs and offered well wishes, roll a joint, find Don, and pester him until he chased her home. Granted, he'd gotten a little lax on the chasing the last few months but Nicky could tell he wasn't that interested in hanging out with the newly legal fog orphan. But he was lonely, just like she was and they sort of bonded over that. Sure it helped that she fed him and shared her stash without asking too many questions about who he was before the fog. He'd become the drop in the track that was her life. Always unpredictable but when it came, it made her feel connected to whatever the hell the city had become in the last few years.

More importantly, when she was with him, the voices in her head quieted down enough that she could turn her music off and think a little. Their little meetings in the park had become a regular thing. He'd act like he was annoyed (at first he genuinely was) and give her the "this is no place for a little girl" speech and she'd give her "I'm not a little girl" rebuttal, then he'd remind her of how they first met and she'd remind him that he saved her then so what would stop him from doing it again. He'd brood a little and she'd offer him whatever food she brought along, they'd eat in silence, smoke a little and eventually have a civilized conversation about nothing and everything.

But it'd been two days since Nicky saw him last and she was beginning to worry. None of the guys in the park had seen him either. She knew he wasn't dead, could feel it in her bones. Felt the not so dark cloud that was his life force still floating somewhere in the city, so she took to the streets. Her head phones secure around her neck, Nicky listened to the thrum of the voices in her head trying desperately to focus on his. The chronic helped hone her vision and her body went on autopilot as she maneuvered through the traffic on her long board. She didn't even notice when she made it downtown until she passed Grand Central, but still she kept going on tired legs. It was his favorite place, they'd people watched together every now and again when he forgot that he wasn't supposed to enjoy her company. And he was close, so close that she could smell his brand of cigarettes in the air. And that cheap whiskey he drank.

On 49th street, Nicky got off her board and lit up the joint she had tucked in her ear. Turned her music on but didn't put the headphones on her head. He was close, she could feel him. Could hear that funky accent of his.

And there were others. A vampire. A wizard. But that didn't stop her from barging into the building marked The Cleaners.

*****************************************************************

"You sound like you speak from experience...and it don't seem like you enjoyed it much," Don said to Jackie before he lit a cigarette. To Edward he said, "I know you must be hard pressed to do anything that might work in my favor but I promise you if whoever she is tries any of the hocus pocus bullshit on me I'll tear your head off your shoulders and use it to..."

"You'll do no such thing," Lem said, the garrote coming loose from her wrist and Don snorted.

"Well we best be thinking then," he told her with a wink at her hard gaze and she smirk a little before she leaned over the bar to retrieve a refreshment of her own. A nourishing pint of AB. It was cheap and lacked any sort of flavor, but it was free and nobody had to die for it so she drank deeply and was thankful for it.

"So this is where you sneak off to," came from a little pale skinned girl with purple hair tucked under a blue knit cap that stood just inside the door. A long board that looked almost as tall as her was tucked under her arm and a joint smolder between her fingertips. "I thought you were fucking dead you asshole..."

"Nicky what the hell are you doing here," Don said, in a tone that seemed alomst caring, as he rushed over to her. Then something even more weird happened, he hugged her. Picked her up off the floor, long board and all.

"Well this is a most interesting development," Lem whispered as she shift her eyes at Edward.

"I thought you were dead," she sobbed, her face buried in his neck and Don held onto her. His big hands stroking her hair ever so gently as he set her down, and kneel to look her in the eye.

"Aww Nicky don't cry," he said quietly as he wiped her tears. "It all happened so fast but I'm okay..."

"You sure," she said with a glance at Lem over his shoulder.

"Better than I've been in a long time I swear it kid," he told her with a pat to her head and finally she smiled and wiped a snot string from her nose with her sleeve.

"Don't call me kid...I hate it when you call me that Donovan," she said with a shove. And all of a sudden she wasn't a little girl anymore. There was something dark behind those green eyes and it had nothing to do with the heavy eye make up she wore. She had seen things, that was clear.

When she was sure the crying was done, Lem cleared her throat and Don looked daggers at her. She returned his glare with one of her own and he relented, cracked a cool smirk as he threw an arm around the not so little girl. "This is Nicky...the kid sister I never wanted and clearly I can't get rid of..."

"Just like herpes," she said after a long pull from her joint.

 

[Belladorma]

Bell, Dawson and Emma sat at the edge of the group cleaning each other of the gunk, occasionally having to run to a trash can to vomit the Goop out of their systems. Once they were all clean, Bell went to sit next to Jack to lean against his leg. When the woman appeared, She could feel his hostility towards her and she had to control a growl from escaping her throat. At Edward's suggestion of an alternative solution, she looked towards Dawson and all three wolves shifted to their human form.
"You've got the equivalent of three bloodhounds." Dawson said as he threw his arm around Emma. "If we get a proper scent, we might be able to find a match as we move through the city."

 

[silvertongue217]

“Nicky eh?” Edward said glancing over at the others and the new girl “well your more than welcome to come in and join us though this isn’t necessarily a clubhouse….. We’re working a job you might be interested in”

He didn’t know if Don would protest or not but he didn’t care; the white wolf would kill him if he turned this place into some weird kind of social club. Plus he thought he knew her or at least knew of her if she was who he thought she was then she was a very capable sort.

“We still need to figure out this shit” Jack said running his hand through Bell’s hair “I agree with the wolves we need to try and track him first before we let her do any magical mumbo jumbo on him”

“I’m not disagreeing with you” Edward said sighing. He knew Jackie’s history with the head of the arcane school why he hated slashed loved her so much, he could also understand why Don was wary of the woman but he had a bomb set to go off any minute and tracking could take time they didn’t have.

“If we are going to do this we need to do it now” Edward said moving off of the bar “Wolves go down-“

There was a crack and Elaine reappeared fire burning in her eyes as she ignored every one and looked straight at Jackie.

“Can you feel it?”

“Feel what?” Jackie said narrowing his eyes “you bloody know my magical senses aren’t as-“ He suddenly winced pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Uh huh” Elaine said turning to Edward “We don’t need to track him at all the bomb he uses has magical energy and it just lit up in in grand central station”

“Whatever this thing is it’s powerful” Jackie said standing up “I can disarm it…. Hopefully”

“I’ll come as well” Elaine said stepping over to Jackie and putting a arm through his “It’ll just be like old times wont it my darling student?”

Jackie opened his mouth to protest but then shook his head “We’ll meet you there” He finally murmured nodding at her with a sharp crack they were gone.

“You heard the guy” Edward said looking around at the others “Suit up and grab what you need there is a bomb set to go off in Grand Central Station and Jackie’s going to need back up” He said before rushing downstairs to pull on his tactical gear and call in back up.

………………….

Meanwhile

The hunched dirty scientist walked across the train station his coat flicking as he ignored the multitude of creatures milling about. The area was as congested as I would be which would suit his experiments perfectly. He just had to find a place to set the bomb……

There!

He reached the middle of the place and set the suitcase down. It was already primed and the minute it left his hand the energy of the bomb began to build. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck sand up and turned whistling in a high pitch.

His creatures revealed themselves shrugging off their trench coat and wide brimmed hats. A monstrous rock creature moved to the left exit cutting it off and sending people scurrying, a half snake half lion took the emergency exit coiling around the pillar, a tiny whisp of a man took the last exit thunderous smoke pouring from his body as he sent more people scurrying.

“It’s a glorious day” The scientist murmured pushing his glasses up his crooked nose “The birth of a new species penned by me!”

“Yeah that’s enough of that”

Before the scientist could reach Jackie punched him sending him crashing against the wall and out of the game. The monsters roared in anger the whisp man stepping forward and thunder clouds pouring out of his body and moving towards them.

“I seem to recall you having a particular skill with magical devices” Elaine said stepping forward spinning her staff and creating a barrier that the smoke bounced off of “you deal with that while I keep them occupied”

“Yes Mistress” Jackie said wincing as he realized he was falling back into old habits. He didnt waste time arguing however running over to the suit case and pulling out his tool kit.

 

[grdybiwife]

Lem didn't need much preparation. Tactical suits were a waste on her, all she needed to get ready was pull her hair into a bun and tighten her weapons belt. But still she followed Edward downstairs and grabbed a jacket while she watched Edward strap on his weapons and vest. The need to be near him was bothersome but not so much that she would fight it. Feelings muddled the simple act of feeding making it more complex. When Edward shared with her his life's essence he couldn't know that it would solidify their connection. It was more than nourishment, the emotions he felt for her passed between them the moment she tasted him, amplifying her feelings for him. Only now did she understand the Russian's reluctance to leave her side, even before she was turned. He needed her, as she needed Edward now. Whether he knew it or not He was hers now, but more importantly she was his. The simple act of feeding turned into an addiction with the simple addition of requited love. And as with any addict, she couldn't have the object of her infatuation out of her eye sight.

Don shook his head as he watched them go, his eyes only moving from Lem's swaying hips at the sound of Nicky's giggles. "You liiiiike her but she has a boyfriend," she sang and Don gave her a little shove to shut her up, but of course that only made her laugh harder. "What, I saw how you looked at her. Too bad he's waaaay hotter than you big guy. He's that crazy eyed 50 shades of Gray thing working for him and he's got more than a few bodies under his belt. He's pretty badass, even his ghosts are scared of him and that's saying something big guy. Hate to say it but you don't have a chance in hell. Too much gooey center," she said with a poke to his hard abs and he pushed her hand away.

"I hate you..."

"Yeah, yeah so you keep telling me. Doesn't make it any more true though."

"Still Nicky you shouldn't be here. This is some pretty deep stuff," he told her as he stamped out his cigarette butt and went to his own room. Of course she followed, tight on his heels.

"Yeah you're probably right but I'm here now and let's be honest, this is probably better than what I'd be getting into otherwise," she said and rolled her long board under his bed, dropped her backpack on his desk. "Plus I got skills Don you know that," she said and put a memory of herself eluding a group of thugs she'd disrespected going over one of their territory tags with her own stuff. And she didn't just get away, there were a few broken bones and black eyes delivered on her great escape. Papa wanted her to dance but little Giannick O'Leary wanted to learn a skill that she felt was more useful to a girl of her small stature growing up in New York City so Big Daddy signed her up for jujutsu and it hadn't failed her yet.

"Okay, okay," Don said as he pulled on his vest and smiled when he saw the brass knuckles in the draw of his weapons closet. "But could you do me a favor and stop jumping in my head. I hate it when you do that."

"Only if you promise not to disappear anymore," she said and stuck out her hand.

"Can't really do that anymore," he said as he took her hand and turned his wrist to show her his tracking device. "Now that you're here I'm sure it won't be long before you get one of these." One quick pull brought Nicky up onto Don's shoulders and he carried her kicking and laughing back down to the bar, where Lem greeted them with a raised eyebrow. "What these little legs don't move as fast as yours hot stuff."

"I said nothing."

"Nicky?" Don said before he spun around so she could set eyes on the vampire.

"Your scoring some points that's for sure. She believed you were a good guy deep down but now she knows it for sure...but still you ain't got nothing on Agent Badass."

Lem laughed despite the invasion on thoughts. She didn't even feel it but still she knew there was something going on inside her head that wasn't her own doing. And when Nicky's gaze refocused, her eyes wide and mouth agape, Lem saw that she kept certain things she found to herself.

"It would serve you well never to do that again without my permission. I like you little girl, lets keep it that way."

"I know and I'm sorry...but I think he loves you too. Don't be afraid, he won't hurt you like the other guy"

Now it was Lem's turn to be wide eyed. She'd never had such an experience with her glamour. Nicky heard her command as if she spoke it aloud and it was a shock to everything she thought she knew of the world. More shocking than the knowledge that Edward felt as strongly for her as she did him.

"Well let's get on with it then," she said once the shock wore off and her jaw reset.

"What you don't want to wait for Agent Badass?"

"He'll catch up," Lem said as she made her way to the street. She didn't waste time walking. There was no telling what they might encounter in the terminal and at midday there would be no shortage of human casualties. Don was right behind her with Nicky clinging to his back like a human knapsack. The action was easy to find, Don just followed the smell of rot and Lem fell in behind him. They found Jackie working feverishly to diffuse the bomb while Elaine worked to keep the monsters off him.

"He's not human anymore," Nicky whispered as she slipped off of Don's back and he let her go. "He did something to himself...it didn't work though. He was jealous of you guys. The non-humans. Nobody liked him before but he was smarter, then you guys came along...He wants to level the playing field. You were the first to survive Don..."

All while she spoke Nicky moved to the scientist body. The world seemed to slow down around her as Don and Lem laid waste to the Monsters that came at her. The snake/lion thing slithered easily between Don's legs, tripping him up but it wasn't fast enough to evade Lem's throwing blade. She caught him twice, pinning his body to the ground as she ran ran to it. With her garrote wrapped tight around his neck, she looked up just in time to tuck the blow of the rock man. But Don was already charging in and timed his blow perfectly so that they both went tumbling out of Nicky's way.

"You sneaky sadistic bastard," Nicky whispered, completely oblivious to the world exploding around her.In her mind it was just her and this scientist freak. He'd hurt Don and that was enough for her to unleash her greatest weapon. She kneel down beside him and but her hands on either side of his head. With her thumbs she pulled back his eyelids and concentrated on the evil that lay behind them.

 

[Othermoose]

Quinn zoned in and out of the conversation. Something about a bomb, mind reading, and hour long spells. "I've got an hour." Quinn thought, finishing his pile of food. "I'm going to take a nap. Or find the armory. Whichever room I get to first." Quinn announced, standing abruptly and leaving the room. He wandered the hallways trying to find his way back to his room until he was intercepted by a man in a lab coat. "Mr. Fuller! My team and I have been working on something for you, if you'd follow me." The man said. Quinn shrugged and followed the man through the hallways.

The scientist led Quinn through the building until they arrived at a large metal double door. "These are the labs." The man said opening the door. He led Quinn through a maze of strange looking experiments until they stopped infront of a mannequin the same size as Quinn. The mannequin was wearing a skin tight black and blue suit of body armor. The scientist pressed a button and the mannequin changed into the shape of a large human/rat hybrid, then to the size of a regular rat. Quinn was suprised to see that the suit changed shape with the mannequin.

"We designed this suit specifically for you, Mr. Fuller. We used a bit of your DNA and added it to this synthetic nano weave armor suit. It can deflect small arms fire and most blunt or sharp objects, it's flame resistant, acid and corrosion resistant, water proof, and a heck of a lot more cool stuff. But most importantly it will shift with you. Pretty cool, huh?" The scientist asked excitedly, his professional aura fading a bit to reveal his inner geek.

"It's alright, I guess, but did you have to make it look like the fantastic four?" Quinn asked poking the suit. "Umm, the fantastic four have almost entirely blue suits, while yours is black with numours blue details added, in fact..." Quinn held up his hand to stop the scientist mid sentence. "Save me the nerd rant, how do I put it on?" "That's the best part! Watch this!" The scientist said tapping several keys on a computer.

The scientist hit the last key with a flourish and the suit quickly collapses into a watch on the mannequin's wrist. "How cool is that!?" The scientist asks taking the watch off of the mannequin and giving it to Quinn. "Just hit that button there, and the suit will put itself on. Under your street clothes too. It's like a second skin, you'll never even notice you're wearing it!" The scientist said excitedly, clearly proud of his work.

"Thanks dude." Quinn said strapping the watch to his wrist before pressing the button that applied his suit. The suit spread out from the watch and almost instantly covered Quinn's body from his neck down. Just like the scientist said, it fit him like a glove, sitting snugly under his street clothes. Quinn moved around and shifted forms, happy to see the suit worked just like advertised.

"This thing works great! What else have you got for me pointdexter?" Quinn asked still moving around in the suit. "I just gave you one of the most advanced pieces of technology in New York, and you want more?" The scientist asked, a little crestfallen. "Yup." Quinn replied ignoring the scientist's tone. "Well, they have a suped-up motorcycle for you in the garage..." "Shit! No way! They built me a motorcycle!? See you around doc, I'm going to go see my new ride!" Quinn said excitedly running out of the lab.

Quinn made his way to the garage and talked to a mechanic. After telling Quinn that his new bike was armored, equipped with increased speed mods, more durable tires, nitrous, and two small caliber machine guns in the front, the mechanic handed Quinn the keys. "Fuck yes!" Quinn said sprinting to his new vehicle. He started the engine and reved it, smiling from ear to ear at the loud growl it made.

Just then, Quinn's watch lit up, telling him to get to grand central station. "Time to go boys! Test drive and ass kicking time!" Quinn shouted to the mechanics, before speeding out of the garage. He sped to the station and made it there in record time. He rode his bike down the stairs and hit a small man pumping fog into the room.

The smoke man stood up, screaming in rage at Quinn. He sprayed a cloud of noxious gas at the teen, but Quinn just rode out of the way before hopping off the bike. He pulled the Uzi from his backpack and shouted, "say hello to my little friend!" Before spraying the gas man with bullets. The man fell to the ground, as a red fog begin to rise from his body. Quinn watched, but the man didn't move. "Eh, he's probably dead." Quinn said turning around to survey the rest of the room. He saw Jack and robe lady (who he felt he should call Jill until he learned her name) we're working on what looked like a bomb, while Don and Lem fought a golem and a lion-snake. Quinn also saw a girl who he didn't recognize, but after a moment he realized who it was. "Nicky!?" He exclaimed in suprise. He didn't see his former (and maybe current) crush's reaction as Don flew over his head followed by the angry rock monster.

"Fuck me sideways." Quinn groaned, spraying bullets at the rock monster. The golem just shrugged off Quinn's attack, continuing its charge forward. Quinn jumped out of the way, narrowly avoiding the creature as it slammed into a stone pillar. "Guys! My gun is just pissing it off! Any plans!?" Quinn shouted to no one in particular as the creature pulled itself away from the pillar.

 

[grdybiwife]

Nicky vaguely heard her name but she was too busy to look away from the mania inside the scientist's mind. It was a dangerous thing she was doing, going completely inside one so completely unhinged but she had to do something. And she hadn't gotten along in this new world alone being afraid, so she grit her teeth and dove head first into madness.

Meanwhile Lem had her hands full with the snake/lion. It had slithered out of her garrotte and began coiling it's body around her legs. But Lem didn't need legs to fight, this thing needed eyes though and she gauged them out easily with her talon like thumb nails. In full blood lust she had to fight from feeding on the beast, instead settled for racking her nails across its throat and it immediately released her. But just like Matilda it was down, not dead.

Don was having an even worse time with the rock hulk. The brass knuckles he was so happy to see had done nothing but chip away at the craggy shell. And worse it's counter blows were doing some damage to the hybrid. He tasted blood with each exhale and his elbow made an awful cracking sound every time he extended his arm to punch.

"I'm not made of steel," he shouted and Lem gave a grunt of agreement at she wrestled the now blind snake/lion away from a few paralyzed bystanders.

Nicky heard that but she felt their collective distress and it weighed on her. She had to shake it off and focus. There was something in the magic, that much was clear . The monsters. The bomb. Everything was feeding off the magic. The scientist had tried to turn himself into a mage but his human body couldn't take the power of the raw magic and something inside him broke. Shattered was more like it.

"Stop with the spells...its the magic," she shouted to anybody who could hear her. But it seemed only Lem and Don heard her, she felt the subtle recognition of her voice in their minds. Then there was something else. Someone, distracting her from what she was doing. Her eyes sparkled every so slightly as she looked up to see a familiar face in the crowd and a small smile came to her lips. But now wasn't the time for forgotten acquaintances. "Tell them..."

"Quit it with the hocus pocus would you," Don shouted as he ran over to Jackie, tackling him to the ground. "Nicky says its feeding off you guys...that if you stop his minions will be weak enough for me and princess darkness to take 'em out. They got trackers like I had...Snakes in the tail...Rock hulks's in the back of his neck...Smoky guy...in his junk."

"It wouldn't be the first time I've done such a thing," Lem said with a smirk as she pulled her blade.

 

[Belladorma]

Bell and her pack kept pace with the rest until the alpha's senses prickled in the awareness of a Kupali. A delving of one mind into an unwilling host. She moved back to see that Nicky was delving into the scientists mind and mentally called out to her pack.
"She's working! Let's give her some quiet!"
"We follow Alpha" The Beta's said in unison as all three took their places. Bell and Em Were immediately on either side of the two. Bells right hand clasped the base of Emma's left forearm as her beta's did the same and they bowed their heads, tuning out the roar of the battles around them to feel their minds meld together into a mental barrier around them. Within it, all was quiet save for their breathing, and their forehead's began to glow with a green light. As the barrier was of mental make (Mind over matter) more than magic, the mad man's feeding of the magical energies seemed to quell ever so slightly. After a moment, Bell mentally examined their bubble and, deeming it complete, proceeded to also put a mental blanket over the scientist. It wouldn't hold him by much, seeing as how Bell had still been in training when she was cut off from learning, but it would weigh him down at least.
Dawson prowled around them in his best form, Mid. Built for power and speed, It allowed him to protect his pack while they were concentrating. He lent his own mental energy to his mate as he circled them, keeping calm to conserve energy unless a battle pushed to close. At one point Rock boy came to close and with a lunge and a huge SHOVE From all four of Dawson's paws, he was sent hurtling into the wall.

 

[silvertongue217]

“What the bloody hell is wrong with you” Jackie growled pushing Don off “Next time just tell me what’s going on!” He said shaking his head and scrambling to his feet. So they couldn’t magically effect the bomb well that was fine because he had no intention to.

“Next time look before you leap” He told him showing him the bomb disarming tools he had in his hand “she said I had a particular skill with magical devices I cant use magic only channel it through my gauntlets she’s covring my six” Jackie said pointing at Elaine who was using her staff to battle the thunder man who was creating a giant storm above them.

“But since you’re here” Jackie said running back over to the bomb and ignoring a bolt of thunder sent coursing his way “You can help protect my ass while I try and disarm the damn thing” He said going back to work and ignoring the battle going on around them.

“You are to late” The cloud man hissed his voice as airy as his body “the second coming is happening outside our masters creatures gather!”

Meanwhile outside

Edward pulled up the black SUV grinding to a halt as he and his agents poured out. He grabbed the shotgun from the back and moved forward barking orders as his team as they approached the station. Before they could get to close however the ground cracked and split the weird uber zombies form before pouring out. Half of them gaurd the building while the other half began to pour in clearly meant to be backup.

“Well men seems like its about to get a little Left 4 Dead in here” Edward murmured pumping his shotgun “With me!”

And with that they charged shooting at the uber zombies as they rushed forward

Now back inside

Jackie ripped the housing off and swore, it had been a while since he disarmed a bomb and he was hopping it was just like riding a bike.

The bike being a bomb that would end life as they knew it

“Oh come on dear” Elaine said side stepping the electricity and looking back at him “I taught you better than that!”

“Don’t talk to me” Jackie growled angrily as he went to work “focus on protecting my ass like you should have done all those years ago!”

“Tsk tsh that anger” Elaine said turning to Don “Come on sexy lt’s go take this beasty down before my old pupil throws himself into a fit!”

Jackie ignored her and instead focused on the bomb well the bomb and Bell who he was worried about even in the fighting. He could feel the mental barrier the pack was putting up and marveled at how much more wolf like he had gotten since he mated with a werewolf. He could feel their links as well as he could feel his own mental mindscape.

"Let me help" He thought to them sending his own mental shield up just like Elaine taught him all those years ago. Mental abilities were one of the few things a human had access to and with his training from Elaine he was able to triple the size of their shield exponentially

 

[Belladorma]

Bell felt the empowerment of Jack's Energy and couldn't help but smirk. With a push she channeled the mental energy and the shield burst into the physical. A shield of light that would be hard pressed to be penetrated.
Each of the scientist's hands slammed to the ground as Emma took over holding him down so Bell could manage the shield better. She shifted the blanket to cuffs that held his hands down with the weight of iron. She had to hold back to make sure she didn't use up to much of the hive energy or let herself break his hands with the weight. Nicky didn't need any distractions. but the thought of his screams had her shaking her head.
"No!" She thought to herself. "I will not give in to the lust." She breathed and focused in at the task at hand.

 

[Othermoose]

Quinn ran about the room, randomly spraying at the enemy monsters with his Uzi, trying to give support to his team, while distracting the enemies. He felt sort of useless, not having any badass mind skills or magic, but he was happy that he wasn't in the way. "Fuck!" Quinn shouted as he was hit from behind by what felt like a freight train. He sailed across the room and landed on the ground near the bomb diffusing team. As he sat up and shook off the hit, he heard a cracking behind him. He turned to see zombies clawing their way through the wall. "Fucking zombies! Why can't we fight something that doesn't smell like a toilet!?" Quinn shouted to himself as be began to fire his Uzi into the hole. The zombies slowed as their ranks were cut down by Quinn's fire, but they didn't stop clawing. "Hey! Can I get some help over here!? A magic bubble, an explosion? Anything?" Quinn shouted as zombies began climbing out of the breach.

 

[grdybiwife]

Meanwhile, in a bubble somewhere floating above Harlem...

"Your mother only wanted the best for you Laz," said the man who seemed only a voice wrapped in robes with a deep cowl of a hood. The other sign there was a body beneath the fabric with the ethereal hand that gripped the golden staff that lay across his lap.

"Well that would have been not knocking boots with a inter-dimensional being who cares for nothing but himself..."

"I loved your mother you ungrateful little shit!" His voice boomed against the gossamer sides of the bubble causing it to vibrate beneath her. Anybody else would have been petrified but not her. Not Alazne Vargas, daughter of one of the most powerful beings in existence. Of course he could vaporize her to nothing with the flick of a few fingers but he wouldn't. He loved her, she knew that, but she loved to push his buttons even more. In a much calmer tone he said, "Do not speak of things you do not know."

But she did know. Before she died, her mother told her everything of her tumultous relationship with an otherworldly being. That without him she would not have been blessed with her only child. It wasn't sex that put Alazne in her barren womb. Her conception was one of magic and her mother understood she would have to raise her alone. The traveler could not remain on Earth but he promised that when Alazne came of age that he would return to tell of her whole truth. But still he didn't stay, only returning every so often to give her bits and pieces of who she truly was. Immortal. Wielder of the purest forms of magic on Earth. The rawest forms. Those from which all else derived and she needed to spells to wield them because they came from within. After the fog it was his idea for her to go to the Academy, even if she was older than most of the students and more powerful than all of the teachers Laz knew jackshit of how to use her father's gifts. She didn't want to but her mother insisted and so she went, only to be kicked out a couple years in for manipulating a certain professors robes in the middle of a lecture. On multiple occasions. But by then she had learned all they could teach her anyway. Skill would come with practice and that she had very little of these days, hence her father's visit.

"If you loved her so much then why did you leave," she said her voice cracking ever so slightly, her light eyes beginning to glow. But she didn't not lose herself, and that made her father smile. Even if she couldn't see it, Laz felt his pleasure at her control. "We needed you Pop."

"That maybe true but if I cuddled you all your life you would not be so strong of will Alazne. I've seen the parallel...you would not be pleased with what you would have become." She snorted at that and lay down to look at the city below. "What would you would have been would be of no use to anyone, not even yourself. You are needed here my child, in the world and it is time you stop fighting against it."

"You've only been telling me that all my life..." An image came to her mind then. Explosions, smoke, human soldiers in a fire fight with a horde of Zombies. "Is that now," she asked already standing and again her father smiled, pointed down.

"If you continue with this angst you risk the lives of everyone in this city. Specifically the life of one you once held dear." Jackie Boy. He didn't have to show her that's who he meant, but still he did. He was hunched over a box of some kind, surrounded by all manners of chaos.

As much as she would have liked to ignore it, she knew she couldn't. Laz let out a heavy breath and rolled her shoulders as she watched the activity beneath her. Her eyes aglow, the tattoos that covered her body glowed beneath her clothes. The ones that were visible seemed to shimmy as the edge of magic ran through her to coalesce into two amber balls in the palms of her hands. And when she clapped the ball exploded around her, her own bubble within her fathers. When it was solid he let go of his and floated beside her a moment.

"Your staff child?"

"I hate that fucking thing," she said with sucked teeth before the air snapped around her and she was gone.

*****************************************************************

Nicky felt the others but kept her focus on the scientist. She dug deep, weeding through the useless ramblings and nutty theories on life to find the moment this bomb was created. She saw his intentions an recoiled. He didn't want to level the playing field, he wanted to control it. Well I sure as shit ain't letting that happen. She found the closes mind and relayed it's make up, completely unsure of how it worked or even if it was useful in stopping it since the scientist had no intention of turning it off once it got going. It was a wolf, a big one. Tell the one poking at it what I showed you.

"Fuck that," Don said to Elaine as he moved to Lem and helped her to remove the snake/lions tail from his body. "You look like you got it covered."

Lem laughed at that and gave Don a nudge, directing his attention to the rock hulk scrambling from Dawson kick. "Seems to be having a bit of trouble getting his feet under him. Shall we help him along?"

"I'll hold him..."

"And I'll do the rest," she said before she took off in a blur, barreling headlong at the behemoth. Don followed closely behind and when Lem slammed into the monster, he dove on top of it with all his weight behind his fists. As Don pounded at his body, Lem grabbed him with one hand at the top of his head the other under his chin and twisted with all her might. With her teeth down and her eyes black, his head came away clear showering them both with a spurt of crimson.

"Don't eat that lovey," Don teased and Lem's nostril's flared as she let out a hiss. "What I'm just trying to be helpful."

 

[silvertongue217]

Edward ducked missing the chainsaw buzzing by his head by mere inches. He side stepped the zombie and brought the full weight of his Remington Shotgun to bear. He barely reacted as he pumped another round in and shot him point blank stepping back to miss the blood splatter as if he was in a dance.

He supposed in some ways he was

The battle outside was going… well maybe not being the best word. He and his agents were still trying to batter their way into the area but the uber zombies (he made a mental not to think of a better name) were holding their ground both in resilience and in number and they still didn’t know the situation inside.

“We have to get through” Edward yelled rallying his men but most weren’t experienced at this they were bat cops in a lot of ways not trained to be thrust into a war against the undead.

“Fuck” Edward yelled as his shotgun was cut in two by a chainsaw wielding zombie. He pulled out his pistol and fired blowing off half the creatures face but doing nothing to slow him down. He grappled the bloody thing (literally) and managed to finally throw it back creating a small hole of opportunity.

He had to take it

He barreled forward shoulder charging his way through and finally reaching one of the holes the zombies were crawling into. He quickly ambled up tossing himself through one of the windows and causing it to shatter. He rolled to a stop panting and brushing glass off of his body as he tried to assess the situation going on inside

 

[grdybiwife]

Alone in her bubble, Laz floated above the carnage. From here she could see everything. The zombies. The army of men trying to fight through. And the chaos that was going on in the center concourse of the terminal. There was Jackie Boy. She wouldn't admit it to him but she had missed him. No matter how they ended, the time they shared had helped her through the hardest time in her life. Sad that her idea to show her gratitude did nothing but push him away but how was she to know that her attempt to save his brother would make him exponentially worse. And she would have apologized for that had he not been so resentful and hurtful once the damage was done.

But that was so long ago. Almost like another life, she was so young and inexperienced. If he asked her now to attempt what she had then, Laz would have said no. No matter how he begged. His brother couldn't be "fixed" with magic, no matter how powerful.

"He'll probably still be pissed even if I save him now," Laz mumbled to herself as she slowly descended into the madness on the street. She dealt with the soldiers first, whipping up a wind to drive their line back and hold them far enough away that they wouldn't get caught in the crossfire. But just in case they tried to fight against it she whispered words of calm in their ears that might have sounded like their superiors telling them to drop back.

With them out of harms way Laz could wreak havoc on the horde of zombies. "A fire storm should do the trick," she said as she held one hand palm up while the fingers of the other danced circles in it. Below her spirals of flames sprouted up amongst the horde, and as the motion of her fingers widened so too did the funnels of fire. Only then did she set her bubble down on the ground to conjure a wall of flames to keep any humans out and the zombies in, then made her way into the heart of the actions with a clap of her hands.

But there was so much going on, Laz was at a loss for what to do first. So she did what she always had when overwhelmed, stopped everything. The vampire and half human froze above the body of some craggy beast. The little funky haired seer girl battling the scientist inside his mind surrounded by the protective bubble created by the pack of wolves. Elaine, that snotty bitch, with her staff held high against the smoke man. The human who'd just barreled his way inside, caught midroll after he'd come through the window. Then there was Jackie, Laz made her way around to him last, ran her hand along the back of his neck before she settled down next to him with her hand on his wrist.

"I couldn't help you then but I hope you let me help you now," she said before she sent the world back into motion. "Don't cut any of those wires Jackie boy."

 

[Othermoose]

Quinn jumped out of the way as a shower of broken glass exploded from a window above him, followed by Edward. "Shit bossman! Where'd you come from!? Nevermind, help me with these zombies!" Quinn shouted to Edward before continuing to fire into the hole in the wall the zombies were trying to claw through. "You wouldn't happen to have anything that goes boom, would you?" Quinn asked Edward over the sound of his Uzi.

 

[silvertongue217]

He felt her

There was some thing to be said about an ex lovers touch some thing that no matter how hard you tried to forget you got hit with the minute it came back into your life. Some thing that lingered no matter what the situation was waiting and lurking in the shadows of your mind before coming back in full force. You could go five or ten years without paying it any thought but a simple brush would bring it back as if it never went away.

Jackie was magically attuned so he sensed the slight delay when time restarted. He turned ready to ask Elaine why she had done such a thing when he felt the brush of a hand along the back of her neck.

And just like that it was back

“Laz” Jackie breathed feeling her siting behind him. Her hand was on his wrist and he flinched trying to struggle through the feelings. He felt the electric connection at first but that was fleeting and it was quickly replaced by his default emotion when it came to her.

Anger

“Stay back” He said jerking his hands away and grabbing the scissors “ I don’t know what you are doing here Laz but you shouldn’t be here!” He snapped angrily moving to cut the wire just as Dawson moved towards them.

“Go Laz!” He shouted as he cut the wire

Several things happened at once

The monsters still standing screamed in unison causing the windows still intact to shatter and glass to rain upon them all. Their efforts increased causing them to attack their combatants with much more fever then before. The bomb however gave a few more soft beeps then it quited Jackie turned ready to tell Laz off when there was a sudden blast of heat.

The outer case of the bomb exploded propelling Jackie across the room and any one else who didn’t protect them selves. Jackie slammed into a wooden bench and fell to the floor blood falling out of him as he gave a few soft twitches and stilled.

“Jackie” Edward shouted scrambling and bringing his shotgun to bar “Lem! On me!”

He tried to clear a path but the monsters moved in each one doing every thing possible to kill their opponent gone was their need to guard they were killing machines now.

 

[grdybiwife]

“Of course you wouldn’t listen to me ‘cause that would be too much like right.” Laz had just enough time to put a bubble around herself and the girl to protect them from the blast. Everybody else was on their own. She would have liked to see Elaine incinerated but of course that old bitch lived, as did the human killing machine and the vampire who trailed him. Together they laid waste to anything in their path while the big guy moved to the girl and took on anything that came her way. There were relationships here, Laz noticed as she slowed time ever so slightly to give them an advantage against the beasts they fought. The vampire and the man with the shot gun moved in tandem, always covering each other without so much as a word between them. Through her arts Laz could see the invisible tendrils of their connection and marveled at how solid those lines were.

But still there were too many of them and Laz only saw one option, get everybody out and level the place. “This shit is fucked,” she shouted in all their ears as she moved closer to the girl, put a hand on her shoulder to slowly ease her back into the real world.

And those bright green eyes snapped open and scanned the room as if to see it for the first time. “How’d you do that,” Nicky said to the tallish honey skinned woman with yellow eyes but all she did was smile.

“There isn’t much I can’t do short stack now rein in your guard dog so I can get us out of here.”

Nicky did as she was told without question and brought Don’s eyes to her, but of course he was immediately distracted by the sorceress who towered over her.

“Who are you and where have you been all my life,” he said as soon as he was encased inside the bubble and Laz shook her head.

“Even if you knew me you wouldn’t remember number 4.”

It was then that Lem finally felt the pull of magic, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and she grabbed Edward by the back of hs vest, hurled him into the bubble as it floated towards them. She took one look inside and scanned the carnage for the last few members of the team and picked them up one by one, tossing them each inside. Quinn included. Except Jackie. With him Lem was a bit more delicate. She could smell his blood and it took every bit of control she could muster not to finish what the bomb had already started.

“I hope you have answer for this,” she said to Laz as she set Jackie down in the center of the grown bubble and again she smiled.

“I can’t let him die...even if he won’t appreciate it,” she said with an almost bitter tone but the sadness in her eyes could not be missed. Nicky started to say something but Don slipped his hand over her mouth to quiet her. “You seem to be the man in charge,” Laz said to Edward and he glanced in her direction. “This shit is irreparable. The best we can do level the concourse, bury them all under the rubble. The ones outside should be barbecue by now.”

 

[Othermoose]

Quinn heard the bomb explode, followed by the deafening screeches of the various monsters in the train station. Then Quinn felt the magic. One moment he was blasting zombies with his Uzi, and the next he was floating in mid-air. After a few seconds of floating he landed roughly inside of a bubble filled with his other teammates. "Hey! What the fuck is going on!? Who set off the bomb and who's the glowy chick!?" Quinn shouted angrily, his blood still pumping with adrenalin from the battle. After a moment he stopped shouting and grumbled about "too many wizards" as he stepped back from the center of the bubble. He sat (relatively) quietly at the side of the bubble and waited to see what the plan was.

 

[silvertongue217]

“Shit” Edward murmured looking around at all the carnage and every thing else going on. He was supposed to be containing the situation! Now they were going to have to say good-bye to grand central station? There was no way the white wolf was going to be happy about this.

“We have to get Jackie out of here” Elaine said ignoring Laz “I can take him and heal him”

“I cant level Grand Central Station” Edward said pinching the bridge of his nose “If my men outside back me up we might be able to finish this fight without the collateral damage” He finally said turning to Laz “You said the zombies outside should be finished by now right? I can tell you car about Jackie take him and help him and we will finish up here as long as every one is okay with that” He said glancing around at the team and finally Lem trying to get her to understand that he couldn’t just blow up a building.

 

[grdybiwife]

"You think I'm gonna leave him like this with you, you conniving little cunt," Laz spat at Elaine, her eyes like hot coals in her head. The outlines of her tattoos seemed to vibrate as her gaze intensified and Nicky squinted her eyes under the pressure of that rage.

She couldn't explain it. There was so much in that touch. Nicky felt like she knew this woman all her life, the way her energy bled into her. Ill feelings for Elaine had started to creep into her own mindscape and she had the slightest idea why. "Please," she said, her hand on Laz's shoulder as she cradled Jackie's head in her lap.

And slowly the thick air that had developed inside her bubble began to dissipate. "You're coming with me," Laz said to Nicky, though her eyes were still fixed on Elaine.

"She's not going anywhere with you..."

"Alazne," she told him in his pause and Don shrugged his shoulders.

"That's a beautiful name sweetheart but I'm still not letting you zip away with her."

"Would you rather her get ripped apart by these...whatever the fuck they are. Look I don't want to be here either but I'm the only thing stopping them from tearing all of you to pieces."

"She needs my help...and she knows that worrying about me slows you down. I'm not gonna do anything but get in the way here Don..."

"Don't you fucking dare," he said through clenched jaws and Nicky giggled a little. "Fine but if something happens to her..."

"Yeah, yeah we're wasting time," Lem said, shifting her weight from one foot to another, her back to them so they couldn't see the effect Jackie's blood in the air was having on her.

"Your men are on their way inside," Laz announced just as the horde shifted their attention from the group stranded in the bubble to the sounds of gunfire and flash bangs approaching from all sides. "I wish you luck."

And like that she was gone. As was Jackie. And Nicky. And the bubble

"I'll stand with you," Lem said with her eyes on Edward, her blade spinning in her palm.

"Yeah, yeah what she said," he told his new boss before he could stop himself. Don had to admit the man had balls. Didn't mean he'd stop making a play at Lem but he had to respect the man for how he handled himself in the shit.

*****************************************************************​

"Holy shit that was awesome," Nicky shouted giddily as soon as she appeared in the tiny apartment. She'd never experienced magic before and found herself tingling all over from it. And for the first time in a long time, her mind was quiet.

"That is Ellegua. He guards the door," Laz said quietly as she lay Jackie down on the floor before she went into another room only to return with a bundle of sage, a bowl of water, and a handful of white linen. "Some people call it religion, others call it magic. Potato, potahto, you know. That's what my Pops tells me anyway," she said adsently as she set the sage on a gold plate in the center of the coffee table. Laz waved her hand over it and it ignited with a crack. A subtle wiggle of her fingers brought the flames down to a smolder and she held the linen over the smoke. "No matter what you call it though, if you don't believe it doesn't work." With that she planted a kiss on Jackie's forehead and laid the cloth over his face. "That's what happened before. I didn't believe because it couldn't be...Sit with me Nicky. Help me make him understand that if he doesn't believe in me I can't save him."

She felt Alazne's tears as if they came from her own eyes, only after she caught her reflection in the TV did she realize she actually was crying too. I'll do my best.

Laz's eyes flashed yellow and a small smile crept across her lips as she felt Nicky's energy mingle with hers, softening the glow that emanated from her palms as they hovered over Jackie's face, slowly moving downwards over his chest and stomach and back again.

"I should have told you," she said as her hands moved back and forth. "But I was afraid that we wouldn't be friends anymore if I didn't at least try. You have to know I never meant to hurt him. You have to believe me Jackie. You have to..."

 

[silvertongue217]

He saw his men coming in and felt hope flicker inside of him. At last the Calvary had arrived which meant this fight wasn’t over before it even began. Edward saw the monsters looking hesitant and decided to press the advantage before they recovered from the set back.

“Let’s get this done with so we can get back to Jackie” Edward said to the others leveling his shot gun “Lem You’re with me finishing off cloud guy Don my men will back you up against the rock guy” He said before rushing forward.

The creature of thunder and lighting recovered fast loud crashes emanating form his body as he hurled bolts of electricity at the pair. Edward felt the familiar rush of battle coming and dodged them so closely that he felt the static charge in the air. He shot the creature making his already smoky body struggle to compensate.

“How do we kill a guy made of smoke” Edward called to Lem as he dodged a few more bolts of lightning “And why do I suddenly want to fuck you so abdly?” He called laughing at and dodging another bolt.

……………

Jackie was floating

Except he wasn’t really floating

Actually he was pretty sure he was dead

In any case he was floating in a black sea of nothingness. He had a vague memory of how he got there but every thing was hazy as if he was only half here. He knew that wherever he was It wasn’t good as well as knew that if he stayed to long he wouldn’t be able to leave.

Which might not be a bad thing. He was after all safe and comfortable here he didn’t have any problems that he knew of. He was pretty comfortable all things considered since he was probably dead.

Then he heard her voice the voice that caused him so much pain and pleasure in his life. With that voice the memories and knowledge came back of their past. Why should he believe her? Or listen to her plea’s? Her betrayal was the worse of all! He expected the school not to help he expected Elaine not to pay it any mind but she….

She was supposed to understand

“You know your being awfully pig headed”

The voice belonged to a man a man in a cloak and holding a giant scythe he appeared suddenly but once he did Jackie knew he was there all along simply waiting for Jackie to recover. The horse he road was covered in green fire and was nothing more than some loose skin over a pale skeleton.

“After what she did to me death thinks I am being pig headed?” Jackie said scoffing and twisting suddenly finding himself on a solid floor “Why do you care?”

“Because you need to believe “Her the pale rider said stepping down onto the floor “Your time is not now and you are needed on earth for what is to come”

“What’s to come?” Jackie said raising an eyebrow “What does death need with a thief?”

“You are a thief no more” He said shaking his head “You are one of the chosen few the one who will lead his team against the dark one and save the mortal realm if you succeed that is”

“If I succeed?” Jackie said raising an eyebrow “Doesn’t sound lik much of a prophecy and what is this dark one?”

“Even know events are being set into motion that will lead to his awakening” Death said causing his horse to neigh “If you are to have any hope of winning a favor must be given”

“A favor?” Jackie said narrowing his eyes “Listen mate either start talking sense or kill me now”

“You will return Jackie” Death said stepping of the horse suddenly right in front of him “And you will return with a favor of a horseman” He said shooting his bony hand out and clamping it around Jackie’s neck.

“Now begone!”

Jackie’s eyes flew open suddenly burning bright green. The healing sage began to burn as did the floor as his body began to crackle with green energy. He rose pushing them all away his features becoming dark as a giant scythe sprang into existence in his left hand.

“I am death” He said in a voice that wasn’t his “I am the pale one I am the horseman I am the end and the beginning and I have been reborn”

The energy flowed directly into his gauntlet making the entire thing pulsate before it finally dissipated and Jackie was Jackie once more. His eyes fluttered and he opened is mouth to speak before he toppled over and onto the couch suddenly exhausted.

 

[grdybiwife]

"Suddenly," Lem said with a raised eyebrow as her blades cut through a zombie from it's right shoulder to its left hip. As she turned another was charging towards Edward but her foot in it's chest bent it backwards at a very awkward angle.

She paused for a moment to watch the cloud man as Edward fired round after round into him and Lem noticed at the moment of impact he would go solid, but just for an instance. And it was at that instant she would need strike.

"See Eddie that's the problem with bullets...they want to keep going," she said as she slipped one of the throwing knives out of her vest. "These though, stay put."

As Edward fired his next shot, Lem tossed her blade at just the right moment that it remained inside the beast when it came together. It's eyes bulged and it sent a barrage of lightening bolts her way that she dodged easily. Except that last one but it did nothing but throw her back a few paces, it did not stop her charge and she dove at it with her open hand extended. With all her weight behind the blow, Serkalem drove her hand into the center of the beast and smiled a little as her fist grasped the blade.

"I'll be needing this back," she said as she pushed the blade out through it's back only to yank it out through it's belly.

On the other side of the grand concourse, Don was getting exhausted with all the grappling he was doing with the rock hulk. Granted his blows knocked the beast back but he had yet to put it down and Edward's men weren't doing anything but agitating it. But since Don made it a point to stay between them and the beast, he was granted the brunt of it's wrath. And he had had about enough of being on his back.

"Alright then," Don groaned as he got back to his feet. "I've had about all I can take of this shit head." With that he snatched the biggest gun from one of the men, the still hot barrel sizzled in his palm but he felt nothing as he hefted it to his shoulder and took aim a the rock hulk's head. He didn't let his finger off the trigger as he closed in on the beast, his aim did not waver from the it's maw. Even as it moved to try and dodge the bullets, Don kept on him until there was nothing but a wall behind him but still he kept firing.

*****************************************************​

Laz jumped back and pulled Nicky with her when Jackie shot up off the floor. She pushed the girl behind her and held up her hand poised to protect them both from whatever Jackie brought back with him. Only when he fell back did she allow her defensive posture to relax and released the grip she held on Nicky.

"He's okay," Nicky whispered, her hand on Laz's. "He brought back a friend. Someone to help...I think. I don't know, he's different. I can feel him. Like I feel you and the others, but...I don't know it's weird..."

"Aight short stack that's enough speculation," Laz said as she eased her way over to where Jackie fell out on the couch. Nicky wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know on her own. She felt the draw of his power, and it felt oddly like her father's.

Laz sat down on the side of the couch, rest her head on his chest. "I'm so sorry Jackie," she said, not even sure if he could hear her. But still she took his hand anyway.

 

[silvertongue217]

“Any one ever tell you your damn sexy when you fight like that” Edward called watching as she pulled out the knife and he helped her up. He grabbed her ass and gave it a quick squeeze before turning to the rock man.

“Last one love” He said chambering another round “I’m ready to get home with you” He said charging forward.

“Duck Don” Edward shouted raising his shotgun knowing that he was empty. The rock man was splintered any ways which meant two more shots from Edwards shotgun was nough to finally make it splinter.

And just like that it was over

“Some one grab that mad man” Edward growled pointing his gun at the scientist “and get him cuffed I don’t want to do this shit very again!”

He watched his men working and turned regarding Lem and Don

“Let’s get out of here and see what’s going on with Jackie” Edward said “Do you know where they went Lem?”