Previously on Warriors of Destiny: Departing Pegasus station, the crew headed for the Aquanas system, where another sword energy signature had been detected. While Ettik traveled through hyperspace, a detachment from the rogue fleet had already arrived in the Aquanas system.
Though the enemies search met with unexpected resistance, they continued their search for the sword in hopes of gaining more power. Meanwhile; onboard the Ettik a small group of crewmembers �relaxed� in their own way.
Katie; coming across the daemon conjuring materials left by Lilly, used them to bring forth her own daemon, a black panther named Thorzdren. After Ettik arrived in the Aquanas system, they headed for the planet emanating the energy signal.
While the offspring ship destroyed the rogue fleet vessel on the surface, Ettik readied to teleport everybody down. Once on the ground, the crew found themselves in the mostly-submerged ruins of an ancient city. And were shortly under fire from the enemy.
As the enemy retreated into the ruins, the crew followed them. Coming across a strange red carpeted waiting area, they found no sign of the enemy troops. Once on the carpet, it descended, turning into an unusual submersible that descended to the vast underwater city of Damascus.
*Time passed: None*
As the watery transport flows under the massive signs, it heads for a sphere shaped hole in one of the large central structures. Once inside, you notice it rising, similar marking noting depth as you ascend. Coming up in a large lobby, the invisible shield around your transport drops and a rush of stale air floods in.
This large room looks like the lobby of a once elegant hotel, toppled lounge seating and vastly overgrown potted plants fill the room. Several more carpeted platforms are present in various states of service. The most noticeable feature in the room in a large statue extending hands in welcome, despite its lack of a head.
Claron glances at the statue with extended arms, somewhat disturbed by how quiet it is in the room.
Wraith gives a cautious glance around, as if sensing the swords whereabouts.
DracBlue looks around and continues walking forward.
Clarice sighs softly as she rehashes in her mind the conversation with Tewyn concerning Shinta.
Valrash enters this room and sighs. �Geesh, why do they always try to hide before they die?�
Shadow walks with the rest of the group.
Cara looks at Kyra. ~You certain you are up for this?~
�Looks like we�ve got our choice of exits, and no sign of the bad guys,� Tabris comments, motioning to two sets of revolving doors on the walls to the left and right. Small staircases lead up to the doors; and worn signs apparently list areas in each direction.
Kalseru looks over at Valrash, then ahead. �Why don�t you just try and sense their fears��
Valrash nods and tries to lock onto anyone other than the group.
�Always choices,� Aurora sighs as she pads alongside Stryder.
Valrash senses nothing in the immediate vicinity, a distant cry, faint in his mind but unclear and�alien.
Kyra can�t take her eyes off �Stryder�. ~ Not so much now, no�~
Valrash just looks around. �Well, it�s not human�whatever it is. And I can�t tell where it�s coming from. So��
Kalseru just nods and keeps walking with Valrash.
Eclipse perks his ears and sniffs the air, �Stale�stronger scents to the right.�
Luna sniffs as well and nods, �Yes, but I can�t tell what it is.�
�So we�re going right then?� Stryder tilts his head and looks at the revolving doors in that direction.
Feeling guilty for having not come clean with Tewyn about the piece of paper she found in Shinta's room, Clarice slips her hand into her pants pocket, checking to make sure the paper is still there.
DracBlue walks to the revolving doors in that direction and tries to walk through them.
Tzaphiel follows Drac closely. �It�s so quiet down here.�
Tewyn sits up from his bed. �What are you doing, Clarice? You of all people should know how strong expressed emotions can be. Where would I be now if you never told me that you loved and cared for me?�
Clarice glances ahead at Katie, promising herself that once this is all over she will give the letter to her.
The doors groan in bad need of oil, but turn slowly, taking Drac into a long corridor lined with dusty poster displays on the walls. Hanging lights on the wall are almost completely out, most of the illumination coming from the large windows. Spotlights, attached to the building on the outside, cast watery light into the hallway, creating an eerie submerged atmosphere.
Tzaphiel pushes her way through the revolving door and forms several energy balls to shed some light in the hallway. She sends them floating slowly forward.
Stryder shrugs at Aurora and follows after Tzaphiel and Drac.
�Would I be dead by now? How many of you would of died that day, before you said those words? Kabal never got to hear those type of words from me�.� Tewyn lowers his head as the tears fall from his cheeks.
Valrash walks with Kalseru through the doors, following shortly after Shadow.
Wraith moves through the second revolving door, giving a side-glance at Tza�s energy orbs as they hover in the air like flying lanterns.
�Guess we�re going along for the ride,� Tabris looks over at Claron with a shrug.
Eclipse holds Morthoseth in a soft grip as he heads for the doorway, giving Luna a cautionary glance.
Luna watches the others going through the door. She looks around the lobby slowly, her ears twitching for any other sounds.
Claron slips her hand into Tab�s when she hears his voice, �Guess so.�
The stale air has few sounds besides the group, the soft groan of pressure against the buildings and light noises from bugs living in the jungle sized potted plants.
Katie stretches, watching Valdris bobbing alongside of her. �If there are spiders in there, I don�t want to know.�
Tzaphiel�s orbs light up the dusty posters. They are ragged from age, but advertise various shops within the city. Though the largest of the posters, features once-bright lettering telling you to �See the ancient wonder!� with subtext giving hours, prices and �located in Old Damascus�.
Thorzdren sighs. �Yet another of your irrational fears, Katerina?�
Tewyn leaves his room and walks down to med bay, looking in. �I know you have brought back many souls and let them hear and say many things that needed to be said. I just wish my son had been one of those people. I�m�I�m going to try and bring one back for you this time.� He heads toward the transporter room, �Hey Ettik, get ready to ship me first class to the others, will ya?�
�Spiders?� Shayne questions Katie curiously as he follows her.
Tzaphiel pauses in front of the large poster and reads it. �Wonder what it was?� She mumbles curiously.
Katie growls. �Kiss my lily white ass, cat-boy. I don�t like �em. Everyone is afraid of something.� She turns to Shayne with a shudder. �Yeah. Give me the willies.�
Thorzdren coughs discreetly. �I�m not. Well, except maybe your drunk ass.�
�It�ll take a little longer, but I should be able to get you close. Their signals are�deep in the ocean,� Alexei says over the com as the yellow glow of the transporter appears around Tewyn. With a bright flash, Tewyn feels himself pulled�before he appears in a dull flash in the large lobby, the group heading into a revolving door nearby.
Tewyn pats himself down. �Ok, every part accounted for. Thankfully�cause I didn�t buy the shipping insurance.�
Luna catches the flash in the corner of her eye and spins around with her sword held ready. She lunges and stops just short of impaling Tewyn. �Where the hell have you been?�
�Heights myself,� Shayne adds with a short smirk, giving a glance to Thorn.
Luna pulls back and shakes her head at Tewyn. �Decided to join the adventure?�
Tewyn holds up his hands, �Whoa, kitty. I owed my son some grieving time. If that�s ok with you?�
Katie glares at Thorn. �Jackass.� Then she raises a brow at Shayne. �Heights? Really? I�d never have guessed.�
Luna sighs, �I�m sorry for your loss.� She motions to the revolving door, �We�re going that way, if you care to catch up.�
DracBlue keeps walking, almost ignoring anything that is said to him. He just wants to relieve some stress by beating the crap out of some bad guys.
Shifting his hold on his rifle, Shayne looks ahead, �Looks very deserted, several centuries worth of dust around here.�
Tewyn nods. �Well, I think I will. That statue is just creepy.�
Cara finally realizes that Kyra has been looking at Stryder all this time.
Tewyn walks through the door to try and catch up with everyone else.
At the end of the hallway is an archway leading into another large room. The smell of blood flows into the stale air from beyond the archway.
DracBlue smiles and says, �So where is the dinner?� as he smells the blood.
�I wouldn�t eat it,� Eclipse comments to Drac as he notices the blood in the air as well.
Still feeling the effects from the scotch and reefer, Cara mentally replies, ~Sorry, Kyra... Sorta spaced out there.~
Stryder slides his blade out of its sheath on his belt, �Be ready for trouble,� he says to everyone giving Aurora a nod.
DracBlue�s claws come out from between his knuckles as he continues walking forward.
~It�s okay.~ Kyra follows Katie after the others, her eyes now downcast and moist.
Tzaphiel gives Drac an odd look as she moves away from the poster to follow him. Her orbs space themselves out along the hall way ahead of them.
Luna finally passes through the door after everyone else, and catches up with Eclipse. �I really hate these underwater deals.�
Beyond the archway is a grand hall, ornate metalwork and stone form large pillars spiraling up to the high vaulted ceiling. A short ramp leads down from the hallway and you notice the room has a shallow layer of water in it. A fountain in the center continues to flow, overflowing onto the floor. Several armored corpses lay scattered about, tainting the water red.
Tewyn makes a face. �Eww, don�t drink the punch.�
Clarice talks silently to herself as she follows the others. �I should have told him�.�
�Looks like a few of our friends didn�t make it,� Tabris says with mock sympathy.
Luna looks at the bodies, �The question really is, what killed them?�
DracBlue can swear he sees one of the bodies twitch. So he walks up to it and stabs it through the gut with both claws and rips them out in separate directions, tearing the corpse in twain.
�That�s a bit excessive don�t you think?� Shayne watches Drac carefully.
�Oh what a pity,� Claron smirks.
Katie shudders and walks away. �Yuck.�
Tewyn walks up behind Clarice quietly. �I said a lot of things I shouldn�t of, out of anger and pain. Can only say I�m sorry.�
Kyra gags behind her hand.
Tzaphiel shakes her head at Drac, and looks away in disgust.
DracBlue looks over at Shayne and just rolls his eyes, not caring to respond as he continues. Not seeing any other movement as he walks past the rest, his eyes seem to turn a tint of red.
Multiple corridors connect to this larger chamber. Several are sealed off by large airlock doors, thin windows in them give view to the collapsed tunnels beyond. Pot marks from weapons� fire mark the walls, especially near one of the corridors.
Clarice stops dead in her tracks as she hears Tewyn, �You�re not the only one that is sorry.�
Wraith studies the corridors, noticing the dull rusty signs above them. Stryder follows his gaze, reading off the signs to himself, �Medical complex, Old Damascus, Market, Labs. Looks like access to the residential areas are closed.�
Tewyn reaches out and touches her shoulder. �I just know your words saved my life once. And I just have a feeling someone was trying to do the same.�
Luna watches Drac for a moment sensing a change in him. She touches Eclipse�s arm and gives him a questioning look.
Eclipse glances to Luna feeling her touch, then shifts the look to Drac, he shakes his head and shrugs.
DracBlue stops long enough to say, �What way did they go?� asking no one in particular.
Clarice turns to face Tewyn, �Huh? What do you mean?�
Tzaphiel drops back slowly away from Drac.
�And the maze gets bigger�� Tabris groans as he notices the multiple directions. �Don�t ask me where to go, I�m liable to close my eyes and point.�
Tewyn�s look is tender. �That day in Shaiya�s lair. Just you saying you loved me and would give your life to me. Those words changed everything, remember. What would of happened if you never said those words to me? Where would I of ended up? Those words change lives of those that are lost, Clarice.�
�Dead, just like Shaiya.� Clarice replies emotionlessly.
Wraith listens to the invisible wind, �The enemy has split up...but the sword�� He begins to glance at the different paths again, �There�� He points to the Old Damascus corridor.
DracBlue wastes no time when Wraith points. He begins to walk down the Damascus corridor.
Tewyn looks into Clarice�s eyes, �And I don�t think I would of been the only one. Though she didn�t die soon enough.�
Shadow looks at Tewyn and Clarice. �You�re going to get left behind if you two don�t hurry up,� as he walks past them.
Valrash walks right behind DracBlue, �This one is in a rage of some sorts. I wonder why.�
Kalseru responds, �I see.�
Katie looks back at Froggy and Clarice with a sigh.
Luna nods at Wraith, then watches Drac rush ahead. �Has he suddenly developed a death wish?� She purrumbles to Eclipse.
Clarice starts to slowly nod her head, �You�re right, saved me from dying by your hand and Shadow�s right, we best keep moving.� Clarice turns back and starts moving towards the others.
�Yes we should.� Tewyn agrees.
�I have no idea, but we should probably make sure that wish isn�t granted,� Eclipse sighs and begins heading after them.
Ahead of Drac, the corridor intersects with another. A soft whirring noise echoes from the side corridor as a small mechanical creature hovers to a stop. Held aloft by two propellers, it resembles a flying video camera with a small engine attached between its body and propellers.
DracBlue spots the mechanical creation and runs towards it, slashing at its propellers trying to make it fall.
Tzaphiel keeps energy orbs ready as she follows Drac slowly. She pauses watching the spy cam.
Tewyn follows behind Clarice.
A loud mechanical roar sounds from the corridor the small robot came from. Heavy boot steps echo, running as something resembling a mechanical linebacker barrels into Drac, knocking him hard against the wall with a swing from the large welding gun in its grip. It aims the gun at the others, roaring as it sidesteps, picking up the smaller robot with its other arm.
DracBlue barrels into the wall and just leaps forward from that position. He latches onto the mechanical creature and begins biting and slashing at it.
Valrash swings his sword at it, channeling his fire through the sword.
The larger robot pulls Drac off and smashes him into the flooring, sidestepping Valrash�s swing in the process. Bringing its welding gun up as it aims it at Drac�s arm, welding it off with searing white sparks and a LOT of pain.
Tzaphiel stares at Drac as the robot cuts off his arm. She throws multiple energy orbs at the robot as she runs toward Drac.
The robot stumbles back as the energy orbs hit it, echoing another roar as hoists up its welding gun to aim at Tza.
Katie freezes, staring at the large robot with a serene smile. �Mmmmm�soup can. My favorite toy.�
Shayne aims his rifle, looking for a weak spot as he listens to Katie.
Kyra looks oddly at Katie. �You are soooo twisted.�
Katie�s grin gets bigger. �Here, tinny tinny tinny. Heeeeere tin-boy.� Her eyes narrow and she feels a tug from deep within as she reaches toward the robot, her hand outstretched. As her fist closes, she concentrates on crumpling up the robot like a wad of paper.
The robot fires off a stream from the welder as it collapses under Katie�s power, the white sparks hitting the corridor wall and ceiling. After several loud crunches and groans, it resembles an oversized metal ball.
Tzaphiel slides to the ground next to Drac. �Oh my god.�
Katie dusts her hands off. �Much prettier this way.� Her smirk is so achingly familiar. The Katie of old.
DracBlue�s eyes go from tinted red to fully red, leaving no room for pupils, just red. As he looks over at where his arm was, he bites the ball of metal that is left of the thing; and his socket, where the arm was, begins to look like tissue forming on the outside of it. It then begins to form into his upper arm.
�That a girl, Kat. You and I should open an art gallery together one day,� chuckles Claron.
Luna rushes over to Drac and grabs the detached arm. �I can try to heal it, if you can reattach it.�
Katie laughs. �MmmHmm. Flesh and Metal: A collaboration by DuVallis and McKinnon.�
DracBlue just looks at the arm on the floor and pushes it onto the lump of tissue. He holds it there. Looking at Luna, he seems to not be able to speak at the moment.
Tewyn smirks. �Damn tin tins. Seems Katie hates them too.�
A deranged laugh echoes down the corridor ahead of you, something lithe in the shadows claps hysterically for a few seconds. Lowering its hands, it pours out an incoherent sentence to you before scurrying up the wall and into a large hole in the ceiling.
Luna places her paws over his arm and concentrates on helping him heal.
DracBlue moves his hand as it reattaches itself, with the help of Luna. He pops his neck and stands up.
�What the sam-hell was that?� Claron exclaims as she stares into the shadows.
The soft whirring of another of the small robots plays down the corridor. It pauses looking around at the group then moves to continue past, seemingly carefree.
Katie concentrates and drops the bot to the floor, shorting it out. �Fuckin� things are monitoring us!�
Thorn nods. �So it would seem, Katerina.�
Tzaphiel watches Drac and Luna, holding her breath. As he stands up, a lone purple tear slides down her cheek. She wipes it away quickly and stands up next to Luna. �Thank you.� She whispers.
This time, the result of destroying the robot is quite visible. Flashing red lights pulse on the ceiling, hidden speakers pelt out an old computerized voice, �Alert, criminal activity in progress, Alert. Security forces dispatched.�
Katie grimaces. �Oopsie?�
Tewyn groans. �Well, now that they know we are here�remind me to thank you later, Katie.�
Another roar sounds, as a second larger robot moves over to the downed robot. Aiming its welding gun at Katie, it roars as it surveys the downed smaller robot. Clearly these come in pairs.
Luna lays a paw on Tzaphiel�s shoulder softly. �You�re welcome.� She says over the wail of the alert.
Katie looks over at Tewyn. �Your pleasure is my only goal, Froggy.� She says dryly.
Tewyn eyes the robot and charges into it with his shoulder, trying to knock it off balance.
Claron concentrates on the robot�s gravity that Tewyn is charging, trying to help him knock it down.
The robot sways a bit, but Tewyn feels as if he just ran into a solid wall. It glares at him, then backhands him with the side of the welder, nearly knocking Tewyn�s head off in the process.
�Katerina? If you are finished with your verbal sparring, perhaps you could do something with our large friend?� Thorn�s voice is chastising.
Tewyn flies back and tumbles across the floor, landing and laying in a bloody heap.
Katie sighs. �Very well. Hey, Sardine breath!� She concentrates and pulls this one apart slowly.
Luna moves Tzaphiel back, out of the way just as Tewyn flies past.
�Yes, Kat, make another sculpture for our art museum,� Claron chimes in.
DracBlue starts running towards the robot and begins biting at it. Swinging his newly attached arm and the older arm at it with the claws, forcing themselves through the air at the beast.
Luna watches Tewyn land and sighs, �I suppose I should be fair and heal all stupidity today.� She kneels next to Tewyn and lays her paws on his head to heal him.
Tewyn tries to sit up, his head still spinning. �You owe me shaman. That fucking hurt!�
Clarice moves over towards Tewyn, offering her hand in the process, to help him up.
The robot stumbles against the wall as it is clawed, while attempting to aim its welder at Drac. It misfires, catching Eclipse in the side as well as the wall. The spot on the wall cracks, a stream of water pouring in through the stonework.
Luna shakes her head at Tewyn as he sits up. �Are you guys tryin� to get yourselves killed?�
Tewyn takes Clarice�s hand and looks toward Luna. �I�m just trying to keep a promise.�
DracBlue repeatedly stabs the robot, screaming in a voice that is not his.
�I strongly suggest we leave before what�s outside comes inside,� Shayne recommends as he notices the leak.
Luna runs over to Eclipse and covers his side with her paws to heal his wound. �We have to get out of here.�
The alarm buzzes again, �Alert, damage to structure detected, please evacuate to the nearest safety zone.�
The strange giggler returns, waving at you with extreme eagerness as it glances out from its hole in the ceiling. It seems to motion you this direction, before disappearing with a deranged snicker again.
�Like right now�� as Clarice helps Tewyn up.
Tzaphiel runs over and wraps her arms around Drac from behind, hugging him tightly. She speaks softly in his ear, �Drac, baby, stop, please.�
Valrash spots the deranged snicker and walks towards it in a hurried pace, Kalseru following on his heels.
Tewyn nods. �Ok, lets go already. Lets follow the funny bunny up there.�
Shadow spots the same thing and begins running towards it.
Luna looks at Eclipse, �You alright?� as she removes her paws slowly.
�Did you see that?� Arwyn points towards the spot of the strange giggler.
Tabris nods and follows the others.
Claron follows Tabris.
DracBlue stops stabbing the machine and pushes away from Tza, running towards the person he saw, ready to attack anything that isn�t familiar to him.
Eclipse nods with a wince, �I should be, it still burns though.�
Tzaphiel�s wings form as she goes after Drac. She flies up to the hole in the ceiling and turns to look at Drac.
Several pieces of rock chip out, the stream of water growing larger. Stryder nods as he follows the others down the hallway.
Ahead of you, just your side of the hole in the ceiling, a metal bulkhead begins a slow descent from the ceiling.
Clarice looks at Tewyn, �Can�t you fix that crack?�
Luna nods at Eclipse, �I bet it does. So much for this shirt.� Looking at the hole burned through it. �We need to get through that hole quickly.�
�Well, I can try,� Tewyn lays his hands on the rock around the crack, trying to seal it.
The stone on the wall doesn�t respond to Tewyn, apparently it isn�t real stone, and the water keeps pouring through.
Tewyn frowns. �It�s no good, we better get moving.�
Wraith ducks under the closing door and looks forward, not trusting the hole in the ceiling and its unusual occupant.
Clarice nods her head, then follows after the others.
Luna moves quickly under the door and looks up at Tzaphiel.
Tewyn follows after Clarice.
DracBlue turns and slashes at Valrash. When he strikes, something seems to appear above DracBlue in the form of a demon. DracBlue�s eyes instantly go back to the same color they always were. The demon like figure flows over to Valrash and flies into his chest.
Similar bulkheads descend on the remaining three corridors as the lighting in the immediate vicinity flickers off.
Katie grabs Kyra�s hand and scurries after everyone else.
Shayne glances at Valrash and Drac after he clears the doorway, aiming his rifle at both of them. �What the hell was that?�
~Wait for me!~ Cara�s voice pops into Kyra�s mind as she races after both Katie and Kyra.
Tzaphiel sees the change in Drac and drops down from the hole to land in front of him. �Drac?�
Eclipse slides under the doorway after the others.
Valrash�s eyes instantly turn as red as DracBlue�s eyes had been. He then turns and looks directly at Clarice. He raises his hand, along with a jet of flame, surrounding her. As he closes his hand, the flames begin to close around her. The flames are so hot, they almost instantly incinerate her clothing. He then holds up his other hand and the flames begin to spread to Luna, enclosing on her, singing her fur and her clothing as well.
Katie whirls on Val and punches him.
Tewyn�s eyes narrow at Valrash. �You will not hurt her!� grabbing him and throwing him into the wall.
Stryder narrows his gaze at Valrash and brings his sword pommel into the back of his head hard, knocking him out cold between his and Katie�s blows.
Clarice�s eyes grow wide. �What the fuck are you doing, Valrash?!� as she concentrates on chilling herself to stop the flames from burning her.
Tewyn looks back. �Clarice, are you ok?�
Katie runs to Clarice. �Oh, Clarice�did he hurt you?�
Luna roars as Valrash�s flames engulf her.
�Giant robots, crazy aliens, bad guys and now insane allies,� Tabris sighs, �can this get any better?�
DracBlue looks around confused. �Where the hell am I?�
Clarice looks down at herself as she hears Tewyn. �I think so, but�but�� she stops as she realizes she is completely naked.
Tewyn smirks. �Umm, baby, the water is back in the other room.�
Stryder slides off his armored jacket and hands it to Clarice while averting his gaze.
Shayne kneels down to check Valrash�s pulse, �He�s alive, but out.�
Clarice screams hysterically, �Oh no! NO! NO! NO! Oh my god! Oh my god!� completely oblivious to Stryder wrapping his armored jacket around her.
Tewyn holds Clarice. �What?!? What�s wrong, Clarice?�
Luna stands in the hallway with smoke wafting off her scorched leather. �I just had my fur trimmed from the last heat wave,� she growls.
Another bout of deranged giggling sounds as the lithe figure glances from the shadows ahead. It waves at you again, then scurries down the hallway, disappearing into a propped open doorway at the very end.
Behind your group, you hear the implosion of the corridor behind the bulkhead. A large amount of water pounds against the metal before going silent.
�Oh my god, he tried to kill me! Why? Why would he do that?� Clarice then begins to babble incoherently against Tewyn�s chest.
Tewyn holds Clarice tightly. �I don�t know. We stopped him. I told you I�m not letting anyone hurt you.�
Shayne pulls Valrash up and slings him over his shoulder, �Oof�he�s heavier than he looks. Let�s trade.� He offers Katie his rifle in exchange for her pistol.
DracBlue looks down at Valrash and then to the others, still very confused.
Katie hands over her pistol, shouldering Shayne�s rifle.
Wraith glances over his shoulder at everyone, �We should get moving.�
Luna growls, �What the hell got into him?�
�I don�t know, it looked like possession,� Eclipse comments as he eyes the unconscious form on Shayne�s shoulder.
Katie shakes her head. �It had to have been. We�ve been good to him. He�d have no reason to harm any of us.�
Luna looks at Eclipse, �Well, if it went from Drac to Valrash, who�s it gonna go after next?�
�He�s unconscious for now, so hopefully no-one,� Eclipse comments.
Wraith sighs and continues on, heading towards the open doorway ahead.
Tzaphiel takes Drac�s hand and turns him towards her. �I�m not sure what happened to you. We�ll figure it out when we get back to the ship. Right now we need to get moving.�
DracBlue looks directly at Tza. �Who are you?�
�I agree�� Stryder says and turns to begin walking after Wraith.
Tzaphiel drops his hand and turns away from him quietly. She bows her head and follows Wraith.
�Come on, Claron, we�ve gotta get this sword before the baddies do,� Tabris looks at Claron with a nod.
DracBlue looks over at Katie and walks over to her. �What�s going on here? The last thing I remember was a sharp pain back in the crystal palace.�
Katie reaches out and touches Drac�s cheek. �More than I can tell you right now, little one. I�ll explain it all later. Right now we�ve got to find something.�
DracBlue stands next to Katie and walks with her. �Ok, I�ll wait for the explanation then.�
�Guess we�ll have to figure out what to do with our friend here once we�re back onboard,� Shayne says as he lifts his shoulder with Valrash for a moment.
Claron slowly starts to nod her head as she watches Tewyn with Clarice. Confused and still shocked by what Valrash did, she breaks her gaze and moves toward Tab.
Kalseru lays on the ground out cold as well.
Aurora glances up at Valrash on Shayne�s shoulder, then huffs and grabs Kalseru by the nape of the neck and carries it.
Luna growls, �A demon inside a sword holder, that�s just great.� She looks down and sees the daemon is knocked out as well.
Cara moves slowly over toward her father and Clarice. �Va? Is Clarice alright?� All the while, the desire for revenge begins to burn deep within her soul.
Tewyn shakes his head. �I don�t know,� looking at Cara.
Shadow sighs. �That wasn�t in the briefing,� as he continues walking.
Arwyn watches the drow with Clarice. �Never thought I�d see the day that a drow would actually show compassion,� she whispers softly.
Tzaphiel catches up to Wraith, �So, do we follow the strange guy, or not?�
Sobbing heavily, Clarice mumbles, �Oh�my�g-god. I-I should have�never�touched it��
Tewyn cocks his head. �Touched what, Clarice?�
DracBlue looks around and asks Katie, �Where are we?�
�Someplace I don�t wanna be. Looking for another magic artifact, as we�ve been doing for weeks.� Katie sighs and pats Drac�s hand.
�T-the paper�in�in�Shinta�s room,� Clarice manages to get out through her sobs.
Luna catches up with Wraith, �Is the sword still here?�
�It seems to be leading us in the direction I sense,� Wraith comments idly as he goes through the propped open doorway at the end of the hallway. The next room is two storied. He walks over to the railing and looks around. �There,� he points at the rails and singular subway-like car sitting on them.
Katie stops, turning. �What paper?� She asks slowly. �What are you talking about?� Her voice goes flat and numb.
�The what? He left something?� Tewyn questions.
Arwyn turns away and follows after Claron and Tab.
Kyra looks up sadly, watching Stryder through half closed lids.
Luna follows Wraith and looks where he points. �I really don�t like the looks of that thing.�
�Y-yes�I took it�OH�what have I gone and done!� Clarice wails.
Valrash twitches as he lays on Shayne�s shoulder.
�Took what?� Katie�s voice rises in pitch. �Shinta left me something?�
�It is that or walk down the tracks,� Wraith says matter-of-factly as he hops over the railing and lands below.
Clarice raises her head to look at Katie. �A letter�I took it�I-I�m soooo soooorry.�
Eclipse looks over at Luna, �Whatever you decide, I�ll go with.� He touches his side again, seeming bothered by the healed wound.
Katie�s eyes widen and well up. �Wh�what kind of letter, Clarice?� Her face turns pale. �What was on it? Did you read it? Where did you find it?� Her rapid-fire questions coming in a blur of sound.
Luna sighs as she lays a paw on his arm, �I don�t see that we really have a choice. We have to move forward. Going back is not an option.�
Tzaphiel shrugs and flies easily down to the subway car.
�I-I was going to give it to you, I swear!� Clarice moans. �Yes, I read it�I burned it to disk. Forgive me�Kat�please,� Clarice pleads.
�Let�s hope there�s room for our luggage,� Tabris smirks as he glances over at Shayne, who sighs.
Valrash begins to moan, �Who hit my head?�
Katie stands looking dumbfounded. �He did. He did leave me a reason. He�� Her gaze shutters and she turns on her heel to walk, clamping down on any emotion.
Aurora lets go of Kalseru as it begins to rouse, rejoining Stryder at his side. Stryder moves around the balcony to take the staircase down to the subway car.
Kalseru nods to Aurora and then runs over to Valrash and looks at him funny but doesn�t say anything.
�Katerina�� Thorns soft voice intrudes.
�Forget it!� Katie snaps at him, fighting to remain emotionless.
Shayne sets Valrash down against the wall, casually aiming his pistol at him, �I wouldn�t think about trying those pyrotechnics again, kid.�
DracBlue watches Katie and stays close to her, kind of worried but not saying anything.
Luna takes Eclipse�s hand and leads him down the stairs towards the subway car.
Valrash looks at Shayne, �What are you talking about? And why is there a gash on my chest?�
Clarice begins rattling off, nearly word for word, what Shinta had written down on the paper. When she finishes, she screams, �BECAUSE OF ME, HE DIES!�
Katie�s shoulders stiffen, and a loud sob echoes in the space.
Wraith steps inside the subway car, looking around for a way to activate it.
Claron and Tab follow Luna and Eclipse to the subway car.
Tears well up in Cara�s eyes as she hears Clarice tell Katie and her father about the letter and its contents. The more she hears, the more intense her desire for revenge becomes.
Tzaphiel folds her wings into her back and steps into the subway car with Wraith.
Arwyn follows behind the others to the subway car.
�What was that thing that went into you?� Shayne questions Valrash, pistol still trained on him.
Valrash stands up and looks at Shayne. �What are you talking about?� as he looks around and sighs. �Now I have no clue where I am either�wait�I was down there��
Stryder and Aurora step into the car, Stryder takes a seat on one of the long benches inside.
�Well, move along, you can try to explain your way out of this while walking,� Shayne says in a command as he motions towards the stairs.
Luna steps into the subway car hesitantly. Her scorched tail held stiffly behind her.
Valrash shrugs. �I�ve been blamed for a lot of things, but what am I being blamed for this time?�
�You�ve had better days,� Eclipse comments as he eyes Luna�s tail.
�For starters, trying to kill Luna and Clarice,� Shayne says as he walks behind Valrash with his pistol still aimed but slightly relaxed.
Valrash shakes his head. �Why would I do that? Luna is the only one among us who can heal, and Clarice has done nothing to me.�
Luna growls lowly as she twitches her stiff tail at Eclipse. �It�s not funny.�
Valrash stops and his eyes dart from side to side like he�s reading a book. He just stands there for a second.
Katie steps into the car, sitting down stiffly. Kyra settles gently beside her. Thorn lays down at Katie�s feet and sighs.
Valrash stumbles on something and falls backwards.
Kyra lays her hand gently on Katie�s arm.
Katie looks over absently, brushing her fingers over Kyra�s hand, her eyes devoid of life.
Valrash falls down. As he does, his hand falls onto Shayne and scratches his leg. The demon pops out of his chest and seeps into Shayne.
With Cara�s help, Tewyn is able to lead Clarice to the others.
Claron sits with Tabris on the long bench opposite Stryder staring at the lioness that is curled up next to his feet.
Katie stares back out the window, her face blank. But her mind replays a million moments with Shinta, beginning with how she rejected him the first time she met him, because he spoke of things only Kyo would know.
Shayne stumbles back, the scratch on his leg bleeding but none of the blood drips off. Picking up Valrash, Shayne glares at him and leans in close, blocking the view of everyone in the car, �Foolish mistake, Valrash�I can�t be possessed, and you�re clearly a danger to everyone,� Syne�s voice very obvious in the whisper.
Pushing Valrash back, he aims his pistol at him and fires. The loud bang echoes down the subway tunnel as Valrash slumps to the ground, blood flowing from the hole burnt between his eyes. Kalseru fades to dust as Valrash is killed.
Shayne stumbles to the subway car, feigning distress, �H-he attacked me�I had to.�
Thorn licks his paw for a moment, then takes a deep breath. �I�m so sorry, Katerina.�
Wraith turns at the gunshot, then shakes his head. Shifting his attention back to the subway controls, he locates the powering up switch and flicks it.
Luna runs out of the subway car. Falling to her knees next to Valrash, she runs her paws over his head trying to heal him. �Oh goddess�� she moans as she knows it�s no use.
Katie doesn�t respond to Thorn, just stares out the window.
Cara turns to look out the subway car window as she hears the shot. She smiles. �Good, saves me from having to do it.�
Luna sees the daemon fade to dust and she bows her head and prays to Selenia for his peace. Rising to her feet, she sees his sword and picks it up carefully. ~Luciendar, we can�t leave one behind.~
Cinthoric slips from Luna�s grasp, sailing through the air to hover next to Wraith. Wraith tilts his head towards the blade with a frown and nods, �Until you find another��
~No, we cannot�it will find another, but it will need time.~ Luciendar sighs, ~Losing one�s wielder is a great pain�~
Luna watches Val�s sword float away. With a sigh, she follows it back onto the subway car. She takes a seat next to Eclipse and lays her head on his shoulder. �I couldn�t heal him.� She whimpers quietly.
Tzaphiel stares out the window towards Valrash�s body sadly.
�I know�.� Eclipse says with a heavy sigh.
Shayne glances back at Valrash, then at everyone in the car. Ripping a section of his shirt off, he wraps it around his leg wound.
With a few buzzes, the subway car�s engine sputters to life, a small trail of steam coming from underneath it. It begins its slow pace along the tracks, its clanking and sparking can be heard as it slowly picks up speed, heading through the large underground tunnel apparently carved from undersea rock.
Meanwhile: The stone cavern echoes the incoherent chanting of several lithe figures, genuflecting in front of a sword-in-the-stone style altar. Flanked by the two shield-bearing statues, the cavern has clearly been here long before the city was built around it.
A clear blue bubble surrounds the sword half-sunken into the carved stone altar. Crude candles and religious items made from scraps and junk lay on the altar around it. The lithe figures continue their chanting, until one in the rear turns its neck unnaturally to look over its shoulder.
A purple blast demolecularizes half of the praying creatures, the others rise to their feet angrily, only to be shot down by pulse-rifle fire. The black and silver armored man studies the sword, then motions the slender, and clearly scared, scientist forward, �Figure out how to retrieve that blade, failure is not an option.� As he clenches his fist, a purple energy glows from it.