Twilight IV: No More Heroes!

[Murkus]

Qua'gith is beginning to grow bored and restless by the next night. It was so different here... the atmosphere, the creatures. So different from being amongst his own people. It takes all the patience the young Predator has to avoid searching for a lesser target. It would be a disgrace for such a hunter as he to bring back nothing more than some warrior-human, when he could catch the likes of a vampire. He is startled by the sudden appearance of the shadow in the alleyway, his cloaked head swivelling to take a closer look.

For a moment, the Yautja is unsure. He switches off his heat vision, tapping his wrist device. Without a sound, Qua'gith leaps to the rooftop above the alleyway, landing with a heavy, focused grace and crouching low. He pokes his head out of from the side of the roof, his 'hair' dangling around his helmet in the dark. What's down there?

[industrious]

Jenny

Jenny moves closer, and pat his arm.

"Relax kid. Try looking inward instead of out. Look at yourself, and what lies behind your self. Deeper into the collective unconscious."


Sam
"The fight against evil. Against supernatural evil, that is. I'm not really good at social justice, or anything."

Sam takes a drink from the glass.

"Sorry for what?"

The Midnighter

The leather-clad antihero looks around at the quiet mob. They don't appear to be a threat anymore.

"Go on, kids. Go back home."

[darkblade]

The Bride

"Travis? Have you always the attention span of gnat?" The Bride asks as the cab drives off towards St. Peters. She then throws open the car door and leaps out in a feeble attempt to chase after Alice.

***

Kirby

"How exactly do you plan to get us all the way back to the house we destroyed?"

***

Ghost Rider

Whether it is in a structured style like Judo or Kung Fu or in pure pragmatic street fighting one of the number one rules of hand to hand combat is to use your opponent's strength and momentum against them. In this case that means as soon as his footing is broken to jump and use the force of her pull on the chain to fall on top of her, two flamming boots leading the way.

[industrious]

Nicodemus

"We aren't going to Carlisle's abode. No; we are going to a Mr. Wallenquist's house to pick up a certain artifact. With it, we will be able to actually wield the Chainfire."

[Cracklord]

News
Martial law has been declared, with soldiers being called in to forcibly restore order. They have been granted emergency powers to detain any individual they deem ‘suspicious’. Many citizens are quite understandably disturbed by this, however, and worry about the extent of the efforts to pacify the city.
Colonel Rick Flagg, elected spokesperson for the National Defense forces, had this to say: “The United States does not start fights, but we will not bend over and allow this to continue.” He has dispatched an entire tank detachment, who have been authorized lethal force.
Old Town has closed off, and has taken two hundred individuals hostage, saying they will kill one every hour that Miho remains in custody. The remaining police have ignored this threat, claiming international law, no bargains with terrorists. They have not, however, made any effort to free the prisoners.
Jenny Sparks, after mysteriously returning to life was picked off by a sniper while addressing the city. No culprits have been found, or looked for, though the police promise they will investigate the matter thoroughly as soon as peace is restored.
The gang war has taken a surprising turn, with Wallenquist found dead in a graphic fashion. A powerful, dangerous man, there is question who could have had him killed in his own house. While the Magliozzi Crime Family are the obvious suspects, Authority member ‘The Midnighter’ was seen entering Sacred Oaks before the deeds.
Far from lessening the effects, they have worsened as the majority of the mob are without direction and control, killing each other as easily as those of the opposing factions.
The terrorist has not reappeared, but in light of the chaos, many people are taking his words to heart.

Finally, the scientific community is baffled by a phenomenon occurring in the night sky, that has caused an increase of suicides among scientists. There are protests going on right now in front of the NASA building in Washington, Jet Propulsion Laboratories, the Kennedy Space Center, and, strangely enough, the Large Hadron Collider.
Overhead, without any fuss, the stars are going out. While this does violate the laws of physics, since some of those stars are millions of light-years away, there can be no doubt it is occurring, and the possible source has many terrified. Astronomers claim that something is not merely stealing the stars, but the very light they omit, leading to the assumption that it is magical in nature...

Nicodemus, Kirby and Sylar
Sacred Oaks has been fortified by the armed forces. There are armored cars and tanks and jeeps, improvised additional fencing with barbed wire, and even a helicopter. You wonder idly if there are landmines as well. Sneaking in is a good way to be shot.

Qua'gith
As natures top superpredator, Predators have several senses, each tailored for different types of hunting, all of which would be incomprehensible to a human. Vision is based on detecting heats, rather then light spectrums, allowing easy tracking and helping overcome camouflage and concealment or cover. Usually, the hunters rely on this, but it does have it’s drawbacks, which is why the helmet has a filter to help in warm climates.
A second sense is for detecting movements. It has its weaknesses, but when used in conjunction with sight is extremely useful in pinpointing prey.
A third detects vibrations rather then sound waves.
Blind, you feel the presence of three beings speaking in hushed voices, although you can only guess their locations vaguely. A flip of your helmet translates their words into comprehensible language.
“Aro says we are to escort her to the temple. That’s all that matters. Not whether you trust her, Felix. Because, when you get right down to it, you are replaceable. Your value is you’re ability to hit until you are told to stop. Not the dulcet tones of your voice, or you’re brains higher functions.”
You’re prey. You’d bet your manhood on it.

The Bride
You’d break your legs if you got out now, you realize. Not a good idea. The taxi heads towards the edge of town. Rome is four hours drive through the country, afterall.
The Taxi driver switches on some music you don't recognize, and ignores your protestations. For the first time you really look at him. he has an olive complexion with a chalky pallor, and dark hair that reaches his shoulders. He's tall and lean, and looks far more like a warrior then a taxi driver. Alarm bells go off in your head.

The midnighter and Anderson
None of them react. They are as still as statues. Like puppets with nobody jerking their strings. As you look closer, the hairline scars for a patchwork, as though they have been taken to pieces with uncommon neatness, then equally carefully reassembled.
Carlisle takes their organs. She takes the rest.

Ghost Rider
She makes no effort to resist, holding still, and allowing you to beat her. At the last second, she vanishes just before you can begin using lethal force and the gangsters comes awake.
They don’t seem eager to talk to you, most of them are backing away. It seems amazing, people are terrified of these old men?

Jenny
He shakes his head. “I was wrong. I wanted to fix things, but one symbol won’t make a bit of difference. But now… Now I can. I can fix everything. I can show them all! The Middle East could be great again, but only when we stop killing each other and start thinking. Stop remembering and start deciding to move forward. We have to look ahead.” Suddenly he shakes his head, realizing he is getting ahead of himself.
“What may I do for you?”

Sam
Alice pats your arm. “You seem nice enough, I even feel guilty. But I have to do this. Otherwise, he’ll get me, and I’ll die under his scalpel. Nothing is worth that. I already had Jasper killed so it wouldn’t happen to him. But I’m not ready to die.”
The priests arm rests on your shoulder. Immovable as a steel bar. She shakes her head, but he doesn't move his arm. "Setting you free first was my way of paying you back. Now hold still for twenty minutes, and it will all be over."

[industrious]

Sam

Right. Betrayed by somebody he made a deal with. He'd say he was surprised, but really...

"And what? You're going to kill me? Really?"

Panicked. He was familiar with panicked.

"And why me? I mean, I'm not bound to the Devil any more, right? So I'm harmless. I mean, really. I've survived this long more on luck than anything else."

Heart beginning to throb in his ears. Oh boy.

"AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN TWENTY MINUTES!"

The Midnighter

The Midnighter's face turns ugly. Or at least, uglier than normal.

"I am going to kill whoever is responsible for this. In fact, I just might destroy this town on general principles."

The leader of the junta controlling the United States places a call.

"Colonel Flagg. I want a situation report."

Jenny Sparks

"Doctor?" It's him. Not Jerom, but still the Doctor. He still wants to make a difference. Still wants to make the world a better place. Jenny feels slightly more hopeful.

"I need your help. I need you to bring back my successor. Please. I'll...I'll do anything. Pay any price. Anything. Just bring her back. Bring back this Century's Spirit."

Nicodemus

"Well, now..." Nicodemus muses. "This does look interesting..."

Nicodemus walks up to the nearest guard.

"Excuse me, sir. I have been out of town for the past few days, and was hoping to return to my house."

[Cracklord]

Sam
"She's not killing you boy. She's selling you." The man dressed as a priest replies. "To the Volturri, in exchange for protection. You won't die. In fact, I'm fairly sure they'll keep you alive for a long time."
She nods. "I'm sorry Sam. Sorry to get you involved. But its the only way. You did say you'd do whatever you could to help me."

The Midnighter
The officer picks up. "The situation is pretty well shot straight to hell. Thanks mostly to you. We've got two thirds of the city under control, the rest is being treated as a warzone. We'll move in tomorrow, but I feel it would be better to just burn the place to the ground and piss on the ashes."

Nicodemus
"That's a crying shame. No crossing zones without clearance. Be on your way, citizen."

Jenny
The man blinks, and falls silent. You can feel without hearing voices clamoring for attention in his head, all with different advice and suggestions. At last he shakes his head, as though clearing away spiderwebs, and smiles. "I will. But not yet. I was made Doctor for a reason. Because of my home. Every second I spend helping your friend, I will be condemning my own people to death. People who I should be saving."

[industrious]

Sam

"I DIDN'T MEAN SELLING ME!" Sam is really starting to panic.

"I mean, twenty minutes. What's so special about twenty minutes? Are you even a priest?"

Trying to calm himself, Sam stares at Alice.

"You are just as bad as my father."

The Midnighter

"Wallenquist took out one of my men, Colonel. Killing him relatively quickly was a mercy. As for your suggestion...do it. But try to evacuate as many civilians as you can first. Coordinate with Apollo and Swift to get them to safety. You have five hours."

Jenny

She doesn't realize it, but she's hugging him. Hard. And there are tears running down her eyes. Relief. Hope. Joy. Her body is shuddering.

"Thank you. Thank you."

Controlling herself, she steps back from him.

"I'm sorry. I don't even know your name."

Nicodemus

"Very well." Killing him would be of no use; Nicodemus can see several other guards in plain view of the neighborhood. Returning to the others, out of sight of the various devices and soldiers stationed there, he looks vaguely annoyed.

"Shift into your alternate forms, and enter the area surreptitiously. I will remain here. In a manner of speaking."

Nicodemus's shadow detaches from his feet. While only a partial manifestation of Nicodemus's alternate form, it was still imbued with a portion of his consciousness. And Anduriel's as well. And who would shoot at a shadow?

[Cracklord]

Jenny
He steps forward and hugs her again, a small smile on his face. He seems glad to offer you comfort, drawing you into a warm embrace where you feel your tension and stress ease. He's using his powers, you realize, to calm you down, as he pats you softly on the back. "I am Habib ben Hassan. Jenny Sparks."

Sam
"No I'm not." She says softly. "I just don't want to die." She steps outside, closing the door behind her.
"Don't be too hard on her. If you were in a situation where your father wanted to cut you up and shut down bits of your brain, you'd want to get away too. And yes I am. Presbyterian, actually. But Rasputin was a priest, and Stalin wanted to be. My name is Afton. And I work for a... being, who'd love to posses the antichrist."

Midnighter
Flagg laughs. "Well, that I can respect. Alright then, lets let the city burn." He hangs up.

[Draxx]

Anderson
The priests teeth are grinding together so hard you fear the they'll snap under the pressure his jaw is exerting. "Nae ye willnae." He promises, his huge fist turning white as it clenches. "Ye willnae get a chance."

[Cracklord]

Anderson and Midnighter
While you were angsting over the fate of the kids, the wolf has slipped away. You only notice when you hear a long mournful howl at the empty night sky.

[darkblade]

Kirby

The stars are falling, which for a being born of humanity's fear of the stars like Kirby this is a good thing in the short term while the world starts to panic based on the celestial bodies' unnatural actions but in the long term it would weaken him over time since mankind will not fear that which doesn't exist anymore. For the time being Kirby puts these changes to the back of his mind and shifts into his flamming locust form and slips past the guards.

***

The Bride

A rather sharp blade is placed on the driver's throat. "Turn us around, now. His holiness can wait."

***

Ghost Rider

Johhny approaches the don and growls slightly in a threatening manner "Where did she go?"

[industrious]

The Midnighter

"Damn it to hell." The Midnighter sets off in the direction that he heard the wolf. Given the extent of its injuries, it couldn't have gone far.

Jenny Sparks

Jenny returns the hug warmly, holds it for a moment, and steps back.

"Thank you, Habib. I'll leave you to your work. I have my own to finish."

Jenny funnels herself through one of the electrical outlets the old building has(thank God for renovations), and begins her long journey back to Basin City. From the electrical outlet, she had to get to a large batch of servers, the nearest being in Italy, and then piggyback onto a signal headed to another major server group in Texas. From there, she figured she'd be able to pop back over to Basin City. And since she didn't want to shut down all internet traffic for the next five minutes, it would take her several hours to do so. And even then, the internet would be a great deal slower for those hours.


Sam
"I wouldn't sell somebody else to do it, though." Sam starts looking for a way out. While the priest's hand is still grasping his shoulder, he could at least make a plan. Pity he wasn't any good at those.

"And I'm not the antichrist. You did that little ritual freeing my from the Devil, and everything. What happened to 'the rest is up to you'?"

[Cracklord]

Kirby
A few of the locusts are swatted by unthinking soldiers, but you get through unnoticed. The streets are deserted, the lights are out. Not a soul to be seen.

The Bride
The man turns. You see a glint of red in his eye, and his teeth seem far to white. "Certainly madam." He says, then turns the wheel so hard and sharp the taxi skids and rolls. As it does, he leaps out with unnatural grace before you can touch him, leaving the two of you tumbling along the road with no control over the car.

Blaze
"I don't know. I was never anything but a leaver to power to her." The man replies. "What to do, she was beautiful, if a cruel, backstabbing bitch. I miss her already." He gives a short bark of laughter. "Let me suggest her dads place. Cullens."
he rest of the mafia are begining to wake up now.

Sam
"What's got you so scarred?" Afton replies, removing the sunglasses he's been wearing. Red eyes glint in his heavy face.
"I mean, Aro has to be better then your father. As a slave, you are going up in the world. And this one means a life of fast cars, more money then you can spend and even faster women. You hear what happened in London seven years back?"

Midnighter
No sign of him. He could have gone anywhere. You are starting to hate this city more and more with every moment. Then you catch a glimpse of what looks like a wolf darting into an alleyway.

Nicodemus
Andurial stirs. Something is happening. Something I never thought to see. Look up. The moon is alone in the night sky, suspended in a black night. And the stars are falling.

[industrious]

Sam

"I'm not exactly eager to go from being the slave of my Father to the slave of somebody else. I'd rather like to have my own life. Free will and all that."

Sam fidgets in the chair, searching for a way out. There had to be one. Right? Right?

"And no, I didn't."

Nicodemus

Interesting. Very Interesting. What does it mean? I presume something of our nature?

Nicodemus sounds slightly pained. With only a partial manifestation, looking through the senses of his shadow is draining. He's sent the shadow to follow Kirby, towards Wallenquist's house. With the man's death, the heart of Ahrium was his for the taking.

The Midnighter

The Midnighter breaks into a sprint at the sight of the wolf. He's already rolling possibilities. Time to end this. His only regret was that there weren't any incredibly painful unnecessary organs left to remove.

[Cracklord]

Sam
"Really? So what do you know?" He asks. With his other hand, he puts a cigarette between his lips. "Bill Clinton was shot. Entire countries in turmoil, a fire that can be seen across the channel, and a blanket cutting out all communication. And when the smoke clears, London has burned to the ground, no survivors. Everyone had been killed the old fashioned way. That cover what you know?"
He leans down. "You know who did that? A man. An ordinary human. Had a mother who loved him, went to school, had friends and probably a puppy. And he killed all those people with a smile on his face, for no reason."
He blws the cigarette smoke in your face. "That's the world you live in. It's not a fair world, or a just world, it's a world where you are ordinary, and so you're a toy for those who aren't, a victim or somebody to save, nothing more. And it doesn't matter what side they pretend to take, they'll all as bad."
He moves his face back. "You wouldn't last two days on your own. Nobody can. That's why the Authority exist. Everyone finds somebody and glues their lips firmly to their ass, so they don't wind up like old London town."

Nicodemus
Either something terrible approaches, or the world is ending.
The house is deserted, and seems diminished somehow. A sheet has been laid over the man's body, but nobody has moved him.
The house is massive. It could take weeks to search, as he could have hidden it anywhere.

The Midnighter
You corner him in a deserted alleyway, where he is attempting to climb a wall, scrambling desperately, neither completely animal nor human. Then he turns, and you see madness in his eyes. There is nothing more dangerous then a cornered, injured animal, with nothing to lose. Nothing at all.

[industrious]

Sam

"Then too bad for me. But guess what? I'm still not going to roll over for somebody. Not anymore."

Terror, and anger and rage and frustration. The really dark spectrum of emotions, as people reckon them. And Sam's powers came from his Father. Once more, he reaches out with them, and seizes not the basin, but Afton's shoe. He aims to flip him over.


Nicodemus

Good.

Nicodemus frowns. While it would take weeks to search the place from top to bottom, there are only so many logical hiding places to put it. And given that Xaltoan had spoken with him before, and had done so behind his current master's back, Nicodemus could deduce that the entity had some semblance of free will.

From within the shadow, a sly, quiet voice speaks.

"Xaltoan. I would speak with you."

The Midnighter

The Midnighter has throwing stars between each knuckle of his hands. He throws them with pinpoint accuracy, and immediately thereafter, extends his staff, bracing it for the invevitable charge. At the proper angle, it would slide through the wolf's open maw, and into its brain, turning the beast's momentum against itself.

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
Without appearing, the figure is simply there, resting casually, as though with all the time in the world. You just didn't notice him before somehow. "So, you won." He says. "I wondered if you would. Are you behind all this chaos as well?"

Sam
The huge man staggers, stumbling around, regaining his footing after about ten seconds. It's enough time to get up. Now what? He's big, and dangerous, and looks in much better shape then you.

The Midnighter
He's already charging by the time you throw the stars, neither of which touch him more then superficially. Then he's on you, the staff taking him in the sternum and rupturing his throat instead. Not good. It would still kill him, but not right now, and some animals could tear you to shreds before they figure out they are dead.
His rapid fluctuating transformation throws you off. It's totally random, something his brain has no control over, so your computers can only give vague suggestions.
It doesn't quite come down to that, but by the time he finally stops moving you are a mess, covered in his blood, your blood, and with more torn ligaments and sinews then most people realize you had. About all that can be said is he didn't get any organs or arteries. Thank heavens for small mercies. With that, you black out.
You awake a few hours later, as a clean, designer shoe so expensive most shop-owners would accept it instead of cash comes to rest next to your head. "Well, this is fascinating." Says a neat, cultured voice. "Intriguing in fact. Perhaps exactly what I have been looking for all this time..."

[industrious]

Nicodemus

"Some, but not all. I took advantage of other's actions. If people wish to cause chaos by themselves, then who am I to disturb their work? I was in the United States for most of the Thirties and Forties. The Axis Powers was entirely the work of man. The US Concentration Camps...those were my little contribution."

Sam

He had an exit. Sort of. A panicked, desperate exit, but still an exit. In a manner of speaking. As soon as Afton staggered from the blow, Sam was sprinting towards one of the closed windows. He goes through it, jumps...savors the freedom of what are sure to be his final moments on Earth...
and lands on the ground completely unharmed. Even his suit is intact...

Wait. Of course it would be. It was given to him by a guardian angel, so it made sense that it would protect its wearer. Not sparing a look back, Sam runs away from the building as fast as he can.

The Midnighter

He's mostly healed at that point. He isn't one hundred percent, but his battle computer is fully functional, and his limbs can move at peak human ability. Perfect.

The Midnighter springs to his feet, and faces the newcomer.

"Who are you?"

[Cracklord]

Midnighter
He chuckles, putting his hands firmly in the pockets of his waistcoat. It's an old fashioned suit, but has aged remarkably well. “I suppose I need a name. You may call me… God. Yes. Afterall, to you, I am. I am your only hope of salvation. You live and die on my whim, and your existence takes the form I will. You obey my every command. And you can do nothing against me.”
He smiles. He is the best looking man you’ve ever seen, chiseled perfection, flawless in every aspect. It's disgusting. “You will fear me, and fear, after all, is the purest form of worship. And if you serve me well, all the treasures of this world will I give to thee. Yes, God will do quite nicely.”

Sam
Alice grabs your arm. Your momentum stops abruptly, as though you just ran into a brickwall. There is no way she's that strong, yet she is. Effortlessly. Future sight. That makes it hard.
"Don't struggle Sam." She says, still soft. "It's better this way."

Nicodemus
"I have never understood such casual actions. Humans are quite able to kill themselves without my assistance. Besides, cheap, mass produced evil is so crass. I prefer craftsmanship, beginning with a virtuous soul and chipping away until they become a more pleasing shape."

Ghost Rider
Hands as cold as ice and strong as a vice fasten around your neck. She never left, she only vanished for a brief moment. Assumptions like that get you killed.

Anderson
You went the other way, and find yourself lost. Lost, that is, until you feel something approaching, by the prickling on the back of your neck as the unnatural draws near.

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

Grabbing Blaze's neck would be impressive since he doesn't have one as the Ghost Rider he has nothing but a flaming spine. Of course she could probably snap it with only moderate effort so Blaze backs into the wall closest to where the vampire stands hoping to slam her into it.

***

Kirby

Kirby flies off to the house he was instructed to, taking note of the odd shadow following his flight path. Does Nicodemus except something?

***

The Bride

With the car rolling uncontrolably the Bride kicks out a window and does something seemingly impossible. She stabs the pavement with her sword, where any other sword would shatter into hundreds of pieces even attempting something like this the all but mystical Hazo blade just might be able to pull it off. If not well then she better hope she dies in the car so she doesn't have to deal with Bill over the loss of his sword.

[industrious]

The Midnighter

The Midnighter laughs at the man's pretense.

"Hate to break it to you, nutjob, but God is dead. We killed him. Fried his brain at the beginning of the 21st century."

The Midnighter breaks out one of his many, many ordinary switchblades.

"Me...I know what special abilities you have. I can detect the electrical activity in your brain. I know what moves you're preparing to make. If it comes down to it, I've fought our little fight already, in over a million different ways. I can hit you before you can even see me."

He takes out another switchblade, clicks it open.

"If you're God, I'm Nietzsche."


Sam
"If you can tell the future..." Sam struggles against Alice's hold. It doesn't work. "then you know that's not going to happen."

Times like this make him wish that he had more power. Hellfire would be very nice at a time like this. But he doesn't, so he makes do. One of the more annoying powers the Devil gave him was the ability to be incredibly slippery. Until he got it under control, even the simple act of walking was murder. Even when he duct taped his shoes. Still running on adrenaline and terror, he makes the sleeve of his jacket effortlessly smooth and slick and slippery. Her tight grip turns against her, as it translates into an extra burst of speed as he keeps running away from the two vampires.

Nicodemus
Nicodemus raises an eyebrow.

"Creating the Japanese internment camps was a work of art. A magnificent subversion of the country's mindset. I chiseled away at top army advisers, keeping my influence subtle all the while. They were righteous men, for the most part, otherwise. But in that..."

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
"Nobility? So easy to exploit." The older magician replies. "Because I know myself to be right, everyone else must be wrong. Uncompromising valor is so easy to twist, until they see enemies everywhere." He steps back. "But I doubt you came to trade stories, Nicodemus. What do you want?

The Bride
The car skids away, and you vault over the sword to stand in the middle of the road. For a moment the vampire looks surprised, but then something you recognize flickers across his face. Fear.
"Impressive." He says, backing away a few steps.

Midnighter
The man listens, his expression not changing one iota. Then he says "Put the knives down." Before you are even consciously aware, you have, and are standing unarmed. Whats worse, you didn't even try to resist the compulsion.
He smiles then, a little half smile, and steps closer. "Well done. You are helpless against me. I could make you strangle yourself. I wonder, if I did, would you die? Or would you muscles relax and fall slack when you fell unconscious? What do you think?"

Sam
You slip free, and continue running. Glancing back, you see the big man after you. He's moving a lot faster then you are. You have maybe half a minute before he catches you.

Ghost Rider
She shudders under the impact, and er hands slip away. They are quite badly burned, you notice. They clearly are not totally immune to hellfire, just resistant to it.
You have her at your mercy now.

[industrious]

The Midnighter

"...I hate mind games."

The Midnighter is still faster than he is, and since the man just spoke, his battle computer has just adapted to the newfound ability. The next time he prepares to speak again, he'll be able to rip out his windpipe.

Nicodemus

"Well..." Nicodemus drawls. "I was wondering if you could tell me where Wallenquist put your Heart. I rather doubt that you'd enjoy having a square, simple-minded thug of a soldier stumble upon it."

Sam

Still running as fast as he can, Sam tries to review his options. They had knowledge of the city, enhanced speed and strength, and a really intense reason to get at him. He had a ten second lead and some minor Devil powers. If only he had a vessel...

Inwardly, he curses himself. He did have a vessel; during one case, he had gone behind his Father's back to acquire a generalized one. Taking the form of a nerf gun, it could send anyone to hell, with no resistance possible. Or course, said gun was in his duffel, and his duffel was...back in the studio. Brilliant.

"Steve," he mutters under his breath, invoking the name of the single angel he knows. Said angel had also broken his hand before he could slip free of his deal with the devil, so in the young man's mind, Heavan owed him one. "If Upstairs really has a plan for me, and it doesn't involve being the slave of a bunch of vampire priests from Hell, then I could really use some help right now. Would a deus ex machina be too much to ask for?"

Talking was tiring. Left him gasping for air, and made him slower. They were almost at his heels.

[Cracklord]

Sam
The vampire catches you. Brilliant. Asking for heaven to occasionally intercede seems doomed to failure. Then again, they just set you free. Maybe Heaven isn't interested anymore either. Or maybe Steve just doesn't have the pull. Either way, it's not good news.
"Aro wants you alive. Not well." The vampire says softly, dragging you back towards the studio. A few passersby are watching curiously, but none intercede. "Just a groom who got cold feet. Won't be the first." Afton says loudly in Italian, which you don't speak, to which they chuckle and stop paying attention.

The Midnighter
"Really. How interesting. Perhaps I should tell you to die. Would you kill yourself, stop your heart? Or just stop breathing. I don't know. Do you?" He's utterly insane. Utterly, irredeemably insane.
"Now..." You dart forward before he can finish his statement. You fail to make the slightest impression on his throat. With a casual flick of his arm he backhands you away. It's like being slugged by Apollo. What's worse, your computers inform you belatedly there was absolutely nothing you could have done to protect yourself.
"Do not touch me." He orders, and you feel a compulsion enter your mind.

Nicodemus
"And you were doing so well. I don't care to be a slave again, Nicodemus." He replies. "But consider this. I would consider it a tragedy to not be involved in whatever you are planning."

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

Blaze flips her to the floor and places a boot on her well endowed chest. "Where are the others? Where is the rest of your coven?"

***

The Bride

"That was nothing kid. I've already killed three of your kind. I'm not sure what the hell it is your kind is yet but I know you bleed so I can kill you." The Bride threatens holding her sword right out at the vampire in a menacing manner.

"You aren't a Cullen so I have little interest in killing you. Tell me where Alice went and we can both live on to fight another day."

***

Kirby

Well that is frustrating. Kirby flew all the way out here for nothing, well might as well make some lemondae out of the lemons. Kirby reassembles himself next to the dead body. Consulting with the fallen angel in his coin Kirby asks, "Who is that dead man? Why did Nicodemus want to come here?"

[Cracklord]

Nicodemus
I do not know. The demon replies. I have been away from this earth a long time. What he intends is to replace Carlisle with forgotten arts, and use the boxes. Why he came here? Power. He cannot work Chainfire without it.
You stop listening. A bulge beneath the sheet has your attention, though you cannot say why.

The Bride
He inclines his head. "If you killed them, then I can assure you they are not like me." The man replies. "Alice has made a deal. She is now a member of the Volturri. Which means we have a problem."

Ghost Rider
"Probably dead by now, what do I care?" She snarls back. It's without heart, though. She's beaten, and she knows it.

[darkblade]

Ghost Rider

"Already dead? I've killed one. Someone else is hunting you?" This takes Blaze by surprise, it might explain why he's been having such a damned time finding any of them.

***

The Bride

"Volutri?" The name rings a bell with the Bride. It is impossible to be in her line of work and not know of the Volutri. In fact if you're anyone in the assassin business you probably have worked for them at some point but no one has seen them in person.

The Bride sheaths her sword and bows slightly before the vampire. "I beg your apologies. I was unaware that the Volutri were involved, if I may I would wish to apologize to them in person for my medling in their affairs."

***

Kirby

Kirby always was something of a creature of instinct as are most dream based beings. It only makes sense for something created by the subconsious to be more accepting of their own. Kirby lifts the sheet and examines the corpse.

[industrious]

Sam
Sam slumps in the vampire's grip, exhausted from all the running. He knew that somewhere within the bowels of Hell, his father was saying I told you so. Over and over again.


The Midnighter

Great. Compulsion. One of the few things he couldn't fight. Time for a hasty escape.

Unfortunately, with the Door system still down, the Midnighter's options were limited. But his computers had calculated the best way to get out of the area alive.

He empties his coat of every shuriken, and every razor-edged calling card he can find. All are aimed with pinpoint accuracy at Carlisle. None of them are actually meant to hit. Their sole purpose is distraction; the sheer number of projectiles filling the air blots the elder vampire's line of sight. And as such, the Midnighter leaps, straight up, onto the roof of one of the nearby buildings and clambers along the rooftops. He was out of there.

Nicodemus

Nicodemus shrugs.

"I find that my allies prone to betrayal in the past. But who am I to refuse a kindred spirit? We are planning a little ritual. Would you care to join us?"

[Cracklord]

Ghost Rider
"Right. Or Carlisle did them in himself. What does it matter, dead is dead." She replies, though she seems utterly terrified of dying herself.

The Bride
"Not going to be a problem, madam. Or necessary." He places his hands firmly in his pockets. "Now, how much were you being paid for Alice? We will of course reimburse you..."

Kirby
He is dead. It would be impossible to be more dead without special training. He has been tortured within an inch of his life, in a graphic and painful manner, and then pushed the rest of the way. Under his coat is the biggest gem you've ever seen, softly pulsing with light.
You are not sure what it is. It feels faintly repellent, in much the same way stepping onto holy ground is unsettling. But you have enough memories of dreamland to know a plot related artifact when you see one. What's more, the demon inside your head recoils at the sight of it.

Nicodemus
"I myself have a tendency to be enslaved by thoughtless, shortsighted men who think of nothing beyond glutting themselves. Why settle for a slice when you can have the world? But a higher art is lost on them. But I believe I may see a kindred spirit in you. Perhaps I can help you."

Sam
He drags you back to the Studio, and sits you back down. "So, why are you so anxious to escape anyway? What else do you really have to look forward to?"

The Midnighter
Your hand shakes as you withdraw the weapons... and find yourself, unthinkingly and irresistibly, putting them down. The man is curious at your reactions, you could honestly imagine him with a clipboard jotting down notes at your reactions.