Evil's Return Chapter 6: Road Rage

[Toastburner B]

It didn’t take long for the clean up after the battle. The medics had arrived on the scene shortly after the surviving shadow creatures had vanished. Those with injuries were treated at the Manor…one of the old ballrooms had been recently converted into a clinic after the attacks had started in earnest.

In the hours after the attack, Duncan had shut himself in his library once more, this time attempting to figure out what the monsters that had attacked him where. At first, he thought it would be easy…after all, shadow demons were a common theme in mythology. However, as he tracked down the information, it became clear to him that these were no regular type of shadow demon. Another hour of tracking down cross references and footnotes lead him to a part of the library he had rarely visited. It was here, in an old, fragile book that looked like it hadn’t been opened since it was moved to the Americas, that Duncan found his answer.

And he didn’t believe it.

He left the library, unsurprised to find Jenkins at the door. “I’m going out for a bit,” Duncan told the butler. “I need a drink…and some information. Give Nat a message for me…”

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A few minutes after getting Duncan’s message, Nathaniel was in his room, on the phone. “Yes, I need to speak to Farsight…I mean, Mariann Concorde. Yes, I know, but this is very important. Look, desk jockey, what an authorization code? Zulu tango red six alpha green delta omega. Is that a high enough code? Thank you.”

Nathaniel waited impatiently on the phone until the old hunter answered. “Hello?”

“How long have you known something like this was hunting her, Farsight?”

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“Ah…Mr. McCragge. I was about to contact you.” Nevar Huggins said as Duncan walked into the Observatory Lounge. The words were enough to stop Duncan in his tracks. As far as he knew, the more-than-human barkeep had never stepped foot out of the building, let alone try to contact someone on the outside.

“Then it is just as well that I came, Nevar. I need information.”

The barkeep looked at Duncan with his black-irised eyes. “Not here, Mr. McCragge me. Follow me to my office.”

Nevar lead Duncan to the back room. The office was small, but decorated in objects from many historical eras. A collection of large, leather-bound books were on the shelf. Nevar gestured for Duncan to have a seat, and he took one for himself.

“If you’re here, then you’ve already guessed what is afoot,” the bar tender said, dropping for the first time that Duncan could remember the extreme politeness he always had. “And I am afraid I cannot give you anything put confirmation of your worst fears…”

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“A Fallen?” Nathaniel whispered. He had known what Mariann would say, but to have it confirmed shook him to his core.

“Yes,” Mariann repeat on the phone. “I’ve had the visions concerning it for months now…but I didn’t have any other confirmation until now. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, Nat, but this was something I had to make sure of before it got out. There hasn’t been a being of this power on the Earth for over 700 years. I don’t know why it was cast down, or how it kept it’s powers fully intact, but it seems to believe that Laurella is it’s key to reclaiming it’s exhalation…”

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Duncan thanked Nevar for the information, and left the bar. It took a supreme effort to keep himself from shaking as he returned to the car. He pulled out his cellphone. “Jenkins, it’s Duncan. Gather the Protectors at the Manor, and tell them to pack up. See if you can’t track down the twins and the thief…Task was his name, I believe. Contact Caleb Balthazar as well, this will concern him, too. And keep the two hunters that were tracking the shadows there, they’ll want to hear this.”

((OOC: Okay…just a short interlude before I post the briefing for this chapter. Just get to McCragge Manor however you can. Jenkins will be contacting you, and will be suggesting that you pack enough things for a prolonged trip.

THIS WILL ALSO SERVE AS A ROLL CALL TO SEE WHO IS STILL PLAYING AND WHO IS NOT! Just post a little blurb saying that your character is there, or PM me or post in the discussion thread if you are still playing. I just want to know who is still hanging around, so that I know who I need to prepare surprises for. Thanks for sticking with this.))

[PyrosNine]

Well, this sucked. Not only did the thing die before anything worth while could be gleamed from it, but soon after they'd off'd the guy some suits came over asking for the Thief and Ninjas trio.

The elders were aware that there was some military group keeping tabs on the two Ninjas, but they asked for Task by name and wondered if Task's unofficial status had been compromised.

Task was given normal clothes that were designed to make him look perfectly harmless. Task was to lead those present at the McCragge manor to assume that he was merely a rich adopted heir to some dead rich guy, which assuming Task could pull off the fooling, may end up true in the long run. Well, if Batman could do it, surely Task could two.

Task did not know if Trish and Troy would come though. They were ninjas after all, and would make their own decisions.

Task got in with his personal driver in a black SUV and took a ride to the Mother's manor. He hoped it was as good as the one he'd been living in for some time....

[mauve]

Trish was disappointed that the smelly thing had died before she had a chance to throw even one measly little rock at it. Throwing rocks was the best part!

But no matter. She, her brother, and the theify kid had been summoned by Jenkins to La Casa De La Madre De... um... el Hell. And THIS time, she was going to bring her weapons, dammit!!

"Bah," grumbled Trish, restocking her reserves of darts and origami. "Why can't WE get a personal driver like Task's? Well, I mean aside from the fact that we're poor and we don't live in a mansion and we're ninjas." She shoved her black mask into a pocket on her pants. You never know when a ninja mask will come in handy.

"Well, we'd better get going before they think we got killed along the way. As fun as faking our own deaths may be." She left the Trish n' Troy Residence and headed towards McCraegge Manor.

[Loki, The Fallen]

Rick spent quite a long time unconscious. He saw the controller being finished off. He remembered walking toward the manor, making some snide comment about it being too easy. He did remember cursing Shori as he fell. That was the last he remembered. He slept well, dreaming of a quiet sunny day, relaxing on the hillside.

He bolted awake, looking around franticly, reaching for his knife, which he did not find. Where is my knife? Where am I? What the hell happened? Why the hell am I so sore? And why is there incredible pain where my lungs are supposed to be?

He immediately noticed the bouquet of flowers, Lilacs. Rick fell back into the bed in his bed, relieved, and annoyed, re-annoyed if you will. Better late then never, eh, Shori? He coughed to himself, grabbing the bouquet. He searched through it, finding a tiny note.

You lived, Congratulations. Present in one of your flowers. Briefing on your palm-top.

Rick rolled over to the side of the bed, finding his bag and his gear, all of it. What the…? He dragged out his PDA, and entered his password.

You have been moved out of your apartment. The area has become too hot due to your rescue. All of your gear has been gathered and delivered to the manor. We will consider setting you up elsewhere should it be required. Take the pill, it’ll help you. You’ll need it too, your new mission begins soon. Try not to die, I hate paperwork.

Rick fell back into the bed, took the pill and waited for his pain to go away. I hate just lying here… where is here? As he stared at the ceiling he began to piece together the events, and realized he must be inside the manor somewhere. It even smells like the manor. As he contemplated his next step, the medicine took effect, causing him to once again lose consciousness.

[Demetrius]

In the aftermath of the attacks Harm was driven back to the Manor by an ambulance, he had several broken ribs a fractured shoulderblade and a fairly damaged mind (the after effects of using his gauntlets). The medical team amnaged to patch him up, but he would need a good amount of rest or some serious healing to do more than move in a wheelchair for a couple weeks.

[Sir Pinkleton]

((Sorry if I'm god-modding, but Zack is supposed to be unconscious anyway, right?))

Jacob was brought to the Manor by the same ambulance that carried Zack. He also traveled with Zack to the make-shift clinic to get patched up a little. The adrenaline from the action of before was wearing off, and Jacob was beginning to feel the pain from the wound on his back; he also didn't realize the amount of blood loss he was subject to, but both problems were fixed quickly enough at the clinic. After getting the proper bandages and minor pain-relieving drugs, Jacob was approached by a man in a black suit who told him to pack up and await further orders. Groaning a little, Jacob got up from the medical bed, thanked the man, and made his way to his room.

[Astral Harmony]

Laurella's car pulled into the garage next to the manor. Stacey wasn't with her. She wanted to check up on the others, but since they might all be leaving, Laurella would do what she could, and she could cook one hell of a breakfast.
"Please let there have been no casualties," Laurella worried as the smell of the best part of waking up wafted through the ventilation system.

[Incendius]

Michael sat fluttering in between consciousness and unciosness as he waited in the manor for the senior protectors to let loose the revelation of, what exactly was happening now. Michael's face was now a pale pasty white, paler then normal, due to a large lack of blood. On his right arm was, yet another medical apparatus, this time large wrappings. He also had a blood IV drip set up for him, to help him replenish what he lost in the fight. He sat silently in one of the old, oak chairs, contemplating the days events, and many new things,

[Krylo]

After the shadow had fled, Jimmy leaned against a nearby wall and lit up a cigarette, calming his nerves a bit, before he was found, thanks to his ear-piece, and brought back to the compound and the makeshift clinic. His wounds were bad, but not serious, and should be mostly healed relatively quickly thanks to the help of a bit of healing magic and some stitches.

Jimmy had always been a quick healer, anyway.

[Rhiya Ravenwing]

"Smells good." Alicia arrived just in time to sniff the delicious flavours that wafted across the room to her nose. She stood carefully in the doorway, her right arm now bandaged neatly and tucked in a sling.

Alicia Mai nodded a polite greeting to Laurella.
"My name's Alicia. The Society sent me to track those shadow creatures. The rest are all in the makeshift med ward getting patched up."

As she spoke, the Hunter extended her left hand to shake.

[musicmage4114]

Zack lay in the Manor's makeshift clinic, unconsciousness. He was floating... floating in nothingness. But as he floated... he dreamed.

Ghastly images of Laurella... Jimmy... flames... shadows... and demons... so many demons... the Gates of Hell being flung wide open... Jacob...

And so he lay, and dreamed, not even thinking that he might not ever wake up again after the incredible mental trauma he'd suffered.

[Astral Harmony]

Laurella took Alicia's hand in hers with a warm smile. "It's great to meet you, and it's also good to hear there weren't any casualties."

She then turned towards the skillet and started piling food onto another plate, moving it over to the table. "Please, have a seat and help yourself if you'd like. I won't stop cooking until everyone is full or the refrigerator, the cabinets, and the local animal shelter is empty. Whichever comes first."

Laurella needed to pack, too, but that would take about thirty minutes at the most. Truth be told, she already had luggage packed for an event like this a month ago, just waiting in the bomb shelter. More or less, all she really wanted to do was talk about where they might be going from here. Stacey had been left at her house. Laurella didn't want to wake her (they had quite a wild and lengthy night because Laurella believed they would be separated for a long time), so she simply wrote a letter stating possibilities and that she'd try to keep in touch. She hoped it wasn't a mistake to not take Stacey with her, but she had some feelings to sort and Stacey might be safer if she wasn't with the one whom the servants of the Dark Ones were after.

[Sir Pinkleton]

((I'm kinda toying with the time between some events, so please don't hurt me.))

"Evening, ladies." Jacob said. He strolled into the room with Alicia and Laurella, holding his medium sized suitcase and wearing a new pair of clothes. He didn't pack so much; all he really needed was 2 or 3 pairs of clothes and his weapons, which were usually supplied and transported by S.E.C.A. anyway.

"Smells delicious! Hope I can grab some." Jacob stated, eyeing the food on the table.

[Astral Harmony]

"Of course you can!" Laurella said, releasing Alicia to go and get cooking the next mountain of food. "I can almost guarentee that my cooking is the best yet and should heal all your wounds, reinflate your ego, and maybe even cure erectile dysfunction."

Laurella smirked as she started cooking again. Even men definitely NOT suffering from erectile dysfunction would probably jump on her served food like a monster upon hearing that. She started singing at she worked.

"Racing all around the seven seas
Chasing all the girls and making robberies
Causing panic everywhere they go
Pardy hardy on Titanic!"

"Sailing, sailing, jumpin' on the railing
Drinking, drinking, 'till the ship is sinking
Gambling, stealing, lotsa sex appealing
Come, let us sing the sailor song!"

[PyrosNine]

Task arrived at the McCragge manor, wearing what could be described as "rich kids clothes." that looked like a mix of business and casual.

His first words upon looking at the manor were. "This TINY place is the manor? I'd imagined that another place called a manor would at least be a little smaller than home, but this is tiny! Do they even have a garden?"

The driver looked annoyed. "You can't really talk, kid. You're just as lucky to be invited to this manor as you are to live in the Eldale manor (I named it! If I've named it before, then ignore that previous name!). No need to get all big about yourself."

"Hey, I have to you see. Part of the plan today. See you round." Task replied, checking his shirt.

He walked off as the driver parked the car and turned on the TV. Drivers never got to go in, but they were allowed to watch Die Hard 2 while they waited.

Task knocked on the front door, but after a few moments of no one opening the door, he opened it up and let himself in.

"My goodness. They don't lock the doors? What crazyness! I mean, one never knows when a Thief might wander in... HELLO, anybody home? I got an invitation to this tiny place!" Task said out loud, hoping someone might hear him.

[Toastburner B]

((OOC: A lot of this is just flavor/fluff/whatever you want to call it. If you just want to read the briefing, go down until you see (BRIEFING).))


Please enter your pass-*beepbeepbeepbeep*

You have one new message. To listen to your message, pre-*beep*

First message.

“Duncan, its Tessa. Listen, I that Nat talked to Farsight and that you talked to the bartender at the Observatory, so I’m pretty sure you guys know what is going on. Unfortunately, the Council knows as well. According to Farsight’s vision, the Fallen doesn’t need Laurella’s child to open the Gates…just her body. This, of course, makes it a whole new ball game.

“The Council has decided that, for the sake of humanity, the Mother of Hell is to be killed and cremated…they figure that the Fallen wouldn’t be able to use ashes to open the Gate.

“Officially, I’m calling you to tell you to bring Laurella to the Citadel. Unofficially; you guys need to get out of Dodge. The Council figures that you guys won’t give up without a fight, so they’re putting together some strike teams to the Manor. Strike Teams with mage support, every merc Warden they can get hired…they’ve even called in the rest of the Order of the Book of Death. Only about have of the Death Books us three months ago.

“There’s nothing I can do to slow them down. They’re waiting for the rest of the Death Books to arrive before they hit. I don’t know the exact time tables, but it will be sometime early tomorrow morning, before school. I hate to say it, but they’re hoping to catch everyone at once so that they don’t have to worry about rescue attempts and the like. Orders are to capture Laurella alive…for some reason, they think a proper execution is more ‘humane’…Protectors are secondary objectives. They’ll capture if they can, but they won’t shed any tears if you get killed.

“You need to get out of town…fall off the map if you can.

“I’m sorry…this is all I can do to help you.

“…Good-bye.”

To delete this me-*beep*

End of messages.
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“Forgive my lack of speed, Master Task,” Jenkins said from behind Task. It seemed he was about to open the door when Task barged in. “Master McCragge has asked for the Protectors to gather in the dining hall. If you will follow me…”

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“Yeah, yeah,” Martin said into his cell phone. He was parked on a couch in one of the sitting rooms in the Manor, typing into his laptop, plugged into the wireless network Duncan was gracious enough to give him the password for. “Yeah, it shows that you guys made the payment. Glad doing business with you.”

Martin was about to hang up, but then stopped. “You have another job for me? …That’s the job? Look, I’m sure they’re a fine upstanding bunch, but they attract trouble, and I don’t like playing defense…I hunt demons, I don’t wait for them to come to me.

“How much? Do you even have access to that kind of money? No no…I just don’t remember S.E.C.A. paying that good. However, for a job this dangerous, I’ll need half the payment up front…your transfer to my account now? Just a second…wow. That’s a…look at the zeros…I mean, you just hired yourself another Protector, Miss Scott. Pleasure doing business with you.”

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“So he is dead,” Duncan said.

“Yeah,” Nathaniel said, “I just IDed the body. It looks like the shadows got him. Caleb’s assistant was there when it happened.”

Duncan cursed softly. “I hate to sound cruel, but we don’t have time to attend a funeral or anything. If Jared is dead, then It knows what he knew…and that means we have less time than I thought. Check the garage, would you? Jenkins said that he had everything fueled up, but I’d like to make sure.”

Nathaniel took a few steps, then turned back. “You don’t trust Jenkins?”

Duncan laughed grimly. “I trust him…I’m practicing being paranoid. We’re going to be on our own from here on.”
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A few minutes later, Duncan walked through the kitchen. “Sorry to break it up,” he said, “but we don’t have time to eat. Everyone get into the dining room…you too, Laurella.”

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(BRIEFING)

After everyone had gathered in the dining room, Duncan stood up. The usually calm and collected looking man looked somewhat frayed.

“I have bad news, really bad news, and worst news.” Duncan started. “I’ll start with the bad news. I found out what those things we fought today were. They weren’t demons…they were undead.”

Martin started to laugh. “Undead? Look, man, I know its Halloween, but can we get serious here? There ain’t no such thing as undead.”

Duncan stared down the Warden until he stopped laughing. “Oh, you’re freakin’ serious, aren’t you?” Martin muttered.

“Yeah,” Duncan said, “I am. What we fought today are simply called Shadows. Basically, the body of the person acts simply as a transport for the soul. The animated shadow happens when the soul leaves the body and takes control of the shadow. The shadow turning solid wasn’t really explained in the texts I have…it seems to be linked to the magic of the necromancer that summoned the shadow in the first place.

“Which brings us,” Duncan said, “to the ‘worst news’ section. Undead do not occur naturally. They have to be brought about by magic, much like a demon summoning. However, necromancy is much more complex than summoning, or any other school of magic. In fact, it is basically impossible for a human to use necromancy at all. In fact, even summoned demons cannot use necromancy. Only two kinds of beings have been known to be able to cast it: Outcast Demons,” he said, giving a little gesture to John, “and Fallen Angels. Given that John here, while technically an Outcast, doesn’t really have access to his full powers, it is clear it’s not him.”

Duncan took a deep breath and looked around the room. “It has been confirmed that there is a Fallen Angel on the Earth. This has been confirmed by a number of sources, both inside the Council and by more independent factions.

“As you know,” Duncan continued, “beings of this power are extremely rare. The last one like it to appear was an Outcast Demon that appeared in Europe about 700 years ago. History remembers it as the Black Plague…but, well, let’s just say that undead killed more people than plague. Now, we have one on Earth…and its hunting Laurella.”

Duncan looked at Laurella as he continued. “Most of you have probably heard of Farsight…she’s a Warden that has the power to see the paths that the future might take. About three months ago, she began to have visions about the Fallen and Laurella. It seems that for one reason or another, the Fallen seems intent on opening the Gates of Hell. However, there seems to be a new twist in the scheme: in the vision, the Fallen opened the Gate without a child of Laurella’s. He just had her body. We don’t know if how he did it. I should also note that, in this vision, the rest of us end up very dead.”

Duncan looked away from Laurella, and scanned the rest of the group once more. “The Shadows weren’t an attack…they were a reconnaissance mission. With necromancy, the Fallen can claim the soul of anyone he or his minions kill, and enslave them. He was killing Protectors to get information about us, our defenses, our capabilities…our location, anything he could. I’m afraid that he has very up to date information, as well. Jared Greyhall was killed this afternoon by the Shadows, so the Fallen knows everything he does. It is also a safe bet that it was the Fallen that hurt Zack…given the fact there was an active Mind Link sigil near him, it’s probably a safe bet the Fallen knows whatever Zack does. This includes our names, our faces, our powers, our weakness…anything we told Zack or Jared over the last three months.

“And now for the ‘really bad’ news. The Council has found out about this as well. After deliberation, it has been decided that, to keep the Gates of Hell closed, that the Mother of Hell is to be killed and her body burnt to ashes. Tessa tells me that they are mustering a force made out of S.E.C.A. Strike Teams, Warden mercenaries, mages from the Society…they’re even bringing in the entire Death Book order…when they attacked us a year ago, we only fought about half of them. They seem to be posed to hit the Manor something this morning…before school. They have orders to capture Laurella and to neutralize the Protectors by whatever means necessary.”

“What all this means,” Duncan said, “is that we have to leave. We have to leave the Manor, we have get out of Taylorsville…we have to go dark. I know that a lot of you have handlers you deal directly with, but you’re going to have to find some way to lose them.”

“No one is going to make you go,” Duncan stated, “The Protectors have always been a volunteer organization, and that isn’t going to change now. If you want out, now is your chance…I can’t say I’d blame you if you did leave. From here on out, we will be on our own: no medics on standby to patch us up, no Strike Teams to give us more firepower, no information coming down the pipes…nothing. If anything, they’re going to hunting us.”

“If you want leave, now is the time…you all know where the door is.” Duncan said. “Leave now if you’re going to…the less you know, the better off you’re going to be.”

Duncan stops talking, waiting for reactions.

((OOC: Holy crap…wall ‘o text.))

[PyrosNine]

Task sat there, mouth agape. He had heard too much for his own good, too much for his sanity, and too much to continue eating. And it was some damned good food.

Did the old guys back at home know about this? Did they too desire her dead? Task did not know. What was Task to do? He was playing the part of someone not involved with Laurella, and now he knew that his girl was to be killed by those who sought to keep her and her future pregnancy safe.

Task wished he had his blade now, but also part of him wanted to get as far from here as possible. This was as in too deep as you could get, and Task was still sinking.

Task wondered if he bolted or explained his lack of involvement, would they kill him? Those he had not seen before certainly looked very...threatening.

He would have to wait....wait until he could either get away or have some better idea.

***

In Task's Van, The driver got a phone call....

[Sir Pinkleton]

Jacob twindled his fingers on the small table beside him, brooding. He was usually stoic, but this new information... It all seemed daunting. S.E.C.A., the organization he worked for, was planning on killing Laurella, and seeing him as loose baggage on the side. The Death books, who nearly killed them all, were coming in full force. Even the society was taking part in trying to end them. It all seemed very unfair...

Jacob stopped moving his fingers. "...No Medics, eh?" Jacob grinned grimly, looking up, "Guess this means I'll have to work overtime." Jacob sat up. "You can count on my help, from fighting Fallen Angels to handing out band-aids."

[Loki, The Fallen]

Rick was seated in the back of the room. The pill had worked faster then he thought it would, he surely felt he was at 100%. At least, until he heard Duncan’s speech.

“And now for the ‘really bad’ news. The Council has found out about this as well. After deliberation, it has been decided that, to keep the Gates of Hell closed, that the Mother of Hell is to be killed and her body burnt to ashes. Tessa tells me that they are mustering a force made out of S.E.C.A. Strike Teams, Warden mercenaries, mages from the Society…they’re even bringing in the entire Death Book order…when they attacked us a year ago, we only fought about half of them. They seem to be posed to hit the Manor something this morning…before school. They have orders to capture Laurella and to neutralize the Protectors by whatever means necessary.What all this means is that we have to leave. We have to leave the Manor, we have get out of Taylorsville…we have to go dark. I know that a lot of you have handlers you deal directly with, but you’re going to have to find some way to lose them.”

He felt as though he was falling. Rick couldn’t believe it. He dialed in his PDA. He found another briefing from Shori.

Rick, Those on High have rescinded your current mission. You have your choice of missions currently. You can either return after learning as much from Duncan about the protector’s escape plan, or you can make the first strike against the MOH now, while their guard is down. I advise if you’re going to do THAT, you should remove that new chip they added to the PDA. Realize upon doing THAT you will be considered rogue.

It has been entertaining working with you.

Rick placed his head in his hands. Shori, you know by typing that you went rogue too…

Rick dropped his PDA to the ground, hesitated for a moment. He recalled his days back at the 'farm', the days training with Shori, days learning from the library, his time when he was blind, only guided by his handlers. Then he looked at the ‘normal’ High School student, one with a penchant for odd clothing and odder viewing material, the one they wanted him to assassinate. He knew Shori was most likely dead after sending that message. He knew they would soon be here for him too. It was procedure. He smiled, fighting back tears. Of course, Shori. He stomped on the computer with his foot, crushing the screen and the other electronics within. He sat there silently, holding the blade of his knife, biting his lip. He looked toward Duncan and nodded.

[mauve]

"Holy..." Trish muttered dazedly. Were the Protectors really setting up for a battle of that magnitude? Were they really going to kill Laurella and slaughter everyone around her to boot? Without even giving the kid a chance?!

As for staying or leaving, there really wasn't a choice at this point, Trish realized. Even if someone said they were "getting out" now, it wouldn't help. The Shadows knew what they all looked like. They'd track down anyone associated with Laurella, active or "retired," torture them for information, and then kill them.

Trish sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Damn. She had kinda hoped she would live long enough to see her 18th birthday, but the chances of that happening were looking slimmer by the moment.

On the other hand, leaving town would mean a lot of sneaking, hiding, and possibly stealth fighting. Ninjas just happen to be good at that kind of thing. Maybe she could be of some help to them. If she was going to risk her life, then she was going to risk her life for some worthy purpose. This seemed to fit the bill.

"I can't speak for Troy," she said, "but I'm in."

[Truce]

Troy simply didn't have the resolve his sister had.

He didn't want Laurella to die, but there were other people to protect! He knew what kind of people the Council would send, and he couldn't believe that they would simply leave the town alone. Even if it was slim, the Council's hounds might take any oppourtunity to seize her.

Kidnapping. Murder. Even the destruction of an entire town.

From here on out, they wouldn't care about secrecy. With the entire world at stake, more people would die, and the first would be the ones that he knew - that he cared about.

"I..."

He should kill her. Kill the Mother of Hell. That would solve all of the problems, wouldn't it? Even if it was temporary, it would still be a long time before another appeared.

People would be safe.

No. That was wrong. There was still that Fallen left out there. If they took care of that, then it should be all right.

"I'll help you, if you can help me find that Fallen. That's the cause of this mess, right?"

Besides, he couldn't walk away even if he wanted to; there was no guarantee that he could protect the people rather than endanger even more those left behind.

The necromancy mentioned bothered him as well. He would have to talk with Duncan about that later.

[secretskull]

OOC: I'm still in this, I just haven't had much time to post lately.

Duane had been sitting off to the side, propping up his wounded leaned against the wall deep in thought.

If they killed her, it wouldn't be bad thing, would it? After all, it had been done in the past; the protectors were those who eventually killed the mother. It was practically a tradition.

The alternative was to quit the S.E.C.A; he would become a target himself, a traitor to his comrades. He might be remembered as one of those who helped open the gates of hell.

Duane looked at the people assembled around him. What allegiances did he have to these people? He barely knew most of them, he knew a few from the S.E.C.A, and he had taught a few of them, there was no real camaraderie between them.
Duane turned to Laurella, who was also sitting at the table. This wasn't her fault, she hadn't chosen to be this, it looked as if she would die either way; killed by the Fallen or by the S.E.C.A.

She didn't have much of a chance. Maybe with the Protectors she did. Maybe she didn't, and he could end it all now, and save everyone a lot of trouble.

Duane drew his guns, and felt some of the others tense up.
He suddenly remembered something, from a long time ago, before the S.E.C.A. He had looked up the meaning of his name. "Gallchobhar," it had said. "Meaning: Foreign Help, or Help from a stranger." He put the guns down and spun them toward Laurella, "I'll stay", he said; smiling slightly.

I have a legacy to live up to.

[Astral Harmony]

Laurella nodded, looking thoughtful. "That makes sense, even though I think they're cowards for coming to that decision. In order to make the vision untrue, they need to eliminate either myself or the Fallen Angel. They don't know where to find the Fallen, and don't know if they can defeat it. But they do know where I am and they know I'm a lot more vulnerable. I just don't understand why they're not willing to take the risk. The Fallen would have an easier time finding the next generation Mother of Hell than they ever would, and all they would be doing is postponing, yet guarenteeing the submission of Earth to the Dark Ones in the end."

She drew her rapier and assumed her stance. "But that's our badass government for you. All they see is the problem right in front of their eyes, and aren't even considering the future consequences of their actions. To them, I'm no longer a human being in need. I'm just a more easily achieved means to an end."
She put away her rapier. "God, I hope they don't go after anyone who knows me with the threat of torture. I just don't know what I'd do if they attacked Stacey just because she might know where we fled to."

[IHateMakingNames]

John had survived his shadows unharmed, in inexplicable ways (OOC: Otherwise I would never post).

He was going to stick with the Mother, since he realized he had no other options. S.E.C.A. was fearing Necromancy, something John could do if he ever healed. They would simply kill him when they could.

However, this wasn't the real reason he would stay. There was a Fallen alive somewhere in the world. An Angel. John was obligated to go kill it. And it was after the Mother, so his best chance to find it was to stay with her.

"I have to stay. I can't possibly pass up a chance to kill an Angel."

[PyrosNine]

Task had heard enough. He sneaked his way out of the meeting and away from this house. It was just too much for him to...HE HAD TO HIDE!

Task dove for shadow as footsteps came running towards him. However effective his stealth abilities were, they didn't help when the man who was running towards him had a tracking device on him.

"Task. The elders. They want to talk to you."

"Oh god. Oh god I know! They want me to kill her, don't they? I can't! I won't! I couldn't..."

"Task! Shut up! We don't have time for this. You need to talk with them."

"But!"

"They don't want you to kill her."

"But...what?"

"Task, just talk to the elders. They'll explain. Hurry!"

Task and the driver rushed to the Van, where Task got in the back seat. The TV showed the face of the elders, crinkled with worry and fatigue.

"Task. It has been long since we have last spoken. Admittedly, I have been doing much of the talking, but please bear with me in your ear for a few moments longer. As you have no doubt learned, the other forces that watch the Mother have forsaken her and now drive for her death. It is no different for us...but despite our own feelings, we cannot do so. Task, do you know the name that you now carry?"

"Eldale? What of it?"

"That name is not mine, nor any of the other old men you see before you. Rather, it was the name of the man who died when you first came into our lives. We honor his name, because he was someone who did not truly belong in this world. No, he belonged somewhere greater. He refused to sacrifice anyone to the overwhelming darkness, willing even to sacrificing himself so that others may live. He died doing what he loved, protecting the innocent, even dragging the fiercest beast into his own home so that it might not harm anyone else. And now, Task, you carry his burden. Our first thought was to kill you....but we knew it would not honor his memory to do so, and the same now for the Mother.

Task, we ask a lot of you now. We, the elder group, are too old. Too old to make a difference in this world anymore. Even we are replaced by younger old men in the respective groups we led, left to wither away in peace and silence. But our hearts burn still with our conviction, yet we cannot raise our hands for anything. So Task, we ask so much: Please protect the Mother! You who carry the burden of Eldale...honor our request. Honor his memory!"

Task's mouth was agape again. Too much! Too much! Who did they think he was, Vash? Alucard?

But yet, at the same time, Task could feel some strength stirring within him. A kind of courage rose up, and perhaps even some pride. Perhaps, perhaps he could do this task. She needed help, and while he needed possibly more help in his life, the least he could do was help her.

"I'll....I'll do it."

A tiny glimmer of relief shown upon the elder's faces. The elder said only one thing. "Jarvis."

The driver opened up a compartment and handed Task two things: His sword, and a matching dagger. Each were wrapped with more runes about the hilt.

"If you ever lose yourself in battle, hold tight to these weapons, Task. They shall restore you."

Task didn't understand, but took them anyway.

"Go now! Quickly!" The elder beckoned. The transmission cut off.

Task headed out the door, stripping off the rich-kid clothes to reveal his normal thief clothes. He strapped the sword to his back and stuck the dagger to his belt. He was ready to race back into the house, when the driver called out his name.

"Task!"

Task slowly turned around. "What?"

"Dont...don't die on me, kid, okay?"

"Okay." Was all Task could say.

As he ran through the door, he murmured. "Pops..."

****

Bursting back into the room, Task confronted Laurella. "Listen, I don't know you, you don't know me, I only know the two Ninjas over there, but dammit, If I have a say in anything, I won't let anybody kill you!"

[Rhiya Ravenwing]

Alicia sat in contemplative silence, still eating her meal and savouring the nice delicious flavours. While the others voiced their opinions, she apparently didn't seem to care.

But that didn't mean she wasn't thinking about it. Her Society pager beeped, and she stood up, said "Excuse me, I need to use your phone," and left the room.

There was the murmur of voices outside, a one-sided conversation as she talked quietly into the phone, before the click of the receiver being hung up.

Alicia re-entered the room.
"I have only been here for a little while. I barely know any of you. However, what I have witnessed earlier and what the Society has said to me, I will stay and help out to the best of my abilities."

[Toastburner B]

“Well,” Martin muttered to himself, “That would explain all the zeros.”

Martin chewed the inside of his lip. “I’m afraid I ain’t as heroic as you lot,” he said, “but it seems I do have a bit of good news. Apparently, opinions at the higher levels are not unanimous…your Miss Scott is paying a rather hefty amount to stick it out with you guys…enough that its extremely unlikely that it’s all out of her pocket.

“On the other hand,” Martin said, “I can’t say I blame the Council for the decision. You say they’re foolish for not thinking about what happens after she dies? I’d say it’s the fool that worries about what’s behind the corner when there’s already a knife at your throat. Its one thing to thumb your nose at Armageddon when its still a story…it’s a whole different thing to thumb your nose at it when a dude on a pale horse is riding by. With this new turn of events, you may be the lucky one, missy. If the worst case scenario happens, all that happens to you is that you die…it’s the rest of us that have to witness the end of the world.”

Abruptly, Martin laughed grimly. “Well, now that I’m on everyone’s good side…like it or not, you guys got me, bought and paid for.”

[mauve]

Trish nodded to Laurella, confirming Task's statement.

"He's a good guy," she said. "You can trust him." She jabbed a thumb towards herself and Troy. "We hang out at Task's house all the time. We were there when the shadows things attacked the place."

[Demetrius]

As Harm listened to the briefing thoughts of his slain wife and daughter, the years he had spent dedicating himself to the Blood to save lives, the oath he had sworn before his greatest friend and God, all flashed through his mind.

Kneeling Harm grounded his blade before Laurella, "My oath I gave and my oath I shall keep. My Blood before yours. My life before yours. Sworn before God and at the price of my soul, I will not forsake you." Harm rose to his feet and looked at Duncan, "We waste time with speach, we need to act post haste."

[musicmage4114]

"GO AWAY!!!!!"

A ring of flame exploded outward from Zack's body, decimating everything in the makeshift clinic within about 20 feet.

He awoke from his fever dream with a start, disoriented and confused.

"Where am I? Guys? Anyone?"

[Toastburner B]

"You're in the Manor...in the clinic. It looks like you went and got yourself possessed." Nathaniel said as he come in the room, having heard the blast on his way back from the garage. He looked around the room. "I'd say that Duncan would be mad at you for this if it weren't for the fact we're pulling out real soon.

Nat quickly gave Zack a rundown of the situation. "Given your condition...and given the fact that the Fallen already broke into your mind once, you may be better off sitting this one out. Of course, that's up to you."

Nathaniel started to walk out of the room. "If you think you want to come, get down to the garage with whatever you need to survive and fight. We're not going to wait for you...if you can get your stuff and get down there by the time we leave, you're not going to be any good to us on the run."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

((OOC: Behold! I finally found a way to explain character drop outs! I figure I've given people enough time to post to say their in...but if you still want to play, just post yourself in...I'm going to kick anyone out because they couldn't get online over the weekend or whatever.))

Duncan watched impassively as a number of Protectors took his invitation to get out while they still could. Part of Duncan was furious with them for leaving the duty they volunteered for. Another part of him completely understood...nowhere in the job description was there anything about taking on a Fallen and the 'good guys'.

As the last deserter left, Duncan looked over the room. "Okay...we're it then. Like I said, we need to get out...and we're doing that right now. The McCragges have a small house up in the mountains...about a seven hour drive from here. In the past it was used as a mountain resort, but I had it set up as a fall back point when I inherited it. No one has been up there for years, and no one knows exactly how to get there...except me, which is exactly what we need at the moment. I'll give you guys directions as we go...at least until we get out of town. No offense, but if any of us get grabbed...by either side...you can't disclose a location that you don't know about. If I get grabbed, you guys will have to think up a place on your own...the less people who know about it, the better."

Nathaniel came in the room. "Everything is fueled up and ready to go."

Duncan nodded. "Okay...let's go. If you don't have a ride, find someone to go with...I have room for one or two more in my car."

"I can fit a few in mine," Martin said. "Not as fancy as some of the other cars in this place, but she hasn't let me down yet."

Nathaniel had already turned, walking back the way he came...he was taking his bike, and nothing in Heaven or Hell would make him leave it.

((OOC: See discussion thread.))

[PyrosNine]

Task held up his hand. "I want to ride in the car that doesn't look like trash. Any one got a problem with that?"

Sure, he could ride in the van, but it paled in comparison to the van he'd been riding in alot lately. Furthermore, as a former orphan turned well off kid, he reserved the right to suddenly be picky about these things.

[Rhiya Ravenwing]

"My bike is a two-seater. It used to be a nice red colour, but the shadows scratched it up a bit and so I need to get it a new paintjob, but I don't think that would be much of a problem, since, like, we're going away and all, so I might have to resort to my emergency paint when we get there, so that my bike would look all nice again..." Alicia trailed off into silence, staring slightly blankly ahead, dreaming of god knows what. She blinked owlishly, before giving a bright smile towards the others.

"The only problem is whoever's hitchin' a ride with me's going to be saddle-sore after the drive."

[musicmage4114]

"No WAY am I letting you guys do this all yourselves."

Zack joined the group in the garage, his backpack full of everything he'd need, which amounted to little more than a few magical amenities and dozens of decks of sigil cards.

"I'll ride with Alicia. I don't mind a sore butt every now and then."

[Astral Harmony]

Laurella twirled her keys around her left index finger. "I've got my Mustang. She can seat one more person, unless someone can tolerate being cooped up in my trunk with my luggage for seven hours plus."

She wanted to thank them all, but wasn't sure if any gratitude she had for them would be sincere. It was wonderful to have friends like these, but if she had to lose them just to save her own ass...

No, she wouldn't think about it. It only made her cravings for true power grow and then she would feel deeply unsatisfied and depressed because she wouldn't be able to achieve those levels of power.

[PyrosNine]

Task dove into the mustang, headfirst. "Yessa!" Pyros exclaimed. "I don't think I could stand riding in that smelly van!"

Pyros already started changing the radio for something that bounced between cool persian music, then went into a dark and gritty rock phase, then went back to persian and arabian music except on a far greater scale.

[Demetrius]

Harm moved up behind Task and flicked his ear, "You want the trunk first or second?"

Sighing, Harm jammed himself and his small pack into the back seat and settled his sword on his lap.
"Yeah, somehow I knew I'd end up with the first turn back here."

[mauve]

"I'll ride with Duncan," Trish said. "He knows where he's going." She hated getting lost on road trips. It always ended in bloodshed and arguing over the map.

[Sir Pinkleton]

"We wouldn't want Martin riding all alone, now would we?" Jacob said aloud to no one in particular. "I'll ride with him."

[Truce]

"I'll ride with Duncan too," Troy said, jumping into whatever space there was. "There's something I need to discuss - and honestly, I just don't trust the way the rest of you drive.

"Besides," he said, glancing over to his sister. "If I didn't come along someone might decide to slap an acceleration rune on the vehicle and forget to mention it to the driver. Granted, at least it's not a tank this time, so we can't cause nearly as much property damage as we did last time, but...that evil cult of mimes didn't exactly appreciate it when we drove right through their convention hall."

[mauve]

"Oh, come on!" Trish protested as her brother brought up the tank incident. "It was funny and you know it. Besides, we stopped the Evil Mime Cult from resurrecting their Dark Mime God from within the Invisible Box of Unyeilding Evil, didn't we? Mission accomplished."

Trish leaned back and put her hands behind her head.

"And anyway, a speeding car just isn't as cool as a speeding tank. I wouldn't waste the sigil on that. Now, a flying car..." She trailed off with a grin. She wouldn't really try anything like that; she was just talking to keep her mind off the fact that both "good guys" and "bad guys" now had her name on the "Kill List." She hoped she had made the right decision.

[PyrosNine]

Task sighed. He heard the two talking, and weeped for those poor, misunderstood mimes! For all Task knew, the mimes actually wanted to release their wrongly imprisoned leader from the invisible box of unyielding torment, and were unable (as they were mimes) to convey the truth to Troy and Trish before they ran them over with a superfast tank.

Somewhere out there, a mime cried. And then, inexplicably he gained the ability to dance, but that was another thing entirely.

Task looked at Harm and pointed at the trunk. "If anyone's riding in the trunk, it's you. Now, we can be confrontational about this and argue about this all day, but...what if I gave you a fifty?"

Task held out the dollar bill. The ninjas had the power of stealth, ninpo, and strange sign things, whilst Task had the power of money on his side. (at least, until his allowance ran out.)

[Astral Harmony]

Laurella recalled her dialogue with Stacey about flying cars as she got into the driver seat of her Mustang. She wore a maroon tank top and black cargo pants which were two sizes too big for her over some black running shoes. Reaching over, she opened the glove compartment and pulled out a pair of shades, then wheeled the car out so it was ready to go at a moment's notice. "C'mon, let's get moving. We do want to be gone before they know we're on to them, right?"

[secretskull]

"I've got a van in case anyone wants to come along", added Duane as the room began to clear out.

"I have room for anyone who wants to come along. Just one thing, I've been working on a few "projects" in there, so I don't recommend touching anything. I can never remember which mixtures are supposed to explode..."

He looked down at his feet for a moment, deep in thought. "So, anyone up for it?" He asked brightly, beginning to walk outside.

[IHateMakingNames]

John would go in whatever was left. Which seemed to be Daune's van.

[Toastburner B]

"Sir, we have movement inside the mansion."

Brandon Archer, S.E.C.A. Strike Team captain and current agent in charge at the scene of the Council's attack force muster point, took his radio off of his belt, and put it to his ear. "What kind of movement."

We've had a number of people exit the building...the Mother of Hell isn't among them. What do you want to do about them?"

Brandon thought for a second. They have enough connections that they have probably heard what is going on by now...my guess is that those are the ones who wanted out before it hits the fan...

"Assign some people to track them, but don't move against them unless they move against us. They're probably just trying to get out of the line of fire."

"Roger that, sir. We also have a number of heat signatures moving towards the garage, sir."

"That would be the breakout we've been expecting. What's the word on the mustering?"

"We're still waiting for Strike Teams Echo and Foxtrot to report, and three Death Books, including their commander, are still en route, and won't be here for a few hours."

Archer thought it over. There's not too many of them left...we have more than enough firepower to put them down. "Copy that. Ready your men, pick them off as they come out. Capture them if you can, but don't put your men at risk to do so...kill them if you have to."

"Roger that, sir."

Brandon put the radio down and rubbed his eyes. He didn't care much for his orders. He had joined with S.E.C.A. to hunt monsters, not teenage girls. But he knew he really had do choice. What was the life of a handful of people to prevent the enslavement of the human race at the hands of demons.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Are you sure we can trust this information, Father?" one of the minor cultists asked.

"Father" Erik Hensen, Head Priest of the Black Cults, shrugged. "We cannot afford not to trust it. We have seen the signs ourselves. There is a greater force at work here...working to upset the balance."

"But, Father," the cultist asked, "If the information is correct, and the Fallen seeks to use the Chosen to open the Gates of Hell, should we not assist it, not try to hinder it?"

"Our objective may be the same, my son," the dark priest answered, "but our purposes are not. Who knows why a divine abomination would want to enter Hell? All I can say is that I cannot see it seeking to bring our Lords into this world to rule. As such, allowing him to capture the Mother of Hell to open the Gate according to its plan would not go well for us. As such, we must step up our own efforts to capture her. How do our forces fare?"

"We've rallied every member we could, Father. We've managed to summon a fair force...however, given the short time, we weren't able to perform more than one complex ritual, so all but the Road Rex have but a tenuous hold in this plane."

"Fear not," Erik said, looking at the fearsome form of the demon known as a Road Rex, "for you have done well to summon such numbers so swiftly. I am sure that victory will be ours this day."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A man, clothed in simple clothes, stood at the center of a nightmare. Around him stood a force of walking dead...or, more to the case, riding dead. It smiled grimly to itself. Mankind was ever the inventive race, and now instead of horses of flesh, they road upon horses of steel. However, that mattered little...his magic was enough to force the long broken machines back into working order.

"The time has not yet come for the Gates to be opened,", it said to the assembled host, "And there are those who seek to defeat us by eliminating the Mother of Hell, the key to the Gates of Hell. My brothers, for our exhalation to come to pass, the Mother of Hell must live until we are prepared to open the Gates ourselves. Keep her from the clutches pf those who worship the foul demons, and protect her from those who believe they are serving the greater good. However, if her Protectors fail to keep her safe, we shall have to take her into our care directly...take her alive, kill the rest.

"I know I ask much of you...but the rewards shall be great up my return to grace. Protect the Chosen at all costs."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Cultist mimes? You're kidding right?" Duncan looked over the twins once more. "...You're not kidding?"

"Master McCragge," Jenkins appeared at the window of Duncan's car. "I have informed the rest of the staff that you are leaving for a time."

"Thank you, Jenkins. Take care of place while I am gone. Open the front gate, would you?"

"Of course, sir, and good luck."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Commander, the front gate is opening."

"Copy that. All units, stand by to attack on my order." Archer said.

As the first vehicle sped from the garage...a single man on a motorcycle...gunfire erupted from behind Archer.

"Contact! This is Strike Team Beta, reporting enemy contact! Three of my team are down.."

"This is Shocker reporting," came in the call...one of the Warden mercs..."we've got demons coming out of the woodwork out here! Leapers and Striders!" The crack of gunfire and of lightning striking filled the radio for a second, "We need reinforcements at location Beta-4," a massive roar shooking Archer's eardrums. "Oh, crap...fall back, FALL BACK, DANGIT!"

The gunfire behind Archer intensified. As he looked over his back, he saw what the men were shooting at. About a dozen figures road through his rally point on horseback or on motorcycle...but the horses were fleshless, and the machines looked like they had no right to be running at all. And what rode them were in no better condition.

One of the skeletal riders charged him, raising a rusty, blood-dripping blade. Before Archer had a chance to pick up his weapon, a blur of metal struck down the figure. A Death Book landed on the broken figure, smashing it's bones to dust. Archer regained his senses. "Alpha, Beta, and Charlie teams, defend this point against the attackers. Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, your on demon hunting duty. They're trying to catch the Chosen! Whiskey, Tango and Zulu...capture the Mother of Hell."

The roar of more choking engines filled the air, and Archer dived to a place of cover as he adjusted the frequency on his radio. "Command, this is AF Lead...we are under heavy demon attack. Requesting deployment of Eagle element for air support."

"Copy that, AF Lead...air support incoming."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few miles away, three helicopters roared to life. They were older machines...Huey class...all that could be scrounged up on short notice. However, each was heavily armed. Mounted rocket launchers with a machine-gunner in each doorway. The gunships lifted from the ground and sped towards the Manor.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Even as Nathaniel lead the charge from the Manor's garage, he could tell there was trouble as the unmistakable sound of automatic weapon fire filled the air. He was surprised when he figured out that the weapons were not aimed for him as he expected. As planned, as he pasted the front gate, he stopped in the middle of the road, his handgun drawn to cover the rest of the makeshift convoy as it made it's escape. As he saw movement in the surrounding light forest, he aimed and pulled the trigger. The first leaper that sprang from cover was gunned down before it had a chance. As the last car past him, Nathaniel sped away.

As he brought up the rear, he risked a look behind him. His eyes widened as a Road Rex emerged from the forest...things had just gotten a lot more serious.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Duncan lead the "convoy" in their wild flight...and he saw their end all to soon in front of them. A pack of Striders charged them from down the road. On the narrow city streets, only him and the ninja twins could target them, and he doubted if they had the firepower to put down so many before they counter-attacked.

However, as the Striders ran through an intersection, a group of bikers and horsemen slammed into the pack from the side. The surprised demons turned to face their attackers. As Duncan swerved past the melee, he could see that the bikers and horsemen had no flesh on their bones. Demons and undead...fighting each other...

Along the next street he passed, a number of darkly colored SUVs rolled in. From the doors of one came automatic weapon fire that carved a bloodly swath through a small group of leapers. From the another came a flash, and a stream of smoke. Duncan turned hard, but the rocket had over shot him. "This is insane!" he yelled to no one in particular. "How can they use firepower like that in a populated area?!"

Still, it was the middle of the night, so the streets were almost empty...other than the demons, the undead, and the forces of the Council.

And the small convoy of Protectors.

Duncan took the next left, and sped up as he hit the freeway. The eight-lane road was empty, but Duncan knew that it would soon become the scene of a running battle.

He pressed the button to the walkie-talkies he had had Jenkins put in each car. "Spread out...no point in letting them get all of us in one shot. If we get seperated, there is a diner called 'Greasy Al's' just outside of Lofton...four hours down the road from here. We'll meet there."

Duncan looked in front of him. It seemed that others had thought that the highway would be their path, as both men, demons, and undead were on the road ahead of him.

"Hang on...this is going to be tougher than I though."

((OOC: Okay. The demons are trying to capture Laurella...so they won't risk destroying any cars until they're sure of which one she is in. The Council's Forces are out to kill her, so they're going to open fire on anyone. The Undead, for the moment, are just trying to keep both the demons and the Council's forces from killing/catching Laurella. It's a massive brawl, since all three are fighting each other as they are trying to follow us.

Skeletal Riders: A relatively common fast attack undead. The animated body of a horse and rider, or a rider on a bike that has no business actually being able to run, Usually armed with some kind of long-reach melee weapon, or an older style gun. Not overly tough for an undead, but can still take a lot of abuse before they "die."


Leapers: A small demon. While not very fast runners, they can achieve quite impressive speeds by jumping. They are very dangerous to fight on the run, as they are much more manoverable than your average car. Easy to kill if you can hit them, however.


Striders: A medium sized demon, roughly the size of a very large ape. Striders are faster than they're size would suggest, able to keep up with most cars. They are harder to kill than Leapers...able to shrug off most small caliber fire. However, they do have a well know weak spot. Striders are made for running, and that makes their legs a relatively easy target.

"Road Rex": A rare type of demon that has only been sighted in the more modern times. Road Rexs are large, bipod monsters that are a lethal mix of strenght and speed. Fast enough to keep up with most vehicles, strong enough to flip a bulldozer, and tough enough to shrug off anything short of an RPG, Road Rexes are the toughest "fast" demon out there.

The Council's forces are riding in armored SUVs...bullet-proof and the like. The gunships are armed with rockets and machine guns.

Everything is fair game to kill...but the Road Rex is going to be extremely hard to bring down, and the gunships are going to hard to hit...so no one-hit kills on those. Other than that, do damage as you will.))

[Astral Harmony]

Laurella's Mustang picked up speed once it hit the freeway. She quickly swung out into the middle of the road as gunfire from one of the helicopters tried to ruin the paint job. "Hold on tight!" Laurella said, spotting the barricade ahead. "Not to me, though," she added as they plowed through a skeletal rider and almost a Leaper to boot, which simply evaded by jumping. The demon landed on the back of the car, turning around to face the front of the vehicle. "You're up, men! Don't worry about me. Worry about our mobility."

[Demetrius]

"Oi! I got paid fifty bucks to sit back here, you're not getting any of that action!" Harm shifted around to face the demon as he summoned his armor and quickly swiped the leaper off the car with his sword.
"Alright Laurella, we know where we're meeting the others, lets see what this puppy can do! Task you have any ranged attacks you can slow things down with?"

[mauve]

"You know, it's times like these when I wish we used guns," Trish sighed, leaning back in her seat. "Do you know how useful a shotgun would be right now? Useful and cool looking? Ninjas just weren't created for intense car battles, you know? Tank battles, yes obviously. But car battles, no."

She looked up at Duncan.

"We'll do what we can if any of 'em get too close," she said, referring to herself and Troy. "Although I don't suppose you'd have a rocket launcher hidden in the trunk of this thing? Nah, didn't think so. Oh well."

[PyrosNine]

"Nope. Not really, but if one of those demons get closer, I can throw them for some good damage." Task sighed, holding his hand outside the car as if they were joyriding.

With his other hand, he pushed in the cigarettes lighter of the car. He had an idea in case someone got too close.

[Truce]

"Guns, Trish? Since when have guns ever helped us? Too many demons can't be hurt by bullets, you know," he said, as he tried to climb through the window. "I mean, sure they look cool, but we don't really have access to the high power stuff that actually could be useful."

Pulling himself up to the roof of the car, Troy settled into a stance, activating a sigil to keep himself from flying off. They were approaching the demons fast, and he needed to act even faster.

They were still too far for plushies, and he couldn't throw them either. When they did get in range, anything powerful enough to be effective would end up catching them as well. He only had one option.

"You said you wanted to fly, right Trish?"

As Troy threw his hands outwards a golden wing appeared on each side of the car. Plush feathers fluttered almost seemingly in rhythm as the wings spread themselves out across the lanes and, with a mighty flap, sent Duncan's car flying into the sky, over the heads of their enemies.

Well, most of them anyway.

"Hey, Trish, can you get up here? I can't exactly fight back like this, you know, unless you feel like dropping out of the sky like a stone."

[Astral Harmony]

The Mustang picked up speed when Laurella got them through the barrier. It looked like a few of the demons caught on to who was behind the wheel, because two Striders broke away from the barricade and began chasing her, slowly but surely gaining ground. "How the hell can something that big move that fast?" Laurella groaned, careful not to overheat the car. "Two big 'n' uglies on our six."

[mauve]

"Show-off," Trish muttered. She fumbled around, trying to recover the spear which had slid under their seats when the car rose into the air. Finally her fingers wrapped around the haft and she managed to free the weapon from where it was stuck between the back of Troy's seat and the underside of the driver's seat. "All right, all right. I'm coming."

The girl slid out of the window and climbed carefully onto the roof of the car, planting a similar sigil near her feet to keep her from falling off too easily. She hooked the naginata into a special sling across her back to hold it in place as her hands went to her reserves of darts.

"Heh. You probably just gave Duncan a heart attack, you know," she said to Troy with a grin. "But then, we've always been surprisingly unsubtle for a pair of ninjas."

A creature Trish vaguely remembered from some book as being called a Leaper appeared suddenly behind them, jumping up from the ground and almost hovering a few inches behind the car. Trish hurled a dart at the strange-looking thing. The sudden impact, although far from fatal, took the creature by surprise. It slammed into its intended target-- the trunk of Duncan's car-- but was too stunned to actually grab a hold of anything in time. Trish was upon it the moment it hit the car. She booted the thing in the head and it slid off the smooth painted metal of the trunk, plummeting back to the ground with a disappointed screech as gravity regained its hold on it.

"Oooh. Duncan's not going to like it if we scratch the paint job on his nice car," she said as the afterthought hit her. "Looks kinda spendy."

[Sir Pinkleton]

The car grumbled and coughed, desparate to keep up with the other nicer cars. It burst through the blockade of enemies, shaking as it hit bodies.

"Methinks now would be a good time to kill something," Jacob said aloud in the car over the sounds outside. He sat in the passenger side seat, so he rolled down his window and slowly switched his position to look behind him. He leaned outside the window with his rifle out, the strap wrapped around his arm in case he should lose grip. Jacob aimed quickly, and fired at a Strider in the distance, his three burst shot hitting it in the stomach. 'Damnit' Jacob thought quietly to himself. He fired again, this time hitting the strider in its knee, sending it toppling. Being sure not to give Jacob the time to relax, a Leaper jumped forward quickly towards the car from behind, almost catching Jacob off guard. Jacob was able to shoot the Leaper, though barely. The car swerved a bit as the Leaper collided with the back of the car.

"Feel free to begin making your own death count, Rick," Jacob yelled over the outside noise. He grabbed one of his grenades and pulled the pin. "Glad I don't have to pay for collateral damage," Jacob chuckled as he tossed out the grenade, it's explosion later sending two or so enemies into the air.

[Loki, The Fallen]

Rick dug through his backpack, grabbing his Duct-Tape. He took quick stock of his ammunition. Looks like 3 Dozen arrows. You think we can stop at a sports store on the way? I’m okay with fletching, but I prefer arrows made by professionals…

"Feel free to begin making your own death count, Rick,"

All over it, sir! Rick took a newly wrapped arrow, and took careful aim at a Leaper. He waited until it made it’s leap. The arrow flew, impacting into the demon, igniting the sigil, which melted a rather large hole into the creature.

Nice! One down!

A gunshot startled Rick, the bullet ricocheted off the car door where he had been hanging out. He ducked back into the car. What the heck, now I have to deal with guns too? Rick dug through his pack. I know I have something here that can help… How about some fire?

Rick tied a handful of cards to one of his Duct-Tape covered arrows. Heh, lets see how you gunners enjoy this! Rick leaned out the window, pulled back the arrow and released. The arrow flew toward one of the Undead Motorcyclists, striking the bike’s front tire. As it did, a bright light and some small fires ignited under it, causing it’s rider to loose control and slide backwards, now without a front wheel, knocking over a few others.

Well, no more confirmed kills, but I think I bought us a few seconds. Wish I had requisitioned a Flash-bang before I cut my leash, with my help we might knock down a fair amount of them...

[Rhiya Ravenwing]

"... so everybody IS out to get us...Zack, was it?" Alicia called over her shoulder to the man clutching her waist tightly to avoid being swung off.

"Be a darling and try to shake those two leapers off my back will ya?"

Alicia's bike swerved some more as one of her hands reached for her alpha crossbow, but the leapers' agility matched her red bike's pace. Up ahead, a strider tried to cut them off from the others.

"Screw you, bastard demon," she uttered before aiming and firing, the lightning sigil glowing.

*BZZAP*

The strider's legs gave way beneath it, a crossbow bolt through one of the forelimbs. There was the sickening crunch of bones as its forward momentum carried it across the ground in an uncontrollable skid.

Alicia reloaded rapidly, tucking the crossbow under her arm for easy access while steering with her bandaged arm. The wound had closed (she thanked the medics silently), but it was throbbing now.
"Christ, I forgot to make more of these bolts..."

[OOC: i think Alicia's down to 13 bolts]

[Astral Harmony]

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, leave-me-alone-you-sons-a-bitches-"
Laurella had help. Skeleton Riders, in spite of her Mustang having mowed one of them down, were converging on the Striders chasing them. One of them rode around and met up with the driver of the Mustang, cackling.

"Oh, hi there," Laurella said, smiling sweetly to the skeleton. "Did I miss paying the toll back there?"
The biker pulled back...and his buddies started coming up. "Eh, it could be worse: the police could be getting involved."

...And then came the sirens.

"Jeebus fuggin' christopher, man." Laurella groaned, then spared a glance towards the siren's direction. "Oh, it's SECA," she said, recognizing the style of vehicle. "I wonder if they know which car I drive?"

[PyrosNine]

Task decided to make sure by reaching over past harm and dangling over the back of the vehicle. With the knife he had been given, he proceeded to pry the license plate off the back. He put away the knife and returned to his seat, carefully, lest a bump or leaper knock him off.

"This should make it harder...although the fact that our driver is visibly a young woman, and the fact there are only 3 women present in our 'convoy' and you are also visibly the weakest one, it shouldn't be too much an upgraded difficulty. It's like going from Easy to Normal, except in Normal you have infinite rockets for your rocket launcher."

Task hurled the license plate back at one of the pursuers, piercing their tire and causing a bit of a buildup as they crashed to the road, bringing down leapers, Striders, Skeleton Riders, and at least smashing a SECA car's window.

It was only minimal to lessen the pursuers, as most were quite skilled at their driving and just plowed through, while the leapers could leap over most things that got in their way.

"Oh well. When one of them gets close, I have a much more risky gamble that might clog them down a bit better."

[Sir Pinkleton]

"Damn!" Jacob yelled as the bullet hit the car. Jacob looked out onto the highway behind him, trying to spot just how many enemies there were.

It was about that time when Rick fired one of his arrows out the car window, striking an Undead Motorcyclist, and sending him back into some others.

"Well, no more confirmed kills, but I think I bought us a few seconds. " Rick said.

"No problem, really, any detterant for them is more than fine." Jacob replied.

Wish I had requisitioned a Flash-bang before I cut my leash, with my help we might knock down a fair amount of them...

Jacob looked at his supplies. 'One more grenade, a few more clips... Nah, we'll be fine.' Jacob grinned to himself. He leaned out the window, although with less of him showing now. He looked upwards and saw a gunship, loaded to the brim with a powerful arsenal, and a few other enemies on the ground, a large demon among them, catching up to the Protectors' convoy. Jacob unclipped his last grenade, and pulled the pin.

"Begone, demons!" Jacob laughed as he tossed the grenade out the window, its detonation killing two striders and an undead motorcyclist. He aimed once more out his window, taking aim at the closest enemy.

[Toastburner B]

"Would you guys be kind enough not to taunt the demons when they still outnumber us 50 to 1?" Martin barked. "Whoa! Hang on!" He cranked the wheel hard left to avoid a rocket launched by a nearby S.E.C.A. van. As if in reply, a trio of skeletal riders moved towards the van. From the other door, a machine gunner sprayed the oncoming riders.


From down the highway, the Road Rex was starting to gain. One of the gunships flew past it, slamming it with a pair of rockets. The Rex didn't even slow down, and vented it's anger on a S.E.C.A. SUV that was too close. With a half-hearted kick, it sent the vehicle flying, forcing Martin to avoid the wreckage.

"Okay...I have decided that being in the back of the group is a bad idea." Martin muttered, "hang on."

Martin floored the gas on the old car, and it jumped forward.

Up the road a little ways, Nathaniel wasn't having a easy time of it, either. He couldn't fire his rifle while driving his bike, so he was reduced to his pistol and his machete. A leaper leaped at him, but Nathaniel saw it coming, and used the handle of his machete to knock it from the air. Looking behind him, he saw a Strider coming up fast. In response, Nathaniel held the blade out to the side, and slammed on the breaks. The Strider ran right into the blade, and Nathaniel followed up with a hack to the demon's hamstring, causing the beast to collapse, which at the speeds they were traveling was was often fatal.

Martin's car sped past Nathaniel, before he could build his speed back up. "Hey! Watch where you're going!"

[Sir Pinkleton]

((OoC: I kinda feel weird, posting so much that is. Should I limit myself a bit more? I wouldn't want to be an attention grabber or anything.))

"Sorry, I think I'm having a bit of too much fun. Probably cuz' of the good chance I wont see the end of today." Jacob grinned again, "Not that I'm suggesting you're a bad driver, of coarse."

By this time, The old car had passed by Nat, nearly hitting him actually. Jacob then became serious, and he leaned outside of his passenger side window again. "Slow down, I'm going to be giving cover fire" Jacob requested. He looked down the sights of his rifle once more, and quickly put an enemy into his sites: a Strider. 'Breath in...' He fired, catching the demon in his upper thigh. It slowed down greatly, and was about to stop when it was pushed on it's side by a leaping Leaper. He then moved his sights over to a SECA vehicle, with an agent leaning out the window with his own rifle. 'Breath in...' Jacob hesitated, but fired, catching the car in one of it's tires. 'Suppose I should be more aggressive with em'' Jacob thought, before moving his sites again.

Jacob then lost his focus when a rocket from one of the gun-ships landed a small distance away. "Damnit, we have to get rid of that gun-ship." Jacob said over the noise. He looked over to Rick. "Got anything that can help us bring that bird down?" He asked.

[Loki, The Fallen]

"Got anything that can help us bring that bird down?"

Rick looked up to see what Jacob was talking about and saw the military aircraft, laden with enough firepower to cut all of their careers short, along with most of the populace’s. Rick loosed the arrow he had aimed at an undead cyclist, then turned to his fellow passenger in disbelief.

Wait, you want me to do what to that?!

Rick thought for a second then smiled. Let see what I can do. He began to wrap another arrow, adding some sigil cards to the wrapping in addition to the sigil-covered duct-tape. I may be a one trick pony, but perhaps it’s just the trick…

He leaned out the window of the vehicle and drew his arrow. He stared at the aircraft, quickly closing in on them. He concentrated on his objective. He inhaled. Brighter then the sun!, he whispered to himself. He exhaled, released the arrow, and promptly turned away, covering his face.

You may want to avert your eyes, sir!

The impact of the arrow did nothing to the canopy of the chopper, but the flash generated by the layers of searing light sigils, amplified by the power of the amulet created a very bright light, the type of light your parents warned you about looking at. It was hot enough to melt the canopy, making a rather large hole, and it was bright enough to cause the pilot to break off, the helicopter veering from its target.

Rick immediately withdrew and began drawing sigils with his Sharpie on some blank sticky-notes. I doubt that pilot will be able to see for a few minutes. I have an idea for an encore, He said, looking over his half-used roll of duct-tape and nearly exausted supply of sigils, but I may need a little time.

[mauve]

Trish looked down at the Road Rex. That was one nasty looking demon. They had to at least slow it down somehow...

"Hey, I've got an idea," Trish said. "You think you can protect the car on your own for a few minutes, Troy? If so, then whoever's steering this thing-- you or Duncan-- could you get me a little closer to the Road Rex? I wanna attempt a Legolas move here."

[Sir Pinkleton]

Jacob looked away just in time as the car was bathed in a white hot light, and then it shifted away. Jacob uncovered his eyes, and was about to look outside.

"I doubt that pilot will be able to see for a few minutes." Jacob grinned. "I have an idea for an encore, but I may need a little time."

"You don't need to tell me twice to kill something." Jacob looked back down hits again when a leaper landed on the car window in front of him, cracking it and sending Jacobs nerves off. The leaper swiped at Jacob... but it appeared in slow motion. Jacob moved back as fast as he could, deflecting the claws a bit with his rifle, and then he open fire on the flimsy creature, immediately sending it sprawling on the ground.

Jacob didn't say anything; he merely paused, then got back into position again, aiming down-road, and began firing.

[Truce]

Really, she could have asked at a better time. Preferably not when they were being chased by a SECA Gunship.

Oh, sure, they could normally outrun it. That was what Troy had intended in the first place. The problem was, with everybody's attention on them, it was tough enough avoiding all of the stuff they threw at them. Leapers leaped, guns fired, not to mention the missiles - where did everybody get all this firepower anyway?

He didn't particularly want to go after the Road Rex - especially since it would put them in the line of fire of yet another gunship - but his sister had a point. They couldn't just leave it alone.

Still...

Troy shook his head, even as he narrowly avoided yet another leaper, watching it slam into a missile that had been heading for them. "We're fast, but we're still not fast enough to outfly everything. If you can use that acceleration sigil, then I'll be glad to take you there!"

[secretskull]

Duane's van, while it was excellent for carrying around large amounts of highly dangerous and probably illegal chemicals, was not built for escaping demons. Thus it was slowly lagging behind the other cars.

Duane used the rear-view mirror to look at the slowly closing tide of nastiness. "Dem- John, Would you mind doing me a favor?" , he said nervously. "That cabinet next to you has some land mines inside. It would be really awesome if you hurled a few of those behind us. Feel free to throw in any destructive ideas of you own."

The cabinet was filled with a dozen or so land mines, which looked as if they could be disassembled. The tope shelf also had a large cardboard box with, Totally not Napalm, written on it.

[Astral Harmony]

Laurella's Mustang led the pack. "I wonder how much farther we've gotta go?" she asked herself, looking back and seeing the large Road Rex hogging most of the view from all three of her mirrors. "But, maybe we've already passed the turn and we're just trying to lose all of our opponents."

The SECA boys were bad. The demons were bad. The undead were bad. The Road Rex was bad.

But, bad was all it was. They all could survive this somehow.

If the Fallen Angel mentioned decided to make an appearance him or himself, then things would definitely be worse.

[mauve]

"Oh, right..." Trish said, eyeing the gunships. "There's that problem too."

Now she knew why Troy was so hesitant to let her pull a Legolas on the Road Rex.

"Weeeeeellll," she said, dragging the word out longer than necessary as she thought. "I can give you the acceleration, and I think I can give you something else helpful." She dug into various pockets, claiming an origami koala and origami cat. She double-checked the sigils and placed them down on the roof of the car, one under each palm. The car glowed slightly, then tore forwards with a burst of speed.

"Sorry," Trish said stiffly, regaining her balance. "That one's always a bit unpredictable. Should get you some more speed, though." She focused on the other sigil.

Suddenly, a small army of Flying Cars With Ninjas On The Roof popped into existance. It was the same trick Trish had used back when the shadow assasins attacked. Only this time, there were many Troys, and many Duncans, and many Cars.

"This'll confuse 'em for a bit," she said. "Just swerve around for a bit to make them lose track of which one we are."

She pulled the naginata from the sling across her back.

"Okay, so will this help you guys? If so, I'm gonna go distract the Road Rex."

[Truce]

It was a pretty amazing sight, if not downright ridiculous. An entire fleet of cars, flying around like a flock of birds, all with their own pair of twins on the top - it was enough to stun even the most hardened SECA agent or demon for a moment. All of the firing stopped, and even the leapers seemed to freeze in mid leap, no longer sure who their target was.

Troy took this opportunity to make a pass the Road Rex. Speeding past the gunships, his heart nearly stopped when he thought they was about to fire on them. Instead, though, they chased after another illusion - one where the false Duncan decided to moon the pilots.

Needless to say, the agents were pissed.

Glancing back at his sister, he passed her a plushie of a white raven. "You know what to do with it. Now go!"

When his sister was gone, he knocked on the roof. "Oi, old man! How many mages are their in the other cars? I have an idea how to deal with this, but I'll need their help."

[mauve]

"I'm off to go maim stuff, then."

Trish stuck a sigil crane under the back windshield wiper and leaped off the trunk of the car, naginata in hand and plushie strapped to her back.

In true ninja form, she somehow managed to land on the Road Rex's back without killing herself or falling off to a smushie doom. The creature whipped its head around feeling the sudden impact. Beady little demon eyes fixed themselves on the ninja girl seated comfortably on the creature's back. Trish waved.

"Mornin'," she said.

Massive jaws sprang open and the Rex snapped at the new attacker. Trish let out a little noise that sounded a bit like "Meep!" and lunged to one side, crawling up the creature's neck. Teeth clamped shut on air with a sickening "CLACK!"

"Ha!" Trish cackled. She balanced on one knee and swung the naginata, the blade scratching along the creature's face. It barely left a mark, but it annoyed the creature.

The Road Rex snarled and changed its momentum, following its head in a circle.

"Nyeh!" Trish almost toppled over as the mass beneath her feet changed direction. Newton's Laws of Motion were in fine form that morning. She stabbed the naginata downwards in hopes of digging into the flesh and creating an anchor for herself. It pierced just enough to give her the slightest leverage. Damn, this thing was tough.

The Rex lunged once more with open jaws.

Why the hell did I want to do this? Trish wondered to herself. She gulped as she looked into the long, sharp teeth coming towards her.

"Ah crap."

The Road Rex felt its jaws clamp down on something soft. It crushed the object between its teeth once for good measure before swallowing it. Problem solved.

There was a strange cackling noise coming from deep within its throat. It was the kind of cackle that the doom-plushies made just before they exploded.

Trish was further up the creature's neck now, looking slightly flustered. That was close.

"Bet you'd like to know how I did that," Trish said to nobody in particular.

With a muffled "FOOM," the white raven plushie exploded inside the creature's throat. For a moment the Rex's entire neck glowed a warm yellowy-red, lit from inside. Smoke escaped the beast's mouth as it opened its jaws and roared in fury. Its head whipped from side to side, and Trish regretted not escaping in the opposite direction.

It raced around in a crazed semi-circle. Chunks of plushie were spit out of its mouth, trying to get rid of the painful thing in its throat. As the creature's head whipped by Trish again, she swung the blade of the naginata at the demon's eye. She meant to impale the creature through the eye, killing it or at least wounding it severely, but its head pulled away before she could do much more than slash the blade across the cornea. Disappointing, yes, but it was blind in one eye now. That's a good start.

The Rex was thrashing around in blind murderous fury now (no pun intended). Trish stabbed the naginata downwards again, trying to pierce the flesh of its neck. This was too much for the Road Rex. It skidded to a halt, it's momentum throwing Trish forwards towards its gaping maw. A handful of darts and cranes, who cares what sigil was on them, entered the creature's mouth instead. She activated the sigils all at once, and various degrees of fire and explosions went off quite literally in its face.

The momentum still made her slide down the creature's shoulder, though, and she couldn't stop herself from falling. The point of the naginata dragged down the creature's side, slowing her fall slightly but not doing an immense amount of damage to the Rex in the process. She changed tactics and slashed the blade across the creature's stomach as she fell downwards, not damaging it enough to kill it but definitely getting its attention.

The creature's foot rose to smash her into the pavement.

Trish yelled out a single word, and the sigil stuck to Duncan's windshield glowed. She disappeared just as the foot came down.

"Well that was fun," Trish said, reappearing on the trunk of Duncan's car.

The Rex was somewhat behind the other cars now, and lacked depth perception to boot.

[Demetrius]

Harm contented himself with swiping off any leapers that closed with them as he watched the more than slightly otherworldy flight unfold above and behind him.

"Task, Laurella, I have an idea, I like the 'Stang and all, but the back is a bit cramped for my taste. Pull up behind one of those SECA vans, I'll jump ship and get us a couple guns so we can have a bit more effect and keep Laurella further from the action." Throughout his speach Harm continued to dispatch any leapers that landed on the back of the car... Laurella wasn't going to be happy with what was happening to her seat covers and paint job.

[Rhiya Ravenwing]

Alicia was busy.

Busy steering her bike with her bad arm and aiming at anything that got too close to her with the other. It was fortunate that the woman was riding a motorbike, or else she'd never catch up to the others.

*BZAP* a strider fell, legs snapping from momentum as Alicia swerved and narrowly avoided the jaws of a leaper that took Alicia's time to reload as an opportunity to strike.
[12]

Click, click, FWOOSH. Twin arrows wreathed in searing hot fire scraped skin off the chasing leaper, causing it to screech in pain and anger.
[11]
"Damn, I missed!" Alicia accelerated, causing the leaper to fall behind. Her bike leapt forward, trying to get alongside Martin's.
Her crossbow launched another twin bolts of fire that lodged themselves in a strider's hind leg as it tried to pull up to Martin's car. It fell right in her path, and she swore as she swerved to miss the flailing body.
[10]

[PyrosNine]

A leaper got too close and Task proceeded to cut it in 3 pieces with both his knife and sword, before it even could come a foot near the vehicle.

"Alright, but you'll have to use whatever guns you find yourself. I don't use guns. Guns kill people. I just maim them something fierce."

[IHateMakingNames]

John stared at the explosives for a moment. There were two problems with him using those to fight the chasers. One, he only cared about the Fallen now. None of these minions, humans, or summoned demons concerned him. He wouldn't bother with them, instead wanting to save everything for when the Angel comes.

Second, he has no idea how to use the explosives.

Eventually he decided that just tossing stuff out of the back of the random only wouldn't drain him of strength. So he just started tossing stuff out the back of the van.

[Astral Harmony]

Laurella nodded and slowed the Mustang down sharply, crashing it into Skeleton Rider. The cycle gave and spiraled to the side of the lanes while the skeleton was thrown onto Laurella's hood, and slipped off and got run over as she slowed down even more. She turned to the right and pulled behind one of the SECA vans just as its driver tried to get them with a poorly aimed carbine rifle. A skeletal hand came up on Laurella's side. The rider had survived becoming roadkill...well, some of him did.

Now lacking anything below the spine, Laurella pulled out the rapier she set between her legs and lunged for the skull, getting him on the nose socket and managing to pry the bastard off of the car while keeping it behind the van. "Go, go, go!" Laurella shouted.

[Demetrius]

"Go, go, go!" Laurella shouted, and started as Harm ran across the tops of the seats, over the hood and made a crazy leap through the just openned back doors of the SECA van.

"Hey, lads! Drop your guns, jump out now and no serious harm will befall you!" The SECA agents didn't take Harm's offer, instead they tried to bring their weapons around on him.

"Can't have that!" Harm quickly closed the distance between himself and the agents, his height giving him the advantage in the confines of the van. Moving fluidly and being careful not to kill the men, Harm went through his basic three step hand to hand techniques, slide in, stomp the knee-cap, break the shoulder, knee to the head, move on...

Fake heigh, drop low, uppercut to the groin, headbutt to the jaw, double palm strike to the solarplexis, two down...

The last agent had seen his comrades dropped in less than three seconds, and he laid down his m249. Harm didn't stop, he moved past the man and grabbed the driver by the throat and growled, "I don't kill women and children, and I don't keep well with those that will, keep it straight and you walk away, we're going to send some demons back to hell."

Sensing movement and hearing the metallic click of the m249's bolt being drawn, Harm turned to see the remaining SECA agent shoot a leaper off the hood of Laurella's mustang. Looking back to the driver he threw down his earpiece and shouted, "Herb, do what he says, think about your daughters, cultists are one thing, they choose their side, the girl, she had no choice. I feel better helping her and fighting for life." With that the agent went back to firing at the demons.

"Well Herb, the choice is yours, kill bad guys or die as one, what is it gonna-" Harm was cut off as Herb attempted to stab his attacker with a large knife. Harm reacted by violently slammed Herb's head into the steering wheel and tossing him out of the van, before taking his place at the wheel. Adjusting the mirror to observe the yet unnamed agent, Harm pulled the van up beside Laurella's mustang.

"I've got your back, Laurella, let's get clear of this mess!"

[Toastburner B]

“Hey, I’m not the old one, Naruto!” Duncan barked back. “That would be Nat. As for mages…you can call them yourself,” Duncan says, holding his arm out the window with the walkie talkie in his hand, “but I dare say that everyone is in the same boat as us.”

From one of the vans below, an orb of light flew up. It passed through several of the fakes created by Troy, and began to hover under the car. “Freak! Locator spell!” Duncan yelled. “Hey, ninja boy, am I driving or are you? Because we’re going to have to evasive in a few!” He yelled as the gunship hunting them began to work its way over to them.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile, the Road Rex was rather put out.

In fact, one could say it was downright furious….losing an eye will do that.

Given the fact that Road Rexes are generally used for their strength rather than their brains, it was somewhat inevitable that the Rex, now properly pissed off, would go berserk.

And so it did.

The Rex began to run down the road at full speed, trampling demon, undead, and human under it’s claws without a second thought. It’s good eye picked out a likely target…it couldn’t tell where it’s tormentor had vanished to…and it breathed in. It coughed, much like a person trying to clear his throat.

However…most people don’t huck fireballs after clearing their throats.

Despite only having one eye, it’s aim proved pretty good, as it detonated a S.E.C.A. SUV. As burning wreckage fell across the road, Nathaniel had to swerve to dodge pieces. “Does anyone have any ideas as to how to kill off that thing, I would be very excited to hear them!”

[Astral Harmony]

A flaming passenger door smacked into the back of Laurella's car before flying to the right side of the freeway, startling Laurella. "Oh, no, that thing did not just shoot that red shit at us!"

The Striders and Leapers and Skeleton Riders and even some SECA were getting their asses handed to them by the massive Road Rex...uhhh, rexing the road. "I wonder how many fanatical souls were butchered to summon that thing?" Laurella asked herself, making the Rex and the copters her focus. Those were the only things that could really get at her from a distance. She didn't see any Skeleton Riders using firearms, and the Striders and Leapers were becoming less and less of a concern thanks to her friends, the SECA boys, and the Road Rex itself.

[Rhiya Ravenwing]

Alicia narrowly avoided a collision with a flailing body, although part of the leg caught the edge of her jacket. Alicia heard a tearing noise as it shredded the corner of her clothes like a hot knife through butter.
"Damn that was close," she muttered under her helmet, cradling the crossbow with her bad arm as she caught up to Martin's car. She risked a glance behind her just long enough to see the Road Rex mashing through everything. When it started hacking and coughing up globs of fire, Alicia swore again, the words lost in the muffle of her helmet. She flicked up her visor and glanced at Martin, flicking her head backwards.

"Yeah, I know. Do you think I'm blind?" Martin shot back. Alicia rolled her eyes, and her arms switched positions as she rapidly clicked off the fire sigil and clicked on the sonic sigil. Reloading with her one hand, she swung her aim behind her, firing before her aim stopped.

Two bolts - one of wooden shaft, the other composed entirely out of immaterial junk - split out from each other, arcing through the air, their shafts strangely compacted and warped. Their flight path, angled from each other due to Alicia's strange shooting behaviour, brought them down at least ten feet from each other, releasing twin shockwaves. One caught a skeleton rider's horse, shattering one of its bony front limbs. The other caused the right side of a SECA SUV van's wheels to burst, sending them into an uncontrollable spin that eventually stopped them in the middle of the path, blocking others that wanted to get by.
[9]

Alicia checked her bolt case, and had the heavy, sinking feeling that she didn't prepare enough bolts today. She's going to have to make every shot count now.

[Toastburner B]

One of the many advantages of having a soul enslaved through necromancy is that you could see everything that soul does.

Of course, how advantageous that is depends on whether you are the controller or the controllee…and whether or not you were on the controller’s side.

The Fallen watched through the eyes of his soldiers as the four sides bit into each other. The actions of his undead minions, the demons, or even the foolish humans didn’t really concern him. He watched the actions of the Protectors and the Chosen. True…they fought with skill against the lesser demons, the undead, and the landbound humans…but the Road Rex and the gunships seemed to be giving them great trouble.

The Fallen shook his head. No, this would not do at all…if the Protectors couldn’t even handle a few airborne foes and a blood-summoned like the Rex, how could he possible hope that they could protect the Chosen until he was ready to use her?

It seemed that he would have to take her under his protection directly.

Which meant that the Protectors were no longer needed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Martin was beginning to wonder if any amount of money was worth this. Not only was he being chased by demons, humans, and the undead, he was stuck in a car with a bunch of guys who seemed way too amused by the current situation.

He heard the radio crackle, but the car was too loud between having the windows down while traveling as fast as he dared and the din of battle to heard it clearly, so he plugged the ear-piece attachment in and stuck it in his ear.

“-ft! Turn hard left, Martin! NOW!” Duncan was yelling.

Without looking, Martin spun the wheel hard to the left. As he did, the wreckage of one of the S.E.C.A. helicopters crashed onto the highway in a fireball, followed shortly by the severed tail rotor which chewed up the demons and undead it landed on. On his right, a blinding flash of light preceded the explosion of a S.E.C.A. van. A pack of leapers in front of him were impaled on spikes of earth that suddenly erupted out of the ground. As Martin pushed his car even harder to the left to avoid the spikes, he found himself yelling, “What the heck is going on here!”

As if to answer his question, as figure landed on the road right in front of him. Before he had a chance to turn again, he hit the figure…or, at least, that was what he thought was going to happen. Instead of impacting the man, Martin watched wide-eyed a blade carved through the frame of the car with apparent ease. It was only when the car separated and threw him inward that he realized that the car had been cut clean in half.

There was screaming in the back seat. He looked back, and fought the urge to retch as he saw Jacob clutch at his arm…which now ended just below the elbow. Before Martin could do anything, an arm smashed through the window, and pulled Jacob out. With a grunt, Martin forced his door open, and climbed out.

Jacob was being held by his neck, his feet futilely kicking in the air, blood pulsed from his arm.

However, Martin only barely noticed the dying man…he was focused on the creature holding him.

It looked like a man…but one that stood about 7 and half feet tall. Its skin was pale, but seemed to faintly radiate with a golden light. Its hair was short and curly, a fine golden-blonde. It was wearing a white robe, which was clean, Jacob’s lifeblood rolled right off without leaving a stain. In the hand that wasn’t holding Jacob was a large sword, which was shrouded in white flames. Two great feathered wings sprouted from it’s back.

It looked at Martin. The face was handsome, pleasant to look at…but the eyes radiated a malicious madness that repulsed him.

“Forgive me,” it said to Jacob, “While I must take your life, I had no desire to maim you so…for your actions against the demons, you deserve better than that…”

Some instinct inside Martin took over. He reached back into the care, pulling out his semi-automatic shotgun, and leveled it at the Fallen. “Let go of him you freak!”

His gun barked again and again and again. The solid-slug shells struck the Fallen in the back. The shells either bounced off or shattered as it impacted the Fallen’s skin. The angel turned and looked at Martin. “Valiant…but useless.[\color]” the Fallen said, then raised the sword at Martin. “[color=gold]Go to your reward…”

Martin’s sixth sense triggered, and he rolled to the left, just as a jet of white fire scourged the pavement that he had just been standing on. He dropped the shotgun mid-roll, and as he came up, pulled his mauser from his inside pocket. The Fallen, however, had apparently lost interest, and was looking at Jacob once more.

“Martin!” Duncan yelled through the radio. “Martin, listen to me! You can’t let the Fallen kill Jacob!”

“I’m not really sure what I can do about!” Martin retorted.

There was a pause of silence, then: “Martin, listen to me…shoot Jacob.”

“What?!”

“Shoot him!” Duncan yelled. “He’s dead anyways, and shooting him will be a kinder death than any that thing is likely to give him. Jacob knows where our meeting place is…the Fallen can only enslave unwilling souls of those him or his minions kill! Do you understand me! Kill Jacob or the Fallen will be waiting for us!”

Martin’s mind swam. The Fallen raised his sword, and the flames seemed to dance in anticipation of the coming kill. Jacob head rolled, and he looked at Martin.

Martin raised his gun. “I’m sorry.”

The mauser barked three times. Three bullet holes appeared cleanly across Jacob’s forehead.

The Fallen turned, throwing the body aside. “It appears I gave you too much credit. Killing your own comrade? You are not better than the demons you hunt.” His empty hand shot out. “DIE!

Again, only his sixth sense saved Martin’s life, and he rolled again as spikes erupted from the ground around him. Again, he dropped his gun mid roll, and drew his .357 magnum…his “just in case” gun loaded with three magic bullets. He had gotten the weapon from a particularly hard job five years ago…and in those five years he had only fired off three of the bullets.

He fired off his remaining three in three seconds. The first round was ice, the bullet was designed to penetrate the skin, and freeze internal organs. The second round was fire, and it erupted into flame as it struck it’s target, and as a result, melted the ice. The final round was a lightning round, which struck with the force of it’s namesake, the water spreading the damage around.

As the steam cleared, Martin was only mildly surprised as the Fallen stood there unharmed.

Before the Fallen could react, the Road Rex steamed past. The Fallen grunted in frustration. “Stupid humans…I don’t have time for this…”

The Fallen stretched it’s wings and took off.

Martin fell to the ground, knowing his life was spared on a whim. “Head’s up,” he said weakly into the radio, “the Fallen is coming up fast.”

But the warning came too late. To those riding in Laurella’s Mustang, the Fallen appeared ahead of them…it’s sword raised.

((OOC: The Fallen is on the scene…and plans to do what it did to Laurella’s car the same thing it did to Martin’s car…but you guys have a little more time to react. Feel free to attack it if you want…but with what you have, there isn’t much you can go against it.))

[PyrosNine]

Task's headband glowed and his head began to throb, and a feeling of desperation began to ebb through him.

<..-un! Get awa->

Voices. he heard a voice. Where?

<-t! He's comin-...-ot ready, you must->

Who was coming? Seemed like there were already alot of being coming after them already...

It was then, that Task's eyes felt guided up and to the back of the car, where there seemed to be a light following them.

Task was overwhelmed, his mind reeling, and he wished he were somewhere else right about now.

He drew both weapons and stood in his seat to face the oncoming force. There was no time for warning, no time but to react. His mind was too overwhelmed to make sentences, so he made a word.

"Laurella!" He called to the mother of hell, a warning that would serve no use to her even if it was heeded.

[Loki, The Fallen]

Rick pulled himself out of the wreckage that was the car, dragging his bag with him. Wish I'd been wearing my seatbelt… what the hell happened?

He looked up in time to see the angel fly off toward the Mustang. He looked around, Martin didn’t appear ready for much yet, but looked alive. Jacob appeared to… Jacob?! Rick started to run toward the body and saw the wounds, gray matter and blood oozing from the new orifices. Rick hung his head. Everyone I work with... He turned around.

His ride was gone, and he couldn’t run as fast as a leaper. He was stuck between the remaining hoard of undead, demons, and people who all wanted him and everyone he was with dead. There was no way for him to catch up to the Mustang and help Laurella, at least, no way he could see.

Rick threw on his backpack and pulled his blindfold out. Well, I guess this is it for me; their priority is to save Laurella, my priority… He placed the blindfold over his eyes, carved the sigil in his left hand and drew his sword. I might as well buy them some time.

Shori, I guess I’ll be joining you soon!

((OOC: Looks like I’m waiting for either someone to pick me up or permission to write a “Bad-ass death post”.))
((OOC: [EDIT] OR "Bad-ass 'Left for Dead' post"))

[Rhiya Ravenwing]

[OOC: to make things a BIT easier, Zack decided that riding on a bike would be a bad idea, since you're exposed to the wide open spaces and hence, danger, and chose some silly car to ride in.]

Alicia was just slightly to the front of Martin's car when it swerved. The bumper almost clipped the back of Alicia's wheel, but she'd ensured a hefty distance between her vehicle and his, knowing it would be too nasty to bunch up.

The air displaced with the fallen landing caused Alicia to swerve instinctively. Alicia didn't dare look back, but the slam and grind of tortured metal made her glance around her shoulder and stifle a groan.

Martin's beat-up was a wreck skidding to a halt at the mercy of the Fallen, revealled in all its ... unglory.

Swearing under her breath, she hit her bike breaks and screamed to a halt, swinging around.

The roadblock was certainly creating confusion behind them, delaying the grounded enemies but not the demonic monstrosities that skimmed around easily, nor the mighty Road Rex bulldozing everything in its path, spitting fireballs as it went.

But that was not what caught her eye.

Martin putting three bullets into Jacob's head made her heart skitter. Alicia's face, however, was hidden by the visor which had slid down over her helmeted, emotionless visage as she revved the engine and burned tire tracks into the road. The bike leapt forward again, this time towards the cleaved car wreckage and Martin, aiming to pick him up and out of harm's way.

Her rescue fell short as spikes erupted from the ground, trying to stab at Martin who evaded as fast as he could. The Fallen almost copped a face full of the Rex as it roared past, before disappearing to harry other prey. Alicia didn't bother finding out. She wanted to avoid the Road Rex as much as possible and focus on...

Rick climbed out of the half of the car wreckage, and Alicia swore mentally. There were three people now, including Alicia, and her bike could only hold two. Alicia flicked on her comm switch.

"We've got one man down, peoples, and two are stranded with no vehicle. I can possibly pick one up. Who's willing to risk their ass for the other?"

As Rick put on his blindfold and muttered something into the air, he felt the soft whisper of five shadowy bolts fly past his face and lodge themselves into the oncoming leapers. The sound of a motorbike sounded horribly close, as if it was about to land right on top of him.

And then Alicia was there, trying to pull him behind the bike with one hand, other hand on her Delta crossbow, launching shadowy bolts at oncoming enemies. Distracted with the enemies, Alicia tugged at Rick.

"I'm savin' your ass again, Ricky man, and this is how you're going to repay me. Take off that silly pink blindfold of yours and seat yourself on the passenger seat."

Ready for death, Rick was a little more than ready to react, ripping off the blindfold he had meticulously put on and swinging a leg over the bike.

"What about Martin?"
"You were closer to me. Besides, I've called in to the others. Slinger'll stay alive long enough for somebody to pick him up... hopefully," Alicia shouted as the bike jolted forward, causing Rick to grip onto Alicia's waist tightly.

"Right, you steady now? Ok. Grab the handle bars and keep them there to steer the bike. I'll handle the rest. I need more ammo for my crossbows."
"...What?!"
"You heard me! Do it, person that-might-live-a-little-longer-thanks-to-Alicia!"

Confused, Rick complied and Alicia instantly hunched down on the seat, giving Rick free reign to steer, while Alicia rummaged around in her pockets, gave a small grunt of approval and withdrew a small wooden cube with a sigil on it.

Riding the bike and accelerating towards the rest of the crew, Alicia began to chant, bent over the cube which began to emit a small humming noise and glowing, while Rick tried to steer and keep the bike on the road towards the others while in the passenger seat.

At least Alicia was doing all the footwork.

[Astral Harmony]

Laurella held back her tears of frustration upon seeing the Fallen. Crying wasn't going to get her out of this mess. Actually, she wasn't sure if anything was going to get her out of this mess. She could only drive faster, but that thing had far more speed than her Mustang could push. Laurella briefly considered clipping one of the bastard's wings, but the only thing she had at hand that could do that was her rapier, and in order to maybe make a strike, she'd have to put her car in cruise, climb on top of the car and try to duel with him.

If anyone interferred with the battle between her and the Fallen, they would likely end up dead to buy Laurella a minute (two if their antics amused the Fallen). All she could do was pray. Pray that everyone would make it through. Pray that the Fallen would show mercy or just fuckin' die. Pray for a miracle. But would God listen to the prayers of the Mother of Hell? Well, it's worth a shot.

[Toastburner B]

“Laurella!” Duncan yelled. “Ninja boy! Take us down!”

Duncan cupped his hands together, and chanted an incantation. As a sphere of energy gathered in his hand, he threw it. “Plasma bolt!”

The incandescent sphere cut through the air, leaving an ionized trail in it’s wake.

The Fallen seemed less than concerned. With a swipe of it’s sword, it cut the bolt cleanly in two, causing the bolt to spilt around him.

Duncan cursed. “If I live through this, and you guys wreck my car, I will kill you!” he yelled as he opened the door and jumped out. As he descended through the air, he chanted under his breath, “air become think, gravity become weak, allow me to land in safety…feather fall!”

With the spell, Duncan managed to land safely…if you could call being the path of a Fallen angel safety.

As he landed, Duncan reached inside his suit jacket with each hand, and pulled out a total of eight small throwing knives, each marked with a sigil.

“Wrath of the heavens,” he incanted, “strike down my enemy! Lightning!”

He threw the knives. He didn’t throw them accurately, but he knew that he didn’t have to. As the blades left his hands, the spell took effect, and the blades turned into the carrier of pure energy.

In for a few brief seconds, the eight tendrils of electricity arced towards their target.

“REFLECT!”

Duncan had mere seconds to register what happened. The lightning suddenly curved away from the Fallen…and back towards him. Time seemed to slow, as Duncan found he had seemly had time to ponder what had just happened. It was theoretically possible to reflect a magic spell back...but to do so would require an unheard of amount of power, as you would literally have to wrest control of the magic away from it's caster and bend it to your own will.

Instinct took over, and he yelled the first defensive spell that came to mind. “Earthen Barrier!”

At his command, a wall of earth shot up from the road, barely blocking the lightning. However, the wall shattered under the force of the attack…the shockwave was enough to lift Duncan off the ground and throw him a few feet away.

The Fallen flew over him without even sparing him a glance.

“Fireball!” Duncan yelled, cupping his hands, and a ball a fire flew from them. He knew it was futile…the spells he had already thrown at the creature were well beyond this simple spell. The Fallen didn’t even bother to acknowledge the attack, even as the fireball caught up with him and exploded…and Fallen emerged unscathed through the flames.

Above the Mustang, the last gunship was going in for all it was worth. The crew had seen the Fallen appear on the scene, and had seen the destruction it had wrought in a few short minutes…and they became very convinced that the only way to prevent the end of the world was to kill the Mother of Hell before it got to her. Its last rockets streaked towards the fleeing vehicle.

((OOC: I threw in Duncan's little train of thought on reflecting magic so that one one would get the idea that they could do it.

Because you can't.))

[Astral Harmony]

"Aw, fuck me with a rusty, barbed scythe!" Laurella swore and searched for anything that could save both Task and her ass in this situation. A Leaper spared them from the first rocket by trying to jump onto the car and catching the rocket in its back during its leap. The result was a midair explosion and her bullet-riddled, dent-covered Mustang with a skeletal forearm holding onto the exhaust pipe getting slapped with wet Leaper innerds and a messy demon skeleton coming to rest of the car's front like some freakish hood ornament. "Task, you're my anti-air. Please gun down those rockets somehow!" Laurella shouted, wanting to apologize right after for asking Task to do something that was probably beyond his abilities, especially since he was likely just as soaked with stinking Leaper juices as the rest of her car.

[secretskull]

Duane felt that while john had done a good job with the mines his heart (or equivalent) wasn't really very into it, so he had settled for rapidly stopping and accelerating, flattening a few Striders. Then The Fallen came by.

"John, I don't suppose Demons have some kind of super attack against angels? Or even a grudge? Because that would be a big help right now." He swerved the van as close to where The Fallen was as possible. Duane decided to give him more incentive. "Also if you have the time try and get me a sample of the Road Rex or The Fallen, I have an idea which may clear up your health problems."

"Yeah, that should work just fine.

[PyrosNine]

Task heard Laurella's command, knew it to be impossible, yet made an attempt. It would possibly be futile, even if he succeeded, but he had to try.

He pulled the lighter out of the mustang and hurled it ahead of him, sticking the next rocket dead center, exploding it equally dangerously close to the car as well, but the next one was impossibly close for anything Task could do to stop-

The missile exploded and the heat that poured over the car fused the license plate into the vehicle and singed Laurella and Task's hair.

Task was amazed. It was as if he wanted it to happen, and then it did. But he didn't have psychic powers, so what happened...

***

Troy saw the missiles coming at Task and Laurella, and knew that he had to act. He had nothing to throw, nothing to intercept the missiles, and no time to think. He smashed the car's sideview mirror with his fist, and took the largest mirror shard.

Amazingly, Task had managed to destroy the next incoming missile himself, but there was still one more. Troy focused and relaxed, seeing the missile and feeling the glass shard in his hands, and concentrated on making the two become one.

THWIP!

The missile exploded, and just in time- Laurella's car got off surprisingly lucky. The shockwave shook the flying car, and a cabinet within the car popped open, revealing a large supply of military throwing knives.

"Heh. Those would've been useful earlier....Sis? Do you think we can swoop down and get to Laurella before that...thing? It's our only chance!"

[mauve]

(I know this sucks, but... I'm really really tired and I wanted to post something so I'm still in the game.)

"It's worth a shot." Trish said with a grim nod. That thing didn't seem to care for either SECA or demon, making it all the more dangerous. And the way Duncan had spoke made Trish suspect that this was the Fallen they were worried about.

The acceleration sigil was still working its magic on the flying car. They were still faster than their friends on the ground. It was worth a shot.

Troy had taken over the driver's seat shortly after Duncan abandoned ship. Now he jerked the wheel to the right, forcing the vehicle into a sharp airborne U-turn. Don't ask how that worked without road friction or jet engines or anything like that, because I don't know. It just did.

The hood of the car dipped downwards, the rest of the vehicle following suit. The air screamed around their ears as they dove down towards Laurella's mustang.

"This reminds me of that time we crashed a seaplane into that carnival ride!" Troy yelled out the window to his sister, crouched on the roof. "When those sideshow cultists called forth the soul of an ancient demon--"

"-and it possessed the carnival's roller coaster? Yeah!" Trish yelled back with a grin. "That was a long day."

Trish dropped off of Duncan's car to land on the trunk of the Mustang. Troy pulled up on the flying car, so that it hovered several feet above the Mustang.

“Up here!" Trish yelled to Laurella. "We're gonna get you through the window and onto the car roof, okay? The flying car might have a better chance of escaping, so we gotta get you onboard! But we gotta work fast." She reached a hand down to help Laurella. "Task! I need you to take the wheel and put your foot on the gas pedal as soon as Laurella lets go! We have to maintain this speed so Troy can keep up with the flying car. I'll trade places with you as soon as Laurella is onboard, so you can get out too."

If this was going to work, they had to do this fast. Duncan could only keep the Fallen occupied for so long.

[Astral Harmony]

"This is crazy, this is crazy, this is so goddamned crazy...okay, I'm ready to try!"
Laurella's body was filled with adrenaline pumped glee as she turned her surprisingly not totaled Mustang over to Task, then climbed out through the driver side window. A Skeleton Rider grabbed onto her skirt as she mounted the speeding vehicle. A few good kids removed the skeleton's head and hand. Laurella quickly scrambled onto the car and took hold of Trish's hand. She sighed when her feet left the car.
"This whole Mother of Hell bullshit has made me way too popular with the guys."

[PyrosNine]

Task held down the gas and drove. It was both nerve wrecking and amazing, as he was too young to drive a car, and he had never done this before. Furthermore, there was a Fallen Angel chasing him from behind.

It tended to fry one's nerves beyond their limit.

When Laurella was safely aboard the flying car, Task awaited his turn....but then thought differently. This fallen angel thing, well, Task wasn't sure if he even believed in fallen angels. But he knew this thing was no good, in almost every fiber of his being.

It would continue to follow the flying car, and who knew if it could go faster in the air than on crowded highway stretch, or was merely moving slowly to destroy those who were trying to kill her before he did....then it would be a good idea to try and slow it down some more.

Furthermore, he certainly felt Laurella would be more safe with the Ninjas than with him, and he didn't feel like leaving Trish behind, even if she could somehow leap back onto the flying car after Task got on.

Task swerved the car around, much to the shock of the others, and after a bit of off road driving, headed back down the road to the pursuing Fallen.

***

Troy was aghast. "Is he crazy? He's going to get himself killed!"

***

Task revved the car at full speed towards the Fallen angel, but before the car made impact, Task flipped over to the hood and leapt out at the Angel, in attempt to keep him from simply flying over the oncoming car.

It was as if the moment was frozen in time for Task, and all who were watching, as he seemingly flew, suspended above a hurtling car, with both weapons drawn. In the darkness of the night, his headband and armband, his sword and dagger, shone brightly.

[Incendius]

(GM approved reentry)

*SLAM*

Michael groaned softly as his wounded right arm was jostled against the side of the van waking him up from a deep, and well needed slumber. Over the next second, Michael struggled to organize his thoughts, and place himself back in the world. In a dizzy haze, not even having opened his eyes yet, Michael thought Damm SECA drivers, when I requested being driven to the hospital, I thought they at least had some modicum of ability to drive a van without engaging road rage.

Michael gathered up his strength, and prepared himself to open his mouth and admonish the drivers of the van when he suddenly heard the din of the surrounding battle. This isn't any simple road rage, they drove me right into a battle... Dammnation, the call to kill Laurella must have already gone out. I didn't think it would happen so soon, I thought I might have at least a day to recover.

As Michael opened his eyes to survey his surroundings, he found himself in the back of a SECA van, lying on two fully lowered seats behind the backs of the SECA drive and his cohort, who was currently firing bullets at the window at a foe Michael couldn't see. I can't believe I was sleeping through this, my blood loss must have been more damaging then I thought. In any case I have to hope they haven't got Laurella yet, if they have, that means that right now my two chauffeurs are fighting something far worse then us protectors.

Not even moving his head, or doing so much as to quicken his breathing Michael tilted his eyes upwards and looked outside the window. What he saw stunned him. My G-d, its a battlefield out there! At least this probably means Laurella is still alive, or the demonic entities would have retreated to wreak mayham in a more effective place. First I have to prioritize though, I need to get on my own and neutralize my two chauffeurs without crashing us, then see what I can do for the battle.

Michael slowly, quietly, and carefully reached into his sand container and withdrew a handful. Devoting himself to controlling his shaking hand, Michael unobtrusively sketched two intricate symbols onto the seat of the van. Under his breath Michael muttered. Aerie; euphoria; of; given; the; by; divine; the; winds; reaches; send; of; aloft; heaven; your; grace; messengers; these; to; anger grace; ridden; this; fighters; structure; so; and; G-d's; rise; peace; it; can; closer; be; to heaven's; attained heights.

As the two runes started to glow a soft subtle light, the SECA agent riding in the passenger seat looked back and let loose an expletive saying "S***t, kid what are you..." The agent got cut off as the most peaceful look crossed his face and that of the driver. Both men were being graced by the most pleasing and relaxing feeling either had ever felt, or would ever feel again. Far greater than that of any drug, and potentially far more addicting, a reason that not many use this spell.

To safeguard the fact that the driver would not be in any shape the manipulate the vehicle in this state, Michael's second rune went into effect. The SECA vehicle rose into the air, only inches off the ground, far enough the the furiously running wheels no longer propelled it forward.

Michael pushed under himself and worked through an intense pain, going into an upright position, then crawling forward in between the two SECA agents. I am sorry I have had to subject you to this. Michael said quietly, referring to both the heavenly feeling, and his next action. Michael reached over one by one and opened the doors even as he continued his twin incantations. With two quick shoves conducted simultaneously, Michael pushed both SECA agents out of the car and onto the hard gravel.

Crawling into the front seat of the SECA vehicle, Michael released both the runes and shoved on the gas, speeding away from the two agents and back towards the battle. It appears to me now, that I am not quite qualified to drive this, and am probably committing suicide in any case. Ah well, none of my family was ever known to preserve their own life beyond their charge, where would be the honor or dedication to duty in that? Michael thought rhetorically.

As Michael approached the battlefield, driving around and through the unsuspecting other SECA vehicles and away from the rampaging demons and undead, he bore witness to the beginnings of Task's insane stunt. I've got to help him, not only is taking down that Fallen key to stopping the SECA attack, that one is going to get himself killed with his heroics. Heroics are fine and worthwhile, but they don't necessarily dictate that you have to die to perform them.

Michael drove strait towards the Fallen and Task's charge, thinking even as he formulated his plan. This is going to be one of the hardest feats of magic I've ever performed. Four spells going off at the same time, all complete incantations and without sigils, one of them being a spell with its properties twisted oppositely. Oh well, this isn't the time to complain. One can only act.

Reaching out quickly, Michael unhatched the door to the SECA van and he practically shouted.

The; cradle; force; marioneteer; mire; of; inherent; that; of; divine; in; is; the; presence; G-d's; the; deeps; shield; will; most; ever; me; draw; holy; seeks; carry; yourself; grant; to; as; me; down; me; entrap; as; onto; abilities; and; a; one; for; slow; mother; that; the; in; does; wouldst; sake; rare; a; defy; of; times; child; thee; man; the; in; bear; help; mire; her; down; me; does; womb; upon; preserve; the; preventing; who; thy; opposite; dangers; wouldst; will; entrapping; and; sail; and; its; forces; in; pause; foes; from; the; thy; with; causing; skies; enemies; a; me; when; from; gambit; undue; thee; wrecking; of; harm; has; the; speeding; take; commanded; show; them; me; all; that; along; in; all; is; to; your; look; your; new; protective; to; boundless; destinations embrace; ground; domain.

Even if all the magic backlashes, this will be a fun way to die. Michael thought as he expended his mounds of built up magical energy to activate the four spells. Additionally, as he did this, Michael rolled out of the drivers seat of the SECA van and jumped out of the vehicle towards the hard pavement rushing below him, a stunt that unaided by spells would surely cost him, and still could cost him. As he jumped Michael splayed out his hands, fingers separate, and all pointed towards the Fallen.

The first of the four spells Michael uttered was a reversed spell, the original intention of the spell was to slow the movement of an object or person down. Through clever wording and intelligent application of magical properties, Michael had reversed this spell and applied it to the entirety of the SECA van. If the spell worked, the van would accelerate at monumental speeds, possibly breaking the sound barrier, towards the Fallen. Hopefully at the least distracting him, at the best crushing him underneath the force.

The second of the spells Michael spoke applied to his own being. It was a normal and common spell among ward mages, and in fact almost all mages. The spell surrounding the caster in a cradle of energies, cushioning the caster or recipient of the spell against harm from impacts, such as jumping out of a speeding van onto very hard pavement. Assuming it worked, Michael would only get jostled. If not, at least he would go out knowing he personally insulted the Fallen with the spell backfiring and his body exploding over the street, and onto the immaculate form of the Fallen.

The third spell cast by Michael targeted the Fallen. In a very audacious move, Michael had invoked the very forces of gravity upon the Fallen. Calling on gravity to hold down one who would presume to fly and deny its power. Especially when that being was one cast down from the grace of G-d, cast down to forces such as gravity. Hopefully this spell would slow the Fallen down, make it less able to counterattack Task. At best it would crush the Fallen slowly, incapacitating it.

The fourth and final spell was the most audacious and risky of Michael's moves, surpassing that of any of the others, for it risked attaching himself to the Fallen. From each of his fingers, a dozen threads would connect themselves to various point on the Fallen's body, giving Michael a chance to halt the Fallen from fleeing from the attacks, combined with the gravity, if both worked the Fallen would almost be a sitting duck. Luckily Michael had been sleeping through most of the orientation, so he couldn't really describe much that the Fallen hadn't already stolen in the previous encounters, so if they connection to the physical body of the Fallen did backfire, only his sanity and eternal soul would be at risk.

[mauve]

"Bloody idiot!" snarled Trish. She was hanging onto the underside of the flying car in a white-knuckled, one-handed grip. She had been standing on the Mustang's roof, helping Laurella get in and preparing to trade places with Task, but as the thief stomped on the gas, grabbing Duncan's airborne vehicle was all she could do to keep herself from being thrown aside.

"What is he doing?! We gotta go get him!" she yelled up at Troy. The ninja boy only pulled the nose of the vehicle upwards, making it sail higher into the sky.

"You're kidding! And deliver Laurella to the Fallen via air mail!?!" he asked incredulously. "Look, I know what Task just did looked incredibly crazy and suicidal, but we can't risk getting Laurella any closer to that Fallen! He's buying us time to make a run for it."

Trish gave a nod of understanding, not that Troy could see it.

"He's not alone; there are other Protectors down there already. They'll do their job, and now we've gotta do ours." Troy finished. He sighed. "And would you get up here already? Duncan's not going to like it if you end up pulling something off the bottom of his car there."

Trish muttered something under her breath and pulled herself up to the trunk of the car, using the back tire and bumper for leverage. She crouched there, keeping an eye out for further attackers as the car sailed onwards. She reached through the back window to dig into the newly-discovered box of throwing knives. Through the rear-view mirror Troy could see the occasional glint of steel as knives flew towards anything that came too close.

The acceleration sigil still burned brightly on the car's roof, letting the vehicle rocket forwards through the sky.

"Welcome aboard Ninja Airlines," Troy said to Laurella. "We hope you enjoy your fl--"

"Cut the comedy and drive, Plushie Boy," Trish interrupted flatly.

"Tch. I can't do anything fun."

[Loki, The Fallen]

Rick had few choices, few options. He saw the insanity in front him, and the insanity behind him. Well, guess we better catch up! He twisted the throttle and the bike lurched forward.

Rick had never driven a motorcycle before, but he was a quick study (And Alicia was quick to inform him if he was making a mistake.) He started hearing and detecting projectiles, entirely too close for comfort. Some of his pursuers had not given up.

I can't maneuver one of these things very well, lets try...

While looking straight forward, he split his concentration. He managed to distort the image of the motorcycle enough so that those behind him were confused. They shot in the general direction, but didn't seem to endanger them.

There, looks like we may be catching up, just about ready?

[Astral Harmony]

Laurella smiled at Troy. "Ninja Airlines, eh? So I guess the in-flight movie is Ninja Scroll? Or maybe some Naruto cartoons? I'm kinda tired of watching hardcore pornography."
She looked behind the flying car, recalling the dialogue Stacey and she had over flying cars. It made her melancholy to realise that she wouldn't be seeing Stacey for a long time, if at all. To bring her generally optimistic mood back, she tried to think of something to sing.
"It's the Great Space Coaster-"
Oh God, not that.
"Get on board,
On the Great Space Coaster,
We'll explore,
A comet ride of fantasy,
To a place where dreams are fast and free..."

[Toastburner B]

The Fallen calmly observed the two vehicles hurtling towards him.

The van seemed to be the most immediate threat. He raised his hand, and simple stated, “Repulse.”

The van’ front caved in like it had just ran headlong into a concrete wall. A force then gripped the van, and flung it end over end back down the highway. The Mustang he handled in his move conventional fashion. As it almost struck him, he brought his sword down, and neatly split the vehicle, the halves passing harmlessly past him.

With the most immediate threats taken care of, the Fallen glanced at the ground, then over at Michael. With an certain level of contempt in his voice, the Fallen muttered, “Dispell.”, and in that moment, Michael sensed the destruction of his spells…well, most of them.

It seemed the Fallen had some plans for the strings.

He grabbed them, or as many as he could, and pulled, which yanked Michael right off his feet, and sent him flying towards Task.

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((OOC: I’m going mildly god-moddy…but, well…I theGM, so I can. Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill anyone.))

Duncan ran down the road as fast as he could…which considering he had just jumped out of a flying car only to have his trump card thrown back at him, and had escaped death only by blind reflex and a good few cuts from the broken rocks peppering him and his brief flight, wasn’t all that fast.

Certainly not fast enough to put a stop to what was happening up ahead. Michael’s sudden appearance had done painfully little to turn the course of the battle. The remnants of Laurella’s car came to a halt a few dozen yards ahead of him. He could see the Fallen grab something. At this distance he couldn’t see what. But suddenly Michael was pulled off his feet and swung into the air, directly at Task.

“Duncan, it’s Nathaniel, do you copy? Nat’s voice came in static-y over the radio.

“I read you, Nat,” Duncan replied.

“Listen, I think I got a way to stop this thing…or a least stop him long enough for us to make good on our escape.”

“I’m all ears,” Duncan returned. “We’re getting pretty thrashed up here.”

“Yeah…I know. Listen, I think Task and Michael had the right idea…just not enough mass. Keep that thing busy for a few minutes, and then when I call you, get the heck out of Dodge.”

“Roger that,” Duncan said.

“I parked my bike about a half-mile back from where you are…it should have enough gas to get you into the next town. I left the Garand on there, too, and two of my special bullets. I had to take the fire one…need it for the surprise. It’s too good of piece to go out like this…”

“Nat, what the heck are you planning.”

“You’ll see…just distract that thing until I get there.”

“Nat? Nathaniel! Dang it, answer!” Duncan called into the radio, but only static answered.

“Distract the most powerful being on the face of the Earth…no problem.” Duncan muttered to himself. The road began to vibrate, and he turned to see the Road Rex running towards him. He found himself smiling as what may have been the dumbest plan in human history filled his head.

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The Road Rex was still well and properly pissed off. Blind in one eye and cut up, anyone would be pissed off if they weren’t already dead.

So it didn’t really help when pain suddenly racked it’s nervous system. It bellowed out in its torment. It looked around to find its attack, and the sight of a winged figured filled it’s vision. The Rex roared as it identified the one who hurt it so, and began to charge. The image faded, but the figure could still be seen, only a few dozen yards away. The Road Rex roared it’s challenge, and picked up speed.
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It was a simple, stupid plan, but it seemed to work. A simple [i]agony spell, followed with an illusion of the Fallen in the last good eye of the Rex, made it focus on the Fallen. Hopefully, the power blood-summoned would be the distraction time Nathaniel needed to work out his plan, whatever it was.

Now, however, there wasn’t really anything that Duncan could do. With the appearance of the Fallen, everyone’s battle-plans had been completely and fully fouled up. The S.E.C.A. pursuit force was breaking up…many of the chaser vehicles had already pulled back. The leapers and striders were also breaking off, or were facing off against the few remaining undead. And the Rex and the Fallen itself were about to face off.

“Whoever is left…break off, I repeat, break off. Nathaniel has something up his sleeve, and I get the feeling we won’t want to be near it when it goes off. The Rex looks like it will be kind enough to buy us some time...so get lost. You all remember where to meet. See you there.”

Duncan began to walk back down the road, to look for Nathaniel’s bike. He worried about his old friend, who would never leave his bike just up for grabs…but whatever Nathaniel had planned, he was committed to, and Duncan knew he couldn’t change his mind.

In the distance, a big rig was building up speed. It was hauling two oblong tanks…

((OOC: I’m looking to end the chapter soon. Scare up some transportation and get out of there.))

[Demetrius]

Harm watched from the driver's seat of the SECA van as Laurella climbed aboard the flying car, Task began his suicide run and then, “Whoever is left…break off, I repeat, break off. Nathaniel has something up his sleeve, and I get the feeling we won’t want to be near it when it goes off. The Rex looks like it will be kind enough to buy us some time...so get lost. You all remember where to meet. See you there.”

Harm spoke into his radio, "I'm going to try and see if I can get Task and Micheal out of there. God willing we will meet again." With that Harm slammed down on the gas and break pedals, spun the van around, and, tires smoking and squealing began speeding back toward the Fallen, back to his comrades.

[Incendius]

Well at least the fall didn't kill me, I can always say THAT went my way. Michael thought optimistically as he landed softly against the ground. I wonder why the Fallen didn't dismiss or take over the threads though, those would have been the logical choices. Did they really get through his guard? Michael Pondered as he struggled to sit up without the use of his hands. It was at that moment that Michael noticed the Fallen gathering the strings up, and then the subsequent pull. Oh was Michael's initial thought.

The first thing Michael noticed as he was thrown was the fact that the wound on his arm had become open again, as could be evidenced by the reddening of its bandages. Maybe attaching myself to the Fallen through my injuries wasn't quite the intelligent idea. Michael thought, drastically understating the issue. As Michael whistled through the air towards Task he thought sarcastically Well, when I said that I wanted more offensive capabilities at my behalf, I did NOT mean I wanted to be that offensive force.

Noticing that he was still attached to the Fallen, Michael let the energies from his spell disperse, and the threads dissolved into nothingness. So lets see... can I cast anything fast that would save me, and wouldn't hurt Task when I impact him? Michael thought, then mentally kicked himself. Really, I do have a problem with over complication don't I? I don't need to do something spectacular. He admonished himself.

I have no weight, I have no draw, I am as a feather floating in the breeze. Michael muttered hastily, drawing upon what spare energies he had left. The spell wouldn't work entirely, because of his strained situation, but if Task did nothing at least they wouldn't break too many bones when they collided and crashed to the ground, instead of dying like they would have before.

[Rhiya Ravenwing]

"Ah-HAH!" Rick was almost dislodged from his precarious back-seat driving as Alicia suddenly came up, triumphant, clutching ten new bolts. In one fluid motion, Alicia grabbed the handles, allowing Rick to shift into a more or less comfortable position behind her, while her other hand stuffed the newly made bolts into her crossbow bolt case slung on her back.

"Now that you're hands are free, think you can hang on with your legs and provide some serious cover for us? I--" The order to break off from the fight crackled over her communication link in her helmet.

"-- Oh second thoughts. Just hang on, a''ight?" In a mere moment's thought, Alicia's bike brought on a fresh burst of speed, jolting into a higher gear and closed the gap between them and the others in no time.

[PyrosNine]

Task felt Michael crash into him like a football player at the 20 yard line (or something, Task doesn't know football) and the two hit the ground some distance away painfully. It could have been worse, but it seemed Michael slowed himself down somehow.

Task picked himself up. "Gah! I coulda sworn I had a free shot...It's as if he somehow rearranged reality when I actually had a chance to keep me from attacking!" Task turned to Michael, who didn't look so good for the wear.

Then Task got back to the problem at hand....The fallen right over there. It continued forward, ignoring him. What was he, a mere fly?

<-r-bably->

Oh great. The voice in his head again. This just kept getting worse.

"Hey...magicky guy. Are you all right?" Task asked Michael. Noticing Harm's coming, Task shook Michael and tried to pull him up and get him in Harm's way (A Pun! Yay!). "C'mon, move. Maybe I can get someone else out of danger..."

[Demetrius]

In Harm's way turned out to be exactly where they ended up, swerving and burning some more rubber off the van's tires Harm called back to the SECA agent, "Get them in there now!"

As soon as the pair were in the van he gave the GM V8 all the fuel it could ever want, and went careening away from the Fallen, "Please fasten your seatbelts and stow all carry-on items, this could get bumpy, especially if whatever the old guys had planned doesn't work out."

[Toastburner B]

Henry Coppella woke up, finding himself on the side of the road, behind some bushes. He tried to stand up, but an ache in his head flared as he did so, forcing him to settle with sitting up. As he look through the plants, he saw a big rig driving away.

His big rig.

The memories came back in a flash. The oddly empty highway, and what looked like explosions up ahead in the distance. When he passed the first crater in the road, he resolved to take the next exit. He never did get the chance, though. A man lay in the center of the road, and Henry hit the breaks and swerved to avoid hitting him. As he put the truck in park, the figure suddenly bolted up, and was in the truck before Henry could react, with a gun in hand.

“I want you to put this truck in gear,” the man said. He was an middle-aged man, decked out in classic biker leathers, but most of Henry’s attention was on the pistol pointed at his head. Henry obeyed, and the truck started to lumber forward. “Good,” the man said, “now drive over by the shoulder.” Henry obeyed again. In the back of his mind, he felt like he should do something, but fear was winning out. Fear of the gun and of the man. Maybe it was just the light in the truck, but the man’s irises seemed to be red…

“Okay…that’s close enough,” the man said, “Now, open your door.”

Henry followed the instructions. The man checked the road, then looked back at him.
“Sorry about this,” the man had said…right before he punched in the face, knocking him out of the cab and into the bushes on the side of the road.

As his truck rolled away, Henry Coppella wondered what that idiot would want with thousands of gallons of gasoline.

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The roar of the approaching Road Rex seemed to catch the Fallen’s attention. The Rex surely had all his attention focused on the Fallen. The Rex belched fire, and the Fallen dodged out of the way. “Fool!” he shouted at the half-blind demon. “Unlike you, my powers are fully intact!”

Whether the Rex understood or not will never be known, but it didn’t seem too discouraged. It closed the gap with the Fallen quickly, and bent down to try to swallow it’s apparent tormentor as it ran past. The Fallen proved faster, however, and again dodged out of the way, while using it’s sword to slice the flank of the demon as it ran past. The demon cried out in pain, and thrashed its tail, which caught the Fallen by surprise, knocking it into the air. It didn’t take long for the Fallen to recover, as it spread it wings, catching itself before it hit the ground. The Fallen pointed it’s sword at the Road Rex, and let loose with a stream of white fire just as the Red spat another fireball. The two fires met, and for a time, seemed to cancel each other out, but the white fire of the Fallen broke through, scorching the wounded Rex. The demon howled in pain, and charged the Fallen again, leaping up in the air. The Fallen only had enough time to fly up enough to get hit by the monster’s muzzle instead of being caught in its mouth. Lashing out with it’s sword once more, the Fallen cleaved the Road Rex’s muzzle open, drenching itself and the road in black blood. Rolling off, the Fallen took the air once more, dripping blood. Had any been close enough to see his face, they would have been very afraid. Gone was the casual sense of superiority in which it had treated the Protectors.

It was out for blood now.

It flew back in, directly at the Rex’s head, sword first. Despite the Rex’s efforts to dodge, the Fallen was too fast, and the sword dug into the monsters skull through its good eye. A pitiful howl escaped the Rex as fire burned into its brain. The Fallen twisted the blade, bringing another wail of torment from the dying demon. Yanking the sword upwards, the Fallen cut out of the Rex’s skull…but didn’t kill it. The Rex fell to the ground in a tumble, and wailed as the fallen angel’s fire ate away at it’s brain.

The Fallen watched the dying demon with a look of sick pleasure on it’s face, as if each wail brought a new sense of joy…

…The revving of a large engine and the suddenly bright lights were all the warning the Fallen had, and it wasn’t enough. A large semi-truck slammed into the Fallen. However, the Fallen wasn’t through yet. With a yell, he sliced into the engine block with his sword, cutting it in half. The large machine came rolling to a stop.

The Fallen climbed up onto hood, where he was met with a hail of bullets. However, these shells were smaller than the other Protector had used, and proved to be no one effective. The Fallen flew forward, sword in hand, broke through the windshield, and impaled the driver through the waist.

It was with mild surprise that the Fallen say that the driver was the oldest Protector of the Chosen…the human known as Nathaniel Jackson.

“Your kind is proving to be most annoying,” the Fallen said to Nat. “Perhaps I was too hasty to judge you incapable of protecting the Chosen if you are willing to go to such lengths to do so.”

Nathaniel opened his mouth, as if to speak, but all that came out was a stream of blood. As the man realized he couldn’t talk, he smiled instead, blood flowing through his teeth. He raised the pistol in his hand, but the Fallen just smiled bitterly. Did the fool think that it would prove more effective at close range?

However, the man didn’t point it at the Fallen, towards the back of the truck. And fired.

The Fallen had sharp vision. Sharp enough to see the bullet in the time it took to leave the chamber of the gun and fly out through the back of the truck. In that brief moment, he saw it was no ordinary bullet.

While he had time to see, he had no time to act.

As the bullet broke through the metal at the back of the cab, the magic in it began to work. As it broke through the metal of the tank, it turned into a fireball. When it ignited, it was in thousands of gallons of gasoline.

The resulting explosion could be seen for miles.

((OOC: New Chapter up soon))