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Post by Whitakker on May 6, 2005 21:37:56 GMT -5
*Whitakker was watching the whole battle from the vehicle, but made no attempt to assist Thanatos, unlike Dimitri. But now that he had seen Thanatos' adversary raise his hands in surrender, Whitakker casually made his way toward the two. He stopped about twenty yards short of them and got out, but only stepped in front of the vehicle, not approaching the two just yet. His hands rested on his revolvers, just in case the stranger tried to pull something fancy. Whitakker heard Syrant's vehicle nearby, as he waited to see how this standoff would unravel.*
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Post by Thanatos on May 6, 2005 22:19:50 GMT -5
Thanatos gazes at Rune for several moments after the man's query, visor occasionally glinting in the weak afternoon sunlight. Eventually he speaks, having evidently calculated and examined the current scenario with a painful degree of thoroughness.
"The only logical solution is to join this party under the false pretenses of comradery and friendship, biding your time until I am placed in a suitably distracted and torn position that will warrant the ideal surprise attack. Defeating me at your current level of ability remains a physical impossibility, although your skill is both dangerous and potent. It has been approximitely ten years since I last engaged a human opponent in such a close match of mortal combat, and this challenge has been welcome."
Thanatos turns his head, watching as the rest of the strange caravan makes its way over to investigate the aftermath of the lightning-fast combat.
"Naturally, your counterattack should not be attempted when it might endanger the lives of any other individual in this expedition. Business before pleasure..."
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Rune
Junior Member
Posts: 186
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Post by Rune on May 7, 2005 8:51:37 GMT -5
Rune listens to Thanatos' words with a blank stare. Finally, he tilts his head back and laughs in a forced way.
"Just what I had in mind, Thanatos," he says, walking over to android.
"Don't expect me to get soft. I won't hurt anyone else in your little caravan unless they get in the way... but when the time comes, I will kill you. I promise."
Rune then gathers each of his swords, sheathing them again, and dons his tattered cloak. He walks over to his crashed motorcycle, and, sitting down, casually leans his back against it.
He ignores the other members of the caravan for a moment, as he rests from the quick, yet intense, battle.
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Kimato
Full Member
the greatest thing you will ever learn is just to love and be loved in return
Posts: 276
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Post by Kimato on May 7, 2005 10:34:45 GMT -5
Kimato groans, rolling over onto her side. The throw from the motorcycle didn't damage her badly, but there is a painful wound on her lower arm from landing on a very sharp rock.
You are lucky it is not in your head, you stupid girl. You should have kept quiet. That could have killed you both. Sitting up beside Dimitri and holding her injured arm, she turns to look toward Thanatos and the attacker, and is much surprised to see that Thanatos and the man are conversing quite civilly.
How in... Kimato sighs. Thanatos, you really are...something. I do not know what it is, but I am beginning to realize why Nicholi left you in charge of this leg of the expedition. You are a skilled fighter, but never let your emotions run away with you and allow you to make illogical decisions. Feeling Dimitri place a hand on her shoulder, she smiles ruefully and thinks, unlike myself and my hot-blooded comrade. Oh well.
Turning back to Dimitri, she allows him to help her to her feet, replying to his concerned questioning that she is alright, but will need to dress the wound on her arm.
"But do not draw attention to it, Dimitri. This wound is my own fault, and I will bear it until I can take care of it at the group's convenience. Do not tell Thanatos or the others about it." As she says this, she rolls down her dirty sleeve and carefully conceals the wound.
"It appears the toaster over has managed to handle the situation on his own...perhaps, Dimitri, the next time I suggest helping him in any way, you will remind me of these last two instances." Her face burns with shame, and she turns away so Dimitri will not see.
That is twice you have prompted Dimitri to do something stupid...you should be KEEPING him from doing things like that, not urging him on! Stupid girl, you really are a liability. She sighs again, and walks slowly toward where Thanatos and Rune are standing, holding her arm casually at her side as if nothing is wrong.
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Dimitri
Full Member
Listen to the wind blow, Down comes the night. Break the silence, d**n the dark, d**n the light...
Posts: 235
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Post by Dimitri on May 7, 2005 11:19:38 GMT -5
Dimitri dusts off his clothes and walks over toward his wrecked bike. As he examines it, the frown on his face begins to fade.
Whew, it'll still run.
As he lifts the bike right-side-up, he looks over toward Thanatos.
Well, well, the TinMan handled it already. I guess he's really as good as he acts.
He walks away from Kimato and the bike and heads toward Thantos. Dimitri grips the handle of his gun slightly as he stops next to Thanatos. As he looks over toward the stranger slumped against his own bike, Dimitri speaks to Thanatos in a rather flat tone
"He's joining us, isn't he?"
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Post by Thanatos on May 7, 2005 23:34:25 GMT -5
Thanatos nods curtly at Dimitri's less-than-enthusiastic question.
"This individual will make a superb addition to the current party, especially if the expedition suffers another attack before it reaches the Ruined City."
As Kimato slowly approaches, Thanatos' routine scan draws his attention to her substantially lower sleeves. Taking into account the crash both Kimato and Dimitri so recently occurred, Thanatos quickly examines a number of possible scenarios that might lead to this behavior, within another second narrowing it down to an incident almost identical to the one that has actually transpired. Nevertheless, Thanatos says nothing concerning Kimato's wound--he has suffered her temper and fierce bouts of emotion to realize that doing so would cause only delay and a further fragmentation of relationships within the caravan.
Thanatos now turns towards Rune, who seems to be injured quite heavily with several scrapes and two deep throwing dagger wounds.
"Do you possess suitable medical supplies to tend to your wounds? It is fallacy to leave damage untended, as it decreases combat efficiency considerably. It would also be beneficial to learn your name, a more than balanced exchange for being so readily accepted into this expedition."
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Post by Whitakker on May 8, 2005 8:43:37 GMT -5
*Whitakker watched the stranger ever since the deal was made that he would join the group. Something about this man reminded him of...what was it? Whitakker couldn't put his finger on it, but he felt like he had seen this man before. Oh well...best introduce myself, I suppose...'twould be rude not to. Whitakker approached this stranger:
"My name is Whitakker."
Realizing that that wasn't the best opener in the world, Whitakker simply walked away towards his vehicle.*
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Rune
Junior Member
Posts: 186
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Post by Rune on May 8, 2005 9:13:29 GMT -5
Rune listens to Thanatos, and then stares at Whitakker as he approaches and introduces himself. He continues to give him a blank stare as Whitakker turns and walks away.
"I have no medical supplies. I didn't expect you to put up such a fight," Rune says, looking back at Thanatos. "Next time..." he mutters, under his breath, "I will."
He stands again, walking towards Thanatos. His bare feet ache as they touch the hard ground.
"My name is... Rune," he says, slightly pausing before he answers, as if trying to conjure up an appropriate title. "Trust me, you'll remember it," he says, in a voice that leaves only Thanatos in earshot.
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Post by Thanatos on May 8, 2005 15:10:50 GMT -5
By now all the members of the expedition, with the exception of Whitakker, have reached the area that was so recently a battlefield, gathering in a rough semicircle around Thanatos and Rune. Thanatos glances toward the group, particularly in the direction of Kimato and Dimitri.
"Our latest addition to this journey is in need of medical attention. He will need to be tended--we possess ample supplies of bandages and such in our stores."
Thanatos' features as neutral and composed as ever, he speaks once again, this time addressing the gathering in its entirety.
"Darkness is descending. It would be highly advisable to camp here, for it is no longer safe to travel by night. The plains that surround the Ruined City are lacking in both law and settlement, and it is there that danger breeds most. We are less than two-hundred kilometers from our goal, yet this distance will undoubtedly prove itself to be the most toilsome leg of this expedition."
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Rune
Junior Member
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Post by Rune on May 12, 2005 15:46:03 GMT -5
As night fell, Rune glared across the camp at Thanatos. His wounds still untended, he was forcibly reminded of his failure.
Trying to ease his mind by focusing on something else, he looks across at the strange caravan. His eyes settle on a man with a bird, an over-sized golden eagle. He notices that it is the same tall man who awkwardly approached him earlier. He smiles at the idiocy of that moment, and, as he is laughing inwardly at the tall man's stupid behavior, the man looks over towards Rune.
Rune knows that it looks as if he were trying to be friendly... looking across and smiling... but he prays that the man won't approach him. Looking around some more, he notices the two others who had rushed to help Thanatos at the end of the battle. He scowls at them, entirely aware that they can see him. It is their fault I failed, he thinks to himself. I might end up killing them also... and it wouldn't make me any more the sadder...
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Post by Syrant on May 12, 2005 18:54:14 GMT -5
Syrant stands alone, thinking. Syrant has one of his guns out spinning it around and making sudden stops. He then glares at Rune through his glasses and sighs.
If that idiot is in this group purely to kill Thanatos then he should just shoot himself and save us the trouble.
Syrant slowly makes his way over to Thanatos, still spinning one of his guns. Once Syrant reached Thanatos he returned his gun back into his jacket and began to speak in a quiet voice that only Thanatos could hear.
"Why did you mess with him? It would have been much easier to kill him and not have to worry about it anymore."
Syrant looks back at Rune then back at Thanatos awaiting an answer.
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Post by Thanatos on May 13, 2005 15:57:58 GMT -5
Thanatos sat inert, shadows dancing over the android's glossy visor as he gazed into the heart of the crackling campfire. To his left was the slim metal suitcase he had taken with him on this journey, its sleek black top raised, exposing its contents. The suitcase held row after row of near microscopic tools; everything from pliers to screwdrivers to a miniature blow torch was contained within the confines of the container. Surrounding the expansive selection of tools were sheets of thickly packed alloy, tiny flecks of Aegisite blended masterfully with incredibly durable metal to form a ridiculously resistant material that could only be intended for self-repair. A locked box sat at the heart of the suitcase, its contents remaining a mystery.
The assassin was working meticulously on the slight wound he had incurred in his side, wielding a blade so thin that it was almost transparent. He tirelessly worked on straightening and modifying hundreds of minute wires, checking one circuit at a time in order to make sure he was functioning at peak effectiveness. Thanatos did not cease his work when Syrant posed his question, instead responding while continuing to go about his tedious work.
"The last time I participated in such a challenging combat scenario as I did with that individual was when I faced you in Anhelo Manor. It would not have been logical to end it prematurely, for there is much that can be learned from this would-be assassin."
Thanatos finally pauses in his task of self-repair, visor slowly moving its gaze towards Syrant. There is a subtle shift in the android's generally neutral voice.
"Lastly, this individual does not seem motivated through the quest to slay alone. He is being driven by something else, and if this drive is located and obliterated, he will provide a value ally. Human life should not be taken unless business demands it."
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Post by Syrant on May 14, 2005 15:19:13 GMT -5
Syrant turns his back to Thanatos and begins to slowly walk away. As he walks he mutters,
"Whatever..."
Syrant walks off by himself into the darkness of the night. Syrant stands looking into the horizon thinking as usual.
I wonder what the MASS are planning now...
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Dimitri
Full Member
Listen to the wind blow, Down comes the night. Break the silence, d**n the dark, d**n the light...
Posts: 235
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Post by Dimitri on May 14, 2005 15:42:49 GMT -5
Dimitri approaches Rune with a medical kit in hand. He hands it to Rune and sits down in front of him. He stares unblinkingly at him as he tends his wounds.
Hmm. This guy's no amature. But why attack an android?
Dimitri rises from the ground and begins to walk away.
"Your welcome." he calls back as he rejoins Kimato at his bike.
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Post by Whitakker on May 16, 2005 20:47:03 GMT -5
*Whitakker kept his eyes on the man called Rune, intensely gazing at him, trying to remember. Did I meet him somewhere, or something? Dang it, I can't remember...Whitakker sees Rune stare back at him, and notes the man's false smile. He's probably wishing I wasn't staring at him. I wonder if I should say something to him...well, better to make a fool of yourself now, than to make a fool of yourself while doing something important.Whitakker rose, and casually made his way over to Rune, sitting an arm's length away from him. He sent Skye into the canopy of the tall trees, as a precaution. Finally thinking of something to say, Whitakker spoke:
"I must say you are either brave or insane to fight Thanatos, my friend. The average man would think it suicide to do so. But it is apparent that you are no average man, of course. But besides the fact that you are a mercenary, there had to be more reason for your out-of-the-blue attack than just money. Would you mind telling me just what made you crazy enough to take on Thanatos? And furthermore, what makes you believe so fervently that you will kill him eventually?"
*Whitakker waited for Rune's no doubt cynical reply.*
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