Kimato
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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 Jun 29, 2005 11:00:50 GMT -5
Kimato looks down at her hands, her eyes hidden from Dimitri behind her bangs. Should I tell him? Should I let him know my plans? He will try to convince me otherwise. Will it not be better all around if I just do this without telling anyone but Thanatos? I am sure he will be unhappy when he DOES find out...but it spares us the sad good-byes, does it not?
Looking up at Dimitri with false cheerfulness shining like a garish, ugly jewel in her brown eyes, she smiles.
"It is nothing, Dimitri. I suppose I am just unsettled by all this. And a little bit muddled by the MASS possession. That is all."
She looks away before he can catch sight of the falter in her cheery mask.
I have to do this. It would be wrong not to. I have made up my mind and I cannot let you change it, dear friend. I do hope that you will one day forgive me for this.
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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 Jun 29, 2005 11:24:52 GMT -5
At the sound of Kimato's words, Dimitri breathes a long sigh.
"That's good to hear. I thought it might have just been the possesion, but better safe than sorry, y'know." Dimitri says to Kimato. He gives out a small laugh and looks toward the distant battlefield.
I hope we can win this.
Wait... I can't start being pessimistic now. Gotta think positive...
Of course we'll win, the Tinman is fighting on our side!
Dimitri once again turns his head to face Kimato.
"Know any good stories?"
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Rune
Junior Member
Posts: 186
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Post by Rune on Jun 29, 2005 14:24:00 GMT -5
Rune eyes Thanatos with a surprised look, which quickly turns loathesome. He then, regretfully, withdraws his sword from the seat and sheathes it.
I should kill him now... he thinks, but also considers what that would mean for the caravan. However, he then considers what it would mean for him should he be able to deliver Thanatos' head on a platter as demanded.
Rune draws his sword yet again...
...but can't attack. Dropping it to the deck, a wave of despair washes over him. Then he immediately regains his composure, and speaks quietly to Thanatos.
"My arm is too badly burned to be any help out there; let me control this vehicle. I'm... familiar with the controls."
He says this calmly, his eye locked on Thanatos.
This machine has no idea what I may have just sacrificed for this group...
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Post by Whitakker on Jul 9, 2005 22:05:20 GMT -5
**OOC**: This is something I've wanted to do for a while now; a post from Skye's perspective. I've wanted to see how the group is viewed from his point of view. Plus, I've always wanted to give Skye more human-like qualities, like being able to know who to trust.**
*As the red-haired woman and the strange man engage in conversation, Skye watches over the pair from a young sapling not five feet away.
In all the years that Skye and Whitakker have been together, Skye has gradually been able to learn to handle being around other people that his master trusts. But these two are different. Skye is quite sure that even without his master's command, he would still find it quite easy to trust these two. The red-haired woman has a calm, if nervous demeanor, the kind one would feel comfortable being around. The strange man seems to be able to smile even in the most dire circumstances, a trait most men would envy. Skye was beginning to like observing these two unique specimens of his master's race.
As the two continue to chatter, Skye is content to rest easy, cleaning his feathers from the blood of his previous battle. He then dozes off, but keeps one sharp eye open for danger.
Truly, these two humans are rare and special individuals...
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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 Jul 18, 2005 20:02:53 GMT -5
Kimato stares up at the bird reposing on a thin branch of a young tree.
So strange to find a tree here, this close to the Ruined City. I wonder how it came to be growing there in the first place?
She turns to smile again at Dimitri, thinking how odd it is that they are so close to a battle for their lives and the future of the human race, yet sitting there chatting casually about their past lives, watched by a sleepy bird in a tree that shouldn't be there at all.
"You know, if I did not know any better, I would think that bird understands us on some level." she laughs nervously, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear self-consciously. "I find myself wondering what he thinks of me sometimes, and then I laugh at myself because I am worrying about the opinion of a bird."
Dimitri laughs heartily at that, and Kimato joins him, forcing to the back of her mind the disturbing choice she has made. Looking up to Skye's perch again, her laughter fades, and she stares at the way the dim, sallow light of the sun reflects off the grey landscape and the brilliant bird's plumage.
What will you think of me when I leave, you silly bird? The wind stirs her hair, and she puts her hands up to pull it away from her face. And what will you think, Dimitri, when your friend leaves you so heartlessly? I am sorry, but I must do what I think is best for everyone.
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Post by Thanatos on Jul 31, 2005 14:27:07 GMT -5
Thanatos watched impassively throughout Rune's internal tug-of-war, one hand maintaining a subtle presence on the swordsman's blade. As Rune finally came to his senses, the android could feel a fleeting feeling of relief--a heated melee staged within the confined chamber of the Assault Vehicle would have been disastrous, in every sense of the word.
Releasing his grip on the scrapmetal blade, Thanatos bows his white-maned head, gloss-black visor moving almost unconcernedly across the cramped control room as he strides towards the ladder that will thrust him once more into the veritable hellscape just beyond the thick metal skin of the Assault Vehicle. Nodding once more to the still-standing Rune, Thanatos speaks, his ever-chilled tone tinged with a hint of respect, as one professional to another.
"The main cannon possesses an unrecorded horizontal adjustment factor of -.03. Have good luck."
At these words the assassin leaps lightly on to the heavy steel ladder, quickly ascending its remaining rungs without waiting for a response. And thus Thanatos plunges once more into the ensuing chaos, intent on fulfilling his perceived obligation and bond to the rest of the caravan in whatever matter necessary...
...in a second Thanatos has ascertained the current situation, rising to his full height as he perches upon the still-moving Assault Vehicle, positioned at one extreme end of the scattered battle. Three flatbed trucks careen about the uneven, wreckage-dotted terrain along with Thanatos' unpiloted motorcycle, all waiting for the proper moment to insert themselves into the fray. All MASS-possessed but the three drivers appear to have abandoned their transport, assaulting Whitakker and Syrant from every conceivable direction. Argis is nowhere to be seen. The dead, gray plain is dotted with any number of bloodied and mangled corpses, the light rain mixing with spilled gore to provide a slippery footing to the sober combatants.
At some invisible beckoning, Thanatos' sleek vehicle suddenly alters its course, tracing the perimeter of the battle as it quickly accelerates, moving unerringly towards its master's location. In an instant the assassin has stepped from the vibrating mass of the Assault Vehicle to his own speeding motorbike, remaining standing as he redirects its course towards a spot where Whitakker is engaged in a harrowing show of swordplay with eight MASS-possessed.
Flipping two brutal-tipped daggers into his slender, black-gloved fingers, Thanatos jumps from his vehicle at the ideal second, soaring through the crisp, bullet-filled air to land directly behind the group of glass-eyed assailants. Before he is detected, Thanatos has already sent both sharp-edged messengers on an inexorable course towards the back of two MASS-possesseds' necks, their Aegisite blades almost effortlessly piercing soft flesh as the characteristic sizzling symbolizing the death of MASS organism begins immediately.
Finally having noticed the android, four of the remaining MASS-possessed detach themselves from the group attacking Whitakker, moving with a disturbing amount of coordination as they form a perfect semicircular formation around Thanatos. By this time Thanatos has withdrawn his graceful black cane from its place within the unfathomable layers of his overcoat, its black body smoothly morphing almost instantaneously into that of a silver-bladed sword.
Attacking in unison, the MASS-possessed rush forward with a level of fearless precision unattainable by any ordinary fighting force. Two wield identical, blood-splattered daggers, another a small-shafted scythe, and the final a full-length blade that appears to have been some ancient family heirloom. A half-smile comes unbidden to Thanatos' pallid features as he prepares to receive their brutal strike--such as this is, after all, what he was built for.
In a graceful dance of sword and flowing coat, Thanatos bows his intimidating form low as the farmer's scythe whips overhead, parrying a brutal slash by the sword-wielder even as he sidesteps a thrust by the first of the dagger-users. Bringing himself back to his full height, Thanatos leaps deftly over a second strike on the part of the scythe, his own blade slicing at the second dagger-user's unguarded head, the strange alloy of his sword effortlessly traveling through the woman's skull.
Before his first victim's body is even halfway to the ground, Thanatos strikes again. Spinning to the side to avoid a stab by the sword-wielder, he thrusts his seemingly immaterial weapon into the girth of the particularly large scythe-user, causing the MASS-possessed to fall to his knees as his ever-neutral eyes roll into the back of his head, blood and gore cascading from the wound.
In an almost indiscernible instant Thanatos has withdrawn his sword from the gushing hole, sheer finesse and speed overwhelming as he executes a lightning-fast diagonal step, neatly avoiding a second thrust on the part of the remaining dagger-user. Moving to stand behind the MASS-possessed man, the android's free arm lashes out, the immense, coiled power contained within his mechanical muscles easily dragging the off-balanced man into the path of the latest devastating slash on the part of the sword-wielding MASS-possessed.
Blood arches almost majestically across the scene at the impact of the attack, giving Thanatos ample time to close the distance between himself and the occupied sword-wielder, his now-slick blade falling vertically downwards, savagely meeting the sword-user's skull and snuffing out the automaton’s life instantly.
Taking a few paces back, Thanatos nonchalantly surveys his handiwork. All four MASS-possessed lie in different stages of their death-throes, eyes sightless and voices utterly mute. The android takes another instant to check his systems for any malfunction or injury incurred in combat, noting with a hint of satisfaction the level of efficiency utilized during the encounter.
With a passing nod towards Whitakker, Thanatos turns on his heel, blade held at the ready as his visor glints in the weak sunlight, casting about for the most viable location to lend his impressive services to next...
(There should be about 9 MASS-possessed left, not counting the 3 in vehicles. Almost all of them should have firearms. I'd like to apologize if the combat in this thread wasn't quite up to snuff--I am, after all, needing to get back into practice.)
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Post by Whitakker on Aug 2, 2005 19:53:38 GMT -5
*Whitakker has little time to observe the android's impressive display of skill, for now he had more problems on his hands. As many of the remaining firearm-possessing Mass-consumed got over their shock and begin to pursue Thanatos, three Mass-possessed with blades of various assortment advance on Whitakker. In perfect synchronization, they form a triangle around Whitakker.
Whitakker swings his sword to keep them at bay while sizing them up. One has a scmitar, one a short sword, and the last a bladed chain. Whitakker rolls to the side as the man with the bladed chain swings at his head. Whitakker rises, putting his foot on the chain, and with a swift swing down, severs the chain in half. Whitakker then dashes in and to the side of the man, and kills him with a slash to the chest.
No sooner does Whitakker have time to finish his stroke than he sidesteps the man with the short sword's swing. Whitakker parries a swing to the head, and counters with a reverse thrust to the stomach. Now the man with the large scmitar remains. Whitakker assumes a defensive stance as the man charges. The man raises his blade to come down on Whitakker's head, and Whitakker raises his blade to parry.
But at the last possible second, Whitakker drops his guard and sidesteps the swing, as the man buries his scmitar in the ground. Whitakker's face betrays a small smile as he plunges his sword into the man's back.
Whitakker has little time to revel in his victory, for now a flatbed truck is careening towards him at breakneck speed...
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Rune
Junior Member
Posts: 186
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Post by Rune on Aug 2, 2005 23:49:31 GMT -5
Rune runs his able hand softly, almost caressingly, over the familiar controls of the vehicle. With a determined expression, he begins working the controls, seeking a target. As he sets his sights on a flatbed truck in the field, he releases the first shot, without taking time to assure his accuracy. The shot is dead-on, and the truck goes up in flames as it careens wildly and banks to the right, crashing into the ground and sending up a cloud of dust.
Only then does Rune notice the tall swordsman in the field, only a short distance away from his recent target.
"Hmmm... should've let him die," he says softly, a small grin spreading across his face. He works the controls again, lining up for another shot, when his vehicle violently lurches from the impact of a near-miss. Rune's grin broadens as he allows himself to be swept up in the combat, maneuvering the vehicle to assault the source of the unknown fresh attack, not taking the time to consider what could have caused such an assault...
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Post by Thanatos on Aug 10, 2005 20:27:51 GMT -5
Thanatos’ visor deftly scans the carcass-ridden battlefield, his vast mechanical mind executing calculation after calculation as he is almost instantaneously updated as to the current status of the ongoing encounter. Kimato and Dimitri have long since vacated the vicinity of the fight, as has, it appears, Argis. Whitakker and Rune are handling themselves quite capably against the two remaining flatbed trucks. Syrant, however, has engaged the remaining six firearm-wielding MASS-possessed in a seemingly foolhardy firefight, currently crouching behind the burning shell of the destroyed Assault Vehicle in order to escape the perfectly coordinated cavalcade that is the MASS counterattack.
In less than a second Thanatos has concluded his masterful assessment of the situation, beginning an eerie and purposeful stride towards the final six MASS-possessed, their backs turned as the all-encompassing organism focuses fully on maintaining a steady rate of fire on the burning Assault Vehicle. While the android’s graceful step appears both nonchalant and unconcerned, there is an almost otherworldly quality to them which propels the silent assassin forward far faster than they realistically should.
With a flourishing salute Thanatos stops roughly ten meters behind the gathering of adversaries, idly raising his thin, silvery blade. Fresh blood glistens sickeningly on the weapon’s smooth metal surface as it slides downwards, pooling upon the gray earth without leaving any trace whatsoever on the deadly instrument. With another almost theatrical flourish the assassin lowers his sword sharply, his other hand flying with lightning intensity into the depths of his overcoat, hurling forth a wicked throwing dagger in the same single motion. The blade spins lazily through the air, time slowing to a crawl as the weapon unerringly flies towards its destination, penetrating deep into the back of the neck of one of the occupied MASS-possessed.
Instantaneously the MASS-possessed react. Before Thanatos’ victim has barely begun to crumple two others turn, simultaneously opening fire on the exposed android with their respective firearms. One, a dull-eyed blonde woman barely into her 20’s, wields a crude six-shooter handgun that appears standard fare over much of the First Continent. The other, a vacant-looking man in his 40’s, brings to bear a brutal, wide-load shotgun. The foreboding half-smile comes unbidden to Thanatos’ face.
In a whirl of overcoat Thanatos throws his body to the left in time to avoid the initial blast from the shotgun, visor fixed pointedly on the two guns as he steps swiftly forward, the speed contained within his metal frame almost beyond believing. A bullet from the low-caliber pistol flies past within millimeters of his white-haired skull, the assassin jerking his body back towards the right in order to avoid the second devastating release from the powerful shotgun. Having speedily closed the gap between himself and his attackers, Thanatos reaches out, wrapping his free hand around the shotgun as he forces it upwards, his other hand thrusting his sword savagely forward into the stomach of the male MASS-possessed. Kicking away the falling body, Thanatos spins just in time to knock the female MASS-possessed off balance, her second shot firing harmlessly into the air.
Thanatos gazes down at the woman for several lingering seconds, paused in having been prepared to deliver his coup de grace. Passingly aware of Syrant’s own actions against the three other MASS-possessed, Thanatos’ brain runs through innumerable contingencies and eventualities as he continues to hold her struggling, pistol-wielding away from his body, still hesitating in delivering the final strike. Finally, a decision made for a problem only the android can be aware of, he releases her arm, continuing to leisurely half-smile as his visor watches her indifferently.
The MASS-possessed wastes no time in pressing this advantage. The blonde-haired woman raises her pistol once more, cracking gunshots filling the air as she rapidly empties her remaining four bullets into Thanatos’ torso. Standing almost serenely still, the android does nothing to resist, his frame shuddering slightly as each of the four pieces of lead meets their target in rapid succession. As soon as the final bullet is fired, however, Thanatos reacts. The cane-sword held calmly at his side moves violently upwards, cutting deep into the MASS-possessed’s stomach as his free hand strikes ruthlessly into her jugular with a loosely balled fist, blow delivered with such a ferocity and cold calculation as to render her almost instantly dead.
Turning from the woman’s still falling form, Thanatos quickly begins running various system checks and diagnostics, paying particular attention to the four wounds incurred in his torso. They are not clearly visible to any outsider’s eye, and seem to have been incurred for an indiscernible motive known only to the android himself…
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Post by Syrant on Aug 11, 2005 19:21:56 GMT -5
Noticing the rate of fire upon him has decreased Syrant begins to move out of hiding. Bullets still fly overhead as Syrant gradually rises. Looking at the path of the bullets Syrant lifts his gun over part of the assault vehicle and fires back wards, without turning around. The bullet travels and hits one of the MASS possessed, appearing to be a young man, in the lower right shoulder, sending the man to the ground. The other two turn their heads to look at what happened, Syrant took this chance to attack. Just as the man hit the ground Syrant rolls out from the side of the vehicle and fire two more times each hitting one of the MASS possessed in the head. As the last MASS possessed fall to the ground Syrant walks up wounded man. Syrant stares into the man's eyes and instead of seeing pain, he see emptiness. Syrant raises his gun and fires the last bullet in his gun into the man forehead. Syrant turns to see Thanatos now finished with his job.
"Lets wrapped this up."
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Rune
Junior Member
Posts: 186
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Post by Rune on Aug 11, 2005 19:46:39 GMT -5
Rune fires another successful shot at a flatbed truck, sending it once again careening and falling in a cascade of dirt and flames. He scans the battlefield again, when suddenly another shot rocks the vehicle.
"Wha--?" he says, but yet another shot rocks his vehicle again.
Suddenly, he realizes the source of these 'attacks'. Something inside of the vehicle is malfunctioning, causing violent lurches... too violent. The assault vehicle had somehow been damaged earlier in the fray, and was finally preparing to give out.
Meanwhile, a MASS-possessed, assumed dead, is rising up off of the ground behind Whitakker...
Rune parks the assault vehicle on the MASS-posssessed accidentally and climbs out of the hatch, nonchalantly leaping down and strolling across the ground as the vehicle goes up in flames behind him, consuming the MASS-possessed entirely and lighting up the sky with an almost tangible heat...
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Kimato
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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 Aug 11, 2005 20:18:54 GMT -5
Kimato stands abruptly, dusting her long skirt off and offering a hand to Dimitri, who looks up at her perplexedly.
"Friend Dimitri, I am sorry. I know you do not like to sit here idly and babysit me. If you wish, we might rejoin the others."
Dimitri gives Kimato a look that all-too-clearly asks, and what will we do about you? He does not move to take her hand. Kimato sighs and turns to Skye, who has opened one fierce eye and is watching her movements carefully.
"Skye..." she begins, feeling extremely foolish for conversing with a bird, "go back to Whitakker. We are safe here and he needs your help more than we do. He needs you there, where the danger really is."
The bright-plumed fowl merely looks at her with an appraising eye, as if to say, who are you to give me an order? You are not my master, I do not take direction from you.
Looking helplessly from one to the other, Kimato tries to think of something, anything that will make them leave her there alone. I have to get away. I have to get away. She has made up her mind to leave the group. I am a danger to them all with this monstrosity inside of me, she reasons in her mind, ignoring and pushing away the thought that she might be of some good to them.
How could my presence be any help? I am a weakling. My fighting skills are so underdeveloped that the others spend all their time thinking of ways to protect me from danger. I take up space and provisions but I cannot really give anything back in strength or in mind power. Dimitri cannot be any good to the group because they are always commissioning him to babysit the weak girl. I am so pathetic they send TWO babysitters, one of them a BIRD, to watch after me. I cannot bring anything to this group, and I might as well leave and get out of their way.
Though her mind rebelled at leaving Dimitri, the only friend she had amongst these questers, she knew that it must be done. I am a charm of ill-fortune. I get Dimitri into trouble and I slow them all down. Wherever I go, whatever I do, someone gets hurt and I do not want to be the reason for anyone else's pain. I MUST go, there is no other choice.
But she can not get them to leave her. Skye stays right where he was perched, still staring at her from one eye, and Dimitri remains steadfastly in his position on the ground, looking up at her with an expression of concern on his face.
Kimato tries to force a smile. "I see you are both intent on watching over me. Ah, well..." She plops down on the ground again beside Dimitri.
"I wonder what Nicholi Anhelo is doing right now?"
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Post by Whitakker on Aug 11, 2005 21:32:30 GMT -5
*Skye's eyes snap open from their light rest, having sensed one of the two moving suddenly. Seeing that it was the lady, he pays even more attention. Through years of studying his master's complex race, he has developed an uncanny sixth sense. He can see the indecision in her eyes. No, not indecision. From the slight spark in her eye, a decision had clearly been made. But he also saw concern in those eyes as well. What is she planning?
Though Skye cannot understand human speech(except commands given to him by Whitakker, which he learned through experience), the tone in the woman's voice told him all he needed to know. With a slight shiver to get his blood flowing, Skye emits a small shriek, and with a few powerful wingstrokes, takes off, back to his master. They're too slow to go anywhere and I not be able to catch up to them, anyway.
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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 Aug 12, 2005 7:35:26 GMT -5
Kimato looks up, startled, as Skye lets out a loud shriek and ascends into the sky, heading back toward the battle. She allows herself a small smile as she thinks, Skye ascends into the sky...how interesting.
Well, she thought, at least one of them is gone. Now how can I convince Dimitri to go back?
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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 Aug 13, 2005 20:58:49 GMT -5
As Dimitri hears Kimato's question, he silently looks in her direction. He can't help noticing that ever since she had regained control of her body, she has been avoiding eye contact as much as possible.
I'm not stupid, Kimato. Why won't you just tell me what's wrong? You look like the whole world is on your shoulders....
Dimitri relocates his gaze to somewhere off into the distance and finally addresses Kimato's question.
"Yes, that's a good question, isn't it?" he muses as he strokes his chin. "I'm sure he's still alive, wherever he is. But that's not what's really bothering you, is it?"
Kimato gives Dimitri a look that seems to confirm all of his suspicions
"I knew it. Something else is wrong, isn't it? What is it? You can tell me Kimato, honest..."
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