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Post by Nicholi on Oct 15, 2004 15:10:45 GMT -5
Nicholi, Whitakker, and Syrant arrive on the shoreline. Nicholi looks behind him to see the island. He tinks to himself; This may be the last time that island sees a sunset as lovely as this. Nicholi continues forward toward the manor but suddnely stops.
"Syrant, did you bring the ammunition?" Syrant nods. "Please give Whitakker the bullets I made for him. To answer your question from earlier Whitakker, I fear that the MASS are about to make an attack. Not jsut any attack though, chances are they will attack the majority if not all of this contenint. If my sucpicions are correct, then we will soon suffer an attack on a large scale. With any luck Thanatos and Kain will arrive soon."
Nicholi looks at the sinking sun. He pushes his glasses over his eyes.
"Its time."
A large cloud of dust can be seen on the horizon. Above are several helicopters, technology not seen for some time. The advancing army is now visable. Amongst it are humans and menacing black demon like creatures, the MASS. Nicholi looks at the advancing horde but turns his attention to a plateau several hundred yards away. Atop the plateay stands a lone figure of realtivaly short height and possesing a female frame. Nicholi shutters. He walks slowly towards the plateau. With each step he moves faster until he is in full sprint.
"It can't be. Syrant and Whitakker, don't follow me. I need to see something for my own. May fortune smile upon you my friends."
Nicholi begins his accent up the plateu, his mind full of questions. "How can she still be alive? What is she doing here? Nicholi reaches the top of the plateau. He now stands face to face with a young girl. The girl unsheaths two swords and stands in a stance, one earily similar to that of Nicholi's. The young girl smiles at Nicholi.
"Hello big brother. Its been awhile."
Nicholi clenches his nagita and begins to frown. Nicholi utters a single word.
"Levithia..."
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Post by Syrant on Oct 16, 2004 12:46:16 GMT -5
Syrant gives Whitakker the ammunition and watches as Nicholi runs off. Syrant turns to the army and then speaks to Whitakker.
"Well with only the two of us I don't think we stand much of a chance here. You got any ideas?"
Syrant at this moments has begun checking his guns to make sure they are in top condition and are fully loaded.
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Post by Whitakker on Oct 16, 2004 15:13:55 GMT -5
*Whitakker looks towards the advancing horde while recieving the bullets of aegisite, about twenty clips worth for his PPKs.*
"Better use these sparingly. Same goes for you if you have any."
*He tries to take a better look at who it is that Nicholi is running towards, but at the distance that separates him and clear vision, even his enhanced optical abilities can't come up with a good picture.*
"As for the situation, the black apparitions can be nothing else but MASS. Our arsenals should take care of the foot soldiers and the MASS, what with our aegisite rounds. But I have no clue as to how we can take down the helicopters. Unless we took careful aim and hit their fuel tanks, if they have any, we stand little chance. Syrant, your glasses allow you better vision than my own eyes. What can you see?"
*Whitakker loads one of his guns with regular rounds, the other with the aegisite bullets. With the adversaries less than a mile away, and advancing at a relatively fast pace, there were only two viable options: fight or take flight.*
"Well, the best defense is a good offense, I say. Are you ready, Syrant?" *Syrant nods, but throws one last question before following this man, practically a stranger to Syrant:*
"What will we do when we get to them?"
*Whitakker grins, and turns to Skye*
"Skye, go!"*Skye instantly takes off from Whitakker's shoulder, and flies toward the army.*
"It's quite simple, my friend."
"....We improvise."
*Whitakker dashes toward the army, followed by Syrant, into the gaping jaws of almost guaranteed demise.....*
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Post by Thanatos on Oct 20, 2004 19:21:48 GMT -5
Thanatos' motorcyle glided silently over the darkening desert terrain, the vehicle barely disturbing the sand even as it progressed at an incredible rate. Thanatos was nothing more than a whisper of wind as twilight swept over the vast sandy plain, covering distance with an efficiency that had without a doubt been unmatched by the rest of the company in their exit from Argis' island several hours earlier.
Even as his various ocular systems continued to pay rapt attention to the same-same terrain in front of him, he reflected on all that had happened in the last couple of hours.
Argis had officially abandoned the soujorn that had so recently formed, and in doing so had committed the highly illogical. Nevertheless, perhaps that lack of logic was the most logical course of action. While Thanatos had earlier concluded that humanity's ultimate concern should be with the protection of humanity, traces of a different kind of reasoning began to invade his thought processes. Perhaps in analyzing humanity through the use of logic he had neglected an underlying characteristic of that very humanity he was examining--that of emotion.
In particular, love.
Argis had left the sojourn for a reason, and that was reason was so that he might bond with another individual, an individual he would swear to protect even as he turned his back on the rest of mankind. And there was some logic in that.
Even as he began to follow this path of understanding, he began to explore some of those memories he had so recently recovered. Among them was a young girl in a frock, a bridge, a sunset, a garden--and a sensation so strong that even now it threatened to overpower him. And so he finally reached a sense of peace with the man called Argis.
Although that man could not logically be forgiven for his idiocy, his idiocy stemmed from an emotion; an emotion that not even Thanatos could explain.
A shadow of a smile touched Thanatos' lips even as he spotted the beginning of a battle ahead of him. Perhaps Thanatos had not been able to save those embedded in his past. But he could surely work to save those of the present...
Thanatos scans the enemy forces he is nearing with far more exactness. There are two helicopters moving in opposite directions, evidently attempting to box in his two comrades he spots on the sands in the valley below him. The figures other than his comrades are standing in formations of such perfection they could not have been executed in such a manner without years of careful training. The actual individuals are truly rag-tag, however. They are dressed in all different styles of clothing and wielding a variety of weaponry, from farming implements to even firearms that have not been seen for decades. The helicopters appear decidedly primitive compared to machines of destruction Thanatos remembers, yet they still undoubtedly possess rapid-fire instruments of destruction.
All in all, the soldiers number twenty-three, not counting the pure Mass that should not provide much of a threat if it is countered with Aegisite. The entire purpose of this unnatural attack seems to be of ambush. It appears Nicholi is a rather nasty magnet indeed.
Continuing to smile, Thanatos' mechanical brain very subtly alters the signals it is sending to his motorcycle, the vehicle picking up speed and setting itself on a course of collision with the neatly-ordered ranks of enemies.
Even as the distance between enemy flesh and relentless machine closes to mere miliseconds Thanatos is lithely moving to stand on the very tip of the accelerating metallic beast, in the process of flipping a throwing dagger from the depths of his overcoat.
Illogical emotion is not to be underestimated...
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Post by Syrant on Oct 27, 2004 17:57:54 GMT -5
As the Thanatos makes his apperance Syrant also makes his attack. Syrant makes a run for some nearby dunes, his raises both guns up opening fire on the foot troops. Each bullet meets it's mark as six of the charging troops hits the ground. The troops then begin to form more complex attack patterns, seeing this Syrant stops his attack.
"Never knew that they could be so orgainzed...they really do want us dead."
Syrant lays down behind the dunes and reloads his guns. He looks over the dunes and waits to see what Whitakker and Thanatos will do before he makes his next attack.
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Post by Nicholi on Oct 27, 2004 20:20:51 GMT -5
Nicholi remains in a somber mood as he looks upon the face of the person oppiste him.
"Nice to know you remember me after fifteen years big brother."
"Tell me... How is it you're alive after all this time? You were taken by the MASS those fifteen years ago."
*with a sarcastic tone*"Heh... I was just a little baby. What could I possibly do to hurt the big bad MASS?"
"If your going to give me crap like that then nevermind. So why is it you show yourself now?"
"I come bearing a message for you from my mother. You have one of two choices, join the MASS or die fighting a war you can't hope to win. Those are your only options."
"I've found that in life there is always another choice on the roads of destiny. I would rather die than sell my soul to the d**ned parasites that took the lives of all the ones I cared for. Waht do you mean your mother? Our mother died fifteen years ago along with the res tof the Anhelo family. I watched her die and there was nothing I could do about it. Don't you dare tell me that she is alive. I find it ill to speak of the dead, especially a saint like her."
"My mother is alive and well. She raised me after the MASS atacked our home. She has given me everything I could ever want, something that the wretch that gave me birth could not.
The last remark strikes a cord with Nicholi. His expression changes from somber to rage.
"Tell me. What has your "mother given you that would make you turn your back on your own family?"
"The answer is simple big brother. Power. I have all the power I could possibly fathom thanks to the MASS. I'm much stronger and efficient that a normal human like yourself. My life couldn't be better."
"Can you call it living when you have no control over your body? Can you call it living when all the strength you posses comes from a parasite? Can you call it living to allow a creature who will eventually destroy you from the inside destroy everything you once loved without a shred of feling or remorse for the blood your cast to the ground?!?! The little sister that I once knew is dead to me now. You allowed your humanity to be taken by a being whose only goal is to destroy all that stands in its way."
Nicholi lowers his weapon.
"I won't fight back. Go ahead and kill me if you wish. Just remember that you killed the only family you have left. One last thing before you kill me though. I just want you to know that even though you gave your life away, that you are still my baby sister and I still love you."
Levithia falls to her knees on the ground. She screams out in pain. It is as if those final four words plunged into the depths of her heart, like an icy cold blade. Tears begin run down her face and she slumps over into a heap."
"You're crying? Heh. It's nice to know that my little sister is in their somewhere."
Nicholi turns around and begins to walk down to aid his compatriats.
"Wait! I'm not finished quite yet. My mission is not complete yet. Since you refuse to join us. You must die. Sayonara Nicholi."
Nicholi turns around to face Levithia. She now stands, swords drawn, ready to fell Nicholi. Nicholi notices something differant now. Something out of place. The once soft blue eyes of his sister, are now black as the night sky they both stand under. As Nicholi draws his weapon in defense, all goes silent. The night air is still and the moon shines brightly overhead. As it casts its shining gaze over the two siblings, The battle below begins. It matters not though for these two. For they are deaf to the world and all crys to them fall on deaf ears. A battles has now arisen once more. A battle Nicholi faced one faithful day fifteen years before.
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Post by Whitakker on Oct 27, 2004 21:22:35 GMT -5
*as Syrant attacks on his own, Whitakker left to his own devices. "I really need some backup."*With that , he looks toward his other black clad comrade, Thanatos, who is now standing on his bike, daggers at the ready. Deciding anyone who isn't against him now is with him, he heads towards Thanatos. Using ungodly speed, he reaches Thanatos, and jumps on the bike behind Thanatos. He then draws his sword.*
"Nice day for a drive, huh?" He says to the assassin as they rapidly approach the army.
"Got any ideas as to how we can deal with those choppers?"
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Post by Thanatos on Oct 28, 2004 19:25:10 GMT -5
Whitakker's sudden perch on the vehicle in the midst of its initial acceleration goes all but unnoticed as Thanatos completes his movement to stand poised on the tip of the motorcycle, dagger in hand. Even now the quick modification of the formation's posture betrays preparation to separate and attack, but it will come too late.
Twenty meters, fifteen, ten, five, two, one...
...and there is glorious impact. The gigantic metal monstrosity smoothly careens into the assembled, producing no more sound than the stirrings of dust...and the sounds of human tissue torn asunder. Thanatos leaps to the side as the engine of destruction spins almost horizontally into the congregation, its force and speed literally cutting two of the foes positioned closest in two. It does not stop there--enemy after enemy is struck a near-fatal blow as the motorcycle spins past them, finally making its way out of the proximity of the opposition. The wake of carnage it leaves behind is painfully obvious.
Thanatos meanwhile continues to smile, his incredibly composed mechanisms taking the time to search for the most dangerous target. In the midst of his descent back to earth he throws the dagger, the razor-sharp blade embedding itself neatly in the throat of the prey chosen, one who had been wielding a particularly potent shotgun.
And the assassin lands cat-like, overcoat billowing about him even as he sprints blindingly fast towards the dune that Syrant has subsequently taken cover behind. Another dagger is flipped out of the recesses and thrown behind him, and another jugular is neatly pierced in the process. Even as several bullets begin to fly in his direction he is sliding through the dune of sand, momentum and precise body positioning carrying him neatly through the entire sandy barrier.
The Mass-controlled have begun to react, even those heavily injured from the motorcycle attempting to join the fighting. Those with firearms systematically take cover of their own, and those armed with instruments of melee combat break into full-fledged charge. The helicopters overhead begin to divert their course, moving to reinforce the rest of the makeshift army. Not a command is uttered, not a battlecry shouted. These enemy combatants are truly no longer human.
((I'll leave Whitakker wide open for whatever he wants to do, be it charge back and get shot, or take cover with us, and get shot. For everyone, it's worth noting that combat is taking place in a matter of seconds. I'd be surprised if more than fifteen seconds has passed so far this entire battle. In spaces of time this short, there's no time for "taking turns". Instead, execute your actions as someone is executing their own. Work like clockword, at the same time. ToP is certainly not a turn-based system. Instead, each individual is doing something every second, not putting their life in danger by waiting for someone else. Remember that.))
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Post by Whitakker on Oct 28, 2004 19:52:15 GMT -5
...Impact.
*Whitakker jumps off the vehicle almost at the same time that it hit the attackers. Upon landing in the midst of the attackers with the melee weapons, he feels the cold silver on his chest. ...the amulet.... In the center of the amulet, surrounded by a complex of gold and silver lines, was a teardrop-shaped ruby as big as Whitakker's thumbnail. The ruby is meant to represent a drop of blood. The amulet is the symbolic representation of the Primary Edict of the Swordsman: "Cut. Once committed to fight, cut. Everything else is secondary. Cut. That is your duty, your purpose, your hunger. Cut from the void, not from bewilderment. Cut the enemy as quickly and directly as possible. Cut with certainty. Cut decisively, resolutely. Cut into his strength. Flow through the gaps in his guard. Cut him. Cut him down utterly. Don't allow him a breath. Crush him. Cut him without mercy to the depths of his spirit. It is the balance to life-death. It is the dance with death."
*Whitakker chants the Edict as he solemnly obeys it, flowing through the guard, cutting foe after foe down utterly. Now, the line between friend and foe is blurred, and only the Edict remains clear. There was to be no end until they were all cut down...... Whitakker was dancing with death.
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Post by Syrant on Oct 28, 2004 19:58:26 GMT -5
Syrant looks up to see Thanatos making a run for it in his direction. Syrant takes aim and gives Thanatos cover fire. The men with firearms dunk in cover giving Thanatos enough time to reach Syrant.
"Get over here Whittaker!"
As soon as Whittaker turned to run to the dunes to join Syrant and Thanatos, Syrant ran out of bullets. The men take this oppertunity and open fire on Whittaker. Syrant dunks back down to reload. At this time Thanatos was nearly by Syrant's side. Whittaker looks up into the sky and suddenly Skye flies down and draws the men's fire away from Whittaker, and giving time for Syrant to attack with his second wave of attack. Two men hit the ground dead and the rest take cover again. Skye flies back to Whittaker and they both are safely behind the dunes, but not for long as the rest 'melee' fighters get closer and closer.
"Well now that we are together what's the plan?"
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Post by Whitakker on Oct 28, 2004 20:01:45 GMT -5
OFF-TOPIC: Syrant, that was not my plan for my attack. Your worry about you, and I'll worry about me. OK?
*Syrant tries to reach Whitakker, but to no avail. Whitakker is lost to the Dance. Whether he will come out of it alive is anyone's guess........*
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Post by Whitakker on Nov 1, 2004 21:37:05 GMT -5
The Dance was over.
Whitakker, exhausted, bruised, cut, beaten.....had killed all the melee attackers. But it looked like he was out of the frying pan and into the melting pot.
*From several of the hacked up corpses arose Mass. Then they meshed together to form one huge atrocity. Blades would be useless. It was time to turn to sharpshooting. Whitakker sheathed his sword, then drew the gun that had the aegisite bullets. He ran for the dune that his comrades had taken cover behind, which was now being advanced upon by the other half of the army. While running, he loosed several rounds on the Mass, maiming it, but not completely stopping it. He reached the dune.*
"Sorry for the delay. Had to let the haze out of my head before I did anything else. You guys want this section to be a group attack? It sure would take a load off of me."
*The remainder of the melee attackers are no less than fifty yards away..*
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Post by Thanatos on Nov 3, 2004 18:24:16 GMT -5
Thanatos nods curtly at Whitakker's words, having subsequently readied another dagger while waiting behind the dune.
"Four individuals with firearms. They will be dealt with by me. The Mass should be your cooperative target. Be wary--if it manages to strike you even once, results will not be good."
Wasting no time, Thanatos begins to spring from behind the dune, bullets that had been concentrated on the group's cover beginning to land more and more in his general direction. Sprinting towards the opposing sand dune he throws the readied blade, the dagger gliding through the target dune, although whether or not it has reached its intended mark is at this time a mystery.
With the entrance of the pink coloration Thanatos does not take the precious time to attempt to see where it is coming from. Rather, his mechanical mind recognizes it as a superb distraction, and he utilizes this to pick up even more speed as he begins a jump, his destination the remaining Mass-controlled that are keeping his two compatriots from swarming from their cover.
The attention of the Mass-controlled now fully diverted, Thanatos' allies are free to attack the gigantic Mass form that even now descends upon them. And heaven help those organisms targeted with the full arsenal and cunning of a Mark XIII...
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Post by Whitakker on Nov 3, 2004 21:57:48 GMT -5
*As Thanatos successfully creates the distraction/diversion, Syrant and Whitakker now turn their attention to the Mass monstrosity before them. It loomed over the dune, mind fully devoted to the two targets. Syrant and Whitakker ready their aegisite rounds. Whitakker loads the other normal-round gun with the aegisite bullets. Guns fully operational, they take a quick glance at each other*
Whitakker:"Ready..."
Syrant:"Aim..."*Both men raise their guns at the Mass.*
Both:"FIRE!"
The hailstorm of death is unleashed.....
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Post by Thanatos on Nov 6, 2004 0:49:29 GMT -5
...Thanatos lands on the top of the sand dune, not lessening in momentum as he works his way down its tumbling sides, even as two pistols and a simple shotgun level themselves in his direction. Yet even the unnatural coordination of the three vessels proves to be less than effective as Thanatos moves diagonally, planting himself in the center of their ranks even as shots are fired where he had been but a split second ago.
In another instant a blunt instrument resembling a cane is drawn from the recesses of the assassin's overcoat even as he continues to shift position to avoid the aim of his foes. By the next instant this cane has shifted seamlessly back into a short, silverly blade--and it is put promptly to use.
The guns of the trio follow Thanatos' random movements with a surprising accuracy, yet the bullets fired always seem to fall where Thanatos once was, not where he actually is. With the advent of the assassin's blade, the battle is ended promptly.
The first pistol-wielder is in one smooth motion beheaded, the look on her face still one of absolute blankness. A graceful spin slices deeply into the shotgun-holder, and the subsequent stab branching from the attack squarely pierces the final pistol-user. The bodies fall quickly and soundlessly, the gore from their gaping wounds almost unnoticable amongst the silverly flashes that result as the aegisite cane-sword meets its marks.
And thus, before the gunshots of the foes have even had a chance to die away, they are rendered lifeless, falling in a triangle around Thanatos. Taking no time to relish his victory, Thanatos is instantaneously moving to jump to the top of the dune, attention now focused squarely on the two helicopters that have now had adaquete time to get in a decidedly deadly position.
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