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Post by Thanatos on Jan 13, 2005 20:14:29 GMT -5
Thanatos nods once as Nicholi finishes his request, bowing stiffly to the man's already retreating back.
"But of course, Master Nicholi."
Turning swiftly on his heel to face a corridor opposite the one that Nicholi just exited through, Thanatos takes a moment to listen for telltale traces of activity throughout the Manor, minute sensors working in perfect unison to create an ideal impression of the general location of each and every entity in the sprawling mansion.
His task suitably completed, Thanatos begins a leisurely stride through room after room of the complex, within a minute stepping soundlessly into the expansive kitchens to find Whitakker, Dimitri and Kimato gathered around a simple servant's table, with Kain looming in the background.
While Kain immediately senses Thanatos' presence, it is not after several more seconds have transpired that the others grow aware of their visitor. Having only gathered names of these newcomers from snippets of conversation overheard while on his perch, Thanatos speaks to the group in general, features completely blanked.
"I seek the individuals known as Dimitri and Kimato. Master Nicholi requests their presence in the labratory immediately."
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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 Jan 13, 2005 21:18:37 GMT -5
Looking up from the sandwich she had been half-heartedly nibbling, Kimato is somewhat startled by this newcomer. He is very detatched, but he says that Nicholi wishes to speak with them, so she follows him without question.
The three walk in silence to the laboratory door, the door Kimato has only just left. Thanatos stops, and pushes the heavy barrier open. Apparently, it has been unlocked since they all left. Dimitry walks through the door first, into the dimly lit room, and Kimato follows timidly, looking around in mild wonderment.
Nicholi sits at a desk, staring at the wall across the room. The lost, broken look has not gone from his eyes, and Kimato's heart goes out to him.
I know what it is like, she thinks, to feel that you have failed utterly. She stands there, watching Mr. Anhelo and waiting for him to explain why he has called them to his laboratory.
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Post by Nicholi on Jan 14, 2005 16:05:48 GMT -5
Nicholi turns his attention to his associates.
"First off, allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Nicholi Anhelo, owner of Anhelo manor and professional scholar. I have spent the last few years trying to find a way to eliminate the MASS. I've called the two of you here, because you both seem to possess a greater intellect than other members of this group. I hope that the two of you will lend that gift to my cause. I will gladly pay the two of you as I am the others, as well as provide you each with living quarters, and food and drink. Both of you are free to make use of any of my homes utilities. Before I dismiss the both of you, I have a small gift for each of you."
Nicholi hands Dimitri a small bag of money. Nicholi walks over to a table and grabs the circular box. He walks back over to Kimato and hands her the box. Upon opening it, she finds a chakram. The center is studded with light green emeralds and brilliant red rubies. The chakram has several glyphs scribed into the metal.
"I hope you both like each gift. The money is a down payment for your services Mr. Dimitri and the chakram is a family heirloom. I thought it suited you Miss. Kimato, but forgive me if you find it tasteless. Well, now if you don't mind, I'd like to speak to Thanatos in private. The two of you my do as you wish. This place is your home if you want to make it so. I hope you both enjoy your stay."
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Dimitri
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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 Jan 14, 2005 18:35:53 GMT -5
"Thank you, Mr. Anhelo." said Dimitri in his usual bright tone of voice. "It's flattering that you've accepted me into your group. Point me to a private lab and I'll go to work for you." He picked up the bag of gold lying on the table and sat down in the nearest chai
"Oh, and just one more thing Mr. Anhelo. Please tell Mr. Whitakker that every thing I said about my past was a lie. I made all up because I prefer to keep my past to myself. At least, until I trust the people around me." said Dimitri as a sly grin appeared on his face. "Looks like you've got yourself a new scientist."
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Post by Kain on Jan 14, 2005 21:39:11 GMT -5
Once he was certain that all urgent matters had been attended to, Kain decided to use this newfound freedom from duty to dabble in his curiosity of the manor's intricate artwork that has so far eluded him throughout the recent chaos. With a tacit nod to Whitakker, he departed in search of a particular hallway that had caught his interest during the intense conflict earlier.
Now that he was able to examine each facet of the expansive habitation with intense scrutiny, the sheer wealth that the descendents of Nicholi Anhelo must have possessed became apparent. Each room was lavishly detailed; the electrical systems were fully operational, a rarity in this age; and numerous paintings lined the walls, many dating back to before the Cataclysm.
The one hallway that Kain found particular interest in was adorned with portraits of the Anhelo lineage. A sense of nobility and power was instilled in the observer upon viewing each one. Given the history of the Anhelo family as a series of death merchants throughout humanity's bleakest times, one could not help but appreciate the ability of the artists to capture this essence within each of their artworks. The date inscribed on the plate below the last painting, which was faded severely from the passage of time, was in a unit of years that was incongruous with the current system in use. The extent of this family tree was apparently beyond any span of time that is known of in current historical texts.
Once he had his fill of the surroundings, Kain finally proceeded back to the quarters assigned to him. Upon passing through the living room, Kain couldn't help but be amused as he glanced at the dormant Syrant, recalling the bits he heard of the events that transpired earlier. It shall be quite intriguing to see how our newest additions to the group shall interact with the rest in coming days, Kain thought to himself. As he barely managed to suppress an uncharacteristic chuckle, he made haste to cross the room without making the slightest of sounds.
Finally reaching his room, Kain now focused on tending to his systems. After seeing to it that all vital internal functions were operating at optimal efficiency, he then calibrated his auditory sensors, which had been having slight lapses in functionality since yesterday.
So this is what it is like to be old. Kain couldn't maintain his composure upon making this last remark.
However, Kain's mood immediately became serious upon inspection of the last piece of his arsenal, the Aegisite blades that he had just recently received. Though he had thought nothing of the mist that was coming off of them on his way out, the remains of the MASS had subsequently bonded with the Aegisite itself. It had thus formed streaks of the rumored substance "Heartstone" across the surface of the swords.
After several minutes of examining this unique material, the only accurate conclusion that could be made was that it would severely interfere with the performance of the blades if left deposited on them. Thus Kain gathers the weapons and proceeds to the laboratory in an effort to get them repaired.
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Post by Whitakker on Jan 14, 2005 23:29:59 GMT -5
*Whitakker watches Kain walk off, and then proceeds outside. He then releases Skye to hunt for any small game he desired, if he could find any. It was important to keep a wild, no matter how tamed, animal's predatory instincts alive. Watching Skye fly away into the fields, Whitakker walks back into the manor. An inspection of my equipment would be beneficial.... Whitakker sits down on a workbench, draws out his weapons from their holdings, and begins to otherwise bring their performance back up to maximum efficiency. If I am to combat these "Massians" more effectively, I'm going to need to enhance my arsenal with Aegisite...I'll have to ok that with Nicholi first, though... Whitakker performed the same analysis with his sawblades. After putting a new edge on his blades, he turned his attention to his guns. Deciding that they no longer felt right anymore, he headed to the armory nearby, and selected two revolvers that he found to be satisfactory. Confident in his choice, Whitakker headed off in the direction of the laboratory, to talk to Nicholi about the Aegisite.*
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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 Jan 15, 2005 11:44:54 GMT -5
Kimato stares at the beautiful gift Nicholi hands her. She is speechless as she runs a careful hand over the intricate characters inscribed on the chakram. Looking up at Nicholi, she sees that he is watching her reaction.
"It is...beautiful, Mr. Anhelo." Then, thinking perhaps her words were too eager, she inclines her head towards him gracefully, in a gesture of respect.
"I thank you for this gift, Mr. Anhelo. Even more, I thank you for the opportunity to become a part of this noble endeavor." She stops, and is unsure of what to say next. She wants to say many things...she wants to repeat the words she said outside the door, the ones she had felt he needed to hear the most. The ones he had never heard her say. But she knows not what to say, and the presences of Dimitri and the tall, white-haired man unnerve her.
When in your life have you ever not had something to say, stupid girl? she thought to herself angrily. Finally, she settled on thanking him again, and asking shyly if there was a place she might bathe and change. Then, embarrassed to no end at her own lack of verbal adequacy, she excuses herself and retreats to the safety of the empty hallway, taking the route through the house he had told her.
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Post by Thanatos on Jan 15, 2005 12:23:52 GMT -5
Thanatos stood inhert and silent throughout Nicholi's welcoming of the guests and his subsequent presentation of their lavish gifts. The only visible movement on the android's part was the predictable purposeful turning of his white-haired head as he continued to carefully scan the three other occupants of the chamber, as well as the large room itself. The visor's glossy black surface ocasionally caught rays of light from the dim electrical circuitry that lit the area, playing a variety of refracted shades over the wall in front of him.
The labratory was an interesting structure--while its ceiling was of only an average height, the room itself seemed to extend outwards to encompass ridiculous amounts of space. Located in the heart of the Anhelo Manor, this room was undoubtedly one of the most advanced present on the First Continent; no homegrown affair, the locale was divided into segments devoted to specific scientific tasks. Ample space for research, development, and experimention was present, as well as the small but lavish quarters the group found themselves in now that was undoubtedly Nicholi Anhelo's personal office and chief stomping grounds in his struggle against the Mass.
Everything from the mundane to the obscenely advanced was present in this space. The labratory was in many ways a mismatched museum, as Thanatos was able to catch glimpses of such items as salvaged computers, and even an ancient particle accelerator. Time involved in creating and perfecting this room would have been substantial.
As the gift-giving ends and Thanatos' name is spoken, the assassin nods briefly, waiting serenly throughout the other two occupants' short speeches. Kimato leaves hesitantly, a look regret flashing briefly across her features before she exits the room. Dimitri takes a bit more convincing. Leisurely sprawled in one of the rich armchairs of Nicholi's office, the man shows little sign of wanting to leave. It takes the combined efforts of a curt remark on Nicholi's part and a gruesomely courteous smile from Thanatos to send Dimitri on his merry way.
With only Nicholi and Thanatos remaining in the room, Thanatos turns to haphazardly face his employer, taking the time to straighten his already impeccably perfectly positioned tie.
"What business might you have with me, Master Nicholi?"
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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 Jan 15, 2005 20:18:35 GMT -5
"Don't cry, don't raise your eye, it's only a teenage wasteland" Dimitri sang as he walked down one of the mansion's many corridors. He stopped in front a door that had a large symbol on it that resembled the letter D.
"Let's see, Mr. Anhelo said that this place was my room, sooo, let's see what's behind door No.1!"
When Dimitri opened the door, he nearly squealed like a giddy ten-year-old school girl. (But he didn't.)
"HOLYDEAFDUMBANDBLINDKID!! This place has everything!" shouted Dimitri as he veiwed the machines monitors that filled his room. "It even has a bed! I wonder how Mr. Anhelo knew to get all of these things though..." Dimitri puzzeled in his mind. "Oh well. "Oh bla Di, Oh bla Da. (Translation: life goes on.)" Dimitri thought to himself as he sat down on his bed.
"I feel like I've forgotten something, though." Dimitri mused as he lay in trance like state on his bed.
"Oh yeah! I forgot to get the stuff off of my bike!"
With that thought, Dimitri lept up from his bed and tore through the mansion at top speed. That is, until he hit a dead end.
"Spit and hades. I can't remember where the entrance is. Oh well. Maybe I'll find someone who can help me." he grumbled as he wandered away.
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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 Jan 15, 2005 23:12:36 GMT -5
At the end of the hallway, there is a single, plain wooden door. Kimato places a hand on the doorknob, and stops. She can hear someone coming down the hallway, singing a strange song. Having no desire to meet with anyone else right now, she ducks into the room quickly, shutting the door tightly behind her. Looking around the dimly lit room, Kimato smiles.
There's a little bed in the corner, covered with what appears to be a hand-quilted blanket. She hasn't seen such a thing since she was a little girl, when she used to visit her grandmother. A squat little table stands beside the bed, with an electric lamp on it. A small dresser on the opposite wall has a mirror. Walking over to it, she leans over to look into the mirror. At the sight of her own reflection, she wrinkles her nose in disgust.
What on earth? How awful. Her reflection, normally a slightly worn, tired girl with red hair and pale skin, is grotesquelly mismatched. Instead of the dark, dull red, her hair is light orange, almost blonde, and curly. Her complexion is dark tanned, and the tiny premature lines that should appear around her eyes did not. Her face is fresh and young, like that of a small child's. The only thing that has stayed as it should be are her brown eyes.
I wonder if I can fix this... Kimato remembers how, in the hallway, she had been able to make her slowed tranformations stop. Staring into the mirror, she imagines her hair how it used to be...long and straight, and a dark red color. Staring into the mirror, she wills her hair silently to become what she sees in her mind's eye.
Several seconds pass. Her hair shows no signs of uncurling or darkening. Turning away from the mirror, she closes her eyes, frustrated. Maybe I am still too sick.
Turning back, Kimato stares into the mirror again, focusing on her hair. Please...not that it is of vital importance, but I would rather look like myself. And so she continues to stare at the bright curls, willing them with all her might to turn. And then...
It is very gradual, almost too slow to notice. But ever so slowly, Kimato sees her hair darkening, the tight curls relaxing, the strands lengthening. It takes several minutes, but finally, her hair is back to its original state: long, straight, and dark red. Perhaps darker than it originally was, but it is of little consequence to the young woman.
Confidence bolstered by her success, she sets out determinedly to restore her appearance to its natural state. The process is mentally exhausting, and before it is over Kimato's head is aching horribly again, but after half an hour of intense mind-over-matter, she falls exhausted onto the quilted bed, her face pale, tired, and twenty-two once again, as opposed to dark and thirteen.
As she sinks into the realm of dreams as one sinks deep into the sea, a single clear thought rises through the murky green waters and breaks the surfaces, bubbling up, escaping, and floating off into the air above the dormant form of the fragile-looking girl on the bed.
I wonder who slept in this room when this house was still a home?
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Post by Argis on Jan 15, 2005 23:43:30 GMT -5
Argis calmly walks down the hall in full Armour Argis heads down the hallway thinking (My village why, why is it untouched is it because of the lack of advancement. The farther we advance the farther people grow corrupt then me causing an industrial revolution they will be the most advance and most militarily strong nation on this continent. We have the people’s will and we will have the weapons but will our hearts be there. Argis scream as painful flashes of Mina controlled by the mass then a voice echoes in Argis head. "Why? I can kill you here..." “Mina…” *a tear runs down his cheek* I will help you seeing that pain in your eyes please fight it I will be there soon. Argis walks up on Dimitri. “Why are you looking at a wall” Dimitri replies “I’m lost how do I get out of here I need to now” *a look of panic in Dimitri eyes.* “ok I’ll help you, keep up” Argis run Dimitri follows closely Argis takes a turn at blazing speeds and jump on the wall keeping constant speed he gradually land his feet back on the floor. Then jumps up and does a crock screw spin 3x then lands and does a back flip Dimitri appears Argis says “There you go and here Argis hands him a map of the manor. Dimitri thanks Argis then walk out side Argis turn around and walk to the new Guest Kimato room to see how they are doing he walks for a bit then knocks…
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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 Jan 16, 2005 12:41:52 GMT -5
Kimato, still groggy from her nap, gets up and makes her way sluggishly to the door. Openning it only a crack, she peers out. Seeing that it is only the man called Argis, she opens the door and gives him a tired, apologetic smile.
"Hello sir. Forgive me for my unwashed appearance. I had lain down to take a short nap and had only just woken when I heard you knock." She stops, noticing how he stares at her in bewilderment.
"You're...err...your hair...?" Realizing that he hasn't seen her since she stopped changing and fixed everything, she gives a soft laugh.
"I stopped changing, finally. Not only stopped changing, but I discovered, with some difficulty, that I can make the changes come and go."
"Congratulations." says Argis. "Have you spoken with Nicholi yet?"
"Yes. I spoke with him earlier today. I think I am to join your cause. But was there something you wanted?"
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Post by Argis on Jan 16, 2005 13:07:16 GMT -5
As a matter of fact, yes. “now no offence but would you like to be trained the proper way of hand to hand combat and shooting?
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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 Jan 16, 2005 13:27:15 GMT -5
Kimato considers a moment. In actuality, she does not have any amazing fighting abilities. In all the years she has been alone, she has depended on her mind, not her physical skills, to get her through. However, this man was offering her a chance to learn to defend herself, and the way things were, she thinks she would be unwise to turn the opportunity down.
After all, one can always become better.
Kimato smiles politely at Argis, and accepts his invitation to be trained.
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Post by Argis on Jan 16, 2005 18:58:46 GMT -5
Argis nods “ok get all of your weapon and meet me here *Argis hands a map to Kimato* in 30 minutes. She nods she reaches down and grabs her gun and stretches out. Argis leaves she depart and follow the map then stand in front of a bronze door. she opens and the room is pitch black she walks in and then she plants her foot on the ground and the room fills with light from gargoyles hands. The walls flip over to revile thousands of weapons of may styles vile bombs swards and semi-auto and fully-auto guns cross bows, and in the center there was a symbol of a rose and golden trident and in the center Argis stands there. “ok lets see shoot this” Argis throws up a large ball she shoot it right through. Argis throw another but smaller one she hit that one to. Argis then grabs a ping pong ball and throws it she misses, “ok“. Now come on lets spare she nods she runs at Argis he side steps and trips her she land on one hand then cartwheels on to her feet. Argis nods “good, now again” she advances Argis grabs her hand she spins around and kick the back of Argis he merely yanks her Arm she falls ok try this Argis steps on the ground and hits to pads. Two dummy fall down. Argis says “now watch and repeat“. She nods Argis then slowly flicks his wrist and sudos the neck of the dummy it falls. She does the same and the dummy rocks and she grabs her hand in pain. “ok” he grabs her hand and puts her fingers together “now this is how you do it” he move her hand slowly to touch the dummy then says “keep your fingers together and hit” she flicks her wrist the dummy falls over. “Good you just knock out or possibly killed a man.” “Now to speed up your attack step on the ball of your feet like so. It increase speed but decrease power so when your attack is about to hit plant your feet.” “now lets try again attack…”
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