Return of the Fountain Fellowship
After a quick look around the room, Piper decided to speak up. "Whatever it is we're planning on doing, we'd better do it quickly." she said, looking at Cale. "There are bound to be more soldiers searching for us after that..." she stumbled for a heartbeat, looking for the right word, "...incident back there, and we don't want to get stuck hiding in here until they lower their guard." she thought a second, "But we should probably wait for word from Stretch* first." she added. She knew they had a plan if something like this were to happen, but wasn't sure when he would make contact.

*((OOC: They would hear from Stretch, right? ))

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

Cale looked at Piper "Me and Stretch prepared for a situation like this... If need be we can hold out for several months if need be, but we don't intend to just sit in here."

"our first objective would of course be to attempt to recruit more people we aren't going to be able to defeat a whole army with what we have here... From what I've heard of course more than a few dittotopians would be quite willing to join a rebellion" he said with stating a very predictable fact.

"I'd like to ask who are you why the heck do you keep saving me?" Rachel finally spoke up, Cale turned and said "Why? I'd do it for anyone who has done enough against the Senate to merit the sending the MESS after them" he said "And to answer your former question, the name is Cale" he said.

Then he pointed to Piper "That's Piper, over here is Shrims, I believe this girls name is Raven" he motioned towards the werewolf. As he did Stretch unlocked the door, came in with Scrappy in tow then turned and shut the door "This is Stretch and that is Scrappy"

"Now it is well within your power to pull out now, otherwise" he said as he stood up and put his hand in the middle of the room "Who's with me?" Stretch walked over and put his hand on the top of Cale's "I'm in"

---

"Shut up" Fred said and motioned to several guards, they fell into formation around Kay "Come" he before walking up the steps of the building infront of them, all around men and woman walked the streets among the skyscrappers of the city.

Veyond: The Shadowed Hunters

Jarien wanted to run out the door, and down the stairs, he wanted to find Adi. But he knew that he couldn't, he couldn't risk letting the hunters in, if they were there, and he couldn't risk dying, in case she wasn't dead. His heart thumped in his chest, harder than it usually did, and he took a deep breath. But then he realized that she coulnd't be dead... he would have known... they had always known when either of them had been hurt from a fall, or while hunting.

He sighed, and turned his attention to the others. Seeing that none of them were moving, he strode over to the dresser and quietly as possible, shoved it aside. Then he bent and opened the wood square that led down into darkness. "Come on, come on... down..." he whispered.

He waited for all the others to go down the ladder into the cellar, and followed, the last in line. He pulled the dresser as close to the door as possible, and then dropped in, shutting it behind him.

The ladder tunnel was pitch black, and he was careful not to step on the kid's hands as he descended. At the bottom they all dropped onto some hay, and stood for a moment, in the faint light thrown about the room from a torch in the middle.

As the young man man asked what to do, and the blacksmith wondered if there was any other way out, they heard a voice...

~~~~~

Adi was still pondering wethere she should go back up the ladder, into the horror above, and had almost decided that she must, to find Jarien, and the others, when she heard a noise from the corner, like feet hitting the hay that was kept piled there.

The Trap Door! She thought, "Who's there?"

She waited for an answer.

~~~~

Jaegar followed his leader into the room, and glanced around, noting that it was empty, you escape again, lucky blacksmith, he thought.

"Well... evidently they aren't here." he said. He commenced yanking out drawers in the side table, and looking around for any clues for their location, when Rokard pointed out that the dresser on the other side of the room was moved, and there was a trapdoor under it. He hopped onto and over the bed, and waited for Dalin to make a move.

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

"You've got my attention," Raven said. "I'm not from around here, but I'm good with a sword" - here she brought out her broadsword, swinging it once or twice harmlessly but skillfully - "and I know something about corrupt governments."

She slid the sword back into its scabbard. "However," she added, "at present, I'm mostly interested in helping that nice cook from the Cup and Platter. What happened to her?"

A horrible thought struck her. "Uh ... they're not going to kill her, are they?"

Return of the Fountain Fellowship
"Count me in too," replied Piper just after Stretch "Although you probably already knew that," she added. Even though she'd been part of the group for a while now, it felt nice to say it out loud. She watched as Raven wielded her sword precisely through the air...she was even more skilled than Piper had originally thought.

She looked down as Raven talked about Kay...she hoped nothing happened too her as well. Even though they hadn't known each other very well, she still enjoyed talking to her when they got the chance. She was sure they would do something to help her now though.

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

Kay swallowed hard and went with the guards/soldiers up the steps. Presently, they were inside of the building. She was getting more nervous the more time went on, but she worked hard not to show it. There was no use in showing them that they had the best of her. No way.

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

Ace stood still at the top of the flight of hard duracreet steps that mounted to the front of the Senate building. He hated guard duty... but then again, he hated working with the M.E.S.S. at all, doing anything. Still, if he had to work with them, he would prefer to be out, doing something, not standing around.

He sucked in a deep breath and sighed. At least he couldn't fault the weather, it was sunny, and a rather nice day. He was glad that he had managed to get through inspection of his company that morning, seeing as he had refused to put on his armor that all of the guards were supposed to wear. But he prefered it that way, the armor was constricting, and the helmet he had been issued to 'enhance your already considerable eyesight' was stuffy.

He glanced around at his companion guards, all dressed in their armor, standing at attention... and boiling, he knew. It was shaping up to be rather warm in the sun.

His attention was suddenly caughty by an air-speeder that had rounded the nearest corner and was slowing to stop at the front of the building. He rolled his eyes, and raised the com strapped to his rist, "We have a J-class MESS air speeder inbound, looks official."

"Roger Unit 157, it is already cleared through High command, assist commanding officer with prisoner escort." the clipped voice came back through.

He rolled his eyes, glad that the speaker on the other end coulnd't see him, "Roger"

The speeder came to a halt, and a Soldier stepped out of the side hatch, he was wearing the rank of a higher level, and as he pulled a handcuffed girl from the speeder, he called for guards.

Ace stepped down the flight of stairs, followed by another of the guards, Unit 161, and they fell in place ahead and behind the guards that had come out of the speeder already.

They mounted the steps, and entered the main building, stepping from warm, into cool, regulated, slightly stale, air.

They halted as a security team came over to speak with the leader. Ace glanced at the girl being held in the middle of the guards and wondered why they had taken such a simple, harmless looking girl into custody.

(((OOC: hey everyone... my first post... Ace's profile is in the post office.)))

Vayond: The Shadowed Hunters

Dalin's anger was hidden under a cool collect expression, his eyes instead of showing wrath, were glazed. He scanned the room, standing in the center and noticing all the details, such as the sticks of furniture, and the untidy state of things. The bed, tussled and recently laid in, the wardrobe, moved only a few seconds earlier. Rokard swung his halberd into the wood and Gabriel shoved it from its place. The floor now scarred from its weight and coarse stake legs. He swiftly glided to the trapdoor, and yanked it open by means of the handle ring nailed deep into the planks. It came free from the floor, squeaking on old hinges. The darkness below was impermeable, his eyes, though acutely attune to darkness, could not see through it. Though he could feel the presences of people, their fear and emotions driving them, and they could not hide for long.

Akar was smoothly sheathed and he chuckled dryly, letting some of the anger roll off with its wave. He slammed the door again, kicking it closed with his foot and turned to his men. "Gabriel" he hissed "Get a torch....Jaegar...quickly go down stairs and stand at the other exit to the basement. They’re trapped like mice now." A cruel satisfaction hung in his voice. "Perhaps our swords will indeed taste blood tonight" He was tossed a torch, which had been retrieved from the hall, and now smiled at them "Gentlemen....we are going to smoke them out. When they watch as materials in that cellar go up their only option is to run. Run right into our blades. They will die, and die with much suffering for fleeing like they have" he whirled and dropped to his knees, yanking the hatch in the floor open again. Heat from the torch tugged at his black cloak with fiery fingers, and threatened to scorch his hand but he prevented both. With a jerk he threw the item down into the darkness below, cutting through the velvet air like a dagger. The crackling sound of hay as it was put ablaze filled his ears, and he let the sound of the trapdoor shutting and his pounding feet to cover his laugh.

He flew down the steps, like a phantom on wings and reached the tavern part of the inn. Seeing bodies strewn around, toppled over tables, lying on the floor, each covered in blood he was pleased that Gabriel had down his job. That's when he heard the tiny cry of a babe, and then the fervent whisper of its Mother shushing it quickly. His eyes flashed coldly and he turned on Gabriel "I told you everyone!!! Can you never complete a job!?" there was a challenge in his voice and he stared into the boys eyes "If you are too much of a wimp to even kill all of these, then you are no better than a peasant” he snapped viscously and raced to the table, throwing off the clothe and staring into the face of a mother and young child. Images flashed across his eyes, of a woman giving birth to a child, then they left him and all was heard was a dying scream. The baby was left in her dead Mother's arms crying bitterly. He killed the Mother...but he could never bring himself to kill the child. Pushing all this to the back of his mind he went to the other cellar escape where Jaegar was already poised with an arrow knocked in his bow. He wiped Akar on the clothes of a dead man, then joined him in silent vigilance waiting for their prey to emerge.

*****

Susanne felt what remaining strength she had give way. Her body fell fully into the arms of the strong man holding her, who took the extra weight with ease. When they reached the bottom he supported her on her feet but she barely could keep her eyes open "They are still coming.....can’t you hear them?" she gasped, her mind swooping back into visions then being jerked out violently each time. There was the heavy pound of boots in the room above them, but the voice of another cracked the stillness.

Vayond: Shadowed Hunters

Gabriel flinched as Dalin chewed him out but the was nothing to prepare to be pushed into the wall before he was punched in the stomach so hard by Zorack that he collapsed onto his side"We'll deal with you later" he said then turned to the woman and child. Standing above them he said "Its horrifying isn't?"

"Have you no heart?" the woman asked "Have you no family?! " now she was completly in tears "Yes" Zorack replied deadpan "My nephew over there" he montioned at the limp body of his brothers son "You are a could man" she said "A cold man yes, but I have some heart, you shall feel no pain when you die" he said.

Then he savagely killed them both, a clean kill but a savage one at that. Then the sat on his heels next to Gabriel, "That my boy is how yoy kill a mother and her child" he said in a mock teaching session voice before standing up and walking over to stand by Dalin.

"This should be fun" he said waiting for the group to burst out of the trap door, caughing and weezing into their blades, how fun this would be. A perfect trap this was.

Vayond
Edmund flinched when he heard the wailing of what sounded like a dying woman and her baby. His face turned white. How could someone do that? He turned to Micah. "Got any ideas?"
He rested his hand on his sword, ready to burst out of thier hiding place and slash the hunters all at once. "I say if we corner at least one, I could take care of him."
He was sure they would disagree, but he didn't care. It was time for justice after what he just heard.

Return of the Fountain Fellowship

"No, not at first anyways" Cale said grimly "They most likely suspect her of plotting with us, they will question her first" he said grimly "She was captured by the MESS, they will taken her to the Senate building in Monsteropolis.
"I do agree though, our first priority needs to be saving Kale, and while we are at it we can inflict some harm to the senate" he said.

((I'm low on inspiration))

A (Slightly) Less Normal Life

Sylvia sat at the front counter and fumed. After a few seconds several fragments of paper with letters printed on them drifted slowly down and settled on the counter in front of Sylvia. Oddly enough they settled in just the right order to spell out the message: You said cute. No species preference. Sylvia growled incoherently and swept the papers into the trash can.

Cordelia led the way through the streets of Ditto Town to her house, Bea and the Terminator trailing behind her. She unlocked the front door and stepped inside, holding the door open for the other two.

"For starters, we should give you a name," Cordelia said to the cyborg.

"Why?"

"You say that a lot," Bea commented, flopping down on Cordelia's couch. The vampire Slayer proceeded to poke through Corelia's cluttered collection of books and magazines on the coffee table.

"It's like your model designation. It makes it clear you're different from all the other kinds of Terminators. Names are how people identify each other. And having one will help you win Sylvia's adoration."

"Then I would like to acquire a name," the Terminator said.

"Hmm, what about ... No. Not that either. Um, what do you think of Ronald?"

"It is acceptable."

"Okay, now lets get you some real clothes. Go in that room over there, all of my dad's old clothes are still in the closet there. He was about the same size as you, so they should fit."

"Shame. I'm going to miss that little kilt," Bea commented as she idly browsed a fashion magazine."

Cordelia looked startled when she heard Bea's voice.
"Who are you again? I don't think we've ever met."

"Oh, I'm new in town. The name's Bea. I'm a Slayer and I'm here about some occult paraphernalia that passed through your bookstore.

"What? We sell books. It's not a magic store."

"You sell spellbooks. I saw some on the shelves when I was at the bookstore. And you acquired the Books of Ascension. Tell me who you sold them to, I go get them, and I leave. You never see me again."

"The Books of Ascension. Yes, we did sell those earlier today, but I'm certainly not going to tell you who I sold them too. You're not going to go harass one of our customers," Cordelia said, looking irritated.

Bea got to her feet and looked suddenly intimidating for a short blond girl.

"You're book-collecting magician stole the Books of Ascension. We want them back. They are entirely too dangerous to allow to freely drift around the multiverse. I'm not leaving this town without them."

"And you're a liar!" Cordelia snapped. "Drake doesn't steal the books, he uses duplication spells to make copies to bring back here. Your copies are right where you left them."

"The Books cannot be duplicated. The original self-destructs. So you still have the only known copies of the Books, making them ours. We want them back."

Right in the midst of the tense standoff, the newly dubbed Ronald entered the room, wearing striped shirt, checked pants, and bright pink socks.

"I do not know how to attach the protective feet coverings," Ronald said, a plaintive note creeping into his voice as he held a pair of shoes aloft.

Vayond: The Shadowed Hunters

Micah looked toward the ladder leading into the main room of the inn, and gripped his sword tight. Anger boiled within him; he felt the heat of it rising in his neck and muscles. He wanted to end this once and for all, just like Edmund had said, and just get rid of those scoundrels who were hunting them like animals. But, amidst the storm of anger and adrenaline raging in his head, a banner of logic was raised.
Micah growled. “No good. If we climb up that ladder to meet them, they’ll just kill us off one by one as we come up. We won’t even have time to wield our weapons.” He clenched his teeth tight to ward off the stress and anger, and looked around. “There’s got to be some way out of here…”

That’s when he noticed it. The smoke rising from the flaming pile of hay was churning and broiling along the roof of the cellar, but a stream of it was being sucked out of a small opening near the top of the roof, on the other side of the blaze. A window was there; small, high, and boarded up for some reason, but it was there. The boards covering it were already smoldering with fire. Micah knew what he had to do. “We’re going out that way,” He stated confidently. “I’ll open it.” With a running start, he leapt through the flames above the hay and landed in a roll on the other side, below the window. He stood to his feet, and surveyed the boards covering the window; just about eye-level. This is for me to do, he thought, otherwise, we’re all doomed. He inhaled deeply, and without another thought took hold of one of the flaming boards and tugged, hard. He felt the heat in his hands, like an intense pressure, but no pain followed. He’d experienced this before, working in the forges; accidents which should have burned him, but somehow he was left unscathed. This, however, was the first time he had really put it to test, reaching out in faith and sticking his hands directly in the fire. His mind screamed in fear, telling him to remove it, yet no pain came.

With a few firm tugs, the board broke free, having been mostly destroyed by fire. He reached up and did the same to remove the other two. “Come on, get out this way!” He called to the others, covering his mouth and nose with his sleeve as best as he could. I have to help the girl get out, he thought, and returned to do so, still dazed by what was happening around him.

Vayond

Edmund watched Micah go after the girl and wondered why he didnt help her out first. Still, he was grateful. Though a little uneducated in helping women, Micah was doing a great job keeping them safe thus far. He still had his hand on his sword, ready to attack anyone who came after them. He turned to Jarien. "I say if they come after us, we must find a plan to fight the hunters back. We can't just do nothing. Perhaps we build a rebel army to take them down?"

Vayond: The Shadowed Hunters

Susanne reached a hand out to the blacksmith as he came to her. She breathed heavily, her chest heaving and breath wheezing from inhaling smoke. With the other, she attempted to cover her mouth, but let out hard cough, which would have sent her to her knees if Micah had not been at her side. The swift movement had done nothing to relieve her body of exhaustion, but only pile more on. She wondered how she had managed to stay standing near the basement wall....her fingers only grasping cold damp stones.

The flames sprang every where now, eating wood support pillars, the beams above their heads, the hay pieces at their feet, near by some woods shelves collapsed. The tongues of fire caught everything in their path. "Please....please let's get out!" she begged weakly, mustering strength to speak over the other voices. Her vision swam as weakness filled her legs, and her knees buckled. Her body seemed to remember her lack of strength, and a tight feeling seized her chest. A headache pounded at her temples and her mind sent her reeling cause of her neglect to her own exhaustion. She groaned and knew only voices and the heat of the fire on her cheeks...

******

Dalin waited for it. That moment when your kill steps unknowingly into your arms...into your blade. It sends a terrible thrill down your spine, and a chuckle waited in his throat. How can I find such pleasure in murder? Is this what my job has made me!? His mind suddenly viciously lashed out at his evil actions, and he contradicted them quickly, leaving no room for pity, or feeling. I have no choice. It's what the King wants...and I do not question what he says, nor what it takes to do what he wants done but he knew he had one weakness. He could never kill babies. He had been given the chance once, and he had been ordered to exterminate the family. But the child he had never been able to slay. He growled, and turned his thoughts back to the hunt. They should be here now, dying. Or we would hear their dying screams below.... but nothing and no one came and a curse was whispered between his teeth. "Nothing can go wrong" he sent a cruel glare back at Gabriel. Then looked at Jaegar, then Zorack. "Nothing"