Day 2: Arida: de Mon Castle

Candi breathed out a stream of smoke, still wondering what was possessing her and how to get rid of it.

"Someplace secret, someplace safe," she finally said. "The home of a good friend of mine, Vike. It is remotely near Burg. We will be stopping near Judicia to pick up some more refugees. But I'm sure you and dear Vange can break off wherever, since I get the feeling that you intend to ravel at least partways with us."

Candi glanced over at Chris, seeing what his reaction would be. She racked her brain for any reason why he might know Vike.

Day 2: Aridia
de Mon Castle

"Burg... Burg..." Chris repeated the city's name twice as if mulling over some forgotten, ancient language. Finally, he seemed to remember that there was another person in the room and spoke. "That will work out perfectly. If you are planning to stay in Burg for awhile, perhaps I could rejoin your party... if nothing comes up."

The bounty hunters thoughts finally drifted towards Vange despite his best efforts. I wonder how the "fire ball" is coming along....

— Day 2, Morning —
Palisade National Park
Camp Watzmilion

The soldier stood up and offered his hand. “How can I help you?” he began. “I’m Sergeant Thomas Jones.”

Dan shook hands and introduced himself and his family. “We’re curious about yesterday’s supernova and –”

Jones held up his hand. “Would you and your wife like to step into my office? It’s a little more private.”

“I’ll stay out here with our daughter,” Angie said. “I’m sure you understand.”

“Of course.” Jones gestured to a nearby door and looked at Dan. “Shall we?”

The men stepped into the little office and the sergeant closed the door. “As you were saying, Mr. Baxter?”

“Call me Dan, please. My family and I have been camping here in the park the last week, and we’re wondering what effects the supernova may have had on the outside world. We were referred to you for information.”

“I see.” Jones was silent a moment, as if determining how much to share. “Can you tell me a little more about yourself first?”

“Well, I'm an engineer with the Parksville power plant. My wife is a schoolteacher.”

Jones leaned forward, intrigued. “Then you understand the concept and effects of an EMP?” Dan nodded. “Virtually all electronics in the country appear to have been wiped out, so reliable information is hard to come by. But there are rumors of earthquakes, buildings collapsing, and other incredible events. In most cases, these were highly localized, almost random occurrences. The biggest effect is the loss of all our cars, computers, radios, TVs, you name it.”

“I’m not too surprised,” Dan replied. “I thought about going back to Parksville to try to help out, but walking that far with a child didn’t seem practical. And if the EMP was really serious, I couldn’t do much to help anyway.” He paused. “May I ask how you got here?”

“That’s classified. Suffice it to say that some military vehicles still operate.”

“I see. Do you have any news about Parksville? We have friends and family there.”

“Nothing specific. I know fires destroyed some parts of town, but only a few minor injuries were reported. Emergency shelters have been opened in schools and other public buildings.”

That’s a relief. The Norwoods might be all right.

“Thanks; that’s good to hear.” Dan considered offering his mechanical expertise, but he declined for now. He wasn’t sure how much he could help, given the enormity of the problem – and if the military insisted he begin immediately, he had no desire to be separated from his family.

Jones was silent a moment and Dan had the impression the man was sizing him up somehow. Finally the sergeant spoke. “Uh, there is one other thing.”

“Yes?” Dan leaned forward in his seat.

“Sources indicate that some people have suffered radiation poisoning from the supernova.”

“Radiation poisoning?” Dan had seen no such indication among the people he’d been around the past day. “Is it serious?”

“Yes, in some cases. It’s different in each victim. For lack of a better term, some appear to have developed ‘superpowers’ – special abilities.”

“Such as?”

“Information is sketchy, but some appear to be able to fly, alter their forms, or manipulate their environments. Others are telepathic.”

Dan forced down a chuckle. His background and perspective were firmly entrenched in the empirical world that could be touched and measured.

“You…ah…haven’t seen anyone showing weird abilities, have you?” Jones pressed.

“No.” Dan’s reply was entirely honest. “I’m an engineer; I admit I find it all rather hard to believe.”

“So do I. But some of the reports are pretty reliable.” Jones looked intently into Dan’s eyes. “Your government wants to help these people and protect the public. Can we count on you and your family to help us help them? To report any unusual abilities you come across?”

“We’ll do what we can,” Dan evaded. While he considered himself loyal to his country, he knew that the supernova-caused upheaval might prove too tempting to any who might abuse government power in the name of maintaining order. Reporting close friends who turned out to have these “superpowers” seemed like betrayal.

The sergeant stood up, the interview apparently over. He shook hands with Dan, then handed him a small, pager-like device. “Should you find anyone with radiation poisoning, you can let us know with this.”

“How does it – oh, classified,” the curious engineer grinned.

“You got it.” Jones winked. “Good day, Mr. Baxter.”

Day 2: Arida: de Mon Castle

Candi stared at Christ, her face hard and her eyes half closed and almost mean. After a moment, she suddenly snuffed out her cigarette and stood.

"Excuse me for a moment," she said briskly, rearranging the lap blanket on the chair. "I must check on Vange and make sure nothing is wanting."

She exited swiftly, her heels clicking against the floorboards as she walked.

She soon reached her own door and knocked tentatively, then waited for Vange to answer. She didn't want to disrupt her guest, but did need a reason to escape Christopher--and check what he said against what Vange had to say.

— 2 AM, Day 2 —
Parksville, Erbaine
Palisade National Park
Lui's Cabin
Terra awoke with a start. She could have sworn she heard a loud clatter coming from the kitchen, but at first she was so out of it from exhaustion, she thought she was dreaming. What was that. . . ? She thought blearily.

And then she heard a scream that made her heart nearly stop. Terra knew she wasn't dreaming, and in an instant she had gathered her limbs under her, ready to leap up, when she heard a sound that made her blood run cold.

The scream was being drowned out by terrifying howl.

Her cousin's name was on her lips, and Terra was ready to scream herself, when a huge shape jumped clear over her and the rug, and bolted out the door.

Maybe it was irrational, but the only word Terra could think of was monster.

Lui, she nearly gasped. Where's Lui? Where's the shotgun?

She staggered into the kitchen, half expecting to find Lui there, lying in a pool of blood, but the little room was chillingly empty. The only thing on the floor was the gun.

Rasping for air and the pounding of her heart drowning out all other sound, Terra seized the gun and ran out the kitchen door.

"Lui?" Terra screamed as soon as her bare feet hit the ground. "Where are you?"

Howling filled the night air, but Terra heard no human response. That was when she saw the creature standing in the driveway.

At first Terra thought it was a black bear, but then to her horror she realized that it was a wolf. But not a normal wolf. A huge wolf, with onyx fur and eyes like fire, like something out of a nightmare.

Terra saw the monster move towards her, and she raised the gun and aimed.

"Where's Lui?!" She yelled at it, furious, and far too terrified to realize how completely idiotic she sounded.

— VERY Early Morning, Day 2 —
Parksville, Erbaine
Palisade National Park
Lui's Cabin

Loretta had first begun to stir when the wolf puppy, lying so docile near her chin, had begun to get restless. Her mind, though tired behind belief, had begun to awake. Then, she too, like Terra, heard the scream then the howling. It started out as a plain howl, but as she tuned in she began to hear words. The young wolf besides her jumped up, rose it head and let out a unpracticed sound that resembled the larger noise.

A friend! Another Wolf! it said, it's thoughts touching her, excited.

The thoughts, the words, she though she had began to detect from the other canine, were suddenly cut short, and a black mass ran, in a blur, across the floor and out the door.

Loretta was scared, and just watched in frozen horror as Terra sprung up, rushing to the kitchen, then back with the gun. Her hands flew to her mouth, and panic seized her. What is going on!? What is she going to do!? Desperately she tried to grip reality, and then, she forced herself to rise from the couch. She ran to the door, and looked out into the pitch black night. For a minute she saw nothing; her eyes ached from the suddenness of everything. Then she saw them. Terra, poised with the gun, it's barrel pointing straight at a massive wolf.

Loretta wanted to scream. The animal was huge! So much large than any of the wolves at the compound. But of course she couldn't, her lips just moved and nothing came out. Then, she felt the rough fur of the pup against her leg.

It's another wolf... it whimpered. It's a friend.

Loretta's head snapped up and she stared at the scene once more. The thoughts she had just heard sank in. A friend....a friend...impossible...she broke away from the door frame and rushed up to Terra, gripping her arms in her hands, and shoving the gun away from the wolf. She shook her head, eyes pleading through the dark. She knew she made no sense to the other girl, but she had to try. She couldn't shoot the wolf! Again her mouth moved and no words emerged. It was hopeless to try....she had to show her.

Loretta stood in front of Terra, gazed locked with the wolf's. The eyes! Those eyes.....she had looked into them before. Only once. And they had been wrenched away quickly. Lu-Lui!? she reached out with her thoughts, trying to touch the animal. Please...answer me, if you can. Are you Lui?

Day 2, Morning, Palisade National Park, Camp Watzmilion

When Dan and Sergeant Jones left the room, Jenny felt slightly disappointed. She had hoped to learn some more about the situation herself, but she had to content herself with hoping that Volt could overhear them. Volt, however, was too busy making small talk with Candy and listening to the small talk between Jenny, Angie, Grace, and Miss Gray to pay attention to the conversation in the other room.

After a couple minutes Miss Gray said, "We've decided that after today's first class the campers can get the rest of the day off. Perhaps if Dan is unable to get his car started again you would like to show them around the camp Jenny?"

"Sure if that's alright with them," Jenny answered as she finished her last piece of banana. "Speaking of class, I'd better get going. You can stay here Volt." Volt swallowed his last bite and made a small bark in acknowledgement.

"Whenever you're ready for that tour," Jenny said as she got up to go, "head uphill and take the second path to the right. If I'm not there Volt will sniff me out. He always does." Then, with a smile and a wave, she was gone.

— 2 AM, Day 2 —
Parksville, Erbaine
Palisade National Park
Lui's Cabin

Lui breathed heavily, her breath leaving her black nose in clouds of mist in the early morning darkness.

She could hear footsteps in the cabin and she could see figures moving. Terra was going for the gun, just as she had suspected. Within seconds, Terra appeared, shotgun in hand, holding it aimed at Lui.

Lui's paws moved in the gravel, but she made no step toward Terra. To step forward would surely mean death or at least being seriously wounded. The only safe option she had was to stand her ground and hope the answers would come. Lui made no noise, she only stared with piercing orange-yellow eyes.

It wasn't long before Loretta joined Terra on the porch, reaching for the gun. Loretta loved animals; there was no way she would let Terra shoot an animal, which is what Lui was now, without a reason.

Loretta... Lui thought, remembering the earlier eye contact she had shared with the teenage girl. Now it all made sense.

Loretta was staring at Lui and Lui met her eyes with a desperate gaze. She let out a low growl and a slight nod in response to the question that Loretta seemed to be asking with her eyes, but it wasn't the least bit aggressive. Lui lowered herself to the ground, still keeping eye contact as much as she could while glancing at the gun in Terra's hand.

Day 2
Arida, Arenico
The Convent
The Surgery Room

"Okay, I'm working on it," Julietta sighed at Dr. Wallaby's order, but did it anyway for her dear Romano. He'd probably faint if he got stuck with this chore, so she was glad to save him from that dreadful fate.

She grabbed one vial and a butterfly needle, then set to work at drawing blood. This was the easiest patient she'd ever had to draw blood from, since Nina was out cold and therefore couldn't freak out when the needle was inserted. After a few minutes, Julietta had a vial full of blood. She brought it over to the machine to test it for Nina's blood type.

The results on the screen surprised her, and she had no idea what to make of them. "Um, Dr. Wallaby? You might want to take a look at this..."

Day 2
Arida, Arenico
The Convent
The Surgery Room

Dr. Wallaby glanced behind him at Julietta. "Janet, do you see that I am busy? Just tell me what the problem is. Besides, I can't read those numbers without my glasses."

With one hand, he reached up to point at his face, only to discover he was wearing his glasses and that he had now put a bloody fingerprint on one of the lenses. Twitching, he said, "Romano! Towel! Napkin! Wipe! I need something!"

- 2 AM, Day 2 -
Parksville, Erbaine
Palisade National Park
Lui's Cabin

Loretta's heart beat began to quickly as the wolf answered in a low growl. She took a slow step back as the animal lowered itself to the ground. It is Lui! she thought, trying to calm herself. This was the craziest thing yet....

She had read stories about men and women turning into wolves at night, usually at full moon. But those were fantasy's. This was reality. She swallowed, then turned back to Terra, fixing her with a pleading gaze. She couldn't speak to her, but she hoped she understood what she was trying to convey. The wolf is a friend.... she thought, wishing Terra could hear her thoughts, but she knew she couldn't.

Then she figured out how she could do it. She held up her hands to Terra, willing her to stay there. Then she ran back into the cabin, snatching the pad of paper and pencil off of the table. She then grabbed a flashlight from where she knew Lui kept one and returned to the porch. Setting the light down on a small table, she knelt, scrawling out quickly an explanation for Terra on the piece of paper.

After she was finished she held up the pad of paper, and shown the light on her words. "Don't shoot it! The wolf is Lui!"

((OOC: My last post was on page 8. Don't worry, I'll be more diligent now that I'm almost done with algebra. I also don't have the bio form up for Mariah yet. I know, I know. Bad Lia. *shields herself from rotten tomatoes*))

Day One
Arida
During/After the Supernova

Laney hurried into the studio. The tingling that had come over her body was gone now and everything as back to normal. She unlocked the door and flipped on the lights. Heading into the back room, Laney changed out of her jeans and into her normal exercise clothes. After tying back her hair, she went back through the studio to the front, where she began her rigorous training.

Before long, the bell on the front door jingled merrily. Laney barely glanced up before speaking to the slender girl who was watching her in amusement. “Riah,” she said without pausing in her third round of push ups. “You’re the only one who would get here before noon... And before classes start.” She stopped doing push ups and got her water bottle out.

Mariah Neal was slightly younger than Laney. Tall, blonde, and popular, she had only started martial arts because Laney needed the money to support herself. A complete girly girl, every time Mariah showed up for another lesson surprised Laney.

Riah laughed and gave Laney a hug. “Laney, are you okay?” she asked, releasing her. “You feel like you’re on fire.”

Laney shrugged and walked over the the sink. She ran her hand under the water, letting the cool wetness run through her fingers. She turned off the water and wiped her hands dry on her pants. “Yeah,” she said. “I feel fine. Did you see those double suns earlier? They were so weird.”

Riah laughed. “Pretty crazy, huh? I heard some crazy person saying that it was a supernova or something.” She rolled her eyes. “I doubt it though.” She walked towards the door. “Girl, you look terrible. Go home. Get some rest. Teaching isn’t going to help you today.”

“You might be right, Riah,” said Laney slowly. “Maybe I’ve been working too hard. I’ll go check on Allee, my cousin, then head on home... I don’t think I slept well last night.”

“Kay, you do that,” Riah said, fluffing her curly hair. “I’ll see you around.”

Day 2: Arida: The Convent

Romano took three swift steps over to Julietta's side.

"She's AB-," he said, looking down at Julietta in a "poor blonde" manner after barely glancing at the screen. "We have 2.2 pints left. After that, we'll have to use O labeled ones, which we have plenty of."

He looked at the doctor than back to Julietta.

"Got it?" he asked softly, brushing past her to get some blood. And maybe make a quick visit to the trash can. Apparently the macaroni salad was disagreeing with him...or the patient. He was back a few moments later, setting up the IV to start pumping the life-giving fluid in the small child on the table.

— 2 AM, Day 2 —
Parksville, Erbaine
Palisade National Park
Lui's Cabin

Out of the corner of her eye, Terra saw a flash of red, dim in the darkness. Auburn hair. It was Loretta.

If Lui had been standing right beside her, it would have been different. But Lui was missing, and in danger. Every minute that ticked by, every second she wasted in a face-off with this massive creature, could stand between life and death for her cousin.

Terra knew full well that Loretta's love for wolves could endanger both their lives and Lui's. Besides, a girl who was suffering from severe shock wasn't going to be of help against this monster, or in any dangerous situation right now. Terra was not a bossy person by nature, but she quickly became forceful when push came to shove. Fear for her cousin fueled the order that was on the tip of her tongue, the urge to tell Loretta to just go back inside the cabin until it was all over, the twitching of her finger on the trigger—when she glanced back at the giant black wolf. Its eyes were trained on the red-haired girl.

Oh no. Had it decided she was prey?

Terra was seconds from shooting the wolf, preferring to act and ask questions later in this kind of a face-off, when Loretta tore her gaze away from the creature and dashed up to Terra. She gripped her arm, pulling the gun away from the wolf's direction.

Terra was at the point of wrenching her arm out of Loretta's grasp, but something in the girl's eyes made her stop. They were trained on the black wolf's eyes, just as the monster's gaze burned back at her. There was something. . . odd about the way that they were looking at each other, as if a thousand words were going unsaid, but still understood. Loretta had always had a way with animals, but this was ridiculous.

Terra looked back at the monster again, and with a sudden shiver, she realized that the wolf's eyes were. . . not like those of the others at the wolf facility. They were too. . . expressive.

Too human.

Terra glanced back and forth between the two, trying and failing to understand what she was seeing. A second letter, Loretta let go of her arm, and instead held her hands up in a pacifying, don't move kind of gesture. And then she ran back to the cabin.

Terra tensed, her finger trembling on the trigger of the shotgun, and fearing that the wolf would give chase and bolt after Loretta as she darted away, but the wolf didn't move. It just turned its strange, almost vaguely familiar golden eyes on Terra, and stared at her. Terra shuddered, not from fear, but from disturbing recognition that she could barely place.

Moments later, Loretta burst back out of the cabin, and ran up to Terra, waving a small slip of paper in front of girl's face. She beamed a flashlight on it, and it took Terra probably ten seconds before her eyes focused on the words in the darkness.

She stared, agape—then glanced back at the wolf, and lowered the gun.

". . . Lui?"

— Day 2, Morning —
Palisade National Park
Camp Watzmilion

“A tour would be nice, thanks Jenny,” Angie said.

Grace waved goodbye as Jenny left for her class. “Daddy, Daddy,” she sang out a minute later.

Angie looked up to see her husband emerge from the small office. “Learn anything?”

Dan whispered into his wife’s ear. “We can talk about it outside while I try to get the car running again.”

“I thought you might want to try that. Jenny has offered to give us a tour of the camp later.”

Dan led his family out of the room, with Candy at his heels. A moment later Volt got up and followed them out to the parking lot. Dan already was working with the engine and several tools were strewn about on the asphalt.

“No such luck this time,” he groaned half an hour later. He closed the hood, collected his tools, and joined his wife at a nearby picnic table. As they watched Grace and the dogs, he summarized what he’d learned from Sergeant Jones.

Angie expressed relief at the Parksville news – their friends might be fine – but when her husband got to the heart of the sergeant’s news, she blurted out, “Radiation poisoning?”

“Not so loud,” Dan retorted, looking around suspiciously. “I suppose it’s possible…but it seems a little far-fetched. He said it shows up as weird abilities – flying, telepathy, and so on.”

“Would radiation poisoning give someone powers like that?” Angie whispered.

“That’s what I’m wondering. Anyway, he asked us to report anyone showing such ‘symptoms.’” Dan fished out the small device he’d been given.

“What does the government want with them?”

“That’s the big question. I’m not sure I’m ready to turn in a friend or family member to the military, even if they have good intentions.”

“I guess we can cross that bridge when we come to it – assuming we ever run into anyone with one of these abilities. In the meantime, we can go on Jenny’s tour of the camp.”

“And then maybe think about lunch.”

“You’re hungry already?” Angie teased, gently punching his arm.

“Well, it has been a couple hours since I ate,” he grinned.