Elfen High 2: Gotterdammerung

[Nude East Ireland]

Eraldo nodded. He observed Crowley from afar, his handgun ready for battle. Not necessarily with Crowley, but he still needed to keep that option in mind.

"Of course, Aleister. I understand. It'll give us a moment to slow down and prepare."

Aziraphale simply stood there, smiling vacantly and swaying a bit, impatient.

"Friend Eraldo," he said after a moment, turning to face the man, "you are a 'detective', yes? I have read of you in some accounts written by second-life humans. Your profession seems to be quite popular in mahvehs. Are you in mahvehs, friend Eraldo?"

His brow furrowed.

"And how exactly do you whistle?" he continued, "The record I read dissolved into strange phrases I did not understand after mentioning whistling."

"I'll explain it later," he replied, smirking. He lit a cigarette, and began to smoke.

"But yes," he continued, "I'm a detective. Mostly supernatural, but I started out like all detectives do - working for the FBI, thwarting a communist plot. But in reality, communism's just a red herring. Anyways, this case will make my career."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Crowley finished healing the now unconscious soldiers. He grabbed one by the neck, slapping him awake. "Tell me exactly where Anton Crowley is. Or I will be unhappy." His tone gave the evident and definite feeling that Crowley's happiness could be very helpful to the future of the soldiers. That is, deciding that they had a future.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Alastor was admittedly impressed with the dwarf's accurate assessment of their team. However, there were more important things to talk about right now, so he did.

"Calm down, my friend. We're here to help, but we were sent in blindly, so we will need information. First of all, tell us everything you know. Then perhaps we will have a chance at doing something about this." He said.

Moon Group

They cautiously entered the building after the Kappa scouts had reported that it was indeed a clear sight. "Stay focused and look for something of us-" Horn began.

He was interrupted by Calliel. "Found something."

"Alright," Campbell said. "What's the word, Cal?"

A pause. "That is a shortened version of my name."

"I meant, what did you find?" The building they were in was an ordinary church, but Calliel had walked toward a pew three rows down. He had glanced in and saw a short, bearded man who was wearing battered and bruised armour. The man was lying unconscious underneath a chair, an energy gun in one hand a short sword in the other. His body had wounds everywhere, bright green blood leaking from his face.

"A dwarf." Horn noted in surprise. "Here?" he moved toward the dwarf, ready to apply first aid on it.

Sisitu moved in cautiously while her kappa rushed back to meet her. Churches made her uncomfortable. She had the same primate fight-or-flight reaction to places of worship as she did to low-pitched tiger noises. Interesting how instincts could be co-opted by life.
"So," she said, summing up "We have a town apparently deserted, except for one gravely injured individual from a species which doesn't belong here. We also have something that makes a very loud and uncomfortable noise, perfect to disorient us and make us vulnerable to attack, but no attack comes. Anyone able to make sense of this?"

"Let me backtrack and explain." The dwarf said in a tired voice. "It was all our fault. We...well, whatever you know about dwarfs is likely wrong. In any case, I'll provide you with the infodump. Us dwarfs are light years ahead of you humans, angels and demons in technology. Our race was around while the Egyptians were and before. You know us as greedy merchants, of course. We don't really love gold- we just say that to get it in bed with us."

Calliel's face was puzzled.

"But," the dwarf continued. "We're dying. All of us. We fought against the Fae in the last war, which decimated our population. To add insult to injury, we require magical energy to live in the same way humans require oxygen. In the past, Earth was bursting with magical energy. Now the magic is going away, as it is in many dimensions." he sighed. "So we decided to try and possibly come here on this world, convince the angels to leave- by peaceful means, of course." The dwarf added quickly, seeing an angel actually in the group. "We did make one mistake...there was a Fae on board our ship. Not a true, full Fae, but there was a Fae virus on board. We aren't entirely sure how it got there. But we noticed it's presence very shortly after landing and then it spread like wildlife throughout the colony. I managed to immunise myself and a handful of other dwarfs, but we didn't make the vaccine in time- the hundred strong group we had brought was infected and our ship overtaken."

"We tried to warn the angels, but we were only able to give the cure to one, an angel who called himself Aaron." the dwarf noticed their presence. "You need your own vaccinations, of course." he said quickly, his voice now urgent and a injector in each hand. "Let's get it done fast. The majority of people here are underground, not on the surface. I am not sure why, but there must be some purpose for it."

[Nude East Ireland]

Crowley finished healing the now unconscious soldiers. He grabbed one by the neck, slapping him awake. "Tell me exactly where Anton Crowley is. Or I will be unhappy." His tone gave the evident and definite feeling that Crowley's happiness could be very helpful to the future of the soldiers. That is, deciding that they had a future.

"I don't know where Anton Crowley is!" he yelled. "I'm just a grunt. We all are. But one of our officers might know. You've already been acquainted with him, sir. And he probably has orders to keep you from finding Anton Crowley."

[Norvenia]

Daniel dropped to one knee in front of the dwarf and caught his wrist in a firm but gentle grip. "Easy, now," he said softly. As he processed the dwarf's words, the priest absentmindedly studied the church around him. In an abstract sense, of course, Daniel knew that "God" meant something very different to the angels from what it meant to Daniel and his ilk; that this church, therefore, was not really a "Christian" church at all, in any sense that Daniel would accept. But it seemed like a church anyway, and Daniel Andreas had lived his life in and around churches. The setting was familiar, comforting. Daniel found that he always thought more clearly, and felt more generously, within the cool and peaceful space of an old church.

"All right," Daniel said. "I'm not saying that I don't believe you. But I am saying that there's no way for me to prove that those injectors are filled with vaccines rather than poison." The priest sighed. "Your biology looks humanoid. Why don't you take another sample, and then we will. If it doesn't kill you - even double-strength, if you're telling the truth - then it probably won't kill us." Daniel smiled tightly and shrugged. "Precautions. I'm sure you understand." The priest leaned forward. "While you're deciding, I have a few questions. First, your name." Daniel shrugged again. "I like to know to whom I'm talking. Second: what does this fae virus do, exactly? And do you at least have any theories about how it got on your ship? Third: do you have any idea what happened to Aaron? Fourth: what is the status of the angels underground, and how do we get down where they are?"

[Nationstatelandsville]

Crowley finished healing the now unconscious soldiers. He grabbed one by the neck, slapping him awake. "Tell me exactly where Anton Crowley is. Or I will be unhappy." His tone gave the evident and definite feeling that Crowley's happiness could be very helpful to the future of the soldiers. That is, deciding that they had a future.

"I don't know where Anton Crowley is!" he yelled. "I'm just a grunt. We all are. But one of our officers might know. You've already been acquainted with him, sir. And he probably has orders to keep you from finding Anton Crowley."

Aziraphale tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"Well," he said, "it would make sense to place friend Anton at the very bottom of the structure, perhaps in a basement or such. Alternatively, assuming they know we could figure this out, he may at the very top. Or in the middle. Or..."

Aziraphale blinked.

"In conclusion, I do not have any idea where friend Anton may be," he said.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Crowley finished healing the now unconscious soldiers. He grabbed one by the neck, slapping him awake. "Tell me exactly where Anton Crowley is. Or I will be unhappy." His tone gave the evident and definite feeling that Crowley's happiness could be very helpful to the future of the soldiers. That is, deciding that they had a future.

"I don't know where Anton Crowley is!" he yelled. "I'm just a grunt. We all are. But one of our officers might know. You've already been acquainted with him, sir. And he probably has orders to keep you from finding Anton Crowley."

Crowley paused. "True." He acknowledged before teleporting Therian back. "If you do not tell me exactly where Anton is, I will kill you. Very simple, yes?"

[Nude East Ireland]

"I don't know where Anton Crowley is!" he yelled. "I'm just a grunt. We all are. But one of our officers might know. You've already been acquainted with him, sir. And he probably has orders to keep you from finding Anton Crowley."

Crowley paused. "True." He acknowledged before teleporting Therian back. "If you do not tell me exactly where Anton is, I will kill you. Very simple, yes?"

Therian blinked, confused. "I told you all I knew," he replied.

The soldier looked at Crowley. "Not him... uh, sir. I'm talking about the Colonel."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

A hologram of a Japanese-looking man appeared in front of Moriarty. "Mr. Crowley is not here right now." Daisuke Taka's hologram said. "What can I do for you, Mr. Moriarty?"

"Holy-"

The sudden appearance of the Asian managed to startle him, in fact Jacob even peed a little when it appeared. Just his luck. First he had to run into the overly exaggerated Mexican stereotype who came from outer space, now he stumbles upon an Asian being projected by state-of-the-art technology he probably put together himself. Quickly he checked his pocket to make sure his watch wasn't nicked by some black hoodlum.

"I'm the new Chemistry teacher in this...ehh...school" He said, eye-balling the Asian hologram.

The hologram nodded. "Ah, I see. In any case, Crowley isn't here. However, I can likely give you some other tasks or just let you explore around this school." Taka offered.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Crowley paused. "True." He acknowledged before teleporting Therian back. "If you do not tell me exactly where Anton is, I will kill you. Very simple, yes?"

Therian blinked, confused. "I told you all I knew," he replied.

The soldier looked at Crowley. "Not him... uh, sir. I'm talking about the Colonel."

Crowley paused, teleported Therian back. "Ah. I see. It's been a tiring day for me, what with the barely suppressed violent rage and, I'll be frank, desire to utterly bomb this city to Hell. So, where is the Colonel?"

[Constaniana]

"What would these tasks you had in mind be?" Said a very bored Coach Savatar, walking up to Jacob and the hologram of Daisuke. "Not that I have anything better to do right now,"

[Nude East Ireland]

Suddenly, everyone was blasted back several feet, painfully smashing against the wall. Except Crowley, however, who was left standing alone. The ceiling collapsed, creating a wall that separated the PCs from Crowley.

"Mr. Crowley," the Colonel said, revealing his presence. "I knew we would see each other again. How have you been?"

---

Anton's bloodied body was dragged into the office. He was dropped onto the platform, and he groaned in pain. The officer who had killed the Fuhrer smirked, and stood on the platform next to Anton.

"About time," he said, nodding to one of his subordinates. "You, Anton, are going to cause me more trouble than your worth. But I can still use you."

He smirked, and suddenly there was a flash. One of the Thule scientists removed his goggles, satisfied with his work.

The new Fuhrer and Anton were gone, far away from Dover.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Suddenly, everyone was blasted back several feet, painfully smashing against the wall. Except Crowley, however, who was left standing alone. The ceiling collapsed, creating a wall that separated the PCs from Crowley.

"Mr. Crowley," the Colonel said, revealing his presence. "I knew we would see each other again. How have you been?"

---

Anton's bloodied body was dragged into the office. He was dropped onto the platform, and he groaned in pain. The officer who had killed the Fuhrer smirked, and stood on the platform next to Anton.

"About time," he said, nodding to one of his subordinates. "You, Anton, are going to cause me more trouble than your worth. But I can still use you."

He smirked, and suddenly there was a flash. One of the Thule scientists removed his goggles, satisfied with his work.

The new Fuhrer and Anton were gone, far away from Dover.

"Excellent." Crowley clapped his hands. "My mood has increased very much so with your new arrival, Colonel. Now, please save me the trouble of destroying you. Just tell me where Anton is and I might spare your life, understood?" he asked, walking slowly closer to the other man. "There's no magic block, Colonel- you think you can fight me without that?"

[Nude East Ireland]

Suddenly, everyone was blasted back several feet, painfully smashing against the wall. Except Crowley, however, who was left standing alone. The ceiling collapsed, creating a wall that separated the PCs from Crowley.

"Mr. Crowley," the Colonel said, revealing his presence. "I knew we would see each other again. How have you been?"

---

Anton's bloodied body was dragged into the office. He was dropped onto the platform, and he groaned in pain. The officer who had killed the Fuhrer smirked, and stood on the platform next to Anton.

"About time," he said, nodding to one of his subordinates. "You, Anton, are going to cause me more trouble than your worth. But I can still use you."

He smirked, and suddenly there was a flash. One of the Thule scientists removed his goggles, satisfied with his work.

The new Fuhrer and Anton were gone, far away from Dover.

"Excellent." Crowley clapped his hands. "My mood has increased very much so with your new arrival, Colonel. Now, please save me the trouble of destroying you. Just tell me where Anton is and I might spare your life, understood?" he asked, walking slowly closer to the other man. "There's no magic block, Colonel- you think you can fight me without that?"

"I may be able to," the Colonel replied. He smiled, though it wasn't one of arrogance or antagonistic nature. It was more of a respectful gesture, something rare with the Colonel. Something was obviously odd about the man's behaviour, especially compared to his actions in South America.

He turned, and began to walk down the hallway, his hands behind his back. "Mr. Crowley, things haven't gone according to plan..."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"Excellent." Crowley clapped his hands. "My mood has increased very much so with your new arrival, Colonel. Now, please save me the trouble of destroying you. Just tell me where Anton is and I might spare your life, understood?" he asked, walking slowly closer to the other man. "There's no magic block, Colonel- you think you can fight me without that?"

"I may be able to," the Colonel replied. He smiled, though it wasn't one of arrogance or antagonistic nature. It was more of a respectful gesture, something rare with the Colonel. Something was obviously odd about the man's behaviour, especially compared to his actions in South America.

He turned, and began to walk down the hallway, his hands behind his back. "Mr. Crowley, things haven't gone according to plan..."

Crowley laughed. "That's why you don't make plans, dumbass." he said. "Then again, I've always been a reactive rather than a proactive sort myself." he acknowledged. "Now, do tell me how things have not gone to plan." A beer bottle popped into his hand as he started to slowly chug it down. "I have some time."

[Nude East Ireland]

"I may be able to," the Colonel replied. He smiled, though it wasn't one of arrogance or antagonistic nature. It was more of a respectful gesture, something rare with the Colonel. Something was obviously odd about the man's behaviour, especially compared to his actions in South America.

He turned, and began to walk down the hallway, his hands behind his back. "Mr. Crowley, things haven't gone according to plan..."

Crowley laughed. "That's why you don't make plans, dumbass." he said. "Then again, I've always been a reactive rather than a proactive sort myself." he acknowledged. "Now, do tell me how things have not gone to plan." A beer bottle popped into his hand as he started to slowly chug it down. "I have some time."

The Colonel shrugged, pondering for a good minute. He looked out of the window into the main chamber, watching cargo flying around across the rails back and forth. His smiled quickly faded, and he became somber. He looked at Crowley, finally, his mind appearing more calm.

"I suppose my plans were messed up ten years ago. When the Fuhrer sent me to retrieve a child. A clone."

[Nationstatelandsville]

Suddenly, everyone was blasted back several feet, painfully smashing against the wall. Except Crowley, however, who was left standing alone. The ceiling collapsed, creating a wall that separated the PCs from Crowley.

"Mr. Crowley," the Colonel said, revealing his presence. "I knew we would see each other again. How have you been?"

Aziraphale rested his hands on the new wall, filling it with boiling water in an attempt to turn into mud or some other myriad mush.

"The Devil walks among us, friends," he said, "Satan hides in Crowley's shadow and aims to do him harm. We must not allow it!"

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"Thank you for that, Az." Crowley said sharply. "Now, I'm not stupid- this is the clone of Damien Seward, correct?" he asked.

[Nationstatelandsville]

"Thank you for that, Az." Crowley said sharply. "Now, I'm not stupid- this is the clone of Damien Seward, correct?" he asked.

"You are welcome, Crowley," Aziraphale replied, smiling, "One must be wary of the cacodemons and vile spirits that serve the Lord of Flies."

[Nude East Ireland]

"Thank you for that, Az." Crowley said sharply. "Now, I'm not stupid- this is the clone of Damien Seward, correct?" he asked.

"Obviously," the Colonel continued.

"But he's not your Damien Seward. He's much worse. He's..." The Colonel sighed. "He killed the Fuhrer. He's the leader of the Society now. And he has most likely left with Anton Crowley. I cannot return to the Society, or I will be killed." The Colonel turned to Crowley, walking close to the wizard. "He won't negotiate. And he won't lose."

[Nightkill the Emperor]

"Thank you for that, Az." Crowley said sharply. "Now, I'm not stupid- this is the clone of Damien Seward, correct?" he asked.

"Obviously," the Colonel continued.

"But he's not your Damien Seward. He's much worse. He's..." The Colonel sighed. "He killed the Fuhrer. He's the leader of the Society now. And he has most likely left with Anton Crowley. I cannot return to the Society, or I will be killed." The Colonel turned to Crowley, walking close to the wizard. "He won't negotiate. And he won't lose."

Crowley laughed. "You think a Damien clone can kill me?" he asked incredulously. "Me? Even Damien himself would have been unable to do that. But...I have allies to call on for this very purpose." Crowley said.

"Now, I cannot fully trust you, since you did try to kill me. But I can't kill you either, as you are a landmine of information. Instead, I'll teleport you away to a safehouse with Sanchez for now and get back to you when I have the time to deal with this." he said. He clapped a hand on the Colonel, teleporting him off to the cell John Calhoun had once occupied.

Now Crowley pulled out a cell phone and made a call. "Sanchez? Send your boys here. Help clean this place up. I've had enough of here for a lifetime." Then Crowley slammed the phone down on the ground and watched it explode. He had used a phone- outdated device- for that reason. The anger needed to get out in some fashion.

"Alright. Let's get everyone and head back home, unless there's something I missed."

[Nude East Ireland]

Seward Tower began to explode. From the ground up, explosions rang throughout the building. It began to tip, and would find itself a fiery waste, crushing the rest of Dover.

Meanwhile, other parts of the town were also exploding. The whole place had been set to self-destruct, probably to destroy evidence and keep tech. from Crowley and the ISSR.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Seward Tower began to explode. From the ground up, explosions rang throughout the building. It began to tip, and would find itself a fiery waste, crushing the rest of Dover.

Meanwhile, other parts of the town were also exploding. The whole place had been set to self-destruct, probably to destroy evidence and keep tech. from Crowley and the ISSR.

"MOTHERFUCKERS!" Crowley swore, teleporting the Elfen High group out before considering saving the technology. The group (now dropped off next to Daisuke, Moriarity and Savatar) came first, the technology later. But it was far too late when he teleported back to Dover- the city was ruins.

He stood in the ashes. "Well then...looks like I need to call someone for a favour..." he sighed. He turned on his computer contacts. "Drac? I need a favour from you..."

[Nationstatelandsville]

Eric's eyes widened and he reached out for Parnell, wrapping his arms around him. His eyes were scared. Scared and angry. The waters should have taken it all, but no, they'd taken something very, very important, and now he was angry. That was the first in a series of memories he held most dear, and now he was angry at the water. So he began to sing, filled with anger - if anger tempered by the effects of the field. Double, double, toil and trouble, fire burn and cauldron bubble. He was going to try and boil the goddamn River Lethe.

Meanwhile, Parnell, having been awakened a bit by his husband's anger, began to shoot fire at the manes, hoping that he would somehow burn them, or at least stave them off.

Congratulations, Eric. As well as drowning in a river that steals memories, he was now drowning in a river that steals memories and is a hundred degrees Celsius (it's an English school).

Parnell, meanwhile, managed to mildly amuse the dead, but not kill them. They forced his head in the water and stripped him of the night he lost his virginity, before raising it again. They were having a lot of fun.

D rested idly on the coast. He hadn't fought enough for the dead to care.

[Astrolinium]

Eric shouted. "Parnell!"

Parnell shouted back. "Eric!"

Their voices strained as they struggled to keep above the boiling waters. They clung to one another with the tightness of a death grip - and it very well might have been about to be a death grip.

Suddenly, Eric had a better idea. Which was, really, not terribly hard - most ideas were better than 'let's boil away the river that we're currently in'. In fairness to Eric, this was something of a stressful situation. But he thought he had a solution - one very true to form to his character. He shouted, "Parnell, do you still know all the songs from Mary Poppins by heart!?"

Parnell nodded, trembling. "Of course!"

Eric said, "If this doesn't work, we're probably screwed, but it's the best thing I can think of! Try to think light thoughts!"

Suddenly, Eric began to sing. He sang loud and clear, thinking hard of the scene from Mary Poppins in which laughter causes people to literally rise up from the ground. He sang, "I love to laugh! Loud and long and clear! I love to laugh! It's getting worse every year! The more I laugh, the more I fill with glee! And the more the glee, the more I'm a merrier me!"

Beseechingly, he looked at Parnell, who joined in. His voice was not as strong as Eric's, but it joined with Eric's in a way that made them both much stronger. Really, they were something between singing and shouting, desperately trying to get this bit of magic to work.

"We love to laugh! Loud and long and clear!
We love to laugh, so everybody can hear!
The more you laugh, the more you fill with glee!
The more the glee, the more we're a merrier we!"