Of Men and Titans Book III (IC)

[Qeno]

-snip-

"We have company Sir." The one named Blaze said, peeking out the office window. "And not the fun kind."

The Blue robed man nodded "Everything going according to plan... Well mostly..." He turned back to Welton.

"Now Mr Welton. I need you to tell me where the Titan project is hidden, and the accepted codes for the...Technical components..."

Welton shook his head "No, the Order will kill me." He turned, now regaining some of his spine. "You need me to tell you the codes, so you won't kill me. And you may think the Order is dead, but there are still splinters out there..."

The Blue robbed figure shook his head tutting. "Mr Welton, the Order is the least of your concern here. You forget that there were five other scientists on that project, three of which are still alive and in this town..."

The Blue robbed figure leaned in face to face with John Welton "I'll know if you lie, so tell me the codes and the location."

Welton's eyes widdened, he gritted his teeth nervously "Lower district, street 7n Block 4. Codes are 5-Tango-8-3-Alpha-Theta-7."

The Blue robbed figure laughed and shook his head "A lie, I told you. I can tell when your lying." He leaned in further "Isn't that why you Order folk tried to have me killed?"

'If this is Path...I have to check' Rei thought rapidly as she ran down a corner and sat along a brick wall then closed her eyes. Her soul exited her body and zipped past the metallic exterior of the building to see figures with multi-colored robes. 'Definitely the path' She said with a scowl on her face and took possession of a Path member who was simply playing with her own water.

[Islamic Republic e Jariri]

One of the rebels fell to his knees, but he wasn't physically wounded. Silent tears were seen flowing from his eyes.

''He's dead comrade...our leader and the entire cavalry at the border have been crushed!''

The remaining rebels froze in disbelief. Surely they were winning just a few minutes ago? But the tables had been changed at the last minute and now their support was falling back.

''Is over...'' said a rebel in disbelief before anger overcame him. Rising up, he ran into the frontlines, his gun rapidly firing as he delivered a battle cry.

BANG!

He was immediately gunned down in the head and dropped dead.

The rebels were not going to surrender, so they kept fighting regardless.

BOOOM!

Their last tank blew up from a Javelin launcher. The explosion killed many rebels.
The remaining ones fought on, they were going to die fighting from their quashed cause.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

And were swiftly gunned down by Hunter.

The sole Metahuman rebel had become the last man standing.

''I will die comrades, but I shall live out my final moments for the cause, I shall see you all soon'' he said before jumping into the front lines.
Dodging the artillery with lightning fast reflexes, his hands crackled with electricity before they spread into his fingers where they shot off from ten projections. The troops around Hunter were struck with the powerful volts of electricity. Not wasting any time, he fired another bolt against the UAR tank, frying its engines. With the troops and tanks finally out of the way, it was the final standoff against Hunter.

Joining his hands together, he used all his power to generate a yellow electric energy and fired the massive bolt at Hunter's direction.

Hunter dodged the bolts and fired rounds into the meta, providing cover for the rest of the soldiers still in combat. The soldiers spread out, all aiming at the meta and firing their guns behind cover from their riot shields, trying to take cover from the meta as best as they could. Hunter dodged lightning bolts while firing bullets at the meta.

The meta had used too much of his power, he was now helpless. Resigning himself to his fate, he closed his eyes and spread out his arms.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Blood exploded across the scene as he fell to the ground, miraculously still alive though greatly weakened.
He was breathing heavily. He had expected to be martyred, instead he had been reduced to a pitiful and bloody cripple.

No...this can't be happening...

[Charmera]

"We have company Sir." The one named Blaze said, peeking out the office window. "And not the fun kind."

The Blue robed man nodded "Everything going according to plan... Well mostly..." He turned back to Welton.

"Now Mr Welton. I need you to tell me where the Titan project is hidden, and the accepted codes for the...Technical components..."

Welton shook his head "No, the Order will kill me." He turned, now regaining some of his spine. "You need me to tell you the codes, so you won't kill me. And you may think the Order is dead, but there are still splinters out there..."

The Blue robbed figure shook his head tutting. "Mr Welton, the Order is the least of your concern here. You forget that there were five other scientists on that project, three of which are still alive and in this town..."

The Blue robbed figure leaned in face to face with John Welton "I'll know if you lie, so tell me the codes and the location."

Welton's eyes widdened, he gritted his teeth nervously "Lower district, street 7n Block 4. Codes are 5-Tango-8-3-Alpha-Theta-7."

The Blue robbed figure laughed and shook his head "A lie, I told you. I can tell when your lying." He leaned in further "Isn't that why you Order folk tried to have me killed?"

'If this is Path...I have to check' Rei thought rapidly as she ran down a corner and sat along a brick wall then closed her eyes. Her soul exited her body and zipped past the metallic exterior of the building to see figures with multi-colored robes. 'Definitely the path' She said with a scowl on her face and took possession of a Path member who was simply playing with her own water.

Frank was one of the Path members instructed to guard the office area. He saw his partner, though he didn't know his name, he knew the man had been called Metallo. He turned to the man a quizical look behind his mask.

"Buddy, you okay? You look like yo've just seen a ghost..."

[Islamic Republic e Jariri]

Millersville News Network

With the violence near the Middle and Lower District border having been subdued by the police force, we have been informed of a hostage crisis that has erupted in the Weltons Office. Police have yet to confirm if this is in anyway linked to the Lower District riots or why this establishment has been occupied. As most of the police force is needed at the border the building has been merely barricaded.

''What would the Lower District want in the Weltons Office?''

''I don't think its the LD Militia Sir.''

''Then who is holding that building up?''

This is Indie Banks, reporting from the Weltons Office.

''Terrorists they are.''

''If not the LD then who?''

''Well Sir, I've been thinking, what if-''

''No, its not. The Path is dead.''

"We have company Sir." The one named Blaze said, peeking out the office window. "And not the fun kind."

The Blue robed man nodded "Everything going according to plan... Well mostly..." He turned back to Welton.

"Now Mr Welton. I need you to tell me where the Titan project is hidden, and the accepted codes for the...Technical components..."

Welton shook his head "No, the Order will kill me." He turned, now regaining some of his spine. "You need me to tell you the codes, so you won't kill me. And you may think the Order is dead, but there are still splinters out there..."

The Blue robbed figure shook his head tutting. "Mr Welton, the Order is the least of your concern here. You forget that there were five other scientists on that project, three of which are still alive and in this town..."

The Blue robbed figure leaned in face to face with John Welton "I'll know if you lie, so tell me the codes and the location."

Welton's eyes widdened, he gritted his teeth nervously "Lower district, street 7n Block 4. Codes are 5-Tango-8-3-Alpha-Theta-7."

The Blue robbed figure laughed and shook his head "A lie, I told you. I can tell when your lying." He leaned in further "Isn't that why you Order folk tried to have me killed?"

''Where did you go?' asked Mosley.

''I fled from your attempt to communicate with the devil,'' responded 52.

''Never took you for the religious type, you were born in South Carolina right?''

''Yes,'' she answered.

''So anyway, I have another job for you.''

''How many numbers are you offering?''

Mosley sighed. 52 had the body of a 11 year old child but the mind of a hardened mercenary.
''520,000 dollars. I'll transfer the first 260,000 right now and give you the other half after you've completed the mission.''

''What do you want then?''

''Weltons Office, there is a hostage crisis going on, I'd like you to..investigate, I'd like to have all ears on what's going on there.''

''Its probably the Lower District Militia, taking a building hostage because they're forced to resort to desperate measures.''

''Perhaps...but still, I'm paying you to go look.''

''Affirmative,'' she replied before heading outside.

Weltons Office, Middle District

She had successfully evaded the police using her Sanctioned stealth training. But the building was sealed. Pricking her index finger she manipulated a small amount of her blood into a fine thin scarlet thread which she inserted into the lock of the back door of the building. Solidifying it, she picked the lock mechanics and:

CLICK!

She entered the building.
As she walked carefully she heard a noise, it was a guard. She reshaped the blood from her index finger into a long, sharp and deadly projection. If he guard got too close, she would have to 'neutralize' him.
But he was looking the other way and failed to notice her.
She continued tracking her way to the main office.

[Qeno]

'If this is Path...I have to check' Rei thought rapidly as she ran down a corner and sat along a brick wall then closed her eyes. Her soul exited her body and zipped past the metallic exterior of the building to see figures with multi-colored robes. 'Definitely the path' She said with a scowl on her face and took possession of a Path member who was simply playing with her own water.

Frank was one of the Path members instructed to guard the office area. He saw his partner, though he didn't know his name, he knew the man had been called Metallo. He turned to the man a quizical look behind his mask.

"Buddy, you okay? You look like yo've just seen a ghost..."

"Yeah, Just realized something I didn't like" Rei made the one named Metallo say and he made a creepy smile to what was actually going on. The man's soul was being restrained with the power of three souls with no hope of easy escape unless her scouting mission was done it brought her some joy to play with his body and he peeked into the office area to find many 'innocent' people working in the building. 'It looks like a terrorist attack' Rei thought as a faint voice of Metallo was heard in her thoughts and what was heard was very lewd by nature.

Give me back my body you body snatching b-

SILENCE FOOL!

The man's thoughts remained silent as his soul met hers, yelling back at him and 'hands' clenched into a fist

[Saestea]

"I'm not sure... He has never been in that state before." David replied with a troubled look as he walked down the stairs. Alfie was taken into the elevator. While moving down, he says into his radio, "Moving out, I have Sir Royale's brother and friends with me. Is the vehicle ready?"
He listens for a while, then nods. "Good."

Mia smiled at Damien, though she didn't go through half of what had happened to her brothers.
"Damien, our lives were never normal from the start. We've accepted that we are this way. It's not a problem. Besides, I've never been so pumped in my life."
Mitchell nodded in agreement, and Matthew smiled.
"Although there are still some things I'm curious about." Mitchell threw in.

Its over...there's no way they missed it, they've seen so much that they know I'm an immortal. Maybe I could divert it...

''So you actually killed the Masked Man, huh? I wonder where Mosley went off to.''

Not good enough...

''You're lives weren't normal? What about your parents, they must really miss you.''

And the odds that they don't have parents or don't have good relations with them is very high.

Mitchell lowered his head in thought.
"No I didn't... Somehow I have a feeling that he's still there..." he muttered, shaking his head.
"What do you mean? You burnt him to a crisp!" Matt patted his brother's back encouragingly. Mitchell pushed him away, an irritated look on his face.
"Parents? Damien, our father killed my mother and tried to kill us when he'd found out we were 'abhumans'. We live by our own terms."
Mia saw that Damien looked quite troubled for a while and so she tried to read his mind. Strangely, she couldn't get anything.
His mind is... Blank?
She shook that off since finding empty thoughts was just one thing she'd never come over.
It's either that, or he's really good at keeping secrets.

Finally, the group reaches the bustling Ground Floor, R.H.A Security Forces inspecting the base.
"Here we are. The Phantom should be ready soon." David told them, checking on his watch. "Sir Royale wants you at the Estate."
Sure enough, the same Rolls Royce Phantom from a few days back appears outside the lobby doors, cleaner than ever.
David gestures for them to head for it. "I'll be right with you." he says politely before walking to the Main Desk to talk with the employees there.
Mia leads her companions out towards the car where Isaac waits for them. He opens the Phantom's back door and smiles.
"Sir Royale has never been so interested in a group of other children before." he remarked. "Do you know him personally?"
Mitchell shrugged then jerked his head towards Damien.
Isaac only nodded. He returned to his seat and started the car. Matthew leaned forward.
"Why's your seat over on that side?" he asked Isaac.
"That's how cars are where I'm from, sir." the driver replied with a laugh.
A few minutes later, David returns. He takes a seat up front and nods to Isaac. Isaac returns a nod then brings his foot down on the accelerator. As the Phantom pulls away from the R.H.A HQ, choppers can be seen circling the building through the sunroof. David looked into the rear view mirror to look at the guests. He could read very clearly what the siblings were thinking, and one of them was reading his mind back. What vexed him was the fact that the young boy his boss claimed to be his brother seemed empty. Sighing to himself, David returns his eyes back to the small tablet in his hands, yet again setting schedules for his boss.

Royale Manor (R.H.A Forward Command Center), Upper District

"Alright. This is it." David said, stepping out.
Matt pressed his nose against the window,mesmerized by the size and beauty of the house.
Mitchell looked at it disinterestedly. I've seen better. he thought bitterly. Mia punched his shoulder.
"You will be safe here." said Isaac with an assuring smile, tipping his hat.
"The rooms have been prepared for you. You can take your showers whenever you want." David told the kids as he led them towards the door, pointing at their filthy clothing. As they waited for one of the servants to open up, a group of three Pandur IFVs drive down the street and turn at the corner. David smiled.
"Just our security here. Don't let that bother you."

[Islamic Republic e Jariri]

Frank was one of the Path members instructed to guard the office area. He saw his partner, though he didn't know his name, he knew the man had been called Metallo. He turned to the man a quizical look behind his mask.

"Buddy, you okay? You look like yo've just seen a ghost..."

"Yeah, Just realized something I didn't like" Rei made the one named Metallo say and he made a creepy smile to what was actually going on. The man's soul was being restrained with the power of three souls with no hope of easy escape unless her scouting mission was done it brought her some joy to play with his body and he peeked into the office area to find many 'innocent' people working in the building. 'It looks like a terrorist attack' Rei thought as a faint voice of Metallo was heard in her thoughts and what was heard was very lewd by nature.

Give me back my body you body snatching b-

SILENCE FOOL!

The man's thoughts remained silent as his soul met hers, yelling back at him and 'hands' clenched into a fist

What is he doing? wondered 52 as she hid behind an office desk and saw the man twitching in awkward ways.

Carefully moving, she crept from the sides to sneak past him. Her telekinesis activated abruptly and she moaned before clutching her head tightly. There was something not right about that man...like he was harboring a dual set of consciousnesses.

I don't understand...how can that be?

[Qeno]

"Yeah, Just realized something I didn't like" Rei made the one named Metallo say and he made a creepy smile to what was actually going on. The man's soul was being restrained with the power of three souls with no hope of easy escape unless her scouting mission was done it brought her some joy to play with his body and he peeked into the office area to find many 'innocent' people working in the building. 'It looks like a terrorist attack' Rei thought as a faint voice of Metallo was heard in her thoughts and what was heard was very lewd by nature.

Give me back my body you body snatching b-

SILENCE FOOL!

The man's thoughts remained silent as his soul met hers, yelling back at him and 'hands' clenched into a fist

What is he doing? wondered 52 as she hid behind an office desk and saw the man twitching in awkward ways.

Carefully moving, she crept from the sides to sneak past him. Her telekinesis activated abruptly and she moaned before clutching her head tightly. There was something not right about that man...like he was harboring a dual set of consciousnesses.

I don't understand...how can that be?

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GETTING THAT BODY BACK!

Rei looked around to find other path members staring at the man she possessed and sighed trying to draw attention away from the man's body. 'I don't know if I can keep this farce, gotta get to the point' Rei thought and focused on the man's soul. 'So the Path hasn't faded into history' She whispered and slowly released the man from her clutches.

Sorry about the All caps and large text

[Charmera]

Sarah or Shadeling was looking at the security footage, she was seeing some things she wasn't sure about. The Security guard had tried to run, so she dealt with him quickly. However right now she was seeing... something. Something in the shadows. She quickly pressed the button on her radio.

"We're not alone... At least I dont think so. Whatever your doing I'd suggest wrapping it up soon." She whispered into the radio.

Welton's Office

"Well, thats all up to the boss really...And he seems to be taking his time" Blaze replied as he opened the door to the office, having checked on the outside. He nodded to the Blue robbed man and indicated the door with his head.

The Blue robed man sighed, looking at Welton. "Look, I am no longer in the mood for games. Tell me the codes and the location or I will have my friend here set fire to you."

Welton fiddled with a pen, then looked and the man in the blue robes, his cowardice showing.

"It's in Fall Harbour..." He bagan writing, co-ordinates and a 10 charecter code.

The Blue robed man sighed,"That makes matters more interesting..." He then turned to Welton again "Well, I thank you for you help. Though we still need safe passage from here...So you'll have to remain our hostage."

[Islamic Republic e Jariri]

Its over...there's no way they missed it, they've seen so much that they know I'm an immortal. Maybe I could divert it...

''So you actually killed the Masked Man, huh? I wonder where Mosley went off to.''

Not good enough...

''You're lives weren't normal? What about your parents, they must really miss you.''

And the odds that they don't have parents or don't have good relations with them is very high.

Mitchell lowered his head in thought.
"No I didn't... Somehow I have a feeling that he's still there..." he muttered, shaking his head.
"What do you mean? You burnt him to a crisp!" Matt patted his brother's back encouragingly. Mitchell pushed him away, an irritated look on his face.
"Parents? Damien, our father killed my mother and tried to kill us when he'd found out we were 'abhumans'. We live by our own terms."
Mia saw that Damien looked quite troubled for a while and so she tried to read his mind. Strangely, she couldn't get anything.
His mind is... Blank?
She shook that off since finding empty thoughts was just one thing she'd never come over.
It's either that, or he's really good at keeping secrets.

Finally, the group reaches the bustling Ground Floor, R.H.A Security Forces inspecting the base.
"Here we are. The Phantom should be ready soon." David told them, checking on his watch. "Sir Royale wants you at the Estate."
Sure enough, the same Rolls Royce Phantom from a few days back appears outside the lobby doors, cleaner than ever.
David gestures for them to head for it. "I'll be right with you." he says politely before walking to the Main Desk to talk with the employees there.
Mia leads her companions out towards the car where Isaac waits for them. He opens the Phantom's back door and smiles.
"Sir Royale has never been so interested in a group of other children before." he remarked. "Do you know him personally?"
Mitchell shrugged then jerked his head towards Damien.
Isaac only nodded. He returned to his seat and started the car. Matthew leaned forward.
"Why's your seat over on that side?" he asked Isaac.
"That's how cars are where I'm from, sir." the driver replied with a laugh.
A few minutes later, David returns. He takes a seat up front and nods to Isaac. Isaac returns a nod then brings his foot down on the accelerator. As the Phantom pulls away from the R.H.A HQ, choppers can be seen circling the building through the sunroof. David looked into the rear view mirror to look at the guests. He could read very clearly what the siblings were thinking, and one of them was reading his mind back. What vexed him was the fact that the young boy his boss claimed to be his brother seemed empty. Sighing to himself, David returns his eyes back to the small tablet in his hands, yet again setting schedules for his boss.

Royale Manor (R.H.A Forward Command Center), Upper District

"Alright. This is it." David said, stepping out.
Matt pressed his nose against the window,mesmerized by the size and beauty of the house.
Mitchell looked at it disinterestedly. I've seen better. he thought bitterly. Mia punched his shoulder.
"You will be safe here." said Isaac with an assuring smile, tipping his hat.
"The rooms have been prepared for you. You can take your showers whenever you want." David told the kids as he led them towards the door, pointing at their filthy clothing. As they waited for one of the servants to open up, a group of three Pandur IFVs drive down the street and turn at the corner. David smiled.
"Just our security here. Don't let that bother you."

Damien felt anxious. There was so much on his mind. Was the Masked Man really dead? Could he continue keeping his secret from Alphie? What to do about Mosley, and worst of all: the return of Anatole.
For a long time he had pondered over whether his kind of immortals were cursed. One by one they all died mysteriously. Anatole was the exception to this. Damien himself had killed him. An act of heresy. He had isolated himself as the last immortal child.
But it looked like Anatole had back up plans, and after so long he returned, having hidden a fragment of his soul, combined with some of Damien's immortal soul energy during the reopening of the seal. Perhaps he had always foreseen this. Anatole had a much more evolved sixth sense than he did, and was able to prophesize events of the future. This drove him into insanity. But he had calculated it all, and would no doubt look forward to a final showdown between the last two child immortals.
He could sense the boy's presence but was unable to track him. Anatole had somehow managed to elude his sense. Damien feared that the Evans and Alphie were in danger. Anatole was even more dangerous than him, he held an edge over his additional ability to manipulate earth, being born a metahuman.
But did he really need to kill Anatole? As crazy as he was, Anatole was still in a way his own brother. They were after all the last true remaining immortals of their kind. Perhaps he didn't have to be alone in this world anymore, well he never truly was 'alone' with Salvia always there. But another immortal just like him, a child frozen in time. But Anatole had every reason to want to kill him, revenge above all others.
He felt conflicted.

He had also killed Alphie, albeit not with his own hands. He had orchestrated a hostage plan involving Alphie in the 1930s. He was working under orders from the Boston underground mafia. The Lloyds had to be disciplined, their legal activism was interfering with his 'family's' business. They sent him to Britain, to act as their perfect candidate for adoption after spies leaked information that the male was sterile. What he had not calculated was them adopting an additional child, a year biologically younger than him: Alphie.
Alphie wasn't that bad, he had almost enjoyed his life with the Lloyds. But like a child he followed orders without question from his 'Father', the Don Costa. When he secretly sent them information about Alphie, a hostage plan was carried out. But the Lloyds weren't a predictable pair, and soon the plan backfired, and in a frenzy those captors he hired from Ireland killed him. And much more before that. Damien never wanted Alphie to die, but he betrayed his step brother into plans that a child should have no part in. He was the last living collaborator in Alphie's demise. If he didn't tell tell Alphie the truth then surely that spirit will. And Alphie would be more than furious, he would be broken by this and would never forgive him.

He began to wonder if the Masked Man was the same Scarred Man who nearly killed him in Cold Harbor. That would be scary, the Masked Man already terrified him. A mortal who had learnt metaphysical alchemy, power with the potential to deal serious damage or even death to immortals. The Masked Man wanted to do more than to just kill him, he wanted him to suffer. Either he had a very bad experience with immortals, or was one of his many victims from the past. He wanted vengeance against him.

He wasn't sure if Mosley actually hated him, or just loved playing with him. Whatever happened to that man over the years, he was no doubt one of the Order's best minds, but also harbored a messiah complex. Did he seriously think humanity could improve if they all became immortal? The power had its advantages, but a very heavy curse as well, a burden very few could stand. He wanted to kill Mosley, the man had turned him into his personal puppet during his time at the Sanctioned. When Salvia's memories merged into his, he learnt that she played a part in his capture, she didn't want him to keep running anymore. But running away is what he did most of the time, he was quite well suited into the practice.

Looking at the manor his stress briefly faded away.
He lives here?
He could not stop worrying.

[Islamic Republic e Jariri]

What is he doing? wondered 52 as she hid behind an office desk and saw the man twitching in awkward ways.

Carefully moving, she crept from the sides to sneak past him. Her telekinesis activated abruptly and she moaned before clutching her head tightly. There was something not right about that man...like he was harboring a dual set of consciousnesses.

I don't understand...how can that be?

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GETTING THAT BODY BACK!

Rei looked around to find other path members staring at the man she possessed and sighed trying to draw attention away from the man's body. 'I don't know if I can keep this farce, gotta get to the point' Rei thought and focused on the man's soul. 'So the Path hasn't faded into history' She whispered and slowly released the man from her clutches.

Sorry about the All caps and large text

Its like he had split personality disorder. But then suddenly it was if one of the personalities 'jumped' out.

A fire...a little girl...her name..Rei?

To her, the spirit was a mass of living consciousness, a pool of thoughts and memories that could be read. Was this what the less scientifically intuitive would label as a 'ghost'?

She wondered if she could transmit her thoughts to it:

Are you...sentient?

[Saestea]

Mia once again noticed how deep in thought Damien seemed, but he still could not read his mind. She bites her lip in frustration and looks away.
Finally, the front door opens. A young man in what looked like a business suit greeted them. Matt and Mitchell entered first, seeming very excited about the mansion. She enters right after them, thinking that Damien was following. She crosses her arms over her chest, walking into the mansion's main room. Two wide staircases circled them, both heading for the double doors on the second floor. In between the two doorways under the staircase hangs a large portrait. There was a young man and a woman. With them were 7 children. Two girls and five boys. Mia noticed Alfie there as well. She stood before it for a while, wondering why the painting looked so old. In its corners she could also see where it looked as if someone had set fire to it. She narrowed her eyes and leaned forward. The date on the lower left of the painting was smudged.
That's weird..
It appeared that someone did that on purpose. Her thoughts on the mansion and the painting were interrupted when David calls out to her from the top of the stairs. He was with Mitchell and Matthew.
"Aren't you coming, ma'am?" he asked. "Where's your other friend?"
Mia turned around and motioned for Damien to come inside. She came up to him and knelt down.
"Why do you look so gloomy? Is it something about the house? Because... I sense something strange here too." she told him in a whisper.

Strange indeed. Noire chuckled to himself, watching the children.
He was perched atop a birch tree in front of the mansion as a raven. He cawed twice, then flew up towards the mansion's chimney where he returned to his shadowy form and slipped down into Alfie's office. The boy will have to find out for himself. he said as he settled into the ashes. He had found 5 new lost souls to feed off of, and for that, he was letting Alfie do as he pleased in the world of the living.

^^^
It looks something like this, only the space between the staircase is much wider.

[Islamic Republic e Jariri]

Mia once again noticed how deep in thought Damien seemed, but he still could not read his mind. She bites her lip in frustration and looks away.
Finally, the front door opens. A young man in what looked like a business suit greeted them. Matt and Mitchell entered first, seeming very excited about the mansion. She enters right after them, thinking that Damien was following. She crosses her arms over her chest, walking into the mansion's main room. Two wide staircases circled them, both heading for the double doors on the second floor. In between the two doorways under the staircase hangs a large portrait. There was a young man and a woman. With them were 7 children. Two girls and five boys. Mia noticed Alfie there as well. She stood before it for a while, wondering why the painting looked so old. In its corners she could also see where it looked as if someone had set fire to it. She narrowed her eyes and leaned forward. The date on the lower left of the painting was smudged.
That's weird..
It appeared that someone did that on purpose. Her thoughts on the mansion and the painting were interrupted when David calls out to her from the top of the stairs. He was with Mitchell and Matthew.
"Aren't you coming, ma'am?" he asked. "Where's your other friend?"
Mia turned around and motioned for Damien to come inside. She came up to him and knelt down.
"Why do you look so gloomy? Is it something about the house? Because... I sense something strange here too." she told him in a whisper.

Strange indeed. Noire chuckled to himself, watching the children.
He was perched atop a birch tree in front of the mansion as a raven. He cawed twice, then flew up towards the mansion's chimney where he returned to his shadowy form and slipped down into Alfie's office. The boy will have to find out for himself. he said as he settled into the ashes. He had found 5 new lost souls to feed off of, and for that, he was letting Alfie do as he pleased in the world of the living.

(Image)

^^^
It looks something like this, only the space between the staircase is much wider.

There were burn marks on the painting, it was old. But specifically done. It appeared someone intentionally wanted to burn off a certain someone out of the picture. Damien wondered if this was Alphie's real family, before he was adopted by the Lloyds. There was something ghostly to it.
The mansion interior was impressive, a testament to all the town's wealth invested in this single district, obviously called Upper for a reason. He began to understand why the rebels were frustrated. The elite class controlled all major industries of Millersville, and the wealth, much of it labored by Lower District was unfairly distributed. He tried not to think much about it, he didn't consider himself that interested in politics.

''This is nice,'' he said. His sixth sense went off and he realized that spirit was nearby...but what was it waiting for? Why wouldn't it just tell Alphie?
Speaking of which he looked around before saying ''Where's Alphie? When will he be back?''

[Saestea]

Mia once again noticed how deep in thought Damien seemed, but he still could not read his mind. She bites her lip in frustration and looks away.
Finally, the front door opens. A young man in what looked like a business suit greeted them. Matt and Mitchell entered first, seeming very excited about the mansion. She enters right after them, thinking that Damien was following. She crosses her arms over her chest, walking into the mansion's main room. Two wide staircases circled them, both heading for the double doors on the second floor. In between the two doorways under the staircase hangs a large portrait. There was a young man and a woman. With them were 7 children. Two girls and five boys. Mia noticed Alfie there as well. She stood before it for a while, wondering why the painting looked so old. In its corners she could also see where it looked as if someone had set fire to it. She narrowed her eyes and leaned forward. The date on the lower left of the painting was smudged.
That's weird..
It appeared that someone did that on purpose. Her thoughts on the mansion and the painting were interrupted when David calls out to her from the top of the stairs. He was with Mitchell and Matthew.
"Aren't you coming, ma'am?" he asked. "Where's your other friend?"
Mia turned around and motioned for Damien to come inside. She came up to him and knelt down.
"Why do you look so gloomy? Is it something about the house? Because... I sense something strange here too." she told him in a whisper.

Strange indeed. Noire chuckled to himself, watching the children.
He was perched atop a birch tree in front of the mansion as a raven. He cawed twice, then flew up towards the mansion's chimney where he returned to his shadowy form and slipped down into Alfie's office. The boy will have to find out for himself. he said as he settled into the ashes. He had found 5 new lost souls to feed off of, and for that, he was letting Alfie do as he pleased in the world of the living.

(Image)

^^^
It looks something like this, only the space between the staircase is much wider.

There were burn marks on the painting, it was old. But specifically done. It appeared someone intentionally wanted to burn off a certain someone out of the picture. Damien wondered if this was Alphie's real family, before he was adopted by the Lloyds. There was something ghostly to it.
The mansion interior was impressive, a testament to all the town's wealth invested in this single district, obviously called Upper for a reason. He began to understand why the rebels were frustrated. The elite class controlled all major industries of Millersville, and the wealth, much of it labored by Lower District was unfairly distributed. He tried not to think much about it, he didn't consider himself that interested in politics.

''This is nice,'' he said. His sixth sense went off and he realized that spirit was nearby...but what was it waiting for? Why wouldn't it just tell Alphie?
Speaking of which he looked around before saying ''Where's Alphie? When will he be back?''

"I'm not sure." David replied, watching Mitchell and Matthew wrestle in the upstairs hallway. He dialed a number on his phone, waited for an answer and spoke in a whisper. He leaned over the railing and said, "He's on his way."
Noire laughed.
"Alfie's fine now?" Mia asked him, shielding her eyes from the chandelier's light.
"Yes. Strangely." David replied, pocketing his phone.
Mia sighed in relief and made her way up the stairs. Halfway, she stops and looks at Damien, still worried. "Let's go." she said softly. Thinking he was trying to remember something, she then goes up by herself and follows her brothers.
"Hey! What the heck are you doing?! What if you break something up here?" she begins scolding them.

From the portrait appears Noire himself, faceless like always except for that wide, unsettling smile.
'Hello, child." he said, the painting becoming distorted as he forced himself out of it. All the doors around them closed and locked up.
David ignored it. He knew about Noire already, so he assured the Evans that everything was alright, despite their wanting to come back out for Damien.
"Just so you know... Your brother is never leaving this world..." he laughed. "Even if you or I tell him. Revenge is only valid against physically inflicted damages. That was our deal. Clearly, he had forgotten." the spirit added, breaking into another peal of sinister laughter.

[Islamic Republic e Jariri]

There were burn marks on the painting, it was old. But specifically done. It appeared someone intentionally wanted to burn off a certain someone out of the picture. Damien wondered if this was Alphie's real family, before he was adopted by the Lloyds. There was something ghostly to it.
The mansion interior was impressive, a testament to all the town's wealth invested in this single district, obviously called Upper for a reason. He began to understand why the rebels were frustrated. The elite class controlled all major industries of Millersville, and the wealth, much of it labored by Lower District was unfairly distributed. He tried not to think much about it, he didn't consider himself that interested in politics.

''This is nice,'' he said. His sixth sense went off and he realized that spirit was nearby...but what was it waiting for? Why wouldn't it just tell Alphie?
Speaking of which he looked around before saying ''Where's Alphie? When will he be back?''

"I'm not sure." David replied, watching Mitchell and Matthew wrestle in the upstairs hallway. He dialed a number on his phone, waited for an answer and spoke in a whisper. He leaned over the railing and said, "He's on his way."
Noire laughed.
"Alfie's fine now?" Mia asked him, shielding her eyes from the chandelier's light.
"Yes. Strangely." David replied, pocketing his phone.
Mia sighed in relief and made her way up the stairs. Halfway, she stops and looks at Damien, still worried. "Let's go." she said softly. Thinking he was trying to remember something, she then goes up by herself and follows her brothers.
"Hey! What the heck are you doing?! What if you break something up here?" she begins scolding them.

From the portrait appears Noire himself, faceless like always except for that wide, unsettling smile.
'Hello, child." he said, the painting becoming distorted as he forced himself out of it. All the doors around them closed and locked up.
David ignored it. He knew about Noire already, so he assured the Evans that everything was alright, despite their wanting to come back out for Damien.
"Just so you know... Your brother is never leaving this world..." he laughed. "Even if you or I tell him. Revenge is only valid against physically inflicted damages. That was our deal. Clearly, he had forgotten." the spirit added, breaking into another peal of sinister laughter.

What do you want? What's there for you to gain? Because I doubt you simply 'care' for him, but tell me, 'Noire' why choose a little boy like that for a host? Surely there are better candidates elsewhere for you to choose from, like the mayor or the President of the UAR.

[Saestea]

"I'm not sure." David replied, watching Mitchell and Matthew wrestle in the upstairs hallway. He dialed a number on his phone, waited for an answer and spoke in a whisper. He leaned over the railing and said, "He's on his way."
Noire laughed.
"Alfie's fine now?" Mia asked him, shielding her eyes from the chandelier's light.
"Yes. Strangely." David replied, pocketing his phone.
Mia sighed in relief and made her way up the stairs. Halfway, she stops and looks at Damien, still worried. "Let's go." she said softly. Thinking he was trying to remember something, she then goes up by herself and follows her brothers.
"Hey! What the heck are you doing?! What if you break something up here?" she begins scolding them.

From the portrait appears Noire himself, faceless like always except for that wide, unsettling smile.
'Hello, child." he said, the painting becoming distorted as he forced himself out of it. All the doors around them closed and locked up.
David ignored it. He knew about Noire already, so he assured the Evans that everything was alright, despite their wanting to come back out for Damien.
"Just so you know... Your brother is never leaving this world..." he laughed. "Even if you or I tell him. Revenge is only valid against physically inflicted damages. That was our deal. Clearly, he had forgotten." the spirit added, breaking into another peal of sinister laughter.

What do you want? What's there for you to gain? Because I doubt you simply 'care' for him, but tell me, 'Noire' why choose a little boy like that for a host? Surely there are better candidates elsewhere for you to choose from, like the mayor or the President of the UAR.

"Oh? Well do you know why I chose him? It's because at the time, he was the most broken of all. I feed off of negative emotions, and until now, they plague him. If I had told him, he would grow more of those, and eventually become a monster, which I never let my clients turn into."
he explained as he hovered towards the door. "Leaders are far too corrupt for me. Alfie was just a sweet but very sad little boy." he chuckled, trying to press guilt onto Damien.
"He is on his way here. You can tell him if you like, but if he does turn, he will no longer be my responsibility. He will have nowhere to go. Someone will just have to kill him. But that will completely destroy him as a soul." Noire said with a smile before unlocking the front door and opening it. He laughs again, then turns into a puddle of black liquid.

[Qeno]

Its like he had split personality disorder. But then suddenly it was if one of the personalities 'jumped' out.

A fire...a little girl...her name..Rei?

To her, the spirit was a mass of living consciousness, a pool of thoughts and memories that could be read. Was this what the less scientifically intuitive would label as a 'ghost'?

She wondered if she could transmit her thoughts to it:

Are you...sentient?

Rei looked around to hear another voice, it was female and a little louder than the man whom she possessed. It appeared at she could speak to the voice and her answer was simple although it would lead to a cycle of answers. 'What's sentient?' she inquired as the man whom she possessed was still in her possession and standing firm despite several attempts to strike free.

Despite her twenty seven years on the earth she had an elementary school education and never heard of the word. Rei soon looked around using the man's body, whoever was speaking to her was well hidden to the mortal eye and she would have to abandon her task in search of the woman who was speaking to her telepathically. She could hear the man's voice getting a little louder spouting off obscenities every other word and still not accomplishing what his goal was.

[Islamic Republic e Jariri]

What do you want? What's there for you to gain? Because I doubt you simply 'care' for him, but tell me, 'Noire' why choose a little boy like that for a host? Surely there are better candidates elsewhere for you to choose from, like the mayor or the President of the UAR.

"Oh? Well do you know why I chose him? It's because at the time, he was the most broken of all. I feed off of negative emotions, and until now, they plague him. If I had told him, he would grow more of those, and eventually become a monster, which I never let my clients turn into."
he explained as he hovered towards the door. "Leaders are far too corrupt for me. Alfie was just a sweet but very sad little boy." he chuckled, trying to press guilt onto Damien.
"He is on his way here. You can tell him if you like, but if he does turn, he will no longer be my responsibility. He will have nowhere to go. Someone will just have to kill him. But that will completely destroy him as a soul." Noire said with a smile before unlocking the front door and opening it. He laughs again, then turns into a puddle of black liquid.

He'll be better off if he didn't know...but has he already figured out how I'm still alive? the thought.

That damned spirit, what exactly is it? He clenched his fist and gritted against his teeth. His guilt was transmuting into anger.

He'll be here soon...there's no need to tell him..but if I don't, can he really endure the lives?

He turned towards the door and watched the spirit leave. A part of him was curious about its background and true nature, he doubted its real name was 'Noire' that being a French word of the human language.
He would have to wait for Alphie, and not say anything of the truth, perhaps ask him questions relating to his demise, and why he was alive, even though he already knew all the answers to those questions.
Whatever was to happen, he didn't want to risk turning Alphie into a monster like in many ways he was. Staring at a mirror he gazed upon his reflection. His dark brown, near black hair, his somewhat vampiric pale skin, his hazelnut eyes, and his rather tattered school uniform.

Are appearances simply facades, because a naked spirit would reveal too much of what the person is ashamed of? We often want to be perceived in a way that can best mask our inner demons. The truth is just too ugly to bear.

If he told Alphie the truth, Noire would leave him and perhaps Alphie could finally pass on and reunite with his loved ones. But how could he dare break Alphie again, after all that he had done to him. If if left Alphie as he is...his old brother would be subjected to so much pain and it would all be his fault.

[Saestea]

While the siblings upstairs play with Alfie's guns, Noire continues to watch. He scoffs and reminds Damien though he was no longer in the room.
"Are you willing to take the risk? Turning that sweet child into a demon built off of emotion alone? Accumulating every single strand of anger, fear, sadness?"
With much force, he shows Damien images of what happened to other souls who were told "the truth".

Outside, a Rolls Royce Wraith flanked by two Dodge Durangos pulls up in front of the mansion. Alfie steps out of the Wraith, touching the bandage around his waist with a worried look on his face. Upon seeing his brother however, he smiles and runs towards Damien, wrapping his arms around his brother.
"I'm fine now!" he says happily with a smile. Playfully, he takes both of Damien's hands and brings him inside. He takes him closer to the portrait and chuckles playfully.
"That's my real family. There's mother, father... Malcolm, Spencer, Caspian... Me..." he stopped for a while, then continues. "That's my brother Percy, and my two sisters Camille and Lucienne. I found the painting in my old house. I'm really glad no one took it away. So did you find your real family as well? What I mean is... You're like me aren't you?" he asked Damien, seeming in a much better mood in his own home.

[Islamic Republic e Jariri]

While the siblings upstairs play with Alfie's guns, Noire continues to watch. He scoffs and reminds Damien though he was no longer in the room.
"Are you willing to take the risk? Turning that sweet child into a demon built off of emotion alone? Accumulating every single strand of anger, fear, sadness?"
With much force, he shows Damien images of what happened to other souls who were told "the truth".

(Image)

Outside, a Rolls Royce Wraith flanked by two Dodge Durangos pulls up in front of the mansion. Alfie steps out of the Wraith, touching the bandage around his waist with a worried look on his face. Upon seeing his brother however, he smiles and runs towards Damien, wrapping his arms around his brother.
"I'm fine now!" he says happily with a smile. Playfully, he takes both of Damien's hands and brings him inside. He takes him closer to the portrait and chuckles playfully.
"That's my real family. There's mother, father... Malcolm, Spencer, Caspian... Me..." he stopped for a while, then continues. "That's my brother Percy, and my two sisters Camille and Lucienne. I found the painting in my old house. I'm really glad no one took it away. So did you find your real family as well? What I mean is... You're like me aren't you?" he asked Damien, seeming in a much better mood in his own home.

''Yeah...something like that'' said Damien before managing to pull up a smile. He convinced himself they were both better off if Alphie didn't know and he would simply have to swallow his guilt deep inside and lock it away.
He eyed for the Evans who were still nearby. He couldn't risk them finding about his secret that he was immortal and had been alive for a very, very long time.

[Islamic Republic e Jariri]

Its like he had split personality disorder. But then suddenly it was if one of the personalities 'jumped' out.

A fire...a little girl...her name..Rei?

To her, the spirit was a mass of living consciousness, a pool of thoughts and memories that could be read. Was this what the less scientifically intuitive would label as a 'ghost'?

She wondered if she could transmit her thoughts to it:

Are you...sentient?

Rei looked around to hear another voice, it was female and a little louder than the man whom she possessed. It appeared at she could speak to the voice and her answer was simple although it would lead to a cycle of answers. 'What's sentient?' she inquired as the man whom she possessed was still in her possession and standing firm despite several attempts to strike free.

Despite her twenty seven years on the earth she had an elementary school education and never heard of the word. Rei soon looked around using the man's body, whoever was speaking to her was well hidden to the mortal eye and she would have to abandon her task in search of the woman who was speaking to her telepathically. She could hear the man's voice getting a little louder spouting off obscenities every other word and still not accomplishing what his goal was.

Are you alive? Can you perceive the concept of living and interacting with your environment? What exactly are you? questioned 52, trying to make scientific logic out of the situation.
Though she was raised religiously, she also held science dear to her heart from which she refused to comprehend that the man may have been possessed by some kind of ghost.

She wondered if this 'person' was here for similar reasons to her, ad reading 'her' consciousness, she deciphered that the 'girl' was familiar with the Path though didn't really hold it in high esteem at the moment.

You must be some kind of intangible metahuman who can convert her mass into a series of specific electrical impulses that can hack into another person's brain, effectively 'possessing' them.

[Saestea]

While the siblings upstairs play with Alfie's guns, Noire continues to watch. He scoffs and reminds Damien though he was no longer in the room.
"Are you willing to take the risk? Turning that sweet child into a demon built off of emotion alone? Accumulating every single strand of anger, fear, sadness?"
With much force, he shows Damien images of what happened to other souls who were told "the truth".

(Image)

Outside, a Rolls Royce Wraith flanked by two Dodge Durangos pulls up in front of the mansion. Alfie steps out of the Wraith, touching the bandage around his waist with a worried look on his face. Upon seeing his brother however, he smiles and runs towards Damien, wrapping his arms around his brother.
"I'm fine now!" he says happily with a smile. Playfully, he takes both of Damien's hands and brings him inside. He takes him closer to the portrait and chuckles playfully.
"That's my real family. There's mother, father... Malcolm, Spencer, Caspian... Me..." he stopped for a while, then continues. "That's my brother Percy, and my two sisters Camille and Lucienne. I found the painting in my old house. I'm really glad no one took it away. So did you find your real family as well? What I mean is... You're like me aren't you?" he asked Damien, seeming in a much better mood in his own home.

''Yeah...something like that'' said Damien before managing to pull up a smile. He convinced himself they were both better off if Alphie didn't know and he would simply have to swallow his guilt deep inside and lock it away.
He eyed for the Evans who were still nearby. He couldn't risk them finding about his secret that he was immortal and had been alive for a very, very long time.

"Something like that? Being like me? Or you've found something like your family? You seem quite off Dmitri... I mean..." Alfie said, his smile fading. "Noire talked to you... Didn't he? What did he say?" he asked suddenly. He had noticed the spirit's presence around the house. Here more than anywhere, and Noire never lingered in one place for long.
From the staircase, Mitchell walks out and leans against the balcony railing, watching as the two little boys conversed like grown-ups. He frowned. They seemed tense. Both of them. Though Damien more than Alfie. It appeared now that they were related, but Mitch didn't see Damien in the painting.
Strange...

[Islamic Republic e Jariri]

''Yeah...something like that'' said Damien before managing to pull up a smile. He convinced himself they were both better off if Alphie didn't know and he would simply have to swallow his guilt deep inside and lock it away.
He eyed for the Evans who were still nearby. He couldn't risk them finding about his secret that he was immortal and had been alive for a very, very long time.

"Something like that? Being like me? Or you've found something like your family? You seem quite off Dmitri... I mean..." Alfie said, his smile fading. "Noire talked to you... Didn't he? What did he say?" he asked suddenly. He had noticed the spirit's presence around the house. Here more than anywhere, and Noire never lingered in one place for long.
From the staircase, Mitchell walks out and leans against the balcony railing, watching as the two little boys conversed like grown-ups. He frowned. They seemed tense. Both of them. Though Damien more than Alfie. It appeared now that they were related, but Mitch didn't see Damien in the painting.
Strange...

''No...'' said Damien noticing Mitch in the room He couldn't say anything that would add fuel to the fire and indicate him being an immortal.

I should change the subject...

''The painting seems a bit burnt, its seems to be rather specific though, that exact spot where someone else must have been sitting, deleted from hostory.''

[Zarkenis Ultima]

"Well, I had a feeling they were there for a bit more than just a plain robbery. We all know of the order, of course. Well, I think I might have found a fringe group. I don't really have powers, I mean, I have acute senses, but that's not really a power. It might be to them, though. I found a group of armed people outside of my home, and I had a gut feeling that they had a reason. It wasn't just a random act of violence, it couldn't have been. So, because of that, I gathered some things and left. And, well, you found me." She explained, feeling safe in telling him the whole story. He didn't seem like the kind to judge based on powers. And, as she said, it wasn't really a superpower as much as just, well, acute senses.

Evan listened quietly as Maya told him her story, why she had run away from her own home so frantically and why she had eventually ended up on that alley in the Middle District. He felt like he could relate to her. After all, the Order was the reason he'd been hiding in isolation during all those years, and it was also the reason she had run away. He also felt more at ease with her upon finding out that she had something similar to what the Order would call powers. Sure, maybe it wasn't the same, but if she had them, surely, he could freely show her that he had them, too. That would constitute one less thing to worry about.

"I'm sorry that you had to leave your home." He said to her once she was done, but figured that the best was probably to change the topic, so he did. "So, you have acute senses? Cool. Is that why you asked about the noise, because you're more sensitive to it?" He wondered how that worked. Did she feel more, as well? See further? He figured he'd find out later.

[Caecuser]

Judgement Approaches

The transition from metaspace back to reality took only an instant but to Nathaniel it felt - excruciatingly - like an eternity. In the split-second of the teleportation he was under a total lack of sensory input and time stretched in that gulf so that what should have been an unnoticeable experience was very briefly a nightmare. Then it was over.

Nathaniel stepped forwards and inhaled the air which had been disturbed by the sudden appearance of three individuals. The air was cold and pure - high above the streets and city-smog which may have occasionally sprung up in the worse-off areas. From the vantage point they occupied at the top of a skyscraper the city seemed to sprawl beneath them in a mass, bloated and foul to his eyes which were used to open countryside and quaint villages.

"Are you sure this is where you want us to begin?" He asked curiously - surveying the city with a faint interested. "Hardly seems appropriate."

"Yes," the familiar and authoritative voice of Father spoke, the word uttered slowly and in a tone that brokered no arguments. He didn't stand as tall as Nathaniel, but there was a presence to him, a sense of permanence. "I saw it in my dreams," he explained simply.

Nodding in understanding, Nathaniel waited patiently for Father to give instructions to the third and thus far silent member of their group. Of height and nearly of age with Nathaniel, the man named Nicolas listened to Father carefully. "Return now, prepare for the time when you are called and ensure in turn that they others are assembled as well; everyone shall have their chance in the coming days."

Nodding once and with a with another flurry of air - Nicolas vanished. He was gone in an instant, soundless with a brief spell of glowing particles left in his wake, forming a temporary silhouette out of embers.

Father strode forwards - slowly but with the irresistibly of a glacier, and all the frigid coldness of one. Nathaniel felt briefly in some dark corner of his own thoughts, the cold intelligence of Father gazing at his mind but turning his attention outward to the city - his mind rising and expanding to hold it in his view as looked upon the unfamiliar land which haunted his dreams.