rikunobodyxiii

{Mariel: Mystras; Heading for Raiden} Mariel hadn't made it far before Sifrei came upon her, apparently already looking for her. "I'm assuming this is about restoring the world beneath." She said, briefly glancing back at Alderon. "In which case, I am eager to get in on that discussion." The Guardian Angel gestured for the Archangel to lead the way back to Lord Raiden's study. "What have I missed?" Mariel asked. "The power required for this kind of feat cannot be easy to obtain, nor without price. Do we know what is required?"

Terra looked around at his friends with a smile. The galaxy may hold darkness, but the light within their hearts would stand against it. Always. "I might join you, Ventus." The young Jedi said, his own stomach growling. He half turned to see Donald digging through the rations bin. "Hey, Donald." He called out. "Wah!" Donald exclaimed, jumping up nearly as high as he was tall. A package of snacks shot up out of his hands. As both the snack and Duck started back down, he grabbed at it but missed, causing it to tumble end over end. Landing on his feet, Donald continued to grab at the snack, finally getting it on the third try. "What?" He demanded, eyeing Terra. "Could you get Ventus something to eat?" Terra asked, holding in a snicker at Donald's reaction. The Court Magician looked down at the last bag of his favoraite snack in his hands. "One moment!" He said, raising a digit for emphasis. He dug in the big for a few moments before coming out with something. He frowned at it then threw it back in the bin and dug some more. He finally came out with a cereal bar. "This should do the trick!" Donald declared, tossing the bar to Goofy.

I could be down.

{Mariel: Mystras; Among the Refugees} Mariel smiled faintly at Arthur's attempt to encourage her. She could see the pain he felt, but he continued to reach for something better. Humans were marvelous creatures like that. The words of comfort from Everyth were somewhat unexpected. Perhaps she was trying to convince herself of it too? Still, her question about what Mariel thought she could have could have done to prevent the destruction of the World Below stuck in the Angel's mind. The obvious answer was something different, been someplace else to see and stop the calamity. Yet it was a "what if" kind of answer. Something her training had taught her to avoid. The lack of a concrete answer didn't really help Mariel's feeling of failure, but it was another sign that making it a sole focus was foolish and unproductive. The Guardian Angel was still considering how to answer Everyth when King Alderon came upon them. His call for Everyth and Arthur to prepare to help restore what was lost caused a tangle of emotions to wash over Mariel. There were feelings of relief, of hope, and of joy, but it was tainted by suspicion. How was this to be done? Surely the kind of power to undo countless deaths and restore an entire world would come at a price. Mariel would gladly give her own life to bring back even just one more human life, but a few run ins with tricksters and bargain makers had taught her that there could be plenty of clauses and ways to give you exactly what you asked for, but in a way worlds removed from what you actually wanted. Where had the King been? Hadn't there been some sort of meeting? She needed to know more about this, but she wasn't sure she could trust the King's explanation. Nor would it due for her current guise as a human hired as a scout for his army to be grilling him for questions. She briefly wondered if he even remembered her or had heard of what she really was, but that hardly mattered. She needed answers and she knew where she could look for them. "A goal we'll see done." Mariel said, her tone and demeanor regaining some of her old presence and confidence. She gave Everyth and Arthur a lingering look before bowing to Alderon. "If you will excuse me, your highness." She said, then turned and left before he answered. If this plan was legitimate, Raiden would probably know about it. Mariel set out to find her former charge.

Terra genuinely smiled when Ventus gave his name. Despite what those monsters did to him, the kid still had a strong heart. "Pleasure to meet you, Ventus." He said, putting a hand on Aqua's arm. "From here on out, we'll make sure nothing bad happens to you. Right guys?" "Right!" Donald said, getting some of his bluster back.

Mariel should be good to go when brought up to speed.

{Mariel: Mystras; Among the Refugees} Mariel took a steadying breath as she looked around at the humanity around her as she considered Everyth's questions. "All this means I failed." She said simply. "I came to the Overworld to prevent more loss of life, but it turns out I wasn't looking in the right places for danger." Her eyes rested on a mother huddled with her children, clutching them tightly. The angel wondered who they had lost. "As for what's next, I don't know." She said, dragging her attention back to Everyth. "I still have the Hosts to answer to. I don't seem to be of much use anymore." With a thoughtful look, Mariel looked over at Arthur. "Though perhaps that is the sorrow speaking, looking to drown what's left."

{Mariel: Mystras; Among the Refugees} Mariel's eyes narrowed as the bug fey distracted the human and disappeared from sight. Instinct kicked in and she began looking for other signs of the creature's presence. She thought she had it when Arthur addressed her and offered a fruit. "No, I-" The disguised angel began, but cut herself off when she heard Everyth's voice. Stepping back a pace, Mariel watched the young soldier and the bodyguard speak. They spoke of a mutual loved one, now gone. More guilt poured into the angel's heart. Another life she might have saved if she had been patient. But Arthur still managed to push through his pain and seek to comfort others. The boy had a strong heart. Something she knew she needed as well. "I recommend the green ones." Mariel said to Everyth, a few tears welling in her eyes. "Though they can be quite tart." She took a deep breath, then looked Everyth in the eye. "Well met, again." She greeted. "Though I wish it was under better circumstances." The angel's gaze switched between Everyth and Arthur. "My apologies for eavesdropping. And I am sorry for your loss."

"He's not your master anymore." Terra said in a more forceful tone than he had intended. He inwardly grimaced. He had to keep it together for the boy. He tried to reach out with the Force to comfort the liberated slave. "He won't be able to get you where we are going." He said more gently. "Your name is as free as you are."

{Mariel: Mystras; Quarters} Mariel jerked awake from a fitful sleep. She didn't remember falling asleep, and it had done little to absolve her of the depression she felt. With her attempts to block it failed, it seemed all she had left was to wallow in it. "No right to..." the Guardian Angel murmured, memories of her old mentor surfacing. Early in her training, Mariel had failed to a training exercise to protect a target during a skirmish. She had taken it hard and cried. Archon Zauriel had been observing and asked her what she thought she was doing. Mariel had tried to stammer out words, but Zaurel silenced them with a hand. "Do not let failures keep you from doing what must be done." He had said, his tone kinder than before. "Mourn the lost, but keep fighting for the living. As guardians, we have no right to put our misery ahead of our duties to others. And in continuing our sacred duty, we can find the courage to move on from past failures." Mariel smiled briefly at the memory. She had learned later that the exercise about learning what to do when your principle died. Not a lesson she took well to heart, it seemed. "Or two thousand years away has made me soft." She thought. Clinging to her mentor's words, the Guardian Angel cleaned herself up and left her lodgings, heading for where the human refugees had been placed. {Among the Refugees} Still in her human guise, Mariel wandered through the human refugees, unsure of where to start. If only she had been around to prevent this. Her wandering feet brought her to a scene of a human soldier carrying a basket of fruit speaking with a fey. Something made the disguised angel pause. There was a determination in the soldier, still enact in the face of great tragedy. She remained in place as she watched Arther go about his business.

{Omicron: Destiny Island; Warehouse} Omicron watched Talus carefully. His claims of getting her out of the Prince's clutches seemed suspicious. Getting out of there would have been difficult. Perhaps an act to get her guard down? His comment about her failing to kill the Emperor got a slight twitch in reaction. She had failed the contract. As the primary on the mission, the board would blame her. And her supervisor would not be pleased... The Assassin's worries about the punishment she would face from the Silver Ravens vanished with Talus's creation of the Void Orb. Her eyes locked on it instantly, her blank expression shattering into a multitude of emotions fighting for control. "I...have no idea what...you're talking about..." she said slowly, her eyes never leaving the orb. She felt the energy in her bones. It was the one that she had felt in the castle. Why did it feel familiar? {Kira: Lanes Between; Shuttle} "Yeah, well, I'm not hired for my manners." Kira said as she crossed her arms, ignoring Aurion's protest. The Gunslinger listened to Aether's explanation with a look of forced patience. She didn't like the idea of giving out details of her target. The boss generally frowned on that. But maybe a little wouldn't hurt. "I'm looking for someone who uses a rare type of magic." She said after a sigh. "Client called it 'Null-something-something'. Whatever it is, it leaves a distinct signature, if you are looking for it. I was given a scanner so I could track it down. I may not know the exact science behind it, but I do know it takes more than just seeing someone to get a read. From what I understand, effects of this magic is either very violent, really weird, or both." Kira raised an eyebrow. "Any of that ring a bell?" "LeFou Jr." was sitting in one of two chairs stationed in front of the main control panel. He swiveled his seat around when Aurion entered. For an instant it looked like he was trying on a tough guy face, but he abandoned it in less than heart beat for a look of polite helpfulness. His expression further changed after Aurion referred to Kira as the bossy one to one of a fellow sufferer commiserating a burden. "Yeah, she can get difficult at times." He said in an apologetic tone. "Once she settles down she should be at least tolerable." The pilot gestured for Aurion to sit in one of the two seats behind the pilot and co-pilot chair before turning back to the controls. "Glad to meet you, Aurion!" He greeted. "I'm..." He paused as he considered what he could say that wouldn't get him yelled at later. "Simeon." He finished, quickly glancing through the door to see that Kira wasn't giving him a dirty look. "Let's see..." Simeon said as he keyed on a display that scrolled a spiral of text. "There's a couple of hub worlds we could drop you off at, like Radiant Garden or Twilight Town. Could even get you back to the Dark Realm i-" Simeon suddenly went silent with his face making the mother of all grimaces. He was in for it now.

yeah, that pretty well sums it up.

I'd be down for giving it a try.

{Kira: Private Shuttle; Leaving Destiny Island Orbit} "Friends. Right." Kira said, eyeing Aether. Despite her unconvinced tone, Kira sat down on one of the benches and leaned back in a relaxed pose, her eyes shut. "You can go tell my partner in crime where you want to be let off." She said, pointing directly at Aurion, even with her eyes closed. "You-" Index finger switched targets to Aether. "can tell me why I'm detecting that you had contact with my target as well, since we're all friends here."

{Mariel: Mystras; personal quarters} Mariel sat in the room she had been given in her human guise, hugging her knees. She had failed. She had sworn to protect the humans and the world below. Now, only a few of the humans remained and the world below was gone. She waited too long, maybe if she had tried to return to the Overworld the moment she heard the path was open, she could have stopped this. Or maybe she should of stayed in the world below. She could have sensed the magic and done something to stop it. A small part of her recognized that none of this thinking helped any, but that part could get the rest of her to listen. Reaching out, the Guardian Angel picked up a bottle of cheap wine she had gotten and finished it off. It was the fifth bottle she had gone through today. She had seen alcohol's numbing effects in others, but it did little to her kind. Much to her frustration. She threw the bottle away, smashing it on an opposing wall. Mariel's thoughts turned to her returning to the hosts. Whatever punishment they had in store for her, maybe it would mean her mistakes wouldn't cost more lives.

Yeah, I haven't been good about posting either, so no worries from me. Good to have you back.

Terra stared off in the middle distance as Aqua spoke, looking conflicted. With what he and Aqua had seen today, he kind of understood why Master Eraqus wanted to keep to the temple, but...wasn't fighting that kind of evil the Jedi way? To right wrongs and to protect the weak? Terra wasn't sure anymore. Maybe this was something to discuss with the Master when they got back. Taking a deep breath, the young Jedi put on a brave face and headed over to the boy. He ran through what to say in his head. Asking if this was the first time the boy had been on a starship seemed like a poor option. "These are the friends I was telling you about." Terra said to Ventus, trying on a smile. "Goofy is as nice as they come, and Donald's a good friend once you get to know him." Speak of the duck, Donald came down the hatch from he cockpit, looking a little self-satisfied. "Alright, no chance those jokers can follow us now." He said. "Just a smooth flight back home. Now, will someone tell me who-" Donald's voice faltered when he got a look at Ventus. Thoughts of his sister Della and her new born triplets filled his mind. Using the engines to blast the slavers back didn't seem like enough anymore.

I'm still figuring out how Mariel is gonna process this and current out look isn't good. I missed it, how long was the time jump?

She won't be doing well, but yeah, she'll stick with Raiden, unless Sif had a plan.

{Mariel: Lake Kresnik} "Cooperation in searching for the Queen's assassin could help restore lost bonds." Mariel added, eyeing the Lord of Iron. "If we are to prevent more bloodshed, the murder must be found an punished." She briefly glanced back at Sifrei, who had not spoken to the other investigating party. A small part of her worried that he held his tongue for a reason.

Sorry for the lateness, Scrap, but that bit about assassination Mariel said was suppose to be in her head.

{Kira: Destiny Island; Palm Grove} With both the assassin and sadly former delivery boy inside, Kira backed into the ship. With one hand, she pressed a button that closed the hatch. Instantly, the muffled sound of the engines grew a little louder and there was a momentary odd feeling as the artificial gravity took over for the world's own. The inside of the small ship was a simple bay with benches on either wall with gear racks nearer the ceiling. The far end of the ship had a closed door. There was some neatly folded brackets and pillow at one end of the benches, possibly indicating that they were used as beds. Letting out a short puff of air, Kira holstered her weapons and turned to Aether and Aurion. "Well, that was nice and clean." She said, her hands still on her weapons. "Now, before we-" The door at the far end of the ship opened, revealing a slim young man in shady clothes, spectacles, and a patchy beard. Beyond him, the cockpit could be seen where there appeared to be seating for four. "Cloak's up, Kira." He reported, with a smile. "The locals wouldn't be able to find us with a genie." The smile faltered as the expected immediate response of confirmation of a job well done didn't come. Kira stood statue still, apparently looking directly at her pilot. "Where's your mask, genius?" The gunslinger said in a brittle cheeriness. The young man began to look worried as his eyes darted to Aurion and Aether. "Um, it itches?" He offered in a tone that knew it was a very poor excuse. Kira face palmed her face plate. "You know the fraking procedures." She said in a strained voice. "How can an egghead like you be so smart and so dumb at the same fraking time?" The pilot rubbed the back of his head and gave a sheepish grin, but knew better than to actually say anything. "Just get us deeper into space." Kira said, her hand dropping from her face. "Guests, you can refer to him as LeFou Jr. for our little trip." "LeFou Jr" gave a sullen look, then went back to the controls. The Gunslinger reached up to her neck and hit a hidden button. Her helmet retracted and disappeared into the rest of her armor, revealing a red headed woman with some scaring and exposed implants on her face. "Since we seem to be throwing caution to the wind, you might as well see the face that will be coming for you if you try to identify us to anybody. Clear?"

{Mariel: Lake Kresnik} “Minus the assassination, that’s what I did for the last couple hundred years.” The Guardian Angel replied to Henry. “The assassination part happened earlier.” She added in the privacy of her own head. “To extinguish memories, you sometimes have to take the head that holds them.” Mariel sensed someone approaching, but was surprised seeing and hearing that it was Mikhail. The surprised look last only a moment, being replaced with an amused smile. “Should have guessed you’d still be alive.” She said wryly. “Too stubborn to die. Sifrei, Henry, this is Mikhail. A friend from way back.” Mariel relaxed a little knowing the Witcher was Mikhail. Unless he had changed in the time she was away, she felt confident he’d deal straight with them. As long as his employer did the same, these two parties of hunters might actually be able to get things done.

Woot woot! Congrats!

{Mariel: Lake Kresnik} "I met a few before my exile." Mariel explained. "Sadly, most of my contact was with members of the Witcher Cat School, who had basically abandoned their monster hunting trade to get into the more lucrative business of assassination. One of my few failures as a body guard was due to one of them. Luckily, the other Witcher Schools viewed the Cat School with distaste. A Witcher from the Wolf School aided me in tracking down the Cat Assassin and bringing him to justice. Whatever the school, Witcher's are professionals. A few seemed to have noble inclinations, though it is almost better to think of them as tradesman than warriors. Hunting monsters is what they do for a living, so they don't do it for free." She paused a moment, reflecting on her memories. Mariel remembered looking down on Witchers for not doing being more generous with their skills and services. But time on her own in the world below taught her some harsh truths about living conditions for non-angelic races. And how even with great power, a single individual could only do so much. You sometimes had to pick and choose who to help. And to keep on doing so, you needed more than thanks. "Anyway. Be polite, don't get in the way of their contract, and we shouldn't have a problem." Mariel continued. "And hope the effing Cat School hasn't survived."