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Post by Gen on Nov 26, 2003 23:59:52 GMT -5
I have caused this creature more grief than any other I've ever seen. Gaea . . . She must have loved him more than I thought. How can anyone do that? How can anyone make such an investment in another, when life is so fleeting?
The words swam through her mind, causing her more grief than she thought anybody was capable to handle.
Life . . . fleeting . . .
"Life is only fleeting . . . " she choked out forcefully between the sobs that were racking her body, "because horrible people like you . . ." another set of sobs shook her body violently. She turned her pale, wet face towards the man. "Because people like you," she continued, "take it away prematurely. Ripping . . ." she stumbled for the right words as tears continued to stream inhumanly out of her eyes, "Ripping those who care about them into shreds of being. May the gods seek their revenge." She inhaled sharply and her glance once more fell to the ground. "I refuse to live without him."
She lept up and, with strength that she did not have, she attacked the creature with a mental blow ten times stronger than any she had been able to conjure before. One of the positive side-effects, no, the only positive side-effect of losing someone whom you care more for than life itself, is that power increases tenfold, as it feeds on negative emotions.
Kathryn focused all of her energy onto bestowing the pain that she was feeling onto the being who had ended her mental life. She could barely handle it, and was sure that such an insecure, destructive man would not be able to.
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Post by Triunis on Nov 27, 2003 0:07:48 GMT -5
Setthirosa felt the random thoughts that buzzed through his mind at all times suddenly flatten as they were crushed by the force of the blow. Pain swam through his mind, and he was unable to think for a few seconds. When he regained control of his senses, he was looking at the sky, and his brain was trying to decide what to do.
I made a promise. It was a foolish one, but I have my pride. No bullet from my gun shall end her life. I'm not going to kill her.
No. But I must survive!
He stood and shoook his head slowly. Then, a thought entered his head. If a thought was merely an electrical impulse, than psychic energy was merely a more prominant one. As such . . .
He reached into his cloak and pulled out an EMP. He fumbled with the bomb before pressing a small button on it and hurtling it to the ground.
EMP. ElectroMagnetic Pulse. Should stop all electrical output in its tracks. I hope it applies to the energy in her psy, too . . .
Seconds later, the pulse detonated, and Setthirosa felt the blast wash over him.
Let's see what she's got.
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Post by Gen on Nov 28, 2003 13:08:02 GMT -5
It was one of those feelings that you get right after being run over by a fraight train. Twice. The blackness surrounded Kathryn like a cold, thick, damp blanket pressing down on the face. She was vaugely aware of her hand flying to her forehead, and then falling backwards with a great force, to the ground. Despite all of the pain, the mage couldn't help but crack a smile.
It's working . . .
Not even death could keep her and DarkUmbra apart. At least, not for long. But something odd was happening. The sensation of pain was increasing, not fading as it should as death approaches. And vision was coming back to her, blurried as it may have been. She cast out with her ability, trying to figure out what was going on, but got no response. She reached out again, trying a broader search, just to figure out if the two people that she had seen just seconds ago were still in the vacinity, which she knew that they must be.
Still, no response. Kathryn was beginning to panic. Along with this mind-numbing pain that was plaguing her body, she had been cut loose from her ability. It was as if she had lost a limb. She turned towards the blurry silohette of Setthirosa and coughed innocently, before allowing her face to go blank and dropping to the ground in a 'dead faint'.
Now, not even you could kill an innocent little girl, could you?
She refrained from squeezing her eyes shut at the pain that exploded through her body with every beat of her tired heart.
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Post by Triunis on Nov 28, 2003 15:33:17 GMT -5
Setthirosa looked at the girl in surprise.
Odd. She must rely more on electricity than most beings. That should've only dazed her for a few seconds and cut her psychic powers.
He was aware that she had been talking to him, and he pondered her message. Striding up to the girl and staring down at her, he smiled, and his eyes glittered with malice.
"If I didn't know how much pain you were in, you'd have a bullet in your head by now. But it's so much more . . . entertaining this way. I much prefer watching you suffer."
Something suddenly occured to the Archarialite. He reched into his coat and pulled out a small calculator-like object. He punced a few buttons on it, and an electronic voice rang out through the swamp.
"Love. An emotion derived from the reproduction instinct. It allows a being to protect its young as well as its mate. It is the strongest emotion in many sentient races, as many beings will risk or give up their lives for its sake."
He snapped the device shut and looked back to the girl.
"I still don't understand. Why do you wish to die? Would this being you loved be at any more peace knowing you had succumed to the same person who destroyed him? . . . How foolish. That a sentient being would give up its life for no purpose."
Setthirosa's face clouded. This was the longest he had gone without shooting someone in quite a while. He turned and started to walk away, then looked over his sholder at her again, a grim smile on his face.
"Well? You can give up here, or you can go on living for his memory. I know one thing is for certain, however: next time I see you, the choice will not be yours."
He began trudging off through the rain, wondering yet again why he hadn't simply blasted her in the forehead.
Maybe I've lost more of my mind than I thought . . .
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Post by DrivS/DarkUmbra on Nov 29, 2003 18:09:03 GMT -5
The shadows from the nearby objects swirled into and eddy in the middle of all essence in the swamplands. So many emotions, so many thoughts, all wandering aimlessly through time and space looking for a shell within to dwell. Perhaps it was this, perhaps Kathryn's necessity, perhaps no reason at all that caused matter to appear in the middle of the two figures. There must always be balaced amounts of energy and matter in the cosmos, energy can not be created, nor can it be destroyed. However the first law will override the second. A lack of matter in one place, causes the inbalance, causing matter to be created, and energy destroyed. The thoughts, emotions, wills, hopes, everything that made DarkUmbra who he was, his, essence if you will, flowed into the being created by who knows what. As soon as all calmed, or seemed to, an enfuriated bolt of solid black energy shot from the sky, filliing the corpse, returning him to his prior glory. DarkUmbra stood, tripumphantly standing within the swamp.
He looked down at himself. Truely looked. He saw for the first time. He noticed that he was no longer a shadow-kahn, but instead more of a humanoid figure. He also remarked that the sun shone directly on him, and no side effects befell him. Things had changed, this was a new body, however he was the same being. He was DarkUmbra. He saw Kathryn, weeping, and began to run to her side. However to his surprise, he found himself leaving this reality, and re-entering at Kathryn's side. There were no footprints, he had not moved, and yet, there he was, at Katryn's side. No matter, Kathryn was the most important thing to him. He took her in his arms and spoke. The usual rasping of his voice gone, only a smooth, low tone remanining.
"It's okay Kathryn. I'm here for you. I missed you."
DarkUmbra's back.
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Post by Triunis on Nov 29, 2003 18:54:36 GMT -5
Setthirosa stopped. He listened. He turned around. He groaned.
"Oh, for Gaea's sake . . ."
He walked to where he was in front of them, about twelve feet away.
"Sigh. I kill them, they come back. Good thing I'm not getting paid for this."
He fell backwards, and was caught and supported by his gravity magic. He looked at the pair of them.
"So. For whatever reason, it has returned. I don't believe I even properly introduced myself. How very rude of me, to put a bullet in your brain without giving you the courtesy of knowing me. I am Ahknada Setthirosa."
Setthirosa landed and bowed. He didn't know what he was doing. Was he seeking forgiveness, trying to irritate his foe, pleading for mercy, or had he simply forgotten about where he was? He didn't even know for certain himself.
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Post by DrivS/DarkUmbra on Nov 29, 2003 19:10:33 GMT -5
DarkUmbra released Kathryn. He once again tried to walk, and found him self transporting into a different realm and appearing feet from Setthirosa. Whatever, it worked. He tried to release his shroud to protect himself, found it not there, and in its place. . .absolutely nothing. He tried to conjur shadow magic, and noting happened. Instead, two whips lashed out from his sides, and he faded out, becomming nearly invisible.
Whaaaaaaaaa? What's happening to me?!
DarkUmbra thought to himself as the whips once again became a part of him, and he became a part of reality again. He stood before Setthirosa, regained is posture, and spoke in a low, smooth voice. He stood facing Setthirosa.
"You are the one who destroyed my existance. However you made one fatal flaw in your senceless destruction. I'm sorry, many. The first of which was failing to realise that there must always be the same amount of matter in the cosmos as energy, the second was failing to realise that Shadow-kahns's personage are forever around, forever present in the cosmos. The third, was interfering with my feelings for Kathryn. I will do anything to keep her happy. So, the next move is yours."
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Post by Triunis on Nov 29, 2003 20:18:36 GMT -5
Setthirosa thought for a moment.
Okay, so I overlooked that he's a shadow man. I didn't know that he loved this girl, and I thought he turned into various gasses and was floating through the atmosphere.
He shrugged. As an assassin, he knew many things about diplomacy, and hoped they would help him here.
"Somehow, I doubt you can kill me with every piece of my essence. When you died, she wanted me to kill her too. But I refused. For a cruel reason, yes, but you cannot deny that it was the right choice. I forced her into the situation, I won't pretend otherwise. But if I'd done as she'd asked, she'd be dead. So I don't think you can kill me."
He put his guns inside his trenchcoat to prove his belief in this.
Good reasoning. I'm screwed anyway, but good reasoning nevertheless.
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Post by DrivS/DarkUmbra on Nov 29, 2003 20:38:50 GMT -5
DarkUmbra looked agitated. Only a creature who was truly evil could have justified himself in that way.
"I owe you nothing, nor does Kathryn. Fate caused what happened to happen. You had nothing to do with it. You attempt to justify such ab act of pure evil with such lies. You sicken me. Now, I believe that I have the hang of this new body so. . ."
DarkUmbra said as he extended his whips. They were solid black, like him. However they appeared to be like rose vines, all the way up and down. At the end the came to a neat point with many spikes. Beautiful weapons. DarkUmbra appeared six feet behind Setthirosa and lashed out with the most powerful whip lashing he could produce. He phyical strength had gone from nothing to immense. That's new too.
"Kathryn, this is for your pain."
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Post by Triunis on Nov 30, 2003 0:38:47 GMT -5
There was an explosion of pain as Setthirosa felt the attack collide with him. He flew forwards and landed on his face. He didn't know much about pain, but he knew that he was very badly injured.
"Ahh . . . !"
Slowly, he stood. He could feel the cuts in his back, and he was fairly certain the force of his fall had broken a rib. He turned and faced DarkUmbra.
"I must compliment your attack, but I've got bigger Creeds to fry. I'll be taking my leave."
He turned, and slowly began to hobble away. He knew that he couldn't outrun DarkUmbra. He was fairly sure he couldn't outfight him. So he did what he could: he'd try to leave. If he were stopped, then it would be time to bring the Mahandronis into play . . . He turned to DarkUmbra as he was leaving, and spoke to him.
"If it would really make you feel better to kill me, you can give it your best shot, Shademan. I'm too tired from my trip to care."
Inside his trenchcoat, his hands rested on the Tigris and Euphrates. There was a reason why he was more expensive than any bounty hunter in the history of the Assassin's guild, and it wasn't his charisma.
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Post by DrivS/DarkUmbra on Nov 30, 2003 2:11:42 GMT -5
DarkUmbra snapped his wrists, and the whips attached to them, fused once more with his flesh. He turned to Setthirosa and shook his head. He motioned away from the location at which they were.
"No. More senseless destruction. No reason. Leave this place and you will be spared. I seek not to create more unpleasant memories. Leave me to my one true love!"
He yelled as he appeared at Kathryn's side. He took her in his arms, and awaited the disapearance of the one called Setthirosa.
"Kathryn. I'm here. I missed you. Everything's okay now."
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Post by Triunis on Nov 30, 2003 2:45:44 GMT -5
Setthirosa grinned, and shrugged innocently.
" . . . Well, that's up to you. If you really think that you two will solve each other's problems, I'll let you live in ignorance . . . for a time. Destruction simply happens, Shademan. Don't expect the world to leave you behind while you stay locked in your shackles of dillusion."
With that, he turned and strode out of the swamp.
I'll see him again. And one of us won't enjoy it.
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Post by Gen on Nov 30, 2003 10:11:18 GMT -5
Kathryn was in such a state of shock that she wan't quite sure if any of it was even real. She had seen . . . and then . . . She reached out with her ability and tried to sense who all was in the vacinity.
Three males, all different species. Two injured, one reborn. Left.
Thank the gods. She turned to face her love, her cheeks glistening with tears from the tortured emotion called lost love. Her hand extended and she placed it on his cheek, trying to make sure if he . . . if any of . . . this was real. He seemed solid enough, and he seemed to know who she was . . .
"I- . . . Ho- . . ."
She had millions of questions flying through her mind, thousands of things that she wanted to tell him, yet nothing seemed applicable. She pulled herself into his body, and placed her lips gently on his, in a gesture that meant more than any word in any language.
And they are reunited and all is good in the world. No question of when anything will end, or what they'll do when that time comes; everything just stands still and the world is theirs.
The ending of her favorite faerietale as a child. She never thought that she would hold that same faerietale love with another, but it seemed that she was. She pressed her lips harder against DarkUmbra's, loving simply being able to be there with him.
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Post by DrivS/DarkUmbra on Nov 30, 2003 10:50:15 GMT -5
DarkUmbra clutched Kathryn tightly. He returned the gestures of affection with the same loving admiration. For a second he turned away from Kathryn, truely looking at the world around him for the first time. He whirled around, and stared into Kathryn's eyes. He leaned in a kissed her once more before speaking in a low, soft voice.
"Kathryn. It's okay now. It is truely me. Look into my soul and you will see that. I've missed you my love."
DarkUmbra stood there, totally a different person then the one Setthirosa had destroyed, well, physically anyway. Having one's essence wander through the cosmos is a more efficient survival method then most would care to believe, and the fact that the unbalanced forces in cosmos, and Kathryn's such truely pure strong affection and sorrow had caused the creation of this new being, seem to work quite well in combination with one another no?
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Post by Gen on Nov 30, 2003 11:13:01 GMT -5
Kathryn stared into the eyes of the new DarkUmbra, although already quite sure that it was, indeed, a recreation of her one love, she peered with a depth that only a psy mage could. It was him. It really was. She didn't quite know how, and why was only half- answered, but for whatever reason, it didn't really matter.
"I know. I missed you. I don't know what I was going to do. But that doesn't matter now. All that matters is that you're here now," she spoke softly, her eyes closed and her lips curled into a slight smile. It was a difficult task to smile after all that she had been through already that day, but there was no way that she could hide her smile whilst around DarkUmbra.
He brings out the best in me.
She kept her musings to herself. He knew. And if he didn't then it wasn't important. Everything was just right back to where it had begun. She buried her face in his neck and sat there, clinging to him like a child to a toy doll. She wasn't about to give him up again.
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