The Guardians of London: Fourth Echelon (Chapter Two)
- Thread starter Lord_Ascendant
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Anthiel had disappeared during the battle at the gulag, having pressed forward in a bid to stave off the majority of clone forces from its wounded comrades and the fleeing Rena and Kin. Since then, visual contact had been lost.
However, Anthiel remained.
It was an hour after the others arrived before Anthiel slithered through the door, a pure white apparition seeming more in this light as an angel than demon, its shell shining gold with reflected glow. It settled just inside the doorway, regarding the others without a word.
Anthiel waited.
However, Anthiel remained.
It was an hour after the others arrived before Anthiel slithered through the door, a pure white apparition seeming more in this light as an angel than demon, its shell shining gold with reflected glow. It settled just inside the doorway, regarding the others without a word.
Anthiel waited.
And with this I hope to finally begin posting properly again. Apologies again for vanishing.
"There's no need to be thankful. Actually I wanted to ask you if you could do me a favor."Hussmann54 said:
He gave her the syringe.
"Could you find out, what this is and what it's effects are? A man called Gordon Gregory gave me this, telling me, that it is a 'gift' from his superiors and that I should use it if I need power."
Samuel walked out of the room just to stop at the door.
"He means much to you, doesn't he?"
He turned around and pierced her with his eyes.
"What are you going to do, if he's not the Kin you know anymore?"
[font color="grey"]Wow! Where the hell did that come from?
I'm trying to figure something out.
"Well.." Ana said, turning the syringe over in her hand examining it. " If Nicholaus Kin is no more, we are going to have much worse problems that me to deal with."
The afternoon came and passed. Ana stood outside the door for a moment, thinking. Then she took a deep, contemplative breath and opened it. Inside, Kin was awake and looking at his surroundings. He noticed her almost immediately.
"Hello.." He said, his tone shy. Unusual..
Inside of her, a stone started sinking. This wasnt good...
"Hi." She tried to smile back as she sat down.
"How are you? My name is Nicholaus." He weakly offered a hand to shake. "Whats your name?"
For a moment Ana didnt know how to respond. This couldnt be happening. "My..My name is Anastasia." Something wield up inside her.
"Thats a beautiful name." he replied. He noticed her acting strangely, as if she had been hurt by something. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, yes... Im fine." She managed to blink a tear away. Forcing a smile, she replied "Would you excuse me for a moment, just something small."
As she closed the door behind her, she broke into tears. Her hands buried into her face as she slide to the floor.
"You stupid girl.. What did you expect? 'hey honey. Been a while, come give me some sugar'?... you stupid girl." She sobbed.
Whoever was lying in that bed, it wasnt the man she remembered. It was as if a stone had been lashed to her back, she coudnt stand. Something she was overwhelmingly helpless to fight. What was she supposed to do? She choked, everything had just happened so fast, hit her without time for her to hit back, and left her with nothing to show for it.
The afternoon came and passed. Ana stood outside the door for a moment, thinking. Then she took a deep, contemplative breath and opened it. Inside, Kin was awake and looking at his surroundings. He noticed her almost immediately.
"Hello.." He said, his tone shy. Unusual..
Inside of her, a stone started sinking. This wasnt good...
"Hi." She tried to smile back as she sat down.
"How are you? My name is Nicholaus." He weakly offered a hand to shake. "Whats your name?"
For a moment Ana didnt know how to respond. This couldnt be happening. "My..My name is Anastasia." Something wield up inside her.
"Thats a beautiful name." he replied. He noticed her acting strangely, as if she had been hurt by something. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, yes... Im fine." She managed to blink a tear away. Forcing a smile, she replied "Would you excuse me for a moment, just something small."
As she closed the door behind her, she broke into tears. Her hands buried into her face as she slide to the floor.
"You stupid girl.. What did you expect? 'hey honey. Been a while, come give me some sugar'?... you stupid girl." She sobbed.
Whoever was lying in that bed, it wasnt the man she remembered. It was as if a stone had been lashed to her back, she coudnt stand. Something she was overwhelmingly helpless to fight. What was she supposed to do? She choked, everything had just happened so fast, hit her without time for her to hit back, and left her with nothing to show for it.
Baltreth hesitated for a moment, a fraction of a second, before returning to his idle state and shrugging.Daft Sikes said:
"Very well. Keep in mind Phaedra that you can only operate for so long as a singular entity. You will need help soon, either from us, your siblings, or from these mortals, whom you consider your lessers. If we could have done our tasks by ourselves, we would have no need of these mortals. If we were all powerful and of no need of each other, then the Knighthood would have failed long ago."
Without further conversation, Baltreth then retreated, the crimson red dissipating from his eyes and Sinclair pushing back into the reigns of his body once again.
Sinclair flexed his neck, audible cracks being heard before stopping and going silent. He moved forward, away from Phaedra and his host without another word.
Sorry for late post. Have a presentation on Ancient Mesopotamia and some other stuff today. Been busy.
Ana quietly knocked on the door to Sinclairs room. She held a piece of paper with an address written on it.
"Are you in?"
"Are you in?"
Sinclair had been busy creating another communications array, this time written with the ink bottle he had found earlier. Instead of using blood as the main ingredient he had use it as a catalyst, putting several drops of his blood into the bottle before he began construction on the desk in his room. He was just about done when the sensors on his door tripped, a collection of low-key magical runes, and he heard a woman's voice through the door.Hussmann54 said:
"Are you in?"
The Thaumaturgist frowned in thought. 'Opinion Baltreth?'
'That would be Anastasia, Mr Sinclair. I doubt she's thinking anything harmful of you, all things considered.
'Hmm'
Sinclair stood up and approached the door, minding the security measures as he did so and opened up to find the woman just as Baltreth promised. Straightening his dark polo shirt and jeans, he began speaking.
"Greetings Lady Anastasia. What brings you to my humble abode?"
"I need your help once again." She said, glancing at the paper in her hands.
"It seems the damage done was worse than we could have stopped. His mind.." She could feel herself choke on the words. ".. His mind is gone. We feared this would happen. That what was done to him would be so extensive that it would pick him apart and flay the pieces into oblivion."
She sat down, handing him the paper.
"So we devised a strategy, to recreate fragments of his mind to use as a jump start, to pull the smallest bit of him from nothing and use that to bring him back. We used pages of his journals, imbedded within them, parts of him. It took me a little while to realize what it meant, but he had always said he kept the past in those books. 'Kept the past in them' wasnt the sort of terminology he would use. The fragments are in the journals. A hidden code, indecipherable to the untrained eyes. Unfortunately, the last man to see those journals was killed and violently incinerated. His name was Johan Albert, this was his address in Auschwitz."
She handed him the paper. "You and Cyrus, 54's Imperiomancer, need to go there and discover the location of the journal that was in Johan's possession, then get it back."
She stood up.
"You should also know that it is likely that our bretheren, other Rhyle, will try to stop you. I know it isnt your style, but if you could do whatever is in your power to prevent shedding their blood, I would be grateful. They wont understand the situation, they will only be following orders. There was a cover up to conceal Johans fate, Cashern was behind it. Find the home, find the remains of the body, find his possessions, I dont care. Just do whatever must been done to find this book. Then when you have it, go to the Palace of The Innocents, deep in the yellow mountains of China, we will meet you there."
"It seems the damage done was worse than we could have stopped. His mind.." She could feel herself choke on the words. ".. His mind is gone. We feared this would happen. That what was done to him would be so extensive that it would pick him apart and flay the pieces into oblivion."
She sat down, handing him the paper.
"So we devised a strategy, to recreate fragments of his mind to use as a jump start, to pull the smallest bit of him from nothing and use that to bring him back. We used pages of his journals, imbedded within them, parts of him. It took me a little while to realize what it meant, but he had always said he kept the past in those books. 'Kept the past in them' wasnt the sort of terminology he would use. The fragments are in the journals. A hidden code, indecipherable to the untrained eyes. Unfortunately, the last man to see those journals was killed and violently incinerated. His name was Johan Albert, this was his address in Auschwitz."
She handed him the paper. "You and Cyrus, 54's Imperiomancer, need to go there and discover the location of the journal that was in Johan's possession, then get it back."
She stood up.
"You should also know that it is likely that our bretheren, other Rhyle, will try to stop you. I know it isnt your style, but if you could do whatever is in your power to prevent shedding their blood, I would be grateful. They wont understand the situation, they will only be following orders. There was a cover up to conceal Johans fate, Cashern was behind it. Find the home, find the remains of the body, find his possessions, I dont care. Just do whatever must been done to find this book. Then when you have it, go to the Palace of The Innocents, deep in the yellow mountains of China, we will meet you there."
Sinclair narrowed his eyes in thought. Baltreth was merely amused.
'Ooohhh. You can't kill anyone! Does that make you sad Sinclair? Oh no! I can't kill anyone! For shame! What would my Thaumaturgist friends think!'
"Hush Baltreth." Sinclair muttered before turning to Anastasia's curious face.
"Very well. I will try to keep casualties to a minimum, I can be capable of that much at least. But considering the Rhyle's....abilities, I can promise no casualties during the infiltration."
The thaumaturgist then went to a nearby desk, looking through nearby files. "During the assault on the Gulag, I recovered some information regarding the russians experiments on the prisoners there." he said tactfully, not mentioning Kin's name. "I came across mentions of a german scientist, a Mr. Techatt Weiner who had worked with Mercer. Considering Mercer's disappearance and his own lack of moral fiber, there may be a chance that Mr. Weiner was working for the germans. As such, the Black Rose may have some presence in Aushwitz, especially considering that the Third Empire once had a foothold there. And where the Black Rose goes, the Red Star may snoop around. The Rhyle, will be given consideration, I assure you. The Black Rose and Red Star does not fall under your protection however. Is that acceptable?"
Sinclair recovered the letter he had found in the bowels of the Gulag. "This was Mr. Weiner's letter, the one that I had found in his things. Perhaps it may help? I had yet to read it, so perhaps we could read it together?"
'Ooohhh. You can't kill anyone! Does that make you sad Sinclair? Oh no! I can't kill anyone! For shame! What would my Thaumaturgist friends think!'
"Hush Baltreth." Sinclair muttered before turning to Anastasia's curious face.
"Very well. I will try to keep casualties to a minimum, I can be capable of that much at least. But considering the Rhyle's....abilities, I can promise no casualties during the infiltration."
The thaumaturgist then went to a nearby desk, looking through nearby files. "During the assault on the Gulag, I recovered some information regarding the russians experiments on the prisoners there." he said tactfully, not mentioning Kin's name. "I came across mentions of a german scientist, a Mr. Techatt Weiner who had worked with Mercer. Considering Mercer's disappearance and his own lack of moral fiber, there may be a chance that Mr. Weiner was working for the germans. As such, the Black Rose may have some presence in Aushwitz, especially considering that the Third Empire once had a foothold there. And where the Black Rose goes, the Red Star may snoop around. The Rhyle, will be given consideration, I assure you. The Black Rose and Red Star does not fall under your protection however. Is that acceptable?"
Sinclair recovered the letter he had found in the bowels of the Gulag. "This was Mr. Weiner's letter, the one that I had found in his things. Perhaps it may help? I had yet to read it, so perhaps we could read it together?"
"Yes, please do." She said.
WARNING: Plot twists ahead
How dare you think I have lost focus? I dont need to remind you of what lies before us. When faced with extinction, every alternative is preferable. Your "structure" is at its least a bad joke, and at most the very thing that could do us all in. If you for a moment question my motives then I must politely remind you that some of us have lost far more in this than others. Yes I handed him over to Mercer, yes I accept responsibility for his imprisonment. But I did what was necessary to keep us all alive. If we hadnt put him in that pit, the darkness would have hunted him to the brink of his life.
Im going to be perfectly honest. I dont know everything Silas has in mind, but sometimes we have to let go of our control and our power and trust in that which lies beyond us. I doubt you will ever understand such actions. I am here because of the only reason we have ever been here. To fight for those who cannot win the fight themselves. Maybe Im not the one who needs the reality check.
Sincerely
The Director of Project Talisman.
Im going to be perfectly honest. I dont know everything Silas has in mind, but sometimes we have to let go of our control and our power and trust in that which lies beyond us. I doubt you will ever understand such actions. I am here because of the only reason we have ever been here. To fight for those who cannot win the fight themselves. Maybe Im not the one who needs the reality check.
Sincerely
The Director of Project Talisman.
Hussmann54 said:
Hello Doctor
I know it's been some time since we've last met, and indeed you may be trying to look back into your memories to possibly recall who I am, but I assure you that you'll find nothing. In fact, if you choose to reject my proposal, you will find that you will continue to recall nothing with the next twenty four hours of your dismissal.
Now to cut to the chase, a while ago, you and I were conducting some business together in regards to Nicholaus Kin. During this time, we came into contact with some rather unsavory organizations and your mind was wiped and all records of your work with us expunged to keep you active. I have since managed to apprehend Mr. Kin himself through a rather surprising source, and your services are needed once more.
Now, I understand that you're current business with the Black Rose is of due importance, and in regards to our previous friendship I would not pressure you into working with me. Beyond that, if you do choose to work for me once more, I have several articles regarding Red Star experiments into Imperiomancy, as well as articles I would like you to safeguard just in case regarding these experiments as well as files on Mr. Kin himself.
You may, in turn, bring the Black Rose into this. However, as it is, I do believe you consider them a tool as much as I do the Red Star. Whichever case, do what you will, I'm sure it will be of little consequence in the long run.
That would be all Doctor. If possible, kindly respond within the next 24 hours. Mr. Kin is still within a pliable state, and I have injected several cocktails worth of drugs and hallucinogens to confuse and break his will. You are much more skilled in recovery than I am, and after a while, telling him of how he has been betrayed grows wearying. He considers it impossible after all, and it's effect on him is rapidly diminishing. Your hands and mind and skills are required for this again.
Mercer
I know it's been some time since we've last met, and indeed you may be trying to look back into your memories to possibly recall who I am, but I assure you that you'll find nothing. In fact, if you choose to reject my proposal, you will find that you will continue to recall nothing with the next twenty four hours of your dismissal.
Now to cut to the chase, a while ago, you and I were conducting some business together in regards to Nicholaus Kin. During this time, we came into contact with some rather unsavory organizations and your mind was wiped and all records of your work with us expunged to keep you active. I have since managed to apprehend Mr. Kin himself through a rather surprising source, and your services are needed once more.
Now, I understand that you're current business with the Black Rose is of due importance, and in regards to our previous friendship I would not pressure you into working with me. Beyond that, if you do choose to work for me once more, I have several articles regarding Red Star experiments into Imperiomancy, as well as articles I would like you to safeguard just in case regarding these experiments as well as files on Mr. Kin himself.
You may, in turn, bring the Black Rose into this. However, as it is, I do believe you consider them a tool as much as I do the Red Star. Whichever case, do what you will, I'm sure it will be of little consequence in the long run.
That would be all Doctor. If possible, kindly respond within the next 24 hours. Mr. Kin is still within a pliable state, and I have injected several cocktails worth of drugs and hallucinogens to confuse and break his will. You are much more skilled in recovery than I am, and after a while, telling him of how he has been betrayed grows wearying. He considers it impossible after all, and it's effect on him is rapidly diminishing. Your hands and mind and skills are required for this again.
Mercer
Sinclair stayed quiet for a moment, deep in thought.
"Yes, it does seem likely that the Black Rose will be involved here. Though this news of a betrayal is worrying. I would suggest you get Gray on that. We cannot afford a schism at the moment."
"Unfortunately, we have more pressing matters to attend to." Ana sighed. You must be on your way as soon as you can be. It is a long trip and you and Cyrus must begin immediately."
She walked to the door. "Oh and as for the Black Rose and the Red Star... I dont much care for their fates at all right now."
She left and moved towards Ryan. "Do you have a moment?"
She walked to the door. "Oh and as for the Black Rose and the Red Star... I dont much care for their fates at all right now."
She left and moved towards Ryan. "Do you have a moment?"
Finally back.
Kishima woke up again, from what seem a very long dream. He looked around and saw that he was no longer in the same place he had been last time when Ferous used his power to wake him up. Ah, my head hurts he thought to himself. I wonder where I am and what happened while I was out. Kishima lifted up his arm to see if he was intact. To his horro he had discover a new scar that dragged down his arm. What?!
[font color=green] If you think that's bad, check out your abdomen. Ferous said almost laughing.
Kishima slowly pulled up the new shirt he was wearing, steadying himself for the horror underneath. He pulled up the shirt. His abdomen looked as if it had been filled with holes which were then plugged up again, it looked nasty to say the least.
[font color=green] Well, that's what happens when you try to block a grenade with your body!. Ferous said, fully laughing at this point.
Alright, that's enough out of you.
Kishima slowly got up and headed for a nearby trunk looking for anything he could wear. He picked up a pair of trousers and a shirt from the trunk. Before he headed for the door he looked around for anything that could be used as a weapon.
[font color=green] What are you looking for ? Ferous asked impatiently.
A weapon. Suppose I was captured by our enemies and they just kept me alive so they could interrogate me. Well I have to strike first.
[font color=green] You know you can summon blades from underneath your arms? Ferous said confused, hoping his host did not have amnesia.
Oh yes, thanks for that.
Kishima summoned his blades from underneath his arms and left the room. He was now going to wonder the corridors until he found someone who could tell him where he was and where the other people are.
Ryan spasmed awake in his chair as he realized Ana was talking to him "Yeah."
He looked at his watch and then back at her "I've got time."
He looked at his watch and then back at her "I've got time."
So basically, just to clarify, these are personal side missions. You can basically go sand box with them and do whatever you want to make it interesting. I have suggestions if you want them, but feel free to make it as exciting or not (if you suck 
) as you wish.
) as you wish."So I need you to go to Detroit. In a post office on main dtreet road will be a private P.O. Box. It will be on the 46th floor of the building. The number is 631 and the combination is 23-66-33-67. Inside is a page of a journal that Kin stashed away. We need it as soon as possible. We will be waiting for you at the Palace of the innocents in the yellow mountains of China. Take Kishima with you when he is well. The locations are all here" She handed him a small envelope with several papers in it. "In here is the information about the strong box and the locations of Rhyle stationed in Detroit who may still be loyal to Kin, as well as stashes of equipment to help you get the box out in whatever way you should choose."
"Please be careful. We have made a few enemies in Detroit who will likely be watching for signs of Kin, and you getting close to his private stashes and allies will raise suspicion."
"Yeah, sure I'll get on it." He opened the envelope and began to look through the papers.
He stopped a couple of pages in "Right... Kishima, I should probably check on him."
He stood up half awake and wandered towards Kishima's room, not noticing him walking away.
He stopped a couple of pages in "Right... Kishima, I should probably check on him."
He stood up half awake and wandered towards Kishima's room, not noticing him walking away.
Time has no meaning to Silas Grey; through his blind eye the future raced past. A darkness falling over the world, strange winds blowing, a cry building on the wind, and a great fortress in the snow-capped peaks shudder asunder to reveal a great blackness exuding like blood. Silas could not ignore it, but he focused on the man before him chained and stripped naked. He bore a Steward's Mark but it was irrelevant here, in the Black Rock. Where no magic may be wrought, no weapon drawn but by those who ruled it, and Silas ruled it. The man spat at Silas's boots and cursed at him in Acrypha; "I see. You prefer to die?" and the man nodded, grinning.
"I don't think so, not yet my friend..." and here Silas waved his hands and his mouth melted together and vanished into the skin of his face, then his eyes and then his arms and legs melded together before four Illrians began to prod him with black staves that send electrical bolts into him as the body shook but made no sound. This way it stayed, for minutes or hours Silas did not know but when Silas felt he was done and the man had stopped moving he waved his hand and he suddenly gave him back his faculties. He kneeled there, screaming horribly for many minutes before finally stopping, this breath utterly spent. Silas walked over to him and kneeled to look at him in the face where he lay in a pool of snot, tears and saliva. "You will tell me where your mastermind is, or I will not rest until you scream your voice away in agony and then I will take your senses away and let your mind scream for as long as I wish to hear its music. The choice, my friend, is yours."
The man lay there, crying and out of his bubbling speech he said "It's....the Praetor...the Praetor made the pact."
Silas stood and signaled the Illrians to step aside and allow the man to rise. "I am so sorry for this, but some things must be done for the greater good." Silas looked at one of the Illrians and said "Return him to his master, but leave a present for him. Etch a mark of the Archon, let his master behold my might before his fate unfolds." The Illrian nodded and drew his dagger, and Silas turned while the man began to scream. A mark of the Archon would blast the Praetor's mind should he glimpse it and reveal the fate of his soul after his death, a black place of madness and pain...and never-ending chaos. If the Praetor lived he would live in fear of death for the rest of his life, the only misery Silas could bring himself to visit upon his enemy. The betrayers would pay for their sins, but another Omen was on the horizon but what...he did not know.
"I don't think so, not yet my friend..." and here Silas waved his hands and his mouth melted together and vanished into the skin of his face, then his eyes and then his arms and legs melded together before four Illrians began to prod him with black staves that send electrical bolts into him as the body shook but made no sound. This way it stayed, for minutes or hours Silas did not know but when Silas felt he was done and the man had stopped moving he waved his hand and he suddenly gave him back his faculties. He kneeled there, screaming horribly for many minutes before finally stopping, this breath utterly spent. Silas walked over to him and kneeled to look at him in the face where he lay in a pool of snot, tears and saliva. "You will tell me where your mastermind is, or I will not rest until you scream your voice away in agony and then I will take your senses away and let your mind scream for as long as I wish to hear its music. The choice, my friend, is yours."
The man lay there, crying and out of his bubbling speech he said "It's....the Praetor...the Praetor made the pact."
Silas stood and signaled the Illrians to step aside and allow the man to rise. "I am so sorry for this, but some things must be done for the greater good." Silas looked at one of the Illrians and said "Return him to his master, but leave a present for him. Etch a mark of the Archon, let his master behold my might before his fate unfolds." The Illrian nodded and drew his dagger, and Silas turned while the man began to scream. A mark of the Archon would blast the Praetor's mind should he glimpse it and reveal the fate of his soul after his death, a black place of madness and pain...and never-ending chaos. If the Praetor lived he would live in fear of death for the rest of his life, the only misery Silas could bring himself to visit upon his enemy. The betrayers would pay for their sins, but another Omen was on the horizon but what...he did not know.
Kishima kept wondering around the halls of this newly found place.
"Hello! Anyone here ?" he spoke in a loud voice.
<font color=green> Idiot as if anyone will answer you! They will now most likely prepare a trap for you now they know you're awake.
We talked about this. Shut up. This isn't helping, besides that's why you're here, to help me defeat impossible odds. Although you did let me down when you let me get hit by that grenade,
Kishima turned suddenly. "Who goes there?" he asked in a startled voice.
I thought I heard something! Ready the blades.
As soon as Kishima uttered the phrase, 'ready the blades', the two sharp blades rose from underneath his wrist and were ready for anything. So taking cover behind the wall, just around the corner, he was ready to pounce on the person he presumed followed him.
He waited quietly...
"Hello! Anyone here ?" he spoke in a loud voice.
<font color=green> Idiot as if anyone will answer you! They will now most likely prepare a trap for you now they know you're awake.
We talked about this. Shut up. This isn't helping, besides that's why you're here, to help me defeat impossible odds. Although you did let me down when you let me get hit by that grenade,
Kishima turned suddenly. "Who goes there?" he asked in a startled voice.
I thought I heard something! Ready the blades.
As soon as Kishima uttered the phrase, 'ready the blades', the two sharp blades rose from underneath his wrist and were ready for anything. So taking cover behind the wall, just around the corner, he was ready to pounce on the person he presumed followed him.
He waited quietly...
"Hello! Anyone here ?"
Ryan snapped awake hearing that.
"Who goes there?"
He looked over where he thought he saw someone bounding around the corner "Ryan!"
He thought about it "Why?!"
Ryan snapped awake hearing that.
"Who goes there?"
He looked over where he thought he saw someone bounding around the corner "Ryan!"
He thought about it "Why?!"