[Nexus Plot] The Prodigal Son Returns

[InyutheBeatIs]

Los Angeles. One of the most well known cities in California. Equal parts prosperity and sin. Now, what is seen is a 3D black and white polaroid of Los Angeles in chaos, frozen explosions, military men escorting civilians and fighting odd creatures, and people screaming. The skies itself looks dead, black as night, starless, sunless, and moonless.

However, there is something different. There is something alive, something...watching, watching from all angles. There's also something here, something other than the black and white statues of the once living. Throughout the area is a series of spidery void black tentacles laced into the scenery. They all seen to point towards this one spot.

A teenager with dark brown hair folds into this world in the middle of a war-torn street. The only source of color noticable, what with his faded blue jeans, the decorations on his black hoodie, and his pale skin. In his hand is a glowing, golden-yellow blade, his green eyes filled with sadness darting around. He lets out a sigh as he looks at the scene. "Well John, we're here."

[The Bushranger]

Next to said teenager is a tall, white-haired yet still fairly young-looking man, whose piercing - almost glowing - green eyes quickly take in the scene as he unclips a blaster from his belt.

"Geez. I knew things were bad, but I didn't know things were this bad," he mutters. "So. Care to fill me in on anything I should know? Like those tentacles - parts of this Elder Evil we're here to stop?"

[InyutheBeatIs]

Next to said teenager is a tall, white-haired yet still fairly young-looking man, whose piercing - almost glowing - green eyes quickly take in the scene as he unclips a blaster from his belt.

"Geez. I knew things were bad, but I didn't know things were this bad," he mutters. "So. Care to fill me in on anything I should know? Like those tentacles - parts of this Elder Evil we're here to stop?"

Chris chuckles humorlessly as he takes in the apocalyptic scene. "Yeah. Welcome to earth." He then turns to look at BR. "Firstly, yeah, those tentacles are a part of it. It'd probably be a good idea not to do anything to them; we don't want to give our little friend here cause for alarm. Second, this place is in suspended animation, so watch your step so that you don't accidentaly bash someone's face in...literally. Third, we should probably set up some magical protection around us, something that won't alarm it. I don't want to end up like these guys here."

[The Bushranger]

"Lovely." John sighs, and waves a hand idly in the air, a brief green shimmering surrounding them before vanishing. "Protection from Evil. I assume this suspended-animation thing is how the Cthuluoid here feeds, or something like that? And if it's already got tentacles everywhere...why's it needing a host?"

[InyutheBeatIs]

"Lovely." John sighs, and waves a hand idly in the air, a brief green shimmering surrounding them before vanishing. "Protection from Evil. I assume this suspended-animation thing is how the Cthuluoid here feeds, or something like that? And if it's already got tentacles everywhere...why's it needing a host?"

Chris nods as BR casts Protection from Evil. "Thanks. I think this suspended animation is a product of its feeding. This isn't a host, it's a womb of sorts. The Cthuluoid is still a baby, a fetus even, at least how I understand it. That thread is still weaving the egg walls." He turns to BR. "Speaking of which, what exactly are we going to do?"

[The Bushranger]

"Well, you said something about how there's this one person who's responsible or whatnot, right? Thought we were here to find him. Although this," John waves his hand at the surrounding scene, "makes me want to just go ahead and blast the evil at its source. Might want to bring my sister along though, she's better at Hadoken-ing than I am."

((and I must be off. 'Night.))

[InyutheBeatIs]

"Well, you said something about how there's this one person who's responsible or whatnot, right? Thought we were here to find him. Although this," John waves his hand at the surrounding scene, "makes me want to just go ahead and blast the evil at its source. Might want to bring my sister along though, she's better at Hadoken-ing than I am."

((and I must be off. 'Night.))

Chris's eyes widen at this and shakes his head and waves his arms in an attempt to say "no" every way possible. "Woah woah woah woah now, time out. I know that this looks bad, and I appreciate your enthusiasm, but that, is a very, very bad idea. Firstly," He starts counting on his fingers, "we don't know what this thing is even capable of. We could be charging into a death trap for all we know. Secondly, if we do that, what we'd be doing would probably be akin to taking a shotgun and shooting cancer with it. It might get rid of the cancer, but it'll also leave a giant hole where there really shouldn't be one." Chris thinks of something. "...look, we should probably do two things while we're here. First, we find out the source of the thread so we can get rid of it. Second, we get something that belongs to the guy responsible for all this and track him down. We might be able to beat out of him how to reverse this completely, although it'll be tricky just finding him."

[The Bushranger]

"Oh, I know. It's just that I have the urge to right wrongs, and all that. So," BR says, calming a bit. "First things first, yeah. How do we find the source, then? Anything I should look for?"

[InyutheBeatIs]

"Oh, I know. It's just that I have the urge to right wrongs, and all that. So," BR says, calming a bit. "First things first, yeah. How do we find the source, then? Anything I should look for?"

Chris reaches into his jeans pocket, pulling out an iPod Touch. "Well, it might be a good idea to get near the source of the whole thing, which is the site of the ritual. Now, that site is right about~..." At this point, he holds out the iPod, showing the map app with a location flagged in a mountain range in Russia. He points out to it. "Here. It's right here. We...are here." He then zooms out, and points to Los Angeles, California. "You think that's the right course of action?"

[The Bushranger]

"Hmm. Logical enough. Could always be a trap waiting for anybody with that idea, though."
John smirks, and chuckles.
"Of course, it's always been my considered opinion, that the best way to deal with a trap, is to spring it..."

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris smiles and shakes his head. "Try to keep in mind that I'm probably more fleshy and squishy than you, John. I can't go through the same crap you can." He walks over to a nearby building, and softly knocks on the now still walls, not making a sound. His hand spreads out and feels it. "It's hard to believe I used to walk these streets, see people walking along here, going about their lives."

[The Bushranger]

"Oh, I am. That's what shields are for."
From seemingly nowhere, BR produces one of these (http://www.spiritech.com/v/alnaria/180px-Personal_shield_emitter.jpg), and tosses it to Chris. "Put that on, and it makes an energy shield around you. Won't come off unless you convince your subconsious you really don't need it, though."

Following Chris, he sighs slightly, nodding sadly. "Well, we'll have to make sure that people get to go about their lives here once more, then," he says, firmly.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris deftly catches the shield, and looks at it curiously. "...Well, I suppose that's better than dying. I guess I'll have to give everyone else here a wide berth."

He sighs as he looks at the bleak scenery. His chin lifts up, his face hardens, his eyes beginning to show determination. "I guess we will, won't we?" Chris then looks back to BR. "You got my signature? If we teleport, we might get deflected and sent flying to God knows what."

[The Bushranger]

"Yup, got your signature." BR nods. "And they want to deflect me, I'd like to see them try - if they can, they deserve it for their effort." He chuckles.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris chuckles, and puts on the shield emitter. As the shield pops up, he moves to BR. "Well, John, beam us up there (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgahtxcDteo&feature=related)."

[The Bushranger]

BR grins, putting his hand on Chris's shoulder...

...and with a flash, tries to Fold them directly to the source!
Or, at least, to that mountain range.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Surprisingly, it succeeds, although the duo will probably get an enhanced sense of being watched. They are folded onto a mountainside, flanked by several other mountains. It appears that there was once a blizzard blowing through, but now every snowflake is held in the air forevermore by an invisible hand. Behind them is a cave entrance, where several thick void tentacles radiate from. All around them are scenes of battle frozen in time. Chris looks around paranoidly, worried. That thing is definitely watching them with intense interest now.

Chris points towards the cave. "That's the place. That's where we found Llorac completing the ritual that started all this. Whatever that thing is, it's in there." Chris looks at the air, as though he were expecting something. "More importantly, it knows we're here."

[The Bushranger]

"Well, then. We know it's here, it knows we're here, we know it knows we're here - does it know we know it knows we're here?"

BR, for his part, looks quite comfortable in the (presumed) chill. "You know, there is one thing I have to ask. Mr. Void here maybe I should call him Sentry - has anybody tried talking to it?"

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris shrugs. "I think it's safe to assume that it knows we know it knows we're here. That, or it's too concentrated on us to give a crap." It actually doesn't feel like anything. The air is stale.

Chris looks rather surprised at the suggestion of talking to it. "You do realize you just suggested talking to something that could very well drive us insane, right? But no, no one has tried talking to it to my knowledge."

[The Bushranger]

"Yeah, I realise that." John chuckles. "But hey, it's not like it can make my hair turn any whiter, right? And if there's a way to resolve this without blasting and destruction, we should try it. Even if my suggesting that makes some people who know me faint from shock."

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris's face cracks into a smile, but it fades quickly as he pulls out an FN-P90 and loads it with a magazine of hollow-points. He puts the strap on it over his shoulder. "Well then, it wouldn't be polite of us to try and yell at it from across the room, would it?" Almost as if on que, the tentacles from the cave clear a path, faintly revealing a doorway. Needless to say, Chris is a bit surprised. "Okay...that was unexpected."

[The Bushranger]

"Unexpected, but..." BR shrugs. "Either it's surprised not to be getting shot at, wants to talk, or wants lunch. If the last, though, I hope it has a bottle of Pepto-Bismol."

And straightening up his shoulders, he strides forwards torwards the door.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris nods and follows him to the door. The doors look like it could belong in some kind of ancient castle, yet appears to be made out of modern materials. Both are swung wide open and show signs of damage, namely a large dent in each door that indicates a punch. Inside is a fairly large, circular space held up by roman pillars. Several twisted creatures do battle with a couple of military men bearing a white symbol: the letters "E" and "A" together, with angelic wings on the sides. There are also two other people. An African-American boy about the same age as Chris, wearing what looks like cowboy gear, complete with hat, using the fanning maneuver with an old revolver. A figure almost completely clad in armor, face covered by a helmet, wildly colored, long hair flowing from underneath. This figure is swinging a nodachi as large as himself, cleaving into a poor gargoyle more than its position would indicate. Both of these figures also bear the same symbol as the military men. Chris looks longingly on these figures in particular, indicating that these were his friends.

There are more tentacles wrapping themselves throughout the scenery, some wrapping around the ankles of the figures, some wrapped around the pillars, others just floating. There are also the ones that led outside, dissapearing down a flight of stairs.

[The Bushranger]

And BR blinks in surprise at seeing the winged "EA" symbol on the men's uniforms.
"...this woudn't happen to stand for 'Earth Alliance', would it?" he asks, looking around at Chris with a curious - and slightly surprised - look, before turning back to face the frozen tabeleau.

"Well, then. I suppose this is where we say hello Ctuhulu."

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris shakes his head as he looks at the cowboy figure. "No, it doesn't. It stands for 'Ever After'. It was formed when Llorac got loose and started toying with the world. My friends and I were some of the founders." He looks and points down the stairs. "Cthulu is down there a ways. Llorac built quite the dungeon for himself behind our backs. We've still got a bit of footwork to go."

[The Bushranger]

"Ahh. Convergent timeline evolution, perhaps, then." John nods in understanding. "Well, then. I suppose we should get a move on. If you'd lead the way?"

[InyutheBeatIs]

"Maybe. I don't know, but it is interesting. I guess we'll talk about it when we aren't staring down death." Chris then walks over to the stairway, but as he reaches it he turns back and gives the figures a wave. "Hang in there, Cowboy, Hair-san. I'll be back soon."

As they head down the stairway, the snaking tentacles giving way to the group as the head down flights of stairs. The whole way down, the sense of being watched becomes more and more oppressive, as well as whispers coming into hearing. They start off at the horizon of hearing, becoming more noticable as they move down. The floors look mostly the same, a circular floor with roman pillars, depicting a scene frozen in turmoil. This continues for a couple of floors until they reach a hallway. Strangely, the doors are closed at the end of the hallway, the tentacles phasing through it. Chris looks back at BR. "It's beyond here. You ready John?"

[The Bushranger]

"Hmm..." BR doesn't answer at first, as he studies the tentacles and their passing through the door. "I wonder: simple intangibility? Phase-shifting? Being simply not entirely on this plane?" he muses. "Either way, it's an ability not dissimilar to some of my own," he points out.

Then takes a deep breath, and flexes his fingers, before nodding. "Yeah, I'm ready. Let's go see what the Tentacle Kid here has to say, and if he'll do anything besides whisper it."

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris follows suite, taking a deep breath before stepping towards the door. As he does so, the tentacles move to the side to make way for the both of them. Chris pushes the door open, and reveals the scene before them.

It was a room not unlike the previous floors, being circular in nature. However, it is much, much more expansive than the previous floors. The pillars are more substantial, as well as more held by the tentacles. The whispering becomes noticable murmuring, a chorus of moans and brief shrieks of pain adding to the racket. The feeling of being watched becomes truly oppressive. The stone floors are light up by sickly purple runes around a pedestal near the back of the room, filling the air with an almost painful energy away from the runes. On this altar-like pedastal, is the abomination itself. A black thing that is a black that seems impossible sits on the pedestal, no features other than the almost innumerable tentacles spewing forth from what could be considered a body. Most of these tentacles shoot into the ground, but some go in all directions. Just above this mass is a crudely shaped, ghastly crown in which faces appear to scream. However, the most curious feature is a pillar being woven, that isn't seen, but rather felt. The thread that weaves this pillar is also invisible, pointing to a direction unknown.

The tentacles twitch and writh, but otherwise do nothing. The being does nothing, but watch. Chris grips his sword in a vice, making his knuckles white, his face one of pure shock. The thing just sits there, waiting for the group to make their move.

[The Bushranger]

John winces a bit at the scene before him...but doesn't seem too disturbed. (Or, rather, not as disturbed, perhaps, as one might expect).

After all, he's dealt with Draken before.

He does, however, not approach too far, taking in the scene around before, with a deep breath, straightening himself up into an almost military posture, formal and somehow respectful.

"Good day. We come to speak," he says, his tone firm and level. "And to learn. I am Captain (inactive list) John Patrick Ryan O'Connell, Earth Alliance. My companion is Chris. Do you have a...title, by which we may refer to you?"

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris just stares at the thing before them, knuckles still white.

As for the thing, it shifts its focus slightly on BR as he speaks. It then speaks, a resounding, pale voice from all directions and none. It seems to speak with difficulty, as though it isn't used to talking.
"No..."
"No title or name..."
"Never given...only taken..."
"...Void...nothing, if not Void..."
"You bring war...what do want...to learn with war?"

[The Bushranger]

"Then I shall call you Void."
And BR decidely is thinking about calling it Sentry, but resists.
"We come bringing...not-war. We seek peace. We wish to exist, as do you. However, as you may have noticed, our existiances seem to be...mutually incompatable. We want to find a way to both exist, in our own ways, without one of us interfereing with the other. That there may be not war."

[InyutheBeatIs]

"...Very well...call me...what you wish."

"...You...you both interest me...you more than...the boy..." Chris tightens as he is addressed as "boy". "You interest me...because you don't make sense..."

"This world in...which I was born...is different than yours...I can tell..."

"Why...exactly...did you two come here...John Patrick Ryan...O'Connell? How did you know...to come here...for this peace that you seek?"

[The Bushranger]

"Indeed. I come from...many worlds. I'm not sure I would describe myself as coming from any particular one, anymore." John folds his hands behind his back, giving Chris a calming gesture, before continuing.

"I came here on Chris' behalf. He sought out the organisation of which I am a part, seeking assistiance. To...well, to save this world, from you, actually. And that is something I still hope to do. However, that doesn't mean I have to destroy, or injure you, I hope. We are both beings that seek to exist, to continue to exist, and to achieve that which we are born, created, or which in our nature to do. It's my belief that it's possible for that to happen, without anyone - us, the people outside, you, or anybody - having to die, or to cease to exist."

[InyutheBeatIs]

"Void" seems to pause in thought for a second, as it digests the conversation. After a moment, its attention shifts back to the group. "I never realized...this world needed saving...perhaps he knew of what it was before I came here...do you?" Chris looks up at the thing, struggling to talk. "Y-yes. Yes I did."

"And I suppose...you wish to return this world...to its former glory?" Chris just nods.

"I think I understand. You wish...to negotiate with me...to create a compromise...I cannot give you one...for in order to do that...I must know what I have to bargain with..."

"I understand myself very little...I am my greatest puzzle...I grow...and shift...and change beyond my comprehension...my 'purpose', as you say, is kept from me...under lock and key...for I have existed only briefly..."

"So, tell me...what do you understand of me? What do you know of me? What...am I...that is so horrible...that this child must bring you here to stop me?"

[The Bushranger]

John listens quietly, and thinks for a few minutes. Before speaking again.
"Well, from what I understand - what is presumed is known of you by the people here - is that somehow you, well, eat the universe. More or less. Perhaps that is a crude anaology, but it is the...closest one that can be made, I think. Now, this does not necessarily make you horrible - after all, if one simply does what one does, without malice, but simply as being, well, that's that. But if it is possible to be without disrupting, or killing, others, then that is much better than the alternative. Because I'm afraid, that if things remain as they are, all of the people on this world, then, the world itself, then all other worlds...will die."

He pauses to let that sink in. "Now based on that assumption...there are many other universes. Some are uninhabited, others...are inhabited by beings that should not exist. If it were possible, I could...direct you, to one of those other universes. Assuming, of course, that there is not some way for you, and these people, to co-exist, and learn from each other, and mutually enrich each other..."

...and, yes, he realises how much he sounds like Captain Picard. :smalltongue:

[InyutheBeatIs]

Void seems to break its oppressive attention on the group, and instead looks inwards in thought. For a few minutes, it is as though everything stopped, even though it is just relative to before. Then, suddenly, the oppression comes back. "There are these things you call...'parasites'...your description of me seems to fit that...I can offer nothing and only take..."

"I cannot see how I...can enrich your lives, as you say...I am not even born yet, my knowledge limited to what your race knows...and if you are right...that I...let us use the term 'absorb', universes...I will only continue to do so...and there will be more like you...only they might not be as rational."

"I hear their voices...the beings that lived here before me...I can see what is left of them...and hear them...they cry out in pain, and misery, and hatred...they know of me, and wish me dead...if you move me, I may die before I am even born...I will not allow that...I must live to see why I exist."

Chris stands there, paling as Void describes itself. He moves closer to BR and whispers in his ear. "Are you getting any readings on the wards and that thread?"

((By the way, I have to apologize for my probably cringe-worthy writing.))

[The Bushranger]

((No worries. :smallsmile: It's better than what I could come up with))

"Still looking," BR whispers back - even as he turns more of his mind to the search for these things, having been reminded that that is, y'know, actually the technical reason why they're here. :smalltongue:

"Well, then," he says to the Void, "we seem to be at an impasse. Or perhaps what is known as a Mexican Standoff. You don't want to harm these people, I believe, from your words, and yet you seek to exist, to live. To find what you are. And who am I do deny a sentinent being such a thing? But then again, is it right for a being to become, to live, if for them to live is only for others to die? It's a deep moral question, and one to which I cannot say I know the answers to...

...however, there is a saying. There are exceptions to it - there always are. But a wise people, on a world very very far away, essentailly made this part of their moral code. And, while, as I said, it is not an absolute, it is often, if nothing else, a good guideline for morality:

'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.'."

[InyutheBeatIs]

The Void speaks after a pause. "I do not question their wisdom...however, I find it hypocritical of you...to say that to me...members of your kind...all throughout history have...sent millions to their deaths for...their singular glory..."

"Perhaps...perhaps I am no different..."

"You came here for a purpose...you have shown reason to me...and I let you in because you interest me...however, now you begin to bore me...finish your business here and leave...we're done with idle debates." You can see in the air, it means what it says.

Chris looks like he's about to burst into flames, but just barely keeps it together. He then looks at BR, filled with righteous flames. "Alright, you heard it. Let's finish up and get out of here."

On casual glances, the wards are pretty indecipherable, although from the sharp buzzing in the air, you can guess that its some kind of protective ward. If BR uses some kind of magic vision, however, he might notice that the wards also wrap around the Void itself, like some kind of mucus. The thread is similar, it isn't easy to tell where it comes from, only upwards. However, on casual glances, it's noticable that it moves.

[The Bushranger]

"I never said humanity was perfect. And you're correct, many glory-hounds have done that kind of thing.

"However, as you say, we came here to reason. I appreciate your time."

BR (who, indeed has True Seeing and a variety of other magic seeing thingy-dingies :smalltongue:), meanwhile, studies the 'thread' intently, even as he speaks.

"I would, however, like to close by pointing out that perhaps you have the opportunity to show humanity you're better than they believe you are - and, also, better than many of them, perhaps.

By showing two other qualities that are indicitative of those who are truly enlightened:

Mercy.

And altruism.

Good day."

...and once he discerns anything more about the thread (if he can), he turns to leave.

[InyutheBeatIs]

The Void seems to create an effect that would be the human equivalent of narrowing his eyes. "I shall ponder that...then." It's giving the group enough patience to allow them to finish their buisiness and leave. Just enough.

As for the thread, BR will probably actually be able to see the thread. It seems to be life energy, although it's laced with some sort of evil filth throughout. Whoever this energy is coming from, he is a bad dude, or at least was. The thread leads down to what appears to be a stump of a pillar, the thread seemingly weaving the pillar. However, the pillar stump is odd, as it fluctuates in and out of Void as though it were absorbing the pillar. In fact, BR might be able to see traces of this life energy being absorbed into Void, quickly dissapearing.

Unless BR has some sort of divination vision, he probably won't be able to tell anything else. However, if he were to use something like that, he might get more of the story...

[The Bushranger]

Tempting as it is to say BR has that ability, alas, divination is one thing he's nevery been any good at.

Evocation is anoterh matter, of course.

Nontheless, he does try to 'lock on' to the thread's overall 'signature', so as to recoginse it later, as they head out of the room without further comment. At least on his part.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Ah well, we all have our weaknessess, right?

As for the signature, it should be pretty easy. The energy is roughly the same, so once he gets a reading on it, it should be easy to track.

As BR moves to walk out of there, Chris just stares, no glares at the Void. Just about as BR reaches the doorway, Chris finally breaks sight of it and almost runs out of there. The Void closes the doors behind them. As they make their way out, Chris just remains silent. The whole way out, Void watches, wary of what they'll do.

As soon as they reach the spot where they arrived at the mountain, the cave from where they came clogs up with Void's tentacles. Then, the feeling of being watched dissappears. At that instant, Chris almost gets up in BR's face in expectation. "So? Did you get anything?"

[The Bushranger]

Indeed. BR also used to be able to open portals. He lost that back when he had that accident with Castaras...

Anyway.

"Woah, eager beaver. Yeah, I think I might have." BR nods, chuckling softly. "One spool of thread, ready for following."

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris steps back after he realizes how forward he was. "...sorry about that. So, what now? Do we get the hell out of here?" He's still a bit wound up, as he's tapping his foot on the ground irritatedly.

[The Bushranger]

"Well, yes. And follow the yellow brick road, I presume."

And BR looks around to see where that thread is, if it can be seen.

[InyutheBeatIs]

The thread can be seen shooting into the black, lightless sky. The contrast is almost glaring. Its movements are slightly more dramatic. It has a slight curve to it, but its location is still undeterminable from sight alone.

Chris tries to look in the same direction as BR does, and squints to try and see what he sees.

[The Bushranger]

"...and, right there, is that road I mentioned."
John points at the sky, in the direction of the thread.

"So. Up for a bit of flying?" he asks Chris with a grin.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris looks over at BR oddly. "...Are you serious?" He thinks about it for a second, breathing deeply. Then, he looks up at him and smiles. "Alright. Let's go."

[The Bushranger]

"Serious as a shark attack." BR chuckles. "Alright, grab hold and hang on. Please keep your seatbacks in the upright and locked position, et-cetera, and thank you for flying Air Ghost."

And once Chris is holding tight...it's up, up and away!

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris does move to grab onto BR, and when he feels like he's securely locked in he...realizes something. "What about air?"

[The Bushranger]

BR laughs, and looks quite happy to be flying. "Don't worry. We won't be flying that high. And even if we were, that's what the forcefield bubble is for."

[InyutheBeatIs]

"Oh." As they ascend, they become surrounded by the blackness that is the sky now, the ground below becoming smaller and smaller. Chris isn't enjoying this as much as BR is, his face stoney and resolute.

[The Bushranger]

BR doesn't look back (or down), grinning, not having been able to fly for awhile.

And all the while, following the yellow brick road thread.

[InyutheBeatIs]

As for the yellow brick road thread, it just keeps going. And going, and going, and going, and...

Eventually, it might become noticable that the thread stretches into space. :smalleek:

[The Bushranger]

"Well, that's interesting..." BR mutters, coming to a halt at around 80 thousand feet. "So. You up for a little interplanetary journey?" he asks Chris, squinting and trying to guess which planet the thread goes to.

[InyutheBeatIs]

The thread goes on and on into space, no particular location immediately visible.

As for Chris, he thinks for a second before replying. Right now, he's reeling from the height. "Well, why not. Always did wonder what space looked like." He doesn't sound that enthusiastic about it.

((So, any preferences for how this should end? It's not that I don't have an idea, it's that I don't want to end this and have it be unsatisfying.))

[The Bushranger]

"Well, then, good thing I packed my portable hyperspace drive. It's a wonder what a little magic with a naquadah-Quantium40 alloy core can shrink a drive size to."
BR, as he speaks, starts fishing in his Bag of Holding; it's pretty obvious he's not joking. Even as he tries to determine if the thread at least remains within Sol system...

(("The same thing we do every night Pinky: save the world!
...aside from that, presumably (or ending it, if that's how you want things to go :smallsmile:), I'm flexible with regards to ending.))

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris nods his head while BR fishes through his Bag of Holding, before realizing the words "hyperspace drive" might not work out too well for him. "Wait, what? A hyperspace drive? Are you nuts?!"

As for the thread...it may be in the Sol System. Maybe.

[The Bushranger]

"Why, yes. Totally and completely bonkers, or so I've been told on multiple occasions." BR chuckles. "Ah, here it is. Might not need it after all, though."

And he continues steering to follow the Rainbow Bridge.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris holds on a bit tighter as they take off. He relaxes just a tiny bit after realizing they aren't blasting off at ungodly speeds. Well, maybe.

As for space, it is just as bleak and still as Earth was. The light of stars don't reach here, yet the objects seem to be lit as well as they were in life.

For some reason, the thread points towards Io, one of the moons circling Jupiter.

[The Bushranger]

"Hmm. Should just be a short jump. Since I doubt you want to travel for several months getting there, right?" BR asks Chris with a grin, as he starts punching buttons and spooling up the hyperdrive window generator.

[InyutheBeatIs]

"Right. I wouldn't want that." He then waves towards where it is (he can still feel the thread). "Alright John, giddyup and let's roll."

[The Bushranger]

"Especially since I'd have to continually listen to pleas of 'are we there yet?'," BR quips.

Then grinning, he activates the hyperdrive (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqyC-MI3wYU)...


...and off they go (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCJJXH47n0A&feature=related)!

Dropping out of hyperspace (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9ASj3lmEOM&feature=related) near Io.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris grins at the quip, and hangs on as they close in on Io within seconds...

Io is black and white, like pretty everything is right now. Its skies are choked with sulphur and ashes from the volcanoes that dot the surface. Io is a blanched sphere hanging in total darkness.

The thread definitely leads here. It dissappears into the surface, puncturing an odd magic field.

Curious.

[The Bushranger]

And since they're still in a shield-bubble (with air regeneration, of course) BR is able to speak as they close in on the should-be-Technicolor moon.

"Curious," he mutters, while trying to magically scan the magic field.

Also wondering if the only way to be sure will be to nuke it from orbit. :smalltongue:

[InyutheBeatIs]

And since they're still in a shield-bubble (with air regeneration, of course) BR is able to speak as they close in on the should-be-Technicolor moon.

"Curious," he mutters, while trying to magically scan the magic field.

Also wondering if the only way to be sure will be to nuke it from orbit. :smalltongue:

Ah, but then you'd miss [SPOILERS].

There isn't much there. The field isn't really meant to keep anything out. Rather, it's meant to put something in. Breathable air. At what appears to be the end of the thread (and thus the source) is an extremely large density of magic, and a steadily decreasing supply of life force, both of which stained with the same corruption that is laced into the thread.

As they enter the atmosphere, the two can see clouds of sulpher and ash pass them by. After a while, they see the earth. The land is dotted with craters, lava, and volcanoes, all frozen in time, forever showing a chaotic planet.

Save one place.

Inside the field is a rather odd building. It looks like a cross between a house and some form of medieval mace. The whole thing is built into a beaten and battered hill, fortifying itself with spikes of rock. In there is the source of it all. "No...no it can't be..." Chris mutters.

[The Bushranger]

BR doesn't need a spoiler. He's not a car. :smalltongue:

"Sounds to me like you find this familiar," John observes dryly as he slows, approaching the field, and - cautiously - going to pass through it. "Care to enlighten those of us who didn't see the trailer?"

[InyutheBeatIs]

The field is easily passed through. The tentacles from the Void reach even here, although faintly. If they're close enough to the ground, Chris hops off of John at this point. He points to the building. "That...I have a suspicion that in that building, is the man that started it all. Llorac." He practically spits out the name. And you would be absolutely correct, my little friend. That voice resounds in both of their heads. It is dripping with cruel satisfaction and malice, and an odd sense of control.

Chris growls at the voice. "That's him."

[The Bushranger]

Indeed, they come in for a soft landing.

And BR's response to the voice in his head is to send back the sensation of being thwacked on the noggin with a cricket bat.
...

"Well, then. How much property damage am I allowed to cause?" he asks Chris, as sparks of green energy crackle around his fingertios.

[InyutheBeatIs]

The attempt at psychic warfare appears to fail, as a moment later, BR might get the feeling of a light bop on the head. Come now, John. I've deflected worse in my sleep, although I have to say it was entertaining. Haven't had that happen in a while

Chris notices the energy crackling around BR's hand, and instantly holds his arm out as though to hold him back. "None. At least for the moment. We need to find out what's going on." I'll gladly tell you what's going on. After all, you managed to bring my old...friend back. Llorac says the word "friend" with a mixture of disgust and adoration. Besides, it's not ofen I get company here. I mean, this is a normally uninhabitable moon...please, come in. At that point, the doors in front of the building swing open. No one is there, they just open.

[The Bushranger]

~You want me to go all I Know Mind Fu on you? Because I can,~ BR grumbles, before nodding to Chris and letting the energy disperse. "Fine, talk talk talk, betcha 5 Simoleons in the end we wind up with Rule 37 in play anyway." He then chuckles, and motions for Chris to take the lead though the doors o' doom...

[InyutheBeatIs]

Chris nods his head, takes a deep breath, and walks in.

The inside is pretty light. At least at first. Then you start noticing all the details of the place. There's a spiral stairway that looks like a hazard just being there, let alone what it must be to walk on it. There are all sorts of odd paintings, macabre next to childish and innocent next to arcane. For now, the entryway leads to a dining room of sorts. It looks rather formal, what with its long table covered in white cloth. At the end of it is Llorac himself. Covered in a black robe of sorts, said robe covered in odd detailing and frills and other accessories to such a point that he looks like an optical illusion. His face is pale and long, an unnatural smile of twisted mirth on his face. Covering his immaculately placed gray hair is a top hat, equally decorated as his clothes.

Llorac throws his arms wide open at the sight of the two. "Welcome both, to my humble abode." He then starts pouring what looks and smells like tea into several tea cups. "Would you like some tea? Do be warned that it might just be poison. Or too bitter, it could be too bitter, but most just assume it's some kind of poison. Doesn't mean they're wrong, but, you know, it hurts to just assume something is poison because of how it tastes."

[The Bushranger]

"No thanks. I had a drink before doing our flight, so now I'm in need of a pit-stop instead of a top-up," BR says, matter-of-factly. "And unless it's a Get-Drunk Potion, poisons don't work on me. I have to say, though, I like what you've done with the place. Very Neo-Chattahoochee-Midvale. Is that a genuine Jekyll-Hyde there?" he asks, pointing at a random painting.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Llorac seems impressed that BR knows his art. "Why thank you." He takes a sip of his tea, before standing up and facing the painting in question with that same smile. His movements are accompanied by the tinkling of bells, as well as the various adornments on his clothes against each other. "As a matter of fact, yes it is. I took rather great pains to get that, but I must say it's worth it." He then turns to face BR. "I must say, I'm impressed that you are so familiar with the arts. I never took you to be the kind that would have such an interest. Of course, I've been wrong about this sort of thing before." He glances at Chris when he says this.

Chris, meanwhile, gives both of them a hard stare, as if to say "get on with this already". Llorac notices the look, however, he only lets out a more sadistic grin, as if to enjoy the pain Chris is currently going through.

[The Bushranger]

"You even have a genuine Joker, too. How pleasant. I never knew he sold his art," BR finishes, before clearing his throat. "Alright then, but enough about art. I'm here to ask, I suppose, if this little project to freeze the universe and then have it nommed by a critter from beyond the veil is your latest art project, I suppose."

[InyutheBeatIs]

Llorac gets a smug grin on his face. "He never did."

He then chuckles mirthlessly. "In a way, it is. An art project that shall mark my very being into the multiverse." He twirls around in a flourish. "This is my masterpiece in the making. My Mona Lisa, if you will. The fruits of countless years of patience are about to bloom." He then turns to the two of them. "This Void, or 'Sentry' as you wanted to call it, is but a hollow shell. As you can see, I'm connected to it through a thread." He reaches back to the thread, twanging it once with his fingers. "This thread is transferring, in a word, my soul, to that shell. When I fully transfer it to the shell, I will take it over, essentially granting myself a much more glorious body. Of course, I'm sure you would object, as I would essentially become an eldritch abomination that can eat entire universes." Chris looks on, pale as a ghost. "After I become one with this 'Sentry', I shall become one of, if not the, most powerful beings in the multiverse. Of course, this must seem rather cliche to you, but frankly I've stopped caring about such things."

Chris manages to find the strength to speak. "You're right about the cliche part...but you're still a bastard..." Llorac doesn't react, his back turned to the both of them. He looks like he's examining his fingernails.

[The Bushranger]

"You're so hungry you can eat a universe, and you think you'll start with ours? Say hello to Mister Mind when you run across him for me," John says deadpan. "You know, though, I do have an idea. How about we transfer you and Sentry to another universe, one that's almost all energy and no life at all, that way we can all get what we want?"

He folds his hands behind his back, and flexes his fingers.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Llorac stares blankly at BR for a second, before finally bursting out laughing. After a while, he shakes his head and recomposes himself. "My dear John, you have completely missed the point. It is not hunger that causes me to do this. Although I probably would be intrigued by such a lifestyle, I'd probably grow bored of it after a few months. Or a few seconds, hard to tell really. Besides, several powerful mages have tried to contain me, and quite frankly all of them have failed completely."

"No. I want this so that I can use the body. I want to live in it. I want the multiverse to know of my newly gained power. Of course, I wouldn't eat the universes at first. I mean, there are so many things that you can do to the residents of any give universe that I would miss out if I just wiped them from existence." Llorac gives a flourish. "So, I'm afraid I'll have to kindly refuse your offer. But it's nice to know you have consideration for my well-being. You're much nicer than some people here." He points to Chris when he refers to "some people".

Chris just stays silent, gripping the sword almost to the point of cracking his knuckles. He lets BR do the talking, as what he wants to say right now would not only probably get them both killed, but would also be forum inappropriate.

[The Bushranger]

"Yeah, well, that niceness might just have ended," BR says, narrowing his eyes at Llorac. "You see, I've fought scarier things than you. I was a dimension-hopper in my younger days. I've fought Shadows. Ori. Vong. And lots more.

They're not around any more.

I am.

And back then, I had a mere fraction of the power I currently possess.

...oh, did I mention that back then I also happened to blow up a planet once because the people on it made me angry?

You're getting rather close to making me angry, Mr. Llorac. And you won't like me when I'm angry."

Anyone looking at his eyes will be quite able to convince themselves (and with good reason) that his eyes flashed red for just a moment there... :smalleek:

[InyutheBeatIs]

Llorac frowns. He then sighs, rather dissapointed and bored. "Mr. O'connel, I do believe I should apologize for offending you. Of course, I won't, but I really should."

"Unfortunately, you're beginning to bore me with your threats. So, I'm afraid we'll have to part ways."

"Hell no."

Llorac quirks an eyebrow at Chris. "I beg your pardon?"

"I said hell. No. There is no way I'm going to let you do this to my world!! I've fought your abberations, I've sent your forces reeling, and I've put down the chaos you've sown. I am not going to let you destroy the world I've know all of my life!!"

Llorac frowns, extremely irritated by this point. "And you need to learn your place, Christopher." He then points towards Chris, and within an instant, Chris is thrown back to...Earth?

Llorac then lifts himself off of the ground. "You wish to fight me, John? Then fight me now."

[Earth]

Chris lands with a thud, skidding against the ground. When he gets back up, he sees that he is in New York City. The buildings and advertisements are frozen in time, the cars stuck in their tracks, chaos reigning here as people scatter away from the abberations sent by Llorac.

Chris gets up, supporting himself on a nearby taxi. Thankfully, the shield BR gave him managed to save him from any serious injury.

[The Bushranger]

As it happens, BR, as Llorac turns back to him, is...

Grinning.

Almost maniacially.

As he also lifts off the ground, fists clenched, green balls of energy crackling around them. Intertwined with the occasional strand of black...

"You know what? I'm not Superman. But I know exactly how he feels about living in a world made of cardboard. Always having to hold back, never letting go with what I can truly do. Because if I do, somebody is gonna die, probably lots of somebodies who really shouldn't. So I keep myself scaled back, and I spend most of my time drinking coffee. But you can take it, can't you, Llorac? Thought so. So I think that what we have here is going to be something I'm really, really gonna enjoy...

Come and take it."

[InyutheBeatIs]

Llorac looks at BR as he gives his speech, beginning to chuckle a moment after he finishes it. After a while, the chuckle turns into a full on laugh. After a moment, he stops laughing and snaps his fingers, instantly causing the building and all of its contents to dissappear into a space somewhere. Of course, there's still air for Llorac's benefit, but now it's just rocky terrain for miles around. "It's been a long time since I've had a good fight. Don't dissapoint me."

Llorac then appears a distance away from BR, and claps his hands. Suddenly, his shadow extends outward behind him. In the shadow are several white eyes, and soon, several twisted creatures of shadow gallop towards BR, heralded by feral cries, roars, and growls. At the same time, Llorac sends a little message down to earth...

[Earth]

Chris looks around, wondering what to do. Then, a message echoes through the streets, a familiar voice giving an order. [I]Attack the boy. Don't stop until he's dead.

At that instant, the twisted creatures once frozen in time begin to free themselves from the influence. The first one to break free is an odd gryphon of sorts, who flies off of a nearby building. In response, Chris starts to shoot at it with the FN-P90 on his person. Some of the bullets land, but it doesn't bring him down. The creature continues to dive at him, eventually landing on the ground. Thankfully, Chris managed to roll out of the way.

[The Bushranger]

[Io]

"No intentions whatsoever."
John grins ferally, and as the shadow-creatures charge...

...he gives an exaggerated, almost bored-looking yawn. :smalleek:

...before tossing his hands out torwads them. And, even in the Ioan "atmosphere", what little air there is for Llorac visibly ripples as a shockwave of telekinetic energy, existing on multple phases of existiance, blasts out at the shadow-creatures!

[InyutheBeatIs]

[Io]

The shadow-creatures are ripped to shreds by this.

Of course, this was only a test run. With a shove of Llorac's hand, a gigantic clawed arm shoots out of the shadow towards BR, attempting to grab him and crush him. Llorac hovers there, grinning.


[Earth]

Chris then gets attacked by a couple more creatures. He quickly pulls out his sword, and cuts them up with a single spin.

[The Bushranger]

BR finds himself grabbed by the clawed arm, and lifted off the ground as it squeezes!

"...oh my, that almost tickles," he says with a grin, as the squeeze seems to be squeezing into him...without any effect.

...then he vanishes in a flash of light (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKcF5je7K2E)...

...reapperaing behind Llorac.

[i]"Boo."

[InyutheBeatIs]

[Io]

At first, Llorac is surprised by this. However, if it's a teleport he's got, well then isn't it just convenient for him. Then, BR gives away his location: right behind him.

Llorac seems to swing around, about to bear a rather nasty looking blade of pure arcane energy right at BR's chest.

[The Bushranger]

Awww, he isn't scared at least one bit?
:smalltongue:

The blade of pure arcane energy gets met with a backflip, and takes off John's jacket. Which draws a glare.

"Geez, you have any idea how long I've had that thing? Now it's personal!"

He shifts the remainder of his clothes into a more battle-ready jumpsuit, and grins.

"Say, you wouldn't happen to have somebody sharing your name but with only one L and a better sense of humour?" BR quips.

Before blasting the ground under, and around, Llorac, with a full barrage of blasts.

Sixteen green-glowing ecto-equiviliants of Delayed Blast Fireballs.

All at once.

:smalleek:

[InyutheBeatIs]

Which would be a problem. A big problem.

Good thing Llorac had the good sense to set up a barrier as soon as the blasts touched, eh?

When the smoke clears, Llorac stands in the middle of it all. Well, sort of. There's a giant crater where the ground used to be, with Llorac just sort of floating there. It appears his defenses just barely held up, and a tiny drop of blood trickles from the corner of Llorac's mouth.

Llorac grins a slasher's smile at BR as he makes his quip. "Perhaps I do." At this point, two crystalline wings pop out from behind Llorac. "But I like to think of my name as just an unoriginal reverse of 'Caroll', as in 'Lewis Caroll'" At that point, the wings extend far to each side, and then come crashing towards each other at high speeds, aiming to crush BR in between them. Yes, they are ethereal.

[The Bushranger]

Needless to say, BR isn't going to stick around for that, and he teleports away!

When he reappears a distance away, though, he looks slightly bruised.

"Oh, you're the Mad Hatter, then." He grins, dusting himself off, wincing, then cracking his shoulders. "Well, I'm here to tell you that the tea party has been cancelled."

And at this point, the half-ghost-man pulls out...


A lightsabre? :smallconfused:


Which he then activates.
(It's green.)
And holds ready in a one-handed action-hero-ish pose, giving Llorac a 'come hither' gesture...

"OFF WITH HIS HEAD!"

[InyutheBeatIs]

[Io]

Llorac chuckles. "Correct, I suppose. But tea time ended when I rolled up the house."

Then, he forms shadows around himself, coalescing into a dark armor, like that of a Death Knight. In his hand is a shadow blade made of arcane energy. "En Garde indeed, good sir." His voice practically growls, as the shadows that make a sort of robe about him twirl, and he blasts off towards BR, aiming to throw him off guard with sheer brute force as his sword swings toward his chest.

[The Bushranger]

[Io]

As Llorac charges, a swirl of ghostly green energy flows up from BR's hands, around hos own blade, and he brings the lightsabre (totally not the same thing as Shawna's plasma sword, no way :smalltongue:) up to parry the incoming shadow blade. Likely sending a massive crash of energt rippling out as shadow, arcana, ectoplasm and plasma collide!

[InyutheBeatIs]

The resulting energy clash results in a small crater beneath them, rocks flying up into the non-existant atmosphere, some jutting out of the ground. BR manages to parry the blade, only to have Llorac bring it back to him with interest. "Yessss, fight. Fight me!"

[The Bushranger]

((Sorry for taking so long between posts. I should be able to start posting more regularly now))

[Io]

BR, for his part, parries again, grinning, as part of his mind starts to calculate strategies, and tactics, and...enemy plans!

"Oh, fighting is what you want, is it?" John asks, starting to back up. "I bet you get some sort of kick out of it...enjoyment...power..." He doesn't go on offence, but masterfully parries the blows, although his Vaapad skills look slightly rusty.

[InyutheBeatIs]

[Io]

Behind his helmet, Llorac grins a knowing grin. "Of course. Why would you seek power if you did not enjoy its use?"

A brief aura of power coalesces in his free hand as he lets BR parry his blow. Yes, lets. Then, as he sees an opening, he thrusts his free hand forward, a pair of black jaws gaping open, willing to eat the poor mans face off.

[The Bushranger]

BR, his eyes flashing red at Llorac's words, has his voice shift as he speaks again.
His bantering demeanor vanishes in an instant, and his voice takes on a deep, reverberating timbre, almost as if it had a built-in echo.
(If you've watched Stargate:Atlantis, think 'Wraith voice'. :smalleek:)

[i]"And that is why you fail."

And John, as Llorac thrusts his hand forwards...makes no attempt whatsoever to dodge, even as he can clearly be told to have a guess that a nasty surprise is coming.

And so, the black jaws clamp down on ghostly flesh...

...only to, perhaps, get a surprise of their own.

As, the very moment they touch Llorac's opponent, it's as if they're grabbed by an invisible, only vaguely tangible force.

And the energy creating them?

It's quite possibly going to get nommed.

With, unless Llorac pulls back in a hurry, his life-force being next on the menu. :eek:

[InyutheBeatIs]

Llorac snaps away so fast it might actually create backlash.

[I]So... He reverberates mentally. He's nowhere to be seen. The dog bites back at last. Good for you...it's good to get off of your chain every once in a while.

At this point, several balls of shadow energy are flung at John. However, he gets a bit of a nasty surprise if he lets them connect: they actually suck out his energy!

[The Bushranger]

After the first shadow-ball hits, BR turns intangible and vanishes as well.

[i]"Oh, I totally agree with you there, Lorie. Every now and then it's a good idea to find somebody who can actually take what you're capable of dishing out...

And kicking their butt so hard it winds up somewhere around their shoulders."

He grins, and extends all his senses (including the several additional ones), even as a swirling nimbus of green energy starts to form around him...intertwined with black threads.

"Oh, by the way, you taste bad. Like rotten kimchee."

[InyutheBeatIs]

A dark, hearty laugh reverberates through John's mind at that point. And you smell like rotten trilobite mixed with ceremonial incense, my little friend.

John might note something interesting at this point; namely, the fact that there seem to be multiple readings on all sides of him, all with the same amount of power as before. They seem to be multiplying too...

You know, Johnny boy, if you weren't so interested in helping Christopher we might've gotten along much better than this. We could've been best friends...or possibly even get romantically involved. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here. You have chosen your little path and you've decided that I'm square in the middle of it. So, like all obstacles, I must be overcome. Unlike most obstacles, however, I came along down a road you could've avoided just as easily as you came down it.

Tell me, why did you take it? You have no real obligation here, no familiarity, no knowledge. Perhaps...did you want an excuse to flaunt your power? I mean, I can only imagine how someone like you would feel like, not being able to flex your figurative muscles in such a long time...and I can only fathom what the ladies might think of you after you've saved the galaxy.

[The Bushranger]

((*flails*))

"Romantically involved?" John makes no indication of being alarmed in the slightest at the increase in power readings. "No thanks. I tried the flexible thing one when I got potioned. Toby was fun, but really, I'm a ladies' man. And I have one very specific lady already, thankyaveddymuch, so saving the galaxy doesn't earn me any points with them. Nice try though. The East German judge gives it a nine-point-four but you didn't stick the landing."

He smirks, crossing his arms over his chest and standing there. "As for why? Well, that's a good question. Gotta coupla reasons to answer it. One, yeah, being able to cut loose against somebody who can take it is good for the soul now and again, just ask Superman. Bats was even scarier in person than he is on TV, I might note. But also, I was asked to help. And while I may prefer to think of myself as being Chaotic Neutral, when somebody asks for help, if I can give it, I do. Plus maybe I wanted to help with HALO's image of being the Paladins Who Don't Do Anything."

At this point, BR's smirk grows broader.

"Oh, and nice trick with the duplication. Really, though, if you're going to try and surprise and overcome your enemy, you really shouldn's pick an ability that he's been practicing himself for years. Came with the whole ghost package. Been there, seen that, and it's something the ladies especially enjoy."

[InyutheBeatIs]

[I]Really now? Of course, I should've known...Ew, there's those particular memories.

What are you even doing there?!

Ach! Enough of that. It's not important, and besides, we have a duel to attend to."

It's at that moment that several figures of him are revealed. Instead of wielding a sword, the Lloracs are wielding a staff. They are all evenly spaced, and all faced towards BR. They all twirl the staff like a baton twice at the same time, various gossamer geometries forming around BR's waist, eventually forming a magic circle. Afterwards, the Lloracs thrust the ends of the staffs downward, and the inside of the circle starts to envelop BR, while spidery lines of shadow extend outward.

[The Bushranger]

BR, faced with Llorac's new assault...

...yawns.

"Oh. A binding circle that's going to envelop me, pin me, and drain my energy. How positively quaint.

Did you know how I got to be half-ghost, Llory boy? It's an interesting story. I had promise, an Archetypical Evil Sorcerer thought, to be a Lieutenant of an army of ghosts. So I was kidnapped, and the love of my life, my childhood sweetheart - a Drow, runaway from her parents like me - came looking for me. She was kidnapped, and Sorcerer-Boy offered me a trade."

Llorac(s) might note a slow buildup of an unusual - spooooooooooky - energy as BR speaks, although his posture, words and manners betray nothing.

"My cooperation, for her life. If I didn't agree to be his Lieutenant, he'd kill her."

The energy keeps building, but still, no change in John's mood.

"An obvious choice. Power beyond imagining, and the woman I loved at my side. Heck, he even told me, sometime down the road, no doubt I'd inherit his position!

At that moment, as he made his proposal, Cal'drin and I locked eyes, and we agreed.

And I shattered his ghost portal, destroying it.

He killed her in front of me.

And then..."

At this moment, BR's eyes change, once more, to a brilliant - and solid - red.

[i]"...I killed him by draining every ounce of his life-force and power, shattering his SOUL."

...and the energy buildup peaks - before a corscurating blast of rippling ectoplasmic energy lashes out, the half-ghost at its epicenter, a green tidal wave mixed with black tendrils attempting to blast through Llorac's circle and utterly flatten the countryside for 50 kilometers.

If the side of Io they're on is facing Earth, the moon suddenly brightens to the brightness of Sirius.

:eek:


((It's been a long, long time since BR got to background infodump. ^_^))

[InyutheBeatIs]

At the flash, the circle breaks into a million pieces, and the Lloracs shriek and dissipate as the flash covers the side of the moon they're on.

Finally, after a while, a high-pitched shrieking laugh peels through the air, accompanied by Llorac's usual laugh. "FINALLY!! You show your brutality, you admit your brutality. So, you're not much different than me..." At this point, shadows start to surround the edges of the light. Dark shadows, shadows that seem to suck out any hope of light.

"When all the chips are down, when you set your cards on the table, when you reveal the concrete foundation beneath the oaken flooring, this is what they see. Marvelous. More destructive capability than most mortals have ever seen. Fascinating."

"But..." The shadows now thrust themselves into the light, attempting to overtake it. "...you are running out of time. That little experiment of mine is running out of time too. Soon, my soul shall become its own, and we will see who is truly the victor of this fight."

It's true. Somewhere in the circle, Llorac's soul is depleting. The process is speeding up, and constantly accelerating.

[The Bushranger]

"Brutality? Hardly. There is no length to which the destruction of a tyrant should not be pressed; when the fate of a universe is at stake, what once could be considered 'brutal' becomes not only necessary, but desired."

John, looking almost spookily calm following his destructive outburst, crosses his arms, slowly turning, the light shrinking before the shadows - but it seems to be a consious act of will, rather than being driven back. "The 'not too different than me' argument gets tiresome, Lory. I mean, in terms of sheer destructive power? Perhaps. But as for how that power is used...ah, there you go.

Oh, also, you know, the geology of this little moon is rather interesting. I'm sure you picked it for your base on that account, actually," BR continues in a conversational tone. "I mean, you know, the whole Evil Overlord has to have his base on a volcano. And what better place than a volcanic moon? It's really interesting though that in one universe, this moons's core that popped right into Jupiter."

He pauses, smirking at the shadows.

"And really, you should have thought better, anyway, because an unstable moon...well, there are ways to make use of that, and not all of them are yours."

Suddenly BR thrusts out his hand, a green beam springing from it, aimed at...

...well, no, not where Llorac & Co. are.
But rather, at the ground beneath where the shadows are thickest.
Lancing down into the ground, hard, and starting to turn in a circle as BR rotates...

"I think you may have come prepeared for an enemy attack...but did you come prepared for a nice molten sulphur bath? I hope you brought your rubber duckie!"

And yes, it seems BR is trying to start a ring of volcanic activity around his position. :smalleek:

Even as his ghostly senses extend, seeking the 'true' Llorac.

[InyutheBeatIs]

"...Yeah, it is a bit trite when you mention it."

"Oh my! You are a perceptive one. Why yes, I decided to indulge a little stereotype. However, I must say, it is rather unfortunate that you want to do that. Oh well, good day.

Llorac has dissappeared at that point. The shadows follow him as he shoots into the air, the ball of shadows a practical comet.

Come and get me, lover boy. Let's neutralize the battlefield, shall we? At that point, Llorac just stops, and grins at John.

[The Bushranger]

"Oh well, you have to admit it was worth a try!"
John grins, and raises his fist into the air in the classic hero style, raising into the air as well in pursuit.
"Oh, that's just fine with me. I've always enjoyed a good space duel. After all, red lasers and blue lasers make up half the battle."

[InyutheBeatIs]

Llorac looks down at BR, grinning evilly at him before he becomes seemingly enveloped in shadow...before releasing what could only be described as a Macross Missle Massacre (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MacrossMissileMassacre) with shadow jaws instead of missles. All of them lick their teeth as they hurl directly towards BR.

[The Bushranger]

BR manifests Time Stop and sets about preparing a defense. :smalltongue:

((Seriously, sorry for the delay. I was sure I'd responded.))

Anyway, he just hovers there, grinning, and allows the shadow-jaws to strike...!

[InyutheBeatIs]

Llorac suspects something is up when all of a sudden he finds BR just...standing there, ready to take his assault full-on. So, he moves quickly, above and away from his original position. In his hand is a charging light, and what may be a rock forming in his hand.

"You're running out of time Mr. O'Connell."

[The Bushranger]

"Time? Time is meaningless..."

BR continues to stand there - and then suddenly moves.

"... and yet it is all that exists."

Straight into the shadowy jaws...as his figure distorts, blurs, lenghtens, and...


...well, if the jaws are connected to Llorac, he'll quite possibly suddenly find himself with the ghost attempting to possess him.

If not, he'll find himself bracketed by the equivilant of 64 Delayed Blast Fireballs.

:smalleek: