Sutoratosu

"Java," Mareek said, seeing the turtle still focusing on going after Lance. "Use Psybeam to get Lance out of the way, then follow it with a Tri Attack on the Torkoal. It's about time this stops." The porygon nodded, using a low intensity beam to grab hold of Lance Psycho-Kinetically and drag the bug type out of the path of the flamethrower right before the blast reached him, setting him down near Claude's side. Then he turned back to his opponent and prepared a triangular field of energy suspended between three spheres of red, yellow, and blue light, taking aim and then launching the attack off...

"He's both," Deric answered Darius, still looking up at the moon. "And something even worse besides... as for what he is, my best guess would be a madman at this point. He is almost nothing like he was so long ago... something had changed within in him long before it ever happened. And I think I know when it started, the beginning of the end for the bond the tied us together, the day that Marca's longing for Lucretia and jealousy for what we shared began to take a darker turn..." 4111 Years After the Darkness, The Town of Copora, The Capital Province, Renalim, in the midst of a morning rainstorm... "Your form is still off," Dame Zefora said as she looked down at Marca. The teen lay sprawled on the tiled floor, his nose bloody and his mouth filling with the metallic tasting stuff as he glared over at Deric. The other boy turned away, a look of regret in his eyes for the strike he'd just delivered. Lucretia stood watching from the other side of the dome topped patio, her own blunt saber in hand, her face a bit Apprehensive from the look in Freyal's eyes. Rain still pelted hard off the roof, the deluge outside clearly visible through the open archways leading out of the place and into the garden of the Household. "You've no one to blame but yourself, Freyal," Zefora continued in her usual harsh tone. She was known for her skill...not her kindness. "Get up. continue the exercise. This time actually hold your sword correctly, and you won't have to worry about Deric catching you in the face.” "I think it might be broken..." was all Marca could say, pressing his hand to the injury to try to stem the bleeding. "Oh for the love of the Sky Lord..." Zefora pulled him to his feet roughly and grasped the ridge of his nose, her hand and eyes glowing a faint white a moment later as she listened to the spheres and healed the boy. It wasn't even a second after before she was shoving him away in disappointment. "Go, stand on the side lines. Lucretia and Deric will demonstrate the maneuver so that you can finally get it through that thick head of yours," then to Lucretia, "Come, Girl!" Lucretia stepped forward to take Marca's place, glancing at the boy as he stalked off and leaned against the wall. "Sabers at the ready." Dame Zefora ordered. Deric hesitated a little against his opponent, not wishing to have a repeat of a few minutes ago. Lucretia had similar misgivings... but did as instructed nonetheless, bringing up the Steel Waster. "This is not Fencing..." Her instructor called loudly. she corrected herself and gripped the thing with both hands. Deric still hadn't brought his up. Zefora looked at him expectantly, than realizing that he was refusing to continue after the incident with Freyal, looked back to his opponent. "Strike him down." "But, mam... he doesn't even have his waster at the r-" "I said: Strike. Him. Down. NOW." She had no choice in the matter. God knows what happened whenever the old Dame got her temper up, not many had lived to ever tell about it. Lucretia readied herself, then circled around Deric with impressive footwork, feinting to the right before pivoting back and strafing before he could even react. The strike came from behind... The sound of steel clashing on steel echoed through the still air. Deric stood with his eyes shut, his arms arced over his head and his waster held perpendicular behind his back, blocking Lucretia's blow, the two of them struggling to push back against the other's strength. He opened his eyes, dropping the intense focus he had gathered in order to detect where the girl was and intercept the attack. "Good, still willing to spar," Their instructor remarked, nodding at the boy. "Deric, commence." Again he hesitated, just as he had when ordered to get in a ready stance. The old swordswoman glanced at Lucretia whencemore. "Take his head off-" Before she could even issue the order, Deric had spun around to an about face, swinging the practice blade in a high verticle arc meant to disarm, the force of the repulsion sending Lucretia's arm flinging out to the side before she could attack. Deric took a single shuffle away, finally holding the weapon in the desired stance. Lucretia came at him again, swinging in a horizontal arc from the right. Deric parried and returned with one of his own, the two of them falling into a steady back and forth, the song of tempered steel echoing like a choir of deadly angels. But Zefora found fault with this; Deric was going no where near as hard as he could muster, he was most definitely holding back right now, she knew it for a fact. "Deric, stop going easy on her!" "But-" "Did you go easy on Freyal just now?" "No, mam..." "So just because she's a girl you're going to patronize her and not go just as hard as with against another boy?" That couldn't be any farther from the reason I'm holding back, you old hag... Deric snarled mentally to himself. "No, mam..." he said despite his thoughts. "Then stop holding back already!" Deric knew he had to do it. He increased the pressure he put on his offense and counters, parrying and returning more strikes now instead of simply blocking. The aria of metal and wood became louder. Soon he was pushing his opponent back, not letting up with the onslaught, predicting and countering, predicting and countering, falling into his pattern and synching his timing and his swings seamlessly. "Now..." Zefora called. "Deric, COMMENCE!" Enough... he knew he didn't have a choice. He'd just have to try harder to control the strike then he had with Marca. But then again, Lucretia didn't slack off nearly as much as his old friend over there. She'd probably be competent enough in her lessons to manage to block it. "Fine," he muttered. He broke off the furious assault and danced back a few steps before taking off towards her, dropping the waster low and allowing it to sweep along the floor with an audible scratching racket, drawing closer and closer like a wraith in the night before pivoting a full 180 degrees on his heels just as he neared, bringing the sword around as if it were riding a circular staircase and using his momentum to swing it like a lead pipe at Lucretia's face, using the flat of the blade. Please, for the love of god, block this! Either he was right about her paying more attention than Marca, or she had actually heard his mental plea, because Lucretia arced her weapon straight into the air, parrying the strike from below. the sound of clattering steel filled the whole room as Deric's saber flashed a few times in the torch light before skittering along the stones of the floor and coming to a halt against the far wall. Lucretia leveled her own at his throat, her face an unreadable mask, though a sense of relief was visible in her eyes. Deric stood down gratefully, looking at Zefora as he backed away in defeat. "Do you see this?" Zefora said, stalking over to Marca. "Take a lesson from her; that is precisely how you do it. Now get yeh over here and try again. Lucretia, hand your Waster off to Deric." Nothing was said as the weapon exchanged hands and the girl walked off back to the sidelines. Marca stepped up to her place and prepared his saber hesitantly, Deric doing the same, hoping his friend would be a bit more successful than the last time. "Commence!" Deric moved first, coming around with a narrow arc to Freyal's left... the boy's defense was absolutely pathetic, He was knocked off balance by the blow, arms flailing out from the impact force and sword dragging along the floor. "Keep going!" Zefora ordered, her anger at Marca again rising. "Unleash the strike!" Deric just stood there, looking back and forth from his friend and his instructor. But he wasn't attacking, that much was for certain. He was going to go causing him harm again. "I said-" "To HELL with what you say, damnit!" Marca interrupted her in a rage, flinging his waster at the old woman as hard as he could muster, only to have her draw her blade quick as lightning and cut the thing in two with a fluid strike, the split halves scattering onto the floor. She was still deceptively fast for her old age... Meanwhile Freyal had the look of a provoked wild dog in his eyes. "A pox on you and your damn drilling! I'm done, Damn it all, you hear me, hag? Fucking DONE! Find yourself a new apprentice to bitch and rail against every waking hour of EVERY FUCKING DAY!" "Marca, where are you go-" Deric was cut short by the other boy storming out of the place and down the corridor. The sound of a door slamming emanated shortly thereafter. He glanced back at the Dame... For once she had nothing to say about Freyal. Either she really was plain speechless, or she was busy coming up with how she would kill the boy for ever even uttering those words when he tried to come crawling back. He wasn't interested in finding out which though. He had suspected this would eventually happen with how hard she had always been on Freyal, all the never ending criticisms in all things, whether they be related to his training or not. Deric and Lucretia were seen by Zefora as two of the best she'd ever taught, but Marca? He may as well been a pile of manure on the streets, that's about what he was treated like in her household, at least. To be quite honest, Deric was rather pissed off at the old woman himself for railing that hard just now; It was just one strike that Marca had missed in that whole Session, could she not have just let fucking it go? "No...of course she couldn't..." He muttered as he opened the front door and headed out into the dreary, gray streets and the deluge. "She always has to find something to pick at, some flaw with everything to always point to...and of course today was no different." The air was frigid and the wind savage, the rain pelting hard on his padded training tunic as he struggled against the storm's fury, catching a flash of motion from around the corner just down the way before being blinded by a crack of lightning... "So you think you can just walk into my part of town, like you fucking own the place?" The Ruthian said to Decate as he got up close and personal with the young man. He twirled a knife in one hand, a crazed look in his eye, and the eyes of his gang members and lackies as well. Marshall and Royce stood with their backs pressed to his, facing off against the other street scum as they formed a circle around the three of them like a band of predators. They were surrounded without even the slightest hope of being able to get away in one piece. All from nothing more than a wrong turn down the last avenue... "No," he said, backing away from the older teen. "Like I said, we just took a wrong turn. If you'd be so kind as to let us go, we'll get out of your hair as soon as we can..." Please, for the love of god, let us go... I don't much feel like having my ass royally handed to me like back then with the weird stick wielding kid... "Ho ho!" one of the punks called, snatching something from Decate; his glasses. "Look here, mate, is that silver I see in the rims?" "Indeed it is," the leader nodded, turning his attention back to the trio. "Get em, boys, take everything these rich little fucks have, including their lives, if they struggle. We're gonna be rolling in Myta by the time we get their shit to pawn..." The circle began getting smaller and smaller. Decate took a few more steps back, bumping into Marshall and Royce as they did exactly the same. Most of the Gangsters were unarmed save for their bare fist, but a few held iron roads and sticks and a few daggers even. The rain continued to beat down all around as Decate squinted, trying to come up with a way to save their hides from an untimely death here... for the love of the Sky Lord, if only there were ever a Magistrate around when you actually needed one! "Aye, there's another one over there!!" A gang-banger shouted over the din of the storm. Everyone snapped their attention to the opposite side of the street the moment he called out. A boy in padded leathers stood there watching, his black hair drenched and hanging down in his face. His eyes were murky, as turbulent as the very storm raging in the town. The gang leader sized him up, concluding that the boy was nowhere near strong enough to do anything about their business with these three. "Don't stand there, you little shit," he called. "Unless you want some trouble too, keep your ass walking!" "You three look familiar, we met before?" Marca called out to Decate, completely ignoring the street hustler. "Maybe we have..." Decate answered, mulling over why the voice and face rung a bell. Then the memory of accepting the stick years ago flashed through his mind. "You..." "Aye, my friend whipped you well," Marca confirmed. "But you held up your end of our bargain...so I'll give you that..." "AM I NOt EVEN FUCKING HERE!!?" the gang leader roared at the two of them as they carried on. "Oh, you are, don't fret..." Marca scowled at the older teen angrily. "But look, you god forsaken piece of street trash, don't just jump in and interrupt me when I'm trying to engage in a conversation with someone. I'm already hot as fire as it is, and you'd be wise not to make my blood boil even more..." "Street trash?" The leader asked, looking to his lackeys. "Did that fucktard just call us Street trash? Well, boys... guess that tears it, now doesn't it?" he looked back over at Marca. "Kill him, and send these three pansies straight to hell too while your at it." A fearsome chorus of ayes echoed out as the small mob rushed in upon the boy... "There, I see him!" Jezicalo said as he followed behind Deric into the slums of the town, trailing the shouts they had been hearing ever since Jez had stopped the Sword Apprentice in the doorway of a shop he'd been running an Errand to. "He's got a damn mob after him!" "That's not a mob..." Deric snarled maliciously. "That's a gang, a bunch of lowlifes who lack the courage to act alone..." "Either way, he's surrounded, Deric," Jez called. "We need to break through the crowd...but I'll likely kill most of them in the attempt..." "Do it then," the boy ordered his friend. "Their lives were already forfeit as far as I care." Jezicalo nodded, throwing back the hood of his cloak and focusing himself on the rain and the spheres. He found the Requiem he needed, tuning himself as best he could while running and beginning to exert control over the wind and rain all around them. His eyes blazed a frigid blue, his hands beginning to do the same, leaving a vapour trail of aura in their wake. A similar Aura began to arise from the Mobsters... "Well fuck a duck..." Marca snarled as the lowlifes came charging at him like an ocean swell. there was no where to run and nothing to defend himself with... with the exception of the knife stuck in the back of his belt. "Come and get me then, bastards!" he called, whipping out the Pure Muinnat Blade and slashing the first one to reach him, the metal tearing through the flesh of the boy's hand like butter. Marca came in for another strike, tearing up the assailants entire arm with a few quick strokes before shoving him back into his compatriots. Another came, swinging with an iron pole. Marca pivoted and ducked, taking a swing at the boy's thigh as he did and dragging the dagger down along the whole length of his leg as if it were paper. He would've gotten up and kept cutting the teen if it weren't for the swift kick to the ribs the Leader gave him right as he landed on the ground, knocking the wind right out of his lungs and the knife from his grasp. "So you've got Bite to accompany that Bark..." he said, glaring down at Freyal and picking up the knife. "But even rabid dogs stop biting if their throat is slit." He spun the handle in his palm, holding it backhanded as he came forward sweeping in a wide vertical arc, going for Marca's trachea. The attack never landed though... It never landed because the air filled with a chorus of screams, including that of the Leader himself. Screams more of terror and confusion than actual pain. Screams drawn up by the countless blades of water streaking through the air to and through like a dart barrage, cutting and slicing up their bodies wherever the droplets made contact. A blue Aura hung heavy around the place, making a haze in the air. The wind howled even stronger and began buffeting them all, knocking many to their arses and then again to their backs... and the chill it carried burned like fire. "LEAVE NOW, OR YOU DRAW YOUR LAST BREATHES HERE!!" Marca heard Deric's fury filled voice suddenly order. The next thing he knew, the Gang Members and their head honcho was scrambling down the way as fast they could, the cutting, blade like rain and the burning wind following them until the blue aura mist dissipated from the area. There was hands on Marca's arms and shoulders. someone was helping him up to his feet, making sure to avoid his ribs. "You alright after that little stunt?" Decate asked, assuming it had been him who had conjured that nice little storm from hell. "That little 'storm from hell' Was my doing, thanks," Jez corrected as he and Deric finally drew nearer. The faint frigid glow still emanated from his hands and eyes, fading as the storm began to the return to a steady, monotonous rhythm. "And you're welcome, my friend," he continued, glaring down at Marca. "I just saved your ass from whatever Stupidity you were conjuring up... and god have I just gotten a massive headache from it... You know how hard it is to tune whilst running at top speed? it's not pleasant, at ALL, let me tell you..." "Indeed he did," An old woman's voice called as the rain began to let up a little. Zefora and Lucretia came from down a side street, the Dame holding her sword of gold out at the ready, a bit disappointed it would not get to taste blood this day... "And you're damn lucky he showed up when he and Deric did, you insolent little fool." "What, you come out here to apologize to me?" Marca scoffed at the lady. "I came out here after you because if you run off from my household in a tizzy, and are murdered shortly thereafter, then the fault lies with me as the last legal adult to have had you in my direct responsibility. And I'd honestly not care much to have that particular conversation with Arch Magistrate Kyser...or your pathetic parents. I just knew deep in my soul that someday, you'd do something stupid and life threatening that would require someone having to bail you out. And look, I find you facing off against an entire Street Gang in the slums. Was I not right in my gut feeling, boy?" "The only thing my gut is telling me is that you're still as salty an old bitch as ever..." Marca muttered, shoving Decate away and standing on his own, the pain in his side made ignorable by his again rising anger at the instructor. "What was that?" "I hereby forfeit my place as an apprentice in your tutelage," He officially declared, hands itching for the damn Muinnat blade the Gang Bangers had taken with them when they had fled... "From this day forward, I hereby renounce all duties along with all privileges as such. I will end this declaration here in an effort to prevent myself from developing the urge to strangle you in your sleep..." With that he turned and began walking away. But he stopped... turned back and looked at Deric and Lucretia. "I advise you two do the same," he suggested. "This woman hates all three of us, she just feels the need to actively display my share of it more often. You stay, and the rest of your training days likely won't be very pretty... or civil. Did she not force you two to fight with intent to kill earlier?" "It was an exercise, you worthless little fucktard," old Zefora snarled bitterly at the accusation. "Not actual fucking combat." "Strike him down!" Marca ordered, mimicing her voice rather well. "Take of his head! Recall giving Lucretia those orders? Recall how you ordered Deric to continue despite his misgivings about the particular maneuver? yeah, that doesn't sound like fucking practice, you old crone. You may be renowned throughout this whole damn town, but your teaching methods are questionable at best." "Oh, so I see what you're getting at," Zefora mocked. "So you've suddenly gained years and years of experience in the art of swordsplay, and your sitting here lecturing me that I should allow my students to do whatever they damn well please?" "Stop fucking dancing around it!" He shouted. "You know full well that's NOT what I'm FUCKING GETTING AT! It's a matter of ETHICS! ETHICS, GODAMN IT! from the verbal and even physical abuse I've seen, and received from you over the years, I'd say you have none! That's why I'm stepping down as an apprentice to you; Because you crossed the line so many times, belated and railed against me, bitched and moaned and scrutinized and relentless criticized everything I've done, whenever I stepped through your front door, I always had to brace myself to feel like an absolute sack of SHIT, and God and the Pope as my witnesses, I shall not sit by and merely take that any longer!" The elder had nothing to say to that, so Marca turned back to Lucretia and Deric. "Are you leaving? I'm telling you, I'm not putting up with this anymore, and once I'm gone, she's going to start taking it out on one of you instead." He looked especially at Lucretia as he said it. "Don't let her treat you like cattle, either of you. Stop this whole mess before you even have to go through it." "Marca..." Lucretia began. "You're a charity case, recall? there's no actual contract binding the agreement between you and her, so you're free to leave when or if you ever see fit. It's not that simple for me or Deric though. We're both under law to complete our study under her. I'm sorry, but..." Marca was visibly hurt by her refusal... he looked at Deric, expecting him to realize just how right he was about this whole thing... "She's right... I'm sorry," was all his friend could say. He had seen everything that Marca had cited, and he knew there was evidence supporting all his complaints... but there'd be hell to pay with his father if he went and broke the contract, And Lucretia would receive just as much, if not even more hell, from her parents and maybe even Jezicalo himself... a dishonor, it was seen as. Giving your word to something and then flip flopping... and it was a dishonor everyone took seriously. in Copora, you had your word and good name before you could gain anything else, and if you lost those... you lose everything by extension. If people can not trust you, you found that you had little choice but to either head into the slums to live out the rest of your days or just leave town all together. Marca though... did not have his word recorded in ink to worry about. Zefora had agreed to train him for nothing, thinking him to have potential. She was right about him... but was angered constantly by one thing; how much he'd always rebel when she tried to help him hone it. "So that's it then, you're staying?" He asked dejectedly.,. of course they were, together. I had gotten more and more noticeable over the years, the more and more Deric was taking interest in Lucretia... in the girl he himself had looked at from afar since day one. And every time he tried to get to know her like Deric had, always foiled... but Deric had been more than successful, it was painfully obvious so, the fact she was going to stay under this hag's tutelage alongside him spoke as much. He had tried from early on, Deric had just jumped in at the last minute... and yet he had gotten the most progress. How the hell could that possibly be justified? how was it fair? why was that all his efforts turned to shit...why? just...why? "I'm a third wheel then..." He said, turning away. "I'll be seeing you two around," and I'm going to want to drench myself in wicker oil and light a spark every time I do... With that he was gone, walking off down the street. Deric... honestly didn't know what he felt now. it was a strange mixture, glad he had saved Marca, Angry at himself for not standing by him when he needed it just now, and at the same time glad again...at the fact that Marca had failed to persuade Lucretia to leave Zefora's training... he knew one thing though...despite all others and all emotions He had failed his friend just now. Plain and Simple. Present day, 4123 Years After the Darkness, A Random Campfire outside whats left of Lithania, Diros, Approximately 3:22AM "It was those words he had uttered," Deric said, looking back at the group. "I'm a third wheel' Those were the tip off. Those were the signals that could've stopped all this from happening had I have just noticed it then and there. But I didn't..." He shook his head bitterly. "I was too busy absorbed in my own turbulent thoughts to notice my closest Friend's struggle. And that's what damned us all in the end, I'm sure of it. that one moment, if I had just...done something, anything, than just stand there and do nothing... maybe Lucretia would still be alive, she and I may not exactly have been to each other what we were, as things ended up playing out, but at least... at least she'd be alive. That's all I'm really angered about, not that he took her from me... but rather that he snuffed out her light from this world, that he caused that much... that much pain, that he caused her to suffer like she did in her final moments... He hurt her worse than any other person ever could, he violated and then destroyed her utterly. And that's why I desire his head now...why I desire naught more than his blood upon my hands."

"Alright," Ethic said after Rose scalded them all, flipping out his Zippo once more and looking at Marcus. " But remember, Killer, Fire burns. and you too over there," he pointed to the stranger who may or may not have been Mr.Taylor "I got plenty for both of you if you decide to act up, even a little bit. Now get moving, I'm gonna be counting to ten as I get closer to the hallway, and if you two aren't there by the time I get to one..." He flicked the cap shut and stowed the light again. "It's self explanatory." With that he began slowly walking backwards towards the hall Gestas and kenny had just headed down, counting out loudly as he did, eyes glued to the two men. "Ten...Nine...Eight" He was almost to the hall. "Four...you better get fucking moving already, boyos!" He kept his hand tucked against the lighter at all times...

You say that as if I give them for tangents that aren't likely to possibly lead into territory the conversation should've never gone into (And you all should know what I mean by 'Territory it should've never gone into'....). I only issue those around here when I see a certain line of talk beginning to go too far out of hand... like with the whole 'Alvin and his bugs' thing that was brought up once or twice on here. And good luck getting the job, Sergeant Chimchain.

Who knows...only time will tell, Soldiers. And this is Reborn, afterall, what makes you think you'll be able to get something like EQ without having to go through hell first to find it?

We could try using Psybeam to move Lance out of the Attack's path...

Why does claude want to snark back in response to what Mareek actually said? Its alot more tame then what he was thinking at that moment...

Mareek "Java," Mareek said expectantly. The Porygon was on it after intercepting the flamethrower with a Tri-Attack, going on to fire off a low intensity psybeam and lifting up the Karrablast with it. Mareek couldn't help but think to himself as Claude pointed out the very obvious fact of Torkoals high defense "Of course it does, you nimrod... why the hell do you think I've been using nothing but Special Attacks, that I even chose Java to go first at all? And if you realize this enough to go pointing it out, why don't you switch the freaking Karrablast out with something that doesn't have to make physical contact?" His verbal filter prevented him from saying that though, and instead it came out as "I know that already, Claude... it's why I chose Java for this" noticeably missing the criticism on the other boy's choose of party lead. Java meanwhile had lifted Lance up high enough and released the Psybeam, allowing the bug to enter into freefall towards torkoal. Mareek wasn't done yet though... "Psybeam, as strong as you can muster." He ordered in Japanese. "Flip that torkoal over onto it's back." The porygon nodded, seeing what his Trainer was thinking of. Another Psybeam was fired off, this one much stronger than Lance had gotten, curving at an angle and heading to towards the Torkoal from the side with the hopes of sending it toppling on it's shell... Galen "He shouldn't be too much of an issue for me," Galen remarked confidently. "I've dealt with a few trouble makers before; If I just make sure to either toss him a bone or two every once in a while or just flat out break him, I can probably get the kid to stay in relative line. Did it all the time in Rocket with morons who thought they could do what they wanted regardless of Giovanni's orders, all just a mater of establishing who really runs the show. Now, show me the next two, if you would."

Deric...did nothing. He just sat there, looking at Sinbad with a face that was completely unreadable. the wolf like fury had begun to ebb from his eyes, replaced some unknown mixture of guilt, grief, and reconsideration. He lowered his dukes, taking a few steps away from Darius as the knight sheathed his bastard blade. Then he turned his back to them all. "Simply amazing how that fucking works, isn't it?" Leon said, stopping the magic he was in the process of casting. the White Winds swirling around them faded into the night sky, the howling and thunder died down. He was still miffed beyond all possible belief though... he simply knew how to control it from living so many times. He walked off to the edge of the campsite away from the group, making sure to stay within Earshot. "Go on then," he called to the group. "you all calmed him, you all talk to him now. Only you can wake him up. You've already seen what happens when I get involved..." Deric meanwhile said nothing. He simply stood there, gazing up at the moon in all it's grandeur. But all the while his thoughts were churning. "Maybe this man is right... I set out this night seeking to shed blood, and how much destruction did it cause? This whole city is leveled, nothing but glass and melted stone. Jez and the others are all dead... Sam and Aaron probably along with them. I went out tonight with the intention to kill one man... and how many people's deaths did that end up causing? I keep trying and trying to set things right, but all I do is end up harming more and more with all this violence. I'm a damn fool. I keep trying to appease her, and yet all I'm likely doing is causing her even more grief. This man...the sniper... he already understands the folly of it. He's lost someone as well. He's simply wiser than myself. I wonder... does lucretia stand watching this, shedding tears as well?" "You're right, Sniper," He finally said, breaking the silence that had drawn out into what seemed to be eternity. "...The one you lost; What was her name?"

Snap & Murdoc "Who do you think sent me, girl?" Zartana replied rhetorically. "None other than the Lord Orphont... I personally hate each and everyone of you walking piles of spite and misery, if it were up to myself, I'd stand by and let you all be swallowed whole and devoured by the void... But alas, my master sees fit to continue to try to save your kind. As much as I hate it, I must obey his wishes; Rebellion didn't go over well for me the first time around, if I tried again, I'd likely get tossed into a position worse than keeper of Hell... Not that I think there is one, having to oversee the worst that you worthless fucks have to offer." "So I was onto something then..." Aaron spoke up. "You just have a stick up your ass and hate Humans in general, that's why you're so god awful at pretending to be one. It definitely explains a lo-" The boy's remark was cut short by the sound of wings unfurling and someone being choked. If Matrim and Octavia looked over, they'd find Aaron being held up off the ground in a strangle hold by a man dressed in a short, double breasted Jacket the same color as Zartana's. Six wings with feathers black as night protruded from the small of his back. His hair was a dark grey and his eyes a blood red. A Sword, Short, heavyset, and serrated, hung from the right side of a leather belt on his waist, shining with the darkness of the night sky and light of the stars. His eyes had murder in them as his hands wrapped tighter around the boys throat, squezing with as much force as he could muster. Aaron did the best he could to struggle, but to no avail, the being was a thousand times stronger than any man. The world was beginning to go dark...the stars overhead were beginning to blur. it felt as though his neck was being put through a ringer... in fact, he could taste welling up in the back of his throat... "You're absolutely right, rat," Zartana mused as she watched her soldier slowly choke the child to death. "That's probably the largest factor as to why I have no talent in pretending to be one of you hairless apes; It disgusts me so much to even consider trying that bile wells up in my throat." She turned her attention to Matrim and Octavia, gesturing to the Seraph choking the boy out as if proud of the being's loyalty. "And someone asked what proof I have of Hell's Legion, did they not? Well, here it is, right before your pathetic eyes. A soldier of the Pit."

Soldiers, I have no idea what any of you are talking about right now since I can't even see that Image. XD

Supernovae "Alright, fine," Rosse said, a bit annoyed at first being interrupted and then completely having his explanation derailed by the man from Diros. "I'll just skip over everything else you need to know and go right to Shatter points, if that's what you so desire, do not say I didn't try to tell you the other things though, because I did. Yes, I can see Shatter points, as your friend Rodriguez said. And yes, I can read them. What they are, exactly, are tiny pinpricks in the fabric of time itself, they are variables, areas where certain events can cause them to branch off into countless future paths. And they are everywhere in the world, even all around us in this plaza right now. Hell, every single person even holds a Shatterpoint in their very hearts." He again began pacing like a university scholar lecturing his peers. "That is what I have done throughout... since the beginning of this whole plot... everything I have ever done in this world, it is because I read the Shatterpoints in certain areas and orchestrated for them to take certain paths. Sometimes terrible actions were required to make needed future paths manifest, and I regret having to organize their fulfillment... but If I had to do it again, I would, because from all the Shatter Readings I conducted and all the paths I manipulated, the world became far smaller in a metaphorical sense. A common language was established. War virtually ceased overnight. For the first time ever, the world had a universal peace keeping entity to keep the separate nations from tearing out each others throats... it had a Church... it had something in common, every person's similar beliefs in one thing deterring them from considering taking up arms against each other, and even when they did, the situations were always addressed and resolved quickly. Do you know who was the greatest Warrior the Church ever had in her ranks? It was Stratos, Youngest Son of the House Valgiri... now tell me, do you know what happened to Stratos? The whole, truthful account?" Chim, Kenny "No I'm not...Alright..." Erick snarled, gaining a bit more control of his motor skills. "That fucker is lucky...the poison is still too strong in my system to move very well... Where's Cesealia? Was she hit as well? was anyone besides myself? How many...how many dead? What did that Bastard...do?"

Java again took the attack head on, taking a highly reduced amount of damage thanks to his altered Fire Typing. But the attack looked like it hurt a bit more than the flamethrower from earlier. The porygon actually winced when it passed over him, hovering back a few feet. "You good?" Mareek asked. Java hesitated, then slowly nodded. He was injured somewhat, but he felt himself to be able to still go on for at least a bit longer. "Good then... now hold all fire." Java looked at the boy like he was crazy. Why the hell should they change the plan now, wasn't the point to distract the stupid flaming reptile? "Don't give me that look," Mareek said, pointing at Lance as the bug prepared to try to assualt the Torkoal once again. "We use another attack right now, and Lance will be in the direct line of fire." The porygon saw his trainers point... but that didn't stop him from using a quick lock-on, just to prepare for afterwards...

well, I was just posting what they would be used for in police work/ which utility they would serve on the team, but if we're doing personas for them and what not, here's the ones for the three he currently has: -The Old and Faithful Friend ERCE -The first pokemon ever received by Mareek, She is his oldest friend who has been by his side since the very beginning. She has a somewhat long past and was once another Trainer's before somehow being separated from them and winding up in the Prize Selection of the Celadon City Game Corner many years ago, but came to easily accept Mareek because of how much he reminded her of her former master. She is rather over-protective of him at times, willing to even fight to the death should it be necessary to defend him, while also serving as a restraining figure at others, keeping the boy from doing certain things out of spite or anger. It is her who takes on the role of being a Warden and leader of sorts for the others on the team, keeping them in line even when her trainer isn't around. It is her will be trusted to be the Mega Evolution on the team -The Tech Specialist & Analyst JAVA -The Second Pokemon Obtained by Mareek and by far the smartest member of the team. His abilities with computers and other electronic devices will prove rather useful in the future. Though his craziness tends to cause antics that are interesting to say the least, he's always willing to calm down long enough to get an important job done or help Mareek with team Strategy against opponents. Has a bit of resentment for Erce though... -One Partner to Rule Them All NEMO -The one team member whom Mareek will trust above all others, even Erce, and if he had a possible Mega Evo, he'd have it instead of the Scizor. Surprisingly perceptive of others despite his nature as a relative loner, he became determined and resolute by fully embracing the courage and strength that Mareek will teach and show him over time, and later go on to give his trainer a crash course in the very lessons he had given to Nemo when the boy needs it most. He pretends to like being alone for appearances, but will not hesitate to step up to reign in the others on the team if things ever spiral out of Erce's control. If there's anyone who can keep the order, it's honestly him. All of this is in the Character sheet for him and will be updated regularly by myself as more members are acquired.

Murdoc & Snap "Because my controlling of the little rat bastard is precisely the one thing that saved all of you from ruin," Zartana said, giving a wave of her hand in a dismissing motion. the next thing Matrim knew, his axe became quite heavy in his hands... so much so that he had no choice but to drop to the ground, the thing splitting the stones with it's strangely acquired girth. "The weight of sin within the heart of man..." The Black Judge continued. "Disgustingly abundant, is it not?" she gave another wave of her hand, and the axe lost it's extra weight, becoming actually wieldable once more. "Do you know how many times Agents of the void came after you in the time it took to get from the ruins of Cithalos to here? 300 separate attacks, the majority of which was directed at the boy. Were it not for my puppeteering of him coupled with the actions of Hell's Legion, God knows how many shatter points would've taken a different path and resulted in the Keys being stolen and this world being dead..." "You're just like the guy in blue..." Aaron managed from the ground, trying to stand... but mysteriously finding he could not... just like...no... he didn't even go there, there was something more important right now. "You sit here and you spout nonsense and fantastical tales to them, as he did to me, yet you offer no proof... Why should they believe you? where are these Legionaires of Hell I hear you speaking of? from my little prison inside my own head, I saw no soldiers...but again, I was rather detained, so perhaps these two saw these hallucinations even when I did not?" the sarcasm lacing his every word could have been cut with a knife...

I'll update and get things once I figure out what the hell the area beyond Eden is actually going to be like, soldiers. Right now I'm in the process of reworking everything about what I formerly had planned for down there...

even if it doesn't, Java will still be providing cover for him to get away from the turtle afterwards.

If that flamethrower lands, it's gonna be hell to pay... but he needs it to... damn it this gonna be risky... but maybe. "Java, let it hit you, but use Conversion 2 as soon as it does." Java nodded at the Japanese orders, sitting there and letting the flamethrower close in. Then he began converting just before it hit, allowing the flames bath over him right before his typing changed, becoming a Fire type in place of a Normal type. The result was that the attack did some regular damage, then lost quite a bit of it's effectiveness immediately later, The Porygon now made somewhat resistant to it thanks to the idea from Mareek. "You alright?" Java nodded, glancing back at him. Mareek nodded at claude as he watched the young man launch the Karrablast and ordered it to attack, but by no means was he about to let up the offensive now. "Java, Lock-on to the torkoal, and the moment immediately after Lance hits, use another discharge on it to keep it distracted and give him cover to get away." the Porygon again nodded, locking-on and preparing it's next strike as Lance flew closer and closer... ((just to clarify, if lance's attack hits, Java will use Discharge right afterwards...and it'll still use discharge in order to keep it busy even if Lance misses.))

yes, but due to fact that Mareek's team is the one who has to distract the thing and make all the openings, it's going to go down at lot faster than Claudes, probably long before Lance gets taken down since Mareek will just keep switching in seamlessly until he runs out to keep the thing busy and prevent it from turning on Claude's team. EDIT: and speaking of openings... there actually happens to be one for Lance, right now...

Their all assembled based on the possible uses they could have in Police Work and Anti Terror ops; basically for law utilities. **- Already acquired the evo line -The Old and Faithful Friend** -The Ace and the second team member who Mareek trusts above the others; will be the Mega Evo -The Tech Specialist & Analyst ** -Going to act more and more crazy the closer it gets for time for it's final evolution, will provide a few interesting antics to say the least, but will still be quite helpful when needed. -One Partner to Rule Them All** -"The perfect Link" not necessarily the ace of the team, but nevertheless will become the one member who Mareek trusts above all others -The Melee Specialist -Lone fighting type on the team, might be a little defiant after first being captured, before it comes to trust Mareek, still haven't decided if I want to do it or not. -The Medic -Rather self explanatory from the role title. will try to force a Happiness imbued egg down Mareek's throat from time to time... but honestly he'll be needing it probably more than any other PC here... -The Mediator -Calms things down if needed; a way to avoid needless violence -The Air Lift -Murica! Can lift a car with it's strength... nuff said, self explanatory from the title. -The Aerial Support -Originally meant to only serve as an aerial fighter/ rescuer and what not, but also will be used for aquatics -The Surge -I have... something planned in the future. likely going to be among the last to be acquired. I'm requiring him to have at least one Electric type for obvious reasons, soldiers...

I honestly don't think a an Azumarill fits him all that well in light of the recent direction I intend to direct his development. And I'm rather on the fence about just replacing it with another water type since that just brings back the redundancy issue that Swampert had because of D-nite. I was thinking about something involving a certain electric type a certain RoG member has, but honestly it would make more sense to just replace the jolteon's slot with it (I forgot to talk to you about that part of the discussed matter in our PM, by the way, I'll do it soon though.) thus, there's still one empty slot...