Supernovae

Clint moved into the arena walking beside his Onix and Tyrogue. He knew about the Ralts, it wasn't that tough, but he also knew Tyrogue wasn't a fan of it. He wasn't too sure about that metallic thing though, but it didn't matter, as long as he had his partners there was no way he could lose. As he arrived in the arena he pulled his creatures to the side before the match started and whispered too them, "All right, here's the plan Rocky go after the little metal thing, Pimparella go underground and aim at the Ralts," the two nodded in agreement, "And Rocky, remember dip and move, don't take hits for no reason, your not a tank here like miss pimparella." The Tyrogue gave him another nod then the two turned to face there opponents. Clint followed suit turning to Erick, "Alright Freeman, let's get this over with, the sooner this is over, the quicker you can get your GAOs out of the infermary." Clint said in a playful tone, while reaching into his pack and lighting up a cigarette.

Jude firmly grasped Zweiss's hand and shook it firmly, sure to stare him in the eyes all the while. Despite, the fact that the two were inherently different, Jude carrying more of a natural brutish look, while Zweiss had a regal look to him, almost kingly, Jude thought he could trust this man. There ideals were the same, perhaps for different reasons, but it was Jude's best option. It was his only option. Jude turned from the man and began putting his cloak back on, then turned to Zweiss. "Though I do have one question for you. If you are the leader of this group, Utopia, your gift must be great. So what gift has God seen fit to bestow upon you."

Mr. Taylor's body came crashing down, face first, back to the library floor. As he slowly pulled himself up all he could feel was an intense heat. Then he looked up and noticed that he had landed right next to the little girl from earlier. He whizzed his head to the side and couldn't help but see a large pool of lava flowing through the library floor. "Wha ... What in the hell is happening!?" he screamed as he scrambled to pull himself up.

"What a strange question ..." Mr. Taylor absentmindedly said aloud, "For a judge such as yourself, you should see past the meaninglessness of strength and weakness. It altogether depends on the situation, when I was a younger man I was rash, but strong. But as I grew my immaturity soon gave way to what some may call wisdom, however as soon as that happened my body also gave way." Mr. Taylor paused, and gulped somewhat forgetting his place, "To put it in other words, what was once a strength of mine soon gave way to a weakness, and what was once a weakness was rectified into a strength. But, that's not all in some situations it was far more advantageous to be rash, just like sometimes not being in peak physical condition causes me to be more cautious in my approach sometimes saving me from troubles I may have found myself in as a younger man. To put it shortly my dear judge, I am who I am, Michael Taylor, a man whose heart yearns for adventure and whose mind never stops moving, take my strengths and weaknesses how you see them."

Mr. Taylor froze, he hadn't thought about the rumors at the bottom, even up until now he didn't believe that there was one wish at the bottom. "I can't say I really have all too much desire to claim the wish," he said to Minos, "But, given the opportunity I believe I would wish to be youthful once more." Mr. Taylor looked down, it was somewhat shameful, but he was being honest, like he had been told. "And the reasons for this I would like to keep private. I'm sure a man of your greatness, can appreciate subtlety, right Minos?"

Mr. Taylor sighed, of course it wouldn't be that easy. "What am I doing here? Well, now where to begin? I came here on the request of an old friend of mine, another archeologist, you see I'm retired at this point, however after the initial outburst of this place led to no discoveries he sent me a request to come here. This was to be my last adventure of sorts." Mr. Taylor chuckled, "Though I didn't expect my last adventure to also be my final resting place."

A sly grin grew on Mr. Taylor's face. It appeared that he and the quiet boy, Damian he thought his name was, had been brought to Minos's court. Finally Mr. Taylor would have his chance to try and leave. He looked around the courtroom and the grin quickly turned into a look of horror. Shadow creatures lined the courtroom with a prominent figure at the center. He gulped back his fears and decided to confront the creature. "So, you must be this Minos I've heard all about, if it wouldn't be too much to ask perhaps you can point me to the exit of this place?"

Mr. Taylor sat back and let the news settle in. The others had mixed reactions, Ethic seemed to lose it taking the news rather harshly, while Rose's conviction seemed unshaken. Then the little girl chimed in, telling Ethic that the only way out was to get to the bottom, a slightly different answer than what she had already told him. As Mr. Taylor pondered on this thinking of what to ask the girl, Ethic asked him about his killer. "Could I identify him?" Mr. Taylor chuckled, "My boy I traveled with the lad for a while. His name was Marcus, quite the average looking fellow. We had an agreement, he wouldn't kill me as long as I did my best to lead him to the bottom. But, then we were attacked by a group of those shadow monsters, my body began to glow and I apparently reversed time, sending the beasts back into there books. However, after I had done that I suffered from short term memory loss, this upset Marcus and so he decided to kill me." Mr. Taylor's voice which usually kept a calm tone, was now beginning to grow angrier and grittier, "That bastard, if I see him again I'll..." he stopped and looking at the little girl, then back at the group, he knew this wasn't appropriate so he refrained from getting too upset. "But, that's not important right now," he turned back to the younger girl, "My dear, I thought you said that, that Minos man knew the way out?"

A huge grin grew on Jude's face as Zweiss explained who he was, either he was lying or fate had truly bestowed him with a great gift. The pain in his shoulder was gone and this group, Utopia he called it, was what Jude was waiting for, hoping for, praying for, as soon as he began his mission. Jude quickly sheathed his sword and took off his cloak, revealing his face. The skin on his face was dirty, with some of it being hidden by a grizzled beard. Deep cuts and gashes also covered his face, though none were as noticeable as a deep scar that moved from the base to the top of his left cheek. But, despite the scars, the dirt, the cuts and the beard the most noticeable part of Jude's face were his eyes. Despite the ordinary brownness in color Jude's eyes were different than most. They were hardened, and fierce capable of piercing through the hearts of men. These eyes, were the eyes of lions. "If your mission is to persecute the people who were not chosen for greatness, then consider yourself my ally." Jude said staring at Zweiss, his smile was less prominent now, he knew he couldn't let petty emotions control him. "Take me to this Utopia, and together we will carve out the future our people deserve."

"Far worse?" Ethic asked "How, Mr.Taylor?" Mr. Taylor sighed, he knew it was now or never, he turned to the little girl, "Please my dear if you wouldn't mind covering your ears, this matter is just too dark for you to hear," he then turned to the rest of the group, his eyes grew darker and harder a very serious expression grew on his face. "When I first arrived here, there was a passage in ancient writing, I'm not sure if any of the rest of you saw it, but it read 'Abandon all Faith, ye who Enter,' that was my first clue. Then of course we were introduced to a horde of shadow monsters appearing from the books, and likewise we were given powers of our own, this admittedly made me question my own sanity, but now I see it for what it really is, with each of these gifts we were given huge drawbacks, so our gifts are really more of a test of our own resolve. Then let's not forget the judge of this place, or as this charming young girl explained to me is actually some character named Minos, who sounds more like a demon than a judge. Also, there's the repercussions of death, or the seemingly lack of repercussions. All of these things combined leads to one fairly obvious conclusion. I am afraid we have all stumbled into the depths of hell."

After hiding in the trunk Jude began applying as much pressure to his shoulder as he could. It wasn't a huge bullet wound, but the bleeding just wouldn't stop and Jude feared if he didn't move soon he would begin to lose consciousness. He was about to slide back through the car and make a mad dash to the nearest hospital when he heard knocking and a voice from outside the trunk. "Come out. I know you're in there." The voice paused. "I assure you, I do not work with the government. I represent an entirely different organization. I am here with an offer that I believe you will find perfectly suited to your own goals." Could this be divine providence? Had the almighty sent his faithful servant, powerful allies in his hour of need, or was this a trap meant to once again test Jude's resolve? There was only one way to find out. Jude grabbed his blade and phazed through the car. After phazing through the Sun glared strongly in his eyes, he must have been in that dark trunk for hours and the light outside was blinding, still there were more pressing issues than his hampered eyesight. Jude also looked to be in a horrible condition with dry blood all over his clothes and face and small amount of blood still pouring from his shoulder. Jude turned in the direction of the stranger who had knocked on the car, unable to really make them out due to the harsh glare. "Who are you and what organization could possibly want me, the Right Hand of God, the man who assassinated a senator on national television? Unless your organization seeks for the freedom of the Awakened, God's chosen people, then don't even bother explaining who you are and leave." Jude proclaimed through clenched teeth, he wasn't in the condition to be making threats, though unless this man was also an awakened Jude knew he could handle him.

"Not that I'm not glad to see you, Mr.Taylor... but, Mind telling me just how the Hell you're still alive? I mean, what, is this like the TV show 'Lost' and we're stranded in some mystical place that brings older gentlemen back to life miraculously or something...?" Mr. Taylor let a hardy chuckle, the boy was obviously confused and Mr. Taylor could hardly blame him. "You know, I hadn't thought of that show when I was trying to figure out where we were lad, but I suppose it's pretty damn close." Mr. Taylor paused it was time for him to share his theories with the rest of the group, he just didn't know how to go about it. "Although in that show the island was purgatory all along wasn't it? Well I believe the place we're in is far worse."

Mr. Taylor was far too lost in his own thoughts to notice Ethic's arrival. The little girl had told him a lot and it seemed as though this Minos character was his way out, but Mr. Taylor knew it couldn't be that easy. He tore through his mind trying to formulate a plan. "No, no that simply won't do," his thoughts raced. Then Mr. Taylor bucked his head up and proclaimed "That's it, I believe I may have figured a way out!" He looked over, but the rest of the group had moved some distance to meet with a newcomer. He quickly grabbed his cane and moved over to join them, when he noticed that the newcomer looked familiar, "Ah, how are you lad?" he said to the newcomer, "It was Ethic, if I'm not mistaken?"

Jude may have just arrived in the city, but he knew he was being watched. It had only been a month since he had killed that damned senator on national television and he knew that the police would be overzealous in their search for him. He looked back and a few cops had already been slowly stalking him, he knew this would be his last chance, so he ran. Jude twisted and turned down every street, but with each passing moment the cops only grew closer and larger in number, until eventually he ran into a dead end. "Come out with your hands in the air! I repeat, come out with your hands in the air, and you will not be harmed! Resistance will only make things worse!" Jude smiled, he was tired of running, he yearned for one thing and one thing only, vengeance, and he knew his vengeance would be justified by the all-mighty. He pulled his sword from his cloak and jumped through a wall and quietly waited. Two police officers made there way to his location. The older officer turned away from the wall where Jude was hiding, "Damn, the bastard must have dissapea---," but before he could finish the statement a sword had impaled him. The other officer unloaded his gun at Jude, but the bullets merely passed through him. "You poor fool," Jude said while, the officer backed into a corner helpless, "I will give you a moment to pray our Lord for forgiveness." Tears ran down the officers eyes, "Please, I ... I have a wife and children please PLEASE!" he yelled out. But it was too late, Jude had already sliced the man's neck. "FIRE!" an officer yelled as a barrage of bullets were fired in Jude's direction. Jude didn't have time to react as a bullet grazed into his shoulder. Jude clenched his shoulder to try and stop the bleeding as the rest of the bullets passed through him. "PUT DOWN THE WEAPON!" The police had stopped firing, but Jude was surrounded, he had taken too long, he now only had one option. Jude put his hands into the air and slowly backed toward the wall behind him. "STOP MOVING OR WE WILL FIRE!" the same officer bellowed, but it was too late. Jude quickly turned around and slipped through the wall. After passing through he heard a roar of gun fire hit the wall. Jude quickly turned and ran, he knew he didn't have long he'd have to hide. He noticed a parked car nearby and phazed through into the trunk. He began putting pressure on the wound and began a silent prayer from what he believed to be the safety of the trunk. "Please give me forgiveness my lord, for I have failed you. But do know, I will deliver your chosen people from the hatred of this world and I will carry out your vengeance."

Clint and his Tyrogue sat on the massive Onix's head as they watched the battle. Over the course of the past 6 months, Clint would try to work on riding his Onix and he'd gotten to the point where if the Onix didn't move too fast, he could stand on him a while. From the elevated point of view, Clint could keep a closer eye on the battle. Despite the 6 months of training and the obvious increase in maturity that Clint seemed to show over that period, Clint was still like a 10 year old watching a WWE match when he saw GAO's go out at. "Nate, don't let those suckers teleport behind you!" he yelled out a huge smile across his face. Clint was so engrossed with this battle he couldn't even focus on his own upcoming match. Whoever he went up against, didn't matter to him all that he was worried about was that he and his partners would have a chance to prove there stuff.

"I fell asleep." He heard the young girl innocently blurt out, "Damn it, just a dream," he thought to himself furiously rubbing his temples. How could he have gotten so wrapped up in this little girls ideas without asking that simple question. But still, the little girl had to know something, she was easily able to figure out his death. There was latent knowledge there, whether she knew it or not, and Mr. Taylor knew that knowledge may be vital to him. "So, my dear, how do you know you just weren't having a dream?" Mr. Taylor said continuing to smile at the girl. He felt bad for her, she shouldn't be in a place like this, she seemed sweet and happy and yet she was in this hell-hole just like the rest of them.

Mr. Taylor was trying his best to put it all together, but it was just too bizarre. A big monster with a huge tail that you couldn't lie too, surely this was the same things that had made that announcement when he first entered. "This court is now in section. Before you proceed, be warned that no lies are allowed. Answer true and answer right, or your sentence will only come faster." Then he heard the girl declare that the monster was nice to her, surely it was just a game it was playing, toying with the poor girl. "My dear," he began smiling back at the girl, he felt bad for her, she was just a child and she was trapped here with the rest of them. "How did you go about meeting this mister Minos, you say we can't just go see him, well how did you see him?"

((I'm guessing that that list bit was a thought Rose?)) Mr. Taylor quietly sighed to himself then looked over at Rose, "You know my dear, I've seen his face a hundred times in my memories since I've died, but I still can't quite describe it... Marcus was just such an ordinary looking boy, I'd say he was in his mid twenties though and he did have a bit of a rough appearance to him, but not as rough as you may think," he looked around the group trying to reassure them, "But, he's nothing to worry about, just a lone murderer, sure he can kill an old man, but he wasn't like the other monsters down here, not someone who can take out an entire group himself, but the other things down here, they are evil..." he stopped himself before he entrusted them with enough details, then turned his attention to the young girl with the bear, "I believe this Minos character is the real evil-doer here, tell me my dear anything you know and please don't be shy, we're not here to judge you my dear, just to help one another."

I won't say I'm as experienced as some of the other guys, but here's my take. This is really similar to my character, Mr. Taylor's, ability in Under the Hill, and while I haven't used it all too much I can't see anything all too sue-ish about it. Again, I think just about any power could be pulled off properly without being sue-ish depending on the character who uses it. Take Jean Grey for example, by far the strongest mutant in the x-men, however she doesn't understand her powers and when the Phoenix finally takes over, she's not in control anymore.

"Is it true that you've already died once?" Mr. Taylor's jaw nearly hit the floor, as he frantically touched his face looking for scar. 'How, how did she know that, she couldn't,' his curiosity was at its peak, this little girl knew something that he would need to know. "Why, yes I was killed, though I don't know if it was only once," his face grew sterner his tone more serious, "I was stabbed by a man named Marcus, I don't know how long I was out for, but after some time I woke up and healed," he sighed, he couldn't believe he was spilling his guts to four strangers, only one of which whose name he knew, "I got up and started moving and that's when I ran into your little party," he focused his attention on the little girl with the teddy bear, "Now, please my dear, tell me everything you know about this Minos character, this place, and anything else that you think may be important it would really help me a lot."

"Rose ... I ..." Mr. Taylor began, he didn't know if he could trust this group enough to tell them what he'd been through and where he thought they were and even if he did know more about them, he wouldn't even know how to tell them. "Listen, I'm an archeologist, I've spent my life touring this beautiful world we live in, seeing things that most people can only see in a magazine or the internet. I've since retired and I came here for one last adventure. But this place ... well I don't know how else to put this, my dear girl, but when I said last adventure, I very well intended to return home afterword." Mr. Taylor looked around the group making sure to look them each in the eye. "I can't go with you if you intend to journey deeper into this wretched hell hole, because I value my life, and if you value yours then it might be best if you all come with me."

'Been here before?' Mr. Taylor quietly wondered to himself before responding to the young girl. "Now I can't say I have met this Minos character and I can't say I care too, but you say you've been here before is that right, my dear girl? Then that must mean you know the way out, would you be able to take me there?" Hope gleamed in Mr. Taylor's eyes for the first time since he had died, perhaps he was wrong, perhaps there was a way out of this God forsaken place.

"The judge?" Mr. Taylor wondered aloud, the group seemed friendly, which gave him some relief, but the comment that the younger girl had made threw him off. "What do you mean, you beautiful little girl?"

I was really hoping that's what you meant Notus, haha. I figured that if I worded it right and you did mean some monster was coming it'd be easy enough to play off though, but that's a pretty sweet way to get Mr. Taylor to come around.

I don't think it's too late to reverse that decision, I mean as far as I remember they were only separated during the trial with Minos and shortly after and haven't had all too much interaction with the rest of the group.