Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 1, 2009 2:00:21 GMT -5
Istvan watched the... unusual exchange in silence, looking from Paula to Korlian to Ian and back again with slightly raised eyebrows. He was grateful to be far from the carnage that was assuredly going to happen, but couldn't help but cringe -- again -- at the thought of what he was getting into. Of all the inconvenient fears he could have had, this had to be the worst possible for this situation.
Deal with it, he told himself. You're walking into something deep, and it's only going to get deeper. Just keep wading, and get ready to hold your breath.
I just hope I don't get in deeper than I can swim...
He looked at Paula, contemplative. "Would we be able to stop at a clothing store somewhere along the way? I have a ring that belonged to my father and a pendant that was my mother's. I could take on either of their forms now and then to throw anyone off my scent if they noticed me following this Jacques. I'd just need to buy a couple of outfits to wear. I could hide them easily in my backpack."
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 1, 2009 5:31:21 GMT -5
Paula nodded, watching Korlian dash off. At least it's Korlian, she jokingly thought to herself, Lhachlhass wouldn't be nearly so cooperative.
"That'll work very well, actually. We can do that." She turned and headed down the hall, talking as she went. "Now, when we get to the address, keep an eye out for anywhere that might be a good vantage point for a stakeout. Istvan, as you saw on the way over here, Ian and I have been using taxis, but we might be able to buy a crappy car for dirt cheap if your only standards are four wheels and an engine..."
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 1, 2009 11:26:43 GMT -5
Istvan smiled, walking quickly along beside Paula. "As long as it runs properly and won't completely fall apart, that's good enough for me."
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Post by ianharris on Dec 1, 2009 20:13:24 GMT -5
------------------ Ian sat in the passenger's seat of the crappiest car in the world and cleaned some dirt out from under his fingernails. Istvan sat next to him, in the driver's seat. Paula was back at the hotel catching a bit of sleep, and Korlian was... Ian didn't want to think about where Korlian was. There was no action from the building Ian and Istvan were supposed to be watching, which wasn't a change from the last few days. Dealers went in and out, but Jacques never left. Paula suspected he was scared. Ian privately entertained the idea that Jacques was living there.
He stared out at one of the doors, wishing the time would go by faster. He could always try to strike up a conversation with Istvan, he supposed. "Uh... long night, huh?" Ian finally said, still looking at the door.
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 1, 2009 22:34:37 GMT -5
"Yeah, pretty long," Istvan nodded, turning to look at Ian, who... wasn't even looking back at him. Awkward. He drummed his fingers absently on the steering wheel, licking his lips a little as he tried to decide on something to say.
"So... how did you end up getting involved in all of this?" he asked casually. "I can understand Professor Harris being in the investigation, but aren't you her cousin? Surely she'd want you to stay out of the line of fire."
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Post by ianharris on Dec 2, 2009 0:27:36 GMT -5
Ian shrugged, continuing to watch the door. "Paula... how do I say this without making her look uncaring... Paula likes to use all of her resources. And I saved her life once before, so she knows that I'm not totally incompetent. Paula puts different skills and different personalities together to try to form one investigative team."
He sighed and turned to face Istvan. "Just the fact that I'm still here shows that she has great faith in me. And you, too. She wouldn't have you here if she didn't trust you. Well, Kor might be a special case..." Ian tried to smile a little.
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 2, 2009 2:12:35 GMT -5
Istvan smiled back. "I think we all have to wonder about Korlian. He is... definitely unique."
He sighed, looking slightly away from Ian. "I'm not sure how much use I'll be once we really get into the thick of this... my powers are great for tracking and stakeouts, but I'm literally going to be facing one of my biggest fears here once we reach the suppliers. I can hardly even stand the thought of blood, let alone the sight or smell. And these people are selling it by the bottle." He shuddered.
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Post by ianharris on Dec 3, 2009 13:25:40 GMT -5
Ian laughed. "Yeah. I like having Korlian with us, and not just because I feel sane when he's around."
Then his tone turned suddenly serious. "I don't know what to expect. I doubt we'll be going in, guns blazing, simply because we don't have guns in the plural. Whatever the plan turns out to be, I'm sure Paula won't make you do anything that you're uncomfortable with." Ian paused for a minute, thinking about that. "No, wait. That is actually something she would do, just to throw the enemy off in case they knew you. Which I doubt they do in this case... but... er... still."
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 3, 2009 13:34:24 GMT -5
Istvan nodded. "I doubt any of these people will know me. But this whole situation makes me uncomfortable, and for good reason. It's wrong, all of it. I'm glad to have a part in stopping it. At least I'm spending my time doing something useful."
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Post by ianharris on Dec 6, 2009 1:25:31 GMT -5
Ian nodded. "That's true. I suppose we could be sitting back at the hotel room like normal people."
The door to the building they were watching opened suddenly, and a man stepped out. Ian leaned forward and watched as the man headed towards his car. "That's him." He said quickly. "We'll follow him to where he goes and then call Paula and Kor to meet us there."
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 6, 2009 2:06:53 GMT -5
Istvan nodded, readying the key in the ignition as he watched the man climb into his car. He waited a safe amount of time after the man drove away before starting his own car and following carefully. He could feel his heartbeat picking up. Now they were really getting into the thick of it.
He kept his eyes locked onto the car in front of him, hoping they would go unnoticed. Istvan figured a change of appearance in the near future would be good, just in case. Luckily he had his backpack close to hand with two changes of clothing, and he was already wearing his mother's necklace tucked under his shirt and his father's ring on his right hand.
The car pulled into a parking lot behind a tall building; Istvan slowly parked his car a safe distance away, then pulled out his cellphone and dialling Paula's number. He waited until he heard the click, his eyes on the man in the other car. "Professor? We've got him."
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Dec 6, 2009 2:39:18 GMT -5
Aramis shuddered as he watched the men bind another mage to the table in front of the cells. They were killing their captives one by one, tying them down and simply harvesting every drop of blood the mage's heart would beat for. Once or twice, they had even used CPR to get a little more. They were liquidating for some reason, starting with the weakest and moving up. Aramis' magic had put him at the top of that list, safe for some time... but he was forced to watch each death, helpless to prevent it. They were still harvesting his blood, more to keep him docile than anything. Sometimes, if he put up too much of a fuss, they would beat him too. His magic was getting worn out; it didn't heal every little scratch he got anymore. Just the blood loss.
He turned his head, trying to ignore the pleas for help, for mercy he couldn't answer. The monsters would know if he reached out and at least gave the poor woman a merciful death. Then they would probably just kill him... and he couldn't help but put his own survival first in a hopeless case.
Why bother? No one is coming, a little voice in the back of his mind whispered. Just take the easy way out.
No he told it, still backed into the corner of his cell with his eyes and ears shut. As long as I draw breath, there is hope. Life is hope. Someone will find me... Someone will know I am missing before it is too late. Or maybe another mage's loved ones will find us. But we will be found...
Don't prolong the pain...
Shut up. he snapped at the voice. I'm not giving up, so just shut up. I might be insane, but I am not hopeless. Not yet.
- - -
Aramis backed against the cell bars, his eyes wide. He wrapped his fingers tightly around the bars, pressed as close as possible. He was last... his heart raced as they grabbed him. He fought as they grabbed his arms, trying desperately to get away. "NO! No!"
It took almost six of them to get him on the table, bolting him down and putting the tubes in his arm. He fought desperately, terrified. "Let me go! Please..." His voice was shrill, then died as he closed his eyes hopelessly. He was the last... Tears slid from his closed eyes. He was dead... they were going to kill him and there was nothing he could do. And it was going to be a slow, lingering death. He choked on a sob, just falling limp in his bonds as his heart rate calmed down. No point in panicking... though there was no point in prolonging the inevitable either.
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 6, 2009 2:53:41 GMT -5
---------------
Paula got out of the taxi a few blocks from the address that Ian and Istvan had told her over the phone. Without tipping the driver, who shouted after her angrily and then drove off, she headed down the street at a brisk trot. After turning a few corners, she finally saw the car she had bought for the stakeout. Paula approached it and tapped in Ian's window. When he had rolled it down, she leaned forward and spoke in a hushed voice.
"Looks like there's a back door we can get in." She said. "Once Korlian gets here, and he should be here soon, we can try to sneak in that way. Doesn't look like there are any guards on the outside, but once we're inside, we can expect a lot of resistance."
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Dec 6, 2009 3:01:04 GMT -5
Korlian stood on the other side of the street, then sighed and came over. He handed a fully charged phone to Ian and looked at Paula. "Apparently I have perfect timing. I heard my name and sneaking in. What do we need?"
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 6, 2009 3:04:43 GMT -5
"Back door." Paula explained. "We can go in and try to take out the person in charge. Once that's done, the whole organization will crumble." She looked down at the two in the car. "Are we ready to go?"
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 6, 2009 3:10:39 GMT -5
Istvan nodded, getting quickly out of the car and coming around to Paula's side. "Ready, Professor."
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Post by ianharris on Dec 6, 2009 3:24:27 GMT -5
Ian opened his own door. All this talk of guards and resistance was making his queasy. He didn't want to have to use his powers... but he would if that was necessary. "Ready, Paula."
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 6, 2009 3:30:54 GMT -5
Paula nodded and pulled out her handgun, flipping the safety off. "Alright then. Let's do this." She turned and led the way around to the back door. Aiming few well-placed kicks loosened the door enough that she could reach over and pull it open.
The scene that greeted her was not one that she had expected. Instead of the guards and the scientists she had expected, what now lay before here were a bunch of dead bodies. The blood on the ground looked fresh, and some of the bodies were still bleeding. Paula shivered a bit. "That's... unexpected..."
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Dec 6, 2009 3:41:20 GMT -5
Istvan took a few deliberate steps back, gagging at what he saw and smelled beyond the doorway. Blood. Lots of it. It was like something out of a horror movie. He clamped his hands over his mouth and nose and turned quickly aside, taking small, careful breaths of fresh air through his fingers as he tried to keep from throwing up.
Shuddering, he eventually managed to compose himself, though he kept one hand over his nose and breathed through his mouth. "I'm okay. Let's go."
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Dec 6, 2009 3:47:50 GMT -5
Korlian retched as well, "Ugh! So much iron...!"
He stepped back, hissing slightly. Then he shook his head. "I'm okay, let's... What was that?!"
His head turned quickly to a far door and he rushed over to it, pressing his ear against it. His eyes widened and he looked at Paula. "Um... We might want to hurry. I think they're killing another one. He's crying, and..." He winced. "He just screamed."
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 6, 2009 3:56:29 GMT -5
Ignoring Ian's dry-heaving behind her, Paula charged into the the hallway. She could hear the scream as well, and she knew that she had to get to it fast. Following the sound, she led the way through hallways filled with dead bodies. Finally, she found the door that the screams were coming from and downed it with a savage kick. The gun came out at once.
There were several men gathered around a restrained boy. After a moment, she realized that the boy was Aramis. That did it for her. "Get on the ground!" She barked. "Police!" The harvesters moved their arms, but they didn't go up in the air. Instead, they produced weapons of their own.
"Don't say I didn't warn you." Paula said under her breath, and opened fire. Turns out she really only needed two of her bullets.
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Korlian
Kitty Kat
Academy Freshman: Bound Fae
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams... Only then can you belong to me...
Posts: 942
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Post by Korlian on Dec 6, 2009 4:29:43 GMT -5
Korlian was right behind her, until he recognized the boy on the table. His eyes went flat and he lunged forward with a snarl, dodging bullets as he attacked. He ripped one man's gun from his hand and slammed it into his jaw so sharply the man's neck snapped to the side, turning to shoot another. A bullet nearly knocked him off his feet and he snarled again, biting back a scream. Dropping the gun, he leapt at the man who'd shot him and snapped his neck before the gun had finished its recoil.
He paused for a second, watching the four remaining turn into three. Staying out of Paula's way, he drew a bronze knife and forced it through another man's ribs. Jerking it out with a slight cry of pain, he turned and watched Paula take down a second man. He rounded on the last guard and grinned as the man ran. Following, he kicked the man in the back, knocking him to the ground. Turning the man over with his toe, he leered down at him.
"Sleep well," he said in a sing-song voice, putting his foot on the man's throat and watching him thrash. His lips turned blue, and he clawed at Korlian's foot, trying desperately to move it... and failing. He just stood over him, waiting until he could no longer feel an attempt to breathe, or any throb beneath his foot. Lifting it, he slit the man's throat just to be sure, nodding as the blood only oozed from the wound. Wrapping his knife clean on the man's shirt carefully, he spat on the body and turned, sheathing his knife.
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Post by ianharris on Dec 6, 2009 4:33:15 GMT -5
Ian ducked under Paula arm as soon as the fighting had stopped. He hurried over and removed the restraints from Aramis, helping the boy down. "Are you alright? Do we need to go to the hospital?" He asked, trying not to look at the bodies on the floor.
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Aramis Aldin
Kitty Kat
Academy Junior: Mage
Beneath the trees my heart belongs...
Posts: 541
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Post by Aramis Aldin on Dec 6, 2009 4:37:43 GMT -5
Aramis slumped against him, nearly falling to the ground. His dark eyes were barely open, but he shook his head. "Just... rest. Just need rest... magic's... over-extended. Only reason I'm still alive..." He held his head, whimpering a little. Rocking, he shook violently, crying. Rubbing at his elbows where scars stood out on his arms, he shook his head. "No, no hospital.... No needles. Please don't make me go!"
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Post by paulaharris on Dec 6, 2009 4:53:25 GMT -5
Paula holstered her weapon. "We won't take you to the hospital, but we do need to get out of here. The guards and scientists outside are going to attract some unwelcome attention from the neighb..."
There was a click, and the computer screen flickered to life. Paula's voice trailed off as she turned to watch the screen. Static flashed across it, and the flickering light cast a series of eerie shadows on the floor. Paula narrowed her eyes. "What the hell?"
And then, from the computer, a voice spoke. It was altered, electronic, and Paula couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman, or even human. When it spoke, it sent chills through Paula's veins. "Good evening, lady and gentlemen. I've been expecting you. I took the liberty of disposing of the guards, the harvesters, and the freaks they've been draining blood from. Well, all except the lucky one you just freed. I needed him alive to lead you to me." There was a clicking sound that sounded like clapping. "Well done, Detective Harris. I applaud your efforts. Really, I do. You and your team were interesting to watch, but I won, as I usually do. I do enjoy watching that despicable mage blood pool around their dead bodies. The cameras in this facility have very good definition. I could see my friends ripping the mage's lives from them very clearly. Pity they survived torture and farming just to be butchered."
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