"Like hell you aren't!" he snarled as he jumped off the ladder shooting rounds at the trooper as he fell to the ground.

"EAH!" he yelled as he collided with the ground and more troopers surrounded him. Mike holstered his gun as he winced. His vision was getting dizzy and he mumbuled something before he passed out. "Who are you.." he mumbuled as he lost conciousness and was soon netted.

Mike was now unconcious.

OOC: Just setting Camden off on her journey to find the others. Still nothing important here.

IC:

Crows flocked and fluttered under an overcast sky, swooping down onto a field on the outskirts of the city. Each undettered by the shaggy excuse for a scarecrow that the owner of the field had errected. Noise filled the ambient night air as each bird let out an endless stream of croaks at the sky, where a large light began to manifest and grow, before spitting a lone figure out into the dirt, causing the birds to scurry and flap off back to the forest which they came.

'Urgh... what happen...' the Sailorness Scout grumbled, pressing against her OpComm communication device, only to discover it was typically dead.

She looked around her surroundings to find a dark landscape, she couldn't make out any traces of the moon through the heavy cloud which coated the sky, nor any real source of artificial light anywhere. The atmosphere was dark, dull and shockingly silent. Such a scene would send shivers down the spine of anyone born and raised in dense city environments.

'WHO'S OUT THERE?!' she screamed out to the empty air, if only to fill it with sound for a moment 'WHERE IS THIS PLACE?!'

Again, silence swallowed around her like a vacuum, an unbarable and haunting void surrounded the scout, sending shivers up her spine.

'WHERE ARE YOU?!' she cried out to the emptiness 'SHOW YOURSELF!'

Forgetting all she had learned through training with Knight and SONIC, she started to pace backwards, the crunch of her boots against the worn-out dirt echoed at a ludicruous level as she did.

'It's you, isn't it...' she mumbled to herself, 'why can't you leave me alone? STOP HAUNTING M-' She stopped as her back made contact with something, she let out an uncharacteristic scream of sheer terror, then spun around, swinging one of her stun-batons at head height, and following with a roundhouse kick.

The pumpkin, which the scarecrow used to call a head flew through the air, slightly charred from the quick yet powerful electric shock that the Sailor had given it, while the stick and straw body hurtled to the ground, a clump of dirt launching into the air as it did so.

Camden breathed in and out, rapidly, trying to collect herself and calm herself. Panic attacks like this were a common thing when she found herself alone in dark and dangerous places. Usually she'd call Knight, just hearing his voice would be enough to restore her confidence, but he wasn't here.

'GERROFFMYLAND!!!!' howled an old and vicious voice from the far side of the field. Again, Camden panicked and started running. Funnily enough she had the strange feeling that if she ran straight on, she'd find not only civillisation, but a familiar face.

As the Sailor Scout vanished into the distance, a pair of feet appeared next to the pumpkin 'and I wonder what you did to provoke her' the man mused 'Let's fix you up before the crows work out how useless you are'

OOC: I'm assuming the guy who met Knight has a vehicle of his own, right? I'm not familiar with what kind of vehicles Lilian's troops use, but for the sake of convinience I'm assuming it's a motorcycle of some sort.

IC:

Knight wasn't fooled by the casual-looking apearance of his new acuaintance. Despite his clothing - this man clearly had the movements, built, and posture of military personel.

Moreover Knight noticed the man's motorbike - it had the plain colors and metalic cuts of military equipment. It was a tool of war - not of recreation and simple transportation.

Not that Knight felt jealous at the moment. His old bike was a simple Harley Davidson - a classic model to be sure, but not something you'd wanna use in a battlefield. However since he was on a mission Knight was using another type; a motorcycle specialy designed for use by SONIC personel. To Knight it always looked like it had sprung out of the Akira anime but it had better functions than just 'looking cool'. Twin Plasma cannons were hidden in the front segment next to the lights, and several other hidden surprises Knight had in store in case things deteriorated.

"So, who sent you?" Knight finaly asked, raising his voice a bit to be heard over the traffic.

"Our Leader; Lilian."

"And...?"

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions. Please be patient, everyting will be revealed once we reach the Core."

"Riiiight..." Knight said. In his mind it didn't realy matter. This was likely to be a trap but it was his only lead to reach Justin. If he could find him, and it WASN'T a trap, then he'd just grab him and find a way back to the MFW. If it WAS a trap...

...Then it looks like he'll have to blast/sneak his way through an enemy fortress... for the umpteenth time in his life.

Whatever was in store for him he was sure that being away from Sega City would be more than an appropriate excersise for him... and someone else...

Knight mechanicaly followed the 'urban cowboy' (as he had mentaly named the disguised trooper) while his senses reached out in his surroundings - casting a third eye of sorts to this city.

"A missmatch of different civilizations." he thought. Not necesserily a far cry from Sega City. Though this place looks more like Sigil on Blade Runner mode. Surprised I haven't seen any mechanical horses like the ones on 'Vampire Hunter D' or 'Saber Rider and the Starsherifs' yet - oh, there's one. And what else...? Ah, good. She's here."

He supressed these thoughts back to his subconsious as he now concentrated on the road again. For now, he had to wait 'till he gets answers...

TBC...

OOC: Woo. Sorry this took so long again x_x I was randomly assailed with homework o_o and yes. Castor, just wanted to let you know your character isn't obligated to hang around Cherry or anything, and I've given you the option to let him stay or make him go somewhere else if you've got something better planned for him =3 I mean if he wants to hang out with Cherry, that's cool, but if you wanted him to duck out right after he got some basic information about where he was, I left that option open as well.

I think that's it. I'm really happy with the turn out, and a big welcome and hello to the newcomers =D great to have you here!

Cheers all.

"That's more like it, mate. You can breathe easy now."

Releasing him, Cherry lowered her sword, sheathing it and hopping down from the couch carefully.

"You ok, Clarice?"

The vixen nodded, casting a wavering smile at her. She was still shaking, but her voice seemed steady enough as she spoke.

"Oh yes, I'm fine. No worse for the experience, anyway...I hope you didn't hurt your injuries on my behalf...?"

The echidna returned her smile, lying glibly.

"Who, me? No way, I feel right as rain."

Suddenly remembering she was still in a towel, and in a towel in the presence of a man, at that, Cherry stiffened, speaking hurriedly as she felt the telltale heat that precedes a blush rising to her cheeks.

"Ah...forgive my appearance, Dr. Tymmarron, Mr. Troy...I'm just goin' to go throw on some fresh threads and kicks..."

Clarice paled some at the thought of being left alone with Castor again, but nodded, putting on a brave face.

"Of course, dear. I'll answer Mr. Troy's questions and do what I can for him, and when I'm done I'll come in and re-wrap your injuries. Ok?"

"Sounds like a plan."

Turning to Castor, who had just discovered his briefcases on the floor near the couch, Cherry held her arms in front of her body self consciously, gripping the towel tightly in her claws.

"M'sorry I surprised you like that, Mr. Troy. Thank you for being understanding and rational regarding the situation. I think you'll find Clarice can provide you with much of the information you seek, and I'm sure if you have any further questions she can also direct you to those who can answer them. I hope you find out what you need to know. And if there's anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Castor stared at her, eyes narrowed, tapping the barrel of the gun he held against his palm. Though the echidna couldn't read his expression, nor hazard a guess as to what he was thinking, she returned his gaze evenly and without fear. Finally, he simply nodded.

Bowing her head to him politely, Cherry turned, gratefully retreating to the privacy of the bedroom.

Once the door was locked securely behind her, the echidna let out a sigh of relief, leaning heavily against the sturdy wooden surface. Her left leg was throbbing from her sudden leap over the couch, and she frowned, heading back into the bathroom.

"Now this won't do at all...I can get by with the one arm, but the leg...not so much..."

Legs poked his head out from his hiding place in her wet hair, sneezing cutely. Hopping back onto the counter, he returned to his mineral bath with a happy chirr. Cherry rinsed herself off again, then stepped out of the shower, drying her fur with a fresh towel. Legs turned to face her as she wrung her hair out, piping up with uncertain chirps and regarding her with worried eyes.

"Hm? Ok to leave her with him? Yeah, why not?"

Her companion chittered sardonically as she retrieved her knapsack, kneeling on the bathroom floor.

"Look...he said it himself, if he was a murderer he'd have killed her already. Plus, what's he got to gain from killin' her now? Clarice may work for these people, whoever they are, but she wasn't the one who kidnapped him, and she isn't the one with all the answers. She'll tell him what she knows, and then probably direct him to that tart Lilian. And if he tries to leave, I don't think she'll detain him. She's only a doctor, her job isn't to prevent him from goin' where he wants. And I think he knows that. So there's no reason I can see for him to shoot her now, you know? It'd just be a waste of ammo. And in a place where you don't know anyone, every shot becomes precious."

Legs nodded, chirping agreeably and relaxing some. Cherry dumped the contents of her bag on the carpet: seven small, square mirrors, each of which bore a distinct silver design composed of Celtic knots, spirals, and runes etched into a simple black frame, a bottle of crystalline sword polish, a worn bit of rag, and a bag of candy corn.

"Plus...I don't know. I like him."

Legs blinked several times, staring at her as she selected a mirror with a frame pattern of intricate spirals. Looking up at him, she smiled, winking.

"What? I know he's rough around the edges, and he does come off as rude. But I get the feeling he's one o' the others Clarice mentioned before. So basically, he's in the same situation we are. I don't blame him at all for being angry. I myself was right startled at first, even drew my sword at Clarice, and I'm still somewhat annoyed about the way we were brought in. S' kidnapping, is what. So I understand where he's coming from on that, completely. And I'm not saying he's a kind, compassionate, kitten savin' caped crusader either. I'm just saying he doesn't strike me as...well...someone who derives pleasure from harmin' others. He looks more like the type who just sort of minds his own moonflowers. And m'ok with that. Heck, he'd probably fit right in at HQ with that attitude..."

Legs nodded, chittering somewhat sadly.

"Speaking o' those who derive pleasure from harming others, WE can't get sidetracked from our real mission. We have to find Jerin..."

She held the mirror up, staring straight into it.

"Amadn."

The glass shimmered briefly, then sprung to life, a metallic blue grid spreading over the surface. An overly pleasant female voice greeted her.

Good evening! Hold still, please.

Cherry kept the mirror level as the grid flashed once, a small compartment in the side of the frame opening to allow a spider-like device to emerge. Once secure, it rotated in a circle, emitting a thin flash of light that passed through not only her kneeling form, but the entire room as well. After a moment the scanner beeped, retreating back into it's slot, and the voice spoke again, pleased.

Room secure. Biological scan complete. Subject identified as Mirelei Nightflower O' Kidna. Voice print identification, please.

Cherry rolled her eyes, muttering softly to herself.

"Bollocksy frell, I hate that name...I wish you'd remove it from all records, Flare..."

She leaned forward, speaking clearly into the mirror, grid vibrating with the decibels of her voice.

"It's Cherry O' Kidna, you twat."

The mirror warbled on cheerfully, oblivious to her obvious annoyance.

Voice print recognized. Please speak correct pass phrase to access holding unit.

"I am following a dark nightmare."

Pass phrase correct. Please place holding unit on a flat, level surface and stand back.

Setting the mirror in the center of the floor, Cherry stepped back, kneeling several feet away from it. The grid vanished, and the mirror started to expand outwards slowly, shape conforming slightly to fit the size of the bathroom. It grew until Cherry could have comfortably stepped inside it. When it lay three feet wide across the floor it stopped, and the glass faded, leaving an opening about six feet deep within the frame. Inside, the hollow was lined with shelves, upon which were various piles of neatly folded clothing. Selecting a pair of lacy blue boy shorts and a matching bra, Cherry finished drying herself, then pulled the aforementioned underwear on. Rooting through the portal again, she selected an outfit, her hairbrush, and a small bag of dried moonflower petals. She set to crushing the last into her wet hair almost immediately, for the dual purpose of soaking up the moisture from it and making it more pleasant to the nose. Staring at the cut on her leg as she did this, she sighed.

"Oy...looks like I'll have to use a stone...I can't fight with this thing, it's too much of a liability... "

Once her hair was smooth and dry, Cherry pulled it loosely atop her head to keep it out of her way, and closed the first holding unit with her pass phrase. Selecting another mirror, she opened it exactly as she had the first; in fact, the only difference between the two was the pattern etched into the frame itself, and the contents of the holding unit. This one was filled to the brim with a vast array of jewels, artifacts, and precious stones, all arranged neatly in small compartments set into the sides. Removing a shining white stone from the top compartment, the echidna sighed, pressing it to her leg. Closing her eyes, she murmured softly to herself, moving the glowing surface down the length of the cut. She used her injured hand to do this, hoping that the healing properties of the rock would also inadvertently affect it as well. When she was finished, the once throbbing gash had become a thin scar. Her hand felt a little better as well, though it was nowhere near healed. Kissing the now faintly glowing stone, Cherry set it back among its brothers gently, bowing her head in respect.

"Thank you..."

Closing the unit, she sat back on her haunches, extending her left arm and staring at it discontentedly.

"...Guess I'm going to have to use my left for a bit...oh well."

Standing, she cocked a brow at Legs, who was close to asleep within his bath.

"OK, you've soaked long enough me lad...lets get goin.'"

Protesting sleepily, the decipede crawled out of the cup nevertheless, shaking water from his body much like a small dog. Cherry chuckled, drying him gently with the corner of her towel.

"All that carryin' on and you actually had a fine time. And you smell better too."

He chattered indignantly at her. She laughed.

"Oh, SORRY, not that smelling like motor oil all the time doesn't have its charms...mineral baths are good for decipedes, besides."

Legs rubbed against the towel, chirping.

"No, seriously. I read it in a book somewhere."

She started to comb the tufts of hair on his head and back. He wiggled, chattering at her. She rolled her eyes.

"LEGS, if we're going to be BRIEFED, we need to look NICE. Remember what the general used to say. You can't go to a formal briefing looking like you just finished fixing someones auto. It's not kickin.' How are people supposed to take you seriously?"

Legs chittered grumpily, but stood still. When she had finished, Cherry held him up to the mirror.

"See? You look much nicer. Your shells all shiny now, and your hair looks healthy and clean. Better hope we don't run into any tarty girl decipedes."

Turning around once, Legs chittered, then lifted a small leg, messing his hair up some. The echidna smiled good naturedly, shaking her head.

"Ok, fair enough. You're all set, in any case. Lets clean this place up. As soon as Clarice finishes with me, I'll dress and we'll be off."

Legs nodded, hopping about and tidying the counter. Cherry rinsed the shower out, replaced bathroom accessories in their proper holding cells, and hung her towels to dry. As soon as she was done with these tasks, she set to smoothing her fur and skin with various oils and lotions, finishing the full body treatment with a light spray of perfume that bore that same, mysterious moonflower scent she seemed so fond of. Once she had finished primping, the echidna took up the bottle of crystalline sword polish, and set to scrubbing at Luminos' blade, small rainbows playing happily inside her head as she rubbed away furiously.

"Bollocks...been awhile since I cleaned you, Luminos...good thing this is tough polish..."

It was then Cherry heard a soft knock on the bedroom door. Standing, she went into the other room, Legs hopping after her.

"Clarice?"

"Yes, it's me."

Unlocking the door, the echidna opened it slightly, letting the doctor squeeze into the room.

"Hey...gimme a tick, just polishing Luminos some."

"Oh, take your time. I have to set up anyway."

Clarice sat on the bed, laying balm and bandages on a small tray while Cherry continued to polish her sword. When she was finished, she fell to watching the echidna, so intently focused on the cleaning of her blade. After a moment she held it up, angled slightly so as to watch the light play over the luminous surface. Clarice had to shield her eyes some, as the glow from the sword was more brilliant than before due to Cherry's diligent cleaning.

"Is that thing really a sword...?"

"Mmhm...a living one."

"A living sword?"

"Aye...I know you can't really tell...I mean, no one can except the one who's connected to it. If we each held Luminos, we'd feel completely different things. I'd be able to hear him in me head. And you...well, you'd be in pain."

"Pain...?"

"Aye...living weapons only come to one hand, the one their made for or the one they choose to wield them. If any other sentient being tries to lift a living weapon that doesn't belong to him or her, they receive a nasty shock, or else can't lift the weapon because it feels overwhelmingly heavy. That's why I keep Luminos covered."

"Ah, I see."

"Yeah..."

Holding Luminos up again, Cherry nodded to herself, satisfied, and tucked him back inside his sheath, turning to face Clarice.

"How's Castor?"

"Calmer...well, sort of...I told him the same things I told you...about the briefing, and Lilian, and the Core. He had more questions, but I told him he'd have to ask Lilian, as I don't know most of the details...in any case, I told him he was free to go before I came in here."

"I figured...I didn't think it'd be your place to detain him."

"It isn't...I don't believe he's permitted to leave the Core itself, but that's up to the guards, not me. Leaving wouldn't do anything for him anyway. If Kaiser's forces find him in Notopia-"

"-Who's Kaiser? Not to interrupt, but I'm curious, I'm unfamiliar with this reality..."

Clarice shuddered.

"No, it's good you asked, I need to warn you about him. He's the current ruler of Notopia, and he's simply awful. He's the one we're fighting against."

"Ah, ok. Got it. Kaiser equals twat."

"Hee, yes...in any case, if Kaiser's forces find Castor, he's toast, and Lilians the only one who has the means to get him home. The only one who can get any of you home, really..."

"...I see. I hope she's not planning to hold that over me. I'm leaving regardless."

Clarice looked alarmed as Cherry sat beside her on the bed, extending her injured hand.

"What?!"

"I have a job to do. And I've been hanging around here long enough. Besides that, I wasn't dragged here from my real home. My real home can't be located via time transport...because it doesn't exist, technically. Don't ask...it's complicated...point is, your Lilian couldn't send me home even if I desired it. No one can."

"Oh...I see...I'm sorry..."

Cherry smiled sadly, shrugging.

"S'not your fault. It's my lot in life. That's all."

Taking her hand, Clarice began to smooth some balm over it, glancing at her leg. She blinked, exclaiming over it.

"Your leg!"

"Huh? Oh yeah...I used a stone on it. I need it to fight."

"A stone? You used...OH. You're a Gem Mage."

"Not a real one...my mother was. She could talk to the Earth, and to the rocks. She taught me a little. Healing. Minor spells. My sister Caoimhe is better at it than me though. I'm of the sword first."

"Oh...I see...why didn't you heal your hand though, and your shoulder?"

"I didn't want to kill the rock I was using, and the others aren't strong enough to be able to generate that kind of power at the moment..."

"Ah, of course...gem mages pray off the life force of their subjects...I'd forgotten..."

Cherry looked so sad and guilty at that, that Clarice changed the subject quickly.

"...I'll give you some balm for the scar."

"Oy, that'd be brilliant...I don't much care for scars."

The doctor rooted through her bag, pulling out a small jar as she spoke.

"About your decision, though...we could really use your help...is there nothing I can do to convince you to stay?"

"I'd love to stay and help...it's just there's something...well, someone very dangerous in your world, and it's my fault he's here. I'd feel horrible if something happened because I didn't get to him in time. I'm sorry..."

"Someone you're after? No, I understand that. You feel obligated..."

Pausing, the vixen considered her hand. Careful to keep her voice casual, she picked up a roll of clean bandages, and started re-wrapping it.

"Ah...if you don't mind my asking, Miss O' Kidna, what does he look like, this person you're after?"

Cherry responded absently...reciting the features of a face and a body she knew by heart.

"A hybrid of different species, his appearance is closest to that of a hedgehog. He's almost six feet tall, dark grey in color, black hair, black ears. His ears add another five or six inches to his height...the left one is ragged and torn, the right is pierced with thick silver rings and safety pins. His eyes are green in color, bright, and the left one appears to be blind. He has a cross shaped scar on his face, one slash which misses his good eye and the other which runs through his blind one. They meet approximately halfway between his eyes on his forehead. He's very skinny, but well muscled...though not so many notice the fact because of all the loose black clothing he wears...it's a great way to make people underestimate him. He has a lot of tattoos too, the most notable one probably the bar code on his right shoulder...he got it when he was in prison in Salizeeah. He wears his emblem around his neck on a silver chain, two jagged metal triangles that cross each other, from which hangs a droplet of crystallized unicorn's blood."

"What...what's his name?"

"Jerin."

Clarice tugged sharply on the end of the bandage. Cherry winced, then looked up, staring at her.

"Oh! Oh, I'm sorry dear, Are you-"

"-You've seen him."

Blinking, the vixen looked away.

"I...no, I haven't...someone who looked like him...I didn't, though, not really-"

"-Clarice, look at me."

Meeting her eyes nervously, the doctor swallowed. The echidnas entire mentality had changed in an instant. Now she was positively scary, regarding her with cold, businesslike eyes.

"Where is he, Clarice?"

"I...I don't know what you-"

"-WHERE IS HE?"

Nervous, the vixen looked down, concentrating on tying the bandage as she spoke shakily.

"I-in...in the prison beneath the Earth...it's...it's in the lowest, darkest levels of the Core...I...I treated his arm...y-you did that..."

"He's in your prison?! Then there's no time to lose!"

Leaping up as Clarice finished tying the bandage, Cherry started to gather her things, throwing her clothing on the bed and pushing mirrors and polish and candy corn back into her knapsack (Legs chattered whiningly as the last was thrown in, as he had been munching on it). Watching her with growing alarm, the vixen spoke up, flustered.

"Please, Miss Cherry, please don't do this! You can't gain access to the prison anyway! You need special security clearance!"

The echidnas voice was stony as she spoke.

"I got security clearance right HERE."

She held Luminos up and over her shoulder. Clarice wrung her hands together, begging.

"Please don't do this...!"

But it was no use trying to reason with the echidna. Her mind was already made up. Frantically thinking, the doctor's eyes softened, and she reached into her own bag.

"...Here."

"Hm?"

Turning, Cherry found the vixen holding a small piece of plastic towards her, a card with a red stripe at the top.

"...Is that...?"

"Yes...this is my security card. Take it. It'll give you access to the prison."

Cherry's eyes softened, and she seemed to return to herself, turning around fully.

"Clarice...I can't take this..."

"Take it...you'll never get past the guards otherwise...but if you would...please consider doing something for me first...?"

"...What would that be?"

"Attend the briefing. Please...it won't take long at all. As soon as you're finished everyone will go to sleep. You can sneak into the prison then, under the cover of darkness, and find him. And perhaps once you've taken care of him...perhaps you'd be kind enough to help us..."

The vixen smiled.

"...and if not...then take it anyway and go. It is my gift to you. For...for saving my life, I suppose. Or for risking yours. Whichever."

The echidna was speechless, staring at the card. Finally she smiled, kneeling in front of the vixen and drawing Luminos. Clarice sat back warily.

"W-what are you-?"

Resting Luminos along her right arm carefully, so the hilt was facing the doctor, Cherry looked up at her, smiling with tearful eyes as she clasped one of her paws in her good hand, speaking passionately.

"-No one has offered to help me in such a long time. Young woman from another world, I would be honored to assist you and yours. I'll attend this briefing first thing, and I'll return upon the completion of my targets capture and safe transport. And from this moment forth, until such time as you no longer require my aid, as a knight, and as a woman, I swear to you...my sword and my service are yours."

Overwhelmed, the doctor touched her hand.

"A knight?"

"Aye...surprised?"

Clarice smiled.

"Somehow, no. No, actually it makes perfect sense...you'll really help, though? You'll help Notopia?"

"I will. I gave you my word."

"Thank you. I'm very grateful, and I know Lilian will be too. The briefing should take place shortly...in the big conference room at the far end of this floor. You'd best hurry, and I'd best get back to my office-oh, and should your injuries start acting up..."

She ruffled around in her bag again, producing a business card, and handed it to the echidna along with her security card.

"That's my office number and hours, as well as the location of my office within the Core. Come any time you need something taken care of."

"I will. Thanks again. I'm greatly indebted to you, I and my organization...I'll re-pay the favor tenfold."

"It's my pleasure, dear...it doesn't require re-payment."

"I will re-pay you."

The doctor smiled.

"...If you insist."

Standing, Clarice gathered her things as Cherry tucked both cards into the small front pocket of her knapsack, closing it and buckling the snaps. The echidna then started to pull on her clothing...a clean pair of baggy black pants, which she tucked into her worn black boots...a long black tunic with baggy sleeves which hugged her curves and fell prettily about her form...a thin silver belt with a large, softly glowing blue stone fixed at the point of each hip...a pair of silver gauntlets to tuck her sleeves into, each adorned with a smaller blue stone situated over the back of each hand...fingerless black gloves...and the same brilliant blue bauble she had worn at her neck before. Going to the dresser, she fixed her hair, pulling it into a low ponytail and then fastening it to her head more securely with a silver clip. Clarice stared at it, recognition flooding her eyes as she studied the etching on the back of the hairpiece.

"A moonflower..."

Cherry smiled at her in the mirror.

"My insignia. I am the Lady Knight of the Moonflower and Cloak."

"A lady knight...never thought I'd meet one."

The vixen cocked a brow at her, crossing her arms and remarking humorously.

"All black, though?"

Cherry smiled, pulling her knapsack on carefully and adjusting Luminos over her good shoulder. Sensing it was time to go, Legs clambered up her back to perch on Luminos' hilt.

"It's easier to work in and sneak about with."

"I suppose it would be. It's just odd to see someone like...well, someone like you wearing such a dark color...in all the stories I've heard, usually blacks worn by the bad guys. Not the hero."

Walking to the bedroom door, Cherry opened it, then turned to glance back at Clarice, winking.

"Yeah well...in that case, I'm taking back black."

OOC: Third post's the charm. Please note there is a drastic reduction of quality in this post as I made it while I was at work.

IC:

The Sailor's unnaturally large eyes gleamed with awe as she finally found herself wandering the streets of Notopia, drawn onwards by intuition and instinct. Naturally, she could only admire such a remarkable world, blending the fantasy of the past and the future made for such an unusual atmosphere. Looking up she could see the tall looming spire at the centre of the city, and various airborne veichles, yet looking at street level she saw cobblestone streets, horses and people wandering around which could only be summed up by the word "peasant".

Yet, regardless of the clashing themes of the city. A city was still a city. The vibrant air, filled with energy and life revitalised the Sailor, allowing her to feel focused and comfortable again. Thoughts of Stressed Bayfield had all but exitted her mind, and now she was free to work out where she was, and how she would get home to her beloved.

But, there it was, that feeling that getting home and finding Vass weren't the same objective. It was an odd feeling, but she could feel each step bringing her closer to her objective, but it was unclear which was which.

Her thoughts were interupted by loud sounds of conflict, and shouts echoing down the walls of a backstreet.

'Like hell you aren't!' snarled a male voice, followed shortly by a loud and painful cry 'EAH!'

The soldier (and brawler) within acted before her mind could catch up. Before she knew it she was dashing to the source of the noise and as she stopped at the end of the street, she witnessed a group of soldiers picking up an unconcious man and dragging away a woman in a net who was still struggling and calling out.

'and just what's going on here, I wonder' Camden mused, blocking the soldier's path and while emulating the Vass Knight "How To Look, Sound and Act Badass, For Begginers" technique.

The soldiers exchanged glances, 'is she one of them?' 'she's dressed weird, she has to be' 'we weren't told about this one though'

Camden blinked confused, this was usually the part where they rushed forward under-estimating her, and she CQC'd their butts to submission.

The team leader nodded to his team, who all stopped chatting at that point, and then turned his eyes to Camden 'You're not from around these parts, are you?'

'You could say that...' the sailor mused, wondering what he was getting at.

'Did you come to this world via a portal?' he asked.

'I did...' she responded, keeping cautious and ready for anything.

'Then perhaps I should explain, for it's not my intention to have to fight and capture you heroes, we're only supposed to escort you back to The Core where you can meet the one who summoned you here'

Torn perked her pointed ears at this, she barely trusted any soldier who had attacked her and the people she had encountered up until now, but it was also true that no one had given them any opportunity to explain their situation.

Camden was equally uneasy about it, but a voice in the back of her head practically demanded that she trust them. It was too overwhelming to ignore.

'Ok' she said, at last 'I'll go with you'

Torn couldn't comprehend how this woman (Who was dressed pretty strangely) would just trust the officers that easy. It drove her insane but she realized she had no choice but to come along. Hopefully T would be around. She really needed to see a familiar face. "I'll come along and I promise not to cause too much trouble."

Castor sat on the table, thinking about what the doctor had told him after she'd already gone to find the other woman. His mind drifted a bit to the girl who'd had him dead to rights a few minutes ago. Tough dame, reminds me of the girls of Old Town. Castor knew a large amount of what he wanted to know: where he was and the name of the person who'd had him brought here. He checked the clip in his handgun as he figured out his next course of action, who to press for information next.

Lillian.

Castor slapped the clip back in and checked the chamber. There was one bullet already loaded.

"Any other questions you have, you should ask Lillian at the briefing." Clarice's words replayed in his mind. "Just please don't ask her like you asked me. I don't think she'd appreciate that very much."

Just in case she needs some persuading, though. Castor holstered his handgun again as he reached for one of his briefcases, his emergency 'Things Go To Hell' case. He opened it and examined the contents. An unloaded FN P90 submachine gun, two grenades and several clips of ammo for both the P90 and his handgun. Castor pulled the P90 out of the case and slapped a fresh clip in. Just in case...

"This job that Lillian has better be worth it," Castor mumbled as he worked. "Stupid broad already cost me 7 figures." He puncuated his statement by putting the P90 back in the case and slamming it shut. "It better be a big-money job or I'm going home, and I don't care how many bodies I have to step over to get home." He stood up, both briefcases in hand, and left the room.

OOC Note: This doesn't mean that Castor's going to be shooting everything randomly during the briefing, just that he's not going to be very agreeable with the idea of 'pro bono wetwork' and that he's prepared for the worst-case scenario.

OOC: And now...the moment you've all been waiting for...the briefing! Keep in mind I worked for hours on this, so it may feel a bit groggy. 😛

And in case anyone is wondering, everyone's character(s) are here for the briefing, including Camden, Torn, Mike and Knight, I think that's all of the ones that are still out there wandering. If there are any others, just assume that they were brought here by this time.

IC:
After a few more heroes were brought in and they were attended to by the doctor to make sure they were alive and well, and in Mike's case awake, Lilian stepped up onto the middle platform and cleared her throat meaningfully. "Welcome, everyone. My name is Lilian, and I am the one who had you brought here today. You must have questions after being taken from your home worlds so abruptly, so Ill try to keep this short.

You have been brought here to this world from your home worlds because we need help. Our group is an underground resistance against the current ruler of Notopia and the Empire, Kaiser Crugenhoff. The Kaiser is a cruel, heartless man who took over this continent five years ago and has been ruling with an iron fist. Our leader, Sir Garadon, was a royal knight under the previous monarchs kind rule and organized the resistance, which has been fighting the Kaiser until this time. About two weeks ago, the Kaiser sent an attack force to completely wipe out our last major base and forced the survivors. They thought they had murdered Sir Garadon, but what they dont know is that we had managed to fake his death using a device similar to the one that brought you all here. He is currently in a pocket dimension, awaiting to be recovered.

The problem is, the device was captured by the Kaiser. Thanks to inside information, we know that the device has been taken and divided into four separate parts, each part being placed into locations that are centers of the Kaisers military regime. These locations are too heavily guarded for the resistance to take on. Sir Garadon left me with instructions to activate the other device he had created in case something like this happened. Thats where you all come in.

Lilian pressed a button on the nearby console, which projected a holographic three-dimensional image in the air where everyone could see. The image switched to other images, which Lilian explained. The first piece is in this power plant located in the jungle to the far west of our present position, explained Lilian as the projector showed a thick jungle surrounding a compound of buildings. This power plant is the central source of energy for most of the Kaisers installations on the western sector of the continent. The primary objective here would be to recapture the piece of the device, but a secondary objective would be to either plant explosives in this central building here or to set up some kind of chain reaction that would destroy the plant. This would destabilize the Kaisers hold on that sector and make it easier for us to retake it once we defeat the Kaiser.

The image changed to that of an island floating off the coast. The camera view dove under the waves, revealing that the island was artificial and a tremendous tower-like structure jutted out from its bottom in an almost upside-down fashion. This is the Kaisers main base for his vast fleet. As you can see, his ships are capable of underwater travel, and they dock at this tower to resupply. He has placed the second part of the device here, perhaps in an attempt to scare us off. Finding the piece is again the primary objective, but either disabling or taking out as many of the ships as possible, or destroying the tower itself, is a secondary objective.

The image changed to a building that appeared to be on the edge of a city, yet this building dominated the landscape with several high towers that were connected by glass corridors and bridges. Despite its unusual appearance, this is actually the headquarters for the Kaisers financial pursuits. It wont be as heavily guarded, but the Kaiser does maintain a security force. Simply causing as much damage without harming anyone would be the secondary objective here, with the device being the primary objective.

Then the image shifted to show the towering spire that most of the heroes had already seen for themselves in Notopia. This is the Central Spire, the Kaisers effective palace, said Lilian with repressed yet visible anger. The final piece is located there. We need to wait a while longer to see if we cant find the pieces actual location, so were holding off on that until we hear about it.

The holographic projector turned off, and Lilian turned to face the heroes again, her emerald eyes scanning the group. We need your help, she repeated. We will divide you into three teams, one to handle each of the first three locations on three separate missions. Then after bringing those pieces back here, we will stage our assault on the Central Spire itself to retrieve the final piece. We will provide you with transportation to and from each location, and we will also be providing you with these. She held up what looked like a computer chip. The Kaiser uses magically-enhanced humanoid robot troopers called Watchmen. They arent especially strong or smart individually, but they are virtually invincible to normal weapons. Only special, imbued weapons can harm them. Fortunately, we have these enhancer chips that can be attached to any weapon and make it capable of harming a Watchman. Attach it to a gun, and any bullets that come out will be automatically imbued. Attach it to a sword, and its blade will cut Watchmen apart. Just be careful not to get it damaged, since it could mean life and death for you. If you already have a magical weapon, it should work against the Watchmen.

After Sir Garadon has been brought back from the dimension he sealed himself in, then we will send you back to your home worlds. The missions to recover the first three pieces will begin tomorrow at dawn. We will provide you with lodging for the night, we have several spare rooms thanks to the vacancies in our ranks. We will also provide you with any ammunition or other supplies that you may need, like power sources or food or clothing. We dont have everything, but we can at least prepare you for whats ahead.

Lilian smiled. Hope everyones still awake after all that, are there any questions?

Justin leaned back in his chair, glancing around the room at the other heroes before swiftly raising his hand up into the air. Why do you need us for? You had enough soldiers to bring us here, how come they cant handle this? He tried not to make it sound angry or indignant, as he was willing to help out with the situation.

Because we arent skilled enough, stated Lilian, her eyes matching gazes with Justin. We had a hard enough time bringing you all here to the Core. We have the equipment, we have the resources, but we dont have enough people with enough skill to take on something this big. It will take us years to recover from this. Were not asking you to replace our soldiers, all we need is our leader back and then we will send you all back to your home worlds. We should be able to continue our fight against the Kaiser from there. But with your unique skills, which Sir Garadon took into consideration when he chose you, you should be able to accomplish what we cannot.

Justin lowered his hand with an affirmative grunt. There was a brief moment of silence before Justin saw one of the other heroes, a human in a business suit who had come in moments before the briefing, raise his hand. Excuse me, lady, but I lost a lot of money cause of your portals. And while this setup helps you and your bunch out, what are we going to get in return for helping you out?

Good point, thought Justin. Though that sounds a little selfish, I was in the middle of something important too.

Lilian smirked. Another good question. If any of you desire compensation for your help, we are able to provide payment in the form of gemstones. Our money probably wouldnt do you any good in your homeworlds, so that, along with any supplies that we can spare like extra ammunition and food, is all we can offer. I can show you some samples of the gems after this meeting if you would care to examine them.

This seemed to answer the question, and Lilian looked around. Seeing no other hands that popped up immediately, she said, Okay, if thats all for now, then the men to your left will take you to your quarters. If you want to talk to me about anything, Ill be staying here. If you havent visited with Dr. Tymarron yet, please see her for a quick checkup. For the rest of you, well see you in the morning.

Justin got up and headed for the door where a group of troopers were standing. One of them took him down a metal corridor to a wing of the Core that was filled with spare rooms, which were sparsely furnished yet livable. Justin shrugged as he sat down on the cot, reflexively checking his gun inside the holster to see that it was still empty. Stranded, kidnapped, recruited...hey, I forgot! I wonder how that girl is doing...

OOC: There you all go. Feel free to ask questions and maybe RP a bit of character interaction at this point, maybe RP a physical if you so desire.

Silver was escorted to his quarters, much the way the others were. On the way there he thought he saw someone else he knew...

Briefing Room - just before the Briefing commenced

Knight was finaly led the main room - he skipped the physical examination - that woman, the doctor who was to perform the test, said he could do is after the briefing. Knight had other plans.

As he entered the large chamber, he immediatly spotted Justin.

"Knight?! What are you doing here?!"

"HQ send me after your sorry behind after you dissapeared on them. And then I was draged here by Planar Portal Express."

"I see. These people have hinted at wanting our help - but I dont know more than that."

"I see. Well, MY orders where to find where you're gone."

Before Knight had the chance to continue talking, another person was escorted into the room and suddenly yelled.

"VASS!"

Knight turned around and a surprised expression formed in his face. "Camden?!"

The girl rushed in his arms and hugged him - Knight at first didn't even react since his brain was still working on the part that she was actualy there. But soon he did and hugged her back for a while - then broke the embrace gently if only because this was not the time for a heartfelt reunion.

"Lemme guess." Knight asked her. "Portal, huh?"

"Uhh, yes." She replied.

Knight then realised that he, Camden, and Justin - where not the only denizens of Sega City present there. Cosmic Kid and OTB as well were present. He served with them 5 months ago on the Mission against Pyroclad.

"I think we should discuss our means of leaving this place."

At this point in time hower, before Knight and his friends had a chance to say anything more, Lilian appears for the briefing.

After the briefing.

"Riiight... Lilian is it? Sounds like a serious operation you got set here... Good luck with it." Knight finaly speaks and turns to leave but makes a pause to look at Justin. "You plan on helping these people?"

"Sure, looks like they need it."

"Suit yourself then. I wasn't told to get you back so I guess I'll let you do whatever you've decided - and just tell them where you are. Camden and I are heading out."

Edit:

OOC: Decided to continue on. I've OKed what I'm gonna do here with Terg.

IC:

"Just one moment, Mr... Knight, is it?" Lilian spoke out to the man.

Knight stopped walking, but kept his back turned on the woman, he only tilted his head to the side waiting for her to speak.

"I understant we ask much of you - but please understant that we desperetely need your help. I can assure you this is for a good cause, our land needs your hel--"

"You got a lot of nerve, lady!" Knight turned around and pointed at the woman. "Planeshifting us here without asking us first, picking us up one by one from our homes and then just waltzing in giving us a Mission Briefing like we're your pet soldiers!"

"I DO realise how this a very uncomfortable experience for you all - for EVERYONE involved - but I'm afraid the urgency of these circumstances did not allow us to do things with the proper... 'etiquette'."

"And you think that just because your side had it bad in a war that gives you right to drag us into your mess? Who the hell do you think you are? The Guardian of Worlds?! And I doupt even he would do such a thing!"

"Well, you're right about that one." Justin mused. "He would more likely manipulate us into it - rather than openly set us on a mission."

Knight shook his head. "Whatever. I'm out of here. For all I know she could be lying to us and set us out to free some sort of terrorist bend on global conquest."

"Are you implying Lady Lilian is tricking you into performing unsavory acts, you barbaric Outworlder?" One of the guards stepped up towards Knight. Two of more of his over-zealous friends followed.

"No." Knight said. "I'm flat out saying it. I dont know what her deal is - and quite frankly - I dont even wanna know!" Knight glanced at Camden and then headed towards the exit. The three guards however blocked his way, their weapons turned towards the Forumer.

"This is not necessery men. I dont wish any harm for the Heroes." Lilian tried to calm things down.

"I'm sorry Lilian - but this man here needs a lesson on manners! He can't insult you like that!"

Knight sighed. "And you intent to give me that lesson, kid?"

"If need be." the guard said and raised his riffle towards Knight. His comrades were beside him for assistance if necessery.

"Brave." Knight said smiling. And then dashed forward - grabbing the riffle from the barrel and pushing it away with his left hand while delivering an elbow thrust on the guard's throat with his right one - sending him tumbling to the floor. Knight spinned around and used the riffle he had grabbed as a baseball bat to knock the second guard down as well and following that he threw the gun - butt first - the the 3rd one's face droping him down as well.

It all happened in less than 3 seconds. Knight then turned towards the other guards that were in the room. "Anyone else here wants to give me a lesson on manners?"

The guards eyed Lilian and then Knight. No one seemed to say anything though more than a couple had an angry look on their faces.

"Didn't think so." Knight mused. "Though I believe you've made a point of being incompetent on handling those missions your boss mentioned a while ago..."

OOC: This is taking place before Justin heads off to his room, BTW. I might just delete that part if it interferes with what's going on here.

IC:
Lilian glared down from her place, shifting her eyes from Knight to the troopers. "Let him go, if that's what he wants. That's an order."

"But Lady-"

"No buts. Like it or not, he was one of the ones selected by Sir Garadon, it's not like you could stop him anyway. He just proved that much."

She turned back to Knight, her expression stern, yet it was a forced expression. "Mister Knight, I can't force you to stay. I can't convince you that I'm telling the truth. So go if you wish. But Sir Garadon specifically selected you for a reason, and if nothing else, you could at least stick around to ask him why."

"Not interested. See you around."

Justin stood to one side, looking up at Lilian before walking over to Knight. "Wait a sec, Knight, you were sent to find me?"

"Yeah," replied Knight. "Vector told Jack to tell me to find you."

"You say that was all they ordered you to do, but you can't tell me it wasn't implied that you were supposed to bring me back." Justin smirked as he crossed his arms. "And I'm not comin' back until I help these folks out. If they're lying, then we'll deal with it then. But if they're telling the truth, then they need all the help we can get. Besides, they've got the only way home that I can see. Unless you suddenly make like TBlood and 'port us out of here, that is."

OOC: Kinda rushed for need of rest.

IC:

Knight rubbed his forehead for a moment.

"But Justin... how do you know she's for real?"

"How do you know she's not?"

Knight stood there for a moment and the looked at Camden. "There might be a way..."

"OK, why are you giving me the funny look?" Camden asked.

"Cammy, can they be trusted?" Knight asked.

"Wha?! How should I know?! I dont even know what to think of all this just yet - it all happened so fast and--"

"Cammy..." Knight said in a stern tone putting his arms on her shoulders. "I want you to close your eyes and stop thinking. Just ask yourself if that woman can be trusted. Then open them and tell me."

"What?"

"Please, trust me." Knight continued. It was obvious to those who cared to notice - that Knight's tone was a lot softer and caring when he addressed the girl.

Camden finaly closed her eyes and after a while she opened them again. "Y-yes... Lilian can be trusted.... but... how can I know this?!"

"We'll talk about that later." Knight said as he turned to Lilian.

"It would apear you have us at a dissadvantage here, Lilian. It doesn't look like I have a way of getting out of your world unless I help you - unless TBlood pops out of nowhere - which I doupt. And my stubborn collegue here wants to stick his neck out for your people which means I have to be here to make sure it stays attached to his head - though I think that Justin's a big boy and can take care of himself. And since Camden here has been able to aquit my doupts about your motives for now, I guess you got yourself another little killing machine for your little rag-tag army. But I do have a request."

"What's that?" Lilian asked.

"I want to be in the same team with Camden and Justin."

"I dont see why this would be a problem so, sure."

"Now then. Can anyone of your soldier wannabes escort me and my lady to our quarters for the night? Looks like tomorrow is gonna be a long day."

Lilian nodded to one of the nearby troopers, her eyes carrying her authority. "Please escort them to their quarters."

The troopers followed their orders and did so, being careful to give Knight some space.

"And get Doctor Tymarron to send someone up here for those others, they need medical attention," Lilian said, gesturing to the knocked-out troopers.

Justin shrugged before he headed out to his room.

OOC: Phew. I'm going to bed right now myself. Now things are kicking up!

T.J listened to the whole briefing and he was very intrigued. From what he had heard, they were facing a threat as powerful as the former Crescent Sun in his world. The Watchmen they described didn't seem all that dangerous, especially since they were probably unfamiliar with his powers. He waited until Lilian had finished talking with the one man who had taken out several guards and approached her. "I think you speak truthfully but if this is a trick, I can't say I will be too happy or--"

Torn grabbed his arm and he ended his thought abruptly. He turned to her and ran his hand through his hair. "Sorry about that. Guess I let it get to my head."

"You could say that! I know how you feel and I'm not so sure I can trust them either but it's not like we have much of a choice, right?" She asked.

That idea bothered T even more but he didn't say anything. His only worry was that he would be paired up with Torn in a mission.

OOC: This will be edited tomorrow when I can get to a real computer...*sighs*

OOC: For those of you who don't know, this is Spiner, just in an alt account. Long story short, I'm in preps for a kilo-post, so I'll be using this alt for a while.

IC:
The winged hedgehog thought over the seriousness of the situation. The others guys here must've been real big-time heroes from where they came from, well at least some of them appeared to be. Others, it was probably best not to think about it. But, he silently prayed to the Goddesses of Destiny that he would at least get put in with people he could trust. Though, with his luck, it probably wouldn't happen.

He decided to hang around shortly after the briefing was over. He'd decided to go see the 'doc. However, he thought it best to see if anyone else was going.

However, he had unintentionally listened in on the various conversations that had taken place since he had stayed back. And the little fight scene wasn't half-bad. He did try to make himself unnoticeable, until the tension died down. Whereupon, he took it upon himself to go talk with the 'doc, after the knocked-out shoulders had been tended to.

OOC: I'll edit in more later. Kind of busy at the moment, and was in dire need of making a post to show I was still in this.

OOC: This takes place right after Mobius, Justin, Camden and TJ leave.

Castor smiled as the trio left, escorted by the soldiers. They were a motley crew, those three. The boy and girl seemed inconsequential enough, but the bigger guy was definitely the most interesting of the trio. Gotta be soldier or a merc. Good one, too. Moves like that don't come natural. Too much tact and mercy for my taste, though. I'da killed those grunts if they would've tried that on me. Despite his reluctance to work for probably worthless gemstones, he decided that he might stick around and see how things pan out. Besides, there're people in Basin City that'd buy anything shiny. Hell, maybe I can even convince them to drop me back right when they took me out so I can finish my job.

Something still dug at Castor's mind, though. Something he had to ask Lillian directly. He waited until the room had mostly cleared out except for a couple stragglers, getting a cigarette lit. The noise of his Zippo flicking shut caught Lillian's attention.

"You weren't kiddin about the lightweights ya gave the guns to, Lillian. Having a couple pros around would definitely be good for ya." Castor took the cigarette out of his mouth and blew a long trail of smoke out. "Thing is, this seems more like a gig for professional soldiers or mercs than for a guy like me. Which begs the question: why me?"

"Because Sir Garadon knows of you and what you're capable of. You're Castor Troy, right? He says you're good with weapons, quiet and precise with your actions," Lillian said. "Soldiers and mercenaries aren't that good with subtlety, and the places we're going to be sending you guys are going to require a measure of subtlety if you don't want the entire Notopian army gunning for you."

Castor smiled and took another drag on his cigarette. "Ah, little bit of flattery to seal the deal. Fine, then. So long as you're a paying client, I'll work for you." And God help you all if you balk when I ask for my pay, he thought. Castor started to turn around, then stopped. "Quick request, though. If I gotta work in a group, couldja make sure I'm working with someone compentant and not one of your weekend warriors?"

"I'll see what I can do, Castor," Lillian said. "Have a good night's rest, we'll see you all in the morning." She paused for a second. "Oh, and you really should apologize to Dr. Tymmarron about what you did earlier when you go to get your physical."

"Uh-huh. Right," Castor said dismissively as he left the briefing room. He dropped the finished cigarette as he left, grinding it into the tile of the room with his right foot.

OOC: Moving along nicely =) as Terg said before, y'all can use this time for some character interaction, formation of alliances, etc., etc. Also, anyone who didn't get a chance to have their character ask Lilian something can feel free to do so and we'll say it all happened before this post here. I just couldn't wait =P I don't think it'll throw things off too much, but I did want to start Cherry off on her little night mission.

Cheers.

When the doors had long since closed, and when darkness had settled comfortably into the empty conference room, and when the only remaining movement seemed to come from the pale grey smoke trickling in ghostly patterns about the remains of Castor's cigarette, there was a sudden stirring within the air, and Cherry O' Kidna landed on the ground with a light thump, having leapt from the top row of seats. Straightening, she stared in the direction the others had taken, her face expressionless. Legs leaned into her neck, chirping softly.

"Yeah. I don't know."

She simply responded, shrugging. Turning her head, she regarded her small companion seriously.

"Y'all ready? Because tonights frellin' IT Legs. I can feel it! Tonight we're goin' to shut 'im down. I mean, bollocks, he's already IN prison, if we botch this up there's sumpthin' wrong with us."

Legs swallowed nervously, but responded with an excited chirp. Cherry smiled.

"Hopefully it'll be a walk in the park...lets make certain we don't let our guards down, though. Remember, Jerins very sneaky, and very clever, and he may or may not have planned on our showin' up. Either way, we gotta play it out carefully. And watch out for Junk. Clarice didn't mention seeing a bot, but that might not necessarily mean a thing. That wee toaster can't be taken lightly."

The decipede nodded, then chittered smugly. The echidna laughed, cocking a brow at him.

"Oh, you're going to take Junk apart, are you?"

He fixed her with his infamous "cute" eyes, chirping imploringly.

"OK, but LISTEN, you can only DISABLE him. Don't take him fully offline. He could prove useful in Jerin's trial."

Legs scowled. Cherry stared sternly at him.

"LEGS."

Her companion sighed, but nodded, settling back on her shoulder. Pressing a claw to her lips to indicate they should be quiet now, Cherry went to the large double doors, pushing them open slightly and exiting the room. Once in the hall, she took a look around, then turned left, heading in the direction some of the others had taken earlier, figuring this looked less suspicious than wandering aimlessly throughout the Core.

Oy, pain to not know exactly where he is...but Clarice said the lower levels of the Core, so I s'pose I need only find the stairs and go down 'till I get to the prison itself. I can have a guard direct me from there...

Coming upon a long hallway with row after row of doors, Cherry kept to the shadows, slinking along the wall, exercising particular caution so as not to wake any of the other heroes.

Last thing I need, really...to be caught wandering the halls after hours, and then get caught up in a lot of questions...

Pausing to listen for any unusual sounds, the echidna continued when she heard nothing, making her way towards the next corridor...

I can't believe this is it...it's almost over. And after I fulfill my promise to Clarice...I can finally go home...

She smiled, feeling happier than she had in a very, very long time.

...home...

OOC: Yeah, don't be afraid to RP how your character would react to being taken from their homeworld and being basically forced into a situation where they could lose their lives far away from home. Just because everyone's been escorted to their rooms doesn't mean that everyone stayed in their rooms. You can try to find out where to get a midnight snack, or go see the doc about a tummyache, or just start chatting it up with whoever you'd like, within reason of course.

Also, don't be afraid to ask Lilian questions, for the sake of convenience you can "go back in time" and RP questions if you so desire. We want to give everyone the chance to feel out this situation.

And by the way, not everyone's quarters have to be the same, either. Justin just has the bad luck of getting spartan military-type quarters. 😛

One other minor detail: it hasn't been explained IC yet, but we are planning on everyone "picking" their own mission to go on, rather than Cherry and I assigning everyone to certain positions. Aside from the arrangement already made with Lilian, which is for Justin, Knight and Camden to all be in the same party, you are free to select which mission to join. There will be two five-member teams and one four-member team, we'll figure out which mission gets less people after we see how everyone's holding up. So review the missions and decide which mission would be best for your character(s). For those of you with more than one character, you might consider splitting up your characters between the teams so you don't end up taking half a team with your own characters, though you are free to have all of your characters join the same mission, since that has the advantage of being easier to keep track of than splitting your attention between three separate missions.

IC:
It had been a few hours since the briefing. Justin laid on his cot, looking up at the metal-tiled ceiling, counting the bolts that kept each tile into place for the umpteenth time.

Doc was kinda dodgy, but she finally told me which room I could find the girl in, thought Justin, his hands under his head as one leg hung lazily over the side of the cot. When I finally find it, she's not there, and no sign of any of her gear or that bug of hers. It didn't even look like she had touched anything in the room. Now that I think about it, I was in front when we were escorted to our rooms, I didn't see whether she even came along with the rest of us. Hope she didn't skip out on me, I still gotta see if she's okay.

Then realization hit his mind, and he slapped himself on the forehead. I forgot to ask the doc for her name! I bet she knew it, too, and now it's too late to bother her again, she's gotta be tired after everybody...

Justin sat up and hung both legs over the edge of the cot before he pushed himself off and onto his feet. I can't sleep. Maybe she's in her room right now.

He walked over to the small dresser against the wall and picked up the torso holster he had for his gun. He put it on, the only straps showing in the front being the two shoulder straps, and slipped his Glock into it, the comfortable weight seeming to fill a place even though it was unloaded. With a silly flourish he then put on his brown leather jacket, leaving it unzipped yet it managed to hide any evidence of the holster he wore. He considered putting on his shades, but he hesitated before putting them in an inner pocket of his jacket. His last preparation was to adjust his red-fingered gray gloves, looking at a tiny indicator on the inside of each glove's wrist which told him what he needed to know. Good, fully charged, thought Justin as he turned to the door, his sneakers quiet on the metal floor. I don't think I'll need to use them, but it's good to know they're available.

It wasn't a fancy setup for a door. It was bare gray metal with a similarly-hued doorknob. If it comes down to it, I can lock myself in this room. Good to know, just in case Knight's right.

He opened the door, careful not to make any noise as he slid out into the corridor and shut the door behind him. He looked first to his left, and then to his right before he headed right, walking quietly more out of wanting to avoid being rude and waking others up than to be sneaky. Hope she doesn't get any wrong ideas by my coming to her at this hour, thought Justin as he came close to the end of the corridor. All I want is to find out who she is, maybe see if I can help her out. She got hurt bad by somebody, and my guess is that somebody is still alive, probably wants her dead. For all I know, that person could be one of the other heroes or some-

He was cut off in his thought as he turned the corner and stopped. There in the corridor in front of him was the girl he was looking for, who whirled around to face him. She was dressed differently now, all in practical black, which somehow did not suit her in Justin's eyes compared to the more colorful clothes she had been wearing earlier. If she had been pretty before, she was gorgeous now, having clearly had the time to clean up. And she had eyes that he could see were a startlingly pretty blue that contrasted nicely with her red fur.

You have a fiancee, you ogler, he scolded himself mentally as he refocused on what was going on. Now that he was back on track, he could tell that she was sizing him up, and he decided to try and make as good an impression as he could of his true motives.

"Hey, miss, I just wanted to see how you were doing," he said in a low voice, figuring that she was dressed in black and skulking in the corridor for a reason. "I know you don't know me, but do you need any help?"

Don't know why I just did that, but I'm not about to turn back on my word. I can't shake the feeling that I want to help her.

Cherry stared at the human in front of her, confused, a million thoughts racing through her head at an overwhelming speed.

Now how the bollocksy frell does this bloke know me? He looks familiar, but I could swear I've never seen him before in me life. Oy, I so haven't got any frellin' time for this. I have to get goin.' So how to get away from him? Say I'm just off for a bite? A walk? Maybe knock him out?...Eh, wait, definitely not the last...he looks like a warrior of some sort. And a honorable warrior never attacks another warrior straight off, as the general used to say...not before breaky, anyway. No, that wouldn't really be kickin' at all. Saints alive, of all nights in all places of all times...my luck sucks bollocks...what the frell am I going to do?

It was then Legs peered around her neck. His eyes widened, and he hopped up and down, poking her and chittering softly. She glanced at him, tilting her head a bit in order to hear better.

"Hm...?"

He chattered wildly, careful to keep his voice low, pointing at Justin.

"...Oh! Oh I see! Well, that's different then."

Turning back to the human, Cherry pressed her claws together, smiling prettily.

"Am I correct in addressing Justin Hobbes, as my companion indicates?"

Justin nodded.

"Yes miss, that's me."

"Well met then, sir Justin. I'm pleased to have run into you, I needed to speak with you anyway. My name is Cherry O' Kidna. You've already met Legs."

Legs chattered at Justin conversationally. The human chuckled, waving at him before looking back at her.

"Your names Cherry?"

"Aye. Legs told me you tried to protect me from Core soldiers when they came for me. He said you carried me through the streets and kept me safe."

Justin nodded.

"That's true, miss Cherry, but it isn't a big deal. You looked like you needed some help, and I was only too happy to give you a hand."

He smiled.

"You seem to be feeling better, but is there anything else I can help you with...?"

Cherry shook her head, winking.

"M'set mate. But I'd like to reward your kindness..."

Striding toward him purposefully, Cherry took his hand, turning it over. Reaching back and into her bag, she pulled a large object out, pressing it into his palm: a glittering ruby.

"I know it isn't much...but it's a very precious stone where I'm from. Red is the color of bravery, and you performed a very brave act on behalf of I and my companion. I'm afraid it's all I have to give at the moment. I hope it's satisfactory. Take it, along with my thanks."

Justin stared at the beautiful gem, awed. When he looked back up, the echidna was already walking away from him.

"Hey! Whoa there...!"

He followed her down the hall.

"You should be in bed resting! Please, if you're hungry or you need something, let me get it for you."

Cherry glanced over her shoulder at him.

"I'm perfectly capable of fetching me own vittles, mate."

"Ok, that's cool. I'll just walk you there then...just in case, I mean...I mean, I know you're ok and all, but you never know."

"Please, don't trouble yourself."

"It's no trouble, I can't sleep any-"

Whirling to face him, Cherry stopped, fixing her intense eyes upon his face. Her voice was stern and insistent, punctuated by small, warning growls from her companion.

"-Go back to your bed, Justin Hobbes. Where I go now I do not wish to be followed, and what I desire you cannot provide."

Startled, Justin stopped short, his face inches away from hers.

"You aren't really going for food, are you?"

"No mate. I'm not. I'm after something else, and I haven't the time to pretend otherwise."

He smiled, pushing his hands into his pockets.

"I figured as much, judging by the whole black look, and the sneaking about the halls thing."

She cocked a brow at him.

"Goin' to blow the whistle on me, mate?"

He shook his head.

Her expression softened some, brows lifting with concern.

"Look...it's not that I don't appreciate the offer. And I'm very grateful to you for your assistance in my time of need...but I'm ok now. Yes, I am going somewhere other than the dining hall. What I intend to do when I get there requires precise action and an intense amount of concentration, and I can't be buggered to have to watch another person in addition to that. It could very well cost me everything. I haven't much time now, and much to do. So please...stop following me. Go back to your bed."

Justin shook his head.

"I can't do that...I'd be worried about you."

Cherry stared at him, incredulous.

"Why?"

Justin shrugged, running a hand through his hair.

"I can't quite say...I just know I would. I wouldn't be able to sleep at all. I'd just think about you being in trouble. Wherever you're going, at least let me follow...I promise I won't interfere. And you don't have to worry about me getting in over my head. I can hold my own..."

Cherry stared at him, silent for a moment. Then she shook her head.

"My answer is still no."

"But-"

"Hey, you there!"

Startled, echidna, human, and decipede turned to find a guard behind them. He looked concerned.

"What are you two doing out here? You should be asleep, you've a long day ahead of you. Is there something you need?"

Acting quickly, Cherry grabbed Justin's arm.

"My companions an' I were just out for a quick walk. Nerves, you know."

"Oh. Well, you should get back to bed soon, miss."

"Of course. We're just off for a bit of a midnight snack first. Where are the stairs?"

The guard scratched his head.

"Stairs're just down this hall, way at the end, but dining halls right before that. No need to take the stairs, miss."

"I see. Thank you. Be back in a tick!"

Dragging him down the hall, Cherry tried to keep a hold on her temper, seething inwardly as she went along. She couldn't possibly send Justin back now, as the guard might ask him where she was, even check the dining hall if she was gone too long. Granted, there was a reasonable chance he wouldn't, but the echidna couldn't afford to bank on reasonable chances at the moment. She was going to have to take Justin with her, to be on the safe side.

"Um...miss Cherry?"

"Quiet! I'm thinkin.'"

She snapped irritably.

"Sorry...I just wanted to know why we're heading for the stairs. Since you aren't going for the dining hall, I mean, I figured the reason you threw that line to the guard was to actually ask where the stairs were."

Cherry glanced over at him, still annoyed.

"Well bollocks, we've got a sharp one here!"

She sighed.

"...It's not the place, it's where it leads. We're going down, to the prison."

"The prison?"

Cherry released him, nodding.

"Aye...and I've lost a lot of time because of all this nonsense. Well, you wanted to come. You don't have a choice now. This is risky business, and I wish there was another way...but this may be my only chance..."

"To do what?"

"To capture someone very dangerous. Come on then."

Justin followed after her, still puzzled.

"I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to ruin your plans."

Checking her temper, the echidna took a deep breath, reaching up to scratch Legs' small head with one claw as he shuffled nervously about on her shoulder. Her eyes were sad and tired as they regarded the path ahead.

"You didn't...sorry I snapped at you, mate...this just makes things harder. That's all..."

Justin felt kind of bad now as he walked alongside the girl, who he could finally attach a name to. He realized that he might've held her up in a time-sensitive situation, and the last thing he wanted to do was give a bad impression at first like this.

No time for a pity party, the lady needs help, Justin thought to himself, turning his negativity upside down. I'm along for the ride, might as well make it clear I'm not going to be a liability.

"Hey, no probs," Justin responded with a casual wave as they started down the stairs. "Look, I can tell you don't like this, but if this guy is half as dangerous as you make him out to be, then you need someone to watch your back. Who is this guy we're after, anyway?"

"Someone who isn't afraid of killin' to get his way," said Cherry matter-of-factly. "I don't wish t'be rude, mate, but since you're taggin' along, we'll need t'be quiet."

"Okay, I'll shut up," said Justin with a near-silent laugh to let her know he wasn't offended, but then his tone became more serious as he said, "Just one last thing. I got your back. Promise."

He saw her turn her head to look up at him with those pretty blue eyes of hers, though now he could see those eyes better and he could almost feel the intensity of what was going on behind them. It felt like she was discerning him, figuring out the depth of what he had just said.

I got your back. Promise. That means I fight your fight. That means you've gotta trust me, miss Cherry. Even if not, I didn't help you get this far just to see you get hurt again. That's what it means.

He still didn't understand it, but he just felt like she could be trusted. Even if he wasn't her favorite person in the world right now, that didn't change his opinion of her. And she was being very brave right now. Which is why he offered his promise of help. Now it was up to her.

To his relief, he saw a smile tugging at the edges of her mouth, and she nodded ever so slightly. Justin felt like his offer had been accepted, and he was honored for it to be so. He winked back at her, and for a moment it felt like he was connected to her by his promise.

Then just as quickly as it had come, the smile went back into seriousness, and she turned back forward as they reached the bottom of the stairs, turning a corner to face a heavy metal door. Justin understood that it was time to be silent, and he silently took up position on one side of the door as Cherry walked over to the other side, reaching into her bag's front pocket to pull out a keycard.

This is it, thought Justin as he reached up to his wrists and touched buttons, simultaneously putting his feet together and shifting them apart, one forward and one backward. For a brief moment there was a sheen of white energy that glowed around the contours of his gloves and shoes, but the glow stopped, leaving only the tingly feeling that a protective energy field does. Ready to get this game on.

He couldn't describe it, there was just something about doing uncommon and dangerous things that made him feel more relaxed, even in a tense situation like this. He felt more like he was in the right place now. He was doing what he thought he should be. And that was what mattered.

He saw Cherry nod to him again, and he nodded back. She then lifted the card and swiped it into the electronic unit next to the door.

Justin braced himself as the door opened.

'I am so glad I found you here' Camden grinned, locking onto Knight's arm as they walked through the corridors to the room provided for them 'I was a bit worried when I ended up lost and alone, I though he had come back to hurt me, but then I found you'

'Amazing coincidence, don't you think' Knight replied.

'Yeah, but then again they brought a couple of sisters there aswell, so I guess some of their "heroes" come in pairs, and what a better pair than us?' she leaned closer to him while speaking, 'I think my headache is coming back...' she added, in a far more suggestive voice than such a comment could ever be used for.

As Knight grew a smirk, Camden's face turned a bit more serious for a moment 'By the way' she said, in a far more normal voice than the one she was sporting a moment ago, 'What was that "Trust" thing, I don't understand'

Knight didn't immediatly replied. He took a long breath and then took out his pack of cigarettes. Placed on his mough and lit it with is Zippo which had the emblem of the SONIC Unit engraved on the side.

"Have you ever wondered why you get those headaches?" Knight finaly replied - with a question.

"Eh? No... I mean - they're just migraines, right?"

"Must be some migraines to occassionaly 'cause you to vomit."

"I... I guess I never thought about what the CAUSE might be. Only on ways to make it stop. An aspirin often works. Other than that whenever I'm focused onto something... Being on a mission, training, reading a book."

"Making love." Knight smiled.

"Er, heh... yes... you know me. Camden Bayfield: only woman alive that saying "I have a headache tonight" is a good thing. But what does all of this have to do with what I just asked you ab-- dammit, Vass! You're a master at dodging questions!!!"

Knight laughed softly as he puffed cigarette smoke towards the ceiling. "Actualy, I didn't dodge the question. My question was very relevant to what you did back there."

"Hm? In what way?"

"What if I told you that you power of diving into other people's dreams had nothing to do with your state as a Sailor?"

"Huh--Wha?!" Camden was now confused. She had the power to dive into other peoples dreams but she never bothered realy to explore it - and she always believed it was due to being afflicted by the Sailorness virus - since this viral strain often seems to bestow weird powers.

Knight placed his cigarette on a nearby ashtray and then turned towards her, putting his hands on her cheecks and looking her in the eyes. Camden wouldn't admit how that look always made her melt. [OOC: OH the CHEESYNESS! But I couldn't resist ]
"Cammy, there is great power inside you. And it has nothing to do with a random virus spawned out of the random insanity of Sega City. It's all you. All your doing. Even if you're not aware of it."

"What do you mean?"

Knight took his hands of her face and stood up, taking the cigarette back in his hands. "I mean the Power of the Mind. Telepathy. An ability to touch, feel, warp, and control the minds of others." He continued talking walking up and down the room. Camden was a bit surprised at his attitude - Knight often speaks passionately but she never expected him to be this way about... psionics... And what he was implying - no, saying - was both scary and unexpected.

"Those headaches you feel? The nausea? It's all your powers growing. You refuse them to manifest themselves, and it has a physiological after-effect on your body - causing you the nausea. The thoughts of everyone around you fly into the ether and get sucked by your oversensitive mind; unfiltered but also unwelcome by it, they manifest a subconcious backlash. When you fight, and generaly keep yourself focused, you unconsiously block these alien thoughts from overwhelming you - which is why every bad feeling dissapears during those moments."

Camden blinks and for a while she stays silent. "I... I dont know what to say..."

"You have been blessed with a gift to fashion reality around you... well, kind of."

"But... I dont want that power!"

Knight extinguishes the cigarette and then sits again next to her, placing her on his arms. "You were born with it. And look what's happening to you if deny it... And it will only get worse. Whether you like it or not, this power is part of you. And refusing to accept it - will destroy you. You have so much power in you, that you just can't ignore it - because that power definately won't ingnore YOU. And you know I dont want to see you get hurt in any way. So, I'm gonna do everything in my power to protect you; to guide you through all this. Not only because I dont want to lose you - but because I love you and want what's best for you. I want to see you grow, to thrive. Not whither away and dissapear. THAT's what love is all about. Not holding on to something and strangle it of all life. Let me help you Cammy. Let me guide you. Let me see you thrive!"

TBC...

OOC: Sorry I haven't posted in a while, been waiting for an opportunity to post.

Anyway, let's go on a journey inside OTB's thoughts...

IC:

Blu looked at his new surroundings, his living quarters weren't exactly five star, but weren't too bad considering the situation that Lilian had told them about earlier

Lying on his bed, and staring at the plain steel ceiling, he wandered off on a trail of thoughts, as Blu always had a hard time sleeping.

"Need my help?" Blu thought. "I don't really like doing other people's dirty work, but I guess I don't have a choice, it's a heroes duty after all" he gave himself a smirk at that last comment.

"Wrong place, wrong time. That's all it is. I'm no hero...Well, guess I've gotta play my part in all this, it's not exactly something I haven't come across before. Evil dictator, working with resistance, stealth ops...Heck, I've done this kinda thing all before, it should be a walk in the park."

He turned and threw his head face down on the pillow, attempting to sleep again. After all, you can't go saving a world on a few hours sleep.

'But why is this happening' she murmurred weakly 'I've never had a single headache until Hinoke...'

'That was the time your powers chose to manifest' Knight said, stroking her hair comfortingly.

'How long have you known? Why did you chose now to tell me? I don't understand'

-

Elsewhere, in Ye Olde Inn, a newcommer was sitting at a table with a mug to one side, and a book openned on the table.

The dark stranger wore a black cloak, concealing the leather coat and white collarless shirt undearneath, and neat black trousers with heavy boots. A clump of hair fell neatly over his left eye and a cigarette hung loosely from his mouth.

'Fasinating...' he mused, to himself 'simply fasinating...'

He leafed over the pages and scanned their contents, sipping occasionally on his drink, pausing from his reading only to light a new cigarette or summon over the waitress for a new drink.

'Such wonderful ideas this world has' he sighed blissfully to himself 'Refreshing to escape the constant clich and trap of unoriginality which Sega City possesses'

No one was paying the visitor any much attention afterall, he blended in much more than the ones who had been chased through the bar earlier. Though one person kept a curious eye on the newcommer, noticing the way he talked to himself, hid his face from the light with the hood of his cloak and just didn't feel right in the grand scheme of things.

Brandy approached him 'another drink sir?' she offered, politely.

'Hmm?' the mysterious male looked up, revealing his facial features to her, dark ginger hair, pale blue eyes fixed into a frown, a small nose and thin, narrow lips clinging to a cigarrette 'Oh, thank you very much' he politely responded, offering his mug and returning his gaze to the book below him.

'And jus' whats that yer readin', sir?' Brandy asked, conversationally.

'Just some light reading material' the stranger kindly responded, 'I wish to learn as much of the culture of Notopia before I am forced to move on.'

'Ah, a traveller are ye?' the barmaid asked, as curious of this man's story as she was with the earlier visitors.

'As you say. I am currently tracking down a relative of mine...' it wasn't exactly a lie 'She is a big girl though, so I feel relaxed to take some time to enjoy my journey'

'How long will you be staying here, Mr...?' she inquired

'Bayfield' the stranger answered 'and I'll be hanging around for as long as I need to. I hope that wont be a problem?'

'With the amount you offered us for lodging?!' Brandy joked, 'you're welcome here for as long as you need'

'Thank you, Ms. I appreciate it' Stressed Bayfield, the phantom forummer, concluded.

'Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?'

'Not a thing, fair maiden, just leave me to read my book for a little longer, but do tell me when you are ready to close the bar, I'd not like to be a bu-' he stopped suddenly, his eyes growing wide, his teeth clenching and snaping through the filter of his cigarette and his fist bunching into a tight ball.

'Mr. Bayfield? Are ye alright?!' Brandy asked, shocked.

Stressed took a deep breath then collected himself 'Just fine. I'm afraid something just came to my attention, I need to go to my room. I shall see you in the morning' he quickly gathered his stuff and stormed off, leaving the barmaid watching in confusion.

-

Comfortably relaxing in his room, Stressed looked up at the ceiling and snarled to himself, up until that moment he was enjoying this change of scenary, but alas that damn Vass had to go and mess with his affairs once again.

'Just who is he?! and what the hell is he trying to do?!' he growled, to himself. Knowing that no answers would find him. Instead he decided to close his eyes, rest and learn more about the situation.

OOC: Sorry, y'all! I've had some family matters to attend to, so I've been absent. >> I'll try to get it back in gear.....

IC:

Kristi sighed, staring up at the white, bolted ceiling, hands propping her head up. The vixen's eyes looked around the room once again, smiling at the dark green walls and the tiled floor. Below her, her sister, Claire, was practicing on a punching bag that hung from the ceiling, wearing a tank-top and shorts that had been provided. Sweat slipped down her forehead in little beads, and her movements were swift and accurate.

Sitting up, Kristi let her feet dangle over the bunk-bed, face adopting a rather bored expression. "Claire...what exactly are we gonna do?" Her green eyes carefully watched her twin's punches.

Claire slowed down, yet not fully halting her practices, pushing her bangs out of her face. "Well, that Justin kid did have a point..seems like these people have enough force to take down 'the Kaiser' themselves......" Sighing, she stopped, straightening up to stare at the wall. "Though I have my doubts, it does seem we can trust this Lilian, from the way she spoke to me earlier...."

After the briefing

"Oh, nonononnono...NO WAY am I going to do your dirty work lady!" Claire pointed her finger at the Lilian, scowling before crossing her arms.

Lilian sighed, rubbing her forehead, "I understand if you are upset, Miss Dunn, I would be too..but we really need you! We are only asking for your help and services, if only for a few days to a few weeks at most! That is all! Please, if you want some kind of payment-"

"Payment?? No, I just want to go HOME! I didn't ask for this, and-"

"-I know it was against your will, but you must LISTEN....We are in dire need of assistance, and you heroes are just the kind of help we need!" Lilian interrupted, after being interrupted herself.

Claire opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say another word, Kristi cut her off. "I fully understand your pleas, Miss Lilian, and if I were in your situation I would feel the same way...which is why I'd be glad to offer my services. If nothing, helping others is what we do, is it not, sister?" Eyes narrowing, the silver vixen glared at her sister.

"Yes, we help people, but not like this! This is just absurd, it's...it's.....ugh, this is ridiculous! I've never even considered myself a hero - or heroine, for that matter - which is why I don't understand why we were dragged here in the first place!" Claire spat, matching her sister's stare.

Lilian sighed again, "But you are! Which is why you were chosen to aide us!" Turning around, her back to the twins, she crossed her arms behind her back. "Now, you can leave..and run around Notopia, having no earthly clue what to do.....and run into the Kaiser alone, or you can stay here and help. Either way, we have no means of getting you back to your home worlds until this is over. PLEASE, we need help.....

"And as I had mentioned, we will make sure you are comfortable as possible, and that you get the protection we can offer..just help us."

"I...oh, alright.....as crazy as this is, I guess I have no choice in the matter," Claire said, eyes lowering in defeat.

Present

"Yes...that's all well and good, but that's not exactly what I meant...." Kristi said, swaying back and forth.

Claire cocked her eyebrow, staring at her sister as she went to sit down on a chair next to a little nightstand. "What did you mean, then?"

"They said we'd be split into teams..to retrieve the pieces. What if we're not on the same team? What if we can't retrieve the pieces?"

The tan vixen in the chair shrugged, fanning herself with her hand, "I dunno...if we're not on the same team, we'll hafta deal with it. And if we fail to grab those things, blowing stuff up will be just as fun." A laugh.

Kristi shook her head, "But Claire...what if something happens to one of us? What'll happen then?"

Sighing, the other Dunn sister stood up, "You worry too much....you act like we're playin' dodge-ball in gym-class where one of us slams the other against a wall!" Claire crossed the small room to the even smaller bathroom, preparing to hop into the shower. Kristi's cleaned suit was folded up on the floor, since she had gotten a shower earlier.

As the door closed and Kristi heard the shower being turned on, she sighed, laying back down to stare at the ceiling once again.

I may worry...but it's standard, when you're in a situation like this.... The vixen nodded, closing her eyes, And I'm not about to let the calm before the storm trick me.....I can tell this won't be as easy as it sounds........

OOC: Feel free to split the twins up if you want to, I have no qualms about that.

"How long have you known? Why did you chose now to tell me? I don't understand." Camden said.

Knight was thoughtful for a moment. "I guess you could say I've known it since I first layed eyes on you... But I probably fully realised it later. As to why I'm telling you now is... well, you weren't ready for it before. And I guess being away from Sega City is a good parallel for exploration of the self. We explore new grounds - a new world. And you also explore a new part of yourself."

She thought about this for a moment 'I guess that makes sense' she concluded, still not sure what to make of this whole thing, she was also tracing her thoughts back to experiences on their first mission together, and the words of Stressed, which refused to surface in her mind no matter how much they bugged her or she wished to recall.

'Alright. So are there any quick tricks you can teach me here and now which would prove you know what you're talking about... or' she raised herself and wrapped her arms around Knight 'shall we wait until morning?'

Silver sighed as he stepped into his room. His fireswords were already there, as was a very handy bit of polish, that he had been carrying for no particular reason once he was sucked into the vortex-thing.He sighed, "What kind of mess did I get myself into...", He sat down, and began polishing his swords, all the while pondering which mission to take.

OOC: o-o I hope you guys didn't just think I was going to let you sleep peacefully, or something =P have fun with this one, kids!

A few levels below the slumbering heroes lay a large lab rich with technological wonders, every gadget, machine, and device a great inventor could dream of tucked safely within its steel walls. It was dark and deserted now, as all personnel had gone home for the night, and two heavily armed and armored guards stood like twin sentinels outside the large double doors, alert and watchful for any signs of suspicious activity. Poor sentries, for how were they to know that danger inched towards them not from without, but within?

For inside the room, though all seemed peaceful, the scattered security cameras suddenly went offline all at once. After a moment, a small ventilation cover near the back of the room twitched lightly...then the screws popped out of the bottom, and Junk pushed the grate up with his head, emerging silently. He easily avoided the alarms, first due to his small size, and second due to the fact that his advanced sensors allowed him to quite clearly see the nearly invisible beams, glittering with sharp precision in an evenly laid grid of perfect squares. Inching across the metal floor beneath them, he made a beeline for the largest hunk of metal within the room, a dormant Watchman. Pausing to avoid a set of particularly low beams, Junk slithered up the sleeping robots leg, finally perching atop it's massive shoulder.

Right where I thought you'd be. I'm glad to see the central computers up to date. At least the personnel are doing something right.

Squirming around to the back of the giants head, Junk unscrewed a nearly invisible panel of metal with his tail, setting it carefully upon the sentinels shoulder. Slots opened in each side of the small bots head, and several long wires of differing types emerged from each opening, "plugging" themselves into the motherboard of the bot.

Junk was no slacker. He'd been gathering information about the Core and its surroundings like nobodies business. All its secrets, all its inner workings...after his conversation with the central computer, he now knew everything he needed to know. One piece of information had been of particular interest to him. This Watchmen, like so many others before it, had apparently been brought to the Core for the purpose of training soldiers to fight against it, so they could develop their battle skills and perhaps also upgrade their equipment accordingly. This one was still being programmed for it's alloted task, to make certain it wouldn't harm any of the troops intentionally because of its previous programming.

It was about to get a real shock to the system.

Concentrating on his task, Junk logged into the main frame.

What exactly are you trying to do?

Surprised by the dry voice within his head, the small bot looked up, realizing the giant was addressing it!

An A.I. Well. What do you know. Forgive my rudeness, I don't run into too many.

Your authorization is not permitted.

My authority will most likely override yours in a minute.

And indeed, after another minute of probing, the voice spoke again.

Access granted.

Splendid. Lets see now. Your A.I. is quite impressive. Your maker must have been nearly as skilled as mine. Combat watchmen, unit 7865655645454.01, fully loaded, recently repaired. You have the ability to memorize the moves of your opponents as you fight them, and the more time you spend fighting them, the easier it is for you to learn how to beat them. Very impressive indeed. Heavily armored, I see. No magic shield, but I suppose you wouldn't need one with as much hardware as you've got protecting your innards. According to this file, you are in possession of a high powered ray gun?

My weapon was taken from me and placed within that security enclosure 54 degrees to your right.

Glancing over, Junk spotted the giant ray gun, tucked safely within it's own circle of security beams.

I'll get it for you. Here is your new mission.

Thus did Junk set to re-programming the Watchmen, with his own personal set of "instructions." And this is what he told it.

Exactly two floors above our location is a hallway of rooms, alcoves, if you will, some located along the right side of the hall, and some along the left. Within each room are organisms in a "probable" dormant state. Once I have de-activated the security system within this room, I will re-activate you. You will get up, pick up your ray gun, and proceed upwards exactly two floors. Kill anyone who tries to prevent you from ascending. Once you've reached your destination successfully, I will lock all entrances into that floor from the outside via the central computer. You are to kill everyone upon that floor. You are to kill anyone who tries to stop you from fulfilling this task. And you are not to stop until every single creature upon that floor is dead. Should you be taken down and captured, laughable as that is, your internal motherboard has been ordered to self-destruct to destroy all record of my meddling. This is your new mission. Do you understand?

Yes.

Good.

Several moments later, Junk watched as the Watchman stood to its full height, bending down to pick up it's now accessible ray gun. Once armed, it crashed through the wall, killing the two frightened guards with its giant boots, and heading for the stairs. Junk waited until the bot was out of sight, before turning back to the computer terminal he perched upon and re-activating the security system. He then made his way carefully back to the vent he had come in through, lifting the grate and re-entering the shaft, no traces of his existence left within the dark room.

As he made his way upwards, back to the main computer terminal to lock the doors (which would be too easy, as the only guard on duty there seemed to be either asleep or dead), he listened with a certain degree of satisfaction to the crashes and smashes of the Watchmens boots that marked its progress, along with the screams of what he supposed were guards trying in vain to stop the titan. Listening as one scream after another was cut off, he calculated that the probability of the robot reaching its destination was quite high, especially as it seemed most of the guards were either asleep or incompetently inattentive (his master would laugh at that, he was certain).

And when the Watchmen had reached it's destination...well, there would be a few more dead heroes.

The best kind, in Junk's pre-programmed opinion.

The best kind.

Castor sat in his room, all of his weapons laid out on his coffee table. His WA2000 sniper rifle, his P90 and his P228 handgun all lay in a neat row. Despite the insistance of the people in charge here, Castor had never been much of a sleeper. 4 hours were usually enough to get him ready enough to work. Time spent sleeping could be put to use doing more important things, like planning or cleaning. Ever the multitasker, Castor was doing both that minute.

He thought about the pros and cons of each attack point as he cleaned his P228. Jungle missions provide easy concealment, but it's way too easy to get ambushed in there if the mark knows we're coming, Castor thought as he checked the sights. And given the people I'm working with, they probably already know we're coming. Besides, I hate the goddamned jungle.

Satisfied that the p228 was in good working condition, Castor set it down and grabbed the P90. The naval base is a wash. No way in hell I'm busting into a military base again, Castor thought, his mind drifting back to a contract he carried out on a military base just outside Basin City as he cleaned. The mark was a Sargeant who'd pissed off the Base Commander when he'd allowed his entire squad to have their way with the Commander's daughter. All of them at once. Castor had been told to give the Sargeant the 'Hard Goodbye'. Unfortunately, getting to the Sargeant to start that goodbye was a pain-and-a-half and an experience Castor didn't want to repeat again. Castor shuddered as he set the P90 down and reloaded it. Too many nervous fingers on the triggers of high-powered weaponry for my taste. Let the others have that one.

Which leaves the financial center... Castor thought as he picked up the semi-auto sniper rifle and checked the sights. Good location, urban setting. Not going to have lots of security personnel. Good place to sneak into if we take the right path in, and mobilizing a large strike force in an urban area if we screw it up and set off an alarm will take them awhile. Castor made sure the calibrations were correct as he thought. Financial center it is.

Castor set the rifle down and relaxed a bit. The planning was done until the real briefing happened tomorrow, and his weapons were ready for whatever lay ahead. All that he had left to do was have his weapons fitted with the mods Lillian had talked about and everything'd be gravy. He'd do that first thing in the morning...

And as soon as he made that decision, he felt something in the pit of his stomach. A feeling that something was wrong. Castor shook it off. Hell, the whole situation was wrong. But still, something didn't seem right...

Better safe than sorry. Castor picked up his pad of paper he'd used on occasion to take directions to a hit and tore off a piece. On it, he wrote a simple instruction: 'Knock first.' Castor went to his door and opened it to the bright hallway outside. His door was the first one on the right before the hallway branched off toward the mess hall, the briefing room and the other sections of the Core. Castor looked at the other rooms. Most of the other doors had already been shut, the occupants inside most likely getting some sleep. He quickly fastened the warning to the outside of the door with some adhesive and shut it tight.

The apprehension was growing in the pit of Castor's stomach. Logic told him he should have some safety in a place like this, but history had shown him many times before that NOWHERE was safe. Castor grabbed a hand grenade from his attache case, a spool of fibrewire and a wire cutter and set to work putting together a welcoming device for anyone Castor didn't want in his room. When he finished the trap, he grabbed his P90 and handgun, turned off the lights and sat down in the space between the couch and the wall, hidden and shielded from the door should someone spring his trap.

Hope it's just nerves... Castor thought as he shut his eyes and waited for morning. His paranoia would help keep his sleep light this night...

OOC: Ah, finally a post =3 sorry for the lack thereof lately, was recovering from this major exam yesterday x_x I so needed to sleep. BUT YES, as Terg said, very impressive the way everyones handling the giant robot =D very cool.

And this needs major editing. But I can't be buggered right now, but at the same time refuse to wait, not wanting to hold things up and all. So here it is!

Making her way down the corridor, Cherry could feel the world around her dematerializing. Justin, the guard, the prison, Notopia. Everything behind her, everything she had ever been and seen and couldnt see anymore, all of it was a lie, each separate occurrence a carefully crafted illusion, each stone beneath her feet disappearing as she tread over it. And everything that was real, the only things that were real, were a hallwayfootstepsand a door. Legs swallowed nervously, tensing on her shoulder. Luminos was thrumming loudly, painting jagged streaks of red and black throughout her mind, the intensity of his warning growing with each of her steps.

And then she could feel him.

It was odd, how that worked. He made the world fall apart when he was around. Maybe that was just him. Maybe it was her. Maybe it was some twisted combination of both. Cherry didn't pretend to understand it. All she knew was that everythingeverything disappeared when he was nearby.

And then it was just them.

I can smell your fear...

She heard it more inside her head than anywhere else.

The door was closer. (Ten steps). He knew. (Eight steps). He was waiting for her. (Seven steps). Waiting. (Six steps). Ready. (Five Steps). Laughing. (Four Steps). He knew all along(Three Steps)...

-Readywaitinglaughingexpectinganticipatingfearingdegradingexpectingwaitingready-

(Two steps)

-ready-

-one step-

-she stood in front of the door.

I can hear your breath...

She turned to Legs, taking him from her shoulder, and setting him gently on the ground.

"Wait here a mo.'"

Legs chittered in protest, but Cherry regarded him sternly, shaking her head.

"Legs."

The decipede scowled, but hopped over to wait by the door. Standing, Cherry inserted the skeleton key the guard had given her into the ancient keyhole, opening the heavy iron door and shutting it just as quickly behind her, much to the protests of her companion.

Sorry Legs...this is sumpthin' I need to do alone.

Darkness.

She stood still, staring into what seemed an endless expanse of black, every one of her senses working over time...

I can taste your sweat

she drew in a deep breath

I can feel your heart...

she let it out.

I can see you for what you really are.

After a minute, she spoke.

"Jerin."

"Cherry."

"Where are you?"

"The corner, to your right. Come closer. Ive been waiting for you.

Cherry scowled.

"M'set. Mind if I throw a little light on the subject?"

"Whatever pleases the lady. Not too bright though, if you dont mind."

Drawing Luminos slowly, so as not to blind herself, the echidna held her sword aloft after a minute, using it like a torch. And there he was, his hands chained above his head to the wall, staring at her from not the right corner, but the left. She wasnt too surprised.

After all, shed been facing the left corner as soon as she heard his voice.

He smiled appreciatively, cocking a brow as he looked her over. Frowning, the echidna took stock of him as well, noting that one of his eyes, the eerie one, was swollen shut, and overall he looked as though hed taken quite a beating from somebody. Oddly enough, his good eye looked fine, and it regarded her with interest, even delight.

"My my my..."

He whistled softly.

"Black becomes you."

Cherry narrowed her eyes, shrugging.

"S'a practical color."

"I like itvery sexy."

She growled softly.

"I dont care what you like. What the frell happened to you, anyway?"

"Guards happened to me."

He grinned terribly, twisting a little so as to see her better.

"APPARENTLY...some of them think I'm some sort of demon. Superstitious bunch, quite illogically incompetent, really. They didnt even touch my good eye, for instance

"Aye, sodd. Id have torn it out and left you yer creepy peeper.

He chuckled.

I know. They were kind enough to outfit me with these stylish accessories, though

He rattled the chains.

irons coming back, in a very kinky, Freudian sort of way. The only drawback to the arrangement is that I cant get up to greet you-

He ran his tongue over his top lip, white fangs glinting at her in the half-light.

-properly

She raised a brow at him, waving his words off with her free hand.

"Oh, no need for propriety, Im sure the rest o me clan will think you look simply dashing in shackles, soon as they arrive to pick you up.

"Company? How nice. Rather late hour to be calling on me, though. Is it that orgy you promised?

NO.

Oh? Just a little one-on-one before they get here, then? A little S&M, a little tie the wench to the wall and then smack some of-

-Oymnot even gettin into it with you this time, ok? Just came to make sure you were actually here with me own eyes. Now Ill be on my way to-

-see to my arrest.

Aye.

Her expression softened some as she turned, pausing.

"Spose itd look better toeh, not that it makes much different, but heres a thing."

Reaching into her pack, Cherry produced a glowing moonstone after a moment, and turned back to him with one warning.

"You try anythin' an' I'll cut your throat.

"Understood."

Approaching warily, she knelt by his side as though she expected an attack at any moment. Holding the moonstone over his eye, she grumbled.

"No point to healing it really, won't make any difference. But I s'pose you should be healthy for your trial..."

She trailed off, speaking the sacred words softly. After a moment she leaned back, returning the faintly glowing stone to her bag. Jerin opened his other eye slowly, blinking a bit. It was still a little swollen, but seemed much better comparatively.

Thank you.

Snot sumpthin deservin o thanks. Customary practice. I just saved our clerics a spot o time is all.

I see. Im grateful either way.

Leaning forward some, Cherry glanced at the rest of his injuries, checking for anything else that might be deserving of immediate treatment. Jerin cocked his head a bit, closing his eyes and inhaling sharply.

"God you smell good..."

She pulled away quickly, glaring scornfully at him.

"Dont start. You know that never works on me.

He sat back, looking somewhat hurt.

"I meant it, red

She shook her head.

"Youre lyin."

He stared at her, brows drawn together in what seemed sincere sadness. Then the corner of his mouth twitched, and he laughed.

Youre right.

Hmpf.

He continued to smile, nodding at her right hand.

So how bad was it? Did I break all of the bones, or just most of them?"

The echidna scowled, lifting her injured paw.

"Most. Not all. Its nothing I wont get over."

"Sure. Count, by the way?"

She lowered her eyes, attempting to change the subject.

Hows yer shoulder-

"-Red. Numbers."

Cherry didnt speak for a long time. When she did, her voice was barely audible.

"Six. And two and fifty three. And one. Plus three."

"I see. Meaning?

She snapped.

"Six million, two hundred and fifty three thousand, one hundred and three. Are you frellin' happy?"

"Very. Are you?"

She crossed her arms, glaring at the wall. He stared at her, frowning, his eyes serious for the first time.

"You cant save them all, red. Havent I proven that to you yet? You cant. No matter what you do, itll always be too big. Therell always be one. Or one hundred. Or one thousand. Quit while youre ahead."

Her eyes darted back to meet his, full of cold fire, Irish temper flaring.

SAVE IT, you frellin twatyour opinion means less than a rocks anyway.

Less than a rock, eh? Less than the company you've been keeping, then?

Whatre you drivin at?

He narrowed his eyes at her.

You were conversing with someone in the hall, were you not?

It was the guard.

Sureor else one of the rocks in the wall, eh? Because theres no one else, right?

His lips parted in a twisted smile.

Or is there?

And before she could react, he threw his voice in a near perfect imitation of hers.

HELP! OH HELP!

Tackling him frantically, Cherry tried to slap her hands over his mouth. In nearly the same instance the door swung open, slamming into the wall.

Miss Cherry! Are you ok?!

Justin stood there, and upon seeing Cherry perched atop Jerin, stared at the hybrid angrily, raising his fists.

Just what do you think youre doing to her, mister?

Jerin smiled triumphantly.

I can see youve been talking to the rocks again.

"Nohe isnt-"

"-You're lying to me."

She slid away from him distastefully, and looking up, regarded Justin sadly.

"Im sorry..."

"What do you mean...? Wasntisnt he-"

Jerin threw his voice, outrageously dramatizing his words.

Oh save me, save me darlin!

Realization hit him like a freight train, punctuated by the ominous words that echoed in his ears as the creatures voice returned to normal.

"I'll remember your face..."

He was smiling at him, eyes wide. Justin frowned, lowering his fists.

"You don't scare me."

"That's what fools say when they're nervous, baby."

The human blinked, raising a brow at him.

Baby?

Cherry stood, annoyed.

"Doesn't matter. I'm putting in a call as soon as I get back to my room. My mates'll come, they'll pick you up, and thatll be that, youll be gone.

He lowered his head, a small smile flitting across his lips as he spoke softly.

"...Will you miss me?"

Cherry stared angrily at him, about to retort, when her sharp eyes spotted something above his head, something stuck between the cracks in the wall...

She lifted her sword.

Crushed cigarettes. Forming a number.

100.

100.

100.

"Tick tock, red. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock..."

Lunging forward, she snatched each crushed butt from the wall, and then knelt, rooting through his pockets frantically, finally finding the entire pack. Whirling to face the guard, who stood near the door wondering what the commotion was about, she hollered at him furiously.

"YOU BOLLOCKSY FRELLIN' TWAT! YOU ABSOLUTE PRAT! YOU LET HIM KEEP SOMETHING. YOU NEVER LET HIM KEEP ANYTHING!"

Seizing the front of Jerin's shirt, she shook him.

"What in the Keeper's name have you DONE?"

He merely smiled, looking up at her.

"No clues today red. Just a number. One hundred. By the end of tomorrow, one hundred more."

It was then the guard spoke, nervously.

"Lady, ignore him, we've been watching him, he hasn't done any-"

"-SHUT YOUR GOB. Frellin' twat. You've doomed yourself. You've done it, unless I can think of something. You don't know, and he doesn't care. He's laughin."

She dropped him, shoulders shaking in frustration and rage.

Perplexed as he was, Justin stepped forward, trying to comfort her.

"Miss Cherry..."

She growled, turning away.

"Save it. All the words in the world are useless. And YOU-"

Turning sharply to face Jerin, she glowered, regaining some composure.

"-you won't get that hundred. You'll be in prison before you get the chance."

He just smiled. Just kept smiling. Always. Smiling.

"If you think so."

This only made her angrier.

"Tick tock red. Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock-"

She stormed out of the room. Justin hurried after her, though not before hearing that eerie voice address him once more.

"-I'll be seeing you again, sweetheart."

He rolled his eyes.

"Not if I'm lucky!"

Cherry stood in the hallway, collecting herself, Legs comforting her as best he could in small, worried chirrs. She crushed the cigarettes she held in her paw, mumbling to herself as much as to her friend.

"Hes laughin..."

Her voice broke, sorrowfully.

somewhere inside me head hes laughin.

Justin took a moment to look back at the cell door, which the guard was locking back up. That man, that...Jerin, so his name was, he had pegged it well when he had judged Justin's comeback of, "You don't scare me." Justin had said it with all of the courage of his heart, yet he was nervous, afraid underneath. Now he could tell why Cherry was so adamant about this guy.

Freak, man, that weirdo just feels WRONG! Tryin' to call me all that stuff while making threats, no wonder Cherry wants to take him down so bad. And speaking of Cherry...

"Miss Cher-"

"Charlie? Charlie, come in, we need your help!" shouted the voice of Lilian as it crackled through the guard's radio.

"Yo, what's shakin'?" replied the now-named guard as he lifted the radio up from his belt.

"The heroes have been trapped in their quarters! Someone has hacked into our network! We can't break through to them!"

Justin was looking at Cherry, and he saw her body stiffen. At the same time he heard maniacal laughter from the cell behind him, and he didn't miss the connection as Cherry swore some more. Crud, looks like they both know what really happened. That laughter drove a chill up Justin's spine, and he was really tempted to go back and pound Jerin until he shut up.

"Try to break through from your side, John and I are crawling through the ducts right now."

"Roger that, babe," said Charlie in his soft, surfer-dude manner as he turned off the radio. "Hey, guys, can you help me-"

"Hacked," muttered Justin before he dashed down the hallway past Cherry, back to the way they had come, reaching the sliding doors that blocked the exit. He tried to walk through them, but they did not automatically slide open. He reached over to the keypad and tapped in a few keys, but he saw only an error message. Dang, it's locked out of the system, thought Justin as he reached into one of his inner jacket pockets and pulled out a small multitool. Time to do my thing.

He stepped up to the keypad and examined it, trying to locate a spot to insert a screwdriver edge into. It seemed almost melded into the metal of the wall, a smooth black panel with a typical LCD display. No edges he could dig into, no screws to pull out.

"What's the hold-up, mate?"

Justin looked down at Cherry, who stood next to him with sword in hand. "I can open the door, but I need this panel opened first," he explained quickly.

"Step aside."

He obeyed her request (for it did not seem harsh enough to be a command or order this time), and she turned her head and looked to Legs. Legs made a gesture with one foreleg like a salute before leaping forward at the panel and sticking to the wall. Justin watched with fascination as the nimble insect began to press itself against the edge of the panel, flattening until it became able to press through the tiny crack that Justin's eyes could not see. But they did see the panel as it slid off the wall in a single even piece and clattered to the floor, revealing an open circuitboard.

"Good job," complimented Justin, a newfound admiration for the insect as it hopped back to Cherry's shoulder. Justin cracked his knuckles before flipping out most of the multi-tool's parts and approaching the now-exposed panel. "Now it's my turn."

The twin blasts of Silver and Cosmic struck the giant Watchman with crushing force, aimed at its now vulnerable sections as they were. It was in this moment when the robot began to shudder as internal systems went critical.

"Everyone, attack now!" yelled Knight, recognizing the tactical advantage they had.

Spiner swung in close and struck at the robot's innards with both gunblades, following through and flying out of the way of its wildly-flailing arms. Kristi charged up a sphere of white energy around her hand before she threw it at the robot. This shot was joined by bullets from Knight's handgun, a bolt of lightning from One Tru Blu's frying pan, a spray of bullets from Castor's remaining gun, a fireball from T.J., and another energy bolt each from Cosmic Kid and Silver. (OOC: Hope that's accounted for everyone and their respective powers, phew!)

The storm of weapon fire converging together looked sort of like an implosion, which quickly reverted into several smaller explosions as each hit took effect, blasting the Watchman to pieces. The AI inside determined that defeat was imminent and was about to destroy itself when the job was done for it by the blasts that tore through it.

Everyone took cover or dropped out of the way as the humanoid machine tumbled to the ground, its metal groans and screechs like a dying creature as it collapsed.

And then, silence.

Then the doors began to automatically open, and Justin and Cherry rushed in from one side as Lilian and the guard that accompanied her came down through the vents. Two other troopers came into the area.

"Looks like whoever hacked into the doors also reprogrammed that Watchman," said Lilian decisively before turning to the various heroes who were picking themselves up. "Is anyone hurt? And where's Spiner Storm, we need his help."

OOC: There we go, ladies and gents, one mini-boss defeated! Excellent work. Proceed with RP while we gear up for the next segment.

Spiner had winced as he got back up to his feet, ruffling his feathers, and removing it of any grit from the explosion. His chest was slightly numbed as to where he had cast the magic over himself earlier, and the blasts which had finished off the Watchman had slightly rattled him. But aside from that, he was fine.

He looked to one side, seeing the doors open, and watching as Cherry and Justin rushed through. He blinked, before realising that he hadn't seen them once through the battle. He then turned, and saw Lillian and the two guards.

He heard her say something, before he had heard her ask if anyone was hurt. He didn't say anything, he was fine. Or atleast, he thought he was, despite the chest injuries. That would heal by itself over time, anyway.

"And where's Spiner Storm?" His ears flickered, and he snapped to attention, at the mention of his name, "we need his help."

"Right 'ere," he had said, walking over to Lillian. His mind rushed with different scenarios of why she had wanted him, and he found himself praying that he wouldn't go head-to-head with another Watchman without one of those weapon chips, which had been mentioned during the briefing.

Kristi snorted. Was anyone hurt? Yes! Quickly she sprinted over to Claire, who was barely concious, and began to help her up. The vixen stumbled, clutching her side as it seeped blood, staining her body-suit...a light groan escaped her lips, alerting some of the other heroes.

"Claire? Claire! Hey, you alright?" Kristi put her arm around her twin to support her.

"Dammit...does it look like I'm alright?" Was Claire's choked response.

Kristi bit her lip, "Hey! A little help over here!"

Knight sheathed his weapons and then took a look at the wreacked watchman.

"Hometeam 0 - Visitors 1" he said with a smile and then turned to the rest. "Everyone in one piece?"

"I dont know." Camden replied with faint smile. "I'm afraid to count."

"Was that a 'Watchman'?" Knight asked Lilian.

T.J sighed. He had never fought such rough opponents since he had encountered some horrible beasts in Loren but he was glad it was over. He looked at the soldier guy and was quite impressed with his skills. The young woman with him was cute but not near as pretty as Torn. "So was that some sort of test to prepare us for our mission?" He asked to no one in particular. He noticed the young female fox with her blood stained uniform and he frowned. "Hey don't worry! I'll get Torn out here! She could help you out!"

"I'm right here," Torn said, causing T to jump in surprise. He regained his composure and smiled at her. "Sorry about that. Maybe you could help her out. I'm glad you stayed out of the fight. It was rough," He said. She nodded and walked over to the tan female fox.

"Don't worry. I am going to try and heal you," She said. She held out her hand over the fox.

Claire smiled, "Healing? Wish I could've been blessed with that ability."

Kristi nodded, smiling along with her sister, still supporting Claire.

Castor looked at the broken chassis of the robot as the others collected themselves. He'd come back just in time to see the robot start to go, so he gave it a pot-shot with his handgun from down the hall as the others opened fire. Normally, he'd be pissed about having to share a kill with others. This time, though, he was just glad that that thing wasn't moving anymore. After coming across a couple smoking corpses left behind by the robot's oversized ray gun, he was just glad to be whole.

His happiness didn't last long, however, as he realised how close he'd come to dying in his sleep inside what should have been a secure military installation. He turned toward Lillian and grumbled.

"Fine set of toy soldiers you got here, Lillian. Letting Tin Man here just waltz right on in here and get at us night before the job," Castor said, bringing an uncomfortable silence over. "What kinda circus you running here, Lillian?"

"We don't know what happened either. All we know is that our security systems were hacked into by an unknown entity." Lillian said, trying to calm the irate Troy down. "The same entity most likely reprogrammed and activated the Watchman. We don't know who it was yet, but we will very soon."

"Oh well, I guess that makes it ok then? How the hell am I supposed to trust anything you tell me if you and your people are too goddamned incompentant to see a giant robot attacking your own base?"

Knight winced. "I'll have to agree with...?"

"Name's Castor."

"Knight." The forumer smiled and then turned back to Lilian. "Like I said, I'll have to agree with Castor. I honestly find your efforts ridiculous. Even if we save your Boss, how can you honestly expect yourselves to win? I mean, one man can't change things. And once we spring him out - we're out of here... Or at least _I_ am. And how do we know that a whole ARMY of these suckers isn't on its way to erase this place out of the map?"

"Because the Kaiser doesn't see us as a threat anymore," replied Lilian carefully. This was the last thing we needed to happen. "Besides that, the Watchman wasn't sent here from outside. We had captured it earlier and brought it here for reprogramming so we could use it against the Kaiser."

"For all we know, you deliberately sicced it on us to 'test' us," growled Castor.

"Look, you can believe what you want to believe," snapped Lilian, "but whether you trust me or not, the only way you have home is to help us! I don't care whether you leave after helping us get Sir Garadon back, it may take us some time but we can and will get stronger! What happened here happened from the inside!"

"And how do you expect to get stronger if there's one of your own people working against you?" pointed out Knight.

Lilian glared at Knight, but she couldn't find a retort. She turned away, hot with anger as she stormed over to Spiner. "Mr. Spiner, you can fly, can't you?"

"Yeah."

"We have found where another hero is, but we can't reach them because of their position on some cliffs away from here. This man," she pointed to one of the troopers who had entered the room from the other side, "will give you the directions you need. If you could help, we would be most appreciative."

She turned abruptly away from Spiner and faced the other heroes. "And just in case you have the misunderstanding that Watchmen robots are normally that large, then allow me to correct you," she said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Typical Watchmen robots are mere drones, perhaps only a little taller than I am, and without such heavy armor plating. That was a variant we had captured before you had arrived, a variant with an advanced AI that was learning from your actions. As long as you have the augmentation devices we will provide you with, they will be nothing but cannon fodder. I am sorry for this inconvenience, and I will make all efforts to track down the one who hacked into our system and is responsible for this. In the meantime, you'll need your rest for tomorrow, there will be a final briefing with any information we find before that time."

What she didn't see was that two of the heroes had already gone off after the culprit. One of them being a crimson echidna, and the other a brown-haired human who had hurried off after that same echidna.

OOC: Okay Spiner, you can RP this other guard guy to give you the info you need to find this hero. I'd ask to do the introduction, so if you could stop right before Spiner sees the hero, that would be great.

And yes, I'm not expecting everyone to automatically believe Lilian. 😛 Have fun.

"And what if I don't feel like sticking around anymore to help you with this?" Castor said. "Your men are incompentant at best, backstabbers at worst. You've told me my payment was to be decided, which in my industry is code for 'suicide run'. I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, though, since you're obviously a lightweight when it comes to getting things done and maybe didn't know how things go." Castor paced around as he continued, subconsciously planning his route should his hand get forced. "But then one of yours tried to have us all killed the night before the action. Everything about this job is screaming 'walk away' to me. That I should walk away and not look back. That there are greener pastures out there, filled with contractors who name terms and prices during the hire, contractors who are up front with the information I need to get the job done."

Castor looked at Lillian dead in the eyes as he spoke. She spoke back to him, calmly and cooly. "You know the terms. We'll send you home if you wish after Sir Garadon is back."

"But what if I wanna go home now? What if I ask you really hard?" Castor got a good grip on his P90 as he spoke, putting emphasis on the word 'hard'. "Tell me why I shouldn't kill every single one of your troops before forcing you to send me home, Lillian. Be very very convincing."

Spiner had made his decision to help, despite knowing well that he might miss out on a lot of questions being answered if he went, and he and the the guard had already left when Castor had went on his rant. Though, before he had left, he had heard what both Knight and Castor had said. There did have some serious points, but he somehow doubted it. He just couldn't imagine the possibility of one of Lillian's incompetent soldiers having the brainpower to reprogramme a death-machine and an entire lock-system for the base.

He thrusted those thoughts aside, as he kept going along with the guard. He had his reasons for going along with this, one of them being that he couldn't stand the thought of another person being brought here unwillingly, aside from the ones he already knew about. A second reason was that there was the slightest chance that it might've been someone else from his own world, but he doubted that. He let his mind race, wondering why they had asked for his help, but...

"As you may already know, we've found another Hero's location," the guard had interuppted the winged hedgehog's chain of thoughts. "But, there is a slight problem."

"And that would be...?" Spiner had asked.

"The location of the Hero is inaccessible to our troops," the guard replied, "we need your help to get to them. You can fly, right?"

"The wings aren't for decoration," Spiner retorted with a grunt. He was always senstive about his wings. "But, go on."

"R-right," the guard stuttered slightly. "As I was saying, we need your help to get to them. We fear that the Hero may be unconcious, or even worse."

Spiner nodded in understanding. "All right."

"Once we get to the surface, you'll need to head eastwards from the Core," he had said, "The Hero is somewhere in the surrounding area, by the cliffs."

"And you need me to help, why?"

"Because, as I said before, it is inaccessible to our troops. The cliffs are too sheer to simply, 'climb up'."

Spiner nodded, rubbing his temple with two fingers. "All right," he had said. "I'll find this Hero," he had said, though he already had mind up his mind before.

"Suicide run, eh? Well, you might as well call us marathoners."

Castor looked up to see Claire and Kristi approaching, Claire limping slightly. Torn had managed to heal her for the most part, but it still left a big bruise on the vixen's hip. The human raised an eyebrow.

"We do things like this every day, back home. Face impossible odds...fight for something we know is likely to kill us." Claire's face was set in a frown, getting slightly annoyed at Castor's rant to Lilian.

Lilian took a deep breath. Didn't want to resort to this, but we've lost too many people to stop now.

"All right, Mr. Castor, if you insist," said Lilian with some deliberation. "The only problem with that plan of yours is that I can't send anyone home right now even if I wanted to. Sir Garadon is the only one who knows how to operate the dimensional transporter. Besides that, to send people back to their worlds, even Sir Garadon would need all of the components to do so. He is a very smart man, and he planned well in case this sort of thing happened. I hate to use that as a reason for you to help us, Mr. Castor, but you are leaving me no choice."

The rocky cliffs near the Core were treacherously high above the verdant forest, and one of the troopers at the base of the cliffs let out a low whistle as he looked up at the extreme height. "That's a long ways up there. Poor devil, whoever it is."

"They won't be up there for long," said Spiner as he extended his wings and used them to push off into the air. He soared up into the sky, conscious that he was being watched by the team of troopers that had been dispatched to the location. There was hardly a breeze in the air, which made it much easier for him to navigate as he ascended upward. The cliff face leered at him with jagged stony teeth, but it did so in vain as he freely went up, up and further up...

Then he reached a cliff ledge, and he saw someone sprawled out there. It was someone wearing a pair of green track pants and a badly torn yellow sweatjacket with a hood...and large white sneakers. Whoever this guy was, they had big feet. But what caught Spiner's attention was the long sword that the person held in a light brown-furred hand. It was a slender blade, yet it was straight as an arrow and was long enough that it would clearly need to be held with two hands on its large handgrip to use properly. The hilt was colored cobalt, with a golden strip covered in runes that ran from the hilt to halfway up the blade's length. It did not seem particularly unusual beside that, yet the hand of this person was tightly clenched around the handle, as if holding on to it like life itself.

"Hey, are you awake?" asked Spiner as he landed on the ledge and approached the prone body. There was no answer, and Spiner knelt down next to the person. He didn't remember anyone he knew who would wear a yellow jacket like this, but he hadn't yet seen the face of this person due to the position of the hood casting shadows over it. "Guess not. Let's see who you are..."

He pushed back the hood, and he saw the face of a pink-nosed, light brown-furred rabbit. Thick locks of blonde hair hung from her head down to her shoulders, and the small rectangular glasses that she wore were set at a bad angle on her face. Her eyes were closed, her mouth slightly open as she breathed noiselessly. And there was one other detail that Spiner noticed that suddenly took precedence over everything else.

The bleeding gash in the side of her head.

He put his arms underneath the girl and lifted her up easily. She still held on to the sword, even though the rest of her arm limply rested across her body as Spiner fell from the cliff edge and used his wings to drift down carefully to the troopers. "She's hurt!" he said as he landed.

"Bring her to the Core, Dr. Tymarron will fix her up," assured the trooper who had guided Spiner there. "Looks like we got to her just in time."

OOC: Okay, here's the profile for the new character that I'm bringing in.

Name: Megan Lapine

Species: Rabbit, Mobian

Gender/Sex: Female

Age: 18

Description: 5'3", svelte build, deep green eyes, blonde shoulder-length hair in thick locks, light brown fur with tan fur on her muzzle and running down her front, and has large feet. Wears a pair of black-rimmed rectangular glasses, simple golden earring near the base of each ear, a green triangular handkerchief around her neck, and a silver bracelet on her left wrist. Typically wears conservative yet fashionable clothing that does not attract too much attention.

Personality: Soft-hearted and pure. Shy and withdrawn. Doesnt do well in social situations and is easily embarrassed. Loves sports and other athletic events. Gets along well with young children. A romantic dreamer. Self-conscious, especially about her large feet and her glasses. Sensitive and empathic. Trustworthy and expects others to be honest as well. Naive. Studious and enjoys reading.

Natural Abilities: Besides being a natural athlete, Megan also has developed an unusual ability to jump high and fast. This ability is a latent mutation, and allows her to jump approximately three times her height. The permanent side-effect of this is that she has noticeably large feet that requires her to get larger shoes to wear. She also has above-average hearing due to her rabbit ears.

Skills: Two-handed sword, jumping, swimming, running, most other sports, high school education, literature buff

Weaknesses: Megan used to be a star student, athlete, and friend. After the climactic events that brought her into Crossover Heroes, however, she has lost all of that so suddenly that its shocked her. Where she used to be gregarious, she is now reserved and quiet. The only sense of purpose that she has is to help others, since she lost virtually everything that meant anything to her. She is also extremely self-conscious about her appearance and overly relies on the opinions of others to determine her self-worth. Even in battle, she will rarely take the lead and prefers to leave that up to others. Simply put, she doesnt see all of what is good in her and has become a wallflower.
This, combined with her gullibility, makes her quite vulnerable to manipulation. Shes very smart, but she is quite naive and assumes the best of everyone unless she can see them doing rotten things in front of her eyes.

Backstory: Megan Lapine is the only child in her family. A talented girl, she is gifted as an athlete, student and friend. She was the star of her school. The only truly unusual part of her life is that she is the descendant of an ancient hero, and her father has been continuing the family tradition by training Megan in the art of swordsmanship for the day that she will inherit the enchanted blade Sinbreaker. With this training and her mutant jumping ability, she became a natural athlete and became very involved in sports. Now as a senior in high school, she had been a straight A+ student for her entire life and now has some skill with two-handed swords, but she daydreams about the kind of man she would like to marry some day. Fact of the matter is that she is actually a very attractive and talented young lady. She just doesnt give herself a chance.
But then everything changed, and she was thrown into another dimension. With the loss of her world, she has lost that extra spark that kept her going in her active life. She is a survivor who is not sure that she deserved to be such. It is her challenge to find a purpose to live for.

Cherry stared at the open vent, barely listening to anything Lilian or the others were on about. She had more important matters to ponder at the moment.

How much you wanna bet that shaft runs all over this place...bollocks. This is so typically Junk it's scary. I don't know if he was runnin' off orders from Jerin, or acting up to his programmin,' and frankly, I don't suppose it matters which. This isn't good...I better make that call now, before sumpthin else happens.

Slipping absently from the group, Cherry made a beeline for her assigned quarters, ignorant of all else. Miraculously, her room seemed relatively undamaged, although the door was a little warped, probably from someone crashing into it. Opening it carefully, she turned her head to find Justin had followed her. She nodded curtly to him.

Guard the door, eh mate? See that Im not disturbedI need to make an important phone call regarding tall dark and crazy down there.

Guard the-well, sure, but Miss Cherry, please, cant you tell me a bit of whats going-

-Not here mate. Not now. Guard the door.

Before he could respond, she slipped inside, pushing hard to ensure the door would shut securely. Sitting on the bed, she opened her bag, Legs hopping down with a happy chirr to curl up on the pillow. Cherry laughed softly as she pulled out a small device, leaning over to nuzzle him.

"-Feelin' much the same way...look, you can take a breather while I ring home, yeah?"

The decipede chirred sleepily, then sat up, chittering quickly. Cherry smiled, something sad within her eyes.

"Ohcourse I'll send your regards to your familyno worries little mate."

Nodding a little, he settled back down, curling up somewhat forlornly. Cherry stroked his back comfortingly with one claw, setting the small device she had produced on the nightstand. It resembled a projector of sorts, and all along the top were rows and rows of small, round buttons, neatly labeled with letters, numbers, and symbols of all sorts. Leaning over, Cherry flicked a switch on the side, then punched in about thirty assorted combinations of numbers and letters, her claws moving nimbly and without hesitation over the buttons. Then, she waited. After a moment, a polite female voice responded, sounding much like the digital operator in charge of her storage units.

Identification code recognized...connecting...please wait...

Checking her reflection quickly, Cherry smoothed a few strands of hair back into place.

Connection successful. With whom would you like to speak, General Mirelei?

Rubbing her forehead tiredly, the echidna sighed.

"And again with bollocksy frellin' Mirelei...bugger, I don't even care..."

She leaned forward, speaking clearly.

"King Allistair Nicholas Hedgitt."

One moment please...

Turning her attention to the mirror, Cherry regarded it expectantly. She didn't have to wait long, as the device sprung to life, projecting the image of a young male hedgehog into the glass. He didn't look more than fifteen or sixteen years old, and was a deep, warm brown in color, with spiky black hair, and luminous golden eyes, which at the moment were only half open. He was seated at a small table, and for a minute simply stared at her. Then he spoke.

"Do you have any idea what TIME it is?"

She rolled her eyes, smiling some.

"I know, yer highness, please do accept my sincerest apologies..."

"No needthe oracle said you'd call tonight. I was just hoping it'd be sooner..."

He rested his hands upon the table.

"...the Triumvirate would speak with you presently. They've been waiting as well."

Cherry swallowed.

"Oy, no kiddin'?"

"Ah huh...

His brows lifted in concern.

how are you?"

She smiled, leaning towards him.

"I've been better...but I've a spot o' good news. I tracked Jerin all over Arlia, before we were suckered into this vortex, o' sorts. I thought I'd lost him again fer sure...but as it turns out th' folk in this reality caught him, and he's chained up in their prison. Don't know how long he'll stay there, though, and that's why I'm callin,' I need a retrieval unit to come and get him straight away."

The hedgehog sat up straight, his face breaking into a smile.

"Seriously? Whoa, that's not good news. That's great news! I'll round up the gang, we'll get our gear, and we'll come get both of you-"

"-Eh...about that...I need to hang around a wee bit longer."

Flare stared at her as though he couldn't believe what she was saying.

"Ohhhh no. NO. No. Absolutely NOT.

"What? Why the frell not? Look, these people are in trouble-"

"-Someones ALWAYS in trouble, Cherry. It seems no matter where you go, someones in trouble..."

"-I will NOT turn my BACK on this, FLARE."

The hedgehog rolled his eyes, annoyed.

"You know what? It's fine with me if you wanna go gallivanting around the @#%$ universe saving the rock people, or whatever it is this time, but I'm not the one you need to square with, it's the Triumvirate that'll need convincing-"

"-Bollocks, I'll convince 'em, already! Stop worryin about me! Whatre you, my da?"

"No, and thank the Keeper for-

He stopped abruptly.

-IImsorry Cher. That last bit, I didnt mean it like

She stared at the floor.

I know what you meant...

Flare's expression softened some.

"...Dude...why am I yelling at you?"

Cherry sighed.

"Dunno. Why'm I arguin'?"

"Heh..."

He leaned closer, touching the glass with his hand.

"Sorry...I haven't seen you with my own eyes in what...two or three months, and the first thing I do is yell at you..."

"Nah, you had every right to, mate...I do get caught up in more'n I should...according to our rules, leastwise...m'sorry...msorry it's difficult dealing with me sometimes...youre a good friend"

"What're partners for? Eh. Former...partners. What are former partners for.

He smiled sadly. Cherry frowned.

"A partner stillbut youve got a responsibility to the Kingdom right nowto the Oasis."

Yeah

They sat in silence for a minute, before Cherry changed the subject.

"Ummy family, my clan...how do they fare?"

"Oh, very well...your brothers are great...Aodhan's changed a lot, you might not even recognize him..."

"Heh, fer th' better, I hope?"

"No, yeah, he has. He's taken complete charge of your clan, until you return...takes care of the little ones and all. Speaking of, Naelle's three now...just turned three last week..."

"Naelle..."

Cherry smiled.

"Seems just yesterday I was watching her when she was a baby..."

"I know..."

"Oh, is Legs family doing well? He sends his regards."

"Ill pass them alongand yeah. Busy little bunch, forever at their tasks. They don't say much, but I think they miss him a great deal."

"He misses them..."

Flare looked away for a minute, then back at her.

"Promise me you're coming back after this one...?"

"That's the plan."

"I want your word."

"Flare..."

"Look, Cherry...I'm getting really tired of having to sit here all day wondering if you're dead or alive. I'm tired of having to see the look on your brothers face every time he comes to see if you've arrived home...not just him, all your siblings...they come in here like ducks, all in a line. Cherry...they come EVERY DAY. I'm tired of every DECIPEDE we have here coming up to me to ask about Legs. I'm tired of the Council and the Triumvirate pestering me to haul you back in. I'm tired of all your cousins and your entire clan hollering for Jerin's blood. AND MOST OF ALL..."

He slumped.

"I'm...tired of sitting here...when I should be there with you."

"Oy, mate...you know I-"

Something registered, just then.

"-hold upthe Council and the Triumvirate want to haul me back?"

"Yeah...there's...well...there's been some...talk. Rumors, that's all."

Her voice was stony.

"What rumors?"

Flare rubbed the back of his head.

"All of us here...we're all familiar with Jerin. You know that. And we know you even better than we know him. But like, usually it takes you two, three months to complete a job...this one...this ones taken over two years..."

"He's not an easy catch, mate, there's nothin' to be done for it."

He leaned forward.

"We all know that...but...Cher. Be honest...are you going easy on him?"

She frowned, her voice dangerous.

"What're you gettin at?"

"The Triumvirate seems to think youandhim, maybe..."

"-WHAT?!?"

She exploded, filling in the blanks.

"YOU HAVE -GOT- TO BE FRELLIN' KIDDIN' ME!"

"Geez, calm DOWN, that's just a THEORY and no one here even really thinks it's TRUE-"

"TOO FRELLIN' RIGHT! Who the frell said that?"

"Lady Alcippe voiced concerns regarding your previous record with him."

The echidnas eyes widened in disbelief.

"Lady Alcippe? That can't be right"

"Perhaps you'd better ask her yourself...in any case, you shouldn't keep them waiting any longer...I'll connect you."

Still too stunned by this news to say much, Cherry nodded, uttering absently.

"...Aye..."

"Cher?"

"Hm?"

Flare smiled.

"When...when you do finish...come home. Ok? Just come home. We miss our warrior maid..."

Finding it hard to contain herself at those words, Cherry gripped her knees hard, looking down and ignoring the pain in her hand. Her voice trembled.

"S'not like...s'not like I'm t-trying to stay away...you think this is easy?"

She pressed her eyes to her injured palm, voice breaking.

"I've been mostly all alone too, you know..."

"Cherry..."

"...Just make the bloody frellin connection, Flare."

"Ok...hey."

She looked up, wiping her eyes.

"Fight well, Warrior Maid."

She smiled a little.

"Live long, King of Knights."

Taking a moment to collect herself, Cherry glanced over at Legs, who was fast asleep. She sighed.

"Greetings, Knight of the Moonflower and Cloak."

Turning, Cherry faced not one, but three figures this time. All were seated round an ornate table, regarding her with three pairs of identical star filled eyes, each a color that would put the purest white crystal to shame. In the center sat what appeared to be a water serpent or dragon, with gorgeous mother of pearl scales alight with cold fire in the soft lamplight. He had a long, graceful neck, a regal snout, and noble, proud eyes.

To his left sat a gorgeous bird with feathers of a soft white gold, which cascaded down her back in graceful tendrils. Her beak was delicate and small, and a brilliant crest of golden feathers ran along her pretty head. She too had thoughtful, observant eyes.

And on the right sat a beautiful mare with silky white fur. Gorgeous white curls hung about her pretty face, and her hooves seemed the purest silver upon the table. A graceful silver horn grew from the center of her forehead, spiraling to a perfect, deadly point. Her eyes were kind and patient, though they regarded Cherry with some sadness.

The echidna knelt, one knee up, her injured paw slung over it while she pressed her good hand to her heart.

"Lord Dracul. Lady Phoenix. Lady Alcippe. T'what do I owe the pleasure?"

Dracul spoke first, frowning.

"Long have you been away from the Oasis. Long have you strayed. Much too long, I think. Much too long."

"Indeed," Phoenix continued, "we are therefore inclined to inquire as to the nature of your actions regarding the nefarious one you pursue. How close are you to capturing him, Lady Knight? Speak."

Cherry looked up.

"M'Lord and Ladies, please, believe me when I say I am doing my best in regards to him. You knew of his treachery and his brilliance when you sent me after him. Millions have gone before me, and millions have fallen to his tricks and his traps. I have pursued him for two years without losing my life, and better still, he waits here in the dungeons of this world, for you. Do my actions not speak loudly enough?"

The dragon rumbled.

"He is caught, then?"

"Yes m'Lord."

Dracul's eyes widened, boring into hers.

"Are you SURE?"

"Yes m'Lord. I saw him chained to the wall with me own eyes."

Phoenix spoke, softly.

"My child, how did it make you feel?"

"Relieved, m'lady."

"And that is ALL you felt?"

"Yes m'lady. How could I feel anything but?"

The unicorn at the end of the table remained silent, despite glances from her companions. After a moment Dracul spoke, and he sounded considerably relieved.

"Excellent. Excellent. We'll send someone to collect you both then, immediately. There shall be a grand celebration for your homecoming, my child, a celebration for your wondrous accomplishments."

Cherry spoke quickly.

"M'Lord, I would like nothing better...but if I might attend to sumpthin' here first, and then join you after it's completion, I would be most appreciative."

There was a pause.

"Attend to something first."

"Aye, m'Lord."

"You must mean interfere, my child. Always interfering, you and all of your line-"

"-Dracul..."

The beautiful unicorn spoke for the first time, her voice comforting as the sound of a light rain on a hot day.

"-if it is young Mirelei's desire to remain yet a little longer, I see no harm in granting her this. We've waited all this time. What's a little more?"

"Alcippe, it's the principle, she sets a bad example for-"

"-A bad example? By helping those who need it?"

The unicorn turned to Cherry, gracing her with a pretty smile.

"Ronan was the same way. We never stopped him. Or perhaps we simply couldnt."

Cherry smiled.

"M'lady-"

"-RONAN was different."

"No different. We let her stay."

Dracul growled.

"We vote. Phoenix?"

The firebird spoke in a light, airy voice.

"Time is something we have an abundance of. Mirelei does not. We must allow her to do what she will with the time given her, however much she has left. Let each be master of his or her own choices, at least, where our organization is not concerned. This matter seems more personal than detrimental to our discovery. And her past actions have not reflected badly upon us. May she do as she sees fit, therefore."

The dragon scowled, but nodded.

"Very well, my child."

Grinning, Cherry bowed deeply.

"My most gracious Lord and Ladies, you shall not regret yer decision."

"It was not our decision to make, this time."

"Hee, o' course, Lady Phoenix. Will that be all?"

"Indeed, that will be all. The hour is late."

"You'll send the unit immediately, though?"

"Yes my child. He'll be gone before you awake. Rest easy. Your long journey is at last at an end."

Beaming, Cherry nodded, though her next words were a lie.

"Aye sir...I'll sleep well tonight."

Bowing again, Cherry kept her head down as she listened to them departing. When three minutes had passed, she rose, thinking herself alone. Instead, she found Alcippe, now alone, seated in front of her.

"Eh...was there sumpthin' else, m'lady?"

Alcippe pressed her hooves together, regarding Cherry earnestly.

"I heard what you said, my dear...but I want to ask you one more time. Your answer is for my ears alone, now. What are your feelings regarding Jerin?"

Cherry stiffened.

"What d'ya mean? I don't feel one way or another for the twat...actually, ya know what? Scratch that, I think he's a frellin' prat and I don't like him one bit."

"...I see."

The unicorn stared at her sadly. Then she closed her eyes, nodding once.

"That will be all, then. Get some sleep, my child."

"G'night, Lady Alcippe."

Bowing again, Cherry reached over, switching the projector off quickly. She sat back, her thoughts racing.

My lady, you of ALL creatures, how could you think sumpthin' like that?

Legs chattered suddenly. Cherry started, glancing over at him

Oy, how long have you been awake then?

He smiled, chittering.

OhI seeheard that, then? Ridiculous, isnt it?

The decipede chattered softly. Cherry stared at him, brow furrowing.

Huh? S thatohI didnt think of thatI dont even know if thats true, though. I mean, sure, its a rumor, but thats all.

She paused.

...Would explain why shed say something like that, thoughbut this is a different situation than hers wasleastwise, it is if the rumors are even true...

Legs shrugged, hopping back on to her shoulder. Cherry stood, straightening up a bit, stowing the projector safely back in her bag. She frowned.

Bastion...now there's a bloke I thought WAS a myth. Maybe Ill ask Jerinhed probably know. Takes one ta know one, an' all that.

Legs moved about on her shoulder, chittering curiously.

Aye, were going backI only told them I was goin to sleep so they wouldnt worry too much. Im goin to sit across from the door until the retrieval unit arrives, to make CERTAIN he doesnt go anywhere. And if youre up to it, ythink you can guard the vent to make sure Junk cant get to him?

Legs saluted her smartly, nodding. She smiled.

Kay then. Lets get to it.

Opening the door with a sharp tug, Cherry nearly jumped out of her skin when she found Justin waiting on the other side. She swore softly, apologizing.

Eh, sorry mate, forgot you were therewell, thanks fer guardin the doorI gotta be on my way though, so I bid you good night

Wait, where are you going?

Back down. I gotta keep an eye on him until my mates arrive to pick him up.

Im coming with you.

You are.

If its okIm sorry about all this Miss Cherry, but I cant leave you alone with him. I wouldnt feel right.

Ive been alone with him before, mate. Many times. Plus the guardll still be there.

Yeah, I knowbut it would make me feel better.

Her eyes softened.

Spose theres no point anymore. Youre safer with me now.

Somewhat confused, Justin started to speak, but Cherry shook her head, brushing past him.

Cmonmight be a long nightbetter calm this lot down first thing. I may not know this tart Lilian well, but I wont let her take the rap fer sumpthin that aint her fault.

Justin followed.

So you do know who rigged that oversized toaster.

Not fer surebut Im as frellin near to sure as I can be. And if Im right, then this whole things my fault. And I wont let someone else get blamed for my mess.

Justin nodded.

So you explain, then we go back to his cell.

Aye mate. Thats just what well do.

As she walked back towards the group, Justin following close behind, a thought struck her, which made her frown.

BollocksI hope he didnt hear any of that. Last thing I need, more bloody questions...

For the first time in a very long time, Castor wanted someone dead for reasons other than money. In his mind, he ran through all the possible scenarios. He saw himself shooting his way out a dozen different times in a dozen different ways, and each one began with Lillian either being used as a hostage or being pumped full of lead.

But at the same time, every scenario ended with him being trapped in a foreign world without work and maybe with a legion of the Kaizer's soldiers looking for him. As bad a place as Basin City could be, it was still familiar and full of work for guys like Castor. In the split second that all this planning took place in, Castor came to his decision.

"Fine," Castor said as he released his grip on his gun. "I'll help you guys get your leader back, and then I'm leaving. Do I have your word?"

"You have my word and Sir Garadon's word." Lillian said. "And believe me when I say that you can trust us."

Castor started to walk past Lillian, but stopped right next to her. "Good," he said, looking straight-forward instead directly at her. "Your life depends on my being able to trust you." He then walked away, brushing between the guards.

It's only getting worse. Never shoulda talked to that girl in the bar...

Knight tapped Castor on the shoulder as Lilian was making her way out. "Dont waste your breath. There's no way out of this joint... for now." Knight said. He stood silent for a moment as if a long strain of thoughts rapidly flashed through his head.

"Though come to think of it... There MIGHT be something I could try." Knight finaly spoke. He then looked up towards the celing and started yelling. "Allright, TBlood, you old annoying git! Get us out of here! You hear me?! I KNOW you can hear me you good for nothing--"

A bleeping sound from a pouch in Knight's left thigh interupted him. The merc immediatly produced a devise that somewhat resembled a PDA. He seemed to be reading something and then he closed his eyes sighin. "Well... THAT didn't work."

"Don't tell me he actualy responded!" Camden said in disbelief.

"Here, see for yourself." Knight said giving her his OpComm devise. Camden started reading outloud.

"Do I look like a dimensional cab driver to you, mortal? Find your own way out.
--His Vigilance, Mobius TetherBlood: 40th Guardian of Worlds

PS: Speak to me like that again, and I will personaly make sure you get a protagonist position in my all time classic documentary: 'Lobotomising Humans for fun and profit'."

"At least he was straight to the point." Knight said.

"You're lucky he didn't smite you down with lightning or something." Camden said grining, giving him the OpComm back.

As Knight placed the devise back to its pouch he took a look at Justin, who was standing in front of a door. "I'll be back in a sec." He said to the rest while he moved towards Justin.

"Can I help you with something, Knight?" Justin said when the merc stood in front of him.

"Ya... Where were you?"

T watched the banter of Castor, Knight and Lillian and he wanted to laugh. He didn't blame them for not trusting Lillian, he had his own questions about her too. He decided to let them go for now. "Hey Lillian, if we do run into another one of those boys again, got any better tips for taking him down?" He asked.

Blu had already gone back to his room. He didn't know why, but he always disliked watching peole argue, besides, he wanted to have some time alone to think again.

"Hmm, I wonder..." Blu closed the door and sat down on his bed, rubbing his chin. Almost as if he was trying to generate a thought.

"...If this Sir Garadon is this "heo" Lilian portrays him as, I wonder how the heck he got trapped in the first place, and why they think once he's rescued, they can take down this Kaiser..."

"something doesn't add up here, but, I guess I've gotta go along with it, it's what people like me do, after all..."

"Doesn't mean I have to let my guard down though". And with that, Blu fell back onto the bed and lay there, trying to doze off to sleep.

Spiner had returned back to his room, with only the door slightly damaged from the attack by the Watchman. Worry was featured upon his face. How many more Heroes are out there that we don't even know about? He questioned himself, sitting himself upon his bed. There could be lots more, somewhere out there, and we wouldn't even know.

He took off his eyepiece, and placed it on a desk beside the bed, and he settled himself back against the wall, closing his eyes slightly. He knew he wouldn't be able to rest, despite his body was encouraged to do so.

And that rabbit... She could be from my world, there's always that possibility. He thought. I'll need to go ask the doc' about how she's doing.

He sat silently upon the bed, in deep thought, his mind racing through and now evaulating the situation. Though, to any who would walk past his open door, he would appear asleep.