The half breed had finally realized noone was even acknowledging him. It always took him awhile, either he was glared at or ignored, same for a few people animosity was the only thing people ever acknowledged him with.

Once it set in his face returned to it's normal depressed expression as he simply muttered, "lucky you," and sat down to stare at a patch of ground off to one side.

"Well," Pronounced the old man with a certain air of 'conclusion' to his tone "This has been an interesting outing, but my time grows short and I feel I must soon give you my leave." then he added, with a grimace as though he'd kicked himself: "Oh, where are my manors. I do apologise but it seems this old man has forgotten to introduce himself. To everyone in the street it was as though the old man were turning to address them personally My name is <Nefroug'othart'h*see below*>, Fourth of the Masters lieutenants and high assassin of his court. Though you may simply call me, Nur."

*A name near unpronounceable without prehensile teath and mandables for vocal cords.*

Ryn looked thoughtful for a moment before she spoke. "Nur. What a strange name it is. Nevertheless, this certainly won't be last time we cross paths."

"Good riddance," Ken said obnoxiously, casting a sideways glance at Henry. "If you won't do anything about Envy, then maybe someone else will."

Henry didn't respond, still glaring at the man.

Bant smirked and chuckled out, "Takay qualow."

OOC: Dieing of verious achamahol enduced things at the momemnt, plz excuse bad spelling. I feel that I'm gradualy killing this rp as I have done in every rollplay I've touched for the last year or so, I'm trying to see where I've gone wrong here. My apologies to everyone if I've been a boob, and pardons for this post as it will probably make you feel more awkward about my fail-ing. Rico, I'm sorry for higjcaking this in the way I did. As per usual I got more then a little carried away with matters. So i'm dropping to PC charactors strictly for interaction and gameplay perpuses from here on out, as I technicaly should have done in the first place. Sorry for anything I really messed up or toes that have been in advertantly stepped on. Please come back everyone, I'm staying away from the shiny buttens on the control pannel this time.

IC:

With a clasical 'noir' smirk on his face, Nur turned and began to hobble away from the group, apparantly focused on the direction of the wearhouse district where the previous battle had taken place.

Niki, meanwhile, had secuded herself in the female bathroom along with a tool kit scavinged from the office of the gym. This precious moment alone was what she needed to begin repaires on her savaged limbs. Secluding herself in the end cubical of the shower room and closing the curitain, the raccoon began to unrap the lower portion of her arm, holding a screwdriving between her teath taught against the wrist and starting to tighten bio-mechanical tendons and reset steal pins that held the limb together.

Claw heard the talk about Envy and instantly his blood began to boil. He hadn't finished trashing that creature yet. This Nur fellow would be his only link to finding that freak.

With a bit of concentration, Claw gathered energy under his feet and used it to propel him with frightening speed off of the rooftops. The invisibly energy still gathered under his feet, Claw used it as a cushion as he landed heavily upon the pavement. The concrete dipped in, forming a violent crater where Claw had landed right in front of Nur.

The sound of his landing was enough to get anybody's attention.

"Where is he?" spat Claw, "Where's the one that attacked us?"

His red eyes flashed with determination and rage, enough to even unsettle Nur, if just for a second.

OOC: The point of RP's is to give everyone a turn at the controls. I can't have new idea's all the time, eh? 😉 But if you don't feel you can finish the arc we can let someone else have a turn at the plot. I'm not quite ready for the next main plot push yet. Need us to regroup properly first. Until then if anyone has a subplot to give their character a chance in the spotlight, fire away. PM/IM me if you need info on the universe or what not.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Calm yerself wixahn, 'less I ain't catchin' on right this is one time we don't get to pick the battle." Bant said plainly, the uncharacteristic reference to 'we' as if he was part of the group even rattled the still indignant Corky.

OOC:
I will see this arc through, but I was worried that it was driving people away. Hence the apology.

P.s. Nur is expendable. If any character would wish to attack him at this point, they can do so without retaliation.

IC:

An unnerving smile had broken across Nur's black lips, that same old chuckle rousing from the depths of his chest as though Claws disturbing show of power had somewhat entertained him.
"I'm afraid your companion is quite correct. I only inhume those I am contracted for. Morral codes and what not."
The old man's eyes seemed to be daring Claw, goading the daemon to attack him as though he would be quite safe dispite knowing the bladed terror's wrath.
"As for Envy, I'm afraid he is in a place you mortals cannot hope to reach."

Nur felt a slight presence on his neck.

The tip of Claw's katana was aimed directly at the center of Nur's throat. Even though Nur's facade of amused confidence didn't waver, a tiny puff of surprise sprung in the back of his mind, unsettled that he had not seen Claw draw his sword much less manage to point it right at a pressure point on his neck.

"Do I look like an ordinary mortal to you?" spat Claw.

Claw stared down the edge of his katana, as lethal as any gun.

"You think you're the first extra-dimensional bastards I've run in to?"

"I'd listen to 'im, Sunshine. Warden already learned they ain't beyond mortal, hate ta think you can't learn from our mistake." The old coyote said finally pushing himself off the wall and began sauntering over, hands in his pockets.

"I think you should give us little more info on this kid that conjures himself a sin. Won't hurt none, 'sides... o'awa*." He smirked at Nur knowingly, "Don't see a need for ya to be running off so quick."

The foreign word was meaningless yet made the more supernaturally inclined people in the area become ill at ease, almost clastrophobic.

*O'awa - OH ah wah - Kydane word meaning "dark" or "moonlight". In this instance being used as an incantion to prepare for the prevention or "darking" of attempts at supernatural feats or to halt unnatural/spirital phenomena.

"I'll cut the answers out of your head!" growled Claw obviously becoming impatient.

Claw lunged forward but pulled the blade to the side just a bit. Instead of impaling Nur's neck, Claw jetted forward sent an elbow crashing into Nur's skull.

OOC: Hmm, my post disapeared during the move. Will post again shortly...

OOC: Just in case anyone else hasn't seen the topic in EVC, Arikyrenne found the links to posts that went missing from here and other RP's during the move. I'm just copying the links for this RP in particular.

GM experiment: Aftermath of Evalc (With apologies to Evalc) http://p085.ezboard.com/fsonichqcommunitysonicroleplay.showMessageRange?topicID=2186.topic&start=341&stop=360 (page 18) http://p085.ezboard.com/fsonichqcommunitysonicroleplay.showMessageRange?topicID=2186.topic&start=361&stop=361 (page 19)

Don't have an IC just yet, I'll probably post later.

OOC: You are a star Kaze ^_^

iC:
For a breif instant Claw thought his arm had gone clean though the old man, but then came the crack as his elbow made contact with a jaw line. Nur staggered from the strong blow and for a second as the old man sepped away to regain his ballance his cloke seemed to distort with the impression of another shorter individual. This quickly vanished though and the old man regained his steel, standing up once more with the same grin on his features, either ignoring whatever damage had been caused or uneffected entirely by Claws strike. There was a flicker of some untold emotion in Nur's eyes as he looked back into those of the bladed terror. Claw wasn't too sure, but it almost seemed like nostalgia. The edge of the blade pressed closer, though rather then pressing up against flesh it was as though it were mirly meeting resistance some milimeaters from the old man's neck. Upon a glance Claw could see the whisps of black smoke pealing away from Nur's fur where the katana rested, as though the very fiber of the old man's being was attempting to get out of the blade's path. "You remind me of him." Nur said with an air of reminition "Or at least how he used to be. That self asured attitude as though he had seen all the horrors that life could posibly throw at him. How quickly such foolish assumptions vanish when faced with the Scurge of the nameless. It's the kind of thing that drives even the most honerable of men to cast asside vertues and beg for mercy."

OOC: Sorry about the weird double post thing, this yuku switch caught me off guard

IC:

"See the tip of this blade, you self-righteous scumbag?" for a brief moment Claw pulled the katana away from Nur's neck and let him see that nearly a foot of the tip of the katana was dark black.

"This blade has cut-down life far more powerful than you. Tell me what I want to know before I paint the streets with your insides," growled Claw.

For a brief moment Nur could almost feel the spirit of those slain by the blade. There was something odd about the katana Claw was wielding. It was as if it had a life of its own, begging to be set free, begging to devour, to conquer. Even though his mad grin never betrayed his thoughts, Nur found himself fascinated by the... personality... the blade seemed to posses.

"Quit looking at me like you know me and tell me where that fool is!" snarled Claw impatiently.

Ryn remained uneasy. She'd been slightly caught off-guard at Claw's sudden appearance, and she was unsure whether to just take hold of her brother and retreat or just stand there. Either way, she figured, this whole thing was probably just going to keep on escalating. She kept her knife at the ready and her violet eyes locked on Claw and Nur. She was still, ready to take action at the very next second should the situation call for it. She had to admit, she, too, wanted to know wherever Envy was hiding, but for an entirely different reason than the Bladed Terror.

Ken would've probably cared less at this point if it weren't for Claw's dramatic entrance. He was suddenly interested in seeing what was going to happen next, though he occasionally looked at Ryn, Bant, and Henry to see what they were doing. The silent whimpering in the back of his mind had long since stopped, and he half-wondered for a moment whether the entity was still there, watching silently just as he was.

===========================================
OOC: Sorry, I don't think it's really anything substantial.

"Sword that slayed Evalc." Myca said looking on with uninterested disappointment, "Think I heard 'bout it before, can't say I'm pleased to see it though. Lotta folks think killing Evalc's what caused the state of things now. May not wanna be swingin' that pigsticker around if ya know what I mean, kid."

Henry sneered then suddenly jumped up and into the verbal fray, "IS THAT WHO THAT IS?"

The coyote looked at Kenneth apologetically muttering, "Ke-stino ac'ix, wix'an*"

The small halfbreed growled, charged Claw, and, in a rare moment of grace, spun around for a perfect elevated roundhouse. Unfortunately the boy's height played a key role in the final resting place of his shoeless foot. Being smaller than the average boy of twelve his kick not only fell short of his target's chest but his stomach as well. If one knew the youth personally they'd question he targeted the final location from the very beginning, but he would of course giggle and deny aiming for the large adult's only visible vulnerable area. Yet in the end it came to ahead that while he was so intimidatingly threatening information out of the enigmatic Nur, a small boy ran up and, in a very Chuck Norris fashion, round-housed Claw in the groin with all his adolescent fury.

*Ke-stino ac'ix, wix'an - KUH-stino ah-ss-ICKS, WICKS-un - Translated to "I feel bad weather (a storm) coming, little one".

Claw seemed to make a hiccup sound as the unexpected attack nailed him in the universal soft spot. Claw staggered backwards as he ungraciously gripped his groin. Nur was released from the tense situation as the blade swung away from his neck.

Still slightly bent forward in stunned agony Claw staggered forward and grabbed the half-breed by the foot and lifted him into the air upside-down. Staring pure hateful intent into the young one's face, Claw was obviously a little peeved.

"What the hell are you doing, kid?" growled Claw as he kept his katana ready in case Nur tried to take advantage of the situation.

With Claw slightly bent forward like an old man with a bad back, holding a strange half-breed child in one hand, and a legendary sword in the other, anyone walking by might think they were street performers.

The boy made his face as scary as he could in such a humorous position, crossing his arms to prevent them from dangling helplessly and making half hearted attempt to keep his shirt from exposing his stomach before grumping back in a manner most befitting a pouting child, "Kicking your kol'was*, useless. Stop acting like it hurt, there wasn't nothing there."

His form turned slightly still dangling by one foot, the pout turning to a tongue sticking out. It made his position even more ridiculous as his ears had flopped inside out, combining that feature with his free leg flopping like a beached fish, crossed arms, stomach exposed, and immature mocking face was enough to make at one passerby laugh to themselves.

*kol'was - COAL-wah-ss - Buttocks, ass.

The cyanides smelt it first. But by the time the farce between Claw and Henry had played out, the sanguine sent lined everyone's nostrils with an unexpected austerity. They glanced back to the old man whose face had suddenly defaulted to a disapproving glare. The black Katana was very sharp indeed. In the grimace of pain the sword had apparntly slipped, cutting shallow notch into Nur's shoulder. Mortal blood now dripped from his finger tips, and though no wound was visible on his skin it must have been notisably painful.

At the same moment a change was taking place in the texture of the air. A sort of downwards vertigo ensuing pressure was building, the kind that buffeted the eardrums during a storm though no clouds were passing through the evening sky above them. To those of the otherwordly inclination, it felt as though something were scrabeling to keep a foot hold on reality.

"I rather think," Nur muttered with newly enbued menice, ignoring the vital liquid dripping from his fingers "-you should put that sword away."

With a long drawn out breath, Nur regained his composure and the pressure subsided "you could have done someone a serious mischief."

Claw could nearly feel the menace radiating from Nur now.

Good, got your attention thought Claw to himself as subtly placed himself between Nur and Henry, the katana now in better position to strike.

"Envy... where is he," growled Claw.

Even with the dangling brat suspended ever so slightly behind the Bladed Terror, Nur could sense a tone of finality in Claw's voice this time.

The tense air was once again ruined, this time by childish giggling.

Not far away Tobias and Keedis had appeared, the rabbit had apparently been successful in cheering the boy up as he was pointing at Henry and bordering on breaking down in laughter.

Tobias was wearing a smirk as well, "I wondered where everyone disappeared to. Just what is going on and why does Claw look like someone kicked him in the- O'Henry," he felt the smirk extend into a smile and almost crack a laugh. "Did you really? *snerk*"

On the halfbreed's next rotation he was wearing a cheesy yet triumphant toothy grin.

Nur's expression softened a little more, placing his weight forward onto the gnarled walking stick that had apeared (but somehow seemed to have always been there) in his bloodied paws. The tactile grin had been replace by the same glowing 'grandfatherly' one that had greeted Ken and Henry a few minuets ago.

"Curiouser and Curiouser." He muttered deliberately, before turning back to Claw.

"For want of a better description, young warrior, Envy has been 'Sent to his Room'. And there is little chance that the two of you will meet again, if I have anything to say about it that is."

Claw was about to put the old creature out of the way, silencing that arrogant tongue for good when he heard the shuffle of muffled footsteps. The way they were shuffling denoted they were carrying a load across their chests.

Guns with straps, most likely automatics.

"Damn," growled Claw, knowing full well what was about to happen.

Tobias and Keedis found themselves surrounded by soldiers clad in tight fitting armor equipped with plasma assault rifles and multi-spectrum masks. The soldiers were careful not to point their guns at the kids so as not to cause panic. These were elite troops, trained on how to manage everything from civil disturbance and urban combat, to full scale war zones.

"Don't move, we mean you no harm," croaked the speaker near where one of the soldier's mouths should have been visible.

Even the old coyote found himself cornered by armed military ninjas, although he maintained a detached, almost annoyed bemusement to the whole situation as he showed no signs of being startled.

"Agent, we've been authorized to arrest you, deadly force has been authorized if you resist," warned one of the troopers as three of them quickly positioned themselves behind Claw, guns pointed squarely at various vital points on his back and head.

Claw glared daggers into Nur.

"Drop the sword, hands in the air," commanded one of the ESO troopers.

"This isn't over yet, you crusty relic. Send Envy my regards," sneered Claw as he pulled the katana back and then dropped it on the ground.

The sword's blade plummeted to the ground first, sticking firmly into the concrete. Then dropped the grinning youth. Claw placed his hands in the air. There were simply too many bystanders, too many people who would get caught in the crossfire. It would only end in tragedy to try to resist the ESO troopers now. A fourth soldier approached Claw from behind with a pair of industrial handcuffs...

Nur's foxlike smile didn't change, though Claw got the inclination that its source was no longer polite.

"Oh, I rather fancy that it is. From the look of these fine young gentlemen anyway."

The old man's gaze passed over the ranks, "what fun could be had." he muttered quietly to himself.

After all, just as 'the innocent have nothing to fear' sends shivers of terror down the spine of any innocent within range; so too was 'we mean you no harm' the universal invitation to brown trousers time.

The sun was setting. It had been a long day for all parties concerned. Nur looked up to the fading orange glow emanating from the far west. He could feel shadow cast eyes looking down on him from somewhere among the low rooftops, though even he could not say from whence they were emanating. The master was right, she was quite good at this sort of thing.

'You're time will have to wait for now, my dear.'

"Take care of dear Superbia for me." He breathed privately to himself as he turned to leave.

Without another word he began to walk away. It wasn't that people didn't want to stop him and get the answers they desired, it was just as though the questions had slipped their mind for the time being.

And then, he was gone. Just vanished into thin air. In his place at the edge of the street stood a young Evolan man, blinking in confusion at his apparent loss of orientation. How had he gotten here? Absentmindedly he reached up and rubbed the shallow cut in his shoulder. How had that happened? An air of conclusion suddenly came upon him, he must wandered aimlessly from the camp, probably cut himself on some debris somewhere, yes that was right.

Now more sure of himself, the man regained his bearings and wandered away in the direction of the camp.

Strong gloved hands clicked the cuffs in place and a sleek, black hover van pulled to the side of the street. The back opened up and a few more troopers poured out and guided Claw towards the waiting restraints inside.

"Next time we meet, I'll rip that heavy heart out of your chest," muttered Claw, more to himself than Nur who was barely within earshot now as Claw found himself being strapped to a bench.

With soldiers, guns trained, on all sides of him, the van doors slammed shut. The uniformed ESO troopers who had surrounded Bant, the kids, and what few bystanders that were unlucky enough to be caught up in the arrest quickly and expertly disappeared down the various alleys they had snuck out from. The van screeched away, spewing loose asphalt from behind it.

The atmosphere of the busy refugee camp suddenly turned into bustling panic as everyone migrated to a nearby TV or radio. Ryn was almost knocked down by the sudden movement of people. A nearby electronics store with TV's stacked in the window became like an electrified bug trapped as it drew in a slew of rescue-blanket-swaddled survivors.

"An explosion rocked a factory in Hesphate on planet Burrisia today. The factory churns out approximately 3 billion tons of Burrisian Alloy metals used in the construction of military grade weaponry. A group calling themselves the Psionic Revivalist Front has taken responsibility for this act of terrorism.... This just in! It appears this terrorist organization has somehow managed to lockdown control of the factory and is currently engaged with local police. It is being reported that the Burrisian Army is possibly being mobilized to handle this crisis. More on this story as it develops..."

The bustling crowd, panic and worry seemingly infiltrating the air, talked and whispered amongst themselves.

"Psinoics?"

"This can't be good for Evolia's image..."

"First Sector 12 on Evolia and now this factory in Burrisia? The whole damned universe is coming to an end!"

"It's a sign, you should go pray with me..."

"I thought psionics were supposed to be extinct,"

"Doesn't anybody know their history?"

"I need to call my son"

"Oh where is the Maker?"

"It's just sensational journalism, it's probably nothing,"

"The government, the Burrisian government has probably done it to themselves,"

"What are we going to do?"

***

From inside the ESO hover van, Claw overheard the astonishing story over the radio.

"Psionic Revivalist Front..." muttered Claw to himself.

The name didn't mean anything to him, but the words to struck dread in him. It seemed real.

Among the refugees, there was panic. Fear. Thoughts of the end of the universe. It was quite widespread, almost to the point of overwhelming. Already there were people starting to flee, as if the PRF would come knocking at any moment.

It wasn't much of a surprise anymore, seeing psionics and Wardens clash. He'd seen it centuries before, though not like this. Truth was, he wondered why he even bothered coming back to this dimension. Common sense, after all, should have outweighed nostalgia.

Don't I have good timing.

He sat down on a box, a basic watching people run to and fro with clear green eyes. No one took much notice of the creature, who seemed to be a blue thing with spikes coming from its back (he looked familiar, did they read about him, a footnote in the history of the universe?) only stopping on occasion to ask him what was going on, what his opinion was, so on and so forth. He looked up at them, seemingly uninterested or, to most, simply tired of the bad news. Most people were, anyhow.

"Psionic Revivalist Front," he muttered in Mobian, followed by words unknown by most tongues. "Peh. Amateurs."

The war did not interest him much. Evalc is dead, they bleated when he left. They were wrong. He was Evalc, what was left of him. That was what he was known as in his new home, a universe far removed from this one of endless fighting. That was why he left. He had gotten tired of it after a few decades, having to defend himself by killing off invading armies.

It obviously didn't get any better, and he considered just leaving and going back there and then, fading out of one existance and going into the one he'd come to know as home. Then he felt something. Someone in the camp.....had a connection.

He quickly capitalized on it, gleaning as much as he could from memories and thoughts and emotions without awakening Ryn's suspiscion or that of those who were there with similar memories. (Rico is still...?) Then, upon getting the information he felt out one that had been prominent in them - and old ally from centuries before. It was a ways away, perhaps even planets away, but the signature was strong, and definitely familiar. VERY familiar. And it felt like it was under duress. At least, from the general feeling he was getting overall, from the grand scheme of things.

....Aah, Claw. You always were a magnet for trouble, weren't you.

He sent out that single psionic thought, weaving it around the people like a dancer until it flittered out of the camp and across the untold amount of miles. He wanted to make sure that Claw knew who had arrived before he masked himself once more.

Who knew - maybe he'd try to help rescue the Bladed Terror. Who knew.

Only Evalc.

((OOC: Three guesses, but you may only need one?))

The rabbit's smirk had long since faded, the waves of new events pummeling him like so many waves on a beach. The man looked lost suddenly, almost as if he'd suddenly reverted to a more confused time. "Good riddance, about time someone got rid of him." Henry muttered glaring daggers after the departing vehicle that contained Claw.

The young human looked entranced by the T.V., yet one hand remained clamped to the rabbit's pants with whiteknuckled determination.

"Seems a few folks don'want the war to end, e'la?" The coyote said approaching the crowd as well.

Toby looked at the flickering piece of technology with lost eyes, he couldn't believe that after what known space had endured people were still obsessed with fighting.

Myca sighed and looked at the still indignant Henry nodded after the apprehended Claw, "Hey, boy. Ever known backwater lawmen to pin the right rat?" The boy looked at him quizzically, the old coyote's meaning still churning in his mind.

"Was that my uncle?" A small voice stated absently. The red haired origin still staring in brain-dead fashion at the television.

The coyote's ears flicked, he turned and glared intently at the glowing screen. After a moment his eyes widened, ""Ix'hanil... Think I may collect Rick, place is startin' to fill up with ugly. Don't wager much of it is gonna be scared off easy neither. May need backup." Tobias didn't respond. The coyote looked serious as he started to depart, almost nervous.

Keedis shook his head very slowly, although still starting wide eyed at the TV, "Looks Hehey, Master Bant."

E'la - uh-LAH - He/she/they does/do so

Hehey - huh-HEY - fine, alright, yes, ok

OOC: Long time no see Cookirini

IC:

Claw looked at his feet which were now firmly shackled to the inside of the van. Surrounded by guards with guns, it seemed he had no choice but to meet with Director Kruehees now.

Claw's head shot up as if somebody had shocked him. The ESO (Evolian Special Operations) Troopers shoved their guns closer to Claw's face. He would have to refrain from sudden movements.

That jolt... what the hell... another psionic in the area? thought Claw as he rebuilt his facade of cool.

No... this was different, this was someone he knew. Someone from a long time ago. A fellow warrior whose hands were stained by the blood of Evalc. Stained just like him. Claw suddenly became painfully aware of the whispers emanating from his shadow katana that was just a few feet away.

A few feet too far and way too guarded.

Clone of Evalc, carrying his genes, his awesome potential... or at least some of it. Still ticking eh? Guess I shouldn't be surprised thought Claw to himself.

What was the connection? Rico Underwood showing up in the middle of Sector 12 slaughtering Evolian military... those demons... then the PRF group... and now the bastard inheritor of Evalc's curse. And now, he was being hauled off the see Director Kruehees, the brains behind the Evolian Special Operations branch of the Evolian government.

"Provost..."

***

Planet: Burrisia
City: Hesphate
Location: In the bowels of AlloyTech

"Master, we've got a phone call from the negotiators of the Burrisian Army," informed a mud-smeared figure as he handed a small cell phone to a being who was obviously in charge of the situation.

The figure, clad in a medium-weight black armor with what looked like single long feathers sprouting from the back took the phone from the soldier. He brought the phone to his face, a face covered in a tribal mask of some sort.

"Yes?" asked the master, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"This is Jerry, I'm a negotiator with the Burrisian Ar-"

"I know who you are, Jerry; you're one of the bugs they sent to try to convince me to come out peacefully," answered the master.

There was a brief pause before the phone crackled to life again.

"Might I ask whom I'm speaking with? I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Mr..."

"Master Vallark, I am Master Vallark and I have you and your toy soldiers at more than just a disadvantage, Jerry. The psionics have long been training in secret for the day that we might once again take our birthright," replied the tribal masked-clad being, deep in the bowels of the sieged factory.

"Birthright? I'm afraid I don't under-"

"Of course you don't understand, simpleton. You haven't lived long enough. This world, this whole universe used to be a just and peaceful place. Before the Wardens and the mercenaries sullied the name of Psinoic Martial Arts, Psionic Philosophy, and the Psionic Way," rasped Vallark impatiently.

"Mr. Vallark, there haven't been psionics in this universe for a long time, now why don't you and your boys-"

"Fool! Even now you're blind to the peril you're in. I have not accepted your call so you could here my demands, I've accepted your call to awaken my brothers," laughed Vallark.

With that remark, a pulse screeched out of the phone the negotiator was holding, loud enough to be heard by many of the nearby army personnel.

And then it began.

She had prepared for just about anything, but even Ryn wasn't expecting the oncoming crowd of refugees headed her way. She was barely able to move out of the way, though Ken, being younger (and shorter) didn't have much of a problem.

By the time she looked around again, the vehicle that had taken carted off Claw was long gone, and, by the same token, there didn't seem to be any sign of Nur.

Great. Just freaking great. If it's not one thing, then it's another, she thought bitterly as the felinoid buried her face in her paws. She felt overwhelmed, drained, tired, anything else that meant she had no energy. The crowd's murmuring and droning of the television reporter mixed and mingled with each other as it reached her ears.

"A group calling themselves the Psionic Revivalist Front has taken responsibility for this act of terrorism...."

When she looked up again, she found Kenneth steadily gazing at the television along with the human boy. He still seemed the same way he always was-a good head on his shoulders, though quite childish and stubborn sometimes, just like her at his age-but at the same time he was a little different now, suddenly acting more independent now instead of following her around like some lost puppy.

The screens were starting to show the same footage of the explosions, police officers, and frightened witnesses over and over again.

Damn. Can't even go anywhere without maniacs blowing up buildings and doing all kinds of $*!#, Ryn thought distastefully. Might as well be on Kyzarie, buildings were disappearing in flames and smoke everywhere you looked. You'd think terrorists and the like would have nothing else to do.

With a "Hmph," her eyes wandered to where Tobias, Bant, and Henry were standing. All these things were happening, and she and Ken were unfortunate enough to get dragged into it.

"Ix'hanil... Think I may collect Rick, place is startin' to fill up with ugly. Don't wager much of it is gonna be scared off easy neither. May need backup."

"Hey, Mister! You know what's going on, don'tcha?" It was Kenneth who spoke up this time, he'd turned away from the television and his green and blue eyes were fixated on the departing coyote. "You said you had some information all what's going on, with the attacks going on here and stuff. Come on, spill it!"

Ryn stared at the boy in disbelief. Ken, what the hell are you thinking?!

---

OOC: Sorry for disappearing, I just didn't have anything worthwhile to post. Hope this is fine.

The coyote stopped, Kenneth swore he could hear a mild chuckle coming from the old man's direction. The canine turned, smiling, "You have the same sense'a'timing as kid I knew while back. Suppose this little mystery can wait." He stated, refering to wherever it was he had been going before the boy had spoke up.

"Long story, I'll make it short as I can. Suppose the bigger part of you know about Warden, least heard a rumor or two." Several of group had heard rather wild rumors, other knew the problem he was addressing quite intimately. Bant nodded to himself, "Big difference is how ya explain that word, Warden. Wizards? Ninjas? Space Cowboys? Monks?" He listed off a number of rather comic book and movie sounding characterizations before stopping for a breath. "Truth be told, stories you hear? All True. Course not ever one of 'em is a pot'a ugly with a mean streak size'a The Mesric Plateau. But I've seen some that do." He paused, looking between the small group, Tobias's lost look was gone, replaced with on of utter disbelief.

"Truth be told, people you hear tell about? All thats left and all that ever was. Not many Kydane left, even fewer of their Preachers, now Warden? don't think they lost too many to the war. They don't tend ta bother with other people. When they do?" He motioned down the street Claw had been taken down, "Things usually don't turn out shiny. What I understand these people look like us, but they're not from anything we've heard of. Heard a few Evolian scientists call it 'Subspace'. Heard a Kydane philsopher call it 'The Art'. Don't know much more than that but it's generally trouble when they surface, and presently? They're poppin up like prairie dogs. All got secondary names, things like Tansoy'tat or Ok'maek'atak, words from the old language they musta started using long time ago. Don't want us knowing nothing about 'em, genuine enigmas."

"Tones, To'na Kapay E'lanewe!" Fired off a gruff male voice filled with irritation. Tobias stood opposing Bant, hands balled into fists, "Hanoxawa ix'cis, yakew'ixhecua kewsa'kak?!"

Bant gave the younger man a curious smile, "Think we'd prefer if ya spoke outta that native tongue, kiddo. As fer what I'm doing? I ain't gettin' any younger, tired of the game I suppose. Don't feel like hiding er lying, maybe if Warden stopped hiding in brooding in the shadows people wouldn't hate 'em so much. Adding one more, maybe if I out the lot they'll last longer, e'la."

Tones! To'na Kapay E'lanewe! - Toe-NESS Toe-NAY KahPAY uhLAH-NuhWUH - Shut up! (He who does nothing) speaks lies!

E'la - UH-luh - That they will.

OOC: It's fine Kaze, also if noone can add to this I can add more, giving anyone with the bravado to enter into the outing of the Warden fair chance.

OOC: I've altered that last post to fit accordingly, Nur has made his exit.

IC:

Something of a quiet chaos was building in the camp. Loved ones huddled closer, large males with big voices argued in dense groups smitten between the scattered individuals who look just plain scared. All of them twitched every time the news on the situation was updated. Nothing like that first surge of horrified curiosity that had allowed the dark visitor to slip away so easily, but there was a definite straining of ears whenever new information came through the speakers. It was as though the whole place was being fed a steady IV drip of paranoia and wild rumour.

Niki slowed slightly as she passed a large group huddled around a loud radio, mentally working out whether they could get to the opposite side of the universe if it did escalate into another full scale war. The outer systems had always been neutral ground during the last war, none played them much attention so long as attention was not merited. Entire civilisations had been evacuated away from the worst of the fighting and though it wasn't exactly the lap of luxury out there, it was at least habitable and free from the problems brought by the galactic conflict. Now it seemed as though the war was following her home like a rabid puppy, the recent events not only causing instability but bringing matters closer and closer to the neutral systems.

At least she was feeling better in and of herself, her canine part was glad of this much and had stopped posting stickies of protest on the forum of her mind. Blood which had congealed since the fight had been carefully cleaned off both her fur and 'traded' clothing. The army gear was still looking worse for wear with various tears from claws and bad scuffs from bits of vengeful wall, though this was once again party covered by the cloak (or at least half of it, some modifications had taken place). Her short hair was still damp from the showers and thankfully was now free of rouble. To top it all her rebound bandages looked a lot more practical then the hastily rapped affair before hand. At last she could asses the situation with a clear mind. Take the events of the past twenty four hours and file everything according to importance as it were. Trouble was that now she had time to take everything in, the large pile of paper work on the desk of her thoughts mostly consisted of memos from the rest of her body.

Everything hurt.

There wasn't a single nerve in her body that wasn't tingling with aches, strains and bruising. Her back felt as though it had been hit repeatedly with a rusty shovel, prickling when she walked and complaining greatly whenever she stopped to rest. She didn't like to look at her shoulder too closely, though from the feel of things it had been dislocated by the fall. Clearly the medics that popped it back in had been in something of a rush. The rest was mostly gashes and bruising the blended together across her body. Morphine was probably the only thing that let her get as far as the showers but after that, well it was only uphill from here.

She grimaced as her foot went wrong again, in turn spiking her knee with a ring of pain that made her stop for a moment to regain balance. That was when she spotted them. From the wings she had seen Claw spirited away, so it was no surprise not to find him among their number, but there were several faces missing. Others she didn't recognise at all but that wasn't important. Who'd been lost? Where were they? Did they get out of that hell hole alive?

'Probably not.' Came the sensible reply of her common sense from behind its mountain of paper work.

She approached meaningfully, but slowed when she realised they were in altercation, now would be a bad time to interrupt. Thus she slowed up behind Ryn and listened, tapping her lightly on the shoulder hoping not to startle the girl.

"Shut-up, the news is back on!" was the general cry.

A wind of whispers and urgent pleas to remain quiet swept over the crowd of refugees and shelter workers alike.

"This late breaking news in the situation in Hesphate on planet Burrisia. We are about present footage that could be disturbing to younger viewers. Please... viewer discretion is advised," spoke the obviously tired news anchor from behind his large important looking news desk amid a fake backdrop of the skyline of Evand, capitol of Evolia.

The various TV's flickered to a new scene of a bird's-eye view of a sprawling factory complex that had to be the size of a small metropolitan area.

AlloyTech, no doubt.

There were various tanks and other siege weapons dotted around the complex like ants.

"What you are seeing now is what AlloyTech looked like just hours ago..." narrated the anchorman.

Suddenly explosions flared up amidst the ranks of the army personnel on the ground.

Panic.

What looked like a plasma missile headed straight towards the camera.

Then static.

"Early reports suggest a mass mutiny in the ranks of the Burrisian Army. It seems the PRF has had the Burrisian military infiltrated for what could only be years to instigate this type of coordinated attack.

"The Burrisian government claims to have to situation under control but sources confirm they have entered into talks with the Intergalactic Community perhaps to have aid rendered should the infiltration of their military be too much to quell. More on this story as it develops," informed the anchorman.

The news then switched over to various Evolian political pundits debating on what the motives of the PRF were and whether or not Evolia, beign part of the Intergalactic Community, should send troops to help contain the situation.

Things were getting messy.

Evalc was unimpressed by the news. Really. What a shock, psionics infiltrated the Burrisian army. Well, that was what was going to happen when you tried to commit the genocide of certain types of people.

He turned to look at Bant at this, knowing, remembering. Well, remembering somewhat, their meetings had been few and far between. It wasn't like him and Claw, or him and Rico. He wondered, though, if the old Warden remembered him.

"Quite the situation they have there," he said quietly, his tone neutral. "Don't you agree."

Bant smiled blankly at the newcomer, "Seems everywhere has one."

"Psyonics" Niki hissed to herself, the word filled with the sort of venom that could topple a Rhino.

Niki's feral snarl about psionic's had a response, an casual remark from the small human boy still staring vacantly at the T.V. "My mom's a Psionic."

Tobias's heart jumped into his throat, Rico's son had an annoying habit of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time but this time if the wrong person had heard that small voice, things could turn ugly.

A row of tact neurons blew along one side of Niki's brain at the little humans remark, causing her right eye to twitch slightly. The deep pupil flashed with a prism of reflected light as it swiveled independently away from the TV to glare at the back of Keedis's head. That couldn't have been deliberate, could it?

No. From the boy's reaction the comment was as innocent as daisies in a cabbage patch. Even so, what was there to be said? Despite her destine for Psyonics and Evolians alike those days were over, the sin of the father only held true in the minds of the willing. With a firm blink the renegade eyeball returned to its normal position and stared at the TV as the grim news continued to develop.

Events had taken a turn for the worst. From the sound of things this group was well prepared and though their execution was a little sloppy their strategy had up until now held them firm. Worse still, they probably believed wholeheartedly in their cause and that in the end anything they did was justified so long as the result was the same.

Action without consideration.

Consequence without responsibility.

Sprinkle in a few zealots with a half cup of high explosives and suddenly genocide pie doesn't seem like such a bad idea.

Ken looked from Bant's face to the rabbit and back again, silently considering what he had just heard. He wasn't the only one doing so.

His sister was giving the coyote a sort of half-inquisitive, half-distrusting look. "You seem to know more than you're letting on. If what you said has any truth to it, then that would mean there was some sort of balance. A balance between where we are and wherever they are that's been screwed with--"

"What, so you're blaming them?!" Ken interrupted, his voice getting louder. "You're blaming Warden for all what's happening? Is that it?!" A fire seemed to be burning in his eyes at this point; Ryn had the feeling he'd probably misinterpreted the whole thing, but she wasn't sure herself. She'd never really concerned herself with stories and such, she'd always been that way.

It was then she felt a light tapping on her shoulder, and she turned to find Niki standing next to her. She probably would've addressed her if it weren't for her twitching eye. Call it a feline thing, but it was slightly creeping her out.

After exiting the hyper-highway into the heart of Evolia's twisting metropolis, the sleek ESO van pulled up to a sharp gray building jutting straight out into the sky. Oddly the building was non-descript with a small slab of concrete with "Evolian Intelligence Agency" chiseled rather discretely in it's face. Claw was led out of the van and into the tall building. An ESO trooper behind him carried his katana. Crowded into a circular elevator, Claw with his armed jailors ascended to one of the upper floors of the building.

He recognized the hallway he was being herded down, he had walked down it many times of his own volition back when he was in more direct employ of Evolian Special Operations. But Director Kruehees, like so many other world governments, had been unable to fully win Claw over to their cause and make him an exclusive agent. Two large metal doors swung open as Claw was walked up to a large brown desk. The large desk glistened with professional veneer and looked incredibly sturdy. Real trees were hard to find on Evolia anymore much less real wood, it must've cost the director a fortune.

"Been awhile Kruhees," grolwed Claw as ESO troopers backed away but kept their guns trained on the Bladed Terror.

"Agent Claw, I've be-"

"I'm not part of this agency, haven't been in a long time," corrected Claw before Kruehees could get a word in edgewise.

Kruehees, a true-blooded Evolian with black craggy skin with green veins, green eyes, and even green gums, nodded and cleared his throat, "As I was saying... Claw... I've been trying to get in contact with you for sometime but every messenger I've sent always seems to get an arm broken, or his face mangled, know anything about that?"

"I figured a simple 'leave me alone' wouldn't have the same effect," growled Claw, "Cut to the chase, what do you want?"

It seemed those words put a heavy load upon the Director's shoulders as he remembered the grave situation on his hands.

"Claw, if you've heard the news in the last few hours then you know we have some serious problems," answered Kruehees.

"Is this about those wanna-bes over in Burrisia? You gotta be kidding me," laughed Claw.

"Vallark is with them," stated Kruhees flatly.

Claw's face became as grave as granite, solid as stone. That name he hadn't heard in an even longer time.

"Impossible, Vallark is dead," growled Claw.

"Perhaps, but the leader of this PRF group is claiming to be Master Vallark and he's caused quite a panic," replied Kruehees.

"The Burrisian Army isn't exactly the top-notch fighting force, it's no surprised they'd be infiltrated by a bunch of activists claiming to be psionics," growled Claw.

"I wish it were that simple," replied Kruhees.

The director stood up from his chair and waved the troopers away, "Leave us."

The troopers looked at each other, considering whether or not they should truly abandon their director with a notorious psionic like Claw. With a few lingering steps the ESO troopers filed out of the office, Kruhees bolted the door behind them.

"The Burrisian Army may not be the most top-notch fighting force in the universe, but the Evolian Military is. And we've been compromised," explained Kruehees.

Those words sank into Claw like a knife, "You let those activists infiltrate the Evolian Army!?"

"Let them? You make it sound as if I wanted this to happen. This PRF is no laughing matter, it's very methodical, deliberate, and it's been in the works for at least a decade. Claw... I can't even trust my own bodyguards," replied Kruhees.

The director took Claw's wrists and unshackled them, he then placed Claw's shadow katana firmly into it's owner's hands.

"Does it not tell you something that I feel safer with you in here than I do my own troops?" pointed out Kruehees as he turned his back to Claw.

Claw growled to himself, he could kill him right now... but for some reason he knew Kruhees was right.

"So what is it you want from me?" growled Claw.

"Warden, heh, suppose thats as gooda name as any," He said with a smile, "Little lady's right of course. Long time ago when they first got here, Warden made a rule of non-interference. Death's no excuse, suppose I could a give a fresh example of that s'well."

Even though there was no way Tobias could have that the coyote was refering too John's death, the man seemed to lose his pose, sinking further down, this time to a sitting position on the ground. The feeling of loss encompassed him, forcing it's salty outflow directly to it's ducts, soon beginning to loose itself on the dirty blond fur just below his eyes.

"'Course, rules were meant ta be bent, e'la. Some folks bent 'em more than others and now you got all this mess. I'd wager out friendly aliens are trying to figure out whether they need to be fixing their mess or keeping with the rule right about now. Thats if there's still any talking going on between 'em." He smiled and shruged, "As for the new black sheep that've got lose, if they're in bed with the Warden it's not hit my ears."

He smiled at Keedis for a moment, "E'la, Sparky. Real sunshine that lady. She hitched to Ricky, required the patience of a saint I'd expect, and quite a looker to... for a human."

An unnatural quieting had fallen across the group. All around them the sounds of worried conversation had begun to spread once again, the attack was an excuse to think about something other then the decimated city around them. Niki seemed to be still fixated on the flickering images on the television, yet it was clear that she was also listening intently to the Coyote's prattling.

Most times she would simply wonder what the addled bloke had been smoking, or why he was even sharing this with a group of practical strangers. But nether of these trains of thought registered on her face. If anything there was an tense look of worry building on the left side of her face, mostly because bits of what Bent was saying sounded horribly familiar. Her mind was drifting from the subjective world to the ship she'd left behind only a month before, franticly blundering through scarred memories and dragging up the quote she was looking for.

'But they were mortal.' She thought clearly, eyes still fixated on the TV. Her ears strained and kept their tone on the canine, part of her wanted to know exactly where he'd heard all of that spiritual mumbo-jumbo.

He couldn't possibility know 'HIM'…

It wasn't a concept she relished. Though if he was a follower of that bastard, then she was stood less then three feet from someone who might hold all the answers she needed. Better to stay quiet now, let someone else ask the questions and let him make the mistakes. No point making rash decisions.

"I don't suppose there's any way to fix it, then?" Ryn looked forlorn as she spoke. "I don't like the idea of those 'subspace' beings returning any time soon." She was thinking particularly of Envy, whom Nur mentioned had her brother in his sights.

-----------------
OOC: Apologies for disappearance, I didn't have many ideas to toss around that would work at this point.

"Maybe the little one's were from this 'subspace', more likely they were just an illusion of some kind." Niki said carefully, judging the reactions of those around her as she spoke. "But the others seemed solid enough. I'm pretty sure that one had at least a couple of broken ribs to think about."

"'S'very possible, Warden maynotta been like us either, till they came here. Hard to be a one've the crowd when ya seem more like air than a man. Not a stretch to conjure these other folk came to the same idea." Bant said nodding to himself.

He looked at Ryn, "I don't think much of fixing it, nothing I can see is broke. We got some trouble loose is all, question is do they go after it or not?," He eyed Tobias at this point for a moment before returning his attention, "Also don't haveta be a Kydane to sense what yer concerned about little lady. You ain't gotta reason to, our group's got more protection that most against Envy and his kind."

"Protection? Bant?" Tobias gave him a questioning look.

The old coyote, last of his era, sighed, "Times have changed since your daddy's time kid. You know that now more than ever though I suppose."

The rabbit nodded, suddenly more composed.

"Reckon we got ourselves an enemy now, and one that's a danger to your kind as well. Suppose thats what Kinnear was trying to prove to us though, I gotta to spell it out to ya do I?"

"No, you mean we're going to have to expose ourselves and fight them."

"Don't see as you have a choice in the matter. But we need ta find the others."

"What.. who do you mean?"

"Our mercenary with that evil ol' blade for one. Then the others of your kind, for all we know these people could be here on a huntin' trip for Warden s'well as us."

The rabbit sighed, a sinking feeling in the pitch of his stomach.

The coyote looked at the groups remaining members, "Very least we need to collect Claw, Ricky, and one other Warden still roaming around."

"You don't mean?"

"Craigey may be reluctant, but he's a body. And it ain't right leaving him to his devices here." The coyote acknowledged.

Tobias let out a sigh and slide to a sitting position.

"I'm through fighting wars, Kruehees," spat Claw.

Kruehees rubbed his forehead, massaging his own temples, "It's your nature, Claw. You can't just walk away from this one!"

"Director," screeched the intercom on Kruehees' desk.

"Not now, Cindy," replied Kruhees with a press of a button, obviously irritated.

"Director, new developments with the Burrisian crisis," returned the intercom.

Kruhees tapped a few buttons on a keyboard and a projection of a newscast appeared on a nearby wall.

The TV's buzzed to life again across the various city as an overdone marquee announcing an update to what the media was dubbing "The Burrisian Crisis," flashed across the screen.

The anchorman was frantically shuffling papers together as he spoke, "We take you live now to Hesphate as the leader of the PRF speaks to the public."

A groundlevel camera showed sketchy footage of a large crowd armed with various blades and firearms gathered around a podium where a man wearing a tribal mask stood.

"My fellow Psionics! Here in Burrisia, and soon across the galaxy our brothers and sisters will awaken after centuries of hiding in the shadows! No longer will we allow the sentient species of the universe to slip further into chaos and disorder! We will bring about a new age of peace and prosperity through the benevolent might of the Psionic Way! Behind me stands one of the most important centers of weapon manufacturing and it belongs to our cause! The cause of Psionic Revivalist Front!" exclaimed Master Vallark.

The warriors gather around Master Vallark cheered raising their various weapons to the sky in determination...

Claw watched the newscast in disbelief. Kruehees nodded grimly.

Claw gripped his katana tight as if it might try to fly away from him. Claw turned towards the door.

"Claw, what have you decided? Where are you going?" asked Kruehess.

Claw looked over his shoulder, "Gotta find my old comrade."

"Comrade?" asked Kruehess.

"Rico Underwood,"

***

The newscast continued to play various scenes of the revolution. It was obvious Burrisia had lost control of the situation. Just how deep did it go?

"By the nine." Niki muttered disapprovingly at the broadcast, "Are the Burrisian's really that disorganised these days?"

The woman sighed lightly, canine teeth gritting at the leaders self-Righteous proclamation, she expected nothing less from their type. From a distance her fur patterning was strong enough to convince most of a pure heritage, but up close and away from the frantic movement of the fight her less Procyon features were more obvious to the naked eye. The Canine facial features and muzzle, the Mustela body structure and slimmer tail then that of a pure blood racoon all indicated a mixed racial background. An interesting but no longer rear state of affairs given the mass interblending of Kydane species over the last five hundred years or so.

"Correct me if I misheard something," She turned her gaze to Bant in its fullest, her tone quite level and business like "But to summarise; you are suggesting that we rescue an individual who has been taken too an unknown location, pulling him out from under the nose of the Special forces so that with the addition of a mobian and a notorious mass murderer we could band together against the 'evil forces of subspace'?"

"I dunno what they are, tell the truth, just referrin' what better people have voiced. Evil? Dunno. Some call us evil, some call them evil, guess yer point-a-view is a part in it, e'la." The coyote said shrugging, "But yeah, thats it."

"Are you stupid or somethin' lady. Rico trained Craig, he can fight, thats probably ALL he can do but he can do that. If there's one thing my d-" The small halfbreed's rant was cut short by the near resurgence of a endearing term he hadn't used to many years. Seeing the youth floundering his currently guardian took up the slack, "I'll have to agree." The rabbit stated first plainly, suddenly smirked, "Unless you have a better idea, lady." He folded his arms, still smirking at Niki, expecting a response.

"The mobian was the least of my worries." Niki muttered.

The woman looked down at the smirking rabbit, the same 'business as usual' look gracing her features.
"What you do about this event is none of my business, but I have other responsibilities to which I must adhere. There's a ship that will be ready for dust-off in a few hours and I'd rather not missing in action when it leaves."