Farris led the group quickly and safely up another lift and through another factory area. As they went, the others were so occupied with their thoughts and conversation that only Farris noticed a large pool of blood on the level below them. It bothered him to see it, but he couldn't delay anymore to investigate. A glance at his watch told him that there wasn't much time he had left to reach the next checkpoint. If he didn't make it...

Nervous sweat began to form, as he picked up the pace. They reached the next lift in Lifeline quickly and without incident. As it went up its full length of 100 meters, Farris glanced at his watch, and breathed a sigh of relief. At a glance from the others, he waved a hand to indicate that his reaction wasn't important.

The lift stopped, and they exited to a large platform, with no guard rails and a long drop. They had to cross this platform to reach the last lift in Lifeline, and once through that, they would be in High Sector. The walk across seemed slow. When they were almost there, Ren's ears perked up, and she wheeled the Cyclops around to face behind them. A flapping of wings was the only prelude to what happened next. "STOP!!!"

This cry came from Shrike, who flew up from the pit, and landed on the platform. Ren sat up straight, and as the others turned around to face him, Ren shouted, "why can't you just leave me alone?!?"

Shrike stood to his full height, spreading his wings out. They couldn't help but notice the blood on his hands, and the injuries he had sustained. "This is a matter of honor now, Ren. You betrayed me, and now I will mete out justice! Nothing else matters." He pointed a bloody finger at Ren! "I challenge you to a duel!" With a sweep of his hand, he gestured to the others. "If any of you interfere, I will destroy you all!"

Ren cast a glance back at Farris, and he nodded, leaving his guns in his suit. She glanced at Kage, and stopped on Damien for a moment, then she jumped forward off of the Cyclops and stood for a moment, facing off against Shrike. "I accept your challenge."

She reached a hand up, and undid the clasp on her cape, letting it fall to the ground behind her. Shrike smiled for a moment, and he pulled his metal wings back into his body. "You've known all along that if you betrayed me, it would come to this."

Ren nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry."

"Do you really think you could get away with this? I taught you everything you know!"

"..."

"Hmph. I've said enough. Prepare yourself!"

Shrike made a charge, putting his full might into a frontal attack! Ren charged herself with power, using her Spider Dash ability, and waited until the last moment to dodge out of the way!

Shrike paused for a moment to grin as he slammed his fist into the ground where she had been. "Going all out? Okay."

Shrike vanished from sight when he used his own Spider Dash ability!

Farris could only watch in amazement as the two battled. The only thing he could see of them was the moment they clashed! They were fighting all across the platform, and it was impossible to tell who was winning! The Cyclops stood by idly, watching with mild interest, his big eye rolling rapidly around as he followed their motions.

Shrike appeared for a moment in the air, wings spread, before crashing down to the ground fist first, performing the 'Fire Bomb' technique. Where he hit, an explosion spread out, and Ren was caught in the blast, landing roughly to one side! Ren stood up quickly, swinging her hands out in front of her to perform a 'Fire Ball'! As she did so, a burst of energy shot from her hands, colliding with Shrike! He took the blow, and they lunged for each other at normal speed! In a blur of motion, Ren ducked beneath a punch, and tapped her right hand on his chest 6 times, using different hand patterns!

Shrike gasped, and stopped to gape at her. Ren took a couple of steps back, disbelief on her face as well. Shrike said, barely above a whisper, "...you know how to use the Exploding Heart technique?"

"...I...Shrike, I..."

He shook his head, and smiled gently. "No, don't say anything."

Shrike turned, and took a step towards the edge. "The Exploding Heart technique...a legend among warriors such as myself."

He took a second step. "Thought only to be a story..."

Taking a third step, he was now only inches from the edge. "...yet you just proved it to be real. Legend says that once it has been delivered, the target's heart will explode the moment they take four steps." He looked back at her. "Ren, you take care. Goodbye."

He took a fourth step, and collapsed. Ren stared blankly at his lifeless body. It was so close to the edge, that his body fell off into the abyss.

A long moment passed. Ren fell to her knees, exhausted from the fight. Farris called over the Cyclops, and had it carry her. "Rest easy, Ren."

***

The last lift was not tall, so it did not take long to reach High Sector. The air was much cleaner here. The High Sector Borough practically shined, with how beautiful it appeared! But there was no time to enjoy the view; Ren's arm had started to bleed again, pain coursing through her body, fever causing her to burn up at the same time as cold chills. Farris hurried to bring her to the hospital, using his position to get her into emergency care rapidly.

Once Farris had made sure she was properly cared for, he left the Cyclops with her to protect her, and met Damien and Kage outside the hospital. "Listen, I need to deliver this container. Let's meet here in a couple of hours; I'll be able to pay you then."

He went over to a nearby ATM, and pulled out a bag of coins for each of them. He handed Damien a bag and Kage a bag. "These are to tide you over for those two hours. Enjoy the sights, have some fun, do whatever. We can discuss what we're going to do when we meet next."

With that, Farris grabbed the container, turned around, and began to make his way towards his destination.

(OOC: Anything can happen here, as normal. Again, general apologies for skipping possible scenes, but where I would have left it wouldn't have left much for you to do. This is much more open.)

"Have some fun" he said. Damien wondered over to a nearby bench and sat down, absently turning the bag of money in his hands. How could he "have some fun" here? Everyone that passed him stared at him distastefully, taking in his ragged, unkempt appearence with nothing short of disgust! They were all suits, all rich.

Plus there were his own feelings! He was lost. He didn't know what to think. The last words that Kage had said to him...they had left him without a leg, or a thought, to stand on!

He banished the thoughts as best he could. His mind was running in circles, and it was getting him nowhere. He'd have to come back to it later. Right now his brain just didn't want to provide him with an answer.

He looked around absently, then suddenly blinked in supprise! This place seemed...familliar...somehow...

Kage looked silently at the bag of money in his hands, more money than he had ever held in his life. Sure, there was the expensive leather jacket on his back, and the small purse full of coins in his pocket, but the coins were necromatic silver, completely useless in the wolrd of living, and the jacket was a gift from his teacher for passing the initiation tests. He would never sell it; it was the only item that made him feel more than completely low in this place.

Sighing, he followed Damien's lead and sat down on a bench, making sure it was isolated from the boy. Now that he had all this money...there was nothing he wanted to do with it. He had no family to support, no cute girl waiting for him to take her out for dinner. He almost laughed out loud at this thought; who would go out with a necromancer? And that was just the beginning of his payment...

What would would he do when this mission was over? What place was worth going to, what life was worth living? He could go to the necromatic headquarters and get an apprentice, or choose to participate in the Games of Death and attempt to move up the ranks...Shaking his head, he leant back. There would be time to consider it all later. Right now, this mission needed his complete focus, if he wanted to survive it that was.

Tired of the confusing thoughts, Kage pulled out his flute and began to play softly, letting the notes wash away any lingering doubts.

Damien wasn't listening to the music. He was looking around curiously, staring at the nearby buildings, his mouth open slightly.

Suddenly he stood up. "I know where we are!"

Kage, so enthralled in his music, was actually slightly startled by the sudden movement! He jumped slightly, then quickly regained his demeinour, cursing silently and hoping nobody had noticed the twitch. "What?" he muttered.

"I've been here before!" replied Damien, still looking round, completely oblivious to the effect his outburst had had on his companion. "I...I remember it!"

"What are you talking about...you've not been here before!"

"Yes I have...a long time ago! My parents were high Ds, remember?"

Kage blinked. He had forgotten that point. "So what, you think your parents are here or something?"

Damien nodded. "We had a house here...somewhere...over there!" He suddenly set off walking at a pace down the road, completely oblivious as to wether Kage may be following or not...

Kage followed Damien at a slight distance, sighing irritably. Typical teenager; unable to hold still for more than a moment. But heck, he had nothing better to do. Might as well humour the boy on this regard.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to try and find your parents' house?" he asked, catching up and walking just behind Damien. "They threw you out, did they not?" The boy shrugged, kept walking. Sighing once more, Kage continued keeping pace behind him. Not like he'd listen to me...

"Actually that's why I wanna go." continued Damien, a wry grin appearing on his face as he turned round a corner and set off down the next street. "I swiped this sword last time I was here, and I wanna see if they have anything else for me! Granted this sword ment more to them than all their other possesions together, but I wanna add a little insult to injury!"

Kage raised an eyebrow. "You hate them that much?"

Damien glanced at him, his eyes narrow. "Just returning the favour." he muttered, his grin widening. "They deserve whatever they get!"

Across the street, a fat man, well dressed with a cane and a large top hat, walked. He happened to see Damien running along, and his eyes opened wide at the sword! He barely saw it, by how fast the kid was moving, but it was familiar to him. A meaty hand stroked his white beard, and then he kept pace with the grungy child, keeping to his side of the street.

If that was the sword it appeared to be...this would be a very interesting event!

(EDIT OOC: As of DEC 14/15 2005, I will be unable to make regular visits here, for an undetermined (and probably large) length of time. As such, my involvement in this RP must stop. I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause, but I have no choice in this matter.

As this is my RP, and we were nearing the end, I realize this is real inconvenient. Believe me, if I could, I would continue. So, you can run around in High Sector, and take your antics up there in any direction, should you choose to continue. I'm giving absolute freedom here, as it seems a waste to just let it go.)

(Further EDIT OOC: It's a New Year, and I'm back! If no one wants to continue, that's alright, but I'm going to make a post to take this one step further. Glory!)

IC: The fat man was fast, and surprisingly spry on his feet! Damien and Kage didn't notice him in the least, until - CRASH!

The fat man had rounded a corner, and collided with a lady and her cart! They both fell down and sprawled out, along with the contents of the cart. As the fat man picked himself up, the lady gasped in horror. "Oh, Mr. Valdmott! I'm so sorry! I should have been paying more attention to where I was going!"

With that, the lady helped him off the ground, bowed several times in apology, and then began to refill her cart.

It took a moment for him to say anything. The fat man Mr. Valdmott was an important figure in High Sector, also known as a tyrant of sorts, merciless to his servants and powerful enough to be feared by others in high positions. Weighing his options, he found that his mood had been lightened upon seeing that sword, so he decided to go against his initial reaction. He tipped his top hat to her, and then began to help her pick up her goods. "No no, Mrs. Wimple, the fault is entirely mine in this case. My attention was distracted, and I make no excuse for my foolish behavior."

So stunned was Mrs. Wimple by his kind words and deeds, that they worked together in silence for several moments. Valdmott glanced out of the corner of his eye, but he couldn't see the boy or the sword. He had lost them! Still, all is not lost. I think I know where he was heading.

Coy opened her eyes. She couldn't feel her body, and it seemed as if she was floating. What she could see was fuzzy and blurry, until a familiar face came into view. "Ma...Mabeth..."

His face curled into a pleasant smile. "You did well, Coy."

She tried to stand up, tried to salute, but then the feeling in her body came back with stings of pain. "I-I'm sorry, sir, I can't get up..."

"At ease, there's no need for that. Rest now, Coy, you're safe. Mission accomplished."

She managed to smile, though it hurt to do so. "T-thank you, sir..."

Her eyes closed. She looked so peaceful, resting there on the medical table. Mabeth eased the blanket over her shoulders, and made sure she was comfortable. She'll be fine, but what about the others? They are up there now, like flies in the very lair of the spider...

Damien ran along the sidewalk, sticking to the shadows, with Kage still following. They were getting close, he knew that, but where-

A side kitchen door Damien hadn't noticed before opened suddenly, and a maid carrying dishes stepped out - right in his path! It was too late to slow down! CRASH!

Kage stopped in time to keep from running right over Damien. The poor maid looked around, a hopeless look in her eyes as she saw that the dishes were scattered all over the sidewalk! The dishes had been carrying the unfinished portions of a meal that were to be thrown out, and they, too, were scattered. In a frenzy, the maid hurried and began to gather everything up. At the same time, she apologized profusely to the person she had bumped into. "Oh, I'm so terribly sorry, master! Please forgive my clumsiness!"

Damien and Kage stared for a moment. To them, it was an unusual scene, when compared to what they had lived with. In the time they took recovering, they were able to read the nametag on the maid's traditional servant's dress: 'Felicia'.

...I'm still here if you two are^^ The reason I didn't carry on with this was I'm afraid I simply didn't have enough ideas of my own...I didn't know enough about the world to continue it, but now you're back Way, I'm good to carry on^^

I'm a little bit pressed for time atm, so no IC just now, but I'll try to put one in this eve if I can^^ It'll give Blue a chance to say if she's in as well.)