Talon

[color=teal][i]As the burn healed, Fox winced in momentary pain. Then the ship landed, opening the door. As Fox had suspected, his data had been examined by every bounty hunter and criminal in the planet's range. And it was all the work of whoever his bounty was. Fox pushed Jaudiar away, taking a bullet in his shoulder as fifteen bounty seekers fired at him. He drew his longsword, blocking more bullets and firing some of his own, killing three of the hunters and wounding two. Two more fell dead as Jaudiar recovered her 9mm and began firing from behind Fox, who ordered her to either get behind a shield or stop firing.[/i] [b]Fox:[/b]Jaudiar, get behind the door, but stay even with me. Or stop firing completely. I'd rather have fifteen enemies in front than one friend picking them off from behind. [i]Jaudiar got behind the door, even with him, and helped pick them off as they continued firing. Fox took another bullet in his leg, which drove him into his rage. His body once again engulfed in the red-orange fire that refused to burn his clothing. He rushed forward as everyone stopped firing in amazement. Fox jumped into the air, a pair of razor-sharp, fiery wings springing from his back and slashing the heads from two of the remaining hunters. He punched through two more, tearing their hearts out as he landed from his jump. The two wounded were underneath him as he landed, crushed by the force of his landing. The remaining four fired point-blank into him, where he fell, apparently dead. The four breathed relief at the fact that they lived as the body burned into ashes before their eyes. They turned around, but stopped as they saw the ashes begin to move. Suddenly, a fiery creature burst from within them, flaring his wings and killing the four hunters. Suddenly, the fire around his body ebbed, and Fox returned to his original form, clothing and all. Jaudiar dropped her gun and ran to his side as he collapsed, clutching the various wounds on his body that were slowly healing. He smiled once before passing out, his breathing shallow and his blood oozing from various wounds that couldn't heal.[/i] [b]Fox:[/b]I....win..... [i]He raised his hand in a symbol of victory, something he learned from a man named Spike Spiegel. [b]Fox:[/b]Bang....[/i][/color]

[color=teal]OOC:Panny Chan, you there? You haven't posted in a while....and Juu, John hasn't had a single drop of alcohol up until then, so imagine how much it must hurt him. And everybody, my C is named after myself, if any of you are wondering why one of my characters FINALLY has a real name. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [i]John arose from where he was, passing Setsuna without realizing she was there, and began to talk to himself, or rather, to a picture of Setsuna he'd gotten months ago when he'd first met her.[/i] [b]John:[/b]Damnit, Setsuna, why do you do this to me? I've given you everything I can, and I almost died for you. Yet still you go on acting as if I'm nothing to you! Why can't I just shake my head, wipe my hands clean of you, and leave it as it would be? Because I love you, love you enough to drink alcohol when you do this to me. I love you more than anything, yet still you hurt me. I must be insane.... [i]Setsuna, standing in a shadowed corner, heard every word as John spoke to the picture. She saw as once again, John collapsed into a heavy, uneasy sleep. She looked at the clock. It was twelve-fifteen.[/i][/color]

[color=teal][i]Fox shook his head to relieve himself of the dream. He'd had a dream about roses and snakes and tigers, but he simply tried to shake it away, though he looked futilely for the vase of roses that he thought Jaudiar had brought in. As he walked into the cockpit of the [u]Alaris[/u], he strapped on his shirt, laced up his gauntlets, and wrapped a red headband around his wrist to symbolize his emotional status, that he would no longer cut his wrist for any reason. He fired the boosters on the ship, heading for Mars. He left Jaudiar to fly it while he went into the engine room to repair and old crack in the engine. As he entered the engine room, Jaudiar began to fly the ship towards her destination, but Fox was far too busy with his engine to feel the variance in course as she entered Mars' atmosphere, at least until he slipped and landed on the engine, burning his right hand through the gauntlet. He screamed in pain for two seconds, but swallowed his fury and pain, remembering that Jaudiar was aboard. He grabbed his gun, hid his hand, and walked up onto the cockpit area to wait for when it was time to leave. He cocked his gun, smiling at Jaudiar.[/i][/color]

[color=teal]A single touch once led me astray, Made me fight battles I never should have fought. Yet on and on I fought for your love. All I can say is that I was a fool. As my enemy's blade rises to carve me in two, I reflect on what it was that made me fight. What was it that drove me to destroy myself?!? I laugh as I remember...I really am an idiot. Your smile, I remember, was what drove me on. Yet even now, I know you hated me. You wanted to destroy me, to kill me. Yet you didn't want to stain your hands with blood. So you had me go to battle, Knowing I would gladly do so. You knew I'd meet my match, Most valiant knight that I am. Yet here I die, lost, afraid, and alone. Surprising, though, is it not.... I hate you now. And I find peace in this blackness of death.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [size=4][font=vivaldi]In loving memory of Willam Henry Nichols. May you rest in peace, Grandpa...[/font][/color][/size]

[color=teal][i]Fox stared at her back, shaking his head. He turned Jaudiar around, pulling her closer to him, pressing his bare chest against her own. As he stroked her bare back, he lifted her face up to his and kissed her again, whispering the three words in her ear.[/i] [b]Fox:[/b]I love you.... [i]He lifted her gently, pulling the covers over himself and Jaudiar, vowing to move out after the bounty in the morning. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, kissing her again and letting her hands roam where they would. He looked at the ring on the nightstand next to the bed, but decided it could wait for a while....[/i][/color]

[color=teal][/i]Fox buried his face in her shoulder, crying softer. He wrapped his arms around her, falling asleep after absentmindedly kissing her lips softly. As his body fell into the rythmic pattern of breathing familiar to sleep, Jaudiar noticed the scar on his chest and the tattoo of a tiger fighting a dragon on his shoulder. She smiled when she noticed the feline had struck a violent blow to the serpent and won. She touched it softly, and Fox abruptly awakened. He stared at his shoulder, where Jaudiar's hand still rested. He took Jaudiar's hand in his own, smiling yet crying at the same time.[/i] [b]Fox:[/b]I was born with that tattoo. Dad told me my blood created it so that I might find my love when a feline stopped a snake from killing me. I never got that...not until tonight.....thank you, Jaudiar..... [i]With that he kissed Jaudiar again, tightening his grip on her hand slightly.[/i][/color]

[color=teal][b]Hunter:[/b]My existence has been kept secret from Takhisis by my father, who said my blood would change me to my true form when the time was right. My mother died defending me from ogres while I was just a nestling child. But as for the clan...my father always told me that my blood was the blood of the Skyfire's. [i]Siren's eyes flashed with hope when she heard the word. She reared up and bellowed in joy.[/i] [b]Siren:[/b]Then Takhisis failed, and there is one other who shall carry on the Skyfire blood! [b]Hunter:[/b]Yes...and I wish I knew truly what to do. It seems that law forces me to you, and the promise I made to Elysan binds me to her. Oh, great Majere, what shall I do?!?! [i]He raised a tearful eye to the sky, bellowing mournfully in his quiveringly beautiful, melodious voice. Siren answered his bellow with her own dragonsong. As she sang, he took up the sad sonata of a dragon's tragedy-turned-happiness at finding one she thought was lost. Hunter continued to mourn his choices, wondering if he should kill himself and end this trouble.[/i][/color]

[color=teal][i]Fox deftly removed his shirt and fell onto his bed, sighing morosely. He pressed his head into his pillow and fell asleep without pulling any covers about him. As his bare chest rose and fell, his face fell into a peace that Hellcat had never seen on him. But he soon awoke, rest lost on him. He stood up after his five minutes of rest, walked into the cockpit of the [u]Alaris[/u] and began crying. He had so many mysteries to think out. Why was Ami after him? What did Angel mean? What did Hellcat mean? All of these questions pounded inside Fox's mind as he cried, something he'd never done before.[/i][/color]

[color=teal][i]Fox stood there, his mind puzzling over two mysteries at once.[/i] [b]Fox:[/b]So what do you suggest we do? [b]Jaudiar:[/b]Well, first...you have a ship? First, we get out of here. I think your friend can handle being alone for a while. But our bounty is getting away. [i]The noticed a single ship flying away into a warp gate. Fox cursed softly. They'd find him sooner or later, but right now, he needed to get out of the casino. He was a wanted man. He called his Valkenis, helping Hellcat in and jumping in himself. He took off, heading for the [u]Alaris[/u] in the asteroid belt. As he tore through, he decided to let Hellcat into his home. As he docked the valkenis, he jumped out, helping Hellcat out. He lead her into the bedroom, where there was only one bed.[/i] [b]Fox:[/b]If you want, I'll sleep in the cockpit. Do what you will. I'm tired. Call me if there's anything you need.[/color]

[color=teal][i]Hunter crept up the stairs of the inn, whispering for Challis and Artos to stay so that no unnecessary attenion was brought to him. In his delirium, he accidentally entered Siren's room rather than his own, but his transformation had already begun. The wounds were slowly healing as his body began its transformation into its Draconic-human state. His silver, scaled wings unfurled from his back as he climbed out of the window, transforming completely into a silver dragon. He flapped his wings, finding that his transformation had not gone unseen by Elysan, Riona, or Siren. He bowed his head slightly, telepathically explaining to them.[/i] [b]Hunter:[/b][i]I am sorry, Elysan. I still do hope for your answer, though I doubt now that it will be "yes". I am a half-elf. My mother, Paladine rest her soul, was a silver dragon. My father fell in love with her elven form, and they had me. Now, I hold the ability to transform into a half-draconic being and a silver dragon. But my natural form is a Silvanesti elf. I am sorry Elysan...[/i][/color]

[color=teal][i]Fox stood there, his blood coursing from his fire-implants that gave him his nicknames. His anger was getting the best of him as he saw his 'sister' laying on the ground, seething at him and Hellcat. Fox let his anger course, his blood surging him into his fire-rage. He bent down, softly praying that there was a place in Heaven for Ami, and knocked her out with a swift punch. He stood, smiling gently at Hellcat as the orange flames that were surrounding his body subsided. His skin felt warmer, as it always had, as Hellcat could merely say a single word.[/i] [b]Jaudiar:[/b]Pheonix... [i]He grinned as he tossed her a small amount of money, fifteen-thousand woolongs. He stood, about to walk away, when Hellcat called after him.[/i] [b]Jaudiar:[/b]You lied to me. You're Pheonix Eretima. You DO enjoy barfights. But... [b]Fox:[/b]It's ok. I really do like them, but today, I have a huge bounty on my head and I'm chasing an even larger one. No time for a barfight. Do what you want with the girl. She's lost my favor. I don't like traitors.[/color]

[color=teal][i]Hunter stood up, smiling gently as Riona's face was revealed. He turned and remembered his own ancestry, smiling less broadly. His blood, too purely Silvanesti to be much of a bolster to Riona's spirit, was far too clear. He then realized he'd been sleepwalking and that Challis and Artos were still hanging about Elysan's person. He smiled and noticed that whoever had knocked him over had also used a knife. he was bleeding again...[/i][/color]

[color=teal][i]John stumbled into his room, where his butler had prepared a universal cure for drinking: beef broth with plenty of pepper, Sicilian spices, and Tony's (R) chacheres. John downed the steaming beverage, the spices acting on his stimulation levels and sobering him up. He then stood up, nodding to Jameson and sending him out. He cleaned and renewed his bandage, cleaned himself up, and finally stood alone. he stared at his good fist before jamming it into his own stomach as hard as he could for his idiocy at drinking. He began to cry, however, and couldn't stop. He didn't notice Setsuna in the corner of the room.[/i][/color]

[color=royal blue][i]Artemis collapsed, a squid-like parasite launching from his throat and shrivelling into ash as it contacted the ground. Henry sat down, muttering angrily as the Kraken in the lake squealed and thrashed in pain. Artemis retched again, this time hurling blood across the lakeshore. As he moaned in pain, grabbing the hem of his fiancee's cloak as she bent down over him. Suddenly, a boat appeared on the lake as Artemis turned and realized he was bleeding profusely from his chest and throat, but he'd live. He heard Henry and Percival gasp as they saw who was in the boat as it touched the shore. Charon, the boatkeeper, Alucard, Dracula's once-benevolent son, and.... Nadine Graves climbed out of the boat, beckoning to her own son to join her.[/i] [b]Nadine:[/b]My son, Artemis. Join me. It is not so bad as it seems to be a vampire. Oh, truly, the good lord Dracula has promised to give you everlasting life if you would only come back to me. [b]Artemis:[/b]You...are...no..t....my.....mo...ther.... [i]He collapsed into unconsciousness as his mother and Alucard again shrugged off and disappeared, moving back to the castle in a shroud of mist. Charon remained to take them to Castlevania when they were ready...[/i][/color] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Okay, everybody. This RPG is still up!!!

[i][color=teal]Fox just stood and sighed where he was, heading away from Angel for a few minutes. He noticed the man he was after at the craps table and began to make his way slowly to it, tightening his grip on his gun when he felt a Glock 30mm automatic pressed into the back of his head.[/i] [b]Girl:[/b]You have a lot of money on your head, brother. And I want that reward. [b]Fox:[/b]Ami....how could you? After the way I raised you as my sister....[/color]

[color=teal][i]Without Setsuna noticing, john had slipped away to somewhere else. However, after a half an hour, he walked into the classroom, his cheeks still streaked with tears. As he walked in, Rev noticed he was carrying a bottle of alcohol. Rev cleared his throat to stop Katiya's latest attack and to ask John about the bottle.[/i] [b]Rev:[/b]What is that for? I assume to dull the pain in your mutilated hand. [i]John nodded and proved himself a terrible liar when he then downed the entire bottle instead of applying a small amount to the bandage on his hand. Rev looked down at the records on John and noticed that it said John had never downed a single drop of any even remotely alcoholic beverage. He turned to Ariadne and whispered into her ear. Ariadne then got up and walked over to Setsuna, removing herself and Setsuna to a remote corner of the room where they would not be overheard as Rev announced aloud.[/i] [b]Rev:[/b] "Partner battles, now. John, as your partner is busy, you will spar with me again. I hope your...drunk condition will not deteriorate your skills. Fight to your utmost, students! [i]Setsuna looked up as Aridne showed her John's record.[/i] [b]Ariadne:[/b]He must love you if you hurt him so much that he engaged in drinking a whole bottle of whiskey in one gulp when, in nineteen years, he never downed a single drop before. [i]Setsuna choked back a stab of emotion when she read the record, deciding that she would not cry. Ariadne continued, turning her attention the the sparring Rev and John.[/i] [b]Ariadne:[/b]He isn't even TRYING to fight back. Rev is fighting to the fullest and may well KILL John, as the risks do state, yet John does nothing to fight back. Now what do you think of that? [i]Setsuna couldn't hold it back anymore. First, he'd nearly given his life to save hers and she still turned him down. Then he fought himself to get out of bed and into his usual schedule of aerobics so he'd recover for her. And now, she turned away from him only to make him drink a deadly amount of alcohol and to take a beating that would kill even the most pain-resistant person. She sobbed.[/i][/color]

[color=silver][i]Xion stopped and shook his head, trying vainly to find the vanished cyborg. When he realized his attempt was futile, he scanned himself again with his HUD. He smiled broadly when he saw that his particle cannon was online again. He turned to Demos, charging his blaster to full power without the Vulcan Jab power active. He then walked up the stairs that had been half-destroyed by some fall. Underneath the half-demolished flight lay a sparking Gunner drone, seemingly dead. As Xion walked past it, the hulk began to move, squealing on its gears. Xion bent down, signalling to the medic to see if he could do anything for the drone, and Xion then ran up the stairs. He saw Nova surrounded by three mysterious figures. He stopped long enough to hear the words "Revolver...kill him." and fired his fully-charged particle cannon at the one that was moving.[/i] [b]Tracer:[/b]Another one....interesting. [i]The beam had created a huge hole, about thirty-five meters in diameter, in the wall. But Revolver stood where he had stood before, seemingly unhurt. Xion swore to himself at his second most powerful attack's apparent uselessness. Until he was hit by a large cylindrical object, blasting him through the wall and into the ground. His HUD, cracked and bloody, read "99.9% damage". He still needed a medic. Luckily, Satina called at just the right time.[/i] [b]Satina:[/b]Xion, I really need you here! [b]Xion:[/b]Satina, I am almost dead right now. Could you call HQ and tell them to send a medic to the location of my PRD? The .1 percent of my systmes not damaged is my mouth and voice. [b]Satina:[/b]Ok, but what's a PRD? And are you ok? What's the number? Please be alright.... [b]Xion:[/b]I'll be alright when I get to a medic. A PRD is a Personal Reploid-Tracer Device, and it can be used to find any reploid, anywhere that has one. The number for HQ is the frequency I'm uploading to you. Tell them I made you call, and tell them it's about Warlock, Proteus, and the Replimasters.[/color]

[i][color=teal]Fox culd only puzzle as to what she'd meant, but he stood at the console and found his charge at the very casino he'd just left. He smiled and headed for the docking bay at the rear of the Alaris as he parked it in the middle of an asteroid belt. Moments later, a sleek jet-like ship fired from the launching bay, headed right for the casino. John flew the Valkenis expertly, deciding to join up with Angel on catching this bounty if she wanted in. As he docked with the casino, he waltzed in quite airily as he walked up beside Angel, whispering for her to tell him what she meant after they left.[/i][/color]

[color=silver][i]Xion entered the third floor, wiping the oil off of his body. Seeing the place seemingly empty after running a precursory scan, he sat down and called Satina via his comm. He kept his scanners up, but he still wanted to talk to her.[/i] [b]Xion:[/b]I'm sorry, Satina. But Right now, I'm trying to avert a huge problem that, if not resolved, COULD manage to destroy the rest of our city. [b]Satina:[/b]Could you tell me what it is, Xion? [b]Xion:[/b]I'm not so sure I can. I'm in the middle of the mission, so it could be unsafe as to alert the public before the danger is averted. And please don't be afraid. [b]Satina:[/b]I'm not worried or afraid. You're there. You're fighting to save us all. I know you'll win. Is there somebosy with you? It sounds like there's another person in there. [i]Xion quickly looked to his scanner and saw a huge cyborg, hulking over the control panels in the corner, had entered the room. It looked really familiar, especially when it walked over to him, pointed to itself, and said "Massacre".[/i] [b]Xion:[/b]Satina, I have to go! I have to fig- [i]A huge punch from Massacre cut Xion off. Xion checked his HUD, seeing 20% dmage to his chest area. He cursed, unsheathing his sword and charging his Vulcan Jab to the Volcano Berserker. He heard people descending the stairs. He hoped they'd hurry up.[/color][/i]

[color=teal][i]John sat in his desk easily, seeing Rev and Ariadne poking and playing around with each other. He sighed violently, realizing that even they had become closer. He stood up and walked out of the room, telling Rev to walk out and get him if he was needed. As he entered the hall, he let loose a loud scream of anger and self-hatred as he punched the wall with all of his might. He pulled his now-bleeding fist from the hole he created and sank down, crying almost hysterically. He pounded and pounded on the wall, softer than he had blasted through it earlier. As he cried, he could only manage to choke out two words while the noon-bell rang.[/i] [b]John:[/b]Why, Setsuna?[/color]

[i][color=silver]Xion smiled viciously as he realized his dream was not going to come true. He took a scant three seconds of pause as he switched from his longsword to his Vulcan Jab,burning to cinders the next droid that stood in his way. As he tuned in to his surroundings in his battle-minded state, he found himself revulsed by the skeletal, eaten appearance of the droids. He fired and fired the molten punches one by one, keeping well away from Demos and the gunner, who were both firing like mad. Xion jumped up, bit by bit, to the top of the stairs they were climbing. He read a sign that said [b]"Sub-level Two - Back-up Generators and Thermostat Control"[/b]. Xion charged up his buster, turning to Demos as a huge skeleton crashed a dagger into Xion's arm. Xion cried out as the gunner blew the giant droid to the great processing plant in the center of the Earth. The medic ran up as Xion ran a self-diagnostic with his HUD, finding his buster slightly disabled. He'd be unable to use his particle beam-cannon for an hour, but that was all. the medic bandaged up the bleeding gash, leaving the gunner and Demos slightly amazed at a bleeding reploid. Xion broke the silence once the bandaging was done.[/i] [b]Xion:[/b]Hey, Demos. Do we go through here and set the bomb, or head up to the roof? [i]A loud crash echoed through the stairwell as a giant reploid smashed through the wall, wearing huge amounts of armor. A demonic red glow gleamed beneath its helm. It rumbled as it spoke.[/i] [b]???:[/b]I am the one-of-a-kind Maverick of this silo. My strength and defence are unmatched. And my sword can cut any thing, any thing at all. I am brother to Sabre, fastest and most cunning Maverick ever built. I am Scimitar! [i]Xion drew out his own blade as Scimitar drew his. He looked at Demos and the gunner, both of whom drew their respective weapons. Xion smiled grimly, finally seeing a challenge in the giant block of impenetrable metal. Xion allowed his longsword to gleam slightly along its razor edge that could dice even the hardest diamond. The impenetrable against the unblockable...[/i][/color]

[i][color=teal]Hunter jumped down, landing on the floor. He rushed to Eve's side, holding her head up gently as Ilythiirtar applied some sort of medicine to her lips. Hunter saw that Illythiirtar was taking good care of her, so he let the two be. He ran for the window, diving from it and unfurling his emerald pinions. They caought the breeze and drove him through the clouds. He thought saddening thoughts as he drifted across the Ashrenian sky.[/i][/color]

[i][color=teal]As Fox was puzzling over Angel's words, he searched the bounty databanks for the guy that had shot him. As he progressed, he saw something very interesting. He found himself looking at "Arthur Philips, deceased as of today. Brother to James Philips, bounty reward 94,000,000 woolongs." Fox smiled. here was the bounty he'd originally been after. He turned and walked into the cockpit, settling himself down and looking out at the stars, still wondering what Angel had meant. He pressed the autopilot for Mars, where his uncle's ship-shop was. He needed upgrades. He needed war stories...[/i][/color]

[i][color=teal]Fox ran into the casino, placing a good thousand woolongs onto the man's list. He sidled in, leaving Ami to chase a good-looking man she'd fallen for back on Earth. He smiled as he sidled on, but stopped short when he saw Angel's face on Big Shot. He looked around, finding her with a gun to her head. He pulled out his Glock, squeezing his hand on the trigger, when he heard the most unexpected thing to hear from Big Shot.[/i] [b]Big Shot:[/b]And now we have our most wanted suspect, tipped into us from the Sentinel area. Detective Fox Eretima is wanted, and get this, for twenty-billion woolongs! I'd hate to be that man to be wanted so bad, especially wanted dead! [i]Fox suddenly saw the man with a gun to Angel's head relax a bit, seeing Fox in his detective uniform. He pulled out an automatic, firing like crazy at the former officer. Fox took a bullet in the arm, but aimed his Glock and plugged the automatic away. He then ran hard as he could, beckoning to Angel to get out of there. She jumped up and followed him, forgetting about her bounty. The hunter, in the meantime, had recovered his automatic and aimed carefully at Angel. Fox leaped between Angel and the oncoming spray of bullets, injuring his shoulder, lower back, and arm. He turned and fired, hitting the crook square between the eyes. Fox and Angel ran into the Alaris, taking off and letting the ship autopilot them to safety. Meanwhile, Angel and Fox were in Fox's room, treating his wounds.[/i] [b]Angel:[/b]*applies a thick, odorous medicine to Fox's back and arm* Well, old friend. you seem to have gotten into more trouble than ever. At least I know why they call you 'Pheonix'. [b]Fox:[/b]*winces in pain* Ah! Yes. And you still have the nickname I once gave you, Angel. Still matches, too. Did you ever find that "dashing, daring man that would take a bullet for you even if it cost his life"? [b]Angel:[/b]I never did, until today. [i]Fox looked on in confusion as he pulled his shirt back on, moving over to the computer to find his opponent in the database. He wanted to know who'd shot him.[/color][/i]

[i][color=teal]John sidled into the room, taking his seat and tuning into his surroundings. Suddenly, he felt someone in the room. He perked up, smiling, as Setsuna walked into the room. As she took a seat next to her partner, he slipped her a note similar to the one he'd slipped before his injury. As she read, he relaxed into his seat, wondering what that day would hold.[/i][/color]