Infinities Edge

[Kazanna]

Elias shrugged at her, remarkably, he replied with news that would terrify most others.


"In all honesty, you have a 90% chance of death during the circumstances it will take you to get safe from all of this mayhem. Your death chance won't go down very much after your guilt is proven to be false, there will still be those that wanted to hurt you out there, ready to attack again. We persecuted those that we could, with the extent of galactic law. There are those, like Wind Flame Industries shadow agents for example, that do not work within the confines of the law, and are never caught, or persecuted."


He paused, and shrugged at her, "But dieing, while under the contact you signed, is simple enough, it's staying that way, that won't ever happen." He had a serious look about him, but as though it was a trivial thing, "Honestly though, I'm known for being hard to kill, and my charges are even harder to kill. The percentages are... for those who don't stay close, and don't do as I say, but so far, you've done everything I've said, and stayed right next to me. So your doing fine. You'll survive Gemma, Trust me."


He shrugged and smiled lightly, "On the bright side, if you do die, Were pretty good at fixing that here. Well... Not me... But they are. Your under contract, even after death." he said warmly.

 

[Elle Joyner]

She had, after all, asked for honesty. Somehow, though, hearing those words was almost a devastating experience. Ninety-percent was almost a sure thing, and she was certain there was some guess work involved, and would not have been surprised in the slightest if the percentage was even higher than that. She was a marked woman in many, many ways and had only managed to survive thus far because she'd found a corner of the universe no one would think to go to for survival.


Blinking, she fought back tears, shaking her head, slowly, "...It's never gonna be easy, is it? I'm never going to have a normal life... Be able to wake up in the morning, get dressed and go to work. I'm gonna be looking my shoulder until the day I die... or the day someone kills me, which, let's face it, is probably more likely. There's so much I never did. So much I held off on, because I thought... I always thought I would have time. None of this... none of it even matters. You said it yourself... Soon as we're done, soon as you leave.... even if I clear my name, people will still be hunting me down."


Lowering her gaze, she started at the floor, "...I'm kind of a lost cause, here, Elias..."

 

[Kazanna]

Elias Grim was an honest man, so he was honest to her, once more, "There is no such thing as a lost cause Gemma Livingtree. There is always way to set things right, The house, the entire dimension your standing in, the reality you come from, is proof of that. You may not understand, you don't even really want to, Trust me, because I wish that I had never been told how this all works, but there is always a way, always a solution to a problem."


Offering her the blade again, he shrugs lightly, "Besides, Once we get back to real space, I'm going to cover you in a nano mesh that can survive an atomizer. That should at least delay an early demise until I can take out whoever attacks." He seemed to be trying to be humorous, trying to make light of the terrible situation, it was that, or he was honestly just that nonchalant about the entire thing, like this was an every day walk in the park for him. He motioned towards closet, which was still linked to the ship.


"You've very important guests to entertain. They're not expecting us either, so this will be fun." he said as a smile tugged at his lips, "Or dangerous, one of the two." He would wait for her to head back into the closet before he would follow her onto his ship.

 

[Elle Joyner]

She wanted to believe him, and a small part of her did... if only because of the things she had seen already, but there was that part of her, that larger part that simply couldn't grasp why anyone would bother trying to keep her alive when it all seemed to be in vain. They were fighting so many enemies at once, it was hard to see how anyone could possibly do anything more than slow down the inevitable.


But it wouldn't do to dwell, and it certainly wouldn't help with the task at hand. For the time being, at least, she wasn't alone, and until Elias left her side, she was going to do everything within her power to make sure she listened well and did everything he asked. Maybe she couldn't save herself, but she could at least try to slow down the clock a little.


Frowning, she took the blade, shaking her head, "...Somehow, Elias, I get the feeling that those two things are interchangeable for you. But if it's alright with you, I'm going to cross my fingers that we can avoid dangerous, hmm?" Smiling wryly, with very little humor actually reaching her eyes she started for the closet, back in the direction they had come from.

 

[Kazanna]

With a light laugh, Elias shook his head, "More I just don't view things as dangerous that others would. Like a firearm discharged at me. It isn't frightening when your bulletproof. Most elements... They're the same way..." Elias said as he followed her into the ship, the doorway between the ship and the mansion sealed with a snap and a pop of energy.


Moving to the controls of the ship, Elias tapped the console, which, considering he could remotely activate and control his ship, was an odd move. He spoke a moment later, having linked into Cal Droma's primary spaceport, "This is Elias Grim, Of the Wind Flame Industries Shadow Jumper floating above your planet now. I request docking towards the Imperial Palace, my activation sequence is Delta, my numbers are Five Five Seven Nine Seven Eight Five Three. Repeat, Sequence is Delta, Numbers are Five Five Seven Nine Seven Eight Five Three. Request intel."


Elias waited, silently, a moment later, a female voice rang out over the internal speakers of the ship, "Grim, this is Cal Droma Command, You are cleared to land in dock seven." Elias glanced over to Gemma, and muttered, "Well, here we go... There's a hood, built into the inside of the top part of your outfit, it's a big sort of radiating thing, you'll want to put it on until were in a private location, Your still a wanted woman after all. I'll handle the bit's you normally wouldn't be able to. Any last minute questions?" He asked her calmly.


The ship was already en route, it cruised between the various pylons of the space-port, and made it's way down through the atmosphere, there was no recoil, no tension on the ship as it descended, it simply floated down and touched down gently on the space-port's dock. The craft's security systems scanned the surrounding area and gave Elias a real time scan. There were more weapon signatures then there should have been around his ship.


He paused and muttered, "Well... This is interesting..." Elias looked to Gemma with a light frown, "Were apparently expected. By someone other then the Calonian Delegates." He tapped the first of the Delphi armor systems cubes and it slid up his arm, he took another, tapped it, and moved to Gemma, pressing it against her hand, "You'll be wanting this, just in case."


Outside the ship, another group of hunters assembled, Gemma's bounty was a massive payday, and there were a lot of people after it, even if Elias had listed it as claimed, he had yet to bring her to Valoria, so where his ship went, it would be assumed that Gemma would be in tow. So as the group of bounty hunters gathered around his ship, weapons drawn, heavy cannons and pulse weapons of sizes larger then needed for a single target, Elias took up his armor and weapons again, his eyes turning back to steel.

 

[Elle Joyner]

On the ship, Gemma found a seat and settled into it, watching as Elias took control over the landing. It wouldn't be long now, before she was exposed again and while she had all the faith in the world in her guardian, she wasn't entirely looking forward to stepping off into society again. And apparently her concerns were echoed by the man in the Captain's chair.


Tugging the hood up over the intricate braiding, she rose from her seat and moved closer to Elias, breathing in and out in quick, shallow breaths. This was it... and she was sure the minute they got off the ship, her brain would empty of everything he'd taught her. She tried tuning her focus... walking, sitting, the gifts... but everything revolved around in her head, rattling about incoherently.


Their descent was smooth, but still no amount of focus would come to her and she paced in frustration, in anticipation. After landing, she stepped back as Elias rose, noting the frown on his features. When he came to her with the cube, she took hold of his hand, briefly, and gave him a small, nervous smile, shaking her head, "So danger, then? Lovely."

 

[Kazanna]

Elias shrugged and said quietly, "On the bright side, Your equipping a full Delphi Unit that's linked to mine, Your basically as durable as I am... Just... do your best not to get hit, It still hurts a bit. Oh and..." He tapped the side of his face as he moved to the edge of the ship, "Your staying in here, but your going to have my visuals. You'll know when it's safe to move, I'm going to disable as many as I can... but..." He had a depressed look on his face as the Delphi armor came up over his face, he finally spoke as it finished climbing across his features and creating the horrible fanged skull that was it's mask. "I'm going to have to kill a lot of them... You'll have my view in a micro window, If it gets ugly, look away... I'll be able to see what you can as well, so I'll tell you which way to go as you move out." Elias said as he moved towards the doorway, "Move out when I say, and keep moving until I tell you to. The suit will give you a heads up display and give you way-points to follow, Like a video game."


Using his control over his ship, Elias charged the directional point cannons that were fixed to the tip of the ship and fired warning shots towards his new foes, he spoke over the intercom of the ship, roaring out, "You know who I am, and yet still you come, If you seek your death, then remain, if you want to remain alive however, then flee. I give you this one opportunity to leave. After this, you will ALL die." His vocal inflections had changed, become monstrous, like he was no longer human.


He waited a moment, then opened the outer hatch and shot out into the fray, his scythe forming with a medium length handle in one hand, the heavy bore pistol forming in the other, he fired a shell towards one of the mercenary groups, but was surprised as the shell deflected. "Oh... They actually came prepared..." His system began scanning the weapon and armor systems as well as the shielding systems they were using. He exteneded the scythe, and it grew a second blade, that was facing the opposite direction at the base. He shot towards the first group, muttering, "Well, if long range weapons won't work..." He used the sheer power of the Delphi armor system to tear through one of the barriers and destroy it's generator, "Close range for shock factor it is!" His clothing rippled as he leapt back to avoid the blast of the shockwave. He glanced at his outfit, it was still intact, no dirt or grime on it yet, "Man, I just got this thing detailed..." He said, allowing his voice to echo out at the mercenaries.

 

[Elle Joyner]

It wasn't as reassuring as it should have been... She certainly didn't want to be out there in the middle of that mess, but the idea of being left alone, even temporarily, was nerve wracking. He'd said, after all, that her best bet was to stay near him. But she would do nothing to help him out there, and getting in the way wasn't going to keep either of them alive for long. Still, the frown that met her lips was telling. Things couldn't just be easy, could they? They couldn't just get off the ship, go to their meeting and be done with it...


"...Just... be careful, okay?" She offered, moments before the mask slid over his face, obscuring his face. She was reminded of the man from the bar... the man from the night prior and somehow, it was more assuring that his words of encouragement had been. Hard as it was to look at him that way, in that moment she needed him to be the Reaper. It was the only way she would know for sure that she was going to be safe.


Settling in her chair, Gemma watched as he left the ship, her thoughts echoing his words of concern... They'd come prepared. But maybe not entirely prepared enough... He would break through and take them down. He had to.


She would not focus on the macro window... She might have needed the Reaper, but she didn't need the visuals. It would do her no good, seeing those things. Not now, not ever. He would do what needed to do, but she would not watch him do it...

 

[Kazanna]

Elias, The Grim Reaper as he was known in the mercenary trade, shot through two men with his scythe drawn to his side, he finished the movement in a crouch, one leg forward, the other back, as though he had been running when he came to the sudden stop. With a light flick of his Scythe, blood spattered to the dura-create at his feet and he stood up, rolling his shoulders. Both of the men fell apart behind him. If Gemma had been looking, she would have missed the entire thing, it was too fast to follow, and Elias didn't even need to see what he was doing at this point. He collapsed the scythe, and it folded into his suit, forming taloned gauntlets swiftly. Within a few seconds, he shot forward again, into the next series of enemies. All of this took two seconds, Elias' motions were in hypertime, the Mercenary agents were standing still to him, and he was fluid.


But this only lasted a few seconds, a loud burst of a shot fired off towards him, and he had just enough time to turn, and see it coming as it wrapped over him. His vision was blurred slightly as the Delphi suit reacted poorly to the new stimulus. He looked in the direction it had come from and stumbled as he took a step towards the men bearing a large weapon began to prep it for a second shot.


"Trinian Atomizer... Delphi took the hit, but it's suffering for it... won't take another..." he said into the suit, knowing Gemma would hear it, but not the mercenaries.


He raised his right hand up, and another of the Delphi platform's firearm class weapons spawned in his hands, he took several shots at the weapon, putting it out of commission. He did this as the other mercenaries rained him with small arms fire. He was dodging some of it, but most of it simply scattered off his durable armor. He turned around rapidly, firing as he went, multiple shots raining out into the surrounding men, each shot was accurate, a knee, an arm, a shoulder, disabling shots. It took him only a few seconds to send the entire group into a groaning, whining mess on the ground.


Elias returned the weapon and opened a channel to the port authority, saying calmly, "This is Elias Grim, of the Wind Flame Industries ship, I was just assaulted on your premises by a large group of armed bounty hunters. I have dealt with them, Send a group of ambulances." He turned off the channel, and shook his head with a sigh.


A moment later, another shot rang out, and Elias felt the impact against the side of his head, he took a few steps back, releasing smoke from the Delphi's core system points, vanishing into the cloud of smoke, muttering, "Sniper... Okay... Not safe..."

 

[Elle Joyner]

She couldn't watch... and she had the choice to look away, but her hearing, there was no way to impede that, no matter how desperately she'd wanted to. The sounds were atrocious, and it was all she could do, not to jam her fingers in her ears with desperation. It was what Elias knew, what he was good at, but she could hear the strain in his voice and understood, even without being out there that things were different than they had been the night prior... They had come prepared, he'd said... and she didn't like the sound of that.


Still, he was brilliant, and she couldn't help but peek at the screen as he railed through the men, hitting every target square on, without mission. It was impressive, even if she didn't want it to be, and she couldn't help the fluttering in her chest, at the sight of all those men, felled, while he stood there, unscathed.


This was more than technology... He was skilled, extremely skilled.


He sent the transmission and Gemma rose to her feet, but as she did another shot rang out and she dropped again with a startled scream. She heard Elias's comments and peeked at the view screen.


"...What can I do?!" She yelled, half-consciously aware he might not even have been able to hear her.

 

[Kazanna]

With a grunt, Elias scanned every spectrum he could until he found the sniper, who was on the move. He pulled out his own sniper, the gun manifesting from the Delphi's nano cells, lining up the shot as the weapon primed itself. He pulled the trigger a moment later, and watched as the sniper fell to the ground, his weapon having just injured them.


"You can relax, there's only a few left." He said as his armor reabsorbed the armor. He activated the micro-thrusters that enabled a slight flight ability to his suit, and jumped off the ground, shooting towards the sniper, who was struggling to escape.


The Reaper reformed his scythe, and stepped over to the unfortunate mercenary, his weapon was grim looking, savage, the blade was messy in it's jagged appearance, he knelt down beside the sniper as the form, a female, tried to crawl away, he grasped her by the back of the neck and shouted through the external comm, "You were expecting me, Who Sent You?" He held his scythe up, near the woman's shoulder, the blade resting against her armor. She froze and shook her head, "Can't or won't?" Elias asked, pressing the weapon into her shoulder, the blade bit in, past the armor, causing the woman's arm to go limp as the rest of her spasm. He knew where the nerves and tendons were that controlled her arm, and he'd just struck them. "If you flinch, that arm will never work again. Now Answer!"


He waited until she used the palm of her non damaged hand to tap the ground, before he pulled the weapon out of her. The woman turned over and pulled off her mask. She was human, and what shocked him more, was she had advanced Gen One nanite signatures in her eyes, but the worst thing, was what his nanites began reading. His nanites unique in that they could read another nanite user's nanites memory signatures and action signatures. It gave him an edge in not only combat, but also interrogation where nano-technology came into play.


Elias didn't wait for her to answer, he already knew, to Gemma, if she was watching, it would look like he was indiscriminately murdering the woman for no reason as he ran his fist through her ribcage and crushed her heart. Then, a moment later he grunted out, "These weren't bounty hunters Gemma, They weren't here to collect the bounty, they were here to take you out, to keep you from being able to prove your innocence... These people were employed by the same people that set you up... This was a group of Templars..."

 

[Elle Joyner]

Leaning up against the wall of the ship, Gemma watched on bated breath as Elias fired at the sniper. It was another brilliant shot, and Gemma flinched as he took off, the view screen bobbing with his haste. She looked away, but only until he'd reached his quarry. She was surprised to see it was a woman...


Elias's interaction was intense, but the woman seemed defiant, even with the pain she was obviously in. When the mask was removed, Gemma frowned. Her expression was like ice, and despite her wounds, she appeared snake-like... ready to strike. There was anger there that was both surprising and frightening... but also confusing. Bounty Hunters were usually cool and collected. It was the job, but they rarely were so emotionally invested...


Then again... Gemma wasn't remotely surprised by the hostility, considering the reputation she'd been left with.


It was Elias who shocked her... A small cry of shock escaping her lips as she watched him dispatch the woman. Hands rising to her mouth, she stared at the viewscreen, horrified... until Elias's voice rang in her ear again.


"...Get back here..." She murmured, "...Please."

 

[Kazanna]

Elias let his helm fold back, the optic receptors that fed the stream to Gemma's visual HUD was through his actual eyes, and not his suits, he held the woman's body up but it's throat, which was still releasing the occasional spasm, let his nanites infect the body as he harvested information from it, the Delphi nanites coursed across her form and into her eyes, Elias spoke carefully.


"This is the shape of the evil that has attacked you, if I can hack her primary nervous system, I can access her control matrix and then I can hunt down the person that commanded her." He said flatly. There was a certain anger in his voice, it was as though what he was doing annoyed him. He dropped her corpse a moment later, "Her nanites were too fast, they burned her cortex." He sighed, and shook his head, closing his eyes for a moment before he jumped down off the terrace he was on. He returned to the ship's side and was about to ascend into it as the Calonian Security forces arrived.


"Stop where you are!" The frontal commander shouted, a group of his elites surrounded Elias, who simply turned to the commander and frowned. The Calonian moved forward, a rifle in his hands aimed at Elias' head. "Your under arrest for multiple murders and destruction of government property!" Elias continued to frown as the frontal commander's fingertip tensed on the trigger of his rifle. "Put your hands up and disengage the armor suit you are wearing, relinquish any weapons you are carrying." the male shouted at him gruffly.


Elias tilted his head at the male, and spoke clearly, boldly, and with a high level of frustration and annoyance, "By the Proclamation of Flame I invoke the Arbiters right of Bloodshed. I am Elias Grim, the Wind Flame Reaper. I am permitted to bear arms, and weapons while on Cal Droma and her allied planets. You will cease your operation against me or be punished by the Ruling body of your government."


The Frontal Commander paused, and frowned, not knowing the Proclamation of Flame, he held his fist up at his troops, "Which Proclamation did you say..?" He asked curiously.


Elias looked through him coldly, "Of Flame you daft Cat. Now lower your weapons or the entire group of you will be a write off this time next week." The Security forces shifted about uneasily, staring at Elias with fearful worry.

 

[Elle Joyner]

Gemma shut up eyes... something about seeing that frosty woman dead too much for her to take. It was frustrating, for her... for Elias, certainly, so many questions unanswered, so many things happening which shouldn't have been happening. How were they followed, in the first place? How did the enemy know where they would be? Were they so afraid of her, proving her innocence ...? Surely they knew as well as anyone that proving herself didn't necessarily mean anything.


As Elias began his trek back to the ship, Gemma rose to her feet to wait for him, nervously pacing, picking at her fingernails in anxiety. She was worried... Worried for herself, for the mission, for Elias. He seemed indestructible, certainly... but no one was entirely indestructible. Not really... He could be hurt, or worse, and considering her was doing these things for her...


She could see him nearing the ship and she'd made her way to the door when she heard the voices interrupting and froze, fear trickling down her spine. More of them? It couldn't possibly...


No... these were the Calonians.


But that wasn't much better.


"Be careful, Elias..." She whispered, half to herself.

 

[Kazanna]

The Commander of the Calonian forces present slung his rifle over his shoulder and pulled a data pad out, reviewing information, he put in the information Elias had shot at him and after he found what he was looking for, he broke out in sweat, visibly, which was astonishing considering most Calonians didn't sweat.


Elias sighed, and shook his head, muttering, "Finally, Results." He looked back towards the craft, "You can come out now." he said calmly.


Elias knew above all the look when he'd won, and the Calonian's were easy to read. The Commander was shocked, probably moreso that he was still alive then by his own stupidity. Elias used his nanites to spread across the grounds and consume the dead and their armor and weapons. He glanced at the Calonian Commander and nodded at him, "I'll take care of the mess, you guys just go inform the Empresses that I've arrived. They'll need a full briefing on what's happened here, inform them that their planet was breached by The True Betrayers. Am I clear?" he said sternly.


The Calonian commander nodded, still very much in shock, before he made his way off, leaving his troops confused, but at ease. There hadn't even been a motion given, but the men had fallen from their at ready stance and relaxed slightly, though, not so much that they were comfortable.


Elias closed his lips tight, using the Nanites to relay a message to Gemma, it would come through with his voice, like telepathy, but with technology, "Templars... Everything stank bad before, now it's just perverse... Your company has been infested with the worst betrayers of all time. I'm sorry, but this is going to be a lot harder then I thought."


Elias' features were cold, hateful, Templars were something he'd been educated on, he'd interacted with them, and it had always been bad. He'd lost many friends to them, they were monsters as far as he was concerned, which was fine, because when it came down to it, his job was to destroy monsters.

 

[Elle Joyner]

Gemma was hesitant, still, when she stepped out of the ship, but she trusted Elias and his judgment, and was well aware he wouldn't put her into harms way. Still, even with the danger at a brief lull, it was hardly passed, and they hadn't even gotten through the hard part of the day. As she made her way down to Elias, she did all she could to remember her part, holding tightly to the two gifts she had been instructed to bring, frowning as the details seemed to evade her, buried beneath fear and uncertainty.


She had to do this right... or there would be no point in coming at all. No point in risking their lives. She needed to pull herself together, not just for her sake, but his as well.


Keeping the hood up as he had informed her to, she stepped beside him, frowning softly at the message passed only to her. It wasn't at all what she wanted to her, but she was glad he hadn't thought to keep it from her. Looking up at him, her eyes betraying what might otherwise have appeared to be a sense of calm. He'd never struck her as terribly emotional, but she could see something in his gaze... memories, pain... and despite knowing nothing about them, she hated the Templars for whatever they'd done to him. He was strong and powerful, and if they could instill that much feeling in him, then they were nothing good...


Slowly, she shook her head, "So I guess that ninety percent doesn't stand, anymore?" She asked, with a soft, dry smile.


"...When we get through this..." She murmured, quietly, "I'm gonna need an entire bottle of that misty stuff..."

 

[Kazanna]

With a slow shake of his head, a grim look on his face, he began guiding her towards the doors, Elias murmured, "I don't think even Carlith knew about this... Or she'd have taken a personal interest in your case. She has a thing for Templars, likes killing them, enjoys it for what they've done to her over the centuries. I've only tangled with them a few times... but..." He glanced to Gemma, "They're Puritans, belive only the human race is worth of the grace of god, and all other races should be eradicated by their righteous crusade. Aquarius and Carlith have spent their entire lives fighting the persecution of the church... My mother and I, were neutral parties to it all... but..." He paused as the doors slid open with a hydraulic hum.


On the other side of the door was the woman who had been displayed earlier, the woman who was beyond Gemma's security clearance to know about. She was wearing a skin tight neural uplink suit, one designed for Mech Piloting and full virtual dives. She nodded to Elias, a smile on her face, "Long time no see Reaper. Look's like your taste has finally improved." She said glancing to Gemma, "Oh and is that Gemma Livingtree I see?" she hissed out, looming in towards the hood. The woman looked young, she was tall, and she had some of the most powerful nanites that Gemma would ever witness besides Elias' not only that, but her eyes looked like those of a cat.


She grinned at Gemma, and extended her hand, "Hullo, I believe your not cleared to know my actual name, so you can call me Angel. It's nice to finally meet you Gemma Livingtree." She said calmly.


She had all the insanity of Carlith's eyes, all the calm prestige Aquarius had displayed, and all the controlled rage Elias seemed to contain. Her mere presence seemed like a threat against ones wellbeing, but she was clearly an ally. She'd wait for Gemma to shake her hand, or not, and wait just a few moments, before turning to Elias, "You have to let me take you two to dinner sometime, Seriously, You two make such a cute couple!" She nearly screamed with excitement before she caught Elias' glare.


The girl, who had called herself Angel, Visibly shrank away from his gaze, muttering, "Geez Reaper... I'm just teasing... Besides, it's true." She said, lowering her voice.


Elias had remained still besides the glare through the entire ordeal, muttering, "I swear... The woman's been around me for less then a day and you all think were dating..."


Angel grinned at him, "Oh but you did take her home, and introduced her to your mother."


Elias groaned, and covered his face with his armored hand, "Can we please not do this right now? I have work to do, Serious, Templar related work."


It was then that Angel's features shifted, it was then that she became serious, it was then that she displayed the wrath that made it very apparent who's bloodline she was a part of, arcs of purple electricity bounced across her suit as she glared at Elias, not at him so much as what he had said, "Templars... Are involved with the Livingtree Case?" She asked Icly, her tone of voice no longer happy or jovial, showed murderous rage that would not subside.


Elias nodded, "Yeah, I just killed half a battalion in the courtyard, Low ranking, but Templars nonetheless." he said calmly. He glanced to Gemma, and said, "They were after her."

 

[Elle Joyner]

"Sounds like the right type of group to be responsible for something like this. Somehow, though, I get the impression it's not so easy as pinning it on them and hoping the authorities do the right thing. I'm getting the feeling nothing's gonna be that easy again. Not for a long time..."


Listening to Elias, Gemma almost missed the other woman, but as she stepped in front of them, she turned to face her, recognition striking. Remember Elias's descriptions of her, however, she wasn't entirely prepared when the woman spoke... surprised by the boldness. Taking the hand as it was extended, Gemma gave it a quick shake and nodded, but said nothing as Angel continued.


Color rose to Gemma's cheeks at the insinuation and she looked down at her feet, mortified. It wasn't the first time it was hinted at, but it never really was easy to hear. In truth, it was embarrassing , but she didn't care what any thought was going on between the two of them, so long as he was still helping her. Of course, Elias was a master at diverting the conversation, and had brushed it off easily enough. Still, Gemma gave him a small, apologetic smile and a shake of the head.


"Seems like everyone in the universe is, these days. I was never this popular in my academy days."

 

[Kazanna]

Angel glanced Gemma up and down, and raised a brow her entire disposition switching back to a jovial, comical one, "Seriously? You weren't, God if we had gone to the same academy... I'd have gone for you, I mean look at those eyes would you!" She said teasingly. She glanced quickly back to Elias, who was wearing a cold, frustrated look on his face. She muttered, "Ah... Right... Best we... Continue with the investigation. Mother will want at least four of us doing this you know, Not just you and I."


Elias shook his head, "I don't care what Carlith wants, I'm doing this my way, if you want to join the team, you do so under my provisions, I'm not taking second for this, Gemma Livingtree is Mine, the Templars after her are Mine, this entire operation is Mine. You won't take it and ram through it like you did with Cultiss, Because clearly, your entire investigation turned up nothing, when there was Something wrong."


Angel frowned at him, and let out a sigh, her chest rising and falling as she did, she glanced to Gemma, and asked, "He's been like this the entire time, hasn't he? You know, He really has a thing for you, Your company has been pursuing the study of his Nanites for years, you guys didn't even know it either, But it's expanded his arsenal a lot. So when you... Well, when they made it look like you betrayed the alliance... He took it personal. So knowing your not guilty..." She glanced to Elias, who was fuming, but holding his tongue, "Probably made his entire decade honestly. He's kind of your biggest fan."


Elias looked away, muttering, "I swear to god Lunaris, I will tear out your tongue and feed it to you if you do not shut up."


Angel did something then, that would frighten most, confuse anyone who did not know what she was doing, but annoy Elias even further, She spoke in an odd tongue, halfway between a guttural snarl and what almost sounded like Latin with a mixing of old age Germanic and Gaelic. She spoke a short sentence, the entire thing sounded derogatory and cruel.


Elias glanced back at her, and shot back, "I know who I address, Your status means nothing to me, It never did, You of all people should know that I do not view status in such a pathetic way. That I know exactly where I stand within the family. You should know that this is MY operation, and Gemma Livingtree is under MY protection. Do not stand there and insult me by speaking in the tongue of your father."


Angel blanched, she'd been caught in a bluff, and Elias was ill amused by her antics. She raised her hands, and sighed, "Alright... Sorry... What do you need me to do..."


Elias raised his right hand, his nanites shifted and created a hologram that floated above his hand, "Find me the commander of this unit, Bring him to me alive. I'd like to torture him for a few hours, then question him." Elias said darkly. His facial features showed he wasn't kidding either.

 

[Elle Joyner]

It was the oddest exchange Gemma had encountered, yet... and considering everything she had seen thus far, with Carlith and Fate, that was saying something. Angel's word threw her, and Gemma remained quiet, unsure of what to make of them... whether to believe them, even, or just let them slide. It had been something of a shock to hear him so territorial, particularly about her, but it was refreshing, somehow... and she would have been lying if she didn't find it at least a little alluring.


The fact of the matter was, she hadn't given anything beyond her own survival much thought, but there were far worse people in the universe she could be paired up with. He was a powerful figure, and certainly not difficult to look at... Despite having only known him for a short period of time, she trusted him, and that was easily more important than anything...


But there was so many more important things to focus on... and she wouldn't be the thing that distracted him. She was, if nothing else, never counter productive...


Listening to the exchange, startled by the sudden burst of language, Gemma's brow rose as she looked between Angel and Elias, stunned by Elias's boldness, as he put the woman in her place. It was, to put it mildly, a little bit enjoyable to witness. These people, who seemed to think everything was something of a joke. Beyond herself, Elias was the only one who seemed to be taking the dangers seriously... and it was a relief to see him putting a hold on the jesting...


Incidentally, it didn't hurt his image any, either...


As he continued, however, Gemma frowned softly at his words, rubbing her arm unconsciously, nervously. It was necessary... but it wasn't easy to hear, not for any reason...

 

[Kazanna]

Angel's eyes flashed, much likes Carlith's and she muttered, "Oh... She wears her thoughts like a bad pair of shoes to a senior prom Elias... I'm not even trying to read her mind and I'm getting it all..." Angel's lips were spread in a grin, her features like those similar to a hungry wolf, "Your right though Gemma..." Her features becoming almost sad, "We do take all of this lightly... Because to all of us... except for Elias here, this is all just a big joke... The only thing is..." She glanced back to Elias, "I'm pretty sure this is the first time it's been played. So it's getting extra scary to watch it all happen, while we waste our time laughing..." She motioned to Elias this time, "He's the only Shadow left that even does his job anymore... Well, besides me... But I don't count." She waved her hands and stalked away, "After all, I'm Daddies little girl, the prodigal daughter, The Great Void Master..." A moment later, it was as though a black hole opened and swallowed her. She vanished, with a snap of super dense atmosphere.


With a sigh, and a shake of his head, Elias looked to Gemma, "Sorry... for her... She's just like her mother and father... Undervalues the power she has and uses it for the pursuit of her vices. Ought to be doing her actual job as one of the Shadows..." He muttered, "Shadows of the Wolf... it's... a clan thing... Complicated... Basically like an agent for a government..."


Elias motioned down the hallway, "I'm sure you have questions... Please, feel free to ask anything. I'll answer to the best of my ability, and to the most of your clearance. She mentioned thoughts you had... that she was able to read, meaning her telepathy tapped into it without her actually meaning to."

 

[Elle Joyner]

Those words froze Gemma to the core. There was nothing... nothing in the universe more frightening and equally more invasive than the knowing not even her thoughts were safe. Her mind was, as of yet, the only thing that hadn't in some way been violated... and in seconds, Angel had blown that to pieces. Blushing scarlet, Gemma started at the space where the woman had been standing moments before, hardly hearing Elias.


"...I don't know if I can do this..." She finally said, quietly, "I... You heard what she said. This is a joke to them. I... I can't..." Rubbing her hands over her face, she shook her head, "I think that I have been, up until now, extremely understanding. I have been dragged around the galaxy, pulled into some impossible world in somebody's head, I have been mocked by just about everyone who knows you... I have been shot at by bounty hunters and some psychotic group of religious nutjobs... and now this? Do you... do you know what it feels like? Knowing not even your thoughts are safe? Damn it, Elias... Everything I know, everything I own... has been searched and poked through and touched by other people... But that... That is an invasion of privacy, I can't even start to fathom!"


Frowning, she looked up at him, her eyes alive with fire, with anger, and with tears of frustration, "I don't care about clearance or status or who the hell her parents are, or who any of them are! It is my life on the line here, and that is not a joke!"

 

[Kazanna]

Elias stared at her, and snorted, replying, "It's a joke to them because they're all immortal. The rest of us weak mortals are pawns to them... Your having this happen to you the first time ever." He began walking back towards the direction they had been heading in the first place, towards the throne room, "I grew up without ever having a private thought... They were always in my head, shaping me, molding me into what I am now. A Weapon." His tone had become cold again.


Rolling his shoulder slightly, he pushed the doors open that led to the throne room, and murmured, "Skipping the pleasantries... possibly... probably."


Elias pushed his way into the room, and was greeted by guards, weapons at the ready, they however recognized him, and raised the weapons immediately, bowing their heads reverently. Elias bypassed them, ignoring them. He wasn't in the mood for games, or for the simple concepts of Pleasantries. He motioned them away and strode up to the throne, his heavy armor making dense clicking sounds as he strode across the marble floors. He reached the throne and without even bowing swept off the garments he'd put on so painstakingly, that he'd taken such good care of over the years. He held them up before the two sister queens, remarking, "This, is all that is left of the clothing I wore as I arrived here, You recognize the outfit, as I have worn it before. I was attacked by Templars, on Calonian soil Empresses, I seek aid and counsel. I apologize for having brought this war to your doorstep, but it is one that has brewed for a long time, and shall continue it's horrible path until someone stands in it's way."


The twin Empresses held their regal appearance for only a few moments more, one of them remarked, "Well... Elias Grim... It seems your..." She burst out laughing, pointing at him, she howled as her sibling bent over double, "By the goddess Elias, You should see you right now, It's like watching The Big Cat in action. For the sake of the Claw, of course we'll help." It was Zenika who was speaking, Tenika was doubled over, brought to tears from the humor she found in his attitude. "Goddess Elias..." Tenika said with a feral smile that only a Calonian was capable of, "It's been ages since anyone's disregarded protocol in here, probably since we used to come and Harass our mother" She motioned to him, "Guards, bring the evidence we have on the Livingtree Case. Our investigation shall pass into the very capable hands of The Reaper." Tenika was up out of her seat, in fact, she had vanished from it, and was a flying ball of cloth and fur, as she leapt at Elias, hugging him adoringly, "It's been far too long since you came and saw us Elias. Your Aunties miss you, And you don't even write us!" She said scoldingly, tightening her grip.


The two Empresses were identical, their forms looked battle hardened and their eyes showed wisdom far beyond their years, each of them looked capable of leading a full war campaign, or deflecting any kind of political fire with the strength of a shield array. Either of them could have independently done the job of ruling the Calonian empire, but instead, the both of them shared equal weight and made the job fun and easy, their people were happy, they were loved, not a single Calonian held any animosity towards the twin empresses. There was no dissent within their empire, and they had done what their mother could not, They had united the tribes within their race, the clans within their tribes, and the sexes within their tribes, under a single, unified banner.


Some traditions still held, but for the most part, Cal Droma and her colonies were all part of the same empire, all of them supporting each other no matter how large or small. Crime was very low and the laws that held the civilization together were only as harsh as need be. All in All, Cal Droma, was a paradise. The Calonians were proud of their heritage for a reason, and the species was close allies with earth and her colonies. The species were even beginning to intermingle on multiple scales and climbs.


Elias let his arms wrap around Tenika gently, muttering, "I'm just glad you two aren't still cross with me for last time..." He released his grip and as Tenika did likewise, he took a step back. He glanced to Gemma, and using his suits internal communicator, to the bit of Delphi armor she was still wearing, he said to her, "If you remembered the gifts, now would be a good point to present them." his voice would echo inside of her mind, like a gentle hum.

 

[Elle Joyner]

She couldn't expect him to understand. He'd lived his life... grown up around these people. However invasive it might have been, he was used to it. For her, it was an assault on her privacy in a way she couldn't possibly fathom. Still, despite knowing this, she couldn't help the mild irritation that developed as they made their way to the doors. None of this was easy... none of it was supposed to be happening to her, and thus far their biggest break in the case was finding out that they were up against a much more fearsome foe than predicted. She was tired, frustrated and ultimately, impossibly alone.


Still, following beside Elias, she was careful to remember what he had taught her before they'd left. Posture, presence, poise... If she could do nothing else to keep herself safe, the least she could do was try and get through this performance without embarrassing herself, or Elias.


Except that upon entrance, Elias seemed about as concerned for the propriety he had instilled in her as he had been for showing Angel the proper respect for her apparent status. Thrown by his apparent disregard for societal etiquette, Gemma watched as he addressed the Calonian women, both impressed by his defiance and terrified for him.


But as it had gone thus far, Elias was received with a certain unexpected warmth, his behavior hardly noted as the more enthusiastic of his twin Aunts enveloped him in a heartfelt embrace. Gemma was, to put it mildly, confused.


She jumped, then, when Elias's voice filled her head again, so thoroughly distracted by what she had witnessed that she had nearly forgotten he was capable of communicating with her in such a manner. Frowning softly, she looked to the two women, at an absolute loss as to whom should receive what. He had indicated that the blade go to the more forward of sisters, and she could only hope instinct served her, as she took a breath and approached the woman who had finally released Elias from the bruising hug.


When she spoke, her voice quivered, but straightening her spine, she bowed her head, summoning whatever minute courage she could muster, holding the blade, hilt facing outwards, to Tenika "...A gift, Empress.."


She waited, patiently, until it was taken, before retrieving the box from where she had set it down, turning to the sister still enthrone "...And for you, your Majesty."

 

[Kazanna]

Like curious cats, the two Empresses gazed at Gemma, and sniffed her curiously, they moved quickly, and paced around her rapidly, examining her with hungry curiosity. They stared at her, occasionally glancing back to Elias, in case they were too invasive. They both paused standing side by side in front of her, "Gifts for us? So formal." Zenika said, "She's so pretty." Tenika said as well. Zenika reached out and took the blade gently, the sash wrapping it undid itself as she took it. She hefted the weapon with a single hand and whistled, "The new model... You finished it... by the goddess... It's so shiny..." She held it in her paws gently gazing at its craftsmanship. Tenika took the box, and undid its clasp, she tapped in a sequence of careful prods against its surface.


The box opened up slowly, and revealed an assortment of gems and thin metalloid strings, as well as a tiny nano-mesh that flashed and imprinted itself to her instantly. She lifted the tiny mesh and sighed quietly, "Outfit crystals. A matching Nano-mesh... and a full assortment of pyre-strings... Incredible... Aquarius made a set like this for Meera... a long time ago..." She was amazed, impressed, and her eyes showed it.


Tenika and Zenika both backed off slightly and whispered between each other in a rapid variation of Calonian. They turned back to Gemma a moment later, criticizing looks on their faces, they peered in towards her, their tails were moving too and fro, "When your finished with clearing your name, We want you to come back and visit us properly Miss Livingtree." Zenika said calmly, "We'll take you on a vacation to the outer moons." Tenika said as well, "Your part of the Family now, Even if you don't want to be." Zenika said, "Your one of us, a member of the Lunaris Family." They both nodded, "A child of the Blazing Winds."


Elias sighed, and covered his face with his hands, "That's great and all Aunties... But what about the evidence..." He asked with a high note of irritation.


Zenika shrugged, "It's on it's way, but all we were able to get was the stuff we pulled from the warehouse on the 43rd level. You know how that works. It only gives you exactly what is needed."


Elias froze when she referred the warehouse, his eyes wide, he turned to them and slowly asked, "What room.. was it in..."


Zenika's eyes became more serious, she muttered, "The red one Elias... Just like you would have guessed."