Infinities Edge

[Elle Joyner]

The words meant more to her than she could ever admit. He had already risked so much, but there seemed to be no limit to what he would do to keep her safe, and no one... no one had done anything even close to that for her... not ever. She couldn't even be sure that she would do that much for someone.


It was something of a small miracle then that in the moments after, as Elias equipped the new core, she did not experience heart failure. The organ pounded with force against her chest as she rose to her feet, watching the struggle, the pain flash across his face. She wanted to help, but there was clearly nothing else she could do. Her only choice remained to stand and watch, and that was no easy choice.


As the room exploded into darkness, Gemma screamed, and nearly toppled back into the chamber, catching herself on the threshold. The light that appeared around Elias was easily as startling and she stared at him, her breath going out in a gasp. When he spoke, she could barely hear him for the blood pounding in her ears, and slowly, she sank back down to sit, a hand to her heart. Her eyes narrowed and she shot a glare at him.


"...You... I... You scared the--" But the words wouldn't come, and a second later, Aquarius was there again. Gemma gave another startled yelp and bolted upright, pointing an accusatory finger at the older man.


"Bells!" She shouted, "You people need damn bells! Time for what?"

 

[Kazanna]

Aquarius raised a brow at Gemma, and snorted, "My last wife said the same thing, on her hundred and fiftieth birthday. I popped up right behind her..." He smiled and laughed lightly, there was a sad look about his face. "Ah but memories... There is no time for that right now. Elias, It's time for you to take up the mantle, the reason for your training... I'm sorry I won't be here to show you the rest of this, but... my earlier time line self should be able to explain things..." He looked sad, "I don't.. remember doing it.. maybe I won't get the chance.. There are things that will happen to you soon boy, things that none of us even understand... We tried, so hard to figure it all out..." He shook his head, and then turned his gaze to Gemma, "Gemini Paige Livingtree, You are a cog in the great machine, one that is so important I had my doubts you'd ever realize it, I honestly still do." He laughed lightly, "But alas, Even that pales in comparison, I have but a few moments to deliver this before my injuries become too much for me to remain conscious through." He held up a hand as Elias tried to move to assist him, "It's alright boy, I'll survive... I'm just going to be dead for a while... you know how this works." He smiled and sighed quietly, raising the weapon in his hands.


"This weapon, is one of the few I wield that is not of my own creation, It is the Scythe of the Horseman, the weapon of Death Itself. The Scythe of the Grim Reaper, Death." He shuddered slightly as he struggled to maintain his strength, "This weapon, Elias, Is now yours. I pass on the duties, and the burden, of Death itself to you, as you were raised to take up. You will learn, over time, how to manage this power, how to embrace it, and how to use it. But as long as you hold this weapon. You will be death itself, just as I was, for all this time." He smiled sadly, and released the weapon from his grasp. The scythe stood, on it's end, right before Elias, who stared at it in fascinated horror. Aquarius fell to his knees, the life fading from his eyes, he muttered, "Do us proud Elias Grim... The Reaper..." His body impacted with the floor and reality seemed to break apart again as he vanished once more.


Elias stared at the scythe for a long moment, the Delphi armor he wore was folding away, reducing, he muttered, "I... What... But... Seriously...? Is it already that time...?" He looked to Gemma, as if seeking an answer. "What... should I do..?" he asked her quietly.

 

[Elle Joyner]

There it was again... the ominous warnings, the sadness... Aquarius spoke about Elias as if they had lost him, but there were no explanations, no information. Just a subtle indication that somewhere down the line something terrible was going to happen, something no one could change... something no one could fix. Why they couldn't just tell him what to avoid, tell him what to stay away from...


When Aquarius turned to her, she was surprised not only by his words, but by the tenderness behind them. Turning to him, Gemma frowned softly. She couldn't, for the life of her understand what he meant, or how she could possibly mean that much to anyone, but she wouldn't argue. Something about him, about the way he spoke felt strangely reminiscent of saying goodbye... and regardless of how she felt about him, it was enough to bring tears to her eyes.


But then he continued and in an instant, everything changed. The words were perfectly understandable, and yet she felt as if, all of the sudden, Aquarius was speaking another language. Even Elias, who she normally looked to, to make sense of any of these things, seemed clueless. He took hold of the scythe and Gemma wanted to tell him to stop, but it was too late, and likely a waste of breath. She turned to Aquarius with questions in her eyes, but before she could speak, he dropped.


Hands coming to her mouth, shock draining the color from her skin she watched as he toppled, watched as he dissolved away into nothingness. Elias spoke, but Gemma could hardly hear him, and slowly she shook her head, staring at the spot where the older man had been, moments before.


"...Elias..." She whispered, "What just happened..."

 

[Kazanna]

Elias glanced to Gemma, and shook his head, "I've just become death..." He reached out and took the scythe, and a sudden feeling of helplessness passed through him. The weapon trembled with unforeseeable power. It shook the room as it transitioned owners violently. Elias stared at the weapon and felt it's power surge into him, he watched as the weapon deformed itself, modified its own construction, and altered it's own physical being, within seconds, it was similar to how his armor looked, in fact, it matched his armor.


There was a popping noise behind Gemma, and a hand fell on her shoulder, Carlith was standing there, Fate by her side, "You don't want to be standing there, Trust me... I've seen this happen before, it's not fun, for anyone." She tugged Gemma Back, "I sensed it from my home in Rio, this is... a really bad thing, really, really bad thing, Elias wasn't supposed to receive that weapon for years. He's not ready." She Looked to Fate, who was gazing at her son with understanding worry, she had her arms crossed over her chest, she was wearing a business looking suit, her own Delphi armor was shimmering near it's collar.


"He's going to start screaming soon.. Isn't he sis..." Fate muttered to Carlith.


Carlith nodded quietly, "It'll take him a few moments..."


Elias' eyes rolled back as the weapon drew his soul out of his body, he gasped as it began to commit atrocities upon his body and soul, as the horrible power that was death itself flowed through him. He took hold of it, and fell to his knees, shuddering.


Then the screaming began, he was shuddering, the armor across his body struggled to stabilize him as he underwent the changes of the reapers power. His body shook violently for a few more moments before his form relaxed into the change and the scythe shimmered from view. He collapsed to the floor, and fell forward.


Fate closed her eyes, averting her gaze as he fell, she sighed, muttering, "This isn't right Lily... He doesn't deserve this... No one does..."


Carlith nodded slowly, "I know Fate... I know... Aquarius didn't even want him to take up the mantle... but... you know how it works..." she said quietly.


Fate turned to Gemma, "I vote for drinks, lots of them... I just watched my only son become the Grim Reaper, I need to be really, really drunk right now. You watch too, I think it might help you too."


Elias spoke a moment later, "I... That was horrible... I hate you all so much..." He muttered, shuddering slightly.


Fate snorted a laugh out, "Well at least he's alive..."

 

[Elle Joyner]

Gemma felt dazed... so much so, she barely registered Carlith's appearance until she had spoken. She allowed herself to be led back away from Elias, tears forming her eyes as she watched him. As he fell, she started forward, but Carlith's grip on her shoulder would not relent, and reason told her to stay put.


It may have very well been one of the most devastating sounds she'd ever heard, the screaming, and it seemed to last for hours. It was as if he were being torn to pieces from the inside out, and quite possibly that was exactly what was occurring. She could nearly tangibly feel her heart breaking in her chest, and never before had she ever felt so utterly useless.


Fate addressed her, but she was barely listening, and as he doubled over, she ignored intuition and pulled away from the two women, crouching down beside him. Her hand shook as she rose it, allowing it to hover over his back for a moment before it dropped back down her side, "... Elias...?"

 

[Kazanna]

Fate was a cruel thing, even crueler when it was attacking a woman with a shared name as it. Fate watched her son stand up in a slow, pained manner, his body shuddering as his armor tried to compensate. The Delphi flowed down across him, and off of him, folding down to his chest, he sighed and relaxed slightly, muttering, "I'm... I think I'm okay... But Goddess... That was painful... Why do none of you ever warn me! For sanity's sake!" He looked to Gemma, a frown on his face, "Were heading out, I'll figure this stupid stuff out as we go."


Carlith and Fate watched as he pushed himself up off the ground, and then tripped over himself, they both sighed and covered their faces with the palms of their hands, "This is the kid were giving the powers and responsibilities of the Grim Reaper to? The one inheriting the powers of the First of the Horsemen..." Carlith questioned mockingly.


Fate sighed and shook her head, "Yep..."


Carlith glanced to Fate, then to Gemma, her face had an unsurprised look that said what she was about to say, "Yeah, were boned."


Elias glanced at the two women and shook his head, muttering, "Am I really trying to save this galaxy... really?" He covered his face with his hands, releasing a sigh.


Elias pushed himself up again, muttering, "Goddess... I really hate you two right now..."


Carlith and Fate began laughing again, shaking their heads, "You'll get used to it Elias, take it slow though. You cant rush it, it's like learning to walk, and your legs are made of noodles, everything else gets messed up."

 

[Elle Joyner]

Shaking her head, Gemma rose when Elias did, shooting the women a glare before looking back to him. They thought it was funny... they thought what had just happened to him was funny. They were... teasing him. Somehow, she couldn't quite bring herself to a place of shock. The thing was, she wasn't surprised, at all. They had shown a lack of tact before, concerning her circumstances. Why should they be any different, now.


Turning away from the pair, she met Elias's eyes, "...We have time. You shouldn't do anything, yet. Just... take some time. It can wait. I can wait. None of that is important right now. Please, just... take a few minutes, at least. Get your bearing. And then we'll talk about what to do next."


Smiling softly, dryly, she lowered her gaze, looking down at her hands which were still shaking, "...After that, I think I need a few minutes, anyway. God, Elias. That was awful."

 

[Kazanna]

Elias' eyes were black, he no longer saw the world the same way, he sat up on his knees, muttering, "Gods in chains... is this what he saw... all the time... Is this why he always looked so sad..." He seemed to be watching things that weren't there. Gazing at figures that didn't exist anymore.


Carlith paused, and stared at him, she frowned, and muttered, "Oh... He's adapting into it... Elias Sweetie, They're not there. Don't pay attention to them, They're ghosts. Just let it happen, you'll figure out how to ignore it. It only took Aquarius..." She paused and tried to recall the information, "A really... really long time..." Her shoulders slumped, "He was.. a lot more ready for it too, he was already an active death speaker... at that point... Man... we taught him everything but magic.. because he couldnt figure it out... now that's going to bite us in the ass. Fucking Dammit!" she spat out.


She looked to Gemma, "Take care of him. I have to go get the compendium of Death, It's locked in a dimensional deluge and it requires a few people to yank it out, But he needs the spells inside it to get through the next few hours." She grabbed hold of Fate, and rolled her eyes at her, "Come on Fate, lets go get your boy his manual." They vanished.


Elias looked to Gemma, and muttered, "I really... really hate them for this... Like honestly, who in the hells thought this would ever be a good idea? Infuse a human with the powers of Death... Really..."


Elias didn't have to wait long for an answer, a figure was standing behind him, a tall man, with a long mane of blonde hair, he was wearing old age armor, coated in blood, it was red toned already, he bore a massive blade, a double edged sword with chinks up and down its sides, "I asked my brother the same question when he passed the powers on to Aquarius. I'm still confused about it." He had his arms crossed over his chest, and he was sitting on nothing, just, sitting in the air, on nothing, "I wonder if you'll be able to take the load though boy. Aquarius barely managed it, and he was a necromancer. So what can you do that's so damn impressive to land you my siblings power?" the man had a cruel face, and blood red eyes that stared at Elias with a certain Animosity.


Elias didn't even look at him, before he muttered, "War..."

 

[Elle Joyner]

"...Are you surprised?" She asked, frowning softly, "They don't seem to have very much consideration at all for the things they make you do. Or have you, in all the chaos, forgotten that they crushed your heart? Literally..." Reaching out, she touched his arm, "For what it's worth... they aren't exactly my favorite people in the universe right now, either."


Gemma jumped at the appearance of the frightening figure, taking a cautious step closer to Elias. He was, without a doubt, one of the more terrifying drop-ins that they had had that day. Terrifying and condescending... "...You have no idea what he's capable of. I've been with him for less than a day and he has done things I never even thought were possible, without blinking an eye. The last beings who underestimated him were taken away in pieces."


Narrowing her eyes, she let her hand drop, fingers looping through Elias's, "He has endured more than anyone I have ever seen or heard of... and he will endure through this. No... he will do more than endure. He will excel. Because that is what he does. He defies expectations... He rises above, and he will rise above this. So unless you have something constructive to offer... I don't imagine I'd be far off in suggesting you aren't welcome here."

 

[Kazanna]

War stared at Gemma incredulously, He began grinning, an amused look on his face as she started speaking, but by the time she had finished speaking, he had an annoyed look on his face. He shot forward, faster then existance should have allowed and held her aloft by the throat. He spoke to her furiously, "I have another name mortal. It is Wrath, It is Fury, You would do best not to challenge me, That you are allowed the honor of viewing me is something that disgusts me. I would tear you apart were it not for the favor you have curried with the current bearer of death."


He glanced down at Elias, who was still struggling to move, "Tell me Death, Shall I snap her neck, Would you like me to give you the honor of your first soul reaping to be your little girlfriend here? It always seemed to be the best thing in the past. We were always so amused watching you suffer through it. You always did enjoy it afterwards though. Consuming their souls energies towards your own appetite. Shall we test it... What do they call you, Elias Grim? Grim, isn't that Ironic! Your the Grim Reaper! Oh this is rich!" He began laughing, and he threw Gemma down on the ground cruelly. Her armor would bear the brunt of the damage, but War was a deity, he was powerful. He knew of the armor, so he used the force enough to harm her.


Elias shifted his form, leaping to catch Gemma as she was thrown down. He glared at War and rose carefully, pushing himself up he held her off the ground before setting her down gently. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly.


War frowned, staring at Elias he growled quietly, "Are you stupid, or blind, or deaf or something? Did you not just... What is wrong with you!!" War moved towards Elias and Gemma as Elias slowly turned his gaze towards War, his features showing neutral emotion.


"Quite a bit brother. Quite a bit... But... I'm neither blind, nor deaf, nor stupid. In fact, I recall the last time this happened." Death's voice echoed out beyond Elias' voice. He placed himself between War and Gemma, there was a dark aura around his form. Elias was between his own existence, and Death's, he glanced back at Gemma, and raised a finger to his lips, a feral grin on his face. His other hand, was behind his back, a blade forming in the palm of his hand as War approached. He turned back to face War, his features returning to their neutral state as War's fury rose.

 

[Elle Joyner]

She should have seen it coming, and in the back of her mind somewhere, she may have, but it was, nevertheless, alarming when that hand clenched round her throat. Her fingers, to little avail, clawed at his arms, but he would not relent, his mocking voice rising about the ringing in her ears as he taunted Elias. She was both horrified by his words, but also, and perhaps strangely so, confident that no harm would actually befall her... He seemed half mad, and arrogant, but he hardly seemed stupid...


A moment passed in ages, but at last, his fingers relented and though it hurt, she was relieved when he released her. With a small cry, she felt the impact, a surge of pain in her shoulders and her elbow, her chest, her back, her hip... Nothing permanent, certainly, but it would bruise, and it hurt. It was meant to. Grinding her teeth to fight tears, she looked up as Elias swept in. As he righted her, she shook her head, catching his eye, "....Fine..." She responded, her voice a rasp, her hand rising to her throat.


The other man continued on, what little composure he seemed to possess all but gone and Gemma stepped carefully behind Elias, watching in awe as he addressed the volatile offender. When he turned to her, she nodded, slowly... Her gaze, however, was not on him, but on the weapon, both alarmed and curious as to what his plan might be.

 

[Kazanna]

War approached Elias/Death, the mixture of the two was a startling figure, the Delphi armor had actually retracted even further, and was no longer active. Death's Scythe had formed into a dagger, a long one, with a very cruel, and twisted blade. When War rushed to meet Death, he met quite the same demise as should have been expected. Elias brought the blade against his throat in a flash and sliced it open, the mans blood spilling onto the floor.


"Cant we have a single meeting between us where we don't try to ravage eachother, or fuck eachothers lovers, prospective or otherwise." He glanced to Gemma, "Your lovely by the way darlin, And boy does he see it." Death winked at her with Elias' features.


War struggled to rise to his feet, he was cauterizing the wound in his throat with the palm of his hand. Death had his hands at his side as War took a grasp of his weapon, the massive sword on his back gleamed hungrily.


"You'll... Pay for that... Whelp..." War rasped out.


Death sighed, crossing Elias' arms over his chest, the dagger extending in both directions until it became a dual ended Scythe, "You just don't get it War. This boy was trained for a single purpose. For one reason. I was given to him." Elias was suddenly gone, simply vanished, he reappeared a moment later behind War, finishing his statement as he rammed the scythe through War's chest from behind. "To Fight, and fight well, Dirty moves and all."


War looked down at the blade and frowned, he began to laugh, "You wouldn't kill your own brother... You wouldn't then... You wont now."


Death smiled at him, and pushed the blade in deeper, until the shaft was against War's spine. "Your right brother... I wouldn't kill you. But think of this like last time, Last time, you assaulted Aquarius girlfriend, you killed her outright, he tried to kill you." Death moved Elias' face close to War's ear, "This time... you attacked the boys girlfriend, he's human, their lives are fleeting, two hundred years tops... You could have broken her..." He glanced to Gemma, smiling, "I won't kill you War... But Elias... He's the most hateful bearer of the scythe that has ever existed, He's even more powerful then Delilah was when Aquarius tore the scythe from her grasp... And you just attacked his girlfriend... Best of luck to you old chap."


War's features changed from amused pain, to horror as Elias reclaimed control of his body. He kicked the back of War's knees in, and held tight to the scythe. He looked at Gemma, and muttered, "He would kill you and I both, he would rape you, murder you, revive you, rape you again, murder you again, and then torture your soul for a thousand years, simply because I show you favor." He twisted the scythe slightly and War began to laugh.


"Oh and I'd enjoy every second of it boy. I'd do it for decades, I'd keep her alive just to know you were suffering. You won't kill me, You can't, You don't have a vessel, War can never be killed, It has to transfer." War coughed out with a sadistic glint in his eyes.


Elias glanced to Gemma, "How about it Gemma, Care to become War itself. The torch can be passed whenever you feel like it, but this bastard... This sorry excuse for a deity, he's held this torch so long its twisted his poor little brain into thinking he's eternal..." He brought his eyes to gaze at Gemma's eyes, "Take up his sword, and you'll rob him of his power, You will become war, and purify the Deity's soul. The corruption doesn't follow, the only curse that it comes with, is the knowledge of every atrocity that war has ever committed upon any species in existence..."


There was an odd light in Elias eyes, like he was playing with fire, and enjoying every second of the burn, This was the world he knew, chaos derived from madness, Order derived from seemingly infinite knowledge. He was extending Gemma a hand deeper into that world. War held the blade in his grip, the weapon gleamed hungrily for blood, for supreme justice, for the unleashed fury of pure anger. War's grip upon the weapon was faltering as Elias offered it over to Gemma verbally. If she were to take hold of it, it would be little challenge to wrest it from the current holder's hands.

 

[Elle Joyner]

Despite the horrendous display... the proximity of it all and the discomfort at having little choice but to witness it, Gemma could barely bring herself to feel pity for War. He was a monster, through and through, all sense of reason shattered by a position he should have given up long ago. She could understand the lure of power, the temptation to seek it, regardless of the risks, but to allow yourself to become such a dark, demented force... to be perverted by the power until there was little left in you but violence and wickedness... There was no excuse.


"...I could take it." She said, softly, her eyes burning with a quiet fury, "I could take it from you, and you would deserve what came to you. I could take it and he would kill you and you would deserve that fate. I would have no trouble sleeping at night, knowing I'd helped rid the world of one more monster. I would have no regrets, knowing I had done something to end you..."


Frowning softly, she took a step forward, but only one, her eyes on Elias, "...But I don't want it. The mantel. I got into this because I was falsely accused of starting a war. I think it would be a little counter-productive... taking on the title."


Her eyes flicked down and narrowed, a mask of cold fire, "...Your life is in my hands. I imagine that's something of a new feeling for you. It must be frustrating. You're probably used to being in control... being the one to choose. You've hurt a lot of people... done a lot of terrible things. You've abused your power for far too long. I would not for one second regret the decision to remove you from existence. I would even dare to dwell on the hope should that decision be made, you would spend eternity in a fiery pit, somewhere... living out the torment you inflicted upon others until the universe fell into darkness and time ceased to exist. But then, that's ultimately the difference between you and I."


Crouching down so she could meet his eyes, she shook her head, "...You don't deserve mercy. But I'm giving it to you, anyway. Because that's the type of person I am... But do not mistake that for foolishness. I will not give you this option again. If you even think about stepping foot near me... or mine again... He will pick up where he's started, here. And I will do what's necessary to see that it's finished for good."


Rising upright, she looked to Elias, "...I don't want it."

 

[Kazanna]

With a raised brow, and a strange smile, Elias nodded to Gemma. He reached forward and slid the blade out of War's grip, the deity shuddered as he felt his connection to the weapon waning. He glanced back to Elias, blood dripping out of his mouth, he murmured, "Your all insane..." He began to laugh quietly before it raised in volume. Elias hefted Wars sword in his hand, feeling the furious rage that boiled out from it. He glared down at War and shrugged, "Sanity is perspective War. You should know that, You fought against a being not even from this dimension, you hoped to win, and when you failed, you called upon your armies, your brothers, and still you failed. It took all you had simply to retreat from these lands before. But I understand how you survived that battle. I understand why you still function... It's because your a required Atrocity."


Elias spun the sword in his grasp, his eyes narrowing cruelly, "But it is as the old saying goes... Hell Hath No Fury..." He thrust the weapon forward, through War's chest, his own blade would sprout from his chest, until the hilt rested against his spinal cord, "like a Good Woman's Scorn." He withdrew the scythe and spun it in an arc, splattering War's blood on the floor. "Now burn, Burn and fade from our sight." Elias murmured.


War's eyes grew cold and his body shuddered as black flame engulfed him. Elias watched with bitter satisfaction as the Deity was reclaimed for the time being by the cosmic powers that birthed him in the first place. The body was destroyed, but the blade simply fell to the floor with a clatter. Elias sighed, and relaxed visibly, "Goddess save me... If I had to keep that ruse up for even another second I was about to collapse... You were perfect." He glanced to Gemma, shaking his head, before he reached down and took War's blade into his grasp. He spun the weapon in an arc over his wrist and then set it against the wall. "The lab will place it in stasis... maybe fore a time that will mean peace... until some poor idiot stumbles in here and claims it..."


The Scythe of Death shimmered away and Elias collapsed to the floor, his body covered in a dark mist. His hands were spread against the floor as he tried to maintain some sense of consciousness, "That... has got to be the most taxing ordeal I've ever been through... The weapon dismantled my soul, then rebuilt it with positions open for Death to take residence. The soul had... just a few moments of consciousness, apparently it always does so it can pass memory to the next bearer, but after that the... personality goes dormant unless you lose yourself to the weapon..." He shook his head, trying to relax himself enough to stop the shaking as he stared at the floor, "Either way, I won... War Lost, My god, We just defeated a Deity of the Natural Order." He pushed himself back and sat down crossing his legs beneath himself, "Later on our docket today, take down a psychotic religious order hell bent on the destruction of anything they deem as unworthy to be allied with human kind." He said with an air of sarcasm, "No rest for the wicked... None... at all.." he gazed over to Gemma with a light smile on his face, he was exhausted, but alive.

 

[Elle Joyner]

"...Most girls... when a guy likes them, he takes her to dinner... maybe the theater. Mother always told me I had unusual taste in men." Gemma moved as Elias collapsed, dropping down beside him, every trace of that coldness gone. She reached out and gently, a hand cupped his cheek, "...I'm sorry, Elias. You don't deserve this. To go through all this. I keep thinking if you hadn't shown up... if you hadn't taken the bounty, none of this would be happening to you. I know I haven't actually done anything, but I feel like it's my fault."


Lowering her hand, she sat beside him on the floor, shaking her head, "...The Order can wait. A few more hours isn't going to make a difference. You need to rest... to recover. Hell, I need it, myself." Reaching up, she brushed her neck, frowning softly. Stippling bruises were already forming, and she knew upon inspection she would find more, elsewhere on her body. Still, it was better than it would have been, had she not been wearing the suit.


"...And don't even think about arguing with me. You may be Death, now... but I won't take for an answer, no matter who you are." Rising to her feet, she held out her hand to help him upright, "Come on. I don't know about you, but I could use a drink."

 

[Kazanna]

Elias accepted her help, and rose to his feet with a shudder. He rolled his neck and sighed, groaning he muttered, "Dislocated my arm doing that... His armor was thick... must have been Etherium... or something harder... Especially after the Delphi was folded away..." He popped his shoulder into place with a grunt, thrusting his hand out to the side with a resounding pop. He groaned and nodded to her, "Yeah... Drinks... Lets... go upstairs... My whole body... feels like it's been thrown into a..." He paused, and shook his head, "Know what, Never mind... I've... scarred you enough for one day..."


Another voice, one similar, but different sounded off, It was like Aquarius, but different, younger sounding, "So... I'm sort of used to this by now... but... who are you, and what are you doing in my lab..." the figure was far younger, his face was adorned by a series of intricate Tatoo's, his hair was long, and messy, he was wearing a haroi and a hakama with an odd sword over his shoulder, held by his right hand.


Elias frowned and stared at him, asking, "What... Year is it for you...?"


The figure shrugged, "Right now,where I just came from, fourteen fifty-three. Fuedal Era Japan. But... I'm guessing your from... some time way further along judging by her... very interesting armor... What is it... Poly-Chrome... Something?" He raised a brow towards Gemma, which, revealed his most striking feature, his dark blue eyes, the entire orb was dark blue, not just the iris.


Elias shook his head, "Sorry Lunaris... Spoilers... But were members of your clan. Just... Using the lab for a few things..." he said with a low tone.


The figure nodded, biting the corner of his lower lip thoughtfully. "Alright, I got ya. No worries. I probably told you to say that... That's generally the case... Just... what year..?"


Elias shook his head, "Couple thousand years... for mankind... judging by your eyes... a very... very long time..." Elias said softly.


The figure nodded and took a step back, "Right... and what... is that.." He asked as he pointed at War's Sword.


"Sword of the Second Horseman of the Apocalypse." Elias said, his face looked like he'd eaten something bitter, "Who I just killed..."


The figure nodded, "Huh... Okay..." He turned, and vanished without another word.


Elias sighed, "I... hate this place sometimes..." He muttered quietly.

 

[Elle Joyner]

At the interruption, Gemma turned, surprised to find Aquarius in nearly the same spot he had been in earlier, looking far younger and far less weary. It was strange, but certainly, that was the theme of the day. As he spoke, Gemma remained silent, smiling faintly at Elias's comments about War. It shouldn't have been amusing, but then... it was an unlikely statement...


After he'd vanished again, she looked to Elias, shaking her head, "Bells..." Gemma muttered, "The whole lot of them. I take it that was early Aquarius?"


Shaking her head, she took Elias's hand, "Come on. Before anyone else can pop in and make our lives more difficult. If you tell me where to go, I can help you. It's not far, is it?"

 

[Kazanna]

Elias shook his head, "No... that was one of his Avatars... Kazanna... His original name was Aquarius, he was given the name Kazanna by the woman who made him into a Lycanthrope when he was still young... He retained it until recently. Aquarius is the CEO of WFI, Kazanna Lunaris is the murderous butcher that fought in the Trinity Wars. Same person... different body..." He sighed and nodded to Gemma, "Depends... on how big a time gap were stuck in... It's apparently a big one... if he's from the fourteen hundreds."


Elias straightened himself up and groaned, murmuring, "Oh... I'm going to feel that tomorrow..." his spine cracked several times as he stretched out. He sighed and relaxed, then nodded to Gemma, "The Island has a lot of... touristy attraction locations, the house can teleport us to it. Hot springs, a crystal lake, things like that..." He shrugged and sighed, "Plus, you can bring a bottle or two of whatever your favorite poison is. Carlith and the others used to reward me by time spent at those locations. They're... generally safe..?" He shrugged slightly.

 

[Elle Joyner]

"Oh... Right." Gemma chuckled, shaking her head, "That's not confusing at all. So he was Aquarius, but isn't anymore? Because of some woman. But Aquarius is... Oh forget it. You're just gonna need to make a glossary or something, so I can keep up. At this rate, I'm not sure if I can remember my own name, anymore. I hope there isn't a quiz or anything, because there's no chance I'll pass."


Smiling gently, she gestured to the door, "Any of that sounds wonderful. At this point, I'd settle for a hot shower and a couch to sit on. I don't care where we go, so long as there isn't anyone else there. This has been the longest day of my life, and I am ready for a break. Just you and me, and no more pop ins or AIs or Horsemen. Nothing case related. I just want to sit and for however long we have, not think about any of this. Not worry about any of it. Just.. forget it for a few minutes. So, by all means, lead the way... and I will follow unhesitatingly."

 

[Kazanna]

Elias shrugged lightly, and smiled, an idea striking him, "I know a place... It'll... be a breach of the rules... but I don't really mind... Aquarius will understand..." He turned to the console and tapped several points on it, "First..." a wall panel slid open, "Form a knife in your hand, cut your finger, or hand, or wherever, just need a bit of blood, put it on one of the reams of cloth in there. Then take it out, I'll, Get me a second one, but skip the blood, I'll teach you how this works... We'll go to my house in Anchorage. It's been a few years since I've been home..." He was dialing in statistical data into the computer, hitting keys faster then Gemma would be able to follow, "Fifty hours... should be enough to relax... I'll signal the ship to arrive there to pick us up at the appropriate time, and then we can jump from there... It'll be supplied with what I need..." He narrowed his eyes as he clicked the settings into the computers databank.


Elias turned to Gemma, waiting for her to retrieve the cloth he'd mentioned. The reams of cloth were black, solid and without flaw, but would feel like silk. He had worn them before, the mystical Shadow-Cloth, an invention of a long extinct race of beings known as Weaver Spider-Spirits, they were sentient humanoids that were closely related to spiders, but were in fact elemental spirits. They had long ago died out from Myth-Hunter attacks, and had passed their secrets to Aquarius in his younger years. He had stored the knowledge in the house and the lab had since mass produced the cloth for members of the clan. Elias knew how to use it very well, and was always amused at the interesting clothing one could contrive from a simple ream of cloth.

 

[Elle Joyner]

"After everything we've though? I think maybe we're do for a little rule bending... Besides... Won't do us any good to move forward from here without at least some rest. It's not exactly conducive to saving the world if we pass out right in the middle of it..."


She smiled faintly and nodded, before utilizing those things he had taught her to form the knife in the palm of her hand. It was nothing impressive, a small black hilt with a thin stiletto tang, a sharp pointed tip on the end, but it really didn't need to be extravagant. She gave the palm of her hand a prick, flinched, briefly, then squeezed until a few beads of blood flecked out.


This hand, she pressed to the smooth, dark cloth, before taking it out.

 

[Kazanna]

Elias would wait until she passed him a ream of cloth. His nanites were intricate enough he was able to produce blood on the spot, and bind the cloth to him. He held the ream out and motioned to her, "Now watch, it's a psychic link you've just formed through your blood. All you have to do... is hold the cloth at first, and imagine an outfit. It'll become whatever you can think of. After your first use, it'll form a symbol, Mine..." He demonstrates, the cloth wrapped across him in a rapid motion, binding over him, it became a tight, form fitting shirt, a pair of slightly loose pants, the Delphi armor underneath accommodated and slid down to his feet, becoming boots, the cloth also formed a jacket with a collar that cleaned him up neatly. He flipped the collar up, "Is here, It's the clan symbol, Most members of the clan have a similar emblem for control."


He pressed his thumb against it, and the clothing shifted again, becoming a more relaxed fit outfit. "Until your able to control it like this..." His outfit switched back slowly, the cloth straightening, tightening, altering its appearance, "You can use the Emblem. It makes things simple, Efficient, and easy. My shadow cloth ends up integrating with my nanites, You can integrate yours with your Delphi suit, and actually fold the Delphi armor into it. Giving you a better link and an easy way to store the Delphi armor as well as be able to take it off without hassle." His nanites were already invading the cloth he was wearing, it showed rapidly as the seams of his clothing gained lighting similar to LED lights along the sleeves from top to bottom, it shimmered with his pulse, slow and steady. "Gives off a really ominous look in the dark." He said with a grin.


Elias motioned to her, "Just think of something simple, then fold the Delphi armor into it, you should... remember how to do it from my memories." He said with a smile.

 

[Elle Joyner]

Gemma grinned, watching Elias's demonstration. It was easily one of the more complex things he had shown her, yet there was something so terribly simple about it. Back home, at Magistrate, she and her team had designed something similar, but it had required much more material and was hardly as complicated, and certainly not as technically advanced. For the first time since the bar, she was certain he had shown her something that she might actually enjoy using.


Taking the cloth, she bit her lip, concentrating for a moment. She'd had a number of items in her wardrobe that she would not mind seeing again... but he had mentioned Anchorage, so warmth was a thing to consider. Comfort would also be important... but all things considered, there was a small part of her which wanted to impress him. Not with the flash and flare of an outfit like that she'd worn before his Aunts... which had worn her, more than she'd worn it. Something that was her... that embodied who she was, before this entire nightmare had begun.


In her mind she pictured the pants first, a pair of tight black slacks, slung slow and hugging the curves of her hips with affection, then a cream colored camisole, largely comprised of lace, over which went a long, full sweater, in a metal-grey color, oversized enough that it hung well off her shoulder. Round her neck, covering the ugly bruise, a deep purple scarf. Heather grey boots came just below her knees, rimmed with silver fur and thin heels about three inches in height.


Glancing down, she smiled faintly and nodded, "That ought a do it..."

 

[Kazanna]

An archway of technological and spell infused runes pulled it's way out of the floor. It began to shimmer as the technological parts sparked with power. The AI reappeared and frowned, "Time jumping... What? Who cleared this...?"


Elias smiled at her, and shrugged, "I did. Problem? It's only 50 hours."


The AI shrugged at him, "Doesn't matter to me, so long as it's cleared." She said flatly. "I expect you started the other sequences?" She asked. Elias shook his head, "I'll do it once I'm through, so It'll all come together at the right time." The AI nodded at him slowly.


"Noted, though... I have no records of it, so you best put it on a shadow run." The AI stated.


Elias nodded and took Gemma's hand in his, "Come on. Time Travel's a funny one, We need to hit it the moment the reaction occurs." He watched, and waited. He knew when to jump, it was all about timing. The Time Portal spun up it's charge rapidly and electrical power arced between it's pylons. Elias watched as the event horizon formed, and as it was about to crest, he pulled Gemma towards it as he moved into it's path. The time portal pulled them in, drawing them back fifty hours in time, it was a freezing cold, and burning hot journey all at once, the energies that expelled you on the opposite time were vicious and would throw most people flying. But Elias had prepared for the backlash, he'd pulled Gemma into his arms, and landed upright, though slightly crouched. She was already very light, so with his titanic strength, it was like carrying a feather.


He was gentle as he set her down, a smile on his face, he put his fingers to his lips. "Shadow Run, Code, Elias Grim, Reapers Prodigy." He glanced about and the AI appeared before him.


"Shadow Run Initiated. Taking sub-sequences into account." The AI said, it's tone flat, it's voice lower.


Elias nodded at it and glanced to Gemma, "It's cool to talk now, Shadow Runs are basically a stealth format, the system doesn't record data, it's for... well events like this." He said, returning his gaze to the AI, "I'm sending you an email via nanite interface, it's all the things I'm going to need in my ship in fifty hours. Place them in the cargo-bay. Next, I need a transmat to the Canadian warehouses near Alaska. I need my motorcycle transported there as well, and if you can, stock the Anchorage house with groceries that apply to my normal list."


The AI nodded, "Is there anything else, or would your associate like to add anything?" the AI asked, glancing to Gemma.


Elias shrugged and nodded to Gemma, "Ask away, it's all on WFI's tab anyways. Company money is unending." He crossed his arms over his chest, amused to what she might ask for.

 

[Elle Joyner]

She'd thought the Tesser Reactor was impressive... but Elias couldn't settle for supplying her with known capabilities with which to be amazing, she'd learned that by now. No... going above and beyond any possible expectations seemed to be his modus operandus. Time travel was something they had discussed at Magistrate, but only ever as a pipe dream. There were too many risks, to many complications... and far too much funding required to even being the research into it. So naturally, Elias knew how to use it.


When they arrived, Gemma acknowledged Elias's hint not to speak with a silent nod, listening as he addressed the AI. When he spoke to her again she chuckled, softly, "...Reminds me of the time I snuck out of the house, when I was younger. Climbed down the roof at my parent's place and met up with some friends at the neighborhood park. We got caught about twenty minutes later, but it was fun while it lasted."


Smiling faintly at the AI's question she shook her head, but a moment later, held up a finger, "Oh! Hot chocolate! Not cocoa. Chocolate. The good kind, with the marshmallows." In some parts of the world, it had been outlawed many years before and finding it wouldn't be easy, but somehow that made it all the more enjoyable when she'd been able to get her hands on it. It was, in her humble opinion, a crucial necessity to relaxation.