Post by Rae-Star Berii on Dec 9, 2012 3:58:00 GMT -5
There was a darkness settling over the world around them, the fires that the daemon had first set had died out now and the extra light and heat was dwindling. It made everything seem much darker; and with it the darkness brought new dangers. The daemon was a maniac, he was frivolous with human life and today he had caused so much devastation. Her eyes went west, to what had once been an unhealthy greasy spoon; it lay in ruins now, twisted metallic statues and blood smattered steel graves. He had destroyed it so quickly, with a crunch and a screech; like fingernails on a chalk board he had taken something evidentially human and turned it into shards and spikes of hell-istic art. The rotary blades of what was once a helicopter still spun slowly, zombie like.
At her side, Eli was growling. Everything that had come to pass in the last few minutes; it surely felt like hours, had put the poor pup on edge. His only understanding of what to do to solve his confusion was to show his teeth and growl. In fairness to him, he was doing a good job of that, but it was not helping the situation. Rae put her hand in the scruff of hair behind his head, stroking it, soothing, reminding the dog that they were in this together and she would not leave him behind. Despite his being a stray who had followed her on her adventure from Chicago, the pup was the only family Rae had now, she seemed to have adopted him. Fortunately for both, neither of them minded the others company.
Rae looked down at her hand in Craig’s, her worn fingerless gloves against the hot-sweat of his palm. The curl of his fingers around hers; she hadn’t realised her hands were so dirty. In reflection she had been thrown to the ground after the first explosion, she still bore the cut along her face where a piece of glass had sliced her skin. The blood there was dirt, the wound would heal eventually, but it was somewhat unsightly on her porcelain skin. She found herself tightening her fingers around his as their hands were re-joined. It was something she would’ve done with Caleb…if he’d been having a nightmare. Now, it felt like they were living in a nightmare.
Finally, the daemon realised the severity of the situation. It was good of him to let them live, but an itch in the back of Rae’s mind told her they were only safe until he received the serum.
You’re going to have to let go of her. I intend to fly us there…
Rae’s eyebrow tipped. Naturally this was the way out for her, this was the chance to continue on with her journey and pretend that this awful day had never happened. If she was a coward, she would have dropped Craig’s hand, let him be lifted into the air by the damned daemon and she would think no more upon this. But, she was not a coward, she had run away from daemons before, she had preserved her own life, been selfish before and it had left her alone, it had seen the destruction of her family.
And if the daemon decided to kill Craig after receiving the antidote….she would feel eternally guilty, as if it were directly her fault for abandoning him.
In hindsight, if the daemon hadn’t so whimsically destroyed every mode of transport that had come towards the diner there might have been a clearer sense of escape. A helicopter would have been sufficient; but of course that was a major part of his cruel artistry.
Of course; the attack on the diner had woken the human race to this; a bomb of any kind in an American state did not go un-investigated and the destruction of a police helicopter and a diner; regardless of how good the food; would be seen as some sort of terrorist attack. It wouldn’t have surprised Rae if there were more police; the FED’s and even the army to show up next.
In a low murmur to Craig, Rae said; “If you are going with him alone; find yourself a means of taking off his head.” She warned him, quietly, looking up sincerely into his eyes. “As soon as you heal him, do not expect him to show you any courtesy.”
She did not like the idea of being separated from her new companion…
Post by Craig Jamerson on Dec 9, 2012 7:48:29 GMT -5
Craig leaned his head to Rae as she whispered ever-so-softly in his ear and nodded in agreement. He whispered back to her, "I was thinking the same thing. Besides, even if I get some sort of hellish promise to not hurt me, what's to keep him from coming back and finishing you?" Craig stood straight again and spoke loudly enough for the other to hear. "No, Maria and I are sticking together, we don't separate. You're going to have to transport us at the same time. Look for a car or something. Or we could start walking and you could take the first working car we come across from it's driver in a non-fatal fashion. Regardless, if I get to my lab without Maria, no serum."
Craig wasn't sure how well this whole thing would work and he didn't know how to keep the Daemon from killing him after he got the serum. Or from coming back. Or a lot of things. How was he going to have his and Rae's safety guaranteed in this situation? He continued trying to develop a safety plan for the two of them as he watched the Daemon on that quiet American battlefield.
Post by Tyrant Creed on Dec 9, 2012 14:11:40 GMT -5
Tyr rolled his eyes, giving a snort of disgust. So many were like these two, and he was already tired of their type. "So typical of humans. You believe everyone, everything, you meet to be just like you. No honor. No code. No entropy." Their blatant suggestion had tweaked his pride and he mustered up a condescending look, one he had seen on his father's face many times.
After two heartbeats of nothing, Tyr spoke again. "I am Tyrant Creed. Creed. We are a bloodline that has never broken its word, once given." He stared at their faces, suddenly disappointed with himself that he had put himself into a position to need the aid of one of them. He glared at the girl. "Keep that up, and ill show you my own means of decapitating others."
A grin slowly spread across Tyr's face, a dangerous glint in his eye. "Well.. I suppose i could fly you and... Carry, the girl.." He waved his hand at the motorcycle, the only vehicle still intact. "But I warn you, she may not enjoy the experience. It would be best if she stayed her. But do as you will." Tyr readied himself, massive black wings bursting from underneath his shirt and flexing as they readied for flight. "Take my hand when you are ready. And girl mount the bike if she still insists on coming." With that, he held one hand out to the male.
Post by Rae-Star Berii on Dec 9, 2012 14:38:20 GMT -5
"I was thinking the same thing. Besides, even if I get some sort of hellish promise to not hurt me, what's to keep him from coming back and finishing you?" His voice came back in her ear and she nodded; but that was a risk she was going to take. If he came back, Rae would be gone, she wasn’t going to be left behind and then wait around for things to go bad. Still, she kept her hand tight in his, kept close to his shoulder.
Of course the daemon picked on her; she now had nothing to bargain with, his glare burrowed into her very soul and Rae swallowed slowly, her mouth dry. Keep that up and I’ll show you my own means of decapitating others, he said, and Rae felt anxiety sweep through her insides.
Then things started happening, and they did not seem to be encouraging in anyway. She saw the same dangerous look that he had been wearing when he blew up the diner, and Rae knew they were making a mistake. “Hold on-“ She asked, her voice quiet, her accent gentle. “We got into this mess because of a misunderstanding, tell us what you mean to do and how to intend to transport us?” She asked, careful not to make a demand of him; he’d seemed agitated by that earlier on.
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Last Edit: Dec 9, 2012 14:38:40 GMT -5 by Rae-Star Berii
Post by Craig Jamerson on Dec 9, 2012 18:28:12 GMT -5
Craig listened to the fellow, who finally introduced himself as Tyrant Creed. How appropriate, he mused. He was surprised by the bursting of wings from the being's back; though, he'd seen it before and it wasn't as impossibly foreign as it had been the first time he'd seen it. He reached to grasp Tyrant's forearm after he'd finished speaking but stopped as Rae began to speak quietly to hear her out. Craig considered what she had said but decided that he'd stated his requirements quite clearly enough and decided to not wait on the Daemon's response. He finished by grabbing his extended forearm. His grip was firm, one of physical strength and and one of confidence. He was a bit warmer than Craig, it seemed to him, and Craig wondered absently what a sample of his blood would look like as he turned his head to look at Rae one more time before they took flight.
Post by Rae-Star Berii on Dec 16, 2012 13:25:12 GMT -5
“Don’t do it.” She told him, her eyes dark as he reached out to take the daemon’s hand. “Craig-“ Rae offered her hand to him in turn. “Please, come to the station with me instead?”
Her eyes went to the daemon and then back to the mortal. Rae knew the daemon would find a way out being poisoned, they always wriggled out of situations that were unpleasant, and after thriving within the chaos they always found their way out of trouble.
“Craig” She beseeched, “don’t do this…I don’t want to come with you; not with him.” Her eyes went back the daemon; it was nothing personal, it wasn’t. But ultimately he had tried to kill them, it was not worth hanging around with the daemon and Rae did not trust him.
Post by Tyrant Creed on Dec 16, 2012 21:18:43 GMT -5
((sorry for the late post, all. I've been in the hospital recovering from this little disagreement i had with a certain Toyota that was speeding down a street while i was crossing))
Tyr sighed and pulled the male into and embrace, dropping into a crouch and pushing off while his wings were beating furiously. At first they ascended slowly until Tyr got his bearings. "Trust me, its best we leave her behind. She's honestly not worth me coming back to kill her. Besides, i never even wanted to." he told the male as he began to fly towards their destination. Tyr held him aloft easily as his wings carried the both of them. "Just tell me where to land." Tyr commented to him through the wind, loudly enough for him to hear and make a response. Little of this night had gone as he had planned and he intended to rectify all problems soon. The little show he had put on for the two mortals had indeed tired him out somewhat. Not significantly, of course. But enough so that Tyr didn't feel quite up to taking on the world at the moment.
Post by Craig Jamerson on Dec 17, 2012 12:59:01 GMT -5
Craig had looked back at her, considering what she was saying. Perhaps he should just leave this being to his fate- he surely deserved it for acting as judge, jury, and executioner to so many people he hadn't even seen. He was a creature of utter chaos and likely flowing with hatred... why should he be spared? He bit a lip as she spoke and looked the Daemon over, outstreched hand frozen as he considered the being. Regardless of what the miscreant deserved, if Craig voiced his preference to let the thing die, it would only give the Daemon one chance to avenge himself; which he would likely sieze hold of and butcher them both as his final sacrifice before departing himself. Or worse, he would fly to Reno and kill everything he could before being subdued. No, Craig had an obligation to Rae and the (arguably not) innocent civilians of Reno. He wasn't going to let their coffins rest on his shoulders.
When the Daemon moved his arms to pull Craig closer, Craig showed no resistance. Rather, he stepped closer to show his willingness to cooperate with the Daemon. A crouch and a launch and Rae was vanishing far below; only a meaningful look and a nod to mark their separation. He had failed in some respects tonight, but he had succeeded in diverting this Daemon and in keeping her alive. If nothing else, she would live.
As the quirky girl faded into the night, Craig turned his attention to where they were going. "Head towards that patch of lights; downtown." Craig said, directing the muscled one that had him in his grasps. He looked the fellow over closely. Even at this range, there was nothing to suggest anything paranormal about him. Craig decided to force him to realization of the occurences of the night... perhaps he could bring this Daemon to not call him foe by the time all was said and done if he saw that the Human in his arms was not as useless as he likely viewed Humans to be. "Have you ever been out-maneuvered by a mere Human before?" he asked, hoping he hadn't just signed his own death warrant in the night sky above the suburbs of Reno.
Post by Rae-Star Berii on Dec 22, 2012 16:04:29 GMT -5
As they headed up into the air, Rae shook her head. There was nothing she could do now, but watch as they disappeared into the sky. She could not catch them and she had no idea where they were going. Secretly she hoped Craig would be okay, but it was out of her hands now and into the hands of the Gods.
With a sigh she looked down at Eli, who looked up at her with his Disney eyes. The dog put his snout in her fingers and licked her palm, providing her a moment’s comfort. Rae nodded to him, as an unspoken word crossed between them. This was a minor set-back, it was time for her to continue with her quest and head back to Britain. It was time for her to get as far away from America as possible.
Shouldering her pack, she wiped at the smudge of blood on her cheek and set off, one foot carefully placed in front of the other. If Rae knew what lay ahead, we’re sure her path choices would’ve been much different, but this was a discovery it was her time to make.
((All yours boys, this is the end of the road for Rae in this thread. Have fun))
Post by Tyrant Creed on Dec 24, 2012 0:33:38 GMT -5
Tyr paid the girl no mind as they had lifted away, fearing to crush her like an ant if he felt any sort of emotional surge as she left. Unfortunately, it had happened before. Time and time again Tyr had been berated for being to prideful, too emotional, egotistical, etc. It really was getting old, to be honest. But the cool night air blowing through his feathers calmed him considerably. That is, until the human opened his mouth.
He frowned. Then he dropped him. They were some several thousand feet in the air and Tyr watched the human fall for a second or so, debating whether or not to let him fall a little bit more. He swooped down and grabbed the man, yawning. "You should be more careful, jumping from a height like this can kill a man." Tyr rebuked Craig as if he had jumped out of his arms instead of being dropped.
As asked, Tyr headed down for the lights Craig had indicated, humming a discordant tune to himself. "I've never been out-maneuvered by a human before. So I guess you could say this is my first deadlock with a human before. I came thiiiis close," Tyr held up two tightly pinched fingers for Craig to see as he hovered over downtown "to blowing you to tiny pieces and torturing the girl to death. I suppose if you hadn't offered to fix the damage you've done then I would have, shortly." Tyr admitted.
Post by Craig Jamerson on Dec 24, 2012 1:42:34 GMT -5
Craig had refused to scream. There was no point in it and he wouldn't give Tyrant the satisfaction. It was hard as hell not to, though, and as the ground rushed up at him, Craig wondered if the Daemon really would let him die... just for saying what he did. The Human doubted it, having counted on the instinct of self-preservation that was innate to living beings, but perhaps he was wrong. Perhaps he had severely miscalculated this creature.
Just then, he was smacked. He looked up to see Tyrant holding firmly onto him. A chill went up Craig's spine and he felt utterly relieved as he tried to slow his racing heart. He listened to Tyr and nodded a bit quickly. "As I expected. You see, I'm not like those other Humans... I'm intelligent enough to be useful. I've got skills your average street thug doesn't." Craig stopped for a moment to point at a square, white building nearby below them before suggesting, "You might find me useful in the future."
Post by Tyrant Creed on Dec 24, 2012 2:35:30 GMT -5
Tyr nodded when he saw the building Craig pointed out to him. He dived towards it, dropping quickly until he threw his wings out at the last second, catching and slowing their descent enough for a graceful landing. Setting Craig down, Tyr stretched his arms a bit, rolling his shoulders and shaking his wings with a yawn.
"Perhaps." Was all Tyr said when the man told him he might be found useful in the future. He wasn't much for asking others for help. Just wasn't what Tyr was about. He preferred to do things on his own which was why he was out in the world to begin with. Tyr was attempting to grow more powerful, to unlock the latent power within himself and ascend to godhood.
Tyr motioned towards the building, eying Craig wearily "After you." He waited for the man to go inside, shifting impatiently. The sooner this was done, the sooner Tyr could get back to business.
Post by Craig Jamerson on Dec 24, 2012 9:13:46 GMT -5
Craig pulled out his wallet and extracted a card before quickly punching a series of numbers into a keypad by the door and swiping his card through it. A beep sounded and the door clicked. Craig opened it, tossing it open for his guest. He made his way up a stairwell and entered the second floor of the building.
The floor of the lab was still with abandonment; nobody was at any of the 25 workstations in the center of the room. To the right rested Craig's office, 'Dr. Craig Jamerson' etched into the glass of the door. Directly in front of them was an enclosure composed of safety glass; except the back wall, which was brick. A stainless steel counter, stool, and table sat within the confines of the testing area. To the left, a sort of mixing area decorated with beakers, droppers, test tubes, and other miscellaneous scientific devices. It was towards these that Craig turned. He arrived at the counter and opened a refrigerated door on the bottom left where an army of vials lay in rest patiently. Reaching to one nearer to the back, Craig closed the door and turned to face Tyrant. "This will save your life," he stated casually, weather seeming rather nice today. "Follow me," he told the creature before walking towards the safety glass area and unlocking that door with another series of numbers. Once within, Craig pointed at a stool, hinting for the Daemon to take a seat. Craig grabbed a syringe from a drawer within the table in the center and looked it over carefully, making sure it wasn't cracked or anything. Satisfied, Craig turned to the Daemon. "I need you to extend your arm and clench your fist tightly for thirty seconds," he told him.
Post by Tyrant Creed on Dec 25, 2012 2:34:11 GMT -5
Tyr whistled slightly as he followed behind Craig, examining his nails. He completely ignored everything the man did to get them inside, having very little interest in the process. Likely he would never be coming back to the place and he was ok with that. Tyr had very little to do with humans, usually. The things lived far too short. But on the other hand, their short lives gave them an ambitious drive that often drove them to accomplish feats the other more lasting races did not and could not.
Craig seemed very intelligent, and Tyr admitted to himself that he could see the benefits of having an ally in the man. When they came to a stop and Craig said his stuff and had the stuff to fix him, Tyr held out one forearm, fist clenched, and the muscles hard as steel cords wrapped around bone. Watching Craig's face, Tyr spoke "I can see value in having an ally such as yourself. I could always use a good doctor. The pay would be generous and the perks... Well, lets just say the perks are pretty damn good." Tyr let his words trail off there for a moment, thinking. "It really depends on your personal tastes, I suppose. You wouldn't be working for me, but rather with me."
He ran one hand through his silky black hair, continuing "Oh, and that little incident at the diner? Not a common occurrence, I assure you. I also assure you that I had a very good reason to do it." Tyr waited, watching him, and took out a card. It was a normal looking business card, with the exception of the smear of blood on one corner, and it held all of Tyr's contact info. "Either way, here. This is my contact info. For what I've put you through tonight.. I suppose you can say I owe you one."
Post by Craig Jamerson on Dec 27, 2012 9:49:45 GMT -5
Craig chuckled as he produced an empty syringe. "That's hardly what I do," he said. Craig carefully aligned the needle with a vein and pushed it through the fellows flesh, allowing his blood to flow freely into the empty vial within. "Oh, of course I took regular doctoring courses and what not, but that's not really my specialty. What I really do is a bit more exciting than all of that." Craig removed the syringe, having filled the 30 mL vial. "We'll check that for effectivity later." With that, Craig pushed the new syringe into the man's vein, delivering the serum quickly.
Once finished, Craig removed the needle and nodded, eyes glued to the Daemon to see what he would do. He placed the business card in his pocket and said, "I'll keep that in mind. Maybe someday I'll need your help." Craig stood from the stool and pointed at the stainless steel countertop along the wall. "Your body's just gained reinforcements, but still, you're fighting a dangerous fight. Lay down there for a few minutes to make sure you're okay. I'll be right back." Craig turned to walk to the lab station on the side furthest from his office where he sanitized the syringes and extracted the vial. He then pulled the vial out and dropped a single drop of the serum into it to cleanse any Dragon's blood from the Daemon's blood. Satisfied upon further evaluation under a microscope, he dropped a single grain of salt into the vial, allowing it to dissolve completely and smiled as he placed the sample within the refrigerator.
Finished, Craig returned to the glassed-in area to check on the Daemon. "Feel alright?" he asked. "You probably began feeling weaker for a little bit there, but that's natural. There's a lot of energy being consumed in your body. You should be feeling somewhat better now." Craig leaned against the safety glass. "Regarding earlier, I am a geneticist. I research the DNA of creatures to try and come up with cures to various plagues affecting others. I can create creatures from different genetic codexes as well, forming new species altogether." Craig shrugged. "Not sure if that'd be useful to you, but that's what I do." Having said his piece, Craig opened the glass. "You can leave the same way you came in when you're feeling recovered enough."
