Fancy Meeting You Here (Gideon Crew)

[Anonymous]

Taros was watching Halo with interest, simply because the man seemed to feel like he was in charge. Taros was absolutely fine with that, let someone else take care of the large group of panicked people in a cramped space. Taros was only interested in his own at the moment and his own were...his eyes went back to Inali, Duncan and of course Tika. They seemed...alright. Inali was fussing over the blind man, who now his hands on her. Taros sighed deeply and walked over to Halo.

"I'll go with you, I might be of some help." He shrugged sort of mechanically then looked back at Inali. Her eyes had lifted to him but she winced as Duncan touched her back. Her lips pulling back and her teeth showing. Damn Duncan, she was supposed to be ignoring that.

"It's fine Dunc. I'll live." She closed her eyes for a second her hand going back to move his away then stopped when she felt her back twinge a little. "Well...maybe I do have a bit of a problem. It'll heal quick but..." She trailed off looking back to Taros and nodding at his decision. Then she heard a crackle. Her eyes moved quickly to source. Some sort of black light.

Magic.

She hissed the word in her mind, so few beings had magic now it was hard to tell how they would end up using it. However, it was easy to tell when it was darker magic. She rose halfway up then sat back down as a person appeared out of the blackness. She could barely believe her eyes. Someone using magic so openly, so obviously was either very powerful...or very, very stupid.

[Anonymous]

Stupid. He'd met the kid before, so take his word on it.

And, real 'stupid' like, 'hey how does a doorknob work? Yahoo!' but, young, powerful, and ain't gotten mah ass handed to me yet stupid. Which, even Halo at times fell victim too. Guy thing. Still, the shadow-bomb entry was impressive; Halo was old enough to remember when Majick was Majick, but didn't know a lick of any. Wouldn't help if he did; his moonrock, imbued with Negation Majick, would absorb any mystical energies he tried to summon, making the spell inert.

In fact, some might notice a few strands of that Black power [huh!] streaming towards and into the shard of Earth's moon. It could be easily missed as it would be like turning on a flashlight outside. And, it wasn't just Halo; hell, who didn't notice this kid? Still, Halo remembered him, and actually found it a good thing he was here. His bravado got him the attention of a few, but they had him wrong; this wasn't about being the 'leader'.

This was about Anna. The poor girl was terrifed. So smart, she was too interested in wires and bugs and Faeries than being scared like most kids; so, now, when she was, it was so bad she shivered. "Halo!" She called when the boom came, the sound alone scaring her to death. The wolf huffed; that's another reason one didn't use Majick in public, but now was not the time to bust the kids chops. He was by Anna's side in a moment. "Babe, don' worry, I'm..." Oh, but she'd hear none of it.

"NO! dontgodontgodontgod ontgodontgodontGO!!!! You better not leave me! You...you promised you'd never leave me! You said you WOULDN'T!!! If you leave, I'm never making anything for you, and I'll tell EVERYONE YOU LIKE VAMPIRE PORN!!!!!!!!!!!" At this point, his hand was over her mouth. He smirked. "She's Atustic... heh...." But, as it was, he got the message. He had to find someone to watch her. Someone... then he recalled a young girl, over by the Duncan guy. Halo scoops up Anna, and moves towards her.

"Can you please watch over Anna? She's....special to me. And, all I really got in fact..." Anna, hearing this, hugged him. He set her down besides the girl, kissing her on the lips. Nothin' in hell gonna keep me away from you..." At that moment, a Cyborg and the Duncan approached him. Two recruits? Fine. Not like he was fit to turn anyone down. "Fine by me." A glance now to the kid who boomed in. Seeing as he spooked Anna...

Halo started out. No call to follow, but then, he wasn't the leader was he? If they followed, they followed, though as he passed Valmont, a finger shot towards his nose. And, you too, Mr. Flashy.... gawd, kid'll never learn..." Yes. Halo told him to come. If he didn't like it, he could duke it out with him.... But, assuming they all conceded to leave....

)(-------------About one Hour and several kilometers later---------------)(

It wouldn't be long until those who tagged along found themselves in a forest. Halo only half noticed it seemed devoid of any animal sounds, but this wasn't an Earth bound one, so who knew if that was strange? Still, the group could push forwards easily, nothing but trees to bar their way. After about an hours travel, Halo stopped, sniffing. "....Hey, wait up ya'll..... I... I smell... hm..." Dogs hunted alone sometimes; likewise, he turns to the left and starts off, following his nose.

He'd only go a few meters, pushing branches aside, before he came to a clearing. And nearly died at what he saw. ".....What....the fuck...." It was a road. A Highway, actually. One leading to a vast city not too far off, well within a good troop. The only problem was, the road was....utterly destroyed. Vehicles, the fuel-combustion sort, litter the roads, some rusted, or broken, cracked, and rendered in two.

It was like a still frame of Armageddon. The city ahead no less shattered in appearance. Skyscrapers leaning, teetering under their own weight. The desolation. The destruction. It was too surreal to be real. And, yet...  As for life, or signs thereof.

None.

If the others had followed him, they'd understand his next question. "....Was it a war?" The history of this place unknown, that could probably be correct. At any case, it changed nothing; they had to scout ahead and it looked like they'd have to contend with possibility of radiation. Which was one terrain immortality didn't ward off [atoms striking and splitting your atoms would kill anything!].

"Shit.... there might be left over radiation. If we're going in, we gotta be fast. In, Grab what we can, and out." He spied a road that led under the highway, and towards the city. About a twenty minute hike. He started down, hopefully, followed by the troupe. Entering the city limits, the desolate feeling grew more pronounced.

For a city so obviously built for millions, not to see a single soul. Not to mention it looked like a war was fought here. And, lost. His gut told him something was up. But, he pressed on anyway. It wasn't too long before he noticed a building that might have been an eatery. The wolf calls  stop, letting them know he was heading inside it...

[Anonymous]

the feeling of aching from the "warp" clung to Valmont like a parasite: it felt so ethereal, yet so physical. It was the first time he experienced something so powerful, so beyond human.

yet like all things, It had to come to an end. as Valmont's other senses came about, he noticed the large number of people around him. So he was not the only survivor of that unusual ship incident. He was somewhat releived.

Until a familiar face walked up and pointed his finger at Valmont.

oh god, not him...

"And, you too, Mr. Flashy.... gawd, kid'll never learn..."

Vamont simply rolled his eyes after the man passed him. Why did it have to be Halo? His natue of assumption really did not help this one bit. It had been a long time since he had first encountered Halo. Six months, if Valmont's math was correct.

And in those six months, under his "tutor" and the events that conspired, Valmont had changed, and in his opinion halo's arrogance prevented him from seeing that. Although part of Valmont really did see halo as being somewhat badass, that did not warrant him being so judgmental.

And if it weren't for the current situation and Valmont's thoughts about what Shilo would have wanted, He would have probably decided to hand halo's ass to him, despite his current disadvantage. For now, Valmont would cooperate. He only hoped Halo would do the same and keep his comments to himself.

------------------------------------------------

For Valmont, the situation after an hour was a case of "good news, bad news"

the good news was Valmont's condition had Improved considerably, his immensely powerful regenerative capabilities shrugging away the numbness and internal injuries from his unfortunate trip through space. he was in fighting form, and ready to kick ass.

The bad news was that he was still following Halo, who he guessed was lost, and even worse he found himself still taking orders from him. that part of following the man did not exactly sit well with Valmont.

That feeling was compounded when Valmont followed halo, and they reached the path of destruction that was once a city. It honestly did not surprise Valmont, seeing such destruction. He had seen similar things in his "Visions".

"....Was it a war?"

Valmont didn't bother to respond, as the answer would have been largely useless. Any answer he gave wouldn't have any evidence to support it and would have been conjecture. He simply continued to follow Halo into the city.

"Shit.... there might be left over radiation. If we're going in, we gotta be fast. In, Grab what we can, and out."

"In that case, be highly cautious what you take: some of the stuff could be very bad If its irradiated."

Valmont simply continued to follow Halo closely, and stuck close as well, in case the wolf-man bit off more then he could chew. He would also keep an eye out for anyone else who happened to follow him inside...