Dyran nodded. "Yes, good thinking Xane. The Brotherhood members are all extremely powerful, and it's much harder to fight an opponent who knows you're coming, knows how you fight, and knows how to beat you." Xardius eyed Dyran and nodded. "So...what exactly do we want to do?"
Xardius grimaced as Wing took the Virus. "Destroying the Virus won't be a walk in the park Wing. I'm not even sure I could do it myself...you'll at least want Vecked with you." Highwind looked relieved, and Dyran let out a long breath.
"Trust me," Xardius said, "if we hit the Brotherhood, we'll be in absolutely no shape to take on the Virus." He shrugged. "Let's be realistic here. We either lug around the Virus for a few weeks so we can take out the Brotherhood first, or we get rid of the Virus, and recuperate a few days before smacking the Brotherhood." He leaned back. "But we do need to get rid of that bomb. I can have the Guardians do it...if everyone here trust them enough." Highwind and Dyran ran up at that moment. "We're here," Highwind said. "Who should I give this thing to? It's making me tingle." EDIT OOC: Oh, and I checked on Google, and we're #2.
OOC: Seems a common theme for your characters; Vecked - started out horrible, more enlightenment showed that he wasn't all that bad, became allies of a sort. Skinnar - started out as a bad guy, but quickly turned into an ally with Tera Roth; later came back as a bad guy, but you kind of like him now; and finally Lexx - started out as a nobody, but quickly shoved himself into the arena as someone no one thought was all that bad, until he did crap and is now horrible. BIC: Dyran and Highwind entered the atmosphere, landing nearby. Highwind pocketed the Virus crystal as they landed, and walked off. Highwind opened his phone and called Xardius, "We're here. Did you see us come down? Good, where are you?" *** Xardius hung up the phone. "Highwind should be here in a few minutes. He just landed."
"He's right Xane, in a way," Xardius said. "The lines for good and bad have blurred. In the eyes of the public, we are dangerous criminals. Why? Because the Universal Organization has pulled the wool over their eyes." He shook his head. "The sad thing is: how do you fight something like that? Sure, you can kill everyone in the U.O, but that will only drive anarchy through the worlds again." Xardius sighed. "My goal is to crash the party. But it'll take me some time to find out how."
OOC: I'm just impressed you keep posting everyday Wing! BIC: Xardius shrugged, looking grumpy. "Whatever. Wing can have the thing. It's not like I really want it..." "I might be able to help you with the Twilight Town thing," Xardius said. "There should be some old records somewhere of how to revive a world; they're practically impossible to destroy...It should be a little more complicated than simply restoring the balance of light and dark, and restoring the world's heart to full power. The world should be fine after that...I think...I don't know if that's how it works..." *** "My future's full of holes," Highwind muttered, staring at the Virus' crystal. "Be careful with that," Dyran said. Highwind shook his head. "I've had already been a casualty of corruption once," Highwind muttered. "My firewalls are at their maximum. Besides, I think it's better if I look at it. That way I can tell if it tries anything." "I thought you said it couldn't," Dyran muttered. Highwind shook his head. "I don't think it will," Highwind said. "I'm not ambitious enough." Dyran was silent for a moment. "What about your future?" Highwind sighed. "What about yours?" Dyran was silent for an even longer moment. "I gave it up for someone else." Highwind looked at him sharply. "Who?" "A mutual friend," Dyran said. "Fifteen minutes until we reach Kataka." Highwind stared at him for a long moment, hoping for something more, but eventually just leaned back in his chair again, staring at the Virus crystal. Fifteen minutes was still a long way ago.
"I don't think the wraith has that much sentience," Xardius said wryly. "In the meantime, I think we need to discuss our future," Xardius grumbled. "We don't have much of one." He shrugged. "What I mean is: we're like a raw gun pointed at anything that snaps at us. We keep firing without ever waiting to reload. Sooner or later, we're going to run out of bullets and we'll be swamped. Beyond that, what happens when there's nothing left to shoot at?" He shook his head. "Nulix, at least, has gotten himself a way into the future. I have some money stashed away I can give the rest of you, but I don't think you'd appreciate a free ticket. Not unless I've misjudged you all." Xardius scratched his cheek irritably. "Oh, and by the way, when Highwind gives us the Virus, I'm hanging onto it. For one, I know how the crystal works, and for two, I'd love to see the Virus try to take over me. Just let it try." His grin could have stopped a charging bull in its tracks. "Just let it try." His grin slipped as he coughed. "Um, er, back to the future thing."
Xardius shrugged. "I doubt he really cares for you either. And yes, I would suspect so. He doesn't want the Virus around anymore than the rest of us does. In reality, he just thinks it's weird; he doesn't believe it can take over others' minds. That will probably safeguard him a little. It's harder to get someone to do something if they think it's impossible."
"I don't think the U.O. has it," Xardius said. "I still think Highwind has it. And if he does, it's in one of the crystals he took from me."
"I haven't done it yet," Xardius grunted, taking a seat. "So I can't tell you. But I probably will, so..." He shrugged.
"It's the face of someone who has nothing left to lose," Xardius growled. "I apologize in advance."
Xardius grunted. ....................................It's going to be mine. A grin spread across his face. An unpleasant grin. With it in my hand, maybe I'll finally be able to...
Xardius considered it. "A pretty sound plan. Works for me. Nice thinking." He checked his watch. "How long until we reach Kataka?"
"Three bucks says you're going there anyway," Xardius muttered under his breath.
OOC: And getting crazier. BIC: Xardius gave Xane a weird look. "You think I'm crazy?" He cocked his head as if listening to a voice inside his head, then focused again on Xane.
Xardius looked at Wing over his shoulder and nodded, but didn't say anything. Why did I come back? he wondered. For this? It's not enough for me anymore... Aloud, he said, "Everyone dies, Vecked. And only the strong get their dreams." His face twisted in a snarl. "Sometimes." Smoothing his face with an effort, he began muttering under his breath. "Soon, very soon...I'll be free...quite a joke, even for me..." Laughing softly, he scrubbed a hand through his hair. I don't deserve to live. *** Dyran piloted the ship towards Kataka, hoping he'd make it in time to hand over the Virus and regroup with the UO. Highwind looked over at him. "Dyran, you should see this." "Let me guess, the U.O, they're retreating from the world," Dyran said, looking at the screen. Highwind nodded. "It seems after Enigma's first attack, all the forces pulled out except for a mediocre force. It seems they only suffered minimum casualties as well, and have Enigma...contained." Dyran nodded. "I hope he knows what he's doing." Highwind's eyes hardened. "That is, if his goal is worth reaching." Dyran didn't answer, but pushed the engines to a new level.
"Fine," Xardius said. Ignoring Vecked, he asked, "What do you think of the U.O?" OOC: Yup. The battle. But it won't be easy.
OOC: Well...great. But now what!? BIC: Xardius approached Xane. "Let him take his pills. When he ends up looking like a druggie..." He shrugged. "So now what?"
OOC: Where is everyone!? (I am whining)
Xardius was chuckling to himself. Greatest army in the world? Really? Maybe, maybe... His hand was clenching around his sword hilt so hard it hurt. After. It'll be after. Kanata. After. "I'm here," Xardius snarled. "Or I'm coming..." *** Highwind and Dyran sprinted out of the caves. Highwind had time to yell a warning before the U.O. forces opened fire, pouring bullets towards the two. Both futiley tried to dodge but Dyran knew they wouldn't have time to dodge. The bullets collided with a solid wall of nothing, shattering against it as Enigma stepped from some nearby trees. The wall seemed to glisten as the bullets crashed to the ground. Dyran helped Highwind to his feet. "Why are you helping us?" Enigma shrugged, his face betraying nothing. "Get out while you can. This world is about to get a drastic population decrease." "What do you mean?" Highwind choked. "I've got men down here!" "Tyre got through to some ships, and the only remaining forces here are small remnants of the Larenskan army who refused to leave, and U.O. forces," Enigma droned. "There's a ship near the clearing. Get in it and get out." Dyran frowned. "What about you?" "I am going to stay here and kill U.O," Enigma said darkly. "I have to stay here to make sure the locals survive." Behind him, Dyran finally acknowledged that he was hearing the screams of dying men. Twisting, he stared at what he saw. The wall had turned into a wheel of buzz saws, or so it seemed, for the U.O. people were simply exploding as the wall advanced. Dyran nearly lost his lunch. "What are you!?" he screamed at Enigma. Enigma was silent for a moment, then murmured under his breath. "I'm not sure." Louder. "Get out while you can. In 3 minutes, I won't contain myself." "Enigma," Highwind said, "don't you realize? Somehow, there will be minimum casualties. Somehow, they will have all pulled out. You won't kill anyone but the people on this world! You can't stop the U.O. like this!" Enigma smiled, and Dyran stepped back, quite sure he liked Enigma's bland expression a lot better. "My dear fellow," Enigma said grimly through his smile, "what made you ever think I wanted it otherwise?" *** "What is he doing?" Mordeth snarled. "Is he trying to ruin our alliance?" "No," Scourge said. "He's trying to provoke me. But I don't know why." Scourge tapped his lips. "Go find them, Mordeth. Do not fail me this time. I want them dead." Mordeth smiled grimly. "I'll kill them all this time." Scourge settled back in his chair, and chuckled to himself as Mordeth disappeared into the shadows. OOC: It seems an iminent battle with Mordeth is dawning...and what is Enigma doing!?
