Tyler attempted to help Anna up. She was unfocused and obviously in poor condition. He gently placed Anna in a sitting position against the wall. He spoke to her, hoping to get through.

"Anna. I'm here to rescue you. If you can hear me. I know you've been threw a lot. Try and stay strong until we can get you out of here."

The white mist began to enter into the room. He hoped it was magical in nature and not some sort of neutralizing gas. Hearing foosteps in the corridor, he gripped his staff and awaited for what was to come.

Anne looked at Tyler her eyes focusing for a moment. "...Wah?" She self-consciously ran her teeth against her swollen tongue.

The steps stopped in front of the doorway into the room for a moment before entering. It was a woman or perhaps a man? It was small, petite perhaps? But it looked beautiful, with flawless features and long braided hair. The doctors coat covered a sleek figure in a tie and black slacks. It stopped after walking a few steps into the room and smiled at Tyler. One side of the mouth feminine, the other masculine. It waggled its finger at the two of them as if they had been very naughty.

The elf paced back and forth in a small semi-circle like arc gripping the staff in his left hand and clenching his right fist. He made sure to stay between "It." and Anna. The light inside the room began to illuminate Tyler's bronze skin to a glow, and the dragon tatto which trailed across his face seemed to grow darker and darker.

The "Thing" was hidious. It was like seeing a beautiful woman or a handsome man with horrible habits and a torrid personality. Yes. Externally they may be attractive, but if you knew they were corrupt at heart, they became ugly in your eyes. Tyler remebered an image of a gorgeous woman he found attractive in a bar. After watching the woman on and off during the night he managed to catch a glimpse of her stealing from behind the bar and then act snobbish to other patrons. It was a huge turn off. She became disgusting. That is how I would try and describe the image of "It." to you.

Tyler continued to circle and pace. Keeping his eyes on the "It." He finally spoke. His voice firm, strong, and serious.

"Who are you? What are you? And why have you kidnapped Anna Andudenie?"

The thing ignored Tyler, and moved to get past him. It's voice cracked as if from long disuse a sonorous voice, sounding feminine in pitch, but having a warm background timbre. It held out its hand.

"Come back to bed. Let's sleep some nice dreams this time. By the time you awake this will all be but forgotten."

Anna hesitated a moment, before reaching out for the proffered hand.

"Anna, No!"

Toreador stepped in between Anna and It, pointing his staff at the creature. His body acted as a shield for the young princess. If there was a bullet headed towards her, Tyler would have taken it instead. Keeping his staff raised at the It, the Cat Shaman spoke.

"You will not take Anna with you, nor will you corrupt her mind, spirit, and body any longer. You are obviously a creature of some intelligence. So I ask again. Who are you? And What do you want with Anna? If you do not answer, I shall be forced to destroy you."

The thing turned toward Tyler and frowned a bit.

"Threats will not get you anywhere with me sir, and if you do not leave this place immediately, I will have to call security, who will be forced to destroy you."

The thing, It, pushed Tyler gently with both fingers. It was not painful, but there was a sense of seeking dominance in the stance of the dimunitive figure.

"If you will not respond to threats. Then perhaps you will be open to diplomacy." Toreador did not back down in posture, stance. His tone of voice remained serious, a stoic facial expression was the poker face he displayed. "Power? Money? Influence? Future boons? A bottle of fresh spring water? The people that I represent are powerful."

He was not sure how much information the creature knew about Anna. Did "It" know that Anna is a member of the Tir nobility and thus wielded a considerable amount of clout with the Elves of the Land of Promise? Toreador was not prepared to tip that information yet, and would wait for the creature to attempt to begin a discussion if It so selected to do so. He did not lower his staff, rather continued to wield it between himself and the creature. After a brief pause.

"Tell me what you want," Tyler asked for the third time. "Tell me what you want, and it shall be given to you in exchange for Anna's freedom and safety."

The thing waited patiently. It thought for a moment, finally focusing on Tyler. Its words came slowly as if it involved considerable thought.

"I can feel that you have a strong interest in Anna. You wish to protect her, as do I. Anna has been unwell. Ehran has been preparing Anna into a vessel. She would retain all her skills and knowledge, but her will would be forever subordinated by a spirit. She would become his puppet. There are certain things that should not be done for woman or spirit."

It circled its hand around the place.

"I feel that you may be searching out for another such vessel, or it may be searching for you. Be aware that we do not fear death like you do. We fulfil the tasks imposed on us."

"Her psyche is still fragile, but she has a strong... inner strength. She will need plenty of rest, security, and a safe environment. If you can guarantee those I would be willing to discharge her into your care."

It waited patiently for Tyler's decision.

Tyler nodded slowly. Digesting 'Its' words. He stopped pacing. He now stood poised, still standing between the creature and Anna who was resting against the wall comfortably. Tyler lowered his dark ebony staff to his side, but still gripped the power foci tightly.

"Yes," Toreador began. "I can guarantee rest, security, and a safe environment for her in the most opulent palaces and settings possible. We both know how important of a figure she is. As for your comments, what you speak of is blasphemous, particullary against Lord Ehran. Why would he want to harm his own niece? And how am I to believe a creature such as yourself who has yet to state its name, purpose, or any reasoning of why you have done what you've done. What you speak of is a source of altruism in this fallen world. Therefore I do have a desire to learn more about you and the others you speak of. Tell me. Why do you have a keen interest in the well being of Anna?"

"Let's just say I do." It looked at Tyler with a simple smile. "You ask too many questions, and I suggest you leave before I come to a different opinion and ask you to remit Anna into my care."

Fuck this.
Thankfully the elf was gripping his staff tightly. His emotions of annoyance towards this creature had finally churned to the edge of the crater. Kidnapping Anna was mistake number one. Sprouting false accusations towards Lord Ehran was strike number two.

Tyler returns the creature's smile with one of his own. A creepy little grin, one he showed willingly at his current thoughts. He began to chant a small phrase, a trigger for one of his favorite spells.

"Sallah. Makkaherenit."

Pointing his staff at "It" Toreador unleashes a large spherical object with a purple shade of color.

The thing took the manabolt directly, it stumbled a bit and muttered. The srurrounding white fog leaked from its fingertips and it tried to strike at Tyler.

4 hits, 4 stun if hit, roll to dodge.

He nodded cooley as the creature took the full brunt of the blast.

He was not sure of what the next attack was from the Fog.



Tyler took the attack. He managed to still be standing. He was beginning to feel lightheaded. He checked on Anna before glancing at his enemy....the elf spat on the ground, and sneered.

"What manner of creature are you? How in the world could you have survived my attack? The next manabolt shall drop you to your knees. From there I shall extrapolate all that I need to know from your defeated mind.





Edit. Under the first spoiler tag I added his current edge score and his current damage track. The second spoiler tag has a new initiative roll if it is required. Added in some extra dialogue.

"Big words from such a small elf."

OOC: Looks like you get to go first.]

The elf's black leather duster flared up as the fog inside the room became stronger. A strand of his medium length black-raven like hair fell over his eyes. The minor headaches accumulated from the drain of casting his spells from the evening and from the attack only a few moments before were throbbing in his mind like loud drum beats from a middle school orchestra band.

Call him tense. Call him uptight. He did not like any man, women, or creature making reference to anything associated with his elven heritage as an insult. One day it might be the death of him. But tonight, it was a driving factor to defeat this genetic abomination.

Extending his arm out, he held his dark ebony cane before him. And with his other hand, he pulled back on a string made of pure energy. His motion looked like he was firing a bow and arrow combination.



A large purple arrow made of pure mana flies towards "It." Tyler was determined. Determined to rescue Anna Andudenie. Determined to do something for the Black Suns and from his ingrateful nation. The rush of the Novacoke made his left index and pinky fingers twitch in a weird combination, forcing him to make gestures he had never made before. The drugs were helping at the moment, but he knew in a few hours he would feel like drek.

The thing fell into the white fog. It seemed to cling to the thing, and swirled around itself. There was no further sound in the room except for the sound of machines and the whir of the air conditioning unit.

"I don't feel so good." Anna said as she threw up on the floor.

He watched with satisfaction as his opponent became shrouded by the mysterious fog. Turning to Anna, he was able to catch a her in the process of vomiting. Without hesitation he was by her side, snatching a clean cloth and giving it to her. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and wiped away some of the excess vomit from her mouth.

Punching in a few key functions, into the complex Fairlight Caliban commlink. Toreador attempted to send a message out to the Tir Taingire clean up team.

<<"Matrix One and Two. This is the Alpha Dog over. I have sleeping beauty in tow. Her condition is poor, and she is in the need of immediate extraction. Tell Malthus to get his trog loving ass to my location immediately. This is not your regular Ares R&D research facility. Oh yeah. Make sure he brings competent Magical support.">>

The sound of the air conditioning unit was eerie. The mechanical grinding of the other machines only made him more tense. The two noises blended together placated any other sounds such as footsteps or voices that could possibly be approaching.

Anna was not in good shape. He was not in the perfect condition to cast a healing spell on her either. Besides, according to his observations, she was in the need of professional medical treatment, instead of the unknown forces of magical healing.

"Anna listen to me. I need you to stay strong for a little bit longer. We'll be leaving very soon. Tell me if you can remember, is there anyone else in this building besides, you, me, what we just fought, and the rest of these patients."

Anna thinks for a moment. "Maybe the guy who took me from the shelter. I don't really remember. There were not many others here... Oh and a receptionist."

There was some low level interference on the commlink which meant that the incoming message was badly garbled.

<<RS%& your loc? we #&ll 7her% in 5 min%6&>>

A red light starts flashing in the corridor.

The world around them becomes red. The white walls become a mask of crimson, the immaculate silver lined equipment becomes the color of the Soviet Communist flag. He nods slowly at Anna. Gently, he props her up, and places her arm around his shoulder. Acting as her crutch, or a moving support beam for her to lean on, Toreador begins to lead her down the hallway he used to enter this emergency room.

Every few moments the shades of red would change on his and Anna's faces. From a lighter red, to a darker red, depending on when the main source of light illuminated their way. Whenever the un-natural warmth of the main source of lighting hit his face, he felt like a criminal trying to escape from a prison. In this instance, he already knew the guards were alert, they had already seen him, and were probably arming themselves with assault rifles and shotguns.

<<RS%& your loc? we #&ll 7her% in 5 min%6&>>


The commlink message from Matrix 1&2 came over garbled and static filled. Despite this, he managed to pick up the most important part of the message. "We'll be at your location in five minutes." Five minutes or 300 seconds. Toreador knew it would seem like an eternity. He looked down at Anna.

"We have to get you out of here. Come."

With that Toreador began making his way towards the main reception of the building. His dark ebony staff with a griffon's claw portrayed at he end of it in one hand. And a fatigued, tired, and sick Anna in the other.

The reception area is bathed in white, as they pass through, nothign seems out of place except for the inert receptionist. Behind them lights start winking out and doors lock themselves. Outside a TT blasoned VTOL is sitting out on the parking lot. Malthus waves you to the side as a breaching charge on the door goes off, leving you with a clear opening out of this strange place.

Toreador takes Anna to a corner of the white walled receptionist area, and then shields her from the explosion. Debris falls on his black leather duster, and the matching nano-tattoo of a black dragon begins to glow. Once again he helps Anna to her feet and helps her walk to the front door and across the lawn.

There is Malthus.

"What took you so long?" Toreador says with a grin that says 'It's good to see your sorry mug.'

If medics arrive, he will promptly give Anna to them and then inquire if Malthus knows any thing about this facility or what else has transpired.

"Traffic was a bitch, so I took the VTOL."

Anna is being checked by several medics, before escorted on to the VTOL. It promptly takes off. Behind them steel shutters start descending around the facility.

A black sedan with Tir diplomatic plates squeals into the parking lot.

"No-one owns this facility. It used to be CatCo facility. Somehow it still has its rights for extraterritoriality. Something I am sure my government will see about complaining. The rest as they say is politics and not something I would recommend getting in contact with."

"Listen Malthus. I demand an explaination of what is going on. I am not one of your lackies you can toy with and manipulate. If you haven't noticed, I was the one who rescued Anna from this foul place, placing my life on the line in the process. Thus, your recommendation can be banished to a metaworld where Trolls wearing green spandex reside. These politics interest me."

Malthus stands and shrugs, looking at the VTOL go off into the distance.

"The TIC is looking at buying out a major Horizon subsidiary, which deals with neurolongetivity drugs, the buyout though would demand 5 billion nuyen, a sum that the TIC does not have, so the TT government will be sponsoring this acquisition. The Star Chamber has been undecided on the whole matter, certain swing votes such as Anna's mother would make this an acceptable choice. So, you have certain parties which are interested in making sure that with Anna kidnapped they would get the vote. Sometimes that means killing the girl, or causing enough brain damage that she won't recover. There are wheels within wheels and it looks like some rather governmental UCAS influences are also involved. The Seraphim are not cheap."

He looks around a bit and walks over to the car. "We may be in touch later." The fit elf you remember from the hotel gets into the driver's seat and the car drives off leaving Toreador in the cold rain of Washington D.C.

A successful run with some answers, but only more questions that come from the answers.