With a glance back to the light and green fields, Shiver continues ever onward behind their guide. The path was laid before him, written in a book before time was time, now he must simply live the life he was meant to live.

Questers
The boundary is sharp and defined, the land beyond in the shadow appears blighted and parched. Fig pauses briefly, takes a steadying breath and flitters across. As each of you pass across the curtain of shadow, you feel it cling to your body like a layer of mist. The air tastes metallic and leaves a bitter aftertaste along your tongue. The sounds in the air seem sharper and when you look back no sign of the land before exists. You walk across the distance when you notice a faint halo of light around your guide. The glow seems to leave her untouched by the area around you.

Elsewhere...
The light hangs in the air, warm and welcoming. Stefan sits at a small table, a look of concern on his face, as he reads over a few sheets of paper. With a heavy sigh, he places the papers into a neat pile on the table. He rises and moves towards the phone mounted on the wall. Picking it up he dials a number, waits for a few seconds and then dials some more numbers, perhaps a passcode, into the phone. Waiting for a few more moments, he begins to speak. "Morning sir, I hope I'm not disturbing you but I thought you would want to know about some new developments. It seems the one of individuals in play are going to be a problem for us. They still predict a possible positive outcome but we need more pieces in play for that to happen." He pauses, listening to the voice on the other end for some time. "Certainly, I'll get on it immediately. Sorry for the interruption." With that the call seems to come to an abrupt end.

Stefan moves back to the small table and removes a portable phone. He begins to make a call. The look on his face seems more relaxed and his voice comes out smooth and inviting. "Good day, I need to find a runner with the following skill set......."

His step does not falter or hesitate as he follows Moira, close by her side if needed.

Questers
The trip seems to be endless as you move through the lands of shadow and mist.

Fenris
As you move forward, you begin to hear a faint voice whispering at the edges of your hearing.

"....so close and the truth will free you......"

The voice seems to promise release from the pain of this existence, to restore your world to what it once was. To make your life have meaning again and reclaim the greater destiny that was waiting for you.

"...be whole..."

Moira
As you walk, you begin to stumble on the uneven ground. Something snags on your legs and you begin to hear soft cries and whimpers from the ground. Looking down you recoil in horror, the ground is made of small burnt bodies and limbs. A charred and bloody hand has grabbed onto your ankle. Faces push up through the mutilated flesh, eyes pleading and scared.

Aaron
The phone rings, with a quick glance at the screen you realize it's Blank.

Havoc
The city seems sluggish to you as make your way through it. Seeing the small sign on the sidewalk, an A stand touting the many fine foods within, you make your way in. As your eyes adjust you see Fat Charlie at a table to your left. Having no idea what's up and why he wants to meet, you size up the situation.

Hiroto
You awake to another day in Seattle and soon find a message from Angel. The test simply reads "Need to talk/meet soon, may have a job for you. Let me know ASAP."

Even in the middle of his workout, when he deliberately tried to cut his mind off from external stimuli, he couldn't shed his instinctive awareness of everything going on around him. Too many years of training, discipline, and practice for that.

Dam that bastard, even now I can't get away from him.

Like every other time thoughts of his father intruded Aaron felt a surge of bitterness. He'd been the old man's tool for so long, less a son than a piece of raw material to be molded, he could still remember the feel of his hard calloused hands, and the sound of his voice made harsh with disappointment and disgust.

Frag this, its been what, four years since you've seen the bastard? Get over it Aaron. He ignored the fact that the voice in his head sounded suspiciously like a mix of his voice and his father's and slouched onto the padded bench seat next to the door.

He leaned back against the cool wall in his "guest room" which he'd turned into a private workout room of sorts, and punched the button to open the line to his fixer and friend.

"Hello Joe, what can I do for you this fine morning."

Aaron used one hand to towel off the sweat he'd worked up during his carromeleg practice while he talked. The Art looked easy, and to many novices it more closely resembled tai chi than one of more active forms like wing chun, karate, or tai kwon do, without realizing that any true application of the Art involved perfect control over every movement, absolute balance, and a centered spirit. Achieving that was far more taxing than simply jumping around, moving fast, and breaking things.

Aaron
"Well, that brings me right to the point I guess." His throaty laugh carries over the line. "I have a job and a favor sort of wrapped up together to run by you. I've been approached by a local fixer of sorts looking for some extra muscle for a team that needs rounding out. I thought of you since this fella was clear that he wanted muscle with a working brain attached but the favor part is a little more complicated." He pauses, wrestling with some sort of decision. "I've never given you wetwork and I try to steer clear of that end of the biz but I could use an 'in" with this guy. It could open a few doors for me down the line if I ever need it. Interested?"

Aaron blinked at Blank's bold request. It was far out of his usual line of work, generally close cover assignments or straight muscle jobs, and he doubted that Blank had ever considered him for wetwork.

The idea had once been anathema to him, as a young man he'd grown up with the sure knowledge that one day he'd be one of the personal bodyguard's to a Tir Prince, but he'd grown a great deal since then. While he'd never accepted a contract for straight wetwork before, he'd killed often enough to have become somewhat jaded on the subject.

His nine months as a mercenary in Amazonia and Aztlan had opened his eyes to the brutal realities of war, and life in the shadows wasn't exactly for the faint of heart. He preferred non-lethal confrontations but at the end of the day his survival instincts were strong enough to make it easy to pull the trigger when it got down to the nitty-gritty.

He deliberately avoided thinking about the one mission he'd preformed that would normally be considered wetwork. Tempest had asked him to do that job, not ordered, and the sick slotter had deserved far worse than the quick death Aaron had given him. It still bothered him a little but he'd come to terms with the thought that some people just didn't deserve to live and that sometimes the only way to make things right was to take matters in hand.

All of that flashed through his mind, all of that and the knowledge that, for a professional fixer Joe Blank was as straight forward and trustworthy as anyone Aaron had ever heard of in the shadows. If he was offering this job then there was probably a reason.

"Hmmm, I'm not generally into wetwork Blank, but if there is a good enough reason then I'll do the job. For you, I'm willing to at least talk about the job with the Johnson, and if he can convince me that there's a good enough reason than I'll do it."

The blade swung as if in slow motion, the whistle of air flowing over its fine edge. The impact with flesh and bone, the splatter of blood. The deadly silence.

The beeping of his Pocket Secretary brought Hiroto back to reality. He looked up from where he was kneeling on the floor meditating since before sunrise. Rising to his feet the crossed the room with deliberate steps.

After reading the message he called up Angel.

"Ohayou Angel, O genki desu ka."

"What news do you have for me."

Aaron
Blank lets out the breath he had been holding. "Thanks I know you're doing this more for me then anything else right now. The guy's name is Stefan and he works out of a rarified club called Extassis. I'll send you the address and the meet time. He's paying a 1k privacy clause up front for meeting with him and keeping it to yourself if you end up declining the job. Any other questions I can answer for you?"

Havoc grabs a cold one at the bar while he waits for Fat Charlie to finish whatever business he was conducting at the moment. Once the fixer's booth was empty , Havoc slid into the seat opposite him.

"I hope you got something good for me," Havoc said. "Life's been too boring lately."

Aaron didn't let his surprise show over the line, Joe Blank must really want this guy's connections to be that up tight over a job.

"Nah, just give me the time and place and I'm there."

Seeing the shell which holds his Mistress stumble over the clear path, Shiver draws in a deep breath before using all the muscles that stretch across his hulking troll frame. He scoops her up in one arm.

"Nothing exists here but shadow and dust. We must see you safely to the other side."

Questers
The shift in the group ripples through as Shiver moves to help Moira. The air feels hungry as it seems to press in around you.

Paladin
As you turn to keep the team in eyesight, something hovers at the edge of your vision. Movement draws your eye back and you see some dim figure moving in the distance. You watch as things become clearer. A group of humans dragging a bound and gagged troll girl of maybe 10 or 9 years old. Her face looks badly bruised and swollen, the wet tracks of tears run down her cheek. Her eyes scream for help as she looks your way. The men laugh with a low and evil snickers to themselves.

Havoc
Fat Charlie looks up with a small smile on his lips. "Boring I can always fix." He reaches and takes a long draw on his drink. "I have a fella looking for someone who knows their elbow from the asshole and packs some serious heat. I thought of you. The details I have right now are a 1K fee to do a meet and greet with this guy and he'll go over the details of the job. The nuyen up front is being seen as a "we never talked if you don't take this job" deposit. You scan me?" Heleans forward to make sure you've followed him through all the details.

Hiroto
Angel's voice comes across a little tense. "Morning, I need you to meet me at the following address. I have a small problem that says it will only go away when you show up and deal with."

Aaron
The file is received and the information scrolls across the screen. It lists an address in Everett, near the docks and a time tomorrow in the evening. "Thanks again and let me know how this all turns out, ok?" Blank nods as the conversation ends and the line goes dead.

"Yes of course, I shall be there right away."

Hiroto cleared up what little mess was in his room. He took a brief shower before dressing in a traditional silk kimono. Heading downstairs he hailed a cab, giving instructions he settled down for the short ride to where Angel was to meet him.

Hiroto
The city passes by your window. The ride seems surreal as always as you struggle to find your purchase in this new setting. The colors seem bled away as you watch the people and cityscape fly by. A jerkand the cabbie informs you of your arrival at the address. His look at your dress speaks volumes, none of it flattering.
You step from a cab and find yourself outside a small apartment complex, something solidly middle class. The stair in the front lead to a small landing where an intercom system is set up. A token attempt at security you assume.

Paying the cabbie the fair and a tip despite his odd looks he headed towards the door. Hiroto quickly scanned the list for Angel, finding the correct buzzer he pushed it.

"Its me," he said as the intercom picked up.

Hiroto
"Thank god! Get up here. I'm on the 3rd floor, left from the lift and the fifth apartment on the right." A loud and shrill buzzer sounds and the door pops open. You move through the lobby and quickly find the elevator. You step in and ride it to the 3rd floor and bear left when you exit. You see her face leaning out the fifth apartment threshold. Her face looks pinchd and anxious as you approach.

Hiroto walked down the passage with a slight rush in his step, a worried look across his face. He came to a halt before her nodding his head in a small bow.

"What is is Angel-san? What is wrong?"

Hiroto
Your display of proper behaviour seems to bring her back to herself. Bowing deeply to cover for her mishandling of the encounter. "I apologize but this morning has been trying to say the least. I woke up this morning to a guest in my home who claims it has a message for you and it won't leave until it gives the message to you." She turns to allow you to pass through the entryway."It's in the bathroom." Her apartment is sparsely decorated with a light and feminine touch. A single door presents itself as the door to the bathroom.

Aaron drops the wet towel he was using into the laundry basket for the cleaning staff and pads silently across the lush deep pile carpet of his master bedroom to his walk in closet.

His walk in closet is large enough to be a small room in many domiciles, just the way Aaron likes it. Along one wall are a series of suits, jackets, slacks, and tuxedos all carefully covered to preserve their pristine appearance. The other wall has more mundane clothing, shirts, trousers, and street clothes as well as his low dressers and trunks. The wall at the end of the closet is consumed by a mirror over seven feet tall and five feet wide, with individual lighting.

Aaron looked at himself in the mirror as he dressed, preparing himself mentally for tonight's meet. He stood a full two meters in height but that was probably the only stereotypcially "Elf" feature to his appearance. Instead of the emaciated thinness of a marathon runner he had the broad, heavily muscled chest and shoulders of a boxer. Narrow hips and long powerful legs made him seem more norm than Elf in general appearance. He had always lacked the wiry appearance considered attractive among his people, but he'd long since gotten past any bad feelings about it. To him his appearance was simply a fact, neither something to be proud of or ashamed of, merely a data point to be considered.

He viewed him body not with arrogance in the well defined musculature, the easy grace, and controlled power in his movements, but with a critical eye for weaknesses or infirmities. His body was his tool and an extra kilo or two of weight around the middle could easily be the difference between living or dying when rounds started flying. Satisfied that the month of easy living had not softened him excessively he turned to his selection of clothing for the meet.

From a trunk he pulled out his form fitting body armor, slipping comfortably into its familiar contours. Over this armor he decided to wear a tailored Vashon Island suit in a charcoal grey accented with a royal blue silk shirt and black Italian silk tie. With a last glance at himself in the mirror, and a quick hand through his close cut strawberry-blonde waves, he caught up the long coat that matched his suit and headed for the garage.

As always before he left he checked his telecom for messages from either Tempest or Eileen but neither had responded to his email from earlier this morning. He always sent them notice concerning his jobs, or even possible jobs, and made a point to check in frequently. While email lacked the immediate response of a telecom call Eileen could work her decker magic and make sure no one could use Aaron's emails to trace Tempest's location.

He caught up his p-sec and his "emergency kit" and headed for his Turbo. The "emergency kit" was a plastic container identical to the one most people had in their vehicles containing jumper cables, road flares, etc. Of course Aaron's contained none of those, instead it held his MP5-TX and three spare clips of hollow points and APDS rounds. He medkit and a small selection of slap patches were already in the car. With those and a selection of certified credsticks he was ready for an evening out, no matter what was in store. He checked his watch as he checked to be sure the maglock on entrance was functioning.

Not even 05:00:00 yet, if traffic is light along 520 and 405 I'll be able to stop at that little Italian place in Snohomish for dinner before heading off to the meet.

Buoyed by the thought of chicken parmesan and linguini the young warrior headed out into the night.

"Lets go see who this guest who invites themself in is." He slipped off his shoes before entering the room leaving them at the enterance.

Hiroto reached out for the door handle, pausing a moment before turning it and pushing the door, his body tensing up as it swung open.

Hiroto
There is a sudden spray of water as what appears to be a small eastern dragon removes it's head from the toilet. You can see the base has several coils wrapped around it. Various drawers are open and their contents rummaged through. The water runs from it's long whiskers as it speaks.

Greetings Noble One, are you the one my mistress seeks? The foul tempered female seemed to think you were.

Hiroto bowed deeply before the dragon.

"Please let me appologise, she is not used to unexpected visitors appearing in her home. I am Hiroto Misashi if that is who your mistress seeks."

He paused a moment, "How may I be of assistance to your mistress."

Hiroto
The small dragon bows it's head deeply.

I carry a message of some urgency from a warrior known to you. She has shared deep magics with you and it was through that link that I traveled here. I meant no harm to the one who lives here but I could not abandon my purpose in this. She has encountered a threat that has need for a more dedicated soul to pursue it. She has takes me to seek you and humbly ask you to meet with her if your duties would allow.

"Of course, if she wishes I shall leave right away to meet her where ever is convenient for her."

"Thank you for your message. You have caused no harm."

Hiroto bowed deeply once more.

"Free money always sounds good to me," Havoc responds. "Where's the meet and how dressy is it?"

Fat Charlie knows that Havoc isn't just asking about which pieces of his limited wardrobe to wear. He's also asking what kind of weapons he'll be able to get away with carrying..

He half turns, almost stepping off the path and into the waiting embrace of normality, of the restoration of all he knew. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Shiver scoop the Lady into his arms. Lips tightening, he turned back to follow them. Before anything else, he did have this one responsibility before him, one that had promised everything he desired.

Havoc
Fat Charlie reaches under the table and withdraws an optical chip that he slides across to you. "The dress code is pretty swanky at the club where the meet is suppose to be at. You can take toys but they'll get checked at the door from what I hear."

Hiroto
The small dragon uncoils from the base of the toilet and slides across the floor, dripping water as it moves. It appears fascinated by the contents of the room.

I will guide you to where you need to go. I shall travel with you but from the other side of the mirror but I will direct you. We must travel east, to a place of trees and open spaces.

It moves to coil about your body, as it does so you see it shimmer as it moves back to the astral.

While the others had been faltering, Angelina was single mindedly following the light cast by their faerie guide. At the end of this road was the Lord of Dreams. Surely he could help her remeber who she was. Then she'd have some footing on which to confront the one who was hunting her, if it came to that. She didn't want the others hurt on her account. Thinking of others...she turned to check on them, just in time to see Bakatare rejoining the group. All was well. She turned back to the road ahead of them.

Hiroto nodded sliding his awareness into the astral. "I am ready. Can we walk or would anouther mode of transportation be better?"

He turned to Angel, "Thank you for the call I appreciate it, I'm sorry for the disturbance. When I return I shall make it up to you for the intrusion."

He bowed deeply before her, before turning to leave sliding his shoes back on. Hiroto followed the dragons instructions leaving the apartment block heading towards the mentioned destination.

"Thanks," Havoc says with a nod as he pockets the chip. He reaches into another pocket and removes his credstick, sliding it across the table to Fat Charlie. "Here's your finder's fee. I'll talk to you later." He waits for Charlie to deduct the proper amount and hand his stick back, then he heads out of the bar.

Once in his car, Havoc pulls out his pocket secretary and slots the optical chip in its reader. Before heading out, he consults the pocket secretaries screen to get a better idea of what he's about to step into.

:: Moira remembers her place and purpose as the strong arms of the Troll embrace her and lift her from the phantom hands. Looking to Shiver's face, she follows his gaze and detects in his expression the feelings she had so recently been overcome with. He pulled her from those depths to the purpose at hand, so she felt the need to return the favor. Her soft feminine hands direct his face and vision to her own; her palms blocking his peripheral vision. ::

"Remember...Shadows and Dust. Do not fall for the illusions this place holds."

Questers
The party stumbles along through the shadowed wasteland for what seems a lifetime before you make out a strange and twisted arc of stone and metal in the distance. It stands some 5 meters high. It appears to be your destination in this journey.

Hiroto
As you make your way back to the street, watching the small dragon moving from one point of interest to the next. His voice coming across as distracted.

We must travel some distance to the east. By foot it would take many hours, perhaps even a day and I will only persist in this realm till the setting of the sun. We must travel more swiftly than walking.

Havoc
As the info scrolls out you see the club is called Extassis and is located in Everett. The meet is set for tomorrow night. No other info presents itself.

"Very well, I shall get us a taxi back to my apartment where I can pick up faster means of transportation, as well as some gear."

Hiroto pulled over the next passing cab and gave directions for his apartment. He hurried from the cab heading upstairs, removing his kimono he carefully stored it away in the cupboard before hauling out his armor.

Hiroto pulled on a long black coat over his armor and tossed his weapons and helmet into a duffle bag, slinging it over his shoulder he headed downstairs to the parking area. He carefully placed his covered swords in a mounting on the side of his bike and tied the duffle bag onto the back.

Firing up the engine he headed out following the spirits directions.

Looking to the guide, Shiver asks. "Are we here? What is the next step?"

Glancing up, he let his vision slide, gaze shifting to the astral out of habit to view the twisted structure.

Questers
Fig pauses to let everyone gather around her. "This ladies and gents is the Gate of Horn and Ivory. Your path lies through it. To pass each of you will have to give it a secret thing from yourself, something you've never given anyone else. If you try to pass off a nothing for passage we're all going to screw the pooch on this so just do it and move on. Since I'm the wayfinder I'll do my bit and set a good example." She floats to the structure and pauses several feet away. She hovers for a minute before clearly speaking to the gate. "I escaped during the Passage and I remember my life from before."

The arch seems to breath in her words and pulse softly. She turns, with fear plain on her face as she tries to smile cheerfully. "See? Now was that so hard? Who's first?"

Bakatare
As you open your mind to the astral space around you, you are shocked to see an old man hanging in the air overlaid on your guide. His features seem wizened and his body wracked with age. His style of dress suggets the a different era than the one you live in. With a further start, you seem Angelina over laid with a ghostly image of her darker half. Curiousity getting the better of you, you glance at the gate to discover it made of entwined bodies. Men and woman meshed together, their faces distorted by hungry and need. A brief look of contentment passes across them as Fig feeds it her secret but the look of want and desperation soon returns.

Moving forward, Shiver stops before the Gate of Horn and Ivory. He leans heavily upon the cane before straightening his back, and rising to his full height. With a twist of his wrist, the cane pulls apart revealing a thin bladed ninjato

"I am a son of the Ito clan and my life should not be my own."

Clenching his fist tight around the blade, blood oozes between his fingers.

"Ito Tomari paid the price of my birth."

The blade slides back down the length of the cane as Shiver's blood drips down his hand.

Hiroto
As you travel northeast from the center of Seattle, you soon find yourself heading into Snohomish. The spirit periodically has you stop so that it can get its bearings. As you move off the paved and maintained roads and on to dirt utility roads of the area.

We draw close now.......

Murrey
Floating in the void of the computer, your attention is quickly drawn to a passive alert from the sensors of the van. A readout swims into your field of vision. A motorcycle of some sort, heading your way.

Drones at the ready. Get a lock on that approaching vehicle.
Through the speaker on the MK-6, "Onna, there is a motorcycle approaching."

Havoc turns off the Pocket Secretary and heads for home. On the way he pulls up to a drive-through sushi place and get some sashimi, rice, a cup of miso, and a medium bottle of sake.

He'll spend the rest of the night in front of the trid and worry more about the meet in the morning.

Bakatare visibly shudders, quickly and obviously wrenching his body back under control. His glance is guarded as he looks to the guide and the gate again, steeling himself to pass through the twisted structure of bodies he knew underlayed the visable form.

:: Moira took a look deep into her soul, searching for a hidden truth she had never given thought nor voice to. Maybe it was this place, the hunger felt unseen by the gate pulling the desired secret from the depts of her very self. With tears in her eyes as she consciously accepts the truth, she steps forward to give it painful voice. ::

"I am Beth Collins, and I selfishly resent my parents for dying young and not being there to help me in my time of need."

:: To the others, such a declaration may not hold much weight, but the love and absolute adoration she had always felt for her caring parents now felt marred. She betrayed her family with those words; more-so that they were true. ::

Questers
Once again the gate seems to breath in the words offered and you barely make out a sigh of contentment. With each secret given the visible anxiety of your guide lessens. She flitters towards the remaining people. "Not a problem as you can see. Who's next?"

Murrey
Onna jumps slightly at the voice from the machine. "Can you see the person on the machine? It may be a friend but we must make sure." She stands and appears to ready herself for what may come.

I'll try for a close up.
Murrey brings up an enlarged image of the bike.

Bakatare steps up to the gate, hands tightly gripping the staff, breathing in a single deep breath before he begins to speak.

"I murdered 6 men...no, boys, really, in cold blood in order to cover my tracks as I fled to Seattle."

Words spoken, he steps through the gate with his lips clenched, not looking at the guide or any other member of the party.

Death and pain, Shiver wondered to himself why the deaths we admitted to troubled mankind so little, but the hidden ones that are kept as secrets for only us to know caused us so much pain. Did the baring of the secret bring the pain or was the pain always there hidden amidst the turmoil and stress of keeping the secret?

Angelina watched the others pass on after sharing their secrets. She turned to scouring her soul for a suitable sacrifice. There was so little she knew about her true self, the self of before the Comet. And then it hit her. The truth she had been hiding from herself.

"I am not quite as innocent of my darker half's actions as I would have myself...and others believe." she admitted as she passed through the gate.