:: Sinking to her knees, Moira's head hangs down as she weeps silently, oblivious to anyone and everyone around her. ::

Bakatare stepped up, taking the cloak from Shiver and draping it across Moira's shoulders. He stood next to her, giving her a long moment to grieve. Reality stepped in after a few seconds though. They were still in a dangerous place, and needed to finish what they hard started. There would be time for fuller grief later.

He reached down, gently urging Moira to her feet with supporting hands.

:: It took a few minutes, but through the tears, Moira began to be aware of those around her and of their growing desire to move on. The images now burned into her soul from witnessing the terrible pain she caused the one she loved most of all would never leave her, but it was time to rebuilt the wall that this dreadful place had so unceremoniously ripped down. At first, her wimpers settled into silence, then the tears stopped falling. ::

:: Closing her eyes, she pictured the pale emotionless face of the moon and concentrated on it until she felt her exterior begin to adopt those aspects. She had always stopped there, content with merely a facade of calm tranquility hiding her inner turmoil. That was no longer enough. ::

:: She continued to meditate as the coat fell over her shoulders and as she began to rise, guided by her japanese friend, she felt herself grow cold inside as she locked her horror deeper into her soul than she thought existed. She was not able to lock away the pain without locking much of herself away as well. ::

:: As she opened her eyes and looked at Bakatare, the eternal compassion and mornful sorrow were gone, replaced with a hardness she had never before possessed. Without emotion, she spoke for the first time in what seemed like a lifetime. ::

"We should go."

Questers

The alley seems to have suffered only a little from the apparent firestorm that raged there just moments ago. As the group seems to gather itself together from the trial, the same slim figure approachs from the shadows. Her face is sad and distance as she draws closer to Moira and the others. She takes a moment to look around and winces at the sign of the damage to the group. When she speaks it comes out with a resigned tone.

"The blessing has been given though I am sorry to see it caused pain and sufering. You may leave my realm when you wish. She simply needs to ask to leave and you will be carried to the Gallery one last time. Do not linger there for long, leave it to its fate and return to where you belong. You were never meant to be here and too much has been lost already from your stay here. Leave and be safe until we meet again."

She stands addressing the group, keeping her eyes on Moira seeming to want her to unfold from the small tight knot she has become.

With a sweep of his arm, Shiver tries to herd the team together.

"Come Moira, we must return home. There is still much to be done and our guardians will want to know where we have been."

The aging troll looks to Angelina and Bakatare. They had lost one, perhaps two, upon this quest and now it was time to go home.

:: Moira allows herself to be guided as necessary, holding the Mistress of Deaths gaze unflinching, yet somehow unfeeling. ::

"Please return us to the Gallery."

Angelina's heart went out to Moria. Having to face her son in death. Hopefully her pain was eased in having helped to release him from this place. For now, all she could do was to stand by her and be a pillar of strenght for her.

And Desdemona would probably just love that. She was glad that her demonic side had decided to just go off and pout for awhile. Thinking of which....Onerious had said that the lady of death would be able to ease the conflict between the two sides of herself. But...she still felt guilty enough about having potentially caused the death of her other side by giving up the heart. She couldn't bring herself to outright ask Death to take her darker nature....even if Desdemona would probably do it to her.

Questers

She turns to face the group, her eyes lingering for a moment on Angelina as she speaks. "There is little peace to be gained here that you cannot secure for yourself amongst the living. Seek it out." With that said you feel a sense of sliding as the city seems to blur out around you. You feel the movement but find it gentle and easy as the Gallery begins to come into focus.

You find the endless room much as you left it, once again the Dweller is wrapped in the form of a small girl with a perfect moon face. The only betraying feature to this disguise is her eyes, they look dark and hungry. Her voice sounds light and clear as she speaks.

"Welcome back, whither will you wonder next?"

:: Moira, still drapped with the much too large long coat steps forward one step. ::

"We have each given a toll for coming here. A very costly price. I believe I speak for everyone when I ask you to release us from your reality."

Questers

"Are you certain? There are still realms left untouched, you may only travel here once..." She looks to each of you as she speaks. "There is power here, such that few have seen where you come from..."

"And what realms are those?" Angelina asked, her curiosity perked. "And at what price would we enter?"

:: Moira's face darkened. ::

"After seeing what we have seen so far, do you really think any price will be worth paying? Seeking power is what eventually trapped you here, correct Dweller?"

"One final question for you before I ask to be returned to my own time and place. When I make good upon my debt to you, what would you like for me to look for in a companion for you? I would not want you to be displeasured by the one I send."

Shiver looked upon the Dweller and understood her duty and purpose, though he pitied the fact that she fought so hard against that purpose to the point of striking out against herself and others. This was the last kindness he could show her before he left his place forever.

Angelina's curious expression turned to one of shock. "No..." she whispered. But apparently this time the angel was on the losing end of the battle of wills. Perhaps it was the suddeness of the assertion, or Desdemona's will to finally break out of the angelic shell, but the change was quick and sudden as the group found themselves reguarding the crimson hued form of Desdemona. "So...now where were we.... oh yeah....other realms. I get a turn? Or does Angel Girl get ot have all the fun?

Questers

Turning to Angelina she speaks. "The realm of Mania and Olethros still remain though the latter's realm has been closed for some time. As to the price, Mania leaves few untouched though more of your kind have touched her realm. As to the other you would need to try and force the way open." Her voice slips back into her light banter laced with implied threat.

She laughs a hollow and haunting laugh as Moira speaks. "Oh I see, has travelling with one of them left you with more wisdom now? You carry her in your bosom now and think to shame me with badly made deals and bargains? You are a fool and as such have little venom for another fool such as I." Her white teeth glint and sparkle as she speaks, a smile dancing on her features.

She twists and turn to Shiver, her face changing like mercury as she does so. "Any will do, all I seek is clay at this point." A darkness dances at the edges of her eyes and seems to bleed from her voice. "As long as they are alive my need will be met."

She pivots to face the newly emerged Desdemona. "You are as eager and as stupid as the vessel..." She gestures to Moira. "...it seems. You are fortunate enough to have been left with this pale shadow of life, you would risk more now? Be gone shallow spirit before the mad woman who spawned you returns to claim her due." Her voice is hard and sharp as she speaks.

"Well, as I'm already a fragment of someone's personality, sounds like Mania would be my type of place." she remarked. To the others she added, "Don't expect anyone to follow. Run on home where it's nice and safe while I stalk into the heart of madness." To Shiver she said, "You guys always thought I was unbalanced."

"The question answered, I would seek to return to my own land and time. Come Moira there is yet work to be done. Desdemona the answers you seek and the power you crave is not here. Return home with us and lay claim to your kingdom. Bakatare we have yet to keep the faith in our own bargains, rejoin me in Seattle that we may relieve our guardians and keep safe that which we must."

As he speaks each name, Shiver reaches out a hand to draw his teammats to him. He does not draw them unwillingly, but hopes that each will accept the quiet strength he offers.

:: Moira nods to Shiver and removes the long heavy coat as she steps closer. Handing it to him she then turns to Desdemona. ::

"Come with us. There is nothing to be gained from traveling to that realm. Alone, you'll perish and take Angelina with you. It is better for you to share a life, than for neither of you to have one at all."

"And you'd actually let me have my 'kingdom'? You've already admitted as much to Angel Girl that you're placed with me to stop just that." she said to Shiver. Turning to Moira, she added "And you think I care about her? She was just a tool to be used once I got rid of the others. Such a simple plan, and she had to muck it all up."

..

"Desdemona," Bakatare speaks sharply, done with the pretense of reasoning with the sociopath.

"The problem is very simple. Either we all go, or nobody can. That means you can't travel alone, and we're not going to go with you. You can be sure that anything the Dweller tells you is to serve her own purposes, whether for just entertainment from your suffering or worse we can't know at this point. But she's not trying to help you.

So, you're options at this point are to come with us peacefully, or hold this stalemate until something drastic happens to our bodies back home. We can't force you, but you can't leave without us either."

"Seems that I recall that we've been offered chances to take sidetrips alone..." Desdemona answered. The others were making valid points, but stubborn pride was driving her on. On indeed to the point of journeying to the heart of madness. Perhaps it was there that she belonged....

Bakatare snorts in derision.

"What do you think happens if we break the rules that bind this place? Do you think she'd bother to hold by the rules if we broke them?" He motions towards the Dweller.

With the whisper of a breeze, the troll moves silently and unobtrusively across the room. Shiver uncoils his aging form and strikes out one quick fist like mercury.

He keeps outside of his cousins reach, in an effort to end this quickly with minimal collateral damage.

"I'm sorry it came to this." The words breathe across his lips, even as he strives to put her down.

Desdemona didn't have time to answer Bakatare when suddenly the old troll was there. A look of shock and hatred crossed her face. But it was fleeting as she went down under the punch.

Bending down to lift the young changeling into his arms, Shiver doesn't meet the gazes of his team. It had to be done, he hoped that Angelina would forgive him for the large bruise that would still be with her in the morning when his little angel regained control.

Her slight frame is effortless for him to pick up.

"Thrice spoken the request. Please allow us leave from your reality and return us to our time and place. In accordance with our agreement, another shall come to you before the moon finishes her cycle. The bargain made, it will be completed."

Questers

The Dweller's face seems to grow smaller as Shiver speaks. "So be it, I release you from this place and the ties that bind. Return!" She seems to draw the light from around the endless space to herself. You feel the cold nibble at the edges of your flesh. The light grows dimmer as she seems to absorb it into herself and you feel a great distance pull at you, its weight drawing you back to your body once again. You hear the strangled and enraged scream of the Dweller as you feel yourself leave the Gallery.

The nothing seems to devour you until the shock of dirt and air slam against you. You feel more than anything else the return to the world from before. The air feels damp like the beginning of the day and you can hear voices in the distant.

Outside

The dawn sits wet and eager around you when a pulse rings out. It almost feels like the very air draws itself inward before releasing some burden. The quiet of the morning is broken by the solid sound of several bodies striking the ground a short distance off.

Onna quickly rises speaking aloud to those gathered around. "They have returned!" She quickly moves towards the prone forms but draws up short, watching in mute horror the bits of ash and fragments of bone that hangs in the air over them. She stumbles a few steps back to avoid contact with any of the airborne debris. The slow knowledge of who do not return from the journey fills her eyes.

"Uncle Dunkle, what the hag frappened to them?"

"We were pursued through the trials by a great hunter. Paladin fell and now resides with his ancestors before him."

Shiver slowly limps and rises as the exploits of his astral form place their full burden on his aged body. He leans into his cane and looks to the others who travelled with him. Quiet prayers whisper through him that the Samurai would not take this moment of weakness to strike out at them. Though if she had meant to strike, the time when they were on the journey would likely have been the most oppurtune.

With a bow, the changeling addresses Onna.

"Many thanks for your service. May your ancestors watch over you in all the dark places you must walk. When our business is completed, I would like to speak to you. The blade you carry is well known to me."

Offering his hand out to any companions who need it, he looks to Angelina to see if the transition had carried with it the harm he had dealt to her other half in the Gallery.

Bakatare struggles to his feet, inwardly already reconciling the horrors and mysteries of their trip to that place inside where he shoved all of the unpleasant supernatural discoveries he stumbled across, just below the edge of conscious recollection, just deep enough to forget about occasionally.

A wash of gratitude comes over his features as he sees Onna, and he stuggles to his feet, releasing his grasp on the staff for the first time since they entered the quest, letting it collapse into the small baton that he tucked away before turning to look for Moira.

Aaron heard the commotion behind him but he'd been assigned to cover his particular zone and until he heard otherwise he'd cover that and trust Murrey and Havoc to cover their zones.

"Status Murrey?"

He waited for the all clear before he would rise and make introductions.

Outside

Onna bows, showing moderate respect and deep enoug to cover any problems of honor or status. "Your companions know how to find me." She waits a moment before moving to Bakatare's side. She stands a respectful distance away, still wanting to maintain his personal space. Her expression is one of quetions and confusion.

Ah....sunlight... it hurt. Angelina wondered why she had such a pounding headache. Placing a hand to her head, she found a rather large knot. "What did she do while I was out?" she asked as she carefully pushed herself up.

Bakatare nodded and gave Onna the correct bow, of indebted friend to equal, and spoke quietly as she stepped near.

"The trip has been very strange, sister. I'll explain it all later. For the moment, we must leave, and quickly."

Hiroto slowly rose to his feet, once everyone had gathered themselves from the initial return, he moved to stand next to Onna. He quietly observed the gathering and her responce to the varius individuals.

Onna turns to gesture towards Hiroto. "Please allow me to introduce a companion to you, he has offered to assist you in your trials." She waits allowing Hiroto to present whatever name he wishes.

"We've lost some folks in the quest. Fairly violently from what I see. I, I, I don't think I want to know what happened there."
Murrey seems to shudder, shifting his foot away from some ash before it drifts close enough to touch his pants leg.
"I need to see to the van and gather the drones up. We should be good to roll in about five minutes. Our employer sent some more muscle while you were out. I'll leave it to them to make the introductions. Is anyone hurt? Do I need to make arrangements for a separate transport?"

With a supportive hand to Angelina, Shiver helps her rise carefully. He lowers his voice to keep the conversation as private as it could be in a world with cybernetic and magical augmentation.

"She attempted to seperate the group, a choice which you undoubtedly understand the consequences of. I am sorry for the pain you feel. When we arrive home, I can make you some tea.

"Perhaps we shall have blueberries in the morning. Despite it being only a few hours, it feels like we have been gone much longer."

The subtle shift of subject had worked before with Angelina in times like this, when neither wanted to discuss the precise details of her alter ego and the results of her actions. Now, he could only hope that it would work again. The quest had changed so much about them, revealed so many dark truths, the comet-graced troll could only hope that it would work still.

With a turned head to the pale moon maiden,

"We will need to speak of many things once our current business is completed. Both of us have debts which must still be paid."

"Bakatare-san, I follow in your path at this point. The coming task, I complete for a friend. You are the one who leads in this place."

He nods as the troll speaks, briskly turning to Hiroto, giving him a bow one accordes someone of unknown rank.

"My name is Bakatare. These are our companions, Angelica, Moira, and Shiver." He indicates the unconscious girl, the woman looking singed and wearing an oversized coat, and the troll holding the unconscious girl.

"We have finished our tasks here, and will need to move as quickly as possible to this address." He gives Hiroto the address for a condiminium near downtown Seattle.

He turns to Murrey. "I believe that nobody is seriously wounded. I'll tend to any that are still wounded as we travel. Please make us ready to depart."

He turns back to Onna, features a fairly decently mask of professionalism. "Please, introduce us to our other companions as we prepare to leave."

"Onna, what do you wish us to do with the bodies of the enemies? We don't have the room to take them with us."

"Yes, she can be stubborn. But you did what had to be done." Angelina replied as she took her feet. "Now if only she'd keep her lumps on her side of the coin." she added ruefully rubbing at the bruise.

The attempt to change subjects hadn't been lost on her. She wished that she could just be happy with blueberries and tea. But their quest had changed her. It had opened her eyes to the danger of her other side. She couldn't just ignore what Desdemona was doing while she held control. Angelina was determined to be more responsible for her darker half from now on.

Issuing commands mentally, Pack it in. Allow for reloads. MK-6, ready the ramps. Felix, hop in and get charged.
"Forty-five seconds until we can leave. Thoughts on our destination, we still need to make the hit and extract our soon to be new friend, and time becomes short. Hopefully you learned enough."
Murrey turns to the new comers, "Do you have your own radios? Scrambler enabled? We should synch up communications while the drones are packing. Also, I don't suggest picking any souveniers from the Ito bodies. They like trackers."

Hiroto returned Baktare's bow, "It is an honor to meet you."

Understanding the need to leave quickly he continued, "I shall meet you at the address indicated, we can discuss things further there."

Hiroto headed back to the place where he was sitting around the fire, quickly cleaning up the area, he picked up his bag and placed it back on his bike, securing it down. When all was in place he got on awaiting the others.

Onna thinks for a moment, struggling for the right words in English. "There are dead, leave them. They are nothing." She walks besdie Bakatare escorting him to the van. "You must be careful, I do not know why the Ito sent men to kill us but I can only assume they are after one, if not all of you. I will see what information I can find but the Ito and I are not on the best of terms." She looks to Hiroto as he gathers his things. "You may trust him, he is a warrior deserving of respect and honor. He will not fail you."

Bakatare follows up after Onna's comments. "Grab anything that looks interesting, but leave the bodies."

"Thank you. I will find out if anyone knows anything about the Ito. For the moment, do not concern yourself with them. I cannot ask you to put yourself in harms way for more me again."

He bows to Hiroto once more, a bow of more respect. "If you are known to Onna-san, it is my pleasure. Thank you for helping us, and we'll see you soon."

As soon as Murrey is ready, he motions the group to load up and head home.

Aaron grabbed his LMG and began breaking it down quickly and efficently for transport. He addressed himself to the one called Bakatare, who seemed to be in charge.

"I'm Aaron Grey. I'm the designated knuckle-dragger for this afternoon."

His attempt at levity died a silent death in the face of the quartet that'd just made their bizarre return. No one seemed to be in a laughing mood. He decided to get straight to the point, they'd sort themselves out latter.

"Me and Havoc came in my ride," he gestures to the sleek Turbo, "so if you're okay with it why don't we simply follow you in to the operations center. I wouldn't trust me to be able to spot any tails while driving and its a stock vehicle so a drone could tag and follow me easily."

He finished stowing the pieces of the machine gun back in their form fitting foam transport case and stood. He thought about offering to help the old troll with the girl, who seemed more than a little unsteady on her feet but something in his manner suggested that help was both unwanted and unneeded. Instead he turned to the lady in the badly singed jacket.

"Need some help miss?"

:: The return to the mundane was not comforting to Moira. Her trial, the most recent and quite traumatic still dominated her mind. As she rose, she watched the others rise and greet the strangers gathered. Silently, she turned her head and looked at the world around her, so much of it not making sense. They had been on a long journey through the surreal and impossible which made the everyday landscape seem alien and uncomprehendable. It came back in bits and pieces. First Nikoli, "The opportunity for doing mischief is found a hundred times a day, and of doing good once in a year. Count we in as mel." She can see him sitting at the end of a long leather couch while the group agreed to take on a mission. ::

:: As she listens to him speak of their planned attack on the group of Advasary Shamans, memories of the gruesome night club massacre flood her mind temporarily overpowering her recent memories. Her emotions still strong and powerful, her mind locks on this new unrelated atrocity as she realizes that here, in this instance, she can seek revenge. That was their intention. Revenge. Suddenly, such a concept seemed extremely attractive. ::

:: As Nikoli turned to the strangers and mentioned radio's and communication equipment, she remembers now what she has become. A shadowrunner, a criminal taking action against those corporate entities that destroyed her life. Most were driven by greed or circumstance, but she now realised it had always been about revenge for her, though she had never before been ready to recognize that trait in herself. ::

:: Turning towards the body's piled beyond their circle, Moira finds herself oddly detached. She just now remembers the words the aged troll spoke quietly to her though at the time they were lost the turbulent sea of her thoughts. ::

:: Debts to be paid. ::

:: Touching her still singed chest, the heart that always ached with compassion for others was now tainted by the Diety residing in her. Perhaps that is why she could no longer feel. ::

:: She had not moved aside from the shift of her head until the moment Bakatare motioned for the group to depart. Her mind filled with dark thoughts and deep need to punish those responsible, she climbed into the vehicle ready to move forward on her path. ::

"Thanks, Aaron, that'll work just fine. Here's the address."

As they prepped for the ride back to the apartment, he spoke quietly with Onna, checking to see if there were any further steps necessary in the ritual to deal with the spirit, purification rites, cleansing of any sort, especially with the bodies.

That done, he turned to the group that was assembled near the van.

"We were attacked by the Ito clan while we were in the metaplanes. They wouldn't have attacked if they weren't after someone specific, and mostly likely, that person knows who they are and why they're after them. We need to know what's going on. I know it isn't myself or Onna, so that leaves the rest of you. Who were they after?"

His tone is precise and even, not professional but definitely firm. They couldn't afford to have something screwed up on this run because of someone's personal baggage.

:: Moira shook her head slightly and met Bakatare's eyes evenly. ::

"I have no ties with or against the Ito Clan. If I was their target, I cannot imagine why."

"I have had no dealings with the Ito clan, though they are not unknown to me.

"The Ito clan are thieves and assassins for hire. They can be bought and played as a pawn in the great game, the same way a shadowrunner team is used. As such, they will use the same techniques as us: surveillance, stealth, and destruction."

Remembering the scorched bodies of the assassins piled up like cordwood, he turns to Murrey.

"Whom did they strike to first? Destroying our bodies would have been quite simple with a grenade launcher and allow the Ito to strike from a distance."