[IC] End of Days: Breaking Powers

[Kaithas]

IC: "We're heading out to the ruins. There's somethin' I want to look at and frankly, I want to get out of town for a few days."

[KatherinWinter]

Roxy doubted there was anything interesting at the ruins. Atleast nothing that would interest her, but it was possible that she might be able dig up an old knife to add to her collection. "Getting out sounds more interesting then sitting here. I'd be interested in joining you."

[Kaithas]

IC: Synthia nodded appreciatively.

"Anyone else?"

[BrobyDDark]

"I'm game. I was thinking of going out there later today, actually. But an adventure is always better with friends, and frankly I wanna see what all of you can do." Max answered, beaming with excitement. He stood up fast to see if he had everything.

[Master Crim]

Trey took out a cigarette and lit it with his thumb making a lighter motion behind cupped hands. "With you gone I will have nothing else to do." He said to Synthia. "I will just have to go back to my apartment and grab some things." He leaned on the counter with his elbows scanning the establishment for anyone needing to order.

~~~~\\~~~~

The colonel sat in his office looking over some paperwork consisting mostly of reports and sittings of deviants around the city when a knock sounded on his door. "It opens." He said plainly. A man came in dressed in uniform and stood at attention looking straight ahead. "What is it Jefferson, it's not a very good day."
"Sir, the site has been found our scouts confirm." The commander said.
"We are sure this time?" The Colonel replied with a mix of surprise and skepticism.
"Yes Sir."
"Do the..." he paused a moment, even saying that word left a bad taste in his mouth. "Do 'they' know about it?"
"That is unknown at the present time but currently we have reason to believe they will soon." The commander only said this due to the fact that most time Deviant activity followed the military Ops on these kind of things.
"Dispatch a unit to secure the site, once that is done let me know." At that the commander put up a salute and walked out closing the door. Thaddeus sat at his desk and looked to the picture that sat on it of his wife and daughter. 'I am getting closer.'

[MonsieurShade]

Aggravation. A simple word with several similar meanings, the most popular being to annoy or, obviously, aggravate. This word greatly described Cain's feelings as he was escorted by two armed militia members who had intercepted him when he was walking towards the squat building that served as a base. "Come on guys is this really necessary? I just need to speak with the Colonel." he complained. The soldiers shot him a dirty glare, not too surprising considering the last time he'd visited Cain ended up stealing half of their surveillance equipment. The taller of the two soldiers, a female with short ,red hair and a name tag that read PFC. Lockhart spoke up first; "It's the colonel's orders that you not be left unsupervised. Thanks to you our soldiers had to pull extra night watch for two months.". The other soldier, a somewhat heavyset hispanic man with a tag that read 'PVT. Florez' shook his head, "How the hell DID you manage to steal all that tech anyway?" he asked incredulously, prompting a smirk from the mercenary, "Top secret information man. I'd tell you, but then i'd have to kill you." Cain joked dryly. The three continued walking in uncomfortable silence after that, stomping once they reached the entry way to the base. Cain attempted to walk in but was quickly stopped by Lockhart, "[i] Oh no the hell you don't. Florez, tell Col. Sutherland we have a guest. I'll keep an eye on him out here.", Cain sighed in displeasure as Florez briskly walked into the building and disappeared down a hallway. As he felt Lockhart glaring at the back of his head, all Cain could do was hope that Florez moved quickly.

[Master Crim]

Thaddeus was getting some stuff together to go out for a coffee, and when he opened his door there was standing Private Florez.
"Sir." He said standing at attention.
"Yes, Private, what is it." He replied as he motivated for him to walk with him.
"Well, The Deviant Cain is outside waiting to talk to you." Florez knew he wasn't fond of talking or working with Cain, but he was a resource too valuable to kill. When Thaddeus heard the name Cain he stopped and turned to Florez. "He IS outside, correct, where there is nothing for the shit bag to get his hands on?" His eyes were staring hard at Florez. 'That low life was lucky I didn't catch him or he would have a bullet in the head and be in a ditch somewhere.'
"Yes, sir, we didn't let him in."
"Good." Thaddeus said continuing to walk this time headimg for the doors.

Thaddeus pushed open the door and stood a few feet from Cain looking him over.
"What is it your here for, Cain?" He asked impatiently.

[MonsieurShade]

As he heard footsteps coming closer towards the front Cain thanked whatever deity was up there, another minute or so later and he was certain that Lockhart would've found a way to glare a hole into the back of his head. "What is it you're here for, Cain?" The colonel's voice rang out impatiently, prompting a small smirk from the mercenary, "Colonel. A pleasure to see you." he crooned in response before deciding it was time to down to brass tacks. "About a month ago, I ran across a small deviant resistance group while on a mission you'd sent me on. Normally I would've just kept on about my business, but something was...off about two of the members. They seemed sickly. Like REALLY sickly. This piqued my interest, so I tracked them for a while until one of the ill ones wandered off. I disposed of the deviant and collected a blood sample to be tested by an associate of mine. A fellow human purist like yourself." he said as he began to rifle through his jacket pockets. Cain pulled out a usb flash drive and a small black cylinder, barely bigger than a glasses case, "My associate found something very interesting. A virus of some sort. Species specific no less. The species here being deviants.", Cain smirked, knowing the words 'Deviant' and 'Virus' used in close proximity would seal the deal instantly, though he continued in an effort to sweeten the deal,"Apparently I got the sample while the pathogen was in the early stages, so the full effects are unknown. Though whatever it is seems to react only when in the presence of Deviant blood cells. My associate wasn't quite able to replicate the pathogen, but they figured that with all that wonderful technology of yours, you could figure it out.". Cain shook the cylinder a bit, "Now my associate wanted this to just be GIVEN to you. However as I could care less about the outcome of this war, we both know that theres a price. Question is, how much is winning this war worth to you?".

[thewizardguy]

Mathew prepared his weaponry, systematically checking his guns. He didn't keep a list. He could simply feel the guns, as if they were hanging in midair, where he'd left them, and retrieved them. They never seemed to become dirty in the other place. The place he kept everything important. Wherever he kept his weaponry, it would have to be spotless clean. Had he been a scientist, he would have mused at the possibilities. Had he been a philosopher, he would have mused at the meanings. But Mathews was neither of those things. He was a soldier. And as such, only the practicality of his ability hit him.
Most Deviants displayed their abilities like fools. Magic tricks, flashy and explodey. They either feared their abilities, repressing them to the best of their abilities, or grew obsessed with them, seeing how much they could do, practically attracting trouble. To Mathews, it didn't matter. His ability was a gun. It wasn't good, evil, or even important. It was a utility, and ability. A weapon. Mathew didn't have room for anything else.
Some would call this hollow. They would be correct. Mathew was a hollow man. For what is a man without fear? Or mercy? Man is fickle. Man is chaotic. Man is foolish. Mathew was none of those things. For, in some ways, he was not, truly, a man. The human purists would call him a monster for his abilities, for he was not truly human. The religious would call him a monster for his beliefs, for he was not a believer. Pacifists would call him a monster for his job, for his job was one of violence. Vegans would call him a monster for his eating habits, for he ate the flesh of dead animals. However, none of these things can make one a monster. Not truly. What makes one a monster is not even to kill, or to slaughter. For Mathew was inhuman in a more base sense.
Humans laugh. We hate. We cherish, love, fear, despise, blame, befriend, and believe. We have hopes and dreams that could build worlds of beauty, and hatred that would set those very worls aflame. To be human is to be full of all these chaotic, fiery things. For humans are, for lack of a better term, alive. Sadness, happiness, hate, love, fear, admiration, confusion, despair, hope..... this is life. Mathew, thus is not alive. He is a hollow man.
Mathew loads the pistol, and slips it seamlessly back into the other place. He stands up, automatically checking the room for traps, before stepping out of the door of the small, damp room. He walks through the corridors of the appartment complex, and men and women step aside. Not because of his clothes - an ordinary white shirt and a dirty pair of jeans, spattered with mud. But for him, walking calmly and soullesly through the torrent of life. The man steps outside, and walks to the side. He walks up to the fat man, and checks a phone he didn't have before. He then puts it before. The fat man orders a burrito, extra cheese. He'll die of heart problems, Mathews decides.
The fat man walks, and talks, and lives. And the hollow man follows. And then, fifteen minutes later, the fat man dies. A poison ring, which will never be found. An unarmed civilian. And a dead fat man. And the hollow man walks on. One more deviant lies dead. It's in the news. Died of a heart attack, which really isn't unexpected. Three weeks later, his affiliation to a nearby Deviant organisation will be discovered. A journalist will write a story on how deviants are plotting the end of humanity. Another will call it inhumane and rebuke it. Then the people will forget. And yet, the hollow man is still there.
Two days later, the hollow man is in a military base. He has a mission. He will be briefed. Then he will do the mission. And quite possibly, more people would die. The hollow man doesn't regret this, but neither does he enjoy the thought. It is a fact of his existence, that he will kill people. The hollow man arrives at the door he needs. He stands in the corner, ignoring the guards, as he calmly, and patiently awaits a time when the colonel is free to speak to him.

[Kaithas]

IC: "Okay, Trey. If you want to meet us on the edge of town the rest can mosey on out toward there."

[Master Crim]

Trey nodded and took of his tending apron and heading into the back momentarily to hang it up. When he came back out he looked around the bar then to Synthia. "What do you want to do about the others?" There were not a lot of people there but they were still there.

~~~~\\~~~~

The colonel listened to Cain as he spoke of the happenings with these Deviants, and the sickness that befell them making the Colonel chuckle at their misfortune. Then he made the move he saw coming from world away. Thats just how Cain was, looking to make some money, but who wasn't? The only problem Thaddeus had was he was paying a theif and mercenary for something that was supposed to be a free study to turn the tides. He let out an exasperated sigh and looked around before speaking. "I suppose that not imprisoning you as a terrorist isn't enough for you?" He said this quite plainly with his low emotionless tone. He knew that reason wouldn't fly with Cain so he added. "Ninety dollars, hows that sound?"

[KatherinWinter]

Roxy was bored with waiting inside. She finished her drink and headed outside. The others would join when they were ready. Roxy didn't spend a lot of time indoors. She wAs more comfortable outside.

[Kaithas]

IC: A man in white stepped up next to Roxy. The heat was oppressive but he didn't seem to be bothered. "Ms. Roxy Black. It's a pleasure to meet you at last."

IC: "We'll take as many as we can get." Synthia untied her apron and put it on the counter, rummaging under the bar and pulling out a pistol, checking to see that it was loaded.

"Whenever you guys are ready..."

[KatherinWinter]

Roxy glared at the man that approached her. She vwas certain she didn't know him so how did he know her? "And who are you?"

[Master Crim]

Trey nodded at Synthia's response then took his leave heading towards to door. He had some things at his place that he wanted to pack just in case something happens and they get stuck somewhere. As he exited he saw Roxy conversing with a man who was dressed in white, it was an obnoxious white among the light of the sun and gray backdrop of concrete buildings. He could see that Roxy really didn't or wasn't wanting to talk to him. So instead of making his way o his apartment he stood beside the door to the bar and casually smoked his cigarette.

[MonsieurShade]

"Terrorist is such a harsh word Colonel. I like to think of myself as an opportunist who simply works both sides of the field..." Cain chuckled and he rolled the cylinder between his fingers. The mercenary mulled over the amount of cash he'd been offered in his mind, ninety dollars might not have been much before the war, but with the economy tanked, ninety dollars could go a long way. Cain considered haggling for a bit, but between the female soldier behind him glaring, and the Colonel seemingly in a less than hospitable mood, Cain decided against it, "You've got yourself a deal Colonel." the mercenary crooned.

[Kaithas]

IC: "My name is Raphael. I represent a party interested in your activities, Ms. Black."

If Trey tried to listen, Raphael's voice sounded like there was just enough wind to cover it. To Roxy it seemed crystal clear.

[KatherinWinter]

Roxy snorted. She didn't believe the dude at all. Still she was curious what his point was. "What activities would those be?"

[Master Crim]

Thaddeus couldn't see how steeling his surveillance equipment was playing both sides, nor why he shouldn't lock him up other than the fact that he was a good asset when you need something quick. After Cain affirmed the deal Thaddeus nodded to Lockheart who walked inside the building and after a few minutes of returned with an envelope handing it to Thaddeus. "Is there anything else you wish to bring forth?" He asked thumbing through the bills as he approached Cain.

[MonsieurShade]

Cain greedily eyed the envelope full of bills that Thaddeus thumbed through, but made no move to take it, nor an attempt to ask for more. After all, Cain was a professional, and professionals still had images to keep, even if they did occasionally steal surveillance equipment and other technological goodies. Wait, the Colonel was asking something about if there was anything else, focus, "*ahem* Nothing else of worth. A few deviants gathering here and there for the usual rallies, but so far none of them seem to have violent intent." Cain said as he reluctantly tore his eyes away from the envelope and looked Thaddeus in the eye.