Achronum

The Shattering of Aegis

The Snakeburrow Woods

_{16th of the Full Autumn Moon, 1698 P.A.
Midday - Overcast skies}

“Back into the wagon, just at the edge, Ms. Buckman.” Cerric urged their client now that the horse was no longer an immediate threat, helping her over the edge to carefully settle amongst her red fern. “I have full faith in our stalwart protectors, but just in case, it doesn’t hurt to stay out of any potential lines of fire!” Water danced in between his fingers and out in front of him, doing lazy laps as the conflict played out around him. Despite the tension at the arrival of the wolves, Cerric had since relaxed, resuming his lounging as he shuffled to provide Esvelee a little more cover.

The first wolf, now clamped in a skeletal fist, writhed and snapped at the hand holding it. It moved a little, but wasn’t able to make it out without better leverage so instead it started gnawing and scratching at the thing holding it. Cracks began to form along one of the skeletal fingers.

The second wolf paused for just a moment to snap at the waterskin, teeth tearing into it, and immediately tossed it to the side. However, the opening was enough. It let out a growl as the blade hit just past the back of its neck and pushed, legs giving out as it snapped its teeth furiously. Black spittle flew everywhere until it finally got its feet back under it and started slowly pushing back up, the blade tearing through the skin and buying itself further into the wolf’s torso. It fixed Liliann with a vacant stare, only a few more moments before the damn wolf freed itself and lunged.

The last wolf may have missed at first but in its scramble to right itself, one of its claws glanced across Eila’s shin, leaving a thin red line of broken skin. The beast lunged again, this time at Eila’s throat. Its teeth caught on the wood of her bow instead, black frothy saliva staining the wood, but it started tearing at Eila with its claws while it chewed on the offending bow.

Court of Nuhl

_{October 9th, 528 - 12:15am}

Execution level, Hallway - Hasgad Holding Facility

The door to the second level closed with barely a peep, leaving the infiltration team safe inside the stairwell without the lackluster security aware of their presence. A faint drip echoed through the stairwell, and the stench of mildew hung heavy in the stagnant air. The concrete stairs were stained and brown streaked the walls from up high, like water running down the walls.

The hallway outside the stairwell, exiting barely ten feet off the primary entrance to the execution chamber, was podmarked with sear spots and long, sharp gashes in the floor. The iron double doors sat directly across from the elevator, and were each pressed with the symbol of the Sinnenodel family. There was no other movement in the hallway and the group stepped out just in time to hear the elevator come to a halt, the floor display reading a bright red 2.

A moment later, muffled screaming came from beyond the doors.

Execution Level, Execution Chamber - Hasgad Holding Facility

Inquisitor Hasgad looked downright disappointed at Roan. “Freak? I’ve killed three year olds with more creativity than that. I guess I shocked too many brain cells, hm? I always tell myself not to get so carried away, but it’s so hard to keep my composure at the end.” Hasgad sighed, patting Roan’s head like a dog before gesturing at one of the guards. The one on the interior entrance snapped to attention, scuttling over. “Hook this useless sack of shit down right in front of our VIP guest.” The guard complied, moving the broken Dylan around so we couldn’t be able to fight back. He stared at Roan with vacant eyes, dried tear tracks on his cheeks and any hope long tortured out of him.

“Since this is my last execution for a while, I need to make sure I have fond memories of my time here at my facility. Our normal methods just seemed a little boring, so I came up with something new and exciting.” Hasgad explained to Roan, sending a vicious shock through Dylan. He screamed, spasming. He slumped again when the Inquisitor moved his finger away, spitting out the blood from where he bit himself. “So I came up with a little audience participation game. This is how it goes. I keep your friend here on the verge of consciousness as I torture him for our amusement,” Hasgad gestured between himself and Roan, “And when you think he’s had enough, you beg me to kill him. Of course, it has to be convincing and eager and all those fun things, or I’ll just ignore you. I’ve been using the table over there, but I just don’t feel like Dylan here got the full experience. I wanted to make sure Dylan here knows that you’re the reason he’s in pain, or dying. I want to make sure he hears you begging for him to die, or failing to do so, in his last moments.” Hasgad placed a hand on Dylan’s shoulder, unperturbed by his prisoner’s writhing. He let it go on a little while longer than his previous zap before he took his hand away. Dylan couldn’t even raise his head as he took heaving breaths.

“Should I kill him yet, traitor?” Hasgad asked sweetly, lightning already crackling between his fingers.

Bounties of Space

AU - Bounties of Space

Spoils of War - Planets

• Mercury - Maw
• Venus - Mora
• Earth - Terra
• Mars - Arakko
• Jupiter - Obsidia
• Saturn - Corvu
• Uranus - Proxima
• Naptune - Giantus
• Pluto - Jocas

Major Bounty Hunters of the Sol System

• Trix - A mechanical Life Form, the Bounty hunter Trix is of unparalleled cunning and speed, making up for his lack of physical power. His frame is adamantium and hosts a nasty mix of compartment and devices dedicated to everything needed to track and subdue targets. He is capable of sudden teleport bursts and specializes in confusing his enemies before striking with precision attacks.
  ...
• Na'ahala Quixal - A Xandarian Bounty hunter, Na'ahala is brutish and violent, with the money to replace whatever she wants. She has superhuman endurance and strength and served as a mercenary for decades before turning to a more solitary profession. She specializes in heavy weaponry, moving them with the ease of much smaller weapons. Na’ahala’s signature armor
  ...
• Isatix - A private and reclusive individual, Isatix is a well known sharpshooter. Their signature weapon, Render, is a six barreled blaster with each chamber capable of firing one after another or all at once. Isatix is methodical in their approach, researching their subjects thoroughly and equipping themselves with their target's weaknesses in mind. Unlike most Bounty Hunters, Isatix is fiercely devoted to their code of honor and won't hunt something that has been properly claimed in a duel.

Titan, Second Moon of Corvu -

The second furthest moon from the planet, Titan's atmosphere is primarily nitrogen, followed by methane, and finally oxygen, a recent replacement from hydrogen as the Empire's decade long effort to terraform the moon have started to take root.

Relatively unmarked, the surface of Titan is largely dominated by rock and ice, with a number of bioluminescent flora growths that thrive off the nitrogen rich atmosphere, creating vibrations yellowish-green hues across the otherwise cool toned landscape. Hills and mountain ranges, deltas, river, and seas of liquid methane and ethane gave the moon a strangely similar feel to the Terra of old, wonderful landscapes lacking the warmth and colors of the world before it's transformation.

Three artificial atmospheres dot the surface of Titan, three mining cities that act as launch points for the mining companies interested in the nitrogen of Titan, but also the elemental core of Corvu. Just after the arrival of the Empire, Corvu's core was determined to have traces of Dargonite and sent a frenzy of technology companies and the Empire demanding access. Mining companies, such as Kilder Co., established the Biomes on Titan with the help of other alien species in order to launch official mining ventures into the heart of the planet. Although the presence of Dargonite was disproved, companies continued their mining operations as other important metals and gasses were harvestable, valuable in the face of Terra's rapid transition into a machine world.

Biomes - These are domes of artificial atmospheres, all with botanical gardens to brighten up the dim landscape and generate the necessary oxygen to sustain life. They're all quite large, ranging the size of a small town to a small city.

...

• The Kilder Dome: Established by the late matriarch of Kilder Co. Madam Merry Kilder. The Kilder Dome is the smallest, but nicest of the three. It boasts a Kilder Co. refinery and a luxury housing district, but offers little in the way of entertainment and distractions. Space travel to and from this Biome is heavily restricted, though heavy donations often find the officials looking the other way.
  ...
• The Nova Dome: This biome was established with the financial aid of Xandar, who was given the honor of naming it. The largest of the three, the Nova Dome is run by the Imperial military. It's the most functional of the three, as it is the base of the Empire's terraforming efforts of the moon. It features a prosperous economy focused around a number of Engineering professions, and includes one of the most infamous gambling houses in the Sol system, Last Flight.

Falllow

The second largest Biome of the Titan colony, Fallow is a solid iridescent metal sphere out of sight of the other two biomes and the shuttle pads. Due to the moon's dense atmosphere, the surface is well protected from asteroids and other debris, leaving the exoskeleton of the biome mostly untarnished. Large metal pathways branch out from beneath it, acting as the Fallow space station.

Inside is an entirely different matter. After being purchased from the Commerce Guild, the Veridian Merchant purchased the biome as an investment and has been slow to release funds towards maintenance. The Veridian Merchant has built additional refineries, exceeding the biome's atmospheric filtration systems. The resulting haze forces its occupants to wear additional filtration masks in it's streets and businesses to install supplemental atmospheric filtration systems. Although there were protests and attempted sabotage of the refineries, Interplanetary Inc loaned its Mauraders to viciously put down the riots and restore order.

Fallow is composed of four districts, layered through the biome. From lowest to highest, they are: The Drag, Lower Draught, Upper Draught, Terran Greens.

The Drag is where the heavy refineries are, as well as Fallow's primary entrance. This is where the industrial manufacturers are located, as well as a number of businesses intended to lure in thirsty, irritable miners, blacksmiths, and other factory workers. Major businesses here include the Evergold (a Terran gambling house), Kol'kill (an Ab'zed inn and brothel), and Lightyear (an intergalactic supply and repair shop).

Lower Draught is where 70% of the Biome's inhabitants live. One level up, it forms a thick ring above The Drag with the lower level visible in the center. Housing here is cramped and uncomfortable, developing into small single person pods with public restrooms and community bathing areas available. A significant portion of the people here use an artificial stimulant, known as Poxy, to give them pleasant hallucinations while not on the clock. The drug was developed by The Val'shan and they deal it heavily to poor, unhappy communities like this.

The Upper Draught is home to most corporate offices and officials, with a bustling marketplace with a variety of luxuries brought in from around the solar system. It even boasts a few small parks, with artificial and organic plants breaking up the metal monotony. Celestial Looms (a popular, Xanderian fashion store), The Brews (one of the best off-planet breweries in the solar system), and The Complete Crescent (a Terran owned shop that specializes in bio-technological enhancements).

Terran Greens is a special level only the richest of the Biomes can afford to enter. It is entirely shielded off, in the center of the artificial sun that offers light and heat to the biome, and it has its own access point at the top of the Biome. Rumor has it that the Terran Greens is an actual chunk of the landmass left over from when it was simply Earth.

Notable locations:

...

• Kol’kill - One of the least seedy taverns in the Dome-which means it has the least holes in the wall, the least broken tables and chairs, and pays their taxes most of the time-Kol’Kill is run by Sandix Rhalixx, an Ab’zed out of Messier 82, and their life partner Haxxal, a creature no one is quite certain what is. The business is both a tavern and brothel, hosting 30 rooms with a wide variety of individuals willing to sell their time. Those who are involved in the underbelly of the Sol system know Sandix and Haxxal are employed by The Val'shan.
  ...
• Evergold - A once powerhouse of the Biomes, Evergold has lost a significant number of its bigger clientele to Last Flight in The Nova Dome. It's outside is still shiny and glittery, thanks to the gold plating that Evergold violently defends, but it's red and black luxurious interior has seen better days. Curtains are frayed, wheels stick just a bit, slot machines freeze unexpectedly, but it's still a central source of entertainment and drinking for the downtrodden and desperate looking for a moment t's reprieve from their heavy lives. Its manager, Hillock Rugford, is a blacklisted holo-star who spends most of his day reminiscing about his glory days.
  ...
• Lightyear - Part of a chain that is present in every Sol system colony, Lightyear is a versatile mechanic shop that deals in whatever that colony needs it to. On Titan, it mostly focuses on mining and refinery equipment repair, but it also runs the spacecraft garages of the Fallow Space Port. It's head mechanic, Drell, is a violet skinned Kree with a cheery disposition, a charismatic attitude, and a secretive past.
  ...
• Celestial Looms - Managed by twin Xandarians, Celestial Looms handcraft flashy and colorful fashion, favoritism light, breathable fabric with metal strands woven into it for support and glamor. They mass produce durable items for Lower Draught, but they ate mostly known for their high quality, high priced custom work.
  ...
• The Brews - The building itself is a piece of art, a Terran tree twisting towards the Terran Greens. Inside, nearly 65 taps protrude from behind the bar and multi-limbed robots work the floor, whirling around on a singular wheel as they sway like tops. Their most popular brew, Liquid Nitrogen, is a foamy orange drink with yellow vapor rolling of lf the top. It has a bit of a hoppy aftertaste, but otherwise tastes strongly of mangos and oranges.
  ...
• The Complete Crescent - its unknown what Dr. Nimja Keelixa was before her transformation. Now, she is more of a machine that person. Her office offers cybernetic alternatives and solutions, solving organic problems with machines. Arms, legs, eyes, and any organ that needs replacing, she implant a machine version for a heft price.

Major Organizations of the Sol System

...

• Val'shan - When the Empire first moved in 17 years ago, existing power structures were thrown into chaos. The introduction of space technology created an entirely new war for the underbelly of the Sol system. Every criminal faction on Terra, and those outside of it like the Ravagers, involved themselves in the new territory. It was dirty, violent, and brutal - a fight the Empire seemed to ignore. However, The Val'shan emerged victorious with a legion of highly advanced robotic soliders. It was later determined that these robots were a form of machine life form. To this day, The Val'shan's origins and identities are shrouded in secrecy and those who try to determine who they are typically disappear. They've chases out most other major criminal organizations, or absorbed them, and offer rewards for evidence of others encroaching on their territory.
  ...
• The Commerce House - A powerful conglomerate of various trade organization delegates, the House represents a variety of trade unions, ranging from the The Scapper's Guild to the various mercenary bands that have since risen, on a intergalactic scale. Although the vtrade unions have various opinions on the Empire and its actions, The Guild of Sol is aggressively loyal to the Empire and has blacklisted trade unions on a galactic scale in its efforts to keep members loyal. It's primary location is Terra, although it has outposts on all occupied planets and moons.
  ...
• The Vaults of Sol - Although technically an Empire regulated banking system, entering the Intergalactic banking system required the bank adopt an official policy of neutrality and abide by the Intergalactic Commerce Committee's laws. Head of The Vaults of Sol is known as the Warden and has become a highly coveted position in the Empire, as they sit on a Council alongside Lord Thanos himself. Although the Vaults of Sol have locations in every major center of commerce in the system, its storehouses are on Mercury, where its highly advanced thermal protection generators are so precise, they can open sections as small as a millimeter to expose threats to the 800 degree temperatures of Mercury's surface.
  ...
• Interplanetary Inc. - Although a number of companies revolving around space travel and Intergalactic technology have sprung up, none have become as well known as Interplanetary. They produce top of the line equipment, space vehicles, and weapons. They even have a small private army, intended to protect its investments and those of its trade partners, like Kilder Co.

Bounties of Space

Danny Kingston

Danni stared at Dee for several long seconds, before a grin so wide nearly split his face in two. "You're givin' me permission to run t'e Belt? I don't even 'ave to agree, pretend I agree, and t'en do it anyway? Well, shit!" Danni laughed with manic glee. "We ain't 'yperspace t'rough it, we gotta drive manual, but it'll still carve our trip time in 'alf. We'll be at Titan in less t'an a wink, if we survive t'e trip." Danni shut down the hyperspace computer, switching off the autopilot, and brought the ship around in a sharp turn.

"T'ankfully, biggest danger of t'e Belt won't affect us too, too much. T'e whole can't fuckin' see it too well until you're right on it, but since we're headin' t'ere on purpose, we won't slam cockpit first into a planetoid or somethin'." The engines whirled to life, flaring up to a brief scream, before settling into a normal hum after Danni got the ship hurling towards their destination. "When we get t'ere, I'll scan out t'e t'innest spot and we'll enter t'e Belt from t'ere and 'ope for t'e best!" The truth was the Belt had less than a 5% survival rate, even the tiniest mistake bringing a cascading series of asteroids obliterating everything in the Belt. But Danni was nothing if not confident, and with his favorite people in the entire galaxy here with him, there wasn't anything they couldn't do.

Fifteen million credits was also a fantastic motivator.

But before they all risked their lives in a potentially horrific fireball of death and despair, he popped his head out and flashed April a tooth grin. "Whatcha say, Princess? You on board with Dee's reckless and irresponsible idea to shortcut our way to Titan for some credits?"

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

Danny Kingston

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Location: The Field (School Carnival)
Skills: N/A
First Day Fit

---

---

Danni teared up a little as everyone rushed to him, demanding to know what was wrong, why he needed help, and to come to his immediate aid if and when he needed violent revenge. He gratefully leaned into Dee as he wrapped an arm around Danni's waist. "Guys, you're all t'e best and I love you all so much." His eyes watered at the displays of friendship, but he had more important things to talk about. He took a deep, shaky breath, completing the truly herculean task of calming himself instead of running with the overwhelming amount of love and affection he felt for these three around him.

"Uh, okay so we spent a lot of time chattin' about Ebby, and talkin' about fashion, and you know, just chattin'. So then, I asked for a vibe check and Aggie said somet'in' about cosmic energy and it flowin' t'rough me and gettin' grounded and t'en she said I'd be a knight after I was done bein' grounded so I asked another t'in' and she basically told me I was goin' to kill everyone unless I had a ot'er person and I have so many people so we should be good on t'at front, I t'ink, but t'en she was like 'lol Ebby banged a dragon and you can have t'e egg" so viola," Danni gasped after rambling without pause, and he revealed the shiny red-gold scaled egg nestled safely in the jacket. "I now own a dragon egg."

"But what do I do with a dragon egg, not to mind a full fledged dragon? Like, I'm kinda panickin', I haven't even had a pet and now, I 'ave a dragon?! Like, will it just 'atch, do I need to sit on it, do I need to keep it warm?" Danni demanded loudly. Dragons - mentally, fucking cool. Reality, how the fuck do a person take care of a dragon?! "Like, should I set t'is on fire and just carry it wit' tongs? Does it need to be in my pocket all t'e time? Or maybe we put it in one of t'ose boxes t'ey put chicken eggs in in classrooms? Who can I even ask about t'is?! T'ere 'as to be a prof who knows, right? Right?"

Danni frowned as something dawned on him. "Maybe we shouldn't. What if t'ey take it away from me? T'ey can't take my baby away! Oh, Pops would kill me. Dee, we can't tell Pops until I figure out a way to get Papa to agree to keep my baby." Danni jolted as he realized he forget something very, very important. Omg, Aggie also gave me t'e scoop. T'ere aren't any Sinister clones here yet, but apparently Lady Nimrod, t'e person replacin' 'er, is a fuckin' Sinsister clone and we 'ave to be on the look out!"

Bounties of Space

Danny Kingston

The Holotable brought up the Sol star chart with a few taps, an intricate hologram of swirling celestial bodies. A small marker blinked into existence, showing them their location in relation to the rest of the system. It was hurling quickly towards a familiar haven for their profession - the Weighing Stones in the depths of Terra, on the southern tip of an area once known as Argentina. Now, it was just one part of the complex machine their home planet was transformed into, the deep, deep, deep underbelly of the Inmuda district the perfect hiding place for those who skirted the law in the name of success.

Given that they were passing only a few light-years off Arrako, it wouldn't take much time to exit hyperspace, flip a u-y, and re-enter after the system calculated their route. A brief analysis suggested it would take less than a Terran day to arrive, pending whatever system warnings appeared. Most of them went ignored, as either they'd obtained the ship with those warnings or they just didn't have the credits to afford non-critical repairs, but Danni always offered a cursory glance before they kept speeding on. He wasn't super keen on dying in the yawning void of space, and he didn't have the skills to prevent it if it came to that.

Even as the chit disappeared, Danni clung to his little family, almost in tears. "15 million credits? We… we could just fuckin' retire or somet'ing. Buy a nice place on whatever planet we wanted and just fuck around until we die. Or, or, or we could drink at t'e Weighin' Stones for like… ever. Wouldn't 'ave to be sober for any of t'is bullshit anymore!" Danni was breathless, starting to shake with excitement. "T'anos's taint, we could like, get one of t'ose really fancy AI assistants for t'e ship! We could fix everyt'in' wrong wit' t'e ship! We could do whatever t'e fuck we wanted! 15 million credits…" He muttered reverently.

Now, Danni wasn't the smartest person on this ship, but as the shock cleared and the gears in his head started to spin, he could only think of two groups that could offer a Bounty that large and still get posted. "So, obviously we're 'unting t'is bitch ass doctor, but should we take t'e time to figure out who posted it? Like, was it the Empire or t'e Val'shans? Can't imagine t'is is a private listing for t'at fucking price." The Val'shans were the opposite and equals to the Empire, lording over the dark underbelly of the Sol system with an iron fist. Crossing them was basically a death sentence, much like crossing the Empire. Rumors said they were the Empire, and the Rebellion, and some insane aliens that were actually head worms that took over bodies, but no one seemed to know the truth. "T'ough, I guess t'ey're both normally good for t'eir credits so it doesn't matter, huh? Just need to know who else got sent out for t'is poor dude's 'ead."

Danni was already halfway to the cockpit, the door sliding open with the familiar hiss, bit got stuck halfway. A swift kick to the scuff mark of the wall had the door sliding the rest of the way. "Anyone know anyt'in' about thl'is guy? Empire scientist, by the looks of it, but 15 million credits and t'e job sent out to t'e 'unters means 'e's dangerous as shit, right? Probst don't want to walk into somethin' like t'is blind again." Danni's nose wrinkled as he thought for a moment, and then groaned. We're gonna 'ave to beat thl'e ot'ers off wit' a stick, aren't we?" He switched the door of the cockpit into an open position, leaving it wide so he could talk and ease the ship out of hyperspace.

Danni threw himself into the seat, switching off the ion stabilizers and reducing the gravity generators intensity as he eased off the hyperspace drive. The gravity engines always got a little cranky when they were at full throttle for so long, but Danni just cooed quietly and whispered encouraging things until he felt them chill out a little. If they kept them that high out of hyperspace, they'd get yanked through the bottom of the ship. As the universe became more defined around them, Danni set the computer to start calculating the return trip. "So, what we t'inkin' about t'is? Wort' it?"

Bounties of Space

_{Location: Terra
Time: 11:15am Terran}

@Trainerblue192@Morose

It was rare, a moment of peace amidst a war. And yet here, in this tiny pocket of space, the soft babbling of a fountain and the soft singing of violin strings created the illusion of peace. Steam rose off the in-floor pool, stones and verdant flora ringing the marble pool gave the illusion of a Terran spring from ages past. Lavender, chamomile, and lemongrass blended in the pool and rose with the steam and, coupled with the honeyed whiskey settled neatly in an alcove barely an arm’s length away, left the High Inquisitor with ample distance from her daily duties that her Whispers were little more than gentle taps at the back of her mind, rather than the incessant buzzing from her normal life. She smirked as one thought slipped through, the disdain and disregard of one rebel her minions prepared for an interrogation session amusing her.

It wasn’t that she didn’t care for her own kind. It was more that she truly only cared about herself and no one could argue that the Empire was the winning side. The Rebellion was cute, but what would it ever amount to? It hadn’t been able to break the status quo since the Emperor and Lord Thanos neatly tucked the Sol system’s throat under their boot and with all current modeling predictions, wouldn’t ever be able to. Mutants, humans, aliens… the difference didn’t matter. All that mattered was she survived, and she’d slaughter as many life forms as it took to maintain her well deserved commodities. Just because they shared a gene did not endear them to her. They were faceless strangers, and they would be faceless corpses for all she cared.

“High Inquisitor, Brigadier General Hoffman requested an audience.” The music faded away as the AI that served as her personal assistant interrupted her relaxation. Nothing good ever lasted and she sighed, the mechanical bathing assistant whirring to life and approaching the pool with heated towels. “While Brigadier General Hoffman has declined to offer any information to me, a preliminary bioscan suggests he is both pleased and terrified, and is at a high risk of a heart attack.” The Inquisitor shook her head as she stepped from the pool and onto the towel laid out for her, taking the other while she considered.

The Brigadier General approaching her was a strange thing. Being a human, and a mediocre one at that, his resentment and fear rolled off him in waves when any mutant or alien so much as passed by him. Whatever information he held was likely the result of punishment for some mistake. She knew full well the main bulk of the Empire’s authority feared her- she’d spent a lifetime cultivating that fear. So either this information was of the utmost importance and they’d decided only one of Lord Thanos’s pet freaks could handle it, or the pathetic excuse of a man failed at some menial task and this was his punishment. Either way, she decided she was displeased.

She took her time after permitting him entrance into her office’s antechamber. He interrupted her during her personal time, so she wasn’t in any rush to help the little worm. The white dress she chose boasted a gold belt around the waist with a opal center and sleeveless to compliment the high gold collar that rose up to her left ear but smoothed down to the right shoulder, the metallic fibers in the collar acting as a solar charger for the various energy implements she employed in her line of work. A pair of opal earrings followed, both acting as a link to her AI and capable of deploying an opaque face shield, and an opal necklace, bracelet, and anklet, which all acted as deployment points for her energy armor.

Once she was ready, she moved to her office, a comfortable room with only one chair behind her desk that overlooked the Imperial plaza. Various pieces of alien art decorated the walls, each one commissioned after a successful mission, interspersed between bookshelves, system access panels, and a holo-map of the solar system with an array of dots scattered about it. She contemplated how to receive him for a moment before activating her face shield, leaving but a blank white surface. She knew it’d unnerve him.

“Permit the Brigadier General entry.” A moment later, the antechamber door hissed as it slid open, revealing the short, impish brute that interrupted her. She didn’t need to brush his mind to feel his emotions. For an officer in the legions of the Empire, he regulated his expressions poorly. Yet still she reached out, basking in the apprehension and revulsion he felt just by crossing the threshold.

“You certainly took your time, Inquisitor.” Hoffman bit out, clearly holding back whatever it was he wanted to say. It seemed the Brigadier General was wiser than he seemed, though not too much more considering she’d been in his head since she walked into her office and he seemed none the wiser. “I informed your assistant that this intelligence was of the utmost importance and to have you keep me waiting, despite the General themself sending ahead an authorization missive, is basically insubordination! You will remember your position is only granted to you by the grace of Lord―” He balked as she stretched out her hand.

“The files, if you will.” The high Inquisitor demanded, the conversation unnecessary after sifting through the mental pigsty behind Hoffman’s eyes. He clicked his tongue irritably, but withdrew the data unit as requested and placed it in her palm. “Thank you. You are dismissed.” His face turned red at the casual dismissal and although he opened his mouth to argue, nothing came out as his eyes glazed over and she mockingly used two fingers to walk him out of the room. She permitted him his mind back just as the doors shut, just in time for her to chuckle at the intense swearing that slipped through the crack.

She placed the data unit on her desk as she took a seat, the white lines of her AI circling it while the virtual screen appeared and populated a table of context. It would be a few more minutes until Persephony summarized the various contents of the unit and the Inquisitor amused herself by scanning the various highly scientific reports included. Clearly, someone was playing with fire if they thought creating more mutants was the answer to the aggressive regime the Empire maintained.

Finally, Persephone populated her report and the Inquisitor smiled as her face shield vanished. This had been an issue her Whispers brought to her a while back, and to have it placed so nicely in her hands was exactly what she needed to take the next step in her career. “Persephone, cross reference the location of our target with any available Bounty Hunters from the watchlist.” She instructed, as she typed up the job chit. Six names came up, three of them in one group, and a sharp smirk unfurled at the revelation. “Push Dr Haggar's chit to these six. Then, attach the chit to Project Delphi and begin initialization sequences. It’s time to see the rats run the course.”

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_{Location: Excelsior - Hyperspace
Time: 11:15am Terran}

Job Request Uploading…

Target: Dr. Timian Haggar
Conditions: Alive
Last known location: Titan, moon of Saturn
Reward: 15 million Imperial credits
Drop location: Terran Orbital Station 1441, platform 6-3

The request beeped above the holo-table of the Excelsior, hovering next to the image of the poor target in question. The indicator on the table displayed this was a general job request, a high stake, high reward mission sent out to as many nearby hunters as possible in order to catch the target quickly. With this reward, everyone and their mother was going to hunt this man to the end of the universe and beyond. And if some bounty hunters got shot down in the process, well, the solar system probably wouldn’t mourn them.

Still in hyperspace, finally repaired after a rogue asteroid slammed into the poor, unsuspecting ship, the hyperspace engine hummed softly beneath the mainhold where the holo-table, surrounded by deep comfy chairs and one sofa bolted to the wall, dominated the space. Another section of the room, secured by a bioscanner, boasted a heavy arsenal of weaponry from blasters and a rifle, to good old fashioned knives, and restraints and a few sonic grenades. Various trinkets provided by the three owners of the ship jingled quietly where they were strung along the ceiling of the hold and although the lights in the mainhold were off, a number of crystals strung up by the team glowed in the dark room.

Slowly, the lights in the room flickered to life and the far door from the cockpit hissed as it opened. Danni stretched and yawned, his shirt lifting as he scratched at his stomach. His back was fucking killing him from sitting in the cockpit for the past hour, barely staying awake as he watched the path prediction bullshit. As much as everyone hated sitting in the cockpit during hyperspace jumps, not doing it was how they crashed Excelsior the first time and no one wanted to go back to begging for credits just to get their shift off the damn ground. Why couldn’t the autopilot adjust faster in hyperspace, then he could do better things like sleep, annoy Dee and Princess, or just cuddle. Instead, it was his turn to sit and stare at path projections like he actually knew any of the numbers on the screen other than “Get ready bitch, asteroid in the path!!!!”

The lights beyond the mainhold flickered to life as well, letting the other passengers know there was movement on the deck. A message would display in all the rooms anyway, so that the team would know a job chit hit the holotable. Danni scanned over it wearily, humming as he did. The face slipped away from his mind almost instantly, but he wasn’t the organizer of their operations so it didn’t really matter yet. Instead, he hummed at the reward and the drop off point, making a face at the empire controlled location, and turned to wander further into the ship to find the rest of his criminal pals, but he paused. His groggy brain cleared very slowly, but was very intent on rereading the details of the chit. Danni turned slowly, suddenly very alert as he took in the information. He reread the reward several times.

He screamed.

Testing well everything!

It was rare, a moment of peace amidst a war. And yet here, in this tiny pocket of space, the soft babbling of a fountain and the soft singing of violin strings created the illusion of peace. Steam rose off the in-floor pool, stones and verdant flora ringing the marble pool gave the illusion of a Terran spring from ages past. Lavender, chamomile, and lemongrass blended in the pool and rose with the steam and, coupled with the honeyed whiskey settled neatly in an alcove barely an arm’s length away, left the High Inquisitor with ample distance from her daily duties that her Whispers were little more than gentle taps at the back of her mind, rather than the incessant buzzing from her normal life. She smirked as one thought slipped through, the disdain and disregard of one rebel her minions prepared for an interrogation session amusing her.

It wasn’t that she didn’t care for her own kind. It was more that she truly only cared about herself and no one could argue that the Empire was the winning side. The Rebellion was cute, but what would it ever amount to? It hadn’t been able to break the status quo since the Emperor and Lord Thanos neatly tucked the Sol system’s throat under their boot and with all current modeling predictions, wouldn’t ever be able to. Mutants, humans, aliens… the difference didn’t matter. All that mattered was she survived, and she’d slaughter as many life forms as it took to maintain her well deserved commodities. Just because they shared a gene did not endear them to her. They were faceless strangers, and they would be faceless corpses for all she cared.

“High Inquisitor, Brigadier General Hoffman requested an audience.” The music faded away as the AI that served as her personal assistant interrupted her relaxation. Nothing good ever lasted and she sighed, the mechanical bathing assistant whirring to life and approaching the pool with heated towels. “While Brigadier General Hoffman has declined to offer any information to me, a preliminary bioscan suggests he is both pleased and terrified, and is at a high risk of a heart attack.” The Inquisitor shook her head as she stepped from the pool and onto the towel laid out for her, taking the other while she considered.

The Brigadier General approaching her was a strange thing. Being a human, and a mediocre one at that, his resentment and fear rolled off him in waves when any mutant or alien so much as passed by him. Whatever information he held was likely the result of punishment for some mistake. She knew full well the main bulk of the Empire’s authority feared her- she’d spent a lifetime cultivating that fear. So either this information was of the utmost importance and they’d decided only one of Lord Thanos’s pet freaks could handle it, or the pathetic excuse of a man failed at some menial task and this was his punishment. Either way, she decided she was displeased.

She took her time after permitting him entrance into her office’s antechamber. He interrupted her during her personal time, so she wasn’t in any rush to help the little worm. The white dress she chose boasted a gold belt around the waist with a opal center and sleeveless to compliment the high gold collar that rose up to her left ear but smoothed down to the right shoulder, the metallic fibers in the collar acting as a solar charger for the various energy implements she employed in her line of work. A pair of opal earrings followed, both acting as a link to her AI and capable of deploying an opaque face shield, and an opal necklace, bracelet, and anklet, which all acted as deployment points for her energy armor.

Once she was ready, she moved to her office, a comfortable room with only one chair behind her desk that overlooked the Imperial plaza. Various pieces of alien art decorated the walls, each one commissioned after a successful mission, interspersed between bookshelves, system access panels, and a holo-map of the solar system with an array of dots scattered about it. She contemplated how to receive him for a moment before activating her face shield, leaving but a blank white surface. She knew it’d unnerve him.

“Permit the Brigadier General entry.” A moment later, the antechamber door hissed as it slid open, revealing the short, impish brute that interrupted her. She didn’t need to brush his mind to feel his emotions. For an officer in the legions of the Empire, he regulated his expressions poorly. Yet still she reached out, basking in the apprehension and revulsion he felt just by crossing the threshold.

“You certainly took your time, Inquisitor.” Hoffman bit out, clearly holding back whatever it was he wanted to say. It seemed the Brigadier General was wiser than he seemed, though not too much more considering she’d been in his head since she walked into her office and he seemed none the wiser. “I informed your assistant that this intelligence was of the utmost importance and to have you keep me waiting, despite the General themself sending ahead an authorization missive, is basically insubordination! You will remember your position is only granted to you by the grace of Lord―” He balked as she stretched out her hand.

“The files, if you will.” The high Inquisitor demanded, the conversation unnecessary after sifting through the mental pigsty behind Hoffman’s eyes. He clicked his tongue irritably, but withdrew the data unit as requested and placed it in her palm. “Thank you. You are dismissed.” His face turned red at the casual dismissal and although he opened his mouth to argue, nothing came out as his eyes glazed over and she mockingly used two fingers to walk him out of the room. She permitted him his mind back just as the doors shut, just in time for her to chuckle at the intense swearing that slipped through the crack.

She placed the data unit on her desk as she took a seat, the white lines of her AI circling it while the virtual screen appeared and populated a table of context. It would be a few more minutes until Persephony summarized the various contents of the unit and the Inquisitor amused herself by scanning the various highly scientific reports included. Clearly, someone was playing with fire if they thought creating more mutants was the answer to the aggressive regime the Empire maintained.

Finally, Persephone populated her report and the Inquisitor smiled as her face shield vanished. This had been an issue her Whispers brought to her a while back, and to have it placed so nicely in her hands was exactly what she needed to take the next step in her career. “Persephone, cross reference the location of our target with any available Bounty Hunters from the watchlist.” She instructed, as she typed up the job chit. Six names came up, three of them in one group, and a sharp smirk unfurled at the revelation. “Push Dr Haggar's chit to these six. Then, attach the chit to Project Delphi and begin initialization sequences. It’s time to see the rats run the course.”

---

Job Request Uploading…

Target: Dr. Timian Haggar
Conditions: Alive
Last known location: Titan, moon of Saturn
Reward: 15 million Imperial credits
Drop location: Terran Orbital Station 1441, platform 6-3

The request beeped above the holo-table of the Excelsior, hovering next to the image of the poor target in question. The indicator on the table displayed this was a general job request, a high stake, high reward mission sent out to as many nearby hunters as possible in order to catch the target quickly. With this reward, everyone and their mother was going to hunt this man to the end of the universe and beyond. And if some bounty hunters got shot down in the process, well, the solar system probably wouldn’t mourn them.

Still in hyperspace, finally repaired after a rogue asteroid slammed into the poor, unsuspecting ship, the hyperspace engine hummed softly beneath the mainhold where the holo-table, surrounded by deep comfy chairs and one sofa bolted to the wall, dominated the space. Another section of the room, secured by a bioscanner, boasted a heavy arsenal of weaponry from blasters and a rifle, to good old fashioned knives, and restraints and a few sonic grenades. Various trinkets provided by the three owners of the ship jingled quietly where they were strung along the ceiling of the hold and although the lights in the mainhold were off, a number of crystals strung up by the team glowed in the dark room.

Slowly, the lights in the room flickered to life and the far door from the cockpit hissed as it opened. Danni stretched and yawned, his shirt lifting as he scratched at his stomach. His back was fucking killing him from sitting in the cockpit for the past hour, barely staying awake as he watched the path prediction bullshit. As much as everyone hated sitting in the cockpit during hyperspace jumps, not doing it was how they crashed Excelsior the first time and no one wanted to go back to begging for credits just to get their shift off the damn ground. Why couldn’t the autopilot adjust faster in hyperspace, then he could do better things like sleep, annoy Dee and Princess, or just cuddle. Instead, it was his turn to sit and stare at path projections like he actually knew any of the numbers on the screen other than “Get ready bitch, asteroid in the path!!!!”

The lights beyond the mainhold flickered to life as well, letting the other passengers know there was movement on the deck. A message would display in all the rooms anyway, so that the team would know a job chit hit the holotable. Danni scanned over it wearily, humming as he did. The face slipped away from his mind almost instantly, but he wasn’t the organizer of their operations so it didn’t really matter yet. Instead, he hummed at the reward and the drop off point, making a face at the empire controlled location, and turned to wander further into the ship to find the rest of his criminal pals, but he paused. His groggy brain cleared very slowly, but was very intent on rereading the details of the chit. Danni turned slowly, suddenly very alert as he took in the information. He reread the reward several times.

He started screaming.

Testing well everything!

Hello, Marigold
Hello, Marigold

Avengers Academy: Junior Year 💥

Danny Kingston

---

Location: Aggie’s Tent
Skills: None
First Day Fit

---

---

"Hiiii, Aggie!" Danni sang as he threw open the tent and skipped in. "Beanie was just tellin' us all about t'e fashion direction you were suggestin' in t'e whole destiny and fate stuff and 10/10 would recommend, she's goin' to look so good in torn jeans and a denim jacket, I'm already imaginin' it! And den fuckin' up whoevers jealous of Dee's skin, 10/10 round 2! But we all know why I'm really here, where's t'e best baby?" Danni demanded, hands primed for petting.

There were a few students at the Margaret Carter Institute who suffered from a grave, serious curse - one that originated from a Satanic cult, the Chattering Order of St Beryl. Agatha knew there was little she could do for these students with chronic motormouth, and she did not hold it against them. It was not their fault that words flowed from their mouth like garbage tumbling down a trash chute. She frowned slightly, but Ebony did not mirror Agatha's expression. The little cat let out a giant MEOW and practically leapt into Danni's arms, purring like mad and rubbing on him like he were made of catnip.

"...Yes, fashion advice," Agatha said dryly. "That is my expertise."

Danni beamed at Agatha as he caught the cat, supporting the cat with one arm as he pet Ebony. "Aw, aren't you just the cutest baby in the whole world? Yes you are, yes you are!" He cooed at the kitty, sitting down in the process. He took a little time to take in the slightly larger inside, with all sorts of spooks stuff floating around. "At least t'is is cute spooks, you know? De whole skin wearin' thin' with Dee was scary spooks, and scary spooks and I aren't great friends. But he said you wiggled your fingers and made it right as rain! Or did Beanie say t'at?" He frowned, the details of the conversation already gone, but he shrugged.

"Whelp, doesn't matter I guess! What's done is done!" Danni pronounced, continuing to pet Ebony and scritched under the cat's chin. "Dee didn't have a lot deets though! How'd you fix it? Oooh, did you curse the stalker, cause that only seems right when someone wants to wear your skin. Not in like the cutesty, fluffy, fuzzy way I get when Dee's inside me, but like, horror movie, blood and gore kinda way, you know?"

Agatha hadn't actually done anything magical at all about the stalker, besides doing a reading that had allowed her to determine there were two forces at play. Her plan was to contact the Sorcerer Supreme and alert other mystics to the return of the Dark Priestess SELENE! - but she did not want to frighten these children. SELENE! had been around for millennia and had not often attempted to ascend to divinity. If they burned every witch who went mad with power, there wouldn't be many left. So for now, Agatha was concerned - but not frightened.

"I foresaw that the student at the Institute who began leaving those notes will cease their actions imminently," Agatha explained, a white lie, but magical professors were known for telling those. "Now, what question is it that brought you here into my tent? What glimpse at the murky future are you interested in, Mr. Kingston?"

"Oh, oh, oh I know exactly what I want to ask!" Danny snapped his fingers excitedly, eyes bright and smile beaming. But the silence stretched, the brightness dimmed, the smile turned upside down as Danni realized he had no idea why he was even in this tent. "I don't even know why I'm in t'is tent." Danny announced instead. "T'is feels kinda like t'ose wierd D.A.R.E. t'ings from history class in school - you know all t'e kids are doing tarot, but you don't have to do it because you aren't defined by your peers but you're like kinda lame if you don't sorta do t'ings." Danni pouted, consoling himself by petting Ebony with both hands now.

"Okay, so maybe I should ask about Sinister? Who is obviously t'e headmaster because t'at's what everyone is sayin', but if everyone is sayin' it, do I need Aggie to tell me it, pretty baby?" He asked Ebony seriously, "Or maybe I should ask how long Beanie and Princess 'ave been sneakin' behind our backs? Why wouldn't she just tell us. Oh Gods!" Danni gasped, clutching at imaginary pearls. "Did t'ey t'ink we wouldn't approve? Did t'ey t'ink we'd try to break t'em apart? I know Dee can be a little anti-social but I love both of t'em! No, no I don't want to know, t'at's too much for me!" Danni practically wailed, working himself up at the thought of April turning him into some monster behind his back.

"Okay, no I don't really 'ave a question I guess." Danni sighed dramatically after a few more moments. "Can I get like... a vibe check on me and t'e universe?"

"A... vibe check?" Agatha pondered. She had no idea what that meant. She was able to usually parse through the slang her students used, but there were so many words coming out of little Danni that she was confused. The best she could tell is that Danni was interested in the cosmic and magical vibrations of the universe, the invisible little bits of energy that would ebb and flow - the closest thing to a concept an old enemy of Agatha's had dubbed the Force. The tarot cards swirled and danced around Danni, surrounding him in a cascading helix, before three of them were suddenly spit out - Three of Wands, Two of Pentacles, and the Knight of Wands.

Ironically, for a reading about cosmic and magical forces, particularly those connecting to Danni Kingston, Agatha did not draw any major arcana cards. There was no cosmic destiny about at all. Peculiar. "The past, you have the Three of Wands. An amusing if not sometimes frightening card, this is a card of journeying to a new land overseas. If I recall correctly, you are Genoshan - the cosmic vibrations of the universe that flow through you speak of this transition."

"In the present, you have the Two of Pentacles. While many think of this suit as dealing with financial matters, as it relates to the Earth, it is also literally about grounding. The cosmic forces of the universe cannot flow through you properly, as you lack balance. You lack balance within yourself - yet you are striving to be better and improve that connection."

"In the future, you have the Knight of Wands - the knight is a person of passion and adventure, of impulse and inspiration. The knight charges off ahead without stopping to ponder. In that sense, the knight is an instrument of the cosmic force of the universe. The universe and its vibrations guide the knight, rather than the other way around... I sense that this knight will be you, one day. Still impulsive, but balanced," Agatha reasoned.

She had no idea if that was what he had been asking.

Danni nodded along as if he really understood anything she was saying . Something about Genosha, something about cosmic energy flowing through him or not flowing through him (which kinda sounded like that hippie dude that chilled on the corner of Bourbon Street), and then being a knight. He perked up at that, understanding what that meant. "T'at means I'm definitely gunna be a hero, because knights are heroes in t'e stories!" Danni leaped to his feet, dancing around with Ebony in delight. "Yay, me! I'm going to start with turning t'e 'eat up on t'ose auditions! You're t'e best, Aggie!"

He paused for a second. "Actually, I do kinda 'ave a question. But you can't tell anyone, okay? Cross your 'eart and hope to die." Danni said seriously. "I know my... control isn't t'e greatest and I get excited real easily and sometimes I kinda, sorta, maybe t'ink t'at maybe I accidentally start fires but never on purpose! I'm going to get t'is down eventually, right? Like, it's not always going to feel like I'm a 'airpin away from t'e next forest fire?"

"I am not going to swear a blood oath," Agatha said matter of factly. "However, I will not tell a soul. What happens in this tent is between you, myself, and destiny." Agatha snapped her fingers and in a sweeping motion, another card descended. This one took her by surprise for a moment. His previous question had given no Major Arcana, no Trumps; but here, the Lovers appeared. Agatha paused, thinking on how to interpret this answer. "The choice will ultimately be yours, whether or not you gain this control. However... I sense that you will need a duality - there is another, equal but opposite, who will strengthen your command over your powers and eliminate the risk you pose to those around you."

"Aside from the cards, I have this advice for you, Danni. You're an omega level mutant. That's a grave and awesome responsibility. There is no force in the universe that can have a greater influence, a greater impact, on flames than you. You will always be a breath away from annihilating everyone and everything you hold dear. That will never end. You must learn to live with that and accept yourself fully, or you will burn the ones you love alive... and no other force will be able to stop you."

"Uuuugh, miss me with t'at gay shit." Danni muttered, followed by an uncomfortable giggle at Aggie's advice. "A breath away from killin' everyone? T'at's uh, a little much right? Like I'm not really just a breath away, right? Should I breathe less? Or maybe like, not deeply? No, no, sorry I'm just... I should 'ave just stopped talkin' after you said I'd be a knight. Really hoped gettin' an answer on t'is would make me feel better, not like everyt'in's goin' to fall apart." But after taking a moment to press the mental block button on the whole annihilation thing, he pondered the first part.

"Well, not gonna lie, didn't like the Lovers right off the bat, but like, it makes sense. I'm always better around people t'an I am by myself anyways. And technically, I've already found someone who is opposite and equal. Dough, I'd say she's better t'an me cause she doesn't burn shit daily, but t'at's besides t'e point! So, one t'ing checked off! Look at that Ebony, I'm ahead of Destiny at all this!" He commented to the cat in his lap. "Gosh, why are you so cute! It should be illegal t'at Aggie gets to keep you all to herself. You sure you don't want to come stay with me?"

"Aaaaanyways, t'ink I'm good on t'e whole lookin into the future stuff. I 'ave a feelin' I'mma hear more stuff I don't want to hear." Danni nodded several times before he stood, still cradling Ebony with the full intent to walk out of the tent with his new friend. "Actually no, one more. Since you're bouncing and all t'at jazz, are t'ere any Sinister clones 'ere at school? Like, you can trust me not to tell anyone you told me. And you're leavin' so you can totally let the secret slip!"

Agatha would have spoken more with Danni about the dangerous yet awesome responsibility of his powers, but his words moved the conversation quickly away from that and onto another matter. However, Agatha did sense that whoever the Lovers were speaking about, things might end in tragedy. But sometimes, it was good to not divulge too much of the future - sometimes, it only would make things worse. "Yes, there is a secret Sinister clone here at the institution - it happens to be the teacher taking over my post, Lady Nimue," Agatha said.

Agatha and Nimue had BEEF. She figured this would be a nice and subtle way to take revenge.

"Now, before I leave this school, I have been giving magical artifacts and whatnot to each person who comes to visit me. And I think I have the perfect thing for you, now you must promise me that you will be very careful with this," Agatha explained. She reached into her pocket and pulled out an egg with red scales. "Ebony... had a rendez-vous with a dragon, if you understand my meaning. And this is the result. I would like to entrust its care to you, Danni."

The comment about how he knew it, how he just knew (he had a sixth sense for these kinds of things) there was a Sinister clone here at the school died on his tongue as Aggie pulled out the egg. It took a moment for him to process that she was handing him a fucking dragon egg and when he did, all he could hear was Pops in the back of his head telling him absolutely not. For a brief moment of honest self reflection, Danni wondered if he could handle taking care of something like a dragon but then Papa popped in too and told him to chuck it in the fuck it bucket and Danni was all on board with that. The moment gone, dead, and buried, Danni set Ebony down gently and carefully accepted the egg from Agatha.

"Okay, yeah, def chill, not totally freaking out over t'is. 'ow do I ever take care of it? Does it need something hot to sit in? Do I need to sit on it? Oh shit, how am I goin' to…" Danni muttered, his brain filling with thoughts faster than he could keep up. He felt a little light headed as he stared at the scaled egg so instead of thinking about it any longer when he wasn't going to have an answer anytime soon, he power walked to the tent flap, paused, turned around, walked back, and gave Ebony a little kiss on the head.

"Make sure you tell me where you end up so Ebony can see t'e baby! Or I'll just ask Maxie! Eit'er way, t'ank you for t'e mildly concernin' advice, t'e cute spooks, and t'e dragon! Bye, Aggie, travel safe!" He wrapped the jacket he'd asked Maxie to make him around the egg, a nice cushioned and warm environment for now, and zipped out of the tent, screaming "Dee, Princess, Beanie!!!!!! I need heeeeelp!"