The Otter
Fetzen
Skai
Snowdrops
Slypheed
LimeTime966
Days
NoriWasHere
Thayr
AsurasLocation: Unknown, Tenebrae
Time: Early Morning
@Blizz
”...That man is dead. Gone.”
The line went dead. "Ellie? Ellie!" The doctor panicked, the phone almost slipping from his grasp as he redialed. But then he froze, finger hovering over the call button.
The laid-back Ellie from last night and the one on the phone didn't add up. There was something in Ellie's voice that betrayed a painful feeling. As if whoever Astra was talking to meant something to her. Immediately, his heart began to race. He didn't want to be the one to open that can of worms. To shove past years of pain for his own selfish request. Whoever this meta was, it wasn't worth driving his rag-tag team apart. It wasn't what he was here for. Tearing open old wounds. Especially not with someone willing to fight with him. But if he didn't push this, how were they going to complete the mission?
A dull beep from the glass monitor and his eyes glanced up.
He had to remember what was at stake.
Astra was on the move.
The doctor, with fumbling fingers, tossed the phone to the side and began furiously typing on the keyboard again. Astra was so close, could he be...? No, how could he know? It had to be a coincidence. Astra couldn't know they planned to make their move tonight. But, why were his eyes on the lab?
Navy Pier
Loop, Tenebrae
Time: Early Morning
@Blizz
”Tenebrae’s a coastal city.”
Astra felt the weight of Rainsinger's hand leave his shoulder as the man walked off.
"I know." He murmured. He knew too well. At least Rainsinger had the decency to lay Astra's own fears to rest. If Rainsinger wouldn't move unless the Shadow Knights provoked him, that was fine by Astra. The Shadow Knights would stay away, and the plan would move forward. However, Astra wasn't so sure Rainsinger would stay away. He was a Gray Dragon, after all. Maybe the name meant nothing now, but it meant something many years ago.
He stared at the glint coming off the mask in his hands, bearing his own conflicted reflection, and slipped it on. From his other pocket, he dialled a number and pressed his phone to his ear.
A pause, and then a feminine, velvety voice picked up. "Yes, my king?"
"Send a flare out to mark the lab. I'm in position. Also, mark the Dragon's position, don't let us lose sight of him."
"Yes sir, deploying flare in 3... 2..."
Five miles off the Navy Pier, a single black drone circled back, dropping a single package that tumbled through the air. As the drone speared towards the downtown skyscrapers, a red light exploded in the Tenebrae bay.
Astra smirked at the light show. "Anticipating me as always, Corva."
"It's my job to anticipate, sir. Corva out."
"Ah, she's dying for fieldwork." He murmured, grinning to himself as he slipped the phone into his pocket.
A circular stream of glittering darkness appeared behind the king, engulfing his body, and he disappeared from the pier. The circle reappeared over the water five miles out and he stepped onto the water's surface, thickening it with black smoke to support his weight. His hand felt the water, dipping in as smoke poured from his fingers.
Beneath the water's surface, rays of filtered sunlight fell upon a white lab attached to the cliff-face, the size of a small apartment building, pristine despite the algae-covered rocks beside it. Black appendages arced through the water, landing on the white walls, skimming its surface like many tiny hands, searching. All of the CCTV cameras, radars and scanners were sought out and cleanly separated from the lab, absorbed in darkness.
Astra stood, pulling his powers back as alarms began to light up the cliff face. His smile was grim, knowing that a lab like this, even if rendered deaf and blind for a short time, would only push the mission's margin of success by 5%.
He hoped it would count, for both of those two. Or rather, those four.
Darkness swallowed him, and Astra, along with the surveillance tech, blinked out of sight.
Location: Unknown, Tenebrae
Time: Late Morning
@Lady Seraphina
"You spoke with the Valkyries?"
Eos paused. "Ah yes, I don't believe you two have met."
"If you're asking me to phase an entire sub and something goes wrong... well I'll be fine but I can't make any promises for your sub or your pilot."
"Your powers are unique, Miss Phantasm. Although I admire your idea, what I have in mind is much more simple."
Eos gestured with his hands, drawing out her route as he explained. "The submarine will drop you off at a chasm half a mile off the lab. From there, you will travel due north for 10 minutes through solid rock, and phase into the lab's basement. The control room will be nearby, and you will let the submarine into the loading bay and continue onward with the mission."
Eos smiled, gesturing with his hands apologetically. "I know I've made it sound easy, but the device given to you will make your entrance much easier. The device mimics your frequency, so it's one less thing to worry about while wading through solid rock. There's a light on the device that acts as a compass, so as long as the rock around you is thin enough, you won't lose your way.
"The granules in the disks act as a set of super lungs, giving you a compound that dissolved into oxygen over a span of time. One breath equals five minutes, the second breath equals four, while the third breath equals two. A fourth breath and the chemicals in the device begin to activate, causing it to be unsafe. It will allow you to navigate solid objects with ease, and only requires the disks to be replaced after use."
Eos gave a nod, and Myriad was at his side, black matter pooled in her hand. He turned to Phantasm. "The Shadow Knights will answer any further questions you have, however, I do have to inform you that time is of the essence. The operation begins tonight if you choose to accept."
He passed a closed slip of paper to her, a dollar amount written inside. "Compensation will be made to cover the quick turn-around time, and all compensation will be wired to an account of your choosing after the mission is complete."
"Myriad, if you please."
Myriad tossed her black ball to the right, where it opened up into a gateway. On the other side was complete chaos. White floors and a vaulted ceiling were doused in flashing red lights as alarms shook the air. Skittering footsteps flew across the hallway as scientists lost their coffee and papers in the confusion, running from one place to another. Near the gateway, one of the many doors stood out in particular, reading 'Dr. Alexander Kaj, Head Scientist of the Institute of Meta Sciences'.
Eos pressed the bridge of his nose, shaking his head before turning to Phantasm. "Ma'am, please enjoy the party." He politely inclined his head.
Two strides and Eos crossed the portal, walking past the doors and down the curving hallway. Myriad held the gate open, barely hiding the grin on her face at the sight. Slowly, the gate began to close.
Jade Arts Emporium
Oak Street, Near North Side, Tenebrae
Time: Daytime
@Shu
"Can't you find someone on the black market with some daring? What about other countries? I understand the heat and all but I really don't want to have to wait half a decade for payout on this and I doubt you do either."
Shen stroked his beard thoughtfully, eyes drifting to the ceiling. The young lady was right. The wait for such a treasure would be unpleasant, in the least. However, the only way he could think to circumvent the press and investigators would be to make a dirty trade. It would have to be someone as deep in Tenebrae's underbelly as he was. And there was only one crime syndicate he knew that was actively building up its treasury to launder its money. However, they were also the most dangerous to meta-kind, and to Scarlet Shadow.
His eyes glanced at the young woman, a tinge of worry knitting his bushy brows.
Scarlet Shadow continued, "By the way, since we're on the subject of payouts, any news regarding previous goods I've funneled your way recently? Like the loot from that last jewelry store heist or that jade dragon statue I pilfered from that Chinatown bigshot?"
Shen smiled, happy for the change of topic. "Ah, how delightful you've asked. My connection at the Hindman has offered an exclusive showcase at their next big auction in four weeks. And knowing this auction house, it'll sell for much more than its market value."
"They're willing to take the jade dragon as well, but, my dear, I'm tempted to buy it directly off you myself." He laughed heartily. "I am always interested in adding another dragon to my collection."
He paused. "Though, I admit, the story behind this jade piece is a bit peculiar. A cursed dragon, as they call it."
The china teapot hovered over Scarlet Shadow's cup as Shen poured more tea for her. "Another idea, not so superstitious as a cursed item, is selling to the Hunters. Your diadem, in particular."
"They are ravenous for laundering opportunities as much as they are for selling compromised metas on the black market. I could sell it to them at full price as soon as tomorrow, guaranteed."
He pulled at his beard. "But there's a reason I haven't traded with them for the past ten years. Even using a large chain of couriers, and taking every precaution to cover the Guild's tracks, there's still a risk they find us, and find you—they're a dishonourable, miserable lot, those Hunters."
North Side Apartments™
Near North Side, Tenebrae
Time: Daytime
@Blizz
"Save our children! Stop the crimes!"
"Metas are people too! Give us our right!"
Dream drove past one of the governmental buildings, seeing the same old protests taking place on either side of the field. She wondered why she bothered taking this route—it always upset her. It was the same sad story, over and over. On one side, a large and angry crowd with shiny signs and speakers. The humanists, pushing for safer streets and harsher penalties against criminals, especially meta ones.
And on the other side, smaller and under-funded with their cardboard signs, were the pro-metanists. Not all in the crowd had superpowers—most were likely friends or family of slighted or missing metas. And as usual, the police were warier of the second, smaller group.
Dream could only stare in forced indifference as she drove down the street, turning the corner to continue home. The One333 apartments were quiet, leaving the loading bay empty. She skidded to a stop on the street and slipped into the building, ransacking her apartment. Ten minutes later, she was out, dressed in her proper costume, and with two loaded duffel bags which she slipped into the back seat.
The engine roared to life, and with her home and business locked up, she headed straight to the North Side Apartments. The parking area she used last night was still empty, and she eased the black caddy in, took out the keys, and walked into the street. A scruffy, short gentleman stood at the front entrance of Ellie's building. From his nervous mannerisms and white coat, Dream only narrowed her eyes as she approached.
"Doctor?" Dream said.
The man bristled and turned around. "Oh! Uh, Dream. What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same," she said, eyeing the sweaty face and tired eyes of the doctor. "How long have you been standing here?"
"Longer than I would like to admit," he said sheepishly.
Dream gave a small smile. "Come on, it's getting close to that time anyway." She pushed the button for the office, and the doors unlocked for them. The doctor fidgeted with his coat as they stepped into the elevator.
"Dream?"
"Yeah, doc?"
"Maybe this isn't such a good idea. I mean, you guys are gonna be risking your lives, and we don't even have a concrete plan. Maybe we should just... c-cancel the mission?"
Dream paused as the elevator opened, brows knitted. "Doc?"
"Y-yes?"
"If everything you've said is true, do you really think we're in a position where we can just quit?"
The elevator doors glinted red as they began to slide shut, and Dream's hand snapped up to catch it. She nodded her head towards the hallway. "Come on, Ellie's waiting."
"She is?" the doctor asked, shuffling down the hall.
Dream laughed. "No. She has no idea."
They arrived at Ellie's door, and Dream gave it a swift knock. "Don't worry, doc, we'll think of something."
The doctor nodded listlessly, gaze dropping to the ground.
A few seconds later, the subtle tapping of claws on the glass as a small black cat sat perched at Ellie's balcony window.
Time: Early Morning
@Blizz
”...That man is dead. Gone.”
The line went dead. "Ellie? Ellie!" The doctor panicked, the phone almost slipping from his grasp as he redialed. But then he froze, finger hovering over the call button.
The laid-back Ellie from last night and the one on the phone didn't add up. There was something in Ellie's voice that betrayed a painful feeling. As if whoever Astra was talking to meant something to her. Immediately, his heart began to race. He didn't want to be the one to open that can of worms. To shove past years of pain for his own selfish request. Whoever this meta was, it wasn't worth driving his rag-tag team apart. It wasn't what he was here for. Tearing open old wounds. Especially not with someone willing to fight with him. But if he didn't push this, how were they going to complete the mission?
A dull beep from the glass monitor and his eyes glanced up.
He had to remember what was at stake.
Astra was on the move.
The doctor, with fumbling fingers, tossed the phone to the side and began furiously typing on the keyboard again. Astra was so close, could he be...? No, how could he know? It had to be a coincidence. Astra couldn't know they planned to make their move tonight. But, why were his eyes on the lab?
Navy Pier
Loop, Tenebrae
Time: Early Morning
@Blizz
”Tenebrae’s a coastal city.”
Astra felt the weight of Rainsinger's hand leave his shoulder as the man walked off.
"I know." He murmured. He knew too well. At least Rainsinger had the decency to lay Astra's own fears to rest. If Rainsinger wouldn't move unless the Shadow Knights provoked him, that was fine by Astra. The Shadow Knights would stay away, and the plan would move forward. However, Astra wasn't so sure Rainsinger would stay away. He was a Gray Dragon, after all. Maybe the name meant nothing now, but it meant something many years ago.
He stared at the glint coming off the mask in his hands, bearing his own conflicted reflection, and slipped it on. From his other pocket, he dialled a number and pressed his phone to his ear.
A pause, and then a feminine, velvety voice picked up. "Yes, my king?"
"Send a flare out to mark the lab. I'm in position. Also, mark the Dragon's position, don't let us lose sight of him."
"Yes sir, deploying flare in 3... 2..."
Five miles off the Navy Pier, a single black drone circled back, dropping a single package that tumbled through the air. As the drone speared towards the downtown skyscrapers, a red light exploded in the Tenebrae bay.
Astra smirked at the light show. "Anticipating me as always, Corva."
"It's my job to anticipate, sir. Corva out."
"Ah, she's dying for fieldwork." He murmured, grinning to himself as he slipped the phone into his pocket.
A circular stream of glittering darkness appeared behind the king, engulfing his body, and he disappeared from the pier. The circle reappeared over the water five miles out and he stepped onto the water's surface, thickening it with black smoke to support his weight. His hand felt the water, dipping in as smoke poured from his fingers.
Beneath the water's surface, rays of filtered sunlight fell upon a white lab attached to the cliff-face, the size of a small apartment building, pristine despite the algae-covered rocks beside it. Black appendages arced through the water, landing on the white walls, skimming its surface like many tiny hands, searching. All of the CCTV cameras, radars and scanners were sought out and cleanly separated from the lab, absorbed in darkness.
Astra stood, pulling his powers back as alarms began to light up the cliff face. His smile was grim, knowing that a lab like this, even if rendered deaf and blind for a short time, would only push the mission's margin of success by 5%.
He hoped it would count, for both of those two. Or rather, those four.
Darkness swallowed him, and Astra, along with the surveillance tech, blinked out of sight.
Location: Unknown, Tenebrae
Time: Late Morning
@Lady Seraphina
"You spoke with the Valkyries?"
Eos paused. "Ah yes, I don't believe you two have met."
"If you're asking me to phase an entire sub and something goes wrong... well I'll be fine but I can't make any promises for your sub or your pilot."
"Your powers are unique, Miss Phantasm. Although I admire your idea, what I have in mind is much more simple."
Eos gestured with his hands, drawing out her route as he explained. "The submarine will drop you off at a chasm half a mile off the lab. From there, you will travel due north for 10 minutes through solid rock, and phase into the lab's basement. The control room will be nearby, and you will let the submarine into the loading bay and continue onward with the mission."
Eos smiled, gesturing with his hands apologetically. "I know I've made it sound easy, but the device given to you will make your entrance much easier. The device mimics your frequency, so it's one less thing to worry about while wading through solid rock. There's a light on the device that acts as a compass, so as long as the rock around you is thin enough, you won't lose your way.
"The granules in the disks act as a set of super lungs, giving you a compound that dissolved into oxygen over a span of time. One breath equals five minutes, the second breath equals four, while the third breath equals two. A fourth breath and the chemicals in the device begin to activate, causing it to be unsafe. It will allow you to navigate solid objects with ease, and only requires the disks to be replaced after use."
Eos gave a nod, and Myriad was at his side, black matter pooled in her hand. He turned to Phantasm. "The Shadow Knights will answer any further questions you have, however, I do have to inform you that time is of the essence. The operation begins tonight if you choose to accept."
He passed a closed slip of paper to her, a dollar amount written inside. "Compensation will be made to cover the quick turn-around time, and all compensation will be wired to an account of your choosing after the mission is complete."
"Myriad, if you please."
Myriad tossed her black ball to the right, where it opened up into a gateway. On the other side was complete chaos. White floors and a vaulted ceiling were doused in flashing red lights as alarms shook the air. Skittering footsteps flew across the hallway as scientists lost their coffee and papers in the confusion, running from one place to another. Near the gateway, one of the many doors stood out in particular, reading 'Dr. Alexander Kaj, Head Scientist of the Institute of Meta Sciences'.
Eos pressed the bridge of his nose, shaking his head before turning to Phantasm. "Ma'am, please enjoy the party." He politely inclined his head.
Two strides and Eos crossed the portal, walking past the doors and down the curving hallway. Myriad held the gate open, barely hiding the grin on her face at the sight. Slowly, the gate began to close.
Jade Arts Emporium
Oak Street, Near North Side, Tenebrae
Time: Daytime
@Shu
"Can't you find someone on the black market with some daring? What about other countries? I understand the heat and all but I really don't want to have to wait half a decade for payout on this and I doubt you do either."
Shen stroked his beard thoughtfully, eyes drifting to the ceiling. The young lady was right. The wait for such a treasure would be unpleasant, in the least. However, the only way he could think to circumvent the press and investigators would be to make a dirty trade. It would have to be someone as deep in Tenebrae's underbelly as he was. And there was only one crime syndicate he knew that was actively building up its treasury to launder its money. However, they were also the most dangerous to meta-kind, and to Scarlet Shadow.
His eyes glanced at the young woman, a tinge of worry knitting his bushy brows.
Scarlet Shadow continued, "By the way, since we're on the subject of payouts, any news regarding previous goods I've funneled your way recently? Like the loot from that last jewelry store heist or that jade dragon statue I pilfered from that Chinatown bigshot?"
Shen smiled, happy for the change of topic. "Ah, how delightful you've asked. My connection at the Hindman has offered an exclusive showcase at their next big auction in four weeks. And knowing this auction house, it'll sell for much more than its market value."
"They're willing to take the jade dragon as well, but, my dear, I'm tempted to buy it directly off you myself." He laughed heartily. "I am always interested in adding another dragon to my collection."
He paused. "Though, I admit, the story behind this jade piece is a bit peculiar. A cursed dragon, as they call it."
The china teapot hovered over Scarlet Shadow's cup as Shen poured more tea for her. "Another idea, not so superstitious as a cursed item, is selling to the Hunters. Your diadem, in particular."
"They are ravenous for laundering opportunities as much as they are for selling compromised metas on the black market. I could sell it to them at full price as soon as tomorrow, guaranteed."
He pulled at his beard. "But there's a reason I haven't traded with them for the past ten years. Even using a large chain of couriers, and taking every precaution to cover the Guild's tracks, there's still a risk they find us, and find you—they're a dishonourable, miserable lot, those Hunters."
North Side Apartments™
Near North Side, Tenebrae
Time: Daytime
@Blizz
Dream
"Save our children! Stop the crimes!"
"Metas are people too! Give us our right!"
Dream drove past one of the governmental buildings, seeing the same old protests taking place on either side of the field. She wondered why she bothered taking this route—it always upset her. It was the same sad story, over and over. On one side, a large and angry crowd with shiny signs and speakers. The humanists, pushing for safer streets and harsher penalties against criminals, especially meta ones.
And on the other side, smaller and under-funded with their cardboard signs, were the pro-metanists. Not all in the crowd had superpowers—most were likely friends or family of slighted or missing metas. And as usual, the police were warier of the second, smaller group.
Dream could only stare in forced indifference as she drove down the street, turning the corner to continue home. The One333 apartments were quiet, leaving the loading bay empty. She skidded to a stop on the street and slipped into the building, ransacking her apartment. Ten minutes later, she was out, dressed in her proper costume, and with two loaded duffel bags which she slipped into the back seat.
The engine roared to life, and with her home and business locked up, she headed straight to the North Side Apartments. The parking area she used last night was still empty, and she eased the black caddy in, took out the keys, and walked into the street. A scruffy, short gentleman stood at the front entrance of Ellie's building. From his nervous mannerisms and white coat, Dream only narrowed her eyes as she approached.
"Doctor?" Dream said.
The man bristled and turned around. "Oh! Uh, Dream. What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same," she said, eyeing the sweaty face and tired eyes of the doctor. "How long have you been standing here?"
"Longer than I would like to admit," he said sheepishly.
Dream gave a small smile. "Come on, it's getting close to that time anyway." She pushed the button for the office, and the doors unlocked for them. The doctor fidgeted with his coat as they stepped into the elevator.
"Dream?"
"Yeah, doc?"
"Maybe this isn't such a good idea. I mean, you guys are gonna be risking your lives, and we don't even have a concrete plan. Maybe we should just... c-cancel the mission?"
Dream paused as the elevator opened, brows knitted. "Doc?"
"Y-yes?"
"If everything you've said is true, do you really think we're in a position where we can just quit?"
The elevator doors glinted red as they began to slide shut, and Dream's hand snapped up to catch it. She nodded her head towards the hallway. "Come on, Ellie's waiting."
"She is?" the doctor asked, shuffling down the hall.
Dream laughed. "No. She has no idea."
They arrived at Ellie's door, and Dream gave it a swift knock. "Don't worry, doc, we'll think of something."
The doctor nodded listlessly, gaze dropping to the ground.
A few seconds later, the subtle tapping of claws on the glass as a small black cat sat perched at Ellie's balcony window.