Glitch IV: Chapter 2 Abduction

[LadyTevar]

The FalseDarek had returned. In the cathedral, outside her body, Leah watched as he strutted into her prison, hating his smirk, hating what he was going to be doing to her shortly, and cursing herself for being unable to stop him.

But what is stopping you?

The voice made her pause. Was it her own? Was it outside her?
How could she stop him? She'd tried so many times....

Look what you've done to the statue.

She turned, glancing to the dark side of the cathedral, and saw several statues had been cut in halves, in thirds, stone sliced like the proverbial silk dropped on a katana's edge.
But... I can only do that here... inside the cathedral. Inside my own mind.

Isn't the cathedral inside the game? Just like you are?

Leah was silent a moment, her eyes going to the light shining brightly through the stained glass window, following it as it splashed spectatularly on the ever-present statue of Bahamut. His bulk hid the other statues, his scales shimmering in the light, his bejeweled eyes gleaming high above her head.

You have the power to stop him now, LightWarrior. All that holds you back... is your own fear.

[Dark Silver]

"You humans..so sure I'm going to double cross you."

Page sighed, even as he moved to the HDD. He removed a disc from his pocket, and inserted it into the HDD's drive, and began powering it up. "If we were in My Universe, opening a portal would be relative childs play. A application of a human will upon a linking device could create a warpzone. Humans are able to tap into the latent energy of the former Crystal Palace easily there. Here....here we have to modify the program of the linking device, allowing for access through the Warp Zone...and into the linking world."

After his small talk, the HDD began to power on, and he stepped back. Slowly, the image of Zion, th image of the town of Stars Cove appeared, wavering. "Unfortunatly, we will still need a application of a Ascended's will to stabilize the portal, before we can use it. This is where you come in, Albert. Stabilize the portal...and we can go and rescue your fair damsel, and destroy the Master."

------

The Master watched the town, even as the portal was opening. He was aware of the attempt, he knew they were coming. The portal would stabilize, they would cross over, and MORGANNA would have her host.

Within the darkness of his hood, the Master smiled, looking over to the blankly staring form of Adena. She was dressed in a suit of leather armor, as revealing as it was protective. Soon, she would be the Host, and things could move as nessacry.

Stabilize the Portal....bring them in...

The Dark Warlock next to the Master bowed his head. He looked to the wavering image of Page and the others, focused his immense will upon it, and for a brief instant, the portal stabilized....then blackeded out.

---------

"Something is wrong..."

Page frowned as the Portal stabilized before them, the image of Stars Cove becoming solid. They would only need to step through, a moment later, the room itself began to change, the reality of the office fading away, as the portal began to waver, then distort...slowly twisting into a whirlwind.

"This is all wrong" Page shouted as a fell wind began to blow, in towards the swirling darkness of the portal. Immediatly following his shout, Page was lifted off his feet, and disappeared into the portal...

[SirNitram]

"As a guess..." Albert yelled over the storm as he sort to stabilize himself. "We don't want to go where he just went."

Ascended, huh? Well, maybe three minds would provide the willpower to override it. He dug deep into himself, finding the two, slowly waking, fusions. Thog... Well, okay, two minds. Thog wasn't going to be useful here.

Scrambling to keep from falling in, both Albert's mind, and his own darkside focused on the swirling hurricane of the portal, seeking Leah. Both wanted to find her.

[Charon]

Matt grabbed onto a file cabinet and held onto it for dear life as he felt the slow pull of the vortex. "Al! Take care of it!"

Matt's blaster slipped from his grasp and flew into the vortex as he grabbed the cabinet with his other now free hand.

[LadyTevar]

"Hello, beautiful... are you happy to see me today?" The smile in the voice did not match the lust in his eyes, nor the leer on his face.

Not his face. Not even Darek. The TROLL.

He leaned down to where she huddled in the corner, his hand reaching out, slowly pulling the sheet that she'd wrapped around herself. "Let me see you, my lovely Leandra.... I want to see you."

No. No.. you'll never want to see me. Ever again.

"You're all mine, beautiful..." he crooned as the sheet slipped away, his eyes lusting after her, remember how he'd placed every little bruise that now showed on her pale skin. "I've been thinking about what to do to you for some time...." he whispered harshly, running one hand down her pale arm.

Leah's eyes opened, her head turning to look the false-Darek right in the face. "So have I..." her voice rasped out, and the sheet that still covered her back billowed out and up as something cut their way out.

Scoring the stone floor deeply six parellel slashes razored towards the bed. Creaking, feathers flying, the bed fell apart as neatly as an egg sliced for salad, and something picked the largest piece off the ground and held it in mid-air as the faux-Darek gaped. The bedsheets and feathers outlined what the eye could not see: thick tendrils waving in the air, picking up the broken bed effortlessly.

"It is my turn to play now..." Leah stated in a flat, dead voice. "Time to see how long you survive...."

[Devonie]

Angela screamed as she was lifted off her feet and pulled toward the vortex and started flailing, trying vainly to grab hold on anything... anything... She was being pelted by all the small things in the office as they were pulled past her and yanked through the portal.

"Al!" she shouted, "Matt! Help!"

[Agent Fisher]

Jack reached out and grabbed her hand, while holding onto a door frame. "Hold on!"

[Rukia]

Rory slipped and fell before she could anchor herself. She was sliding across the floor her hands scrambling to grab ahold of something...

[Dark Silver]

He watched.

It was easy enough to do so, it would take only a few moments, and they would be through it.

-----

Those that grabbed onto obects in the office to keep from being sucked into the swirling vortex found thier handholds mysteriously vanishing, eve as they were being lifted off thier feet.

At first, the image of Star's Cove was clear around them, then again the world changed, the peaceful village vanishing, as stone wall began to take shape.

The suction from the vortex was abating, as Albert's will was focused upon it, though things where changing.

Albert could feel some other intellegence, some other great will focusing upon the portal, changing the scenery about them, abducting them.

It was a moment later, that the portal dispersed, and they stood in a dark stone chamber. A massive set of double doors stood impassively upon the far wall, bolted and secured by heavy steel bars.

A few scant meters before the group, a group stood. Robert Page was there, on his knees, looking up at a dark cloaked and robed figure. Behind the figure, stood a darkly attractive Elven woman, her armor skimpy, the cloak settled at her back. Two other figures stood to either side of the elven woman, a whit haired human male, and a Dark Rider.

The dark cloaked figure which stood before Page radiated power and malevolence, a air of complete authorty emminated from him. His voice was unheard, but from the look on Page' face and how he acted,it was obvious he was being spoken to.

Page sprung to his feet, backing up towards the humans, who had taken on the appearence of thier Zion characters again, all except for Albert, who was dressed in a suit of stylized armor. "No....no...stay away! Morganna! Stop him!"

Adena looked at page, her head tilted slightly to the side, the cold smile upon her lips told it all, "I obey the Master"

Page turned, began to run towards the group, "Protect me!" he screamed, the aura of fear generated by the Master seemed to have overcome Page's sensibilities. The Master's hand raised, revealing the clawed metal gauntlet, as his voice seemed to boom from everywhere, and nowhere, You have outlived your usefulness to me Page. Your scheming and treacherous ways are at a end.

The Master's hand began to glow, energy crackling around the fingers, before a beam of energy lanced forth. It speared Page through the back, right through the chest, a yellow beam of energy. Page's scream echoed off the stone walls, as a ring of geen numbers and energy began to circle his head then chest.

Data Drain the voice spoke slowly, as a matching set of numbers and data streams formed around the Master's body. Page's scream slowly began to die out, as his body began to palen, turn ashen...then grey out.

Before another step could be completed, Page's corpse fell to the ground, then fell apart, turned to ash upon the cold floor.

The Master turned to face the group of humans, his body glowing faintly, as he lowered his arm, Welcome... the voice spoke softly, Welcome to your nightmare...

[Agent Fisher]

Jack snapped up his blaster, but held his fire, waiting for Al to doing something first.

We are so boned.

[Charon]

Matthew staggered some under the change and the shock of seeing Page destroyed so easily.

"Well fuck..."

Matthew looked down and saw that the blaster that he'd let go of was sitting on the floor just infront of the pile of ash that had once been Page. Without a moments hesitation he dived forward, not taking into account his new body once again he stumbled and overshot his mark, crashing into the ash pile. Floundering for a second Matt brushed the ash out of his eyes and grabbed the gun. Swinging it around he pointed the weapon at the robed figure.

"I've been there, you'll have to do better."

Unlike Jack, Matt didn't wait. Pulling the trigger he let out a torrent of red bolts, some at the robed figure, some at Adena and her lackeys, many missed though.

[LadyTevar]

The double doors boomed behind them, as if something very strong was striking them solidly.

Once.
Twice.
And the doors parted, lifted by unseen hands completely off their hinges, iron bars slamming thunderously to either side, revealing a small, pale figure.

Red hair flowed over the blood-splattered sheet, wrapped around her body like a bathing towel. Blue eyes were wide, unfocused as their gaze moved around the room, until they fell upon one person amongst the group.

"Adena.... there you are... shall we play now?" Leah sing-songed, as something tossed the doors down to slide across the floor. "I got tired of playing with your Dark Riders ... I'm afraid I broke all your toys."

Something or things moved in the air around Leah as she walked forward, her eyes on Adena alone. Once inside the hall, blood flecks painted the things, giving a hint of arms or tendrils, a brief glimpse of a clawed hand, yet how many or how big was confusing.

"I've been waiting, Adena..." Leah crooned, getting within ten yards of the dark elf. "Let me show you what I learned in the Cathedral...."

Six furrows scored deeply into the stone floor as the things shot forward and plowed into Adena, and Leah's eyes seemed to shine as Adena was lifted off the floor by the impact. "Time to die."

[SirNitram]

"On any other day," Albert said, in his best Nick Cage drawl, as the doors were ripped free of the walls. "That might seem strange."

Using the distraction, Albert sprinted forward. The armour was changing, and so was he. Engulfed in brilliant, purple-stained light, he emerged a thing of darkness: A Null. Long, flensing claws extended from each gauntleted finger. The armour was covered in spikes. Black figured heavily into it. He sprinted forward, and leapt forward, springing directly for the 'Master'.

"I'll have your power!" He hissed as he slashed.

[Agent Fisher]

Jack opened fire, his blaster spewing crimson bolts at the dark rider's center mass.

[Dark Silver]

The rider was the first to go down, when Matthew started blasting energy bolts at the Master, he stepped in the way.

Two sets of blaster bolts tore into his body, first from Matthew, the other from Jack. His flesh charred and the smell of ozone permeated the air as the Dark Rider collapsed, dead.

In his place, Skeith stepped in, a red, glowing staff held in his outstreched hands, deflecting the other blaster bolts. Slowly, with the assuredity that gave him the title, the Terror of Death, the First Phase began a march towards the humans.

"I have your power!

Albert's shout of defience didn't even seem to startle the Master, the cloaked figure remained standing where he was. With Albert's first swipe, the arm shot up, taking the hit of claws upon armor. Spark's flew wildly, with the impact, while a clawed boot swung up for the Null Albert's stomach, a blurr to those who had not acheived the level they had.

[Charon]

Matt watched as the white haired man simply took the blaster fire like it was nothing.

"Man, it sure would be nice if we weren't outmatched every damn time we have to fight these guys..."

Matt began slowly backing up as he looked at the blaster rifle he'd grabbed. Skeith slowly drew closer, he didn't have much time. Then his eyes caught what he was looking for. With a triumphant grin Matthew flicked on the automatic fire of the blaster and pointed it at Skeith, and let loose a torrent of red fire at the beast.

[Agent Fisher]

Jack followed Matt's example and switched his blaster to automatic fire. He depressed the trigger and let fly a strom of red bolts at Skeith.

[LadyTevar]

The barely-dressed form of Adena flew backwards, landing near the wall of the hall. Leah slowly glided forward, richochets from the blaster bolts missing her by some unknown luck or talent. "Awww... did I break you so quickly, Adena? I should have been more careful...." Leah sing-sang like a schoolyard taunt, or a person so far gone she had nothing left to lose.

The dark elf slowly rose back to her feet, the deep slices cut across her face and chest closing with inhuman speed. "Threat detected..." MORGANNA said calmly in Adena's voice, "Activating combat protocol...." Clapping her hands together briefly, MORGANNA then touched the wall behind her. The stones moved, twisting, lengthening, shaping into a spear as long as Adena's outstretched arms, one end a sharp, wide head, the back end a simple spike.

"Combat mode..." The dark elf seemed to blur, rushing the approaching Leah far faster than Adena had moved before, charging and swinging the spear in a deadly arc....

... and she was stopped a mere three feet away from Leah, as if hitting a barrier. Those paying attention might have glimpsed faintly blood-limed tendrils that had crossed protectively in front of Leah, blocking the strike, before more lashed in retailiation.

Adena reacted quickly, the spear whirling to block the one she could see, only to be forcefully slammed in the side by the one(s?) she didn't. "Careful, Adena... I have far more vectors to attack you. Can you block all of them?" Leah taunted, her eyes gleaming. "Your false Darek couldn't ... he begged and he screamed as I impaled him with them. And then ... he screamed more, loudly, pleadingly, before I ripped his intestines apart from the inside. Will you scream like that, Adena?"

MORGANNA retreated slightly, watching her Ascended opponent carefully, trying to identify and track the Vectors Leah mentioned. With only the faint splatters of blood to guide her, the dark elf twisted and dodged, spinning the stone spear expertly to block with the shaft while striking at the Vectors with either end ... only to see the blade pass harmlessly through.

It was almost as if the Vectors were only semi-physical, telekinetics made solid.

[frigidmagi]

You Two voices whispered. Chris had a headache, had had a headache for awhile. It caused him to drift on autopilot, half in and half out. But he saw... He knew... Magneto had completely zoned out, his voice going into silence...

He wasn't Chris anymore... He wasn't... Who was he? Did it matter?

We...Are...The...Same... whispered a rolling force, surging to the fore. Albert battled for his life against the master, he was fond of Albert, so young, so determined... So much like Charlie's X Men or like Clark when they first met.

That wasn't right... Clark was from... No he knew Clark. The memory of the break between the 3 of them, Charles, Clark and himself was painful. They were like brothers to him, he had lost his wife, he had lost his childern but he had had his brothers. But then he killed that petty tryant for playing games with the lives of HIS poeple. Using mutants like machine parts...

That didn't happen, it was story I wrote... Yes it did, I remember it. We did both, for we are one...

We Are Magneto. We Are Chris.

He rose into the air surrounded by power. He reached out... The armor was non magnetic... The Master was wiser then he had hoped. Albert was going to fall.

WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT!

Metal began to shake, the walls viberated.

"You.... We know you... We have suffered your stench, your unholy taint upon a hundred worlds. We have slain your minions by the thousands and lost to many to count... " They hissed Torch brackets were ripped from the wall, the door Leah had caved in exploded has the metal bands were ripped from it and reshaped according to their will.

"Today you will know pain... Today you will bleed... Today you will die, for WE ARE MAGNETO and you are at an end monster!" They said.

The metal reshaped into sharp deadly spikes flew unerring at the Master, veering aside from all other targets, carrying the combined wraith of Chris and Magneto fused into one raging whole.

[Devonie]

Angela stood where she was as the room exploded into furor.

Albert was.... a *null*?!?

And Leah... Leah was... Leah was.... "Holy Shit" she whispered.

Why didn't she have the runabout make her a Zzat when she had the chance?

She screamed as the building began to shake around her. Stared as the metal shards zoomed around the room, attacking the one calling himself Master.

All she could do was watch. She had never felt more helpless in her life.

[SirNitram]

Albert's claws raked over the 'Master', shredding cloak and robe but failing to score hits deeper than armour. He was blindingly fast, dancing out of the way of the counterattacks. That was the problem, of course. He was incredibly fast, but he couldn't get a telling blow.

The sound of Magneto cutting loose signaled the need to be elsewhere. The freakish thing that Albert had become rolled to the side, avoiding the barrage of metal. So far.. Not so good.

[Devonie]

Angela watched as the Null - no - ALBERT - rolled away from the monster he was battling, saw the razor-sharp shards of metal slicing toward them, and she knew there was no way Al could avoid being hit.

She looked down at her hands and realized for the first time she was Jules...maybe, just maybe....

"In Sanct Grav!" she shouted as she reached a hand toward Al. She prayed it would work as she focused all her will into this one protective gesture.

[Rukia]

It took Rory a moment to get her bearings. She was Sivri again, agile, quick and small. Only difference between now and the game... she had her Beretta M9. Obviously no one saw the tiny dark elf as a threat, well that and everyone was a bit preoccupied. She slowly rose and darted around flying metal, in and out of shadows watching her target carefully. She steadied herself in the shadows and took aim at Skieth then fired. She shot rang and echoed off the stone walls.

[LadyTevar]

Leah was the center of a whirlwind as the computer virus inside Adena's body danced and struck at her. Always, one of the invisible tendrils/tentacles would be at just the right vector to block, with a second to attempt a counter strike. Only Albert and the Master moved faster than these two.

She screamed as the building began to shake around her. Stared as the metal shards zoomed around the room, attacking the one calling himself Master.

As the building began to shake, one of Leah's counterstrikes hit the off-balance Morganna solidly, snapping the spear in twain and throwing her backwards. Then someone screamed.

Leah's head jerked around, looking towards the source. Only then did she see that there were others in the room. Others that she recognized, that she knew... were they real?

Morganna's eyes blazed as she took advantage of the distraction. Her hands clapped together over the broken bottom half of the spear, and the stone shimmered and -changed- inherently. The butt-end spike was hefted and thrown with deadly accuracy at Leah's head.

A vector whipped out, smacking the thrown spear less than a meter from Leah ... and the Alchemy-charged spear exploded deafeningly, throwing Leah violently to the ground from the force of the explosion, the blood-stained sheet shredded and slipping.

Morganna snatched up the remainder of the spear with its large sharpened blade and stalked forward. "You are no longer necessary to the Master's plans. You may now be deleted."

[Dark Silver]

Skeith's staff blocked the bolts of energy coming from Jack and Matthew's blasters. Each red bolt dispersed as the staff intersected it's path, and Skeith began to move towards them.

When the gunshots rang out, echoing in the stone of the chamber, Skeith turned towards the source. The bullets impacted the white haired man in the chest, hurling him backwards. No blood flowed from the wounds, but Skeith's eyes remained wide. The staff fell from limp hands, as blasterbolts began to tear into his side and back.

Shortly thereafter, Skeith died as his body digitized and disappeared.

-------- --------

Magneto's attack, intime with Albert's own, was fortuitous, for it backed Albert off, and gave the Master the time he needed to deal with the Lord of Magnetism.

Formerly the province of Robert Page's nano-implants, the metal began to explode as microscopic nanites left the Master's body, and traveled the space in the blink of a eye. A bolt of blue flame left the Master's hands as he turned to face the new attack, atomizing the larger peices as they neared him.

The Master felt Skeith's demise through the link he shared with his minion, and he took several steps back. A quick glance towards Morganna saw her battle with Leah.

He knew when it was time to make a tactical retreat, he was at least that intellegent.

We shall meet again... the voice echoed in the darkness, as the Master disappeared, And next time, I will see your blood coat my armored hands...Albert..Morganna, retreat.