Team 4
"Ve haven't the time to shop agent Morgan" said Kraus "any luck?" she asked. "No perhaps Ve should separate, ya?" said Kraus "fine, have you seen Abe?" said Aeryn "he Vas over there a moment ago" said Krauss "do not Vander too far agent" said Kraus "don't worry I'll find Abe and stick by him" said Aeryn. With a wistful glance back at one of those beautiful scarves she vanished into the crowd. Red was talking on the radio to Liz. Despite Kraus' admonishment to stay together they had all wandered off.
"Ok little guy did you see where Abe went?" said Aeryn. it chittered again at her and pointed down an alley. Aeryn followed its directions and rounded a corner. In time to see a woman climb out a window followed by Abe being thrown through the frame. Aeryn ran towards them, a huge creature followed him out and tried to smash him into the ground. The creature on her shoulder hissed and launched itself at the huge monster. Aeryn ran to the woman's side. "This way quickly" said Aeryn "but Abraham?" the woman protested
"He is more equipped to deal with that than us, now c'mon" said Aeryn. she tugged on the woman's arm. The monster was trying to catch Abe and bellowing whenever the small creature bit him. The monster tried to hit Abe and Aeryn finally grabbed a mace. It managed to knock Abe off his feet and was intending to hit him again. "Hey you have to pay for that" said the merchant "how much?" said Aeryn "twenty bucks" said the man Aeryn threw a fifty at him "keep the change" she said and darted away with the club "stay here" said Aeryn. The woman looked at her funny but remained where told.
She darted up behind the monster and swung the mace like a baseball bat at the creatures back. The mace broke on it's back like it was a toothpick; the creature turned and stepped forward towards Aeryn. She threw the broken club over her shoulder muttering about cheap merchandise. It drew its arm back like it intended to hit her. Then it froze and looked at her funny. "Hey that's a friend of mine," said Red. The creature lunged towards Aeryn and then it flew backwards when hb hit it "you ok kid?" said hb
"Yeah I'm fine, I need to go help Abe, can you handle him?" said Aeryn "piece of cake sweetheart, piece of cake" said hb "great "said Aeryn. now that, He was handling that she headed back to where Abe had fallen. He moaned and Aeryn kneeled beside him, he had a small chunk of glass sticking out of his side. "Easy Abe let me help you," said Aeryn. She closed her eyes for a brief second and pulled the energy. At first it wanted to flow through her. It took all of her self-control to push it outside herself and into Abe. She heard him gasp and she pulled the power back. She vaguely noticed some of the crowd-whispering healer they seemed to have drawn an audience from somewhere She opened her eyes to find Abe blinking up at her in surprise.
"Thank you, healer" said Abe "Abe my name is Aeryn and you don't have to thank me we're friends" said Aeryn. Abe stood up slowly "it is still polite to thank even if we are friends" said Abe. Aeryn shrugged and glanced over at the woman. She swallowed in shock the woman had the same eyes as the prince.
"He is my brother," said Nuala. "My lady perhaps it would be best if you accompanied us" said Abe. "I really don't think that is a good idea agent Sapian" said Kraus "begging your pardon sir but the princess needs our help" said Abe. "No, no Vay, it goes against all of the rules" said Kraus "Kraus the prince isn't exactly playing by any rules wouldn't it make more sense to have someone who can at least predict his next move?" said Aeryn.
Though she didn't like the idea of the fae woman accompanying them she could see that Abe liked her. After the woman explained about the crown piece, it seemed their next best chance of stopping the prince. "I would be willing to vouch for her conduct," said Abe. Kraus made what sounded like a sigh. Abe was about to say something more when the creature hb was fighting bellowed.
They turned and watched. Its main weapon was some sort of fist on a chain Hb had damaged that weapon leaving two of the metal fingers crunched. it seemed to be swearing at him because of it. "I wouldn't if I were you," warned Hb
The creature babbled something in its own language "what's it saying?" said Aeryn "swear words mostly" said Abe "Vhich you will not repeat agent sapian there are young ears present" said Kraus. Aeryn laughed "I probably have a bigger vocabulary than it does any day" said Aeryn. Then the creature launched its hand at hb. Unfortunately for it Hb was standing in front of a huge meat grinder. The metal fist stuck between the two wheels and started to drag the creature towards the grinder wheels.
"Wow your in some sort of tight spot aren't you?" said Hb. Hb rested his hand on the chain and stuck his cigar in his mouth. Aeryn made her way towards them she stopped just out of reach of the creature. "Who sent you after us?" said Aeryn it snarled at her in response "oh please the only scary thing about you is your breath" said Aeryn. it gibbered a response "did it just answer me or insult me?" said Aeryn. She looked at Abe "both I believe" said Abe "all right you have two options here you either answer my questions and we stop those wheels from turning you into fish food or you die, might want to make the decision fast" said Aeryn
It answered by swearing at her again."He serves my brother and his name is Wink" said Nuala "Wink? You have to be kidding me that's just dumb it's like naming an anaconda fluffy," said Aeryn. "He is after me," said the woman. It roared at her and shook its free hand at her. "And you?" said the woman, she sounded shocked. "Well was that your answer?" said Aeryn. It held up its hand and even with fewer digits than a human had she could tell the gesture it was making. "Ok that does it, bye wink," said red. He released the chain and it immediately pulled taut and started dragging wink forward.
It struggled and tried to pull away from the grinding wheels then with a shriek and crunching noises wink was no more. "Ouch" said Aeryn. "It Vould probably be most prudent to leave now," said Kraus. They followed Kraus' lead back out the door they entered from.
Meanwhile the prince was busy working intently on a project only to be interrupted by one of his agents. "Wink is dead, he was killed by a red handed demon and a half-breed healer" said the informant. The prince paused absorbing the impact of those words " thank you my friend I shall see to Wink's killers" said the prince. He stood and closed up what he was working on. The girl had come to him; wink must have found her while he sought his sister.
Stuffing the small egg shaped container into his shirt pocket he walked out into the market. The informant pointed the way to Winks' remains and the door they had used to leave. "And you say my sister accompanied them?" said Nuada it nodded yes "very well thank you" said Nuada. he dropped an acorn from his pocket and the creature grabbed it up and started eating it right away. Nuada made for the exit; he caught up to them as they were just outside the market entrance.
"Demon you shall pay for my friends death" he said "do you take charge" said Red he held up his gun "they offered wink his life brother, he refused it" said Nuala. "Silence, sister I do not speak to you" said Nuada "well demon is this true did you offer my servant his life?" said Nuada. Aeryn watched from near Abe. So this was the man who killed her mother? She could see why her mother had been frightened he was creepy looking.
"I didn't but our healer did, didn't you kid?" said Red. "Demon you are born from a womb of shadows, you were sent here to destroy their world, you have more in common with us than them do you really believe they will accept you?" said Nuada. Hb gave no response instead he blew a smoke ring from his cigar and glanced at the kid. He wasn't interested in al this talk stuff he was waiting for the fun part to start.
Aeryn came slowly forward. The prince's head turned in her direction. She stopped next to Hb. "yes I did but I'm sure you'll be happy to hear he insulted us till the end" said Aeryn. Her tone dripped contempt "and what of you little healer will you still side with them over your own people?" said Nuada "I am with my people" she answered. The creature on her shoulder looked at her sideways and said something softly. It sounded like are you sure?
"Ah so young and so sadly mistaken" he said. The prince smiled and gave a short burst of laughter. "That matters not you will still pay for his loss," said Nuada he pulled the egg from his pocket. Aeryn and the others frowned was he going to throw eggs at them?
Nuada watched the girl approach the front of the group. Even as she had stood near his sister he could tell from her eyes that she was no more human than he was. It saddened him that she claimed the human side of her nature so strongly that she changed her appearance just to fit in. Her human garb did nothing to disguise her form and she used no glamour to hide her eyes. Her hair was as light as his except the ends were coal black.
Though her willingness to offer her aid to one of her fellow species. Despite, that it had attempted to harm her. Spoke of a certain amount of fae nobility being raised human non-withstanding. He decided he would check his informant's story just to be certain.
"No brother don't" Nuada pleaded. When she saw what he had uncovered. The others clearly didn't understand what it was that he held. Even the healer who should know was clueless. It only served to anger him more. He threw the seed, commanding it with two words "kill him" despite his sister's pleadings.
He needed to eliminate the child's protectors first and that demon would be her staunchest supporter. They watched it as it bounced on the ground. The girl however watched him. He smiled at her it was obvious she didn't wish to turn her back to him. "Its heading for water" his sister warned. The merman chased it but was too late.
It was clear the girl expected him to attack them from behind while they were distracted. He smiled at her and she answered with a frown. The ground rumbled beneath their feet. Aeryn finally glanced in the beans' direction in time to see the ground burst apart. She glanced back and he was gone. She swore she didn't like the idea that she had lost track of him. A giant beanstalk looking creature emerged from the hole.
"Great jack's beanstalk with an attitude" said Aeryn "what is it?" said Liz "a forest god, an elemental, a giver of life and death" said Nuala "I'm getting big baby," said Red "my lady you might want to step back" said Abe. The thing started moving and cars started flying. It threw a car at a news chopper and knocked it out of the sky. "We need to get these people out of here" said Liz. Nuada had walked back into the troll market briefly; he stopped by one of the merchant's tables and asked about the girl.
"She wore a inden bracelet but it was half covered," said the merchant "you couldn't read any of it?" said Nuada. She was nobility then only those of high birth could forge one of those. "One word my lord, princess," said the merchant. "Nothing of the seal?" said nuada."Only a cauldron leg" said the man. Nuada swore and walked back out the south entrance to the market. There was only one person she could be and he was in shock. Had he found her at last? Could he be that fortunate? We're the god's offering him hope?
Liz and Aeryn had crouched down by one of the buildings. Aeryn looked at the fleeing crowd "they seem to be handling that on their own" said Aeryn "my baby!" screamed a lady, Liz swore the woman was futilely tugging on her door handle of her vehicle. "Red the baby!" yelled Aeryn. Aeryn glanced to her right and Nuala was standing in the street.
The creature moved suddenly and a car was suddenly flying in her direction. Nuala screamed but remained rooted to the spot. Aeryn dashed towards her and literally tackled her out of the way of the flying car. At the same time releasing a burst of energy so the car landed elsewhere. She wasn't strong enough to lift it but she could deflect it.
The car crashed down next to them upside down and on top of another vehicle. Nuala was laying on her back on the cement. "You ok?" asked Aeryn "yes thank you" said Nuala "good stay near me, we don't need your brother grabbing you in this confusion" said Aeryn "you hate my brother?" said Nuala "just stay close lady" said Aeryn.
Hb had retrieved the ladies baby from the car before it was smashed and was climbing a hotel sign on the side of the building. Kraus was screaming at him to shoot the creature. Hb was more concerned at the moment with keeping his balance. Aeryn stepped closer to the creature and felt something strange. It took her a few minutes to sort out what exactly it was.
"Healer?" said the prince. She frowned at the interruption, what could he possibly want of her? She turned and he was standing just a few feet from her. She swallowed he could have killed her easily and she wouldn't have seen it coming. Nuala moved a step towards her and Aeryn motioned her back. He moved closer to her and Aeryn raised her gun. Suddenly glad that Hb had talked Kraus into letting her carry one, despite her age. Too bad he hadn't talked him into bullets too.
"Do you intend to shoot me healer?" said the prince. he looked amused by the thought. "Only if you tempt me," she answered, "what do you want?" said Aeryn "to see you closer" he answered. She tilted her head sideways and her hair fell sideways covering Max. "Why?" said Aeryn "you saved my sister's life" he said softly. "Do you still believe your one of them, your eyes betray you my lady?" he said
She frowned at him "so say thank you and then leave," said Aeryn. She chose to ignore the eye comment. He chuckled "so arrogant do you not know to whom you speak?" he said calmly. "Yes I do, Prince Nuada, Silverlance son of king Balor, that's why I'm asking you to leave" said Aeryn "you know of me?" he said in shock. "And yet you do not even know what you are, do you?" said Nuada. Her tone had been one of strait contempt; she said his name like a string of insults. It made him angry so he responded in kind. "And yet you still order me like a servant" he said irritated by her earlier tone.
"It seems our children share in their parents arrogance, now if you don't mind I have things to attend to" said Aeryn. She grabbed Nuala's hand and walked away from him. He stared after her in shock; he thought her voice sounded familiar he sniffed the air. It was she, yet she was no child. Or at least not fully one, he watched her walk away from him.