The Doctor's eyes were already wide, yet somehow managed to widen further when the tiny white sheet over baby Brooke stirred, and sounds came from under resembling the cooing of a BREATHING infant. The Doctor stumbled to one knee and began hyperventilating on the spot. Shin came forward and pulled back the sheet over Brooke, Shin took her into his arms and rushed down the hallway to Adjani's room, as the door burst open Adjani jolted from her slumber, Shin held out the child for Adjani to see. "She-" he gasped, unsure what to say.
Adjani was too confused to do anything but instinct, as she took her child into her arms and the powers of Nen Skye healed the damage death had already visited upon her, Shin and Adjani embraced each other, the child between them. The two had no words at first, finally Adjani spoke, "How?"
"I'm not certain, I saw Zaire in the morgue, looking at her under the sheet, he was doused in a white glow of healing energies, then all of a sudden he turned to me, unaware of any of it, and told me she was ready to come back, and she started to stir."
Zaire pushed open the door and looked over at Adjani and Shin, "Is baby sister awake now?"
Shin motioned Zaire to come over, he darted over and the four were part of a family hug, "She's awake, it's a beautiful miracle."
The guy from the morgue came in and helped the doctor find a seat, breathing normally. "You don't work with the dead doc, we see these sorts of things once in a rare while, don't ask... don't tell... It's something we regale to our kids when we're old senile men..."
Gayl sat down on her bed, the air was without breeze in her room, she got to her feet and opened a window, the natural breeze blowing through the window. She frowned, as much as the breeze was a blessing, it only served to remind her that her powers had yet to return in full. She turned from the window and suddenly raised up her arms defensively over her body in surprise at the figure inches from her face...
"Genjutsu! God woman don't DO that!"
Genjutsu smiled in a manner that only served to creep her out further, "I hear from your thoughts that your powers are suppressed and I wondered if you might like me to restore them?"
"Stay out of my thoughts! - I mean yes- but- don't read my MIND!"
Genjutsu laughed, then reached into a non-existent pocket in her robes and pulled out a small red pill, then pulled a glass of water from thin air behind her back. "Here."
Gayl took the pill and glass from Genjutsu, "Thank you..."
"Get well soon Gayl-chan, I want to ask a favor of you that I wouldn't trust to Mr. Doom-san." With that Genjutsu walked out through Gayl's window, disappearing to who knew where by the time Gayl poked her head out to make sure she hadn't really just killed herself...
Gayl shook her head, "That woman is just plain eerie sometimes..."
"Eirhe is out to dinner actually," Genjutsu replied from empty space, causing Gayl to jump into the air, assisted by her fully restored powers she leapt strait up and bumped her head into the ceiling over 15 feet above-
"Owie..."
Gayl came down onto her bed and held the top of her head, hoping not to form a welt the size of Tokyo. "I wonder what she wants me to do..."
Mamoru stepped down into the dungeon he'd cleared out for the use of Eirhe and her assistants, he wanted to know how long until she could begin construction for him.
"Eirhe, where are you," Mamoru called out.
"She's out," Aquila responded.
Mamoru turned to Aquila with a vicious motion, holding her by the neck against the nearest wall before she could have even cried out. "You do not address me until I address you first, you are here because I can only assume Eirhe needs your assistance, you will answer me only when I ask you something, now, do you understand."
Aquila tried to swallow, but couldn't because of Mamoru's grip, she nodded and gasped out a yes. As Mamoru let her go, she caught herself against the wall and came down to her knees, then reached to massage her throat. Her eyes were almost as hateful as his right now, having never before been treated so lowly.
Mamoru turned his head around to examine the whole lab, and then turned back to Aquila, "Now I will ask, where did DOCTOR Eirhe go."
"With Doom-" she choked, "he invited her to eat."
Doom dodged his head to the side as Mamoru's blade passed through the space it had been in moments before, "Yo."
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you where you sit," Mamoru growled to Doom.
"Because, I ordered for you too."
Mamoru raised an eyebrow, scowled, then shook his head and sighed, scooting into the booth next to Doom.
"Hey, you didn't say name a good one," Doom replied.
"And YOU," Mamoru snapped, turning to Eirhe, "I was under the impression you were going to start that project for me that we agreed on, as per our arrangement."
"My being a slave was not discussed," she snapped back, "when our equipment is in place, and we are properly adjusted, THEN we will begin your project."
Mamoru glared, but slackened his posture moments before their food was brought...
"Doom here was just telling me about how he came into your services."
"Oh was he? I don't suppose he mentioned how I nearly killed him for trespassing into my castle the first time I saw him."
"He mentioned that, and then I told her about the bar," Doom smirked.
"I told you that night, it was Genjutsu's idea."
"And I believe you, with that woman, I wouldn't be surprised if she meant for you to meet me there."
"Really now, why would you think that."
"Just said it wouldn't surprise me."
Mamoru paused for a beat, "Suppose it wouldn't surprise me that much either..."
The three then began eating. Eirhe asked about the history of the Troopers, and finally about the papers Gayl had taken from them. Doom started by bringing her up to date on the lore of the Armors, Kaos, Arago, and finally about what he'd been told about Arago's final defeat. After a tick, Mamoru took over on the papers.
"Genjutsu is currently translating them; they will lead us to a number of mystical artifacts that have captured my interest."
"And Ms. Genjutsu is the one I have heard so colorfully referred to as- 'thoroughly out of her gourd'?"
"Genjutsu is a bit off, but she's alright, and she knows almost everything about the arcane, she's the one who led me to seek the artifacts these documents speak of."
"I see, you have Genjutsu for your magics, Gayl and Doom for your generals, and me- I take it, for the sciences, more specifically, for my machines that can suppress arcane wavelengths."
"Precisely, which is why I expect you to get to work immediately once we've finished."
"That reminds me, we don't have to let her use that dreary dungeon. We could renovate one of the buildings in my apartment complex."
"You own an apartment complex," Eirhe questioned.
"I acquired it when the former owners mistook some of the weird happenings around me for ghosts and other dangerous forms of paranormal activity, I felt no need to correct them, and gratefully accepted his offer when he said he couldn't stand to be near the place anymore."
"I would rather keep Dr. Carchela closer to home, mine that is."
Doom quirked an eyebrow, "Whatever, sire," the last part he said as a joke.
Mamoru took the napkin to his mouth, then set it on the plate, and rose to his feet, sliding out of the booth, "I'll expect some progress by tomorrow, and as for you Doom, keep to your specialties as a nuisance in battle."
Eirhe looked up, "And what did he mean by that?"
"I annoy, I like driving people insane, I have very few actual combat skills, but with a load of BS, a good imagination, and a bit of near-precognition, I'm pretty hard to beat. Especially since up is almost always a good direction to duck."
"You fly?"
"Levitate, not so precise as actual flight, but just as good for my needs, can't really get much higher than about a three-story building top, plus I'm not any faster than running."
"Didn't you tell me the Troopers were once your friends, why the change?"
"Well... one day I woke up, new armor, new feelings, new powers. I went to find new stuff to do, found Mams, just want to help him get what he wants- kinda feel sorry for him, though I'd never say it to his face. These artifacts, 12 points that act as a conduit for all the magic in the world, unlock all 12 points and you get some 13th artifact, get pretty much any wish you want with the force of all the magic on earth."
Shin picked up the phone in the room and called up Nastui, he waited two rings before someone picked up the phone, "Koji Residence, Nastui's in another room right now, may I ask who's calling?"
"Rajura? - It's Shin, calling to update everyone the old fashion way. I've got one heck of a story for everybody when I get back there, hopefully all four of us will be ready to leave by the end of the week."
"Four, I was under the impression the infant died?"
"She got better, like I said, one heck of a story."
"Well," Rajura managed after a moment, "We've got good news too, Jun and Kayley are back, and Nastui's figured out which documents were taken."
Rajura hung up the phone when they finished talking, and went into the dining hall where the table was set and Nastui was setting the food. "Shin has news, the Baby's alive, and Adjani is well, Shin plans to return tomorrow, and hopes Adjani may join us by the end of the week."
"Has anybody seen Naaza," Nastui asked.
"Not since this afternoon, saw him head for the back porch, haven't seen him since," Touma answered.
"I'll go let him know dinner's ready so we can begin," Shuu said as he got to his feet.
Shuu opened the back door, he saw Naaza's green hair behind a rock, "Naaza! Chowtime!"
Naaza tensed, Asami was laying in his arms as her eyes went wide and she leapt for the water. "Wait- will I see you again?"
Asami turned back briefly, "I'm sure we will meet again." With that, she swam out of view. Naaza got to his feet and walked over to the mansion.
"What was that about?"
Naaza paused, "A new friend, one of Adjani's people," he paused again, "I hope I get to see her again..."
Shuu gave a knowing chuckle and slapped his hand onto Naaza's back in a friendly manner, "I'm sure it'll work out in the end, after all, if everything's not alright, it's not the end- is it?"
"You have a very positive perspective on life my friend," Naaza replied, smiling as the two came into the house- "Oh, I would appreciate discretion about what you just saw."
"Say nothing more, we both will."
"Thank you."
