Oh happy day, I'm finally back and posting. Yes it has been a while (blame my low quality computer and the complexities of life) but now I'm baaaack. (Thor waits expectantly as no one seems to care...) On another note I got around to reading "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Gilman. I found it rather enjoyable, and if you like Malkavians it is a piece worth reading. It's also nice and short, only twelve pages or so, thus making it a nice one sitting read. (Unfortunatly much of the rest of her work becomes extremely political and isn't as good, though not terrible.) As to this chapter...there's violence, more problems for our heroes, and Puck! So read on if you dare...
Fall of the Heroes: A Tale of Detroit
Chapter 6: The Storm Strikes
"C...R...U...S...S, that's how you spell Cruss! He looks just like a bus. But he isn't full of puss. At least not just because. He's Cruss, he's Cruss, the loyal sidhe noble wuss. He's Cruss, He's Cruss, and he often shouts at us!"
"Would you please be silent!"
"So what would you rather do to pass the time?" Puck stood on one leg, her other leg stuck out straight behind her. Her arms were out wide to her sides as she balanced, still frozen in the middle of her song and dance. Cruss glanced over his shoulder with a scowl at her, he then turned back to watching the silent sewer holes the Spirals had disappeared down.
"I'd rather you be silent."
"Okay," said Puck with a grin. Cruss sighed in relief and smiled slightly. "But I don't think I wanna be quiet." Cruss slowly lowered his head and muttered in frustration. "Besides, you should like talking. I always see you in the council talking away about this, or jabbering on about that. Plus you always seem to have an opinion. Whenever anyone brings up anything you seem to have an opinion about it. Do you have an opinion about this?"
"Do you ever shut up?" Puck stopped balancing and capered over to sit down next to Cruss. She smiled at him as he scowled back at her. "What do you want?"
"Just to talk, where's the harm in that? Why don't we talk about the nobles, you always seem to be talking a lot with the nobles."
"I don't particularly care about the nobles," muttered Cruss as he brushed some of his long hair back from his face. "They talk too much and accomplish too little. They act as though they owe humanity nothing. If even half of them could get up off their backsides and actually do half of what they say-"
"What's your first name?"
"What," Cruss looked up in irritation at her. Puck blinked at him as she continued to smile widely.
"Your name. We're partners now, I shouldn't have to keep calling you Lord Cruss."
"Ah, my name is Juvariel. Now, as I was saying about the nobles. Some are all right, but most are too restrictive in their views. I'll concede that I don't believe all of Ayloshia's talk about how worthwhile the commoners are. But some of the other nobles have ideas that should have gone out with the dinosaurs. Now Ayloshia does have a few sensible policies. But if she keeps pushing her commoner equality issue she'll find herself soon short of allies at court. Why just the other day Lord Gimble said-"
"Would you date a commoner?"
"I think...what?" Cruss turned again to look at her. Puck's multicolored eyes beamed back brightly at him as she intently waited. "Well, just because I'm not involved with any sidhe ladies-"
"Because you think they talk too much?"
"No, it has more to do with trust. Lofty goals of pure love aside, I suspect any sidhe noblewoman of being more interested in my vote on council then on my own merits."
"So what about a good romp with a satyr? They have great parties."
"Perhaps. But they are far too wild a crowd to be trusted. Look at how useless they prove themselves to be at any proper duty. Ayloshia would do well to apply some harsh discipline to the lot of the goat legged beasts."
"Well how about a troll then. Strong, trustworthy, beautiful in their own way."
"Yes, I suppose they are. But trolls are too unquestioningly loyal. You can't trust any that are sworn to anyone but yourself. Otherwise who is to say what they might do for their oathlord. No, trolls should be kept at a distance unless there is a battle that needs winning."
"What about the pooka? I know a couple cute cat pooka who-" Puck was suddenly cut off as Cruss spun on her and lifted a dagger to her throat. His silver eyes narrowed menacingly.
"When exactly did I start discussing my political views with you?"
"I thought we were discussing dating," said Puck innocently as she batted her eyes. "What's wrong with that?"
"That is not the point, nor is that all we were discussing," snarled Cruss in annoyance.
"That's what I was discussing. That that would give you pause about that for this in a tit for tat about that thing-a-la-ding in the rocking lil' swing." Puck trailed off into a little sing-song chant of nonsense words, apparently oblivious to the blade at her throat. Cruss spat in frustration as he hopped to his feet and walked away from her. Angered at himself for being so susceptible to her jibes. Puck suddenly stopped singing and looked at his retreating back. "By the way, I'm gonna call you J.C. from now on!"
"What? Why in the name of all the kings who have ever breathed would you call me that?"
"Weeeeell. Lord Cruss sounds far too formal. Juvariel is really nice, but it sounds too nice for you. You're cute, but you aren't that cute. And calling you Lord Juvariel Cruss just seems silly. So...J.C. is perfect!" Puck giggled and rocked back in forth in glee. Cruss slowly lifted his dagger and pointed it at her.
"You shall not call me J.C., you shall refer to me as either Lord Cruss, or Lord Juvariel. Understand this you commoner worm. I don't like you. I! Don't! Like! You! Do not think I am fooled by your feigned idiocy. You have political aspirations and ever seek to press your own agenda into Ayloshia's ear. When this god forsaken mission is done I'm going to make it my life's goal to see you banned from court and any other event I may happen to attend. If for nothing else to stop your constant meddling! I swear, by my father's honor and my mother's purity. If you so much as sing one more song, or pull out one more toy, or even breathe a word about tiddlywinks. Then I shall take great pleasure in slicing off your knees and leaving you here to wander about on the bloody stumps till some large rats can find you and slowly gnaw you to death! Do you understand me!?!
Puck quietly watched Cruss as he stood there red faced and fuming. Her face had grown grim during his tirade, her eyes sad. She slowly nodded her head at him, her eyes brimming with compassion and understanding.
"I'm sorry," she reached a hand into her pocket, "obviously somebody hasn't had enough chocolate today!"
"AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!"
Werecrow! Werecrow? For a stupid kid who claimed to have studied all sorts of songs and stories...werecrow!?! Jo shook her head as she sailed through the darkness. Of course she knew that had only been the excuse to yell at the poor kid. But she swore, if she had to listen to one more Garou say something like 'Well, a Corax may not understand, but the Garou...' She hissed and spat in frustration. Didn't they understand that it was that exact holier-then-thou attitude that had caused so many of the other Changing Breeds to despise the Garou. Jo wondered exactly how many noble species of were-creatures had been destroyed because they had been too proud to accept the Garou's claim of being the greatest of Gaia's children. Now, even after all the supposed grief the Garou had expressed for the destruction, or murder, of so many of the other breeds, she still could see that same gleam of superiority in their eyes.
Of course, that was a problem for another time. She had a far more important and immediate task to deal with. Looming above her were the towers. She curled one wing and went into a long lazy spiral around the buildings. She scowled as she eyed them over. Escape routes were not promising. If things went wrong the towers could quickly become a death trap. She flapped her wings and fought against the strong currents of wind flowing about the tall towers. She sailed higher, her eyes peering into the windows as she soared past.
There! She quickly banked around and flew past again. She peered critically at the room as she passed it slowly. She curved her wings and allowed the flow of wind to bring her forward momentum to a near standstill. Those rooms were the storage rooms for the computer mainframe. She watched the blinking lights on the large computer towers and grinned. She quickly tilted her wings again and went into a gentle nose-dive. She angled away from the buildings and dropped into a dark alley nearby. At the last moment she beat her wings quickly and shifted back to her human shape. Jo leaned up against a wall as she fished her hand into the pockets of her leather jacket. She pulled out the cell-phone that Syntax had given her and hit the dial button.
"Yes?"
"Syntax, this is Jo. I spotted the mainframe and am just waiting for the boys to show up."
"Good. Do you remember everything you need to do?"
"Why should I? I have this phone to call you on."
"Yes," Jo could plainly hear Syntax sigh in annoyance on the other end of the line. "But what if something happens to the phone and we lose contact? There is a twenty-five percent probability of the phone being damaged. There is a sixty-eight percent chance the room will be shielded. There is-"
"Okay, fine! Let's go over it again!"
"Good. First you must gain access to the mainframe room."
"Well, duh..."
"Second, you must locate the mainframe server. Probably a z800 model with-"
"I find the one with a phone line plugged into it."
"Yes. Third, you place the disk I gave you into the computer. Finally, you must make sure to force the computer to dial an outside connection. Any connection will do, but I need that opening to work with."
"Fine, I got it, no problem." Jo looked up as she saw Dominic and Charlie walking down the street. She grinned as she stepped out of the alley and waved to them. "Looks like the party is about to get started Syntax. I'll give you a ring when things get interesting." Jo dropped the phone back into her coat as she waited for the other two. "What took you guys so long? I've been sitting around and waiting here forever. Literally waiting, literally forever."
"Jo," said Charlie with a shake of his head, "do you really know what that word means? If you were literally waiting forever then-"
"This from the werecrow man? Don't start telling me what you literally believe literally or anything else to be...literally. Now c'mon, let's do this." Jo turned and started walking towards the buildings. Dominic lifted one eyebrow as he turned to glance at Charlie.
"Werecrow man?"
"Don't ask."
The two quickly took after Jo. She led them down the street that passed underneath the large crossway that connected the buildings. The two black glass towers rose high into the dark sky. Jo shivered slightly. Here, directly under them, even she couldn't deny the strange sense of dread they seemed to exude. She shook off the sensation as she pointed upwards at the northern tower. Dominic followed her pointing finger.
"That's the mainframe room," she gushed slightly. "I spotted it during my flyby. We just need to figure out how to get up there and everything else will be a snap." She snapped her fingers to prove her point. "Any ideas?" Dominic's eyes narrowed as he turned to look at the gleaming light cast from the main lobby of the building. He grinned slightly and looked back at her.
"The best way is usually the most direct." Jo swallowed nervously as he started walking. She rushed after him and grabbed at his arm.
"Wait! Shouldn't we try to play it a little quieter then that?"
"What's the matter. Don't trust me?"
"Are you asking me literally?"
"Don't worry Josephine. I'm not going to start a fight with only you and the pup as backup." Dominic grinned coldly as he started up the vast entrance steps to the building. Jo glanced back at Charlie who was hanging his head slightly at the pup remark. She sighed and turned to follow Dominic inside. One security guard waited at the large marble desk just within the doors. Dominic snarled at the young kid as he approached. "Hey, what's your name and number?"
"Willis, badge number 5542," stammered the surprised kid as he sat up straighter in his chair. Dominic stalked right up to the desk and leaned over it, his eyes narrowed as he locked stares with the surprised guard. The kid started sweating almost immediately, and shifted his gaze about nervously as Dominic continued to quietly stare. Finally the guard couldn't stand the silence any longer. "Uh, what is this all about?"
"I'm special investigator Wolf, and I'll ask the questions here." Dominic's hand was a near blur as he pulled out his wallet and flashed his badge to the shocked guard. "Who is your superior and why haven't you called him down here yet?" Jo smirked as the flustered guard proceeded to do just that. In moments an equally worried looking man came rushing out of the elevators. Jo could tell by the look of him that he was just some middle management nobody. His uniform's collar was stained with sweat and pulled too tight around his flabby neck.
"Hello, uh...Inspector Wolf. What is this all about?"
"My job is to make sure that when Allied makes something secure, it stays secure. Is everything secure?" Dominic shifted his stare from the desk guard to the new arrival. The young man breathed out a slight sigh of relief.
"Of course," stammered the chief guard quickly.
"Really? How many men are on duty here tonight?"
"Twelve, counting myself."
"And how many are usually on duty?"
"Uh..."
"Exactly." Dominic walked past the desk and grabbed the chief guard's tie. He kept walking, dragging the man in his wake like a fish on a line. "So what I want to know is where are the guards that should be protecting the company's interests?"
"I don't know. I was just told to come in tonight and run an extra shift. Most of the others are-"
"Did I ask to hear your excuses?" Dominic spun on the man, his eyes glaring angrily. The guard shook his head quickly, sweat beading his throat. "No, I didn't. I'm going to take my specialists and run a head to toe investigation of this whole mess. Do you have a problem with that?" The guard shook his head. "Give me your security badge, unless you have a problem with that." The guard shook his head again and quickly handed over the badge.
"If there's anything else you need don't hesi-"
"If I need anything," snarled Dominic as he jerked the man forward by his tie. "I shall demand it and you shall provide it. Is that understood?" The guard nodded again. "Good, we'll start at the top and work our way down. Alert your men and then just go about your business normally. Understood?" The guard nodded desperately. Dominic grinned coldly as he released the tie and turned to the elevators. "Come Charles, Josephine. We have much to do." Jo smirked at Charlie as they followed into the elevator. The doors hissed shut as Dominic pressed the button for the forty-eighth floor.
"How did you do that," asked Charlie in surprised awe. "I never would have imagined they would have fallen for that cover story!" Dominic smirked coldly. "Especially considering you were able to pass Jo off as an investigator. I don't think many wear oversized leather jackets to work."
"A useful trick known as Obedience. Good for getting the apes to do what you need."
"I'm just thankful you didn't kill them," muttered Jo.
"Why? I smelled them, they had no real taint of the Wyrm about them. Mere human lackeys. All the fomori are doubtless out scouring the city for us. Thus they left their lair guarded by mere children." Dominic grinned as he watched the blinking numbers of the floors slowly grow larger. "This whole operation may prove easier then I ever could have hoped."
It sat at its desk and quietly watched the screens around it. Information scrolled by quickly on each monitor. But it had little trouble following the flow of data, it had been created for just this purpose. It gurgled slightly in surprise as a security badge was used to open up the mainframe room of the Allied Tower North. An idle thrust of its will sent an electrical impulse that caused the security cameras of that sector to be displayed. It narrowed its bulbous eyes as it watched the three enter the room. They didn't belong there. It willed the phone in the lobby to ring.
"This is Captain Sheats, how may I help you."
"This is Security Control. Why is your badge being used without your presence?" Its voice was harsh and mechanical. It rarely had to use it and was always amused by the strange sounds, even more so when humans found them so discomforting. Captain Sheats nervously coughed.
"Ah, that would be Inspector Wolf. He requested my card before going off on his investigation." It snorted in annoyance and shut off the connection. Inspector Wolf? It sneered at the flimsy lie. Security had been compromised. It snarled in anger, it hated that its security had been threatened. It began dialing phones of all the guard patrols that were active. This breach would not be allowed to survive.
Syntax sat in the center of the jungle. Around her the humming of the computers was the rustle of leaves. The sharp hiss of a spinning drive was the gurgle of a brook. Beeping and buzzing lights were the birds singing their songs. She allowed the sensation to wash over her as she became one with her jungle. A sudden buzz that was out of place alerted her. Her gray eyes slit open as she looked at a suddenly flashing screen. Bits shifted and changed color, painting a picture as intricate and beautiful as any sunset. She quickly waved her hand over the monitor. A swirling shape seemed to almost take form as the spirit of the electricity let itself be known.
"Someone approaches. They have been questioning the local spirits. Some were scared. Told them about you. They come." Sparks flitted from the agitated spirit's form. Of course electrical spirits were always agitated, this one was just more so then usual. Syntax glanced at the image of the approaching pickup truck. The timing was bad, she would be needed to help Jo and her friends soon. She couldn't afford distractions. She turned back to the spirit.
"You can enter the truck. Find the engine spirit and tell him I command his motions to stop." She waved her hand and the spirit was gone. Almost immediately did the truck sputter and slow. The electrical spirit having traveled at the speed of energy and light itself. Syntax reached out and plucked her fingers against a nearby fragment of the pattern web. Spider 271 quickly appeared and nodded respectfully to her. "Gather your brethren and reinforce the entryways. I wish them as solid as stone." Spider 271 nodded again and quickly sped off to accomplish its task.
Syntax waved her arm around another monitor. At her light caress the electrical spirits sprang to life and began painting more glorious pictures. They copied the pictures shown to them by their fellows at the other end of their connection. The electrical spirits were happy, they loved being allowed to move fast and paint their pictures. Syntax eyed the images carefully. The Allied Towers appeared quiet still. The guards had apparently not been alerted. Suddenly she sensed the electrical spirits in the phone lines acting up. She frowned as they activated transmitters that beamed their message across the city. Cell phones were being contacted. The hive was recalling its drones to itself for protection. Jo and her friends had been discovered.
She quickly summoned another electrical spirit. But not one of the gentle painters. She summoned a Surge. The angry spirit hissed in rage at her as she forced him to listen. She channeled him down into the system and allowed him into their phone systems. He entered the active phone line and burnt and tore at it. Syntax allowed herself a small smile as the warning was cut off. She had bought Jo and her friends a little bit of time...but not much. She quickly reached out and dialed Jo's number. But the radio spirits were unable to pierce the protective shielding of the building. They would be on their own, unaware of the danger. Syntax frowned and tapped another key. Her screen flashed as a tiny glowing spider appeared on it. It glowed silvery blue and rested atop a strange fractal design. It's tinny voice buzzed through the speakers.
"Statement: Net-Spider designation 'Blue Storm' reports as requested. Query: What is the reason for said request?"
"We have a problem. Some of our allies have been cut off from communication with me. I need to reach them and warn them that they have been discovered and need to hurry."
"Statement: Allies current location within Allied Towers blocks them from all conventional communication. Query: How can I help you reach them?" Syntax turned to another computer and began typing. Files flashed upon the screen as she plunged deep into the network.
"I was hoping Jo would arrange for an easy opening. Now it appears we shall have to pierce their security webs directly.
"Expression of concern: Such an action could very well destroy me and place at risk your own systems. Query: Do you truly wish to proceed upon said previously stated course of action?" Syntax glanced back at Blue Storm. The Net-Spider had grown a few shades lighter in worry over the possible assault. She tried to sound reassuring as she started to open up the pathway into Allied's computers.
"You have been designed by me for just such work. I have improved your capabilities so that you stand a far better chance of survival and success then any other option I possess."
"Statement: I shall undertake this task if you so desire it. Though I do not wish to go." Syntax nodded as she opened the gateway and allowed Blue Storm to pass through.
"I don't get it," muttered Snapback in frustration as he slammed the hood shut. "The damn engine looks fine. Nothing is wrong with it, it just stopped!"
"Worry not about it," said Argent with a shrug as he motioned down the street. "We were close. From here on in we shall let our feet carry us." Snapback muttered but turned to follow. Leona had been sitting on the curb nearby, but quickly sprang to her feet when she saw they were moving again. Personally she was just as happy continuing on foot. Traveling within the rolling pieces of metal had never made her particularly comfortable. She jogged after Argent and Snapback, happy to feel the wind in her hair.
"So where exactly was it that the broken window said we were going," muttered Snapback doubtfully. Leona smirked. She too had been leery at first of Argent's apparent ability to speak with almost anything he came across. But she had faith in him as one of the great heroes. He would lead them to her pack. He would solve this strangeness that had come over the tribes. She smiled as she watched Argent walk. He was slow, and leaned upon his cane, but there was a pride in how he carried himself. His eyes were held up, his back straight. Next to him Snapback's bulky and hunched form seemed a dark and pathetic thing indeed.
They passed through a few dark alleys. Leona's nose crinkling at the putrid stench of the city. She hated the way the same dirty smell was on everything. It was as though the filth attempted to mask the true nature of the various parts of the city. She chose to ignore this, and instead thought of where they were going. Argent had spoken as though he knew this Glass Walker. Leona had thought the tribe had long ago disappeared from the area. But apparently this one eccentric and powerful one had chosen to stay. Leona shivered slightly as a chill wind suddenly blew down upon her. Suddenly her senses were on full alert as she spun around.
"Danger!" Leona dropped into a crouch as she scanned the alley behind her. She growled as she saw nothing but dark emptiness. She had smelled another wolf. An enemy wolf. A Black Spiral Dancer.
"What is it child?" Argent and Snapback stood at the far end of the alley. Snapback looked at her with a dour frown. Argent's eyes were wide and curious.
"We are being stalked," she growled as she started to back towards them. "I smelled him. He is here."
"Yes. I am." Sudden laughter echoed through the darkness. Leona felt the hairs on the back of her head stand on end as the mocking chuckles danced about her. "But very soon, you won't be." A figure slowly stood up on top of the roof of the building to Leona's right. He was in his crinos form, his tall lanky body wrapped in black bandages. A black robe hung flaccidly around him. His face was hidden in the shadows. All that was visible was his coldly smiling mouth. He sprang forward, his robes billowing about him as he dropped lightly into the alley. Leona snarled loudly at him, her teeth bared.
"Stay back creature," called Argent as he glared at the shadowy figure. "Know you not who you face? I am Lord Moros Argent of the Silver Fangs. I have seen your dark pits and slain your warriors. Stand back, lest you die!" The Dancer simply chuckled, his mouth opening to reveal rows of gleaming teeth.
"We all die Silver Fang. It is only a question of when." His robes suddenly snapped open as he drew forth his twin klaives. The two gleaming blades of silver suddenly burst into a crackling green flame. The strange glow illuminated his narrow smiling face and his dark blue eyes. "I think you shall die before me though...it is your time." Leona then heard Argent whimper slightly in fear. She turned in surprise to see him take a shaky step back. Her mind swam with wonder at the sight of such cowardice. With a snarl she turned back to face the Dancer. Her body shifted and grew, her blonde hair spreading over her whole body. The strange human clothes ripping away as her body expanded and grew larger.
"Come then Wyrmspawn," she snarled around her gleaming fangs, "let us see whose time to die it really is." She heard a snarl as Snapback shifted and stormed forward to stand at her side. The Dancer's knives crackled and sparked in the darkness as he twirled them around his fingers. He smiled at them as he slowly crouched. Leona growled loudly in the back of her throat. She raised her arms and flexed her claws. Snapback snarled softly as he glared at the Dancer. He clenched his hands open and shut, his powerful muscles shifting under his fur.
The Dancer's leap was shockingly fast and sudden. His robes swirled around him as he sprang forward. Leona twisted and lunged for his throat, her fanged mouth open and ready. But the Dancer seemed to twist contemptuously away from her lunge. His blade hissed through the air and slammed into her side. As he continued to spin away he dragged it across her belly, brutally gutting her. Snapback's arm hurriedly lashed out for the Dancer's head. But the slim figure quickly dropped to one knee, allowing the blow to pass harmlessly over his head to smash into Leona. As she was tossed back the Dancer quickly stabbed up and across with his blades. Snapback bellowed in pain as his bicep and underarm were suddenly pierced by the flaming klaives. He fell back and collapsed to the ground holding his now limp arm as the Dancer smoothly stood back up.
"Tonight was obviously not my time," said the Dancer quietly with a chuckle. "Thus it must be yours." Leona hissed in pain as she clutched at her abdomen and tried to hold her guts in. The sharp tang of her own blood filling her nostrils. The Dancer glanced up with a sneer at Argent who stood transfixed with fear, unmoving. The Dancer snorted in amusement as he looked down at Snapback and raised his weapons. Even as he did the metis quickly shook his head and raised his one still good arm in warding.
"Wait, you cannot. Let me explain!" The Dancer paused in surprise. He blinked slightly and nodded for Snapback to continue. Snapback sighed and glanced about nervously. He licked his lips as he glanced back to the Dancer. "It will all make sense when you see this." He reached into his pouch and rummaged around slightly. The Dancer watched him carefully, his dark blue eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Hold." The whispered word seemed to cut through the alley like a knife. Leona looked up in surprise as a new figure entered the fray. The man was powerfully built, his trench coat open enough to reveal his chiseled physique. His long rust colored hair was pulled back into a long ponytail. One of his arms held a small wooden box, the other was tucked into his coat pocket. The Dancer turned to eye the new arrival with a curious grin.
"Well, well, well. What have we here, some sort of hero?"
"Maybe," said the man softly as he started walking forward, "at least for tonight." He slowly leaned down and placed his box on the ground. Leona watched him curiously as he walked forward, his dark gaze locked on the Dancer. "Leave now. Or die."
"We all die," hissed the Dancer as he started to walk towards the stranger. His knives hissed and popped in the sudden quiet as they approached each other. The stranger paused a few dozen paces away. His face was calm, and if anything simply looked sad. His arms hung easily at his sides, his hands open and relaxed. The Dancer crouched slightly, his knives sparking in his grasp. His pale gray lips curled back to reveal yellowed fangs as he smiled. His cold blue eyes remained calm and unreadable.
The room was filled with a hum from the many large computers that lined the walls. Dozens of flashing red lights blinked and flickered in the darkness. Filling his imagination with images of peering rats and other dark creatures. Charlie stood nervously by the door and peered out into the dark and empty hallway outside. Dominic stood in the middle of the room, his arms crossed and a dark scowl on his face. He was glaring at Jo as she paced back and forth, her cell-phone pressed to her ear.
"C'mon Syntax. Pick up the phone, literally pick it up and put it to your ear. Why aren't you picking up?"
"Josephine," muttered Dominic in annoyance. "You said you knew what you had to do. You said it wouldn't be a problem."
"How the hell was I supposed to know they'd all have phone lines in them? It was supposed to have been easy to find the damn mainframe!" Jo hung up the phone again and spun to glare at Dominic. "It's not like I know all about these ruddy computers okay? Maybe if you'd listened to Syntax's little speech too you-"
"I was busy planning out how to get us in and out," snarled Dominic as he took a angry step towards her. "Maybe if you could just be counted on to remember things once in a while!"
"Oh, that's great. Just turn it all on me." Jo shoved the phone in towards his face. "Maybe you'd like to dial? Maybe mystical Dominic the mighty can dial better then me too!"
"You want me to dial?" Dominic's voice went strangely quiet. He smiled coldly at her as he leaned in, their faces only inches apart. Jo's determined glare slipping somewhat under Dominic's strange grin. "Would you like me to dial the phone?" He snatched it from her grasp and turned away. "Okay then, watch me dial."
"Uh...Dom. When you say you're going to dial..." Jo nervously followed him as Dominic walked over towards the large windows that allowed the pale gleam of the moon into the otherwise dark room. "You're not going to do anything drastic, are you?"
"Drastic? Why would I do something drastic? I'm just going to help the phone get out from under all this blocking shielding." Dominic seemed to grow larger, his features becoming somewhat thicker and animalistic. His shoulders widening as muscle and mass was added. He had shifted to the glabro form, that of the bestial man. He turned and grabbed onto a large metal desk that sat in a corner. He glanced over his shoulder and eyed the windows with a sneer.
"Wait! Hold on! Literally hold on!" Jo scampered forward and leaped upon the desk. She stared at Dominic and shook her head. "Think about it. Everything is going so smooth and quiet. Do you really want to do this?" Dominic slowly turned back to her. Then he again looked at the window. Then back again.
"Get off the desk Josephine. I'm getting this mission done. I'm putting it through that window and letting our communications through. And I'm doing it now."
"No. You're going to wait and take a few breaths to calm down. Now breath in..." Dominic breathed in deep. Jo nodded at him with a smile. Then Dominic growled as he turned and heaved the desk through the air to send it crashing through the window. Jo managed one startled shriek of terror before she plummeted out of sight along with the desk and the spray of shattered glass.
"Holy shit!" Charlie dashed forward in terror, horrified at what he had just seen. He turned to Dominic, his face contorted in shock and anger. "What the fuck did you do!"
"Opened up our phone lines," said Dominic with a grin as he reverted from his glabro to homid form and began dialing. He shoved his head out of the shattered window. "Oh yeah, listen to how clear that reception sounds!"
"You killed her!"
"What are you talking about. She's a Corax...she flies." Even as he spoke the words a large black raven came fluttering up through the window. It cawed loudly in anger at Dominic as it flapped about his head. He idly batted at it as he spoke into the phone. "Syntax? This is Dominic...what? They're on to us? Right, we just need help finding the computer, Josephine didn't pay attention to you."
"Says who," snapped Jo as she reverted back to her human form and dropped to the ground. "I would have been just fine if you'd not pressured me so much!"
"What do you mean they're on to us," hissed Charlie in fear.
"I don't need this from you," muttered Dominic as he frowned at Jo. "You were always messing things up. Always forgetting things and making the rest of us fix your mistakes."
"At least I don't keep trying to kill my friends!" Dominic's face seemed to go pale at the remark, his hands curling into tight fists. "You throw me through a window. You tell that damn story to the tribes and get-"
"It was no story! It was truth!" Jo scoffed at the words and rolled her eyes. Dominic took a threatening step forward. Charlie quickly stepped in-between them.
"Who's on to us," he demanded as he tried to get their attention back to the mission at hand. Dominic and Jo glared at each other for a few moments longer. Then they both turned away. Charlie waited nervously as he watched them both trying to calm down. Finally Dominic turned around.
"Here Josephine," Dominic's voice was cold as he shoved the phone towards her. "Talk, figure it out, and get Syntax into the system." Jo grabbed the phone from him and muttered under her breath as she held it up to her ear. Dominic turned and motioned to Charlie. "Come, we better secure our position." Dominic stalked through the door and down the hallway, Charlie nervously trailing in his wake. They quickly headed up the hall until they reached the bank of elevators.
"What are we going to do," asked Charlie as he watched Dominic eye the digital floor readouts. Suddenly one of the elevators dropped down to the lobby. Dominic grinned and pointed.
"We have guests." Dominic pulled Bonespur out from under his coat and wedged it into the gap of the elevator doors. With a grunt of effort he pressed against the klaive and opened the doors. Charlie watched as Dominic eyed the movement of the cable system inside. Dominic suddenly sprang into the elevator shaft and caught onto the ladder that ran along one wall. "Get back and wait, prepare for them when they arrive," said Dominic with a grin as he quickly started up the ladder.
Charlie swallowed nervously as he dropped back from the elevators. He allowed the rush of the wild to pour through him. Felt his muscles shift and expand as he called upon the war-form. He quickly shouldered a nearby door open and stepped into the office's doorway. He crouched there nervously and watched as the numbers of the elevator slowly climbed. He heard the whine of the lift as it pulled itself into view and came to a stop. The ding of the opening doors was mixed with the sound of tearing metal and horrible screams of pain.
Charlie saw a man in a gray business suit stumble out of the open doors. He was bleeding from a brutal gash along his limp right arm. But much to Charlie's horror, the blood was syrupy thick and black. The man's left hand fumbled under his coat and pulled out a revolver as he turned back towards the elevator. Charlie snarled as he sprang forward and rushed down the hall. He roared as his powerful body slammed into the surprised man. Charlie's claws tore deep into the man's belly and ripped it open. He quickly hopped back as a spray of black liquid gushed from the wound to spray over the blue office carpeting. Charlie's nose wrinkled in surprise as he watched the black liquid burn and dissolve away the carpet. His hand flared in pain as the goo burned his flesh. He quickly bent and wiped it on the carpet to get the blood off.
"Fomori, all of them." Charlie turned at the words and saw Dominic stepping out of the elevator. The Shadow Lord was splattered with blood. His klaive dripped a steady stream onto the floor as Dominic lifted it in a slight salute to Charlie. "You had a good kill there. Fast and clean." Charlie nodded as he glanced into the blood spattered elevator. His eyes lifted slightly to spot the hole Dominic had torn through the roof. He shook his head in awe at the quick and brutally effective attack.
"So is that it?"
"No. There'll be more. Plenty more. And they won't make the mistake of coming up in only one lift next time." As if to add credence to Dominic's words suddenly all three of the remaining elevators started to move towards the lobby. Dominic snarled in annoyance as he again shifted up to his crinos form. "Go check on Josephine. Tell her we don't have much time. Hurry!" Dominic peeled open another set of elevator doors. However this time he simply started hacking at the cables. Sparks flashed as his klaive bit easily through the rubber coating and started to rip at the coiled wires below.
It muttered in annoyance. Warning lights were flashing and beeping all across its console. One of its tentacles and ears had been burnt when one of the phones had shorted out while it was using it. It hissed as it threw up another barricade to hold off the strange hacker who was attacking the systems. It didn't fear the attack though. Despite the hacker's amazing speed and ability to hop systems it couldn't get in. The Allied Tower's system security was nigh unto invincible. A thought of frustration sent more defense systems spinning into action to destroy the interloper.
Some of its wide eyes swiveled to regard the assault of the returning guards. One elevator had been emergency locked on the forty-eighth floor. Another had lost its cable and been locked off on the twenty-seventh. It hissed in annoyance at the lone Garou who was sabotaging the systems. But he wouldn't last long. It gurgled in glee as it watched the men pour out of the emergency/service elevator onto the floor. It quickly contacted the team leader and informed him of the positions of all the intruders.
The ten man team quickly started to hurry through the halls towards the elevators. It quickly sent the emergency/service elevator rushing down to pick up more men. There was a momentary burble of laughter from it as it watched the men move. They were all veteran fomori, they would deal with this mess. They were also well armed, it had authorized the opening of the security arsenal on level three. It twisted to curiously watch the lone figure still in the mainframe room. It didn't understand what it was doing.
The female simply seemed to be crawling around on her hands and knees behind the computers. Occasionally she would rush back to a phone she had left laying by the hole in the window and shout into it. Curious it accessed another one of its computers and began scanning for the cell-phone's frequency. It also began to access the locking codes of the heavy security door. Another of its hands danced over another computer to continue the assault upon the hacker. It hissed in glee as it started to box it in. Soon it would rip apart the intruder and trace it back to its source. Then it would deal with the foolish hacker. It allowed itself a moment of congratulatory pride. Once again it had defended the Towers, none of the attackers would survive.
"Jo, we got problems!" Charlie shouted the warning as he burst through the doors and back into the mainframe room. Jo suddenly popped up from behind one of the rows of large black computer cases. Her long black hair tangled about her annoyed face.
"Really? I hadn't realized, thanks for filling me in."
"Dominic says hurry," he growled around his fangs, "don't have time." Charlie rushed over and peered down at her. "Anything I can help?"
"Not unless you can figure out which one of these stupid pieces of junk is the mainframe server." Jo suddenly shouted in surprise as she grabbed a wire. "Aha! Here you are! I found it, I literally found it!" Jo sprang to her feet and leapt around to the front of the machine, she promptly kicked it and started pulling at the outer casing. "Now if you'd just open the fuck up..." Charlie quickly leaned forward and brushed Jo aside. He grabbed the thin sheet of metal. His claws scrapped it apart as he grunted and peeled it away as though it were tissue paper. Jo smiled at him. "Thanks, now maybe you better check back in with Dominic. I'll catch up as soon as I'm done here."
"Good!" Charlie spun around and rushed back towards the door. There was a sudden loud clang as a steel bar hissed across the inside of the door and locked into place. Charlie snarled in annoyance as he rushed forward and slammed hard into the door. The metal didn't even buckle slightly. Charlie growled as he grabbed onto the lock and attempted to wrench it off the door. But it was to little affect, as the reinforced metal resisted all of his efforts. He howled in anger, realizing that now Dominic had been cut off and was fighting alone.
Dominic was backing away from the rapidly rising elevators when his sensitive ears caught the sounds of footfalls behind him. He spun around in time to spot the man come rushing around the corner. The figure was clad head to toe in a black combat suit, and wore a face-shielding black helmet. The guard quickly raised the sub-machine gun in his hands and pointed it towards Dominic. The Shadow Lord snarled in annoyance as he sprang quickly to his left and slammed through the flimsy office wall he had been standing by.
Bullets snapped and hissed around the hole as Dominic turned right and leaped over the desk as he rushed hard into another wall. Paneling splintered and shattered around him as he charged through the next office. His hand lashed out to smash aside the desk as he shredded through yet another wall. Even as he burst into the third office he spun hard to his right and leaped towards the door. The wood split apart as he burst through it and back out into the hallway he had just exited. His hand lashed forward, catching the helmet of the guard as he drove it hard through the wall behind the man.
Only then did Dominic spot the large collection of figures, also in black uniforms, who had been following the point man around the corner. The closest quickly raised his shotgun and snapped off a wild shot. Dominic's left shoulder exploded in fresh pain as the silver rounds tore into his flesh. The bullets ripping open and aggravating his previous silver wound there. He snarled as his right hand quickly lashed up, his klaive tearing open the man's throat and ripping apart his chin and jawbone. There was a sudden bellow as the first figure stood again and leapt into Dominic.
The Shadow Lord grunted in surprise at the inhuman strength of the figure as it picked him up and drove him back through the shattered doorway behind him to smash hard into the edge of a desk. Through the shattered visor of the helmet Dominic caught a glimpse of the guard's twisted and angry face, and a gleam of his glowing red eyes. Dominic quickly drove his right forearm into the guard's throat to push him back. His other hand raked out to slash his claws across the guards chest. However, instead of tearing flesh, all the claws did was shred away the black uniform to reveal a bony chestplate covering.
The enraged formor suddenly punched hard into Dominic's side. Dominic hissed as he felt something sharp tear into him. When the formor pulled back its arm Dominic could see the sharpened spurs of bone that jutted from the clenched fist. Dominic's head snapped forward, his fangs tearing into the formor's shoulder and grating against the bone plates as he quickly pushed out with his arms. The formor staggered back, knocked off balance by the unexpected dual attack. Dominic's eyes flashed over the formor, searching for any sign of weakness. His gaze zeroed in on a slight crease in the middle of the chest where the two pieces of the breastplates met.
He sprang forward, Bonespur hissing in towards the target. His blade smashed hard onto the plates. Dominic quickly angled the blow and pushed down, jamming his knife into the joint and peeling the plates apart. The formor bellowed in pain as it lashed out again with its spiked fist. Dominic quickly stepped to the right away from the blow. He reached up with his left arm and blocked the swing as he used his momentum to shove in extra hard with his klaive. There was a sharp crack as the bone plates split and his blade sank deep into the formor. Dominic quickly shoved out and cast the dead guard off his blade and into the hallway. While the other fomori hesitated to fire as their comrade blocked a clear shot Dominic turned and leapt back through the hole he had first made to enter this office.
Behind him he heard the shouts from the fomori as they charged into the office after him. Dominic rapidly stopped his run and leaped to the side, bursting back out into the hallway amidst a cloud of shattered plaster and paneling. He rushed forward, his claws and blade lashing out as he tore a bloody path through the last few guards in line. Then he was past them and sprinting down the hallway. The fomori bellowed in confusion and anger as they tried to figure out what he had just done. By the time they had collected their senses and began firing he was around the corner and out of sight.
He ran quickly down the long hallway. Behind him he heard the angered yells as the fomori gave chase. He dove around the next corner even as they began firing at him again. Dominic didn't even pause as he continued his headlong rush back towards the computer room. He raced around one last corner and down the hall to the door at the far end. He shouldered hard into the door while turning the handle. He grunted in surprise as he slammed into the hard metal and it didn't open. He peered through the small window and saw Charlie standing on the other side and yelling frantically. Dominic twisted around as he heard the approach of the fomori. They burst around the corner. He stood trapped at the far end of the hall with no cover.
Then they began to fire.
