The Angel of Darkness (Feat. Kenneth Irons, Sara Pezzini, Lara Croft, Jake McCarthy, Terry Sheridan, Jackie Estacado and Tora No Shi)

The crash of lightning lit up the sky, revealing the clouds that had coated over the half moon in the sky. Its shape resembled the grin of a Cheshire cat, and the one that Kenneth wore. The trio was in the parlor now; the spacious room filled with expensive sofas a large fireplace and a bar near the west wall. As Nottingham leaped into the air, Kenneth pivoted, spinning the detective with him. The heavy crack of bone echoed in his ears and about the room as her neck twisted. She fell seemingly lifeless to the floor as Ken took a stance toward the bar, his back to the hall leading to the balcony atop the twin stairs. He watches Ian land where he was standing a few seconds before, and casually reaching up to the wall display, Kenneth pulled a Spanish sword and took a stance with the air of defense. "Lets make this interesting. I could fight you one-handed, after all I only needed one to beat you before." On the floor, Sara tried to move her fingers and her unblinking eyes watched as they didn't move. her spinal chord was severed! The newly changed Witchblade however was responding to it's host's injuries. The white/silver metal coated her like a suit of old fashioned armor. Clearly different from it's former green vines. Inside her mind Sara was consumed with panic, if she could scream she would.

Lara stopped. Voices, two one Irons the other Nottingham's," Bugger." The word a whispering hiss. Carefully the Brit moved into the room next too the one in which was the two men and Sara. eyes peered. Good a balcony and it was an easy jump from that one to the one which Irons and Sara stood on. Hazel orbs watched the scene a moment between Kenneth, Sara and Ian. A dark look came over her features when Lara watched the madman take a brutal hold onto her Friend. Time to do some dirty work. Sneaky dirty work. A slender hand openned the door which lead out into the balcony quietly and only enough for her to slip through. Irons could not see her, his back was turned good. But Ian could. A finger came to rest against her full lips a sign to Nottingham to remain silent about the Tomb Raider. Slowly, footsteps silently put her out completely onto the balcony. The Brit crouched out of sight for the moment, watching and listening to the exchange between the two men. Lara would wait for the moment, the moment she could jump silently across the gap between the two blaconies and play Heroine. The look on Lara's face was dark, and very edgy, those who knew her well enough would call this look crazy. Indeed she was. Checking to make sure the .50 Magnums she had borrowed from Terry were loaded with fresh clips Lara then placed the gift form Jackie into the back waist of her torn pants as a wildcard, only use if needed. By hanging around the likes of Sara Pezzini, Terry Sheridan and the CIA Agent fallowing her about John Bishop, Lara had picked up some spy like traits of her own. Now they were coming highly to good use indeed, and now her dating of Jackie Estacado if they ever got around to it properly would probly further teach her new tricks of the trades and Lara Croft is always willing to learn. Learn how to be more of a badass crazy woman then she already is. She was finding it difficult to keep her breathing slow and undetectable, each slow movement sent sharp pains from her ribs. Sweat now stung at her cuts over most of her form as she held the twin large caliber weapons in her slender hands tightly. Her hands never sweat, her grip was ironclad and sent in stone. A silent hiss escaped her lips in anger when Ian attacked the madman. Damnit. He might just ruin her little plan, only time would tell and Irons it all depended on how he reacted to the action. Something told Lara that Pezz would get the worst end of it by far knowing how twisted Kenneth Irons is. That son of a bitch. Time to enter. Lara sprung across the gap landing soundlessly as she rose from her landing position and walked calmly up behind Kenneth. She had already cocked the guns, The Brit now stood behind him both guns coming to rest against the man's body at the exact same time, one barrel resting sharply forced against the side of his skull. The second coming to rest on the upper area of the arm with the runes. The sound of a shot rang through the air as a bullet lodged itself into his arm, blood pouring from it across the barrel as Lara left her aim poised there," Hello Kenneth." She looked like a mad woman, hair falling every where from her normally neat braid, hazel orbs darkened and angry. Cuts and bruises lining her body from footto head. The look apon Lara Croft's face was enough to scare any man even Jackie. It was dark, it was menacing, it was down right eerie as hell," I've had a very, very bad night. I susgest you don't bloody well piss me off anymore you son of a bitch." Even her tone had become darkened and full of hate. To further implicate her meaning the gun resting against the side of his head was pressed even more against the skin causing it to slightly cut at it. Lara was diffently beyond crazy now, she was now in Insane psycho bitch mode. Hazel orbs moved to Ian,"Get her out of her NOW!" Then she returned her full attention back to Irons )," Now we can do this two ways." A wicked smile came across Lara's face," One I can simply pull this other trigger and place another .50 caliber bullet into your body, this time your brain. Or you can stop whatever the ruddy hell you're doing to my Friend and you'll come out of this breathing." She jabbed the gun on his arm more into the fresh wound it had made," You got five seconds." The gun to his head pressed moreso into him now aswell.

If Jake wanted to take his own approach he wasn't going to stop the man and he had watched as they passed him by. He had played his cards and now Jackie was involved, though unfortunately for the Spy there was a hitch in his plan. One stubborn Tomb Raider by the name of Lara Croft. Either way, Jackie had it out for him..if he happened to take out some of Iron's things and such before he came after Terry, it'd was better than having him come after him in the alley with Sara here. As he made his way up he could hear more gun fire go off, Jake had arrived and he shook his head some. At least surfer boy had gumption, and spunk the spy would give him that. Still he headed up towards the room. The clap of thunder echoed around them as the doors burst open and there Irons backing though with Sara and she looked worse than he'd picked up on the monitors. This was bad and he knew it. Dark twisted and about to be worse. Nottingham landed close as he moved against the walls head turning some to look into the room then pulled back. Sara was lying on the floor and the Witchblade was doing something odd. It looked rather medieval. The hammers of his guns were pulled back and he held them up. "Fuck." He spat lowly sharply. There was another voice now, Lara. No one could do anything with out Lara being involved. He knew he couldn't have kept her out, but he wanted her once to listen. She was livid and he could hear it in her tone. But in away it was making things worse. Especially for him. It was becoming chaos and brows lowered over his eyes. And hands gripped onto the guns. As soon as Jackie saw Lara, it was like signing his death warrant. Jackie already hated the spy with a passion and wanted him dead. To find the Spy played him on details of Lara, he was a dead man walking. Form shifted against the wall and he glanced in. Iron's men were every where there was no doubt about that. Gun fire raged everywhere and the outside weather seemed to depict the likes of that was going on within. Lightning ripped across the sky as rain bet down against the windows. Another clap of thunder and two men were moving from other doors of the parlor towards Lara's turned form. She was too focused upon Irons. Sure he wanted to yell at her for pulling another stupid stunt like diving in front of Jackie's shot gun blast. But now wasn't the time and he wanted to try to keep them both alive, well the three of them alive including himself. Another flash of lightning and when it was dark Sheridan slipped into the room. Two shots ripped from his gun, whizzing past Lara's head a short distance off, the man stumbled back from the shots and Sheridan pulled the trigger again, and the man fell down dead. Another shot sounded but it wasn't from either of Sheridan's guns and a bullet ripped against the flesh of the spy's upper leg. The other man had opened fire on him and now he moved. Another shot and glass exploded from around the bar Sheridan shifted on his feet in the room diving some behind the cover of the sofa as bullets flew. Hitting the ground he tucked rolling to his feet and whirled around shots were fired from his gun into the chest of the other man. Once he stopped moving they took aim on the other side of Irons.

This rate of speed he'd crash into something sooner or later, most likely the Hummer's barely up in front of him. He twisted the bike and sped up just barely, during this action he would slowly begin to balance himself upon the bike in a crouched stance on the seat. He was getting ready for lift off. The more direct approach to things. His body started to gradually shift it's form, that of his own battle armor would form around him. Surrounding him in a protective envelope of metal. When he felt he was close enough to catapult himself upwards, he twisted the handle cause the brake to pound down and the bike to shift formation solely from the back wheel all to the front. With that his body shifted momentum and took into the air. During this time of flight his back muscles started changing, the wings of the Darkness would gradually come to rip apart through the armor and expand thus furthering his flight. With one full flap of both wings he increased speed until his diagonal shot took him right into a window. Both hands already changed into that of the De's he normally carried. Shots poured into the glass and shattered it as he swooped through. His entrance was noisy but his landing was silent. His wings would then submerge into his back once more. The shadowy blur of The Darkness passed through the halls, in a stealth like manner which was most unlike his usual run through and shoot em up type of entrance. Jackie having taken a different route went opposite of where all others were, starting from the top to the bottom. He'd make a sweep of each area. Not a sound being made as doors were opened and closed and steps were descended. The gun shots would lead him to his mark. He needed to be one floor lower. The creeping around and silence would end here. Jackie would enter into a deserted room. But it happened to be the room right above the battle field. He could hear the struggling and fires let off... and a few familiar voices but those were barely audible. He pulled his 6 foot Katana out form behind him then with all his might he slammed it into the ground The ceiling above them started to let up. He did the same thing over and over till he had enough holes going straight through the floor. The with one final blow, the floor caved in. Jackie falling down to their level with lots of noise and debris following. He would land in a crouched stance, sword in hand, eyes with the look of the Grim Reaper himself.

-Ratta-tatta-tat-tat- Another one bites the dust, and two more duck behind a pair of pillars. "What? You guys aren't having fun anymore?" He heard the two guards getting smart, and hurrying off further down the hall. Then he heard something else... "Lady", again to use the term loosely, Croft, it had to be. That would explain the rope . He was still on the first floor, and he was guessing that he was directly below wherever that rope outside led. He wondered a second, hadn't someone said Lara had died? He shrugged it off, he knew better than to question things... and he wasn't about to start now. He pressed against the wall, just a those two guards came runing back, a bit better armed now. And here he is, out in the open. He started firing wildly, swinging Brenda back and forth like a madman, and tearing through the guards. After they had hit the ground, it seemed he was overtaken by the adreniline, since he continued to fire wildly. "MWAH HAHAHAHAHA! This is so BADASS!" Then he heard it, the all too familiar -click- of no longer having ammunition. He scowled and dropped the sub- machine gun with an all too sad look. "Sorry doll... it just wasn't meant to be." He removed his standard, and one of the 9's from where he'd stashed them about his belt. He took off back into the hall, since he'd ducked into a room during the fire fight. He began to make his way, once again, but this time a bit more... covertly. He found a flight of stairs, and quickly made his way up, popping off a few shots as he rounded on a pair of guards. He stopped as he heard a crash, from inside a room to his left. He blinked a second and shrugged, "Looks like the party has been started, and I must be the last to arrive." A pair of guards fired at him and he fired back, taking one of them out, and a bullet to the elbow, lucky shot. "That Fuckin hurts!" He turned, and with little more than a second thought, he decided to make his entrance. Surely it wasn't as silent as... well any of the other three, since he simply kicked the door in. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you... ME! The calvery ahs arrived, hold your applause until after I arrest the bad, thank you." He stood there, one arm dangling loosely at his side, the other with his standard raised and aiming randomly at everyone in the room. Gun finally leveled off at Nottingham, and then over to Irons, before swinging back. "Hate to break up this little shindig... but I need one volunteer... Preferably the recently deceased," he motioned to Lara, "The Spy, or the Hitman... to take Sara the hell out of here." Ok... yeah so he was barking out orders to people that most likely not listen, bieng as each of them were criminals of a sort, but he was worried, since Sara hadn't moved since he'd entered. "I swear if Pez is dead, ya'll... each one of you, are going to have to explain to me why the hell I spent damn near three days doing serious law breaking tso she could keep her job... and then I'll shoot you."

Ian was moving in slow motion. She fell. He actually did it! His jaw dropped as he watched her crumple. The assassin was stunned into silence. She fell. Ian was torn, his breath stopping in his throat. With the drawing of a weapon Kenneth was distracted and Nottingham took the opportunity to take a knee before the detective. His dark black locks of hair fell against her skin as he tried to figure out where to. how to get her to safety. Her neck was broken, if he moved her she would die, Ian knew this. - I have to save her- his inner mind screamed. The symbiotic weapon he wore took the initiate to aid him. Tendrils reached out to blend with the new metal of the Witchblade. The gold of his weapon etched fine lines into the armor and across her form. The snapping of her bones resetting. It was unnatural, but his knowledge of the two weapons settled his fears. she would be ok. Nottingham brushed her hair out of her face and waited until it was safe to move her. Kenneth's eyes narrowed as the bullet passed though his forearm "Mmm. The dead lives. Shall I consider this foreplay Miss. Croft?" His eyes glanced to the gun at his head and then over to her backup as Sheridan leveled his at the other temple. "Oh and you have a little pet." His eyes turned straight ahead and his brow darkened. "If I knew you were coming I'd have picked up a bit..." With that line dropped, Kenneth's knees bent and his arms shot out and he grabbed toward the two on either side, hoping to smash them together in the confusion. Even if Lara or Terry's shots were fired, with that move he would avoid the bullets. Wouldn't it be grand if they shot each other? Then he heard/saw Jackie and Jake. "Ah yes, the prodigal son. and the sidekick. " His glance was to Jackie and then to Ian. "Now I know why you have such a weakness for grand entrances.. Must run in the family." He grinned wider reaching out with his rune coated hand. Tiny shards of the Witchblade ripped from Sara and flew toward him Instead of coating his body, they sank into the flesh and then ripped out of the skin in a reptilian fashion. "Now the party can really get started."

It was true she had beat the boys and started the fun without them. Undoubtedly Terry had told Jake she was dead, bad thing was she had no idea the Ex- Spy had decided to involve Jackie. Lara did not break her concentration from Irons to even look towards the door and the gun fire or Sheridan. Brows were furrowed," Your time is almost up, you don't answer me I pull the trigger anyhow." The guns pressed more so, a click occurring two clicks to be exact. Lara wasn't playing games, she was serious as a heart attack. The kind of heart attack you didn't live from. A very, very, very dangerous woman was pulling the strings now and commanded Irons very existence. In truth she hoped he'd give her the privilege of ending his life for good. But knowing Irons it would probably not be forever, just until he figured no one would mind him rising from the dead to rain his terror upon lives once more. Jackie. He had probably seen her alive and well...not so well. Terry was probably as good as dead right then. Even as Jake spoke, Lara did not pay him any mind. It was obvious by the look upon her features she was mad in all senses of the word: Out of her mind, pissed off, etc. Her feet remained planted firmly into the floor, hazel orbs dark and narrowed fixed on the back and side of Irons' head," Times up." She laughed," Foreplay No. After all I dare say you would have a very jealous hitman to contend with if it was." Lara's tone was snide, but still dark. Ruthless. She was gambling indeed. ) Nor was the woman stupid. When he grabbed her arms and bent his knees, Lara prepared for it. She in turn bent her own knees, her strength more than Irons as she kept her arms apart and pushed upwards hands still holding her guns," You underestimate me Kenneth." Midair using Irons as her base, Lara's feet came off the ground her fingers working the guns causing the clips to fall from them. With that the guns clattered to the floor as well. Her now free hands gripped into Irons' wrists, more leverage. Steadying herself, though her breath was coming in short gasps and clearly she seemed fighting off pain as well as Irons. Lara remained in complete focus. Kenneth was about to learn a little lesson," Never. Underestimate me. Ever." her movements were swift despite her sustained injuries which the pain of screamed at her. He had made his choice. Lara Croft would kill this man, even if it was with her bare hands. As she now flipped over Irons still remaining in his grasp, Lara's body jack knifed, turning so her boots were now coming towards Irons' face as the flip rotation was coming to a completion.

Nottingham was taking care of Sara, the weapons intermingling. He scowled slightly looking past Iron's towards Lara for a moment then back. Still he was listening to see if any of Iron's other men tried to creep into the room they were now all gathering in. there were sounds and he shifted the roof over by the fireplace came crashing down and in the midst of its Mister Darkness himself. Well this was just perfect wasn't it. Iron's was surrounded but it was never that easy and he knew better than to even relax the muscles in his cheeks. There was another burst of sound and Surf-n-Turf busted in as if he were Rambo. "Bloody shut up!" he barked back towards Jake. He was in no position to give orders. But maybe Jake had a point if Lara took Sara instead, the Tomb Raider wasn't in a position to be standing there. Especially with the condition she was in. "I'm no ones -pet-" he growled towards Irons and form shifted the man had crouched and now he felt the grip on his arm that had aimed he shifted as did Lara. His free gun hand moved up to the hand gripping his arm and the shot came from the barrel. The feel of warm blood from Iron's hand and then the burn as the bullet tore into his own flesh. Swallowing he moved form shifting once more wrenching his now shot arm from the hand or Iron's. When Lara moved on her feet gripping Irons he dropped to the ground sliding baseball style under. Once her body lifted off the ground her boots moving towards Iron's face he rolled slightly. His other gun moved pulling against the trigger the shot aimed for Iron's knee cap. Finishing the slide he moved pushing himself up slightly, blood running down against his arm from the wound, the bullet lodged still inside. The pain shot up his arm, and he more than expected it. It was a shame he did it to himself in the process of getting Iron's. but he wasn't finished, it was almost silent team work and he moved to sweep Iron's legs out from under him. If he succeeded the man would fall backwards Lara's contact with his face might have been more so if he was against the ground. But how would Jackie respond. Seeing Lara alive, would he turn his sights on the spy instead? A glance moved up towards the shadowed figure of Jackie still gripping his own guns.

a low growl emitted from Jackie, the sound came from the very depths of his soul. He was battered and tore on the inside. His concentration was thrown off for the most part but his desire would lead him on. Mourning was what he felt the need to do but he wasn't allowed that kind of time. His eyes remained closed for a moment until the debris cleared to expose Jackie sitting there on top of what was the floor above. One knee supported him up, his breathing somewhat non-existing. He'd feel mental pains in the morning... non stop headaches would definitely torment him for the majority of the day. his mental weakness he still kept that burning fire lit inside of him... He was as strong willed as the best of them. His pride wouldn't ever allow him to break down mentally or physically. Jackie's fire filling eyes reopened, allowing him the gift of seeing all that was going on. But something in equation was absolutely incorrect. There was McCarthy... Pezzini... Estacado... Nottingham... Sheridan... And Croft. Lara wasn't dead and in fact she seemed to be moving around pretty well from what he could tell. He had been manipulated once more... this time by what he considered always have been his enemy. Hatred was all he felt before and this made to further fuel the fire. Terry Sheridan was a dead man walking... The self control Jackie had wouldn't allow him to go berserk and kill Sheridan now due to the event currently occurring but he wouldn't forget this moment. heart almost seemed to skip a beat or two when he finally got to his feet and with whatever was fueling him, he would burst out into a mad dash. He had gotten worked up for no apparent reason. Pezzini was the least of his problems in actuality. But then again, Terry probably knew this and needed a way to get him to help. But at what price was the man willing to pay for his current act of treason. The windows around the place rattled a bit then violently bursted outwards, shattering due to gun fire. The darklings had massed themselves and come to welcome themselves to this little party. They of course had to come get their favorite Sara Pezzini and protect her... and their new favorite toy Lara was around so they definitely needed to come to this party. At this time, Jackie narrowed his eyes then looked dead at Iron's, about 5 feet away now... making him 4 feet away from Sheridan. The Darklings all packed heat in a heavy way. It seemed that a few of them brought their own "Brenda's" along for the party while others had some of Jackie's usual's. Jackie's mind raced, and with this sort of uncontrolled ability he could send thoughts to the Darklings and command them to do as he saw fit for them to do. His focus on Kenneth Irons and another. Jackie made no moves yet, he'd let the three fight for now till an opening presented itself and it looked as thought they actually needed his services.

Okay... so things weren't going smoothly... but did they really ever? Now Irons was doing something... he had no clue what, but something flew from Sara to him and sank beneath his flesh. He had one hand on Sherridan, one on Croft, and was in motion. "The sidekick? What the fu..." He decided to just shoot him now, well, if Lara hadn't suddenly gotten in the way. He growled low and spat, literally. There was blood dripping down one arm, pooling on the ground in a sticky puddle. He waited, biding his time, waiting for his perfect shot. Then Sherridan made his own move, and the way was fully cleared, so "Mr. Surf-and-Turf" fired off three rounds at the very occupied Irons' chest. Sure it was a cheap shot, waiting until the bad man was no longer paying attention to the man with the least to offer in the form of resistance. Thre shots, quick, and well aimed, one, two, three, one after the other in rapid succession. It was a slight pattern, a zig-zag down the man's chest, not the easiest thing to dodge, especially when yer rather distracted. -BAM- The windows burst, and some... things came through holding copies of Brenda. His eyes went wwide at the rather strange sight, but he'd already fired on Irons, nothing to be done about that now. "Friggin hairy... cracked out midgets? What's next, clowns with grenades?"

The shards of metal spiked out of his entire body, including his hands as Ken folded his newly spiked palms into the grabbing forearms of the Tomb Raider. Although he took the force of her feet into his chest, the scale mail that now coated him took the brunt of the hit. The sweep knocked him back toward the mahogany bar. His strength was outstanding. Digging the spikes into her flesh and bone Ken was knocked back into the counter of the bar. Normally he would have been torn apart from the woman, but the barbed metal from his hands dug in their anchors, dragging her along with him. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you had a crush on me." Just as Ken's mouth said 'crush' his hands clenched tighter and delicious squishing of her flesh and blood made his grey eyes flicker. Twin bullets grazed off the new armor coating him as his face splashed with a gush of crimson exploding out of the human shield in front of him. "Does that hurt love?" his tone mocked as he dropped her to the floor and popped his neck.. Pezzini was moving again. The gold tracings withdrew back into Excalibur and she stood with the aid of Ian. Her eyes seemed so innocent and demure as she matched gaze with him. Jade pools infused with flecks of gold now so alive and vibrant. "You're right. Things will end with a sword, just not yours." As the long serrated blade shot out of her gauntlet, it sank though Nottingham's torso and then her arm pulled back spraying a crescent of blood across the papered wall.

The last encounter with both Sara and The Darkness was not to his favor. Tora came with the intentions of an honorable fight.. but instead was greeted with nothing but high caliber weaponry. It was in this particular case that he would come better armed. No...not with traditional and conventional fire arms. Armed in a sense of knowledge of what he is up against. "Within the Pool of beings enhanced by the supernatural.....I am the Natural who holds qualities only described.. as Super." Spoken as he stood just atop a ledge parallel to that of Irons' room. His very figure still, and one could notice the different clothing.. A Kevlar Body Suit with Shoulder and Chest Poly-Carbon Composite Armor plating. It would be all that was necessary in conjunction with his traditional array of Weaponry and Concealed aspects of his arsenal. Arms crossed.. he simply waited. Waited for the right time to strike...waiting for the Opportunity in which he can truly cause an upset in the Tides.....

Lara's focus was only on Irons, but her hazel orbs did catch sight of Terry as he moved in. Damnit. She wanted the pleasure of doing the evil business man in. Her body screamed at her to stop, not to push. Gritting her teeth the Brit pushed on, relentless forcing her battered muscles to work. They responded to her command with a burning pain. The lovely cut decorated features grimaced slightly as her quick agile movements caused pain to press from her ribs. Eyes wanted to shut and tears wanted to fall. No, she held them at bay without her lids shutting, though the hazel pupils did become surrounded by damed up water within. Lady Croft would diffently hate herself for this in the morning, if she made it there. A chance, fifty fifty either way. Lara was fully aware of this indeed. She might actually die this time around. Then Irons made his move, she let out a sound of pain," It's never that easy." Through gritted teeth, her voice wavering. Pain shot through her arms and hands as Irons did his little trick. It was very rare Lara ever swore to badly, however this time she did just that," Fucker. You wish." As her body fell to the ground a bullet peirced her side. She did not cry out. Not at all, no only the weak cry out. However pain was indeed obvious as her form layed motionless for a few moments, but then slowly she got to her knees, then to her feet. Hands bloodied yes, a few fingers broken and her side killing her once again. She was blood stained and looked asthough she had been to hell and back again. Her orbs narrowed," Go..." Blood dripped form her lips as she spit it out," To.." Lara coughed up more blood," Hell."Lara's left arm was around her torso hugging the bullet wound, her right hand however as she had fell drew the wildcard. shiny Golden Desert Eagle, the present from Jackie. Her movements were swift, the barrel of the .50 calibar gun now resting between Irons' eyes. The instant it touch his skin the trigger was pulled. It was possibly Lara's final act as soon as the bullet left the barrel she crumpled to the floor, her body completely motionless as the gun fell from her bloodied hand.

Sheridan knew the risks he'd taken involving Jackie in the matter. But it wasn't like sooner or later he'd not find out that Lara was indeed alive. Still, if his risking his own breathing for both women, was it little price to pay. Jackie already wanted to kill him anyway, what difference did it make in the spy's mind? None. But now something was strange and Iron's had taken on much of an effect like the Witchblade. And Jake opened fire when they had both moved "YOU BUGGER!" he shouted, Lara had been up to hit Iron's when Jake fired. This was defiantly not going to any sort of plan it was more like a free for all. And now the Darklings had made their entrance, just great. Form shifted as he pushed himself up standing on his feet. What ever Iron's had done when he'd been watching the monitor affected the Witchblade and now it was like working for him. Eyes glanced slightly out where Nottingham had taken Sara and his form shifted both guns raised once more. Well bullets were going to be much affect on Irons any where on the majority of his body. Lara's scream of pain filled his ears and brows knitted some. Form moved shifting slightly in the room. A shot rang out and he paused. Was it over? He some how highly doubted it. He wanted to move towards Lara's fallen form but he didn't. Not with Jackie there. The blood against his arm was beginning to dry and eyes scanned over towards Sara. The Witchblade was reacting now. But he didn't relax, and his hands still gripped the guns the hammers pulled back in a state of readiness. If Iron's was down for the count, and now Nottingham and Lara lie on the floor. He would probably be the next. Jackie hadn't made a single move against Irons, was he waiting to see the out come? Waiting to make his next move.

Nothing. Dark. Numb. The pain slowly seeped from her body as she layed there. Her auburn locks had finally fell completely from it's braid, strands fell about her shoulders and across the floor, a few tresses falling across her ashened face. Death was lingering some where in the room to take the Tomb Raider. Light. A feeling akeen to flying. Lara had felt this sensation before, when Jackie had saved her life at the train tracks. The light, Lara looked at herself. Healed. Not a stratch, not cuts, no bruises everything gone. She felt whole, complete, free," Daddy, I'm coming home...your Lara Angel is coming home at last." Long tanned arms openned, awaiting to embrace her father. He stood waiting just beyond the light, a man of age, taste and a longing. To see his beloved Daughter again. Yes, time had indeed been stolen from them, but now they would have all the time in the world," Yes Lara Angel come, there is so much for you too see." Another figure, that of a woman," Mommy!" Finally Lara could meet the one woman she never had a chance too. Her Mother. Tears welled up in her hazel gaze as she embraced her father first and then her mother," Lara, how beautiful you are." Her Mother's voice was angelic, timeless. Perfect. Just as the Archeaologist had always thought it would be. The three of them now embraced. Tears fell from Lara's eyes," How I've longed for this day." The sassy brit was happy, more happy then she had ever truely been in life. A smile crossed her whole face it seemed and spread across her entire being. Heaven indeed. Meanwhile her body layed battered and broken on the floor of the room. Blood still seeping from her side, a few of her fingers twisted in very odd ways. She did not move, nor would she probly ever again. Indeed the woman had died in sacrifice to save another ," This was for you Sara." Came Lara's voice in a silent thought from heaven, however the voice echoed into the very persons mind it was for thanks to the Witchblade," My friend, my so called sister figure.For you." With that the connection closed between both women. Lara felt happy now, all else forgotten about life itself.

The first thing that went through his mind was a simple thought, "Oops..." So he ended up shooting Lara instead of Irons, or rather riccochetting them from him to her, but it was all the same. He backed up slowly, seeing as how Sara had just stabbed Nottingham through the chest, Irons had some funky bone/scales now, and he had no clue where the hell they came from, and then there were those little whatchamathinggies toting massive weaponry. Well, the brit chick didn't seem to be dead, but he shot her good, probably got her in the lung though. His eyes flicked from Lara, to Sara, and back just in time to see her up and pulling the trigger on Irons' forehead. She fell, but his eyes were now on the little bug demon craked out midget things, "I swear if one fo you things comes near me I'm gonna make you regret it," he mumbled to himnself as he turned his attentions back to the room. "Sara... you alright?" Sure it was concern in his voice, she was his first partner since he'd joined the force. Sure, she treated him like crap, she never listened, and was way too secretive for a partner, not to mention that trouble followed her like lost puppy. One of the little things came a bit closer and he popped of a shot in it's direction, "I said stay back you little freak!"

Jackie almost lost all sanity with that blow that Lara took, Jake had shot her... this upset him greatly, and this could've been one of the most dangerous blows to Jackie's mental state. First Sheridan and his mind games.... now Jake and his carelessness. Rookie or not... the kid had to get a rude awakening. Jackie turned his head to Jake, with narrowed eyes he nodded his head upwards to give gesture for the Okay to fire. The darklings cheered as they always seemed to. Bullets would now reign through the sky... all heading towards the arrogant youngster. Jake was in a very bad place but if he played cards right he could get away from the array of shoots, if he took refuge behind something of course. The bullets weren't piercing so they wouldn't storm through the walls. Jackie would immediately turn his attention away, his physical senses leading him to Lara. He would kneel beside her, not caring much for how close Irons was. If the man were to attack him then he'd get the dealing that he deserved to get. Both hands lay on her back till he slid her around and picked her up. His expression eased up a bit he backed away from the fight scene... all else could continue fighting but he really didn't have a reason to fight... this wasn't his war. There was always a solution but he wasn't sure if it was something that she was ready for. It'd be the same as the day he first experienced his transformation into the armor. Things from that day on got very complicated. The born killer actually feel again... what a miracle in itself. Jackie left himself no other choice, it was either he let her pass on or he could change her forever. But joining The Darkness was like going through with an arranged marriage... it was something you'd have to learn to love. Jackie had come to terms with it but how would Lara take it? They'd all find out sooner or later. Jackie pressed his back against the wall then leaned down, laying Lara's body back on the floor, laying her facing up. He'd need to go through a quick change, quite painful but it didn't seem like Lara had much left to feel from her condition. He was about to do like Neo did to Trinity in the matrix. Long tendrils rushed out from his armor and stabbed into her frame then quick enveloped her into a precise cocoon. Things in the room were about to get bright and hot. He watched her reactions as she would take the abuse without much fight left in her to do anything about it. But this was her test of trust... if she trusted his actions then she'd be able to deal with this. Jackie's now calm yellow blazed eyes only looked over Lara's frame. Nothing else in the room matter. The tendrils would lift her into the air and continue their work on her. Slowly rebuilding her molecular structure, making her into what he was. Upon reemerging she wouldn't have full control but with a strong enough will and desire, she'd be able to learn to do all that Jackie did. Light would then begin to form along them both... mainly emanating from her form beneath the tendrils. His eyes would now close up. The rays of light were somewhat brighter than he remembered. But he was too busy yelling to remember fully. The tendrils gradually pulled out from her body, leaving holes throughout all her areas, but they would quickly heal up as she finished transforming. Her body would remain in the air without much of his control having to effect her. The work had been done and now the rest was on how she took it. Would she reject the Darkness or accept it and finish her job? When Lara would emerge, she'd appear to have a new look and a somewhat different type of attitude. The Darkness changed personalities in minor ways, but they were always noticeable. Especially when Jackie created replica's of himself with the power, which was somewhat what he did with Lara. After the process was complete Lara would levitate down from her place in midair and the red beams of light would dissipate from her form to expose her new frame. What she'd do then was still a mystery..

Kenneth took the hit square in the head, falling lifeless to the floor, as the last breath of life worked out of him, the shards of stolen blade flew back toward Pezzini, and his rune carved hand clutched at something about his neck. The brunette stepped over the prone body of Ian Nottingham the full plate armor clanking against the marble tiles. It looked like the suit must have weighed a ton, but her movements were swift and effortless. As Ken's fingers closed around the fabric and something kept very hidden, his body disintegrated into countless flecks and sparks, like an ember of fire. Her eyes cast toward Irons as he vanished and her head bowed as the shards from him clanked into her open hands. "My eyes. are open." She spoke low turning her head to her partner. "..It's days like this when you rethink med school huh McCarthy?" She winked and neared her partner, as she sauntered closer, the metal swam across her body, revealing flesh. As more and more of her skin were revealed it was clear that Sara was no longer injured. The white/silver metal finished its transformation leaving itself very much changed from the platted armor from before. From head to toe, Sara was unscathed. A metallic bikini top shone as brightly as the skimpy underwear that matched it. Heavy knee high boots of shining plated armor coated her knees and calves, the heel of each 'boot' thick and confident, raising the woman a full two inches. Sara shuddered, hearing her friend's voice in her mind. "I know. and I'm sorry." She knew Ian would survive the stab wound. Excalibur wouldn't let him die, by the hand of the Witchblade. But Sara was consumed with guilt at what Kenneth had manipulated her to do. "He. h-he wanted me to kill you all. and I would have." She looked to where he was a few seconds before, and shuddered again. "My God. I almost." She was clearly upset.

A pull. Lara felt something willing her back to her body," NO!" She grasped for her parents. Her father who had been stolen from her by Manfred Powell and the Illuminati, her Mother who had died in birth of her and Ivan. Hazel orbs went wide, what was going on! She felt pain again, white hot pain indeed," I'm dead, I'm dead!" Prehaps she was going to hell? Yes, yes she belonged in hell anyhow, but at least she had gotten to see her parents. The light faded as blackness took over again, She couldn't see them anymore. They were gone forever now, surely. A new sort of pain this was however as bubbles of blackness began to surround her. She wanted to fight it, do stay with her mother and father. Her will to live however seemed stronger indeed. Her body seemed to lay motionless for the time being still as her mind slowly began to fill once more as her soul re-entered. Once the connection was made, her mind, body and soul becoming one something strange began to occur. Her body was perfect repaired, though her clothing still gave reminders of the carnage she had been through. It started as a twitch, first in her slender fingers, muscles once again pulling and contracting within the skin. Her midsection arched slightly asthough something alive within was trying to escape her body. A first breath, then another as silver and gold vine like tendrils began to snake along her form. The sounds of cloth ripping filled the air, as the armour began to form along her frame, much as that of the Witchblade's. It seemed to sweep outwards from beneath her almost, wrapping around her wrists and arms. Claws of silver crept across her slender fingers now binding there. It weaved around her neck, a choker like creation resting there now. the tendrils moved asthough alive, it crawled along the sides of her face like liquid metal coming to rest in talons almost along her cheeks. Metalic tiger stripes in gold and silver. The metal vines moved downwards across her torso ripping the tank-top now completely from her frame, as the fabric fell the armour now covered her bosom to a half way decent point. It snaked down her sides, across her pelvis the remaining leather of her pants falling away aswell. Soon it wrapped around her legs, creating boots and finally coming to an end as sharp spiked heels of said boots. For another few moments she remained lifeless or so it seemed. A third breathe, eyes openned, a flash of deep green now as they glowed," I..." She rose to her feet," Live." The glowing green orbs took in the world from a new perspective it seemed as full lips parted glupping in that wonderful air. A slowly smile soon crept across her lips as she spotted Irons form motionless on the floor," Good, I killed the bastard." She still retained her refined english accent as Lara now beheld herself slowly," What in the Queen's name.." Darkness. Jackie had done something to her. She instantly rounded on him," What in the bloody hell did you do to me?!?!" Her voice seemed to almost roar as the lights flickered and went out almost as if by her command within the whole penthouse. Her taloned fingers clenched as she found she could do nothing against me. Glowing orbs narrowed slowly," Tell me now." The refined accent dark now and commanding.

His form moved and tensed the Darklings were becoming restless and Jake's shooting at Lara and now towards a Darkling he was just asking for trouble. His forearm throbbed and he lowered it putting the other sig back in its rightful place. Was it really over? How could one be really sure. After all hadn't Sara seen Iron's die before, fall from a ten story window, and without a hand. And the Irons who was lying upon the ground indeed had both. Apart for the one he'd shot. "Jake, you blooming idiot! Don't.." the rest of his voice fell away Jake had already shot and the spy shook his head. Things hadn't exactly turned the way he'd expected them too. Especially how everything had built up to this point. Was how things ended a let down, maybe. But not too much damage had been done to them. Save for Lara and Sara. Both women had been through hell and back, and now the Tomb Raider lie unmoving. -Come on Lara, get up.. your too stubborn to die like that.- his voice thought in his head and he was pulled from his thoughts as shots rang in the room once again. He turned quickly and it had been the Darklings now shooting towards Jake. "Move!" his other hand waved some towards Jake and he stopped. Sara was moving and Iron's body disappears. His eyes closed as he shook his head "The bloody things I get myself into.." but still there was a pang in his chest. Lara'd fought so hard against everything, and still he found himself trying to work things in his mind. If anyone should have been, it should have been him. It was his plan to storm in to Iron's place to get Sara out. Form shifted once more as Jackie turned moving to the Tomb Raider and Sheridan didn't do anything. What was left to do? Nothing. At least for the spy there wasn't. He'd lived up to this point and did what he got involved to do. Eyes scanned the room, while everyone had been preoccupied, Jackie with Lara. Sara dealing with Jake. He'd slipped silently out. Moving down the hallway some he pressed his back against the wall and pulled his locking blade from the back of his belt. With the darklings still fiering it gave sound good cover. Flipping it open he gritted his teeth slightly digging it into his flesh. Swallowing hard he shifted the blade and finally with a flick the bloodied bullet dropped to the ground and he moved once again, the wound bleeding once more. With a heavy breath he moved once again heading down the rather ransacked looking stairs and into the foyer where the front of the Hummer was still. There was a sound behind him and he pulled his gun aiming as a limping man rounded the corner. "Ah, Comerade..I zee you've made it out alive as vell." There was a slight grin from the Russian "I usually do." He said dryly slipping the gun back in its holster. Sheridan haden't stayed to find out what Jackie had done, at least not in the room he hadn't and the lights flickered and then went out. What ever Jackie had done to Lara seemed to work, and Lara was back in the land of the living."Well..let her be ruddy pissed with someone other than me." He breathed and moved past the Hummer. Rain still fell outside, but the skies had calmed some. "I deffinatly need another ruddy 'oliday from this..wonder what Fiji's like this time of year." The spy turned some looking up towards the estate while Dimitri joined his side.

Lost in his own thoughts, Ian laid back on the floor of the penthouse, in the state between consciousness and unconsciousness. He was still breathing, and Excalibur was currently working on repairing the stab wound which he had suffered. The bits of skin were slowly coming together as Excalibur tended to the wound, slowly healing it, much like the Witchblade had done with Sara. Excalibur gently stirred his mind, urging him to wake up. A few moments later, he did just that, slowly sitting up, and then opening his eyes. The first thing he saw was Irons, dead and bleeding on his own floor, as he then slowly turns his head to look to Sara, a behind view of her. He slowly got up, his obsidian hair swishing lightly as he did so, looking around. He moved to check the stab wound he had suffered only to see that he was fine. Excalibur must have took care of him from there. He looks back to Irons dead body once more, then back to Sara. "You're alright." He says as more as a confirmation than anything else, not with everyone else being here. Looking to Lara dressed in the same fashion practically as Sara, he just shook his head, hoping that he wasn't seeing double from all of this. He felt relieved , yet....torn at the same time, but of course, his stoic face showed nothing of it. He looked to Excalibur on his wrist, then looking around for his katanas somewhere around the room. Anyone seen my swords?" He asks, checking around.

Well... that was a mistake. Jake had, literally, nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Everything that at one time could have been useful was either too far away, or destroyed. He grinned a bit, shook his head, and dropped his standard from his grip. These little creatures had somekind of wicked and menacing grins all around, and they seemed to be all to happy to fill the "Rookie" full of hot lead. The gun clattered to the ground, but Jake merely smiled. Sara was just fine, and that was the reason he was here, right? He'd risked his job, maybe his freedom so she could keep her own. Now to keep her from whatever he'd come here to keep her from, he'd made the mistake of getting on someone's nerves, and someone did not like the fact that he'd accidently shot Lara Croft, and it was an accident after all. He was still smiling, as his eyes closed to the sound of many clicks of the weaponry, and the little devils opened fired. "It's been hell Sara... Maybe next time we'll actually be friends, huh?" His smile widened a bit, and then he laughed, long and hard. There wasn't anything else to be done now. Noone in that room was faster that a sub-machine gun's rate of fire, and he was making no move to try and outrun the bullets by running in circles. The bulletts ripped through the air, the sound he had become used to in the fifteen minutes he'd carried a weapon so like those that fired on him now. There was nothing that could save him now, was there? Nope. Not in a dozen scenarios like this, would the young man make it out alive. Sara was close, but not close enough, and she seemed fairly distraughtin her words... the last words he heard before the bullets from the little things began to tear through him at random intervals. Some tore through his legs, others through his torso and arms. You can call him a rookie, you can call him a surfer boy, or a wanna-be, but one can't call the man a cowerad. So he couldn't escape fate, he wasn't about to try to run from the inevitable. He would have tryed to get out of the path of the bullets, but his arm was still bleeding from the lucky shot that shattered his elbow, and he had little to no energy left to run, he could barely hold himself on his feet anymore. So he stood there, and no power on the face of the earth could save him now... bullets had already ripped through his body.

Smile placed along the lines of his facial expression. He was happy that she hadn't left the world just yet but he knew he'd never hear the end of it now. She'd blow up on him for sure. She got him but There was a price to pay for cheating death. She was good at doing it but this time she needed help. Preferably The Darkness... Jackie folded his arms at his chest then reverted back his form from the Darkness armor, not needing to wield it anymore. Lara would have to learn for herself how to revert back to normal he doubted she'd want to the way the Darkness tore her clothing apart. He smirked a bit still even as she yelled. He had no reason to answer... she knew the answer in the back of her mind... she just had to get used to it... He would just point to a shattered mirror to their left, intending for her to see herself first before speaking and asking questions... "I Helped You cheat death one more time.."

The lights flickered back on slowly, a sigh," Damn you for doing it." Her tone was sad. Her head fell hanging forwards, her loose auburn locks spilling over her tanned shoulders. Glowing jade orbs peered at Jackie through the tresses as they fell about her iron straight. They then shifted, her head lifting to stare," Mary Queen of Scots..." Long toned and tanned arms lifted as she inspected her 'new' self, eyes wide," I'm like you..." She shifted her gaze back to him, her movements slow, graceful and yet had a deadliness too them," Am I not?" Shock was the newest feeling she felt," But...why?" The glowing orbs blinked slowly," Why did you give me life back?" The woman's head tilted to one side slowly," Explain this to me." Lara felt like a child, lost and confused," Oh bugger." Eyes rolled," I'm practically naked!" Arms folded now, a brow arched slowly," Don't you dare grin Estacado, don't you dare!" Lara huffed slightly," Peachy, I know what Sara feels like now." Speaking of which, the Brit turned and looked to her friend," Sara, thank the heavens." But would this change their friendship? She was now a part of the Darkness now, the Witchblade's mortal enemy. She moved back against Jackie slowly, her back pressing against his front, "Don't leave me here. I feel....alone now." In truth Lara felt Jackie was all she really had now and to everyone else in the room she was indeed dead after all.

An expression of horror washed over her face as she watched Jake's torso explode from an onslaught of bullets. A flash of her memory. It was Michael Yee all over again. The sound of sirens approaching was already in her ears. Sara knew he was dead. no surgeon in the world could save him. Even if he lived, he would be a vegetable. This was beyond the Witchblade's powers. The detective remembered that fateful night when she had tried to bring Michael Yee back to life. he begged to die. She remembered the message on her phone from his wife. widow. Janet. Now Sara had to tell Jake's parents that she failed. Her eyes closed as the image of his parents flashed before her eyes. She had met them once. they had stopped in on a vacation to see where Jake worked. Sara wished now that she could remember his mother's name. Her eyes opened; hollow and empty. Pezzini was off running.. Needed to be away from all this pain. It was almost like the homicide detective had reached a saturation level of pain, and the nerves that felt the agony were dead. She stepped out the front door, the newly changed Witchblade retracting into a delicate bracelet, leaving her naked save the small pendant given to her by Irons and the symbiotic weapon. The rain washed over her bare skin as she neared the ex-spy. "He killed my partner." She said simply, blinking as raindrops dripped off her eyelashes. Those hollow eyes looked toward Terry, the flash of red and blue lights began to wash over her naked flesh as squad cars closed in.

wings gradually emerged for out of his back and kept comfortably behind him. He would keep leaned against the wall for the time, his eyes of course without a second's thought he scanned her outer beauty. He wanted so bad to grin and say something but she yelled at him not to so he covered his mouth with a hand, restraining it. He would wait on her to come to him, and she seemingly did. He would give a very cryptic answer as he always did... "Baby, you know why I did this. I don't need to explain it all. You know right here...".... he placed a finger which traced lightly over her heart... "That's why I brung you back."... he looked up then looked to his side... the Darklings already submerged back tot he shadows and left a mess of bullets. Jake was hit and hurting bad... or was he even hurting anymore? He was most likely done in quick. He went out like a Gangster in a movie. He took it like a G. But now what would Sara do. Jackie didn't think twice to find out. His wing wrapped around him and Lara while Jackie whispered into her ear... "We really should go... don't ask why, just trust me. Lets go back to the Dojo."