Obel Tower, Belfast

9 May, 2011

23:13—Stephen's Perspective

:-:

Donegall Quay, home to the tallest highrise building in Belfast: Obel Tower.

A residential building, Obel Tower contains 233 apartments as of last month. Infinity-funded, Infinity-owned, Obel Tower is located on the River Lagan beside the Lagan Weir… For some reason, this is where Dead Motion has led Stephen.

D. Remedy comes to a quick touchdown atop the building, forcing the vampire to do the same… The elder sibling stands boldly, his back turned to Stephen. It's as if their chase has released a little steam from his head.

These sprogs led me here for a reason. And I know what it is.

"Plan on taking a few hostages?"

D. Remedy remains silent, his back still turned to Stephen. But…

—this silence… Something is amiss, dreadfully wrong.

Stephen senses a change in Dead Motion's sync rate: It has increased drastically, a bit too much for an A-class nightwalker. The wind is picking up, more and more by the second, but these currents… They don't feel close; they feel…remote.

"…We're doing *more* than that…doctor…" D. Remedy finally speaks, his voice deep, piercing and distorted, as if his humanity has been discarded.

Stephen stands defensively, his posture wild, yet strong and defined.

"These winds. What are they?"

"...Ever been in the eye of a hurricane?" D. Remedy's reply sends a wave of shock through Stephen's body. To be standing in the eye of a hurricane: The vampire questions whether or not something like that is possible for nightwalkers of their status. Sure, they're strong, but to manipulate the air to *this* extent…

They're bluffing. There's no way in *hell* these sprogs can pull something like that off. The only one capable of that…is already dead.

"I recall the legends, doctor: Why your friend and his former partner were dubbed 'Hurricane'. *You* gave them that name, in honor of your greatest opponent, Klaus Schenker; one of the Newjacks, I believe."

Stephen is unfazed by D. Remedy's knowledge of his former battles. That happened hundreds of years ago, and has nothing to do with the present. Still, to know so much…the elder sibling headhunter has definitely done his homework.

However… "You're trying to imitate what happened."

—Stephen sees through D. Remedy's game, much to the headhunter's delight. His grin, though unseen, is felt by the doctor… And it's pissing him off.

"So what if I am? I have the power to do it.

This eye is very wide, about the size of Belfast itself. Everyone outside of it is safe, but I can't say the same about the people next to it.

However, if you refuse to surrender, I'll close it. Everyone caught inside will die, including us… And I know that's not something you want."

To do such a thing: Dead Motion is beyond serious. They've been driven over the edge by their contract. Kilkenny is definitely suffering high winds, and Dublin is next in line to that. Either way one looks at it, what Dead Motion proposes is more than challenging to the doctor: Concede and allow the headhunters to execute him, or be responsible for hundreds of deaths.

It's just like back then. Klaus pulled the same trick, and died in the process.

These sprogs are too overconfident; so much that they're making stupid mistakes. But that's what happens when the Old Man is on your back.

And…and…

—Kate, the young father…and even the necromancer… They're all in Belfast. If these sprogs close this eye, they'll destroy all of us. And I know that's something *neither one of them* wants… Trying to school me? *Ridiculous*.

"Can you tolerate an afterlife with that kind of guilt on your heart?" D. Remedy finally turns and faces Stephen, moved by what he said.

*Could* they tolerate the guilt?

Quite the tough question, but it should be obvious:

Dead Motion are driven by their will to protect their people. They'll go above and beyond to ensure their safety, with no regard to their own lives. They know what might happen if they fail this mission, but, if they die…the church will no longer have a reason to spare the Oti.

They must live and they must never lose… "—never. I…we…"

"That's the same look Klaus gave me." Stephen captures their attention once more, his acidic stare feeling as if it threatens to burn a hole in D. Remedy.

"The…same look…"

"He couldn't do it, and neither can you. No 'tool' can.

You're either born to hate or you're made to hate. Everyone hates something, even I have a heart full of hatred… One of the things I hate is this: Those who hold no value over life, the freedom to live, and the right to live life as one sees fit.

The Old Man, White Album, the whole damn church; no matter how 'sweet' they are on people, they'll turn heaven into hell just to fill their bellies… I know about your connections with Kerri, we all do.

He was once a good man, but that was a *long* time ago. Under servitude of the first Nightlord, Kerri was a saint of saints. When that bastard killed his father and usurped the throne of the night, he and every other cleric changed…and so did I."

How ironic, Stephen is schooling D. Remedy on the history of this war. Amid a familiar scene nonetheless: Standing in the center of a hurricane's eye.

The headhunter remains quiet, as Stephen continues… "The Old Man, Valdo Sebastian von Dracula, would've been a great Nightlord if he weren't so jealous.

Count Orlok Vladimir von Dracula, his father, led us all to peace. Valdo led us to misery, separation and bloodshed… Everyone he uses, including you two; you're nothing more than *toys*... You actually believe your people are still alive?"

D. Remedy's fists tighten with frustration, as he lowers his head. To be told his people aren't alive anymore: This has struck a major nerve with him.

I had to tell them…the *other* reason why we sent the Highwaymen to assassinate Babyface and shut down Ferryman:

The Oti are already dead. Not even Mr. Black knows about it; he just followed orders like always… A sleeper-agent working for the enemy sent an invoice to Mother Wendy short of a month ago. A side note explained everything.

Besides Alexei, I'm the only one who knows about it. I…even tried putting these horrible thoughts at the back of my mind, lying to myself, making it seem as if it didn't happen…but it did. I wasn't supposed to say it, but…

"...How long, doctor?" D. Remedy finally speaks up.

"About a month, sprog. Don't be mad at Kerri, he didn't know about it.

I'm pretty sure, considering how powerful we are right now, everyone with an existence within a hundred miles can hear what we're saying." And they do… Natalie, TJ, Dr. Lyte, White Album; everyone except the slumbering Stuart and Dawnavan hears the truth: The Oti are no more.

Li'l Thrill transmutes back into his normal self, as D. Remedy collapses onto his hands and knees…in the deepest of suffering. Li'l Thrill kneels and comforts his elder brother, realizing they're the last of their kind.

"This… They're…gone…" Stephen turns away, and holds his hands to the sky, ignoring D. Remedy's lamentation. Li'l Thrill can't turn his eyes away from the doctor, who seems to be undergoing a strange procedure: From his opened palms sprouts an excess of spores with a unique jade glow to them… D. Remedy notices what the doctor's doing, and becomes curious. "Doc… What…is that?"

"A gentler side of my existence. One of the special things about my Absorption ability: With enough concentration, my sync rate will rise high enough to memorize my opponent's power, personality and hidden traits.

It happened the instant you blasted your Silent Scream at me: I took a bit of your 'hot air' into my hand. That one second was all I needed. It allowed me to see right through the both of you; thus, I *knew* what to do should you pull something like this… I just didn't think you had to nerve to do it.

These spores are another version of my Healing ability. They're greatest function is the nullification of malevolent existential force. So, as things stand, your precious little hurricane…is about to meet its end."

Even after what happened on the road, I don't have to heart to kill them. That old me… He's dead. And he's better off gone for good.

I should have succumbed to hunger by now, but I forgot something about my existence: Additional exposure to my territory drains a minimal percentage of my opponent's blood, regenerating my own. It happens in the blink of an eye, so fast that even I have trouble keeping up with it.

…My existence has a mind of its own… These sprogs should succumb to blood loss in a few seconds. They won't die, but…they'll be asleep for a while.

Stephen looks over his left shoulder, to notice the siblings losing a battle against their own stamina. With their blood partially drained, Dead Motion falls asleep.

In the next few moments, the siblings' hurricane dies. Damages are noticeable… Dead Motion threatened a suicide attack, but their consciences got the best of them in the end. Unfortunately, Stephen *still* senses malevolence in the air. Ironically, these bad vibes… They're coming from two different directions:

The east *and* the west.

"Someone's coming…and *fast*."

The doctor gets his answer from the east first: A shower of glistening objects that bypasses Stephen in an instant…and intercepts something coming from the west. The doctor looks in that direction…to notice a ghostly light undergo instant negation, once its apex is met with the objects.

This causes an explosion that nearly knocks Stephen off balance, but experience serves him well: The doctor kneels to maintain some control over his body. His decision, fortunately, saves him from being pushed over the edge of the building.

This power… I've felt it before.

"It seems I made it in time, Dr. Farrelly." Stephen looks to the east, and notices a familiar face: The revived archmagus, Yuvraj.

The doctor overflows with relief. "—You… You're all better. I'm glad."

"All thanks to you. Now, leave this place.

You're needed elsewhere." The archmagus Steps forward, and halts aside Stephen to the west of him, while drawing a katar from a rift in time.

Stephen does need to meet up with Natalie and Theodore, so Yuvraj is right to dismiss him so quickly. Still… The doctor wonders if he's well enough to fight.

But before he can say anything, Yuvraj stops him… "Away with you, doctor.

I've encountered this person before, so I'll be fine. What matters now is your safety. After pulling something like that off, you're in *no* shape to fight.

I ask that you hold your tongue, and leave. Please?"

Obel Tower, Belfast

9 May, 2011

23:19—Yuvraj's Perspective

:-:

I arrived in the nick of time. Finding this man was hard, and I should feel fortunate: He was able to hold his own against the headhunters.

But this was more than just a trap.

Dead Motion led the doctor here because, in case they lost, they have backup: The man responsible for this necromancy, Father Kerrigan.

The legendary cleric has arrived, riding the wind like a ghost in the night. In Stephen's place, the archmagus, Yuvraj, stands to face him.

The atmosphere comes alive with wandering souls, howling, wailing, confessing their longing for freedom… The chanter of elegies Steps forward, coming to a quick touchdown some paces away from his enemies.

He then looks to his left…and notices Dead Motion, sound asleep.

"…You spared them, Paddington…

—why? After all they've done, why spare their lives?" His words strike true: Dead Motion killed so many people, mercilessly, but it was all an order… They knew what they were doing was wrong. But despite all of that, Stephen…he…

I can feel the doctor's existence: His old heart…is aching.

Dr. Farrelly wants the fighting to stop. He even went as far as to deactivate his existence. This man standing behind me…

—he's not a killer, he's a saint with a heart of gold. Sure, he has his moments, but what vampire doesn't? It's only natural.

I…I can't… I refuse to…

"Stay away from the doctor…*and* those men, necromancer!" In a flash, Yuvraj swipes the air with his katar, and cuts a large rift in time that operates as a ward. An improvement of his Timesplitter technique: He can now temporarily destroy time itself, creating separate realities. Timesplitter now has both offensive *and* defensive traits, making it more strategic in nature.

Father Kerrigan covers his eyes, hiding his vision from the rift's repelling existential force. It's unbearable to him… This power…is equivalent to his own.

"I don't believe this. Whoever this man is, he's *dangerous*." The necromancer then closes his eyes, and focuses his existence via rhyme… "Seesaw Marjorie Daw, Johnny shall have a new master;

He shall earn but a penny a day, Because he can't work any faster."

—and, with these words, the souls of the dead amass. Together, as one, they pursue Yuvraj's rift… But they're easily nullified.

Father Kerrigan can't believe what he's seeing. "W—What the blazes!?"

The laws of my territory have also improved: No matter how many times he attacks, the necromancer will *not* enter this reality.

"Doctor, listen to me…"

Stephen gives Yuvraj his attention. "What is it, war—"

"—*archmagus,* if you please. I walk a different path now.

Anyway, hear me out: I'm going to translocate you and these men. As I said before, you're needed elsewhere… Release, Timesplitter!" The archmagus focuses his existential force, increasing his sync rate a bit. This does as he hinted: Stephen and Dead Motion are pulled into rifts that transport them away from the area.

Yuvraj pushed himself a bit to pull that off… He's huffing, at a loss of breath. To go so far for others: The archmagus has undoubtedly changed.

The doctor should be with his friends now. And those men have been transported to the local Hewson Medical Center… That's the best I could do.

At any rate, I can't let this monster run free; he'll kill everyone in Belfast to increase his power. As he is now, I can hold him off for a while…

—long enough for the doctor to do something. I *must* engage the necromancer, but I'll retain a minimal sync rate of 60%. Should I go any higher, everyone caught in the blood metres of my territory…will…

Yuvraj swipes his katar inward, dismissing his rift and reconnecting the separated realities. This causes a minor tremor, but not one strong enough to level anything… Father Kerrigan still retains his position, his expressions confessing a level of surprise and fascination.

The archmagus then cuts a rift in time, retires his katar into the space, and draws…a Maduvu: A defensive weapon favoring a low stance, in which the wielder strives to stay lower than the opponent thereby reducing any openings to the body's vital points. The weapon consists of two blackbuck horns pointing in opposite directions, connected by two crossbars which also act as a handle. It's also tipped with steel, and fitted with a plate of the same alloy that acts as a shield.

Father Kerrigan recognizes the weapon… Typically, the wielder will block or parry attacks before countering with a thrust, choke, lock or disarm. Offensively, the maduvu is treated similarly to a dagger, used for stabbing.

The cleric snickers malevolently, realizing what this means.

"Playing it safe now, are we?

I expect nothing less from a magician. Nothing but tricks." Yuvraj's expressions are like stone… He remains unaffected by Father Kerrigan's insult, much to the ancient cleric's amusement. "Heh. I expected this as well: Silence.

Honestly, what do you hope to achieve, magician? I'm certain it's not allegiance; you're the most antisocial piece of shite I've ever met…

—no family, no friends, nothing. With a heart as empty as yours, I'm surprised you helped those people just now. Could it be…your contract?"

The necromancer is measuring me up. Should I give him the chance, he'll know exactly how to defeat me… I won't give him a verbal answer, not just yet.

Father Kerrigan smiles, amused by Yuvraj's obstinance.

"…Okay, I understand, magician. You won't answer me.

But I *do* know how to make you move." The archmagus glares, confused, provoked and itching to strike the cleric into ruin. To this end, the chanter of elegies believes he's figured Yuvraj out. "You're a dutiful soul, I admire that…

—but that is also a *weakness*… Gather, Revolution!" With this cry, the superficial bounds of Father Kerrigan's existence are released. However, his territory is quite unlike those Yuvraj has seen in the past: It's composed mostly of wandering souls, which serves as a confession on the cleric's part.

Without souls, he's nothing. His contract lies solely in appeasing death itself, which makes him *somewhat* of a grim reaper. He…is no ordinary vampire.

The odds seem to be against Yuvraj, but he has yet to fully release his existence. To protect the people here, and to buy Stephen time, he must abstain from getting too serious with Father Kerrigan. Thus, defense is his only option.

Yuvraj lowers his stance and prepares for the unexpected… "You're revealing too much to your enemy, necromancer. This…is *your* weakness.

I will now expose you for the pitiful soul that you really are. Come!"