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Well within a hundred feet of the sword, even if they were inside... Hono and Rae were unfortunately within range of the physic scream. Sometimes it sucked in a serious way to be gifted...Hono doubled over clapping her hands over her ears as if that would help to keep out the wail.

Rae for once was very happy that she was so paranoid xp the little incident with Sun earlier had helped her lock down her metaphysical shields, so the scream was more just an annoyance, like a buzzing in her ears. Watching Hono double over was a good sign that things had gone wrong outside...Rae picked up one of the shot glassed in front of her and knocked it back with a grimace at the nasty taste before she vaulted over the bar again, the half full bottle of rum in her left hand.

Max may have thought that Raven was hiding, or pushing everyone away, and perhaps she was, but she had seen her role as more supportive than front line fodder... Rae did her best, but there was still a big part of her that didn't think she was up to any task.

A hop over the bar, a skip to keep herself moving and a quick bounce put her outside with the rest of the gang... a moment of confusion as she tried to place where the damn scream was coming from, only seeing what she thought of as friendly faces, although her gaze did skip past the half undressed human man that was with Maxi...who the hell was he and why did she have a very bad feeling that she should already know? sweatdrop



If the sword was the cause of the disturbance then perhaps a distraction would shut it up...or at least that was what Rae hopped as she whipped the half full bottle of rum at the blade, the ancient steel should easily shatter the cheep manufactured glass container, spraying the contents across the blade and the ground around it as an accelerant.



The blink of an eye was all that was needed to summon a bright white wisp, sending the glowing ball in the wake of the bottle Rae gathered the last of the energy that she had absorbed from the people in the bar earlier to cast one final spell upon her little creature, with a shouted warning for the others...

"Fire in the Hole!" Hopefully, if they could still hear, they others would get the hint and not try to approach the blade...



...Rae had put all her energy into her wisp, and set it to pop when it touched the sword, it should have the same effect as dropping the damn thing in a pool of magma, without the annoyance of deadly gases and earthquakes and whatnot!

Instinctively Max turned to Sunstrike, with a bright smile.

But Sunstrike wasnt standing where Sunstrike was meant to be. There was someone else there. Brown hair? Green eyes?

Who...in Nocturne's name...?

Was all Maximos said. And then he froze. He didnt even hear the screams, the psionic attack lost somewhere among the three million fragment in his mind. Or maybe just generally lost, as he was in that much shock. He stood. Pointing, completely still, even as Sunstrike moved away from the location, even as he tugged at his scarf. Shocked. It was the face, nose and mouth specifically, he'd remember that smile anywhere. Lucind's blanket likely kept his mind in place.

Slowly, like a droning or a buzzing in the back of his mind, rational thought and particularly loud psionic noise began to echo through. And Maximos, like a statue melted in motion. Slowly, very slowly, he turned to Sunstrike first, and stared taking the man in from toe to head. That eye of his glowing fiercely. He saw it almost immediately, no divinity. No magic. Nothing beyond completely mundane. He tried, he tried his very best not to laugh.

In not laughing he lowered his head, trying to look away and for the first time caught a real good glimpse at what was in his hands. The runes seemed familiar, he'd seen a type before. A similar font to them, but not while he was alive...

What was more, was that as a Reaper. More specifically a Judas Division Reaper Maximos noticed other things that he found immediately and completely sobering. Suddenly what was in his hand was no joke. Suddenly Maximos wasnt smiling. He wasnt laughing, and he dared not look at the sword any longer lest his thoughts become too loud and others catch on.

No, Maximos looked straight up at Sunstrike and said.

No!

But of course Maximos was not talking to Sunstrike. He was shouting past Sunstrike. He was shouting to Rae. Which was made signified as he made motions to push Sunstrike out of the way of what could have been quite the large blast, a blast a human might not survive as he cried out...

Raven stop! Thats what it wants!

An assumption. Something like that, in a case like this. There was no way it was happy. Not with all that rage. The way this Thing tried so ferociously to eat its way into his arm, and into him there was simply no way in Heaven or Hell that it wanted to stay in its little home. Nocturne only knew what would happen should this thing be set free by having its cage destroyed. There was no doubting Rae's power, divine and otherwise. With any luck, Rae would get the hint and turn away her attack before Maximos had to suffer an egregious amount of burning or death.

It was suddenly clear that every second was precious and Maximos needed to move now. He turned to Sunstrike and immediately said.

Yes, of course Mr. Mere.

It seemed appropriate.

But in a bit.

His eyes scanned Lu and Damion and the others outside. Maximos would have easily handed over the coat, but to do so meant putting down the sword. Or letting it go, to take off his sleeve, and he couldnt do that just yet.

Lets get everyone inside first.

And he'd even make motions to the group around him and say.

Alright my friends, lets head inside, we can make final preparations...I'll be in, in a minute...

Maximos said taking several steps back, he wait paitent for everyone to be inside before he moved. It was important no one follow. Soul Sight, Magic Sight, Time Sight, Mind Sight and several others made sure no one did, in any form.

--Several Minutes Later--

Maximos moved to a dark alley, with no visitors, and no passersby. He entered the alley mouth, and several feet in reached down toward the brick floor and grabbed a tile tugging up an entire faux black shadowy brick wall. Passersby would see it, not what was truly about to occur.

Things like you shouldnt exist...

Maximos said, lifting the sword in his hand. The hand itself beginning to feel quite uncomfortable.

But alas, as much of an abberation to system as you are. You are beyond a simple Reaper like myself...but...

He reached his right hand into his pocket and pulled out a jet black pocketwatch with a skull insignia on the back and popped it open. It ticked away, its ticking and garbage shuffling were the only noises heard. Then a snap as Maximos popped out the small knob on the edge of side of the watch and spun it several times with his thumb making sure the little and big hands did one complete rotation before he shut the watch holding it tightly in his palm and said...

Boss...I require aid.

And then clicked the knob back in. The eyes of the skull insignia on the back of the Deathwatch began to glow with two pinpoints of white and then silence. Endless cold silence. He felt his heart beat...and then stop. Rats were frozen in place, garbage blew in the wind, people just outside the alley froze in their steps. Everything turned gray, and shades of black and white, including the sword and save for Maximos. There was no magic to this, the being summoned was as much a force of nature at time itself. And in order for it to complete its tasks, time frequently bent. And from behind Maximos came a rattling sound akin to a bag of dice spilling out on the floor.

WHAT, BOY?

Max.

Max said automatically, turning on his heel only to find himself staring directly into two impossibly black pits of eternal nothingness which served as the eyes of a pale, white washed skull, attached to an equally white washed skeletion, wearing an obviously ancient and tattered black hooded robe, and cloak, with a black drawstring pulled around its waist. One skeletal hand held a scythe. It was a simple thing, its pole a dark sort of grained wood and its blade pale and very very used though it still appeared impossible sharp.

Gah!

Maximos took a hop back. He'd seen his Boss before. But his employered tended to switch appearances like the wind. Today he had chosen the classic form. And Maximos suddenly understood why it had earned so much regard over the years.

WELL?

Maximos paused and blinked staring at the grinning skull face. Not that it had a choice in the matter. Before he shook his head and continued.

Oh, right. Its this.

He said, holding up the sword.

Its very very old, older than I've ever seen. And divine. And in the hands of a soul less mortal. It eats souls, or destroys them. I cannot tell only that its try very hard to do one of the above to me right now.

Those dice fell on the floor yet again, as the skeleton stepped forward, revealing the sound to be its skeletal feet rattling against the hard stone floor. Its free hand rose up, to scratch its chin as it made a grinding sound akin to a claw digging a trench down the side of a tree.

Carefully, it examined the weapon. He leaned forward like an elderly man, leaning on the scythe like a cane as it did so.

For just what I can see, it is in violation of the Judas, Lazarus, and Gilgamesh acts. I would have acted to seal it away, but it appears to be locked with a magic similar to what w--

--I CAN SEE. BOY.

The voice interrupted. The skull mouth opened and shut but only now did Maximos realize that the sound was not coming from it. It was coming from everywhere, and no where. It just simply was.

Max.

He said automatically. And after a minute or two more of careful examination the skeleton leaned back and extended a boney hand saying.

YES. I'LL TAKE IT.

Maximos seemed hesitation, he inched the sword back away from the boney hand reaching for it and said.

I dont think you understand! This thing is powerful! If not for the two gods who's blessing and curse lie in this arm, I'd be torn to shreds! You just cant t--

I AM...

The voice interrupted, agitation on its impossible cold and looming tone. A agitation that made even the fearless Maximos hold his tongue as it continued.

...THE SECOND OLDEST BEING IN EXISTENCE. WHEN THE FIRST AND OLDEST LIFE WAS SPARKED, I ROSE FROM ITS SHADOW DESTINED TO END IT. WHERE THE FIRST PRIMAL CALL WAS, THERE ALSO WAS I. WHERE MAN IS, THERE AM I. WHEN THE LAST LIFE CRAWLS UNDER FREEZING STARS THERE I WILL BE.

It took a step forward, its feet screeching like nails on a chalkboard as he dug them into the ground and pressed forward with, excuse the pun, deadly intent.

HEAVEN, HELL, ANGELS, DEMONS, THE GODS, DEMAND NOTHING OF ME. EVEN THEY ANSWER TO ME EVENTUALLY.

He pressed forward yet farther. Maximos' back hit the wall behind him. He looked his boss directly in the eye, and did not blink. Simply waited for what felt as if it would be inevitable.

I AM THE GRAVE OF ALL HOPE. I AM THE ULTIMATE REALITY. I AM --

Maximos was somewhat frozen. As any life, no matter how brave would be. His arm held the sword out, simply because the shock of what was before him made his soul lock up, and his arm unresponsive.

--LOOK BOY, JUST GIVE ME THE DAMNED THING.

The skeleton said as it snatched the sword from Maximos hand with a frustrated sigh. Its fingers rattling against its hilt as it tightened its grip. Time had not caught up with the blade. It moved as a gray mass carried through the time stream leaving a warbley echo wherever it was carried. All of which would catch up once time resumed. Death had no "soul". No "life". Just an eternal ending older than time.

Max.

Max said in automatically. Immediately kicking himself for the slip. The hooded figure began to turn away. It swept it scythe in front of it, and a length of black appeared against a nearby wall. It was a passage, to somewhere or something, it was a wall of nothing. Not even black.

Its dimension locked! It wont teleport.

The skeleton stopped. Its skull head turning to look over its shoulder.

HOW MANY LIVES DO YOU THINK ARE ENDING AT THIS VERY MOMENT, ACROSS THE MANY WORLDS?

Maximos was caught off guard by the question. He paused, thought, and then said as simply and honestly as he could.

Countless.

The skeleton turned at the shoulders, then hip, then feet to face him and said.

WRONG, THERE IS A VERY REAL NUMBER. BUT FOR YOUR MIND, THAT IS A FAIR ASSUMPTION. THERE ARE MORE THINGS DYING AT THIS MOMENT, THAN THERE ARE YOU.

He gestured at Maximos. Pointing with his scythe bearing hand, boney index finger forward. But he didnt mean Maximos, he meant Reapers. Max knew it. But everytime he looked into the sky at the billions of Reaper Drones in their duty, he could not fathom it.

I USED TO DO THIS JOB ON MY OWN, YOU KNOW.

He held up the sword, like one might hold up a childs toy left on the ground for someone to step on.

I DO NOT TRANSPORT IT. BY BEING IN MY POSSESSION, IT IS WHERE I AM.

Everywhere....

The thought silently resounded in Maximos' mind.

EXACTLY.

The skeleton said, as it moved for the doorway yet again.

I TAKE IT NO FARTHER THAN THE THICKNESS OF A SHADOW. GOODBYE BOY.

It said, pausing for a moment by the doorway and reaching into its robe to pull out what Maximos could obviously see for a glance was an hourglass. How and where the sand was positioned was a mystery held by the skeletons own form. But it did take it upon itself to chuckle, looking at the hourglass and then slip it back inside its robe saying.

SEE YOU SOON.

Death had such a morbid sense of humor. At which point it vanished. And Time rushed back to its normal pace.

--- Several Minutes More ---

Maximos entered the Firebrand once more. He looked a bit paler than usual and was sans a particular sword. And with his jacket over his arm. He made a bee line directly for Sunstrike and offered him the jacket with a smile. Then made a hand signal for some tea, and said.

Everything alright, Mr. Mere?

He didnt say a word about the humanization. Why? Because he did not know how, or what to say. Not a clue. Not even a hint or a spark. He just knew could help staring, like a scientist at a bug under a microscope trying to figure it all out silently for himself.

Like pulling a punch in a fight there could be consequences to pulling back on what was supposed to be a good killing attack...but Wisps were her creation, even if she didn't know exactly how she crated them in the first place sweatdrop

The white wisp and Rae both disappeared as she pulled it back to keep from making things even worse. She would be back, but for now anyone watching the ocean might notice an odd bright flash for a moment off on the horizon.


Hono had made it to the door now, unable to resist her natural curiosity any longer as she peered at the gathering, having managed to pull up her shields at last. "Um, what the hell was that?"

o.0 Mere... Sun...but that couldn't be... no no...Sun wasn't... Sunstrike couldn't be... gonk Hono was starting to get upset again...

Damion was thoroughly confused. To much to fast, he couldn't make sense of it. With a rough grinding noise, a sword of stone would rise up out of the ground, the hilt rising first and sliding easily into the confused man's hand. This was not an act of aggression, Damion hadn't switched his stance any, he was still in a rather relaxed stance. It was an act of comfort, the familiar feeling of a blade close to hand, of self reliance and the knowledge that he could protect himself from atleast the physical aspect of this insanity.

" What....in the 9 hells...is going on?" He spoke mostly to himself, although it was a general question that he hoped anyone at all could answer for him. This was hurting his brain. Following Maximos's orders seemed appropriate however, and so Damion would simply go back inside, dragging his sword along the ground with a confused expression stuck to his face.

Maximos hear Raven's and Damions questions both. But he hadnt really the time to answer them. Not to mention, he didnt know the answers. He could have explained that Malice was evil, and currently in process of being taken care of, but he couldnt explain what happened to Sun. Or Rae. Or what the sword was or seemed to be without great risk.

Minutes later when he returned. He couldnt figure what to say, but hoped they'd have time to say whatever it was, on the road.

"It's still Sun, Max, just Sun."

He hid a shy grin, and a hint of blush at seeing the godling man in his coat. Max honestly looked concerned, not only by Sun's tone, but by the realization of what Sun must actually be feeling. He'd never been a god himself, but he could only just imagine what it must be like to be the sort of being that creates life. That forges existence. That is not just a denizen of reality, but a part of it....and then reduced to a pawn, a mortal. He wondered if it was akin to being a child playing with toys, only to blink and suddenly be a toy being played with.

That was a truly terrible thought.

"Thank you..."

Maximos only smiled warmly. It was the sort of smile that says "I understand" and "Its okay" and a horde of other consoling thoughts. But behind it, lurked a thousand thousand questions. What does it feel like? If I touched you, does it feel different? If I cut you, would you feel real pain? Will wounds here transfer to wound there? Can you ever turn back? Will your eye work now, if your powers are gone? And more, and more that he wouldnt dare say as much as the curiosity ate at him, because it would make the pale human think on his state and make it even harder to survive it.

He was staring. As if trying to both accept this new piece of reality, and at the same time trying to suck in every answer he wanted through his eyes. Which was entirely impossible.

"You're eyes get any bigger and the rest of your face is going to fall off. If you really wanna know, I stuck my nose into something again. This is what I get for playing with dreams."

That only opened a thousand more questions. And Maximos was just silent for a moment, before with a shy kind of a smirk, adding.

Wouldnt this be more of a nightmare?

Before immediately realizing that sounded far heavier than he meant it to. And immediately reaching out to the fresh tea being served him pouring a mug and sliding it front of Sun, saying.

Try it. I bet it'll taste a whole lot better when your body actually uses it. Its great for the nerves. Theres just nothing more relaxing.

He said, as his head turned to the approaching Lucind, meeting her with a smile.

"Ready for take off?"

His eyes moved from her to Sun, then her again, then back to Sun as he said in answer to both questions.

Very smoothly indeed. Well, as smooth as such things can be. But, I'd like to give Sun a minute to even out.

He somehow knew the redhead brunette, was about to protest so spoke first, intentionally meaning to cut it off.

Dont play tough! This is going to be rough, and we want you alive and well.

And then suddenly, there was candy. Maximos would never, could never say no to candy. Though he did immediately add on.

Mmmmm, try this too, its absolutely divi---

He swallowed a gulp.

Errr. Good, its very very good!

Hono plopped her fat a** back down in a chair, knees on her elbows and her chin cupped in her hands, absently tapping her nails against her cheeks as she stared at the fellow calling himself Sun... she was pouting, and deep down she knew she was, but this day kept going downhill and there was the lingering question in the back of her mind that asked: How could this day manage to get worse? sweatdrop

She knew who he was, and honestly she could understand how such things could happen, it had happened to her, twice now! xp But the point was that it should not have happened to Sun...it just should not have....and she couldn't think of a real reason why, but that kept running through her head like a bad mantra.

"..."

Putting the chocolate bar back into her bag, Lucind gave Max a Don't worry-look once Sun had left.

"You're gonna keep an eye on him anyway, right? So he'll be fine." She mumbled. "Also, he said 'inconvenience' - sounds to me as if it was only a temporary thing which is going to be reversed shortly.

Besides, it's going to take us a bit till we arrive at Reen. Means everybody can rest a bit."

The Siren grabbed the guitar to remove the remaining five strings to stash them away, then vanished in the kitchen to return with two more pieces of raw meat placed on kitchen tissue.

"Shall we...?" She asked, giving him an reassuring smile before facing everybody else.


Even if somebody still needed to get his stuff, the Siren would go ahead.
Throwing her bag on the driver's seat, Lucind walked a few steps, craning her neck as if she searched the sky for something.






((There're around ten people left, right? So theoretically, we get everybody in the Hummer.
@X: Or would you still like to use the chopper?))