Welcome to Gaia! ::

Watching the two, a confused look came onto Alice’s face. “Um… What’s Star Trek?” The look only grew as the jokes continued, leaving a very confused woman and a snickering elf. Such dorks. Looking between them, Alice tilted her head to the side before doing as she was told for once. It was silly, but when and if they showed up at the abandoned place, they’d find a snow storm raging outside the nearly broken windows, Dusk standing in the middle of the top floor, reinforcing things. The place was a wreck but there were still parts that worked. The electric still worked and energy flowed through the place. Curses could be heard every so often from her and from another male; ziggy. It seemed someone decided to finally show up.

“I still don’t know why you had to take that brat’s advice!” Dusk rolled her eyes at his grumbling. “Oh hush, you… it’s a genius idea, especially up here. Now shut up and move the table. Hibachi needs a place to work and so do you.” Ziggy glared but yelped as shadows swarmed him. “Alright! Alright, I’m moving! Sheesh, you’re horrible!” A snicker sounded throughout the carpeted place, almost echoing in all five of the floors. “I know.”

Dusk had sent Ziggy off by the time the others came in, raising a brow at them as she chuckled. “Joker… don’t bother cleaning too much… the place is rundown for a reason.” All the other places were too well looked at. The ones like this, though, were considered unusable. Smirking some, though, she walked over to the others. “Hibachi, what all do you need? I can get anything. The others should be around soon.” There was a slight bang and Dusk could only glower. “For what you are, you’re a weakling…” Ziggy only snapped at her, “Just use your damn shadows! You can have this place cleaned up immediately!” Dusk just shrugged. “Oh well.”

Looking at Hibachi, Alice took his hand and just looked confused, “Star Wars? I thought you were talking about Star Walk, or Hike or… something like that.” Trek? It was one of those verbs. Shrugging some, she walked with him as Kai and Talon came up the steps soon enough, a bit surprised to see the others there already. Both redheads just blinked but Kai went to talk to Eldin, the two young’uns heading off to a corner as Talon stepped forward.

“Alright, Raul sent me a report. They’re not in Hell, at least not where they can find. From what Edward said, he’s sure they’re somewhere around here. The snow’s making it hard as hell for him to track anything, though. Where are the others?”

As Hibachi gave the list to Dusk, causing Kyoshi and him to argue a bit, Ziggy and Talon could only stare at Joker. Was he being serious? Talon only rolled his eyes and shook his hand, grumbling a little before heading out to do his own thing. Ziggy could only laugh as he took Joker’s hand. “My man, you met us a while ago… You came to our place. Remember Ali?” Amusement stayed in his eyes as he looked from one person to the other, having to wonder just what kind of rag-tag group this could be. Only emergencies ever brought them together.

Before anyone could leave, however, Monty dropped his little bomb. Not knowing them, Alice only looked at the projector, interested more in that than the woman she had seen maybe twice. Did she remember what had happened? Of course she did. Still, it mattered little to her. “So interesting… I like your voice.” She looked at where it came from, her pixie-cut hair seeming to make her just that much younger alongside her curiousness. Ziggy could only look over with a twitch, walking over and linking arms with her, glowering. “Alice…” She just smirked at him, causing him just that much more grief. Why was he cursed with this woman?

Talon and Dusk watched as Gambler was unveiled. Poor Monty. He had really only surprised one person. Talon didn’t care at this point, never having spoken much to the woman, and Ziggy knew from his spy-network. Dusk? Dusk knew at her wedding and also by watching Rave. She only smirked and walked a bit forward, not hugging her but clasping her shoulder with a small smirk. “About time you came out… We’re tracking down Rave now. He’s around here somewhere, as are the others. Now, if you all don’t mind…” She gave a small nod before shadows took her away, leaving the others alone. Only Eldin gave the shocked look that Monty probably wanted from Dusk’s group.

“M-Miss Gambler?” His eyes were wide and he was once again the small kid from two, three years ago. He really hadn’t known much of anything about her return, the poor kid far from everyone else unless something like this happened or he was at work. But, still, he could only watch with… shock. How come no one else was this surprised!? “You’re… okay?”

Ziggy chuckled, shaking his head some before looking at Teivel and Monty. Mostly Teivel. That was someone new for him, someone he hadn’t seen before. He’d have to find out just who this one was. “We figured they weren’t in Hell, but it would be the easiest place for us to search.” Taking his lead of Dusk’s group, seeing as she was getting items for Hibachi, Ziggy crossed his arms and watched the others. The shock of Gambler was great, but it would be Kit, Harley, and the Cheshires that would really be surprised. Most of the elves either knew or didn’t care. Or, at least, had guesses seeing as Rave had begun to change a little.

“Dusk has someone she thinks is the cause of this, but we need someone to get into his head. He’s high up on the chain of command for the elves, so we need to make sure we are damn sure about this.” Talon interjected soon enough, “There’s really no other person… Who else is going to go after a bar tender, an ex-stripper, and the strongest mage around?” With a glare sent his way, Talon just looked away as the blue haired man spoke sharply, “Kit has a name, as do the other two. As for their worth? Kalore and Rave have the strongest positions in the military, Kit is a best friend of the damn queen, an ex lover. What the hell do you think, Matchstick?”

Glaring, Talon almost snarled but Eldin spoke softly, getting them back on track, “Continue, Ziggy… We’re running out of time.” Ziggy nodded, keeping Alice on his arm, even as she bit him. Blood dropped on the ground but disappeared soon enough. “The three don’t have a common foe strong enough to do anything other than a handful of possibilities. Add in the runt and it just gets that smaller. So… there’s only one person that they all know intimately enough to cause this.” Talon and Eldin both ushered him on as shadows delivered the items to Hibachi. Dusk soon came as well, her arms crossed. She spoke soon as Ziggy allowed her to finish it.

“Kristopher Marcessa. That’s the only one with motive. How he did it, I don’t know. We can figure that out later, but I really don’t care. I need to make sure that he’s the one that did this before I shake my council’s, and possibly my kingdom’s, whole damn world. I just can’t be wrong on this because not a single one of us like the p***k.”

Ziggy sighed and Dusk just stayed leaning on Kyoshi. “It’s not that simple, for either of you. We think Rave and the others are around this area, but there’s just too much around to make it simple to track. Ziggy can explain more about that. I just know that even my shadow tricks don’t work well here. Magic and even basic things are a pain. As for why we’re going in his mind? To make damn sure it’s him, to find out where they are, and to see if anyone’s dead. Intentions are needed. This isn’t just a scare thing, I don’t think, but if it really is Kristopher then I think he really just wants Kalore put back under and Monty either locked up or killed.’ She shrugged, watching them. “And if that happens then there’s a hell of a lot more people he can go after in my cabinet.”

A nod and Ziggy took over a bit, still keeping Alice close by the arm as he watched Teivel. “As for payment?” A grin stayed on his lips as Talon scoffed. The damn flirt… “I’m sure we can figure out something. Payment won’t be hard. Now, why don’t we just get to Kristopher so we can get this over with? It’s gotta be that idiot.” Dusk just nodded. “But I’m not taking him out or making a scene with this. He’s the head of my old council and he still has power. Hence the caution. Which one of you is doing this? I just need to call him in for a meeting about something or other, and we can just figure this out.” She frowned. “While this happens, Ziggy, you know where all the old and new cells are, correct?” A nod. “Start scoping. I don’t need a damn war started here up in the north. They’re too damn strong right now.” Another reason for caution. Elf politics would make this a bit more difficult.

Sighing, she just closed her eyes and ran a hand over her face. “Monty, can you and the others sense power levels? Edward isn’t strong enough for it and Cassandra… she wuoldn’t tell me even if she could. Ziggy, I don’t know if you ca-“ “I can, but things get too screwy here. Some places are fine, but others… things backfire.” She just nodded. “Fine, fine, fine… Look, let’s just get this over with. Hibachi, is there anything else you need? If so, Talon, take care of it. Monty, are you going with Teivel or Gambler or whoever to just get this done?”

Glaring at everyone, Talon twitched some. He normally was the calmest of anyone there, but something had him on edge. It probably had to do with all the people he didn’t know. Well, that and he still didn’t like Kyoshi. Ignoring it, though, he just nodded and went to get whatever anyone needed, grabbing Eldin away from Gambler as well to make sure he had some help. “You’re helping me get all this s**t. Stop stuttering, you’re older than I am, aren’t you? Act like it.” Ziggy tore his eyes away from Teivel to watch the two, rolling his eyes before just nodding some. He knew he’d pay Teivel, but now wasn’t the time to discuss payment. Now was the time to act.

“I’ll be at the palace, setting up the meeting.” Dusk’s foot tapped a little. “Either come with me on the way there or give me ten minutes so you can walk in while he’s sitting down. I really don’t care. As for the sensing of power?” She frowned some, looking at Ziggy. Ziggy had a strange power sense, she knew. It was impossible to track his because it was always changing. Kristopher’s, from what she knew, was like that. That worried her. “I don’t know if Kristopher has any magic, I honestly don’t know. He’s never shown it and from what I know, he’s like Kalore. His skills aren’t in magic but he’s got something that he’s able to do.” She shook her head but soon just watched them as Talon came back with the things for Hibachi, Joker getting his coffee from Eldin. The kid broke the serious mood by having a bit of whip cream on his lip that he was wiping off. Someone needed something sweet, it seemed.

Dusk smiled slightly before she watched them. “I expect you guys can get there on your own, so meet me there. I need to get back into normal clothes for these people.” Rolling her eyes, shadows overtook her and she was back at her desk, getting things ready. Her heart pounded, though, as she looked around slowly. Someone had been in her office. Frowning, she sat up more, scanning the place. Someone had been in her office! “What the hell?”

Pacing slowly, Dusk waited for Kristopher to come into the room. She didn’t change from her outfit as her mind went from one place to the other easily. “Someone’s been in here.” Without knowing if they were there or not, she spoke softly. Something just felt right. “********, it’s got to be him.” Growling a bit, she heard the knock on her door, glancing over. “Enter.” Her eyes stayed narrowed but she thanked the Goddess above that she was seen as a firm ruler. She could glare and throw a fit every so often.

As the brunette walked in, his outfit modest and normal for the council, he bowed low to the queen. “You called for me, my queen?” She just nodded, gesturing to the seat. “Yes, I did. There are some things I just wanted to check up on and you’re the only one I know to talk to.” Smiling a little, she watched him, trying to keep calm. At the moment, it was hard as hell. He just nodded, sitting down and watching the woman carefully. “I’m afraid that I’ve told you everything that I know, my queen. I can’t think of anything else to… to tell you.” She just smiled a little, sitting down easily. “I think that there’s something new that I’ve found, though… Kristopher, can you perform magic?”

Pen balancing in her hand, she watched him as Kristopher’s face began to change a little. Bingo. “No, my queen. I’m afraid that I’m unable to do that.” That was the truth. But he was hiding something. “Do you know many that can perform magic?” He fell silent, not speaking for a long time. Guilty.

Sitting down in between Hibachi and Ziggy, Alice just stared at the computer. Most of what he said either went over her head or she just didn’t care, but a slow smile stayed on her lips as Eldin and Talon didn’t sit down quite yet. “Someone seems annoyed.” She giggled as Ziggy shook his head, leaning back and tapping his fingers. “Tal… Eldin… Sit down.” “No.” Both glowered but he just looked at Hibachi. “Ignore them. They’re both going through something. Now, about those satellites… Magic goes screwy here, but alchemy tends to do fine, so I’m assuming normal technology will do alright. If you have anything going into the field, make sure you do like the Russians and keep it cold-proof.”

Ziggy smiled a bit but his mind went to Teivel for a moment. Interesting kid. All the others, he had information about. Him? He hadn’t seen him before. Interesting… Talon’s voice brought him back to attention, his eyes widening slightly. “Hm?” An eyeroll but Talon finally sat down, glaring some. “What are we doing to prep for them already gone?” Eldin’s eyes widened a bit. “G-Gone? Sir Rave wouldn’t… wouldn’t allow that. Kalore’s too… he’s too much a b*****d to die… and why would someone kill Kit?” Talon shrugged. “I’m just meaning well in that… but think. Someone was strong enough to grab them. Purpose aside, if they cause too much trouble, they’re gone.” Ziggy just frowned. “Then we find them to make sure that doesn’t happen. Hibachi, get that satellite to search for anything abnormal of a snowy area. Do you have the capabilities to search for energy hotspots?”

Ignoring the others, Ziggy just leaned against his arm, nodding. “Ignore them, Hibachi.” He sighed as Alice just leaned on Hibachi to see the screen better. His sister was a damn flirt. Too bad she never stayed with anyone. “Alice, get off him.” “I wanna see the squid.” Twitching, he sighed. “Whatever. Hibachi, you are looking for something that will be underground or in a building that looks like nothing special. To hold shadows, there needs to be a cage of nothing, so there will be a massive drop of energy. The world here as energy everywhere, but Rave will have to be placed in something that just negates everything.” Thinking of that, he shook his head some before leaning back a bit more.

Alice just looked over, amused. “Like Alissa?” “Hush.” She shrugged before looking at the screen again, her golden eyes sharp, her hair shining almost in the strange light. “A cage of nothing… That should be easy to find.” Ziggy nodded. “It is, except we have no means of locating it. That’s why Hibachi is here, Alice. Now get off him.” “No.” “My apologies for her…”

Staying still, Dusk watched while Kristopher’s eyes widened. He stood quickly, seeing Monty before anything else. “Y-!” Falling still, he felt something in him change, though just barely. Shaking it off, his eyes narrowed as he watched Dusk. “What is the meaning of this, Dusk?” snapping at her, he stepped forward but Dusk hardly thought he’d get far. “Sit back down. I’m not done asking question and you’re hardly in a position to ask. So… just for my amusement… Where’s Kalore?” Kristopher rolled his eyes. “My son is probably dead or drugged. Is he ever doing anything right?” He believed it, sadly. But, there was an image of Kalore in his mind, beside Kit with both hurt. Rave wasn’t in sight. The three weren’t in the same place, Kalore and Kit in one of the holding cells.

(I’m not sure how you wanted me to do this >>)

“Don’t encourage her…” Glowering, Ziggy watched as Alice just grinned, making herself comfortable on his lap. To think that she was as easy as she was annoyed the hell out of him, but he wasn’t sure that she was as easy as she seemed. Flirty, but he couldn’t remember anyone actually bragging that they got with her or anything. Most people complained that they weren’t able to keep her entertained so she ran off. Made sense, really. She was hard as hell to please. “But… whatever. She’ll just keep trying to listen into what you’re doing…” Talon just snickered as Eldin came back in with some drinks as well. They were merely awaiting orders. Alice just watched the computer screen, her head tilted. “None of this makes sense… Why again can’t we just track them? Isn’t that what you do?”

Ziggy just twitched. “Yes, that’s what I do… but the Northern Regions are difficult as hell. They mess with signals that are magical, electronic, alchemic… all of it just gets ruined up here. If that’d go away, then I’d be able to track them easy. But, finding a spot of nothingness would be easier doing what Hibachi’s doing.” Alice only stared. “You know, if you did more than play in the sky and clubs, you’d understand this…” “Why would I do that?” “Exactly.”

Kristopher glared as Dusk seemed… amused. She was hiding something. He didn’t know what it was, but as long as nothing escaped his lips, things would be fine. “My lady… I understand why you’re as upset as you are, but there isn’t anything I can do at this moment. Sir Rave was a powerful man. If someone was able to trap him… I’m afraid that I am of little assistance.” His mind went to Rave, trapped in exactly what Ziggy feared; Nothing. By using mages of a neutral element, he was able to make shadows nonexistent. If only Kyin was stil around. Then he could trap Rave’s shadow permanently. Having him weakened would do well, for now at least. They needed Monty blamed, demons blamed. Maybe that would bring their lands back to the way they needed to be.

“I see… I also understand, Kristopher, but this is your son I’m concerned about. Rave can handle himself. Kalore? Aren’t you a little worried?” Kristopher’s eyes shifted a little and Dusk had him. His mind briefly flickered to a chained Kalore. He still needed to make his son turn on the demon he seemed to be so attached to. Why would anyone want to be with a demon? He hated when his son turned to drugs and dancing, but he’d prefer that to demons. Of all the ‘D’s’, demons had to be the worst. Chosen of the Goddess, bah! The Goddess surely turned Her back on his son by now.

“Kalore is hardly my son by this point. He is… an item of the Kingdom, I admit. Strong, and he’s grown well enough. I can’t waste time worrying over someone who is without help.”