Welcome to Gaia! ::

The ruined remains of a once prosperous and densely populated area, Ground Zero is now home to gangsters, homeless, Soma junkies, and those with nowhere else to go. When the 7 Day War began, the area known as Westmoreland was a primary target of Omni's initial assault. The first blows of that terrible war landed here, cracking the ground and toppling buildings. Even though the 7 Day War has long since ended, the city has long abandoned any efforts to clean up the area and law enforcement no longer responds to calls from this section of Empire City. For all intents and purposes, Ground Zero has been abandoned and the powers that be are debating whether to wall off this section of the city or demolish it completely and start anew.

Currently, Ground Zero is the ideal spot for someone on the lamb. No addresses, no names, no ID scanners, no cameras, and no cops. Ground Zero is no-man's land where the strong survive and the weak quickly die off; social Darwinism at its finest.

It was the middle of the night when the banging on the door started. Whoever was out there wasn't bothering to wait for them to answer because a few seconds after the noise had surely startled them out of sleep, the door flew off its hinges with a sickening crunch. "Knock, knock, muther f***ers," said a large, dark-skinned man and several others as they entered the apartment, all armed with handguns while their leader brandished a sawed-off shotgun. "Looks like we gots us a couple of squatters," said one of the gangsters. "That's funny because...I don't remember us taking on any new tenants." A few of them chuckled, anxious either for a fight or the opportunity to scare the two into quivering submission. "Well, it's time to pay rent," the leader spoke again, pointing the weapon at John. He cast his eyes over to Jane. "She'll do just fine." Two of the men stepped forward, grabbing Jane up from the ground and pulling her away from the makeshift bed and into their midst. "Make a move, dickhead," said the leader, weapon still in John's face. "and I'll blow you straight to hell."

"Dayum, b***h!!" was the cry uttered, among other reactions of revolt as the men not only released Jane, but threw her to the ground like a leper, recoiling and shuddering that they had actually touched such a being. "You are one sick mutha f***er!!" the leader screamed, at which sibling was unclear. "Shiii....I'ma put this b***h outta her misery," he said, moving the gun away from John and leveling it at Jane's head. Just before he could squeeze the trigger or John could think form a weapon of some sort, a ringing voice from deeper in the hall said angrily, "that's enough!" The thugs, who seemed the type to answer to no one but the strongest among them froze in either fear or respect, looking towards the room's entrance where a short young man with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes behind thick glasses appeared. "I sent you idiots up here to see what was going on, not kill everyone you came across." He walked between them, casting a baleful stare at both the twins. "You'll have to forgive my...associates. The best help in this neighborhood is sadly unreliable. My name is Klaus and you're in my building. Might I ask your names? And what you're doing here?"

The thugs looked genuinely surprised at the wad of hundreds. Their leader tried to recall whether he had asked for all their money or not...and abandoned the attempt as Klaus moved towards the two, a dry smiles on his face. "John, if there is one thing I detest more than anything else, it's a liar. Since you are new to this neighborhood and our acqaintance is a fairly new one, I will indulge you this once...I do find it strange that a man and his sister without money for proper lodgings would offer me a wad of hundred dollar bills. Could this money not be put towards better accomodations in a less crude part of town? This line of reasoning begs me to ask...what are these two doing, so far from home and in such a dangerous part of the world? What have they to hide from the bright, crystal city not but a few miles from this place? Are they criminals? Are they mutants? Your sister's condition is pitiable...but do you truly expect me to believe this is the reason for your trespass against my property? Do you, John?"

As he spoke, something about him seemed to become more terrible...more frightening. It was more than his ability to stand and speak so calmy with a well-armed detachment of thugs around him. It was more than his air of unchallenged authority. There was something truly terrifying about this man which resonated with both John and Jane on a primal level. Klaus continued speaking after only a moment's pause, not really expecting John to answer him. "Besides, money does not interest me. In a place like this, the currency of the rest of the world is less valuable than something more immediately useful. Something like...favors. Since you two have seen fit to make my home your own without acknowledging me or my associates, I would asking one thing in return. You may stay here for as long as you like and I assure you no one under my ward will harm you. But you must agree to this one thing without knowing what it will be, when it will be asked of you, or what it will cost. John...do you agree to my terms?"

There were looks of confusion and surprise on the thugs faces as they realized that they had somehow seen this girl in the wrong light...that or something else was at play here. Was she a psychic? Klaus' expression was somewhat different. His was more amused than anything else, either by her sudden change in appearance or her sudden show of courage. He cocked his head to the side slightly as she spoke, blinking slowly after she finished. "I will remind you," he began, "that you are not in a position to barter with me. I will also accept that your fear has guided you to fight, rather than flight." His demeanor slowly grew more cold and the ambient fear that had been heavy in the air became strangling, beating down light and hope of fighting or escaping from its oppressive weight. "But hear me now when I say that you will agree to anything I ask of you. And you will not address me so formally in the future. Do you understand me, woman?" The last word...woman. He had said it with such venom...

The fear suddenly released its grip and it was as though a fog had lifted and the dim light of the sun was restored to full afternoon glory. Klaus continued, speaking to Jane's specific worries. "I assure you, woman, I will not deliberately harm your John. Nor will I ask him to harm you. Family is important to me. But more important to me is loyalty - absolute and total loyalty. And in order for loyalty to exist, there must be trust. So trust me when I say that I will not ask your John to directly harm himself or you. This is the compromise I am willing to make. If you ask another of me, my offer will be redacted and I will unfortunately withdraw my protection from you both." He gave a look to the burly thugs on both sides of him, indicating their realization that Jane was not, in fact, a horrible mutation. Then he looked past her to John. "So, John. Our deal?"

"Scum of the land. You don't deserve to rot any longer" The sword of the stars rang throughout the street as a thing fell from the roof a building. The thing was chard and black and, although it had what looked to be four limbs, it didn't look anything remotely human. There were more of these things displayed along the street every day as the population in that area steadily fell. What used to be the darkest and most corrupt street was now becoming the safest, or at least safe for those with clean consciences.
Ryusaki landed next to the man he had just dealt with, nudging the crisped corps with his foot to make sure it really was dead even though he well knew that no normal human had ever survived one of his blades. Ryu was starting to tire from these pitiful assignments he was given every day. When was his 'anonymous employer' supposed to give him a real challenge. He had only decided to sign up to be an assassin because he thought that he would meet strong enemies who had done more than blackmail a couple of people to gain power. He made his way to the makeshift apartment he had discovered and waited for the phone to ring like it always did after he finished. There was no real reason for them to call, they usually gave him the rest of the night before they called again with the hit, but they always insisted to call to congratulate him on his kill.
He pushed aside the gray cloth he used as a door and entered the room. Inside there was just the mini-refrigerator and a microwave on the counter next to the sink on the wall to the left, then on the right near the door was a cracked bathtub he made his way into. In the center of the room was a table covered with pieces of old newspapers and brown envelopes and on the back wall was a pile of pillows he used as a bed. After his bath he went to his table to await the call before going over to his bed and trying to fall asleep

"Curse this job" Ryusaki mumbled before rolling from his pillows to land with a thud on the floor. "I'm up, I'm up" He called to his phone then made his way over to the wall and picked it up, as always, just after the second ring. "Hello, this is Shuurai. State your business"

Julian had always kept odd hours--they were necessary in Ground Zero where anything could happen at anytime. But he felt like he'd only just lain down to sleep after a night of (reluctantly) busting crime when the Radiant's voice sounded in his mind, clear and urgent. Wake up, child.

He blearily opened his eyes and a muttered stream of sleepy cursing escaped from his mouth. Once he was awake enough to be coherent, he grumbled back, "Look, man, I know you don't need sleep, but unless you want us to get sicker than a motherf--"

Julian, look outside. They are back.

Julian sighed to himself and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, blinking in the half gloom. He squinted at the analog clock on the bed next to him--it wasn't more than a bit past midnight. "God dammit," he said under his breath as he got slowly out of bed and peeked through the basement window. "What the hell am I supposed to be looking--" He stopped suddenly as his brain caught up to the input from his eyeballs. Klaus and his men were walking out of the building across the alley, and judging by the swagger of the thugs' walk, they'd just scared the living s**t out of someone--again. The Radiant's anger flared inside his mind, hot and bright, but he ignored it easily.

"Must be some newbies," he said sleepily. "So? Why should I care?"

The Radiant was silent for a moment before replying tonelessly, Would you like me to phrase why you should care in terms of your selfish interests?

Yeah...he was definitely too tired to deal with this at the moment. He'd just gone out and kicked a few mugger's asses anyway...that counted as his good deed quota for the day. Besides, Klaus kept well away from his building--the damn place was too bombed out and unstable for most people to live in, which suited him perfectly since his powers tended to destroy the technological "necessities" of modern life. Maybe if the Radiant pestered him enough, he'd look into it, but in the meantime, he needed sleep. Badly.

He crawled back into the pile of blankets and collapsed couch that passed for a bed and closed his eyes. "G'night," he muttered. He heard the phone go off in the apartment above the basement and groaned, pulling the pillow over his ears to muffle the sound. Thankfully the guy answered quickly. The last thing Julian processed before falling asleep was the Radiant's disapproval at his indifference, but he was used to that. Soon he too was asleep, his dreams a garbled mixture of his own past and the Radiant's memories of the Golden Lands.