=)

[Coppertop]

Well well, look who's back in action. Prepare for another story <s>which will not die</s>.

Kaz shook his head reprovingly at his companion, who clung silently to the railing of the balcony. The shifting shadow-shape became a large black-feathered hawk for a moment, then something more reptilian.
(You and she have known each other for a long time. She will listen to you should you speak.)
"I doubt it," the crimson avian sighed. It was his companion's turn to look at him reprovingly.
(She knows you have more brains than you often pretend, Kaz. You will not be ignored in this.)
"Then why don't you tell her, you old riddler?" Kaz challenged. The lizard-hawk mantled and became a winged feline.
(She does not know me. We have been through this before.)
"All right, all right, I'll try. But I can't guarantee she'll pay attention, Mehr," Kaz added sharply.
(The attempt will be enough.) The cat became a large albatross and stretched its wings.
"You hope."
(Coppertop is not a fool,) Mehr retorted coolly, apparently deciding that it preferred the albatross form. It spread black-feathered wings, eerily silent. (I have faith in you, my scarlet-feathered friend, which is not misplaced. The message will be delivered.)
Wide black wings opened and the shifter fell backwards off of the rail, righting itself in mid-drop. Kaz watched as it spiralled away.
"His faith touches me. Now to find Coppertop."

EDIT: I actually am looking for joiners this time round. Novelty, I know.

[4I Falcon]

Yay Copper!

As always, as always, my seemingly limitless supply of characters is at your disposal. Just don't dispose of any of them too harshly.

...please.

[Risp_old]

You can use Risp, if you want. Unlike your last one, this one isn't well-enough defined yet that I can't see a semievil military commander being totally out of place.

[acid]

Any of my characters are still up for grabs.

One thing troubles me: did you ever finish your previous story? I seem to not remember an end...

[Coppertop]

Neh, it died. Not worth the trouble of resurrecting it.

[Kaz]

Not all things have to have an ending at least, or at least a good one, that's what continuations are for.

Hmm, haven't seen anything from you in a long while. It's only you and Slay that bring me back to WT.

[defalcon]

Hi CT. Nice start. :) If you want to use my character, use away.

[Coppertop]

Kaz: Thanks.
Defal: I was hoping you'd say that =P

Coppertop was, at that moment, in an incredibly bad mood. She was glaring around herself indescriminately, cold green eyes hostile. Claw lurked behind her, idly inspecting his innate weaponry. Finally he pushed himself away from the doorway he had been holding up and focussed on her.
"What is it now, my overly volatile friend?"
"Everything! Nothing!" She spun and kicked at the wall in her frustration.
"Ah. I see." Claw paused, then went on. "Which most of all?"
"I don't know!" She turned and fixed her glare on him. He looked calmly back, meeting her eyes, his own crimson gaze revealing nothing.
"That makes things difficult," the smaller, trenchcoat-clad mercenary admitted finally. Copper hissed in frustration and looked around for something to vent her anger on. Abruptly she pushed by her partner and stalked down the corridor towards the hangar containing their ship. Claw smirked.
"Where are you going?" he called after her, knowing full well her destination.
"To put an end to some miserable raider," she snapped over her shoulder. Claw laughed quietly and followed her to where the Eclipse waited.

Coppertop's frustration was not unmerited. They had been waiting on the secluded Xahran station for close to a week, and their prospective employer had not shown up. Claw himself was feeling some of Copper's tension. They had intended to disappear from the public eye after what they termed the Kiyrenin Incident, and disappear they had; save for their assistance against Irinn Hariam and an escort job, they had had no offers since the Incident. Like many of their fellow mercenary pilots, the pair had chosen this lifestyle. To be ignored so obviously was frustrating in the least.
Copper fidgeted nervously while they awaited clearance from Station XJS-907. She was on edge as the controller briskly cleared them, and as the Phantom Eclipse shot away from the Station as though catapulted. She only really relaxed when they had passed the DEWs and were alone in the silence of space.
Claw looked at her curiously. She shot him a quick look and sat back.
After a moment of quiet, Claw ventured, "maybe we should just keep going."
"Eh?"
"Instead of returning to Xahra. We could head over to Firen, check on some old friends."
"What about Sivilnren?"
Claw snorted. "I'd say we more than gave Sivilnren time to show. He blew it, too bad."
"I like your thinking."
"Of course if you want to return to pick stuff up, I'm sure I can endure," he added, noting the comspicuous lack of weaponry on Copper's person. She smirked and reached under her seat, drawing Frostflame out.
"Not necessary."
"Oh, good. Where to then?" Claw eyed his parnter keenly."
"I don't care. Firen sounds good to me," Copper said with a shrug. "Let Sivilnren deal with his own problems." Claw grinned ferally, an expression Copper returned with satisfaction.
"Firen it is, then."

[Coppertop]

Acid blinked cautiously, then surveyed the soot-blackened walls of his lab, completely unaware tha this face was equally black. He shook his head to clear it, and viewed the flakes of ash drifting from his hair in surprise. Picking himself up amidst the shards of broken glass that now littered his previously-immaculate floor, Acid looked at the remains of his work with a little dismay.
"Oh, dear. Not again."
He felt his face, ensuring that this time his eyebrows had not been singed off. Electrik and Phish would never let him hear the end of it if his eyebrows had vanished again, so soon ... but he appeared to still be in possession of them. With a sigh of relief he turned back ot the scorched room. The initial blast had broken all the light fixtures and windows, and had left an Acid-shaped silhouette on the wall behind him.
Now his professional enthusiasm caught up with him. He began frantically searching for the formulae notes he had been taking. The explosion wasn't quite the results he'd been looking for, but definitely an improvement over last time. His singed whiskers twitched in reaction to that memory.
His lab notes were still relatively intact - charred on the edges, but legible, having been protected by being in the sink. If he could replicate the compound, other techs could take it further and worry about controlling it.
Clutching his precious notes to his sooty and stained lab coat, Acid hauled open the fire-proof, double reinforced metal door that protected the rest of Carrot Corp's labs from his experiments. He rushed down the gleaming white corridor towards the department director's office, leaving a trail of ash and soot behind him. The janitors silently curshed his passage.
Acid burst into the director's office, leaving a black handprint on the door. Director Daskelman, affectionately referred to as Fidget, beamed up at his grimy colleague's appearance.
"Acid! You're getting better! The aftershocks actually reached all the way to the Metallurgy department this time!"
Acid beamed back. "Wasn't it great? I'm a genius. I have the compounds right here for the techs -"
Fidget took the notes reverently. "We should have placed you in Demolitions, I just know it," he sighed. 'You'd knock their socks off, literally."
"Oh, but I'm so close to completing that fur-growth agent you wanted - I figure if I find the compound that makes it fall out, I can counter it with -"
"Yes, yes, most important. I'll just whisk these off to Demolitions, you'll have them back in no time. And then you can start trying to reproduce that chemical that causes that smoke, you know, the one that doesn't affect anything but vision. Imagine - a smokescreen that won't asphyxiate you ..." Fidget smiled dreamily into empty space.
"But the fur-growth agent ..."
Fidget started, then began fiddling with his numerous writing utensils. "Yes, but the smokescreen is more important, can't you see," and he looked imploringly at Acid, quite unconscious of his pun. "We'll give the fur-growth agent to Reimner, just his area of interest. This chemical is so elusive!"
Acid smiled happily at his fellow enthusiast, forgetting all about the fur-growth agent. Then his smile dimmed a little.
"Oh, er, Fidget? I think I'm going to need a new lab ..."

[Ducky]

.....does Claw actually still live on somewhere? Claw from the JMMB years and years ago?

Anyway, nice start, CT.

[Violet CLM]

Pretty good start. It should be interesting to watch this while a plot develops.

Anyway... much as I would like to supply a character, I find that I tend to use the official characters more than anything else. You could use Claire (http://www.jazz2online.com/jcf/showpost.php?p=223554&postcount=370) if you want, but she would probably be out of place. In all honesty, though, I would like to see a story with Razz, Zoe, or even Queen, so it wouild be nice if any of those fit in somehow.

[acid]

Hee, you always know how to use Acid much better than even I can. Excellent chapter, Copper!

[Coppertop]

I actually don't know if Claw still lives or not. Pity.
Thanks, Acid, UR, Ducky =P

[Kaz]

Mmm characters and motives are well drawn. Hmm? You can't find Claw by e-mail?

Edit several days later: Why am I always the last one to post a reply >|?

[n0]

Uh, I don't have to be in if you don't want, but I can be!
Also, I don't have to be teamed up with tiger, if one is easier to handle.

[Hareoic]

I has monsters and persons! Which you may uses for selfs in stories!

In English, you can use any creature or character I have concocted, should you wish it.

[Coppertop]

Heh, thanks N0, you're in. GenEX, I'll check out your stuff.

Some chars I haven't used in the past.

Dazir closed his eyes and controlled his breathing strictly, concentrating only on the moment. The ice-edged wind rippled through his creamy fur, biting at his face and at fingers that must not go numb.
His sense of focus recovered, Dazir opened his eyes and gazed intently up the sheer rock face that he was spreadeagled against. Cracks spiderwebbed up the granite wall, making his ascent easier. The small, agile climber moved up the cliff with a spider-like ease, using holds that were barely enough to support his weight. The cold wind whipped around him, attempting to pull him from his perch annd failing.
To an observer, Dazir's ascent seemed to be smooth and simple. Not once did he visibly miss a hold or slip. It seemed as effortless as climbing a ladder.
The truth was, this was the thirteenth time Dazir had made this particular climb. The seventeen-year old had been banned from most of the climbs for reckless behaviour. He was quickly becoming bored with this cliff, called the Eyrie, which no longer challenged him.
Having gained the top, Dazir glanced over the edge. From this height the wide-branched leafy trees below looked like moss, and the airborne vehicles like large beetles. He smiled faintly at such whimsy, and turned his gaze to the cloudless, azure sky, breathing deeply but not quickly.
"Nice climb, Daz. You didn't even break a sweat."
Dazir turned to flash a quick grin at his best friend Dare. The taller, silvery-blue rabbit was leaning against his idling neon-orange and matte black speeder, eyeing his younger cream and brown-furred friend, who still stood on the edge of the drop, wind-whipped and exhilarated.
"Now that you're done and have had your fix for the day, can we get off this frozen heap of rock?"
"Done?" Dazir laughed softly, barely louder than the wind. "No, Dare, this climb is only half-done."
Dare cast his gaze at the heavens before sighing in resignation. "I'll meet you at the bottom, then."
Dazir flashed another grin at Dare, then fell backwards off the edge, somersaulting midair and catching himself expertly on the cliff face. Dare sighed.
"You're going to get banned from this climb too, you know," he remarked to the empty air.
Dazir didn't hear him; he was already a quarter of the way down, using precise drops to speed himself. Dare shook his head and urged his speeder forward.

"You know, you're going to get banned from the Eyrie, if you keep doing stunts like that flip off the top," Dare remarked later, as the pair sped towards the space port. Dazir shrugged carelessly.
"The Eyrie just isn't a challenge anymore," he said regretfully. "I need to find a new climb."
"I need to understand why you can't just work out at the gym like everyone else."
"The gym just doesn't have the same impact ..."
"No kidding. You hit a mat if you fall at the gym. You break your neck if you fall off a cliff."
"Well, besides that. Most gyms don't have the setup I like."
"We're going to have to find you one that does. And then make sure you don't get banned from it for dangerous activities. I tell you, Daz, by the time you're eighteen, you're going to be climbing the Castle walls because you're banned from everywhere else."
Dazir laughed. "The Castle walls? That's no challenge."
"You sure you're bored of the Eyrie?"
"Man, I could climb it blindfolded. Plus the other climbers are too stuffy about tricks. A straight climb, that's all you can do - how boring is that?" He thumped a fist on the speeder for emphasis. "Er, Dare, where are we going?"
"Space port. Gotta pick up the Phenomenon."
"You get to fly her back to wherever. I refuse."
"C'mon, Daz ..."
"No way, man. I'm keeping both feet firmly on the ground."
"Oh, really? Since when?" Dare gave Dazir a disbelieving look. The younger of the pair smirked.
"You know what I mean."
"You can't tell me you're afraid of flying ..."
"No, I'm afraid of scratching the paint on your precious Phenomenon."
"As you should be," Dare chuckled, giving up. He deftly spun the speeder sideways to avoid a collision with a large rock, losing only a little speed before righting it and accelerating again.
"Where are we going? I thought we had to get your ship?"
"We are," Dare said, with a sideways look at Dazir. "This, my friend, is the scenic route."
"The scenic route." Dazir was not amused.
"The scenic route," Dare agreed, smirking.
"Forget the scenery, you idjit," Dazir growled, attempting to cuff Dare on the ear. The pilot ducked, and pretended to swerve into a tree. Dazir caught his breath as the tree loomed uncomfortably close, before Dare veered sharply away.
"Aah! I hate it when you do that!"
"Do what?" Dare innocently swiped another tree, and Dazir yelped.
"Holy crickets! Just get us there already!"
"This is the fastest route."
"Yeah, but I'd like to reach the port intact!"
"Ah. In that case, I -" Dare abruptly hit the brakes and swerved sharply. The speeder slewed around, unable to compensate for the abrupt maneuver.
"What the -" Dazir pulled himself upright, ready to blister Dare's ears for that trick, before he realized that Dare had vaulted out of the speeder and was now kneeling on the road beside a half-obscured shape.
Dazir exited more decorously, and trotted over to Dare. His original question of "what is it" never made it as far as speech, mutating instead to "is he alive?"
For Dare knelt beside the tattered body of an unconscious (or dead) rabbit. What fur was not sticky with drying blood was sky-blue. Clearly the rabbit had put up a good fight, judging from the looks of the torn-up road.
"I think so," Dare replied to Dazir's question. "But he's lost a lot of blood."
Someting caught Dazir's eye and, kneeling, he pulled a sword from where it was half-hidden under the fallen rabbit. He rose and glanced around at the scarred track. He found a second blade in the dust, and wordlessly showed the pair to Dare. The taller rabbit shook his head silently.
"Look, I'm going to get a medic. I don't want to move him - it could reopen these wounds and he'd bleed to death. You'll stay with him?"
"Does it look like he's going anywhere?" Dazir protested. Dare shook his head again.
"It's not him I'm worried about. I just wonder where the winner of this little scrap is."
"Oh. Good point," Dazir remarked. "I think I'll stay with him. Why don't you get a medic?"
"Brilliant idea," Dare said caustically. "I'll be back shortly then." He stood and headed for the speeder.

It was not long after Dare had gone when Dazir began to feel vaguely nervous. The normally collected young rabbit paced uncomfortably, unable to shake the feeling that he was being watched.
The injured rabbit never stirred. His wounds were no longer actually bleeding, but the crimson matting his fur and the blood-soaked dust beneath him were testament to the severity of his condition. Dare crouched by his charge, waving away the insects who came to investigate, keeping a wary eye on the forest around him and becoming more and more creeped out.
Dust-laden sunlight poured onto the track, creating a golden haze. Insects droned by. An unseen bird twitted and was answered. Only the copper tang of blood and the motionless body of the collapsed rabbit marred the scene. Indeed, Dazir began to relax despite his irrational fears.
So when what looked like the product of a mating between a monkey, a spider, and a block of titanium dropped down in front of Dazir, it took a moment to register.
Part of it was the complete lack of sound. Had an ear-piercing screech accompanied the thing, Dazir might have reacted faster. As it was, the thing managed to slash his face with a blade-taloned paw before Dazir put a dagger through its photoreceptor and used the other blade to part the silently-snarling head from its body. The thing spasmed, quivered, and collapsed.
Dazir retrieved his dagger from its "eye". The whole being was no longer than his arm. It was, he noticed, fully robotic and not a cyborg. Eight slender legs ended in 'paws' equipped with those blade-talons. The synthetic hide was tattered and bluish-grey.
It was improbable that the small robot, while vicious, could have inflicted the extreme damage on the anonymous rabbit. Dazir scanned the treeline, adrenaline heightening his senses, but saw nothing. Perhaps there had been others, destroyed and cleared away by the survivors? It was possible.
He had never been so glad to see that neon and black speeder when Dare finally returned.

[defalcon]

*Dun dun dunnnn* Awesome chapter. I like the 'impact' line. :)

[Hareoic]

Actually, I can't make a list. Too lengthy. Although you could just tell me what you're looking for and I'll think something cool up.

[Kaz]

CT, your writing skills have improved from your last <S>dead</S> story.
<Although I could never see myself being faith-touched>

[Coppertop]

Why, thank you, Kaz.

GenEX: I'll PM you or something.

Defal: ;)

[n0]

ooh... nice.

MECHA SPIDER MONKIES!!!

[Coppertop]

Ahaha. Maybe. Thanks.

[Radium]

I agree with Kaz. And Nobody and Defalcon. And GenEx, even though he didn't actually say anything about the story; I just feel agreeable.

Nice story so far, btw.

[Coppertop]

Aye. Well, you'll have the next part when I find the missing page. It's somewhere in my room ...

[Kaz]

She lies... =|

[Coppertop]

It IS somewhere in there. I must find it. Yes.

[4I Falcon]

Yesyes.

*insert witty and comical phrase here.*

[Ducky]

Lovely, CT...


I miss my fictional furry life so. Thanks for making it still worthwhile. :)

[Coppertop]

Heh. Thanks, Ducky.

[4I Falcon]

Lovely, CT...


I miss my fictional furry life so. Thanks for making it still worthwhile. :)

Who needs missing! That's what comebacks are for!

[Kaz]

It's quite hard to pull off a comeback...

[4I Falcon]

Psshf. Not when you're a novice like me.

Heehee, novice.

[Kaz]

Psshf. Not when you're a novice like me.

Heehee, novice.

You made a comeback at one point?

[Coppertop]

Knowing 4I, probably.

Well, I typed it up yesterday, but the computer has this odd habit of logging me out when I've been inactive for over five minutes. I'll have it up later today.

[4I Falcon]

You made a comeback at one point?

Actually, yes. Quite a few times. Not here, though.

[n0]

Since CT isn't writing anymore, I'll just pick up where she left off.

So, then stuff happens, lots of robots are killed, some of the goodguys are killed and the main badguy might be dead, but also might be alive, for there was that weird white flash and he was gone. And also Radium is a tratior, which leaves enought room for another story, without leaving you at a cliffhanger.

The End.

[Coppertop]

=P I am writing, when I have time. I shall post the next part in a couple of hours.

[Radium]

I dunno, I kind of liked N0's ending...

[Coppertop]

Mm. No. Well, maybe.

[Violet CLM]

The most interesting part of N0's post is his references to the "good guys" and the "bad guys". Because, really, we still have no idea of the identity of either one. Quickly glancing over the updates, I see four different subplots, and they don't seem connected at all. Well, Kaz is looking for Coppertop, I think, but that's about it. Would it be possible to develop the main plot (whichever it is... I assume Coppertop's) before introducing new characters?
pageclaim in the name of simpler plotlines

[Coppertop]

It's just the beginning. I haven't really established a plot yet, I'm just collecting characters so far. It'll come together.

The riddle sucks, I know.

She was on a bridge.
She had been disarmed; Shale lay only a short distance away, on the edge of the bridge. Arath stood over her, sneering at her.
She dove for Shale, but her injured leg gave out and she fell short with a gasp, outstretched hand not grasping the sword but knocking it over the edge. Arath's shriek of fury echoed eerily; he raised his blade for the final strike as he promised her death. And then he gasped as Shinyso cut him down, whispering his defiance.
Arath grew taller, shifted into the menacing form of Beren Deathwreaker, his ceaseless thread of insanity insinuating itself into her very soul. He loomed over her, and there was no Sharrakamov or Pirelann to save her now. His dark, hidden gaze touched her, froze her in place.
Coppertop woke with a gasp to the familiarity of the Phantom Eclipse's controls. Claw glanced over at her from where he was sprawled in the gunner's seat, concerned and understanding.
"Nightmares again?"
She nodded slowly. "Arath and Beren again. No big deal."
Claw looked at her skeptically, but said nothing.
The light on the communit was flashing. Copper activated the device. A ruffled-looking Kaz appeared on the screen.
"Copper? Where are you?" he demanded crossly.
"Hi, Kaz. Nice to see you too. How's it going?"
"What? Oh, fine. Where are you guys?"
"Somewhere between Xahra and Firen, I should think. Why?"
"Do you know how hard it is to get ahold of you?" Kaz complained, ignoring her query. Copper smirked.
"Mm. I do indeed."
"You don't need to be so obviously pleased about it ..."
"What is it, Kaz? I'm pretty certain you didn't call me up to chat."
"Actually, you're right. I've a message for you."
"Who's it from?" Copper asked sharply.
"A shapeshifter named Mehr. It's a dreadfully cryptic being, loves riddles. It said that this one would be extremely important to you."
"Shoot."
"Here goes nothing then:
They seek to cut the golden thread
tenuous spidersilk, strength beyond time.
No thread bind them thus to this plane
and that which they cannot have shall be destroyed.
They seek to cut the golden thread
it laces each soul round in silence
not a single strand alone, but a tapestry
woven of golden light
so hard to unravel in its entirety.
They seek to cut the golden thread
each a small part of the whole.
They cannot understand what they seek to destroy
this: the golden thread."
"... What?"
"I said don't ask me."
"You did not."
"Well, that's what Mehr said."
Copper sighed. "It's nonsense."
"It's a riddle," Kaz corrected. "There's a difference."
"Oh, really?" She sighed. "If your friend expects me to know the answer, he's mistaken."
Kaz shrugged. "It sure didn't tell me the answer. Mehr likes making people find out on their own."
"Yeah."
"Look, uh, I gotta go. Lemme know next time you're on Carrotus."
"Sure. Later, then."
"Later." Kaz's image vanished.
Copper shook her head and glanced at Claw questioningly.
"Mehr?"
Claw only nodded.
"I think we'd better pay Carrotus a visit."

[n0]

Ok, I've now been thourghly riddled. Ouch.

[Coppertop]

It'll make sense eventually, trust me. I still think it sucks.

[Kaz]

I bet it will in that way that nobody ever thinks of but makes sense. Like that one Jimmy Carter riddle.



<a href="SomethingsAreMetaphorical...maybethisisone...></a>

[Coppertop]

Eh?

When Defalcon awoke, swathed in bandages, he was alone.
The first thing he was aware of was pain. He ached all over; the parallel gashes on his back throbbed insistantly. He groaned and closed his eyes again. The image of the spider-bot came to mind, and his eyes flew open faster than he'd shut them.
A flicker of movement on his peripheral vision made him turn his head awkwardly. He met the calm brown eyes of the slender rabbit who had just entered.
Were Defalcon standing, the stranger wouldn't reach his shoulder. Yet something about the way he held himself poised, coupled with the measuring calm in his eyes, convinced Defalcon that this ivory-furred rabbit was not at all helpless.
"Awake at last," the rabbit remarked, his soft, light voice shattering the silence. He moved gracefully to the foot of the hospital bed. "I'm Dazir."
"Dazir ...?" Defalcon found his voice.
"Just Dazir," Dazir said, giving him a steady look with just a hint of challenge.
"Defalcon Phoenix," and he coughed awkwardly.
"Well, Defalcon, I'm told that you're suffering from a multitude or minor injuries, blood loss, and shock. I'll leave it to you to decide just how badly off that leaves you."
"In bed for a week or two, I assume?" At Dazir's wry smirk, Defalcon rolled his eyes. "As if."
"I know how it goes," Dazir agreed. "But I saw the damage those things inflicted on you, and I'm not sure I believe the "minor" part of the injuries."
"I'm not sure I disagree with you ..."
Dazir looked thoughtful, and pensive. Finally he met Defalcon's eyes directly.
"What were they?"
"My worst nightmare," Defalcon said quietly. Dazir favored him with a skeptical look. "No, really. They literally appeared out of nowhere. And they vanished when I destroyed them."
"The one that attacked me didn't vanish ..."
"Are you sure?" Defalcon gave Dazir a keen look, noting for the first time the shallow slashes across the other's face.
"I'm not," Dazir admitted. "Dare showed up a few minutes later, and I never thought about it."
"Well, there you go," Defalcon said resignedly. He paused. "Who's Dare?"
"I'm Dare," said the silvery-blue rabbit leaning casually on the door frame. Defalcon blinked. The pain must really be getting to him; he hadn't noticed Dare's entrance. "Dazir's been asking the wrong questions," he continued, odd blue eyes flicking briefly to his small companion. His voice was loud after Dazir's quietness, and considerably deeper. "'What' doesn't interest me nearly as much as 'why'."
"... eh?"
"Why'd the bots attack you? Did you provoke them? Were you ambushed? Were they stalking you?"
"I don't know why they attacked me. I was heading for the spaceport. And as far as I know, they ambushed me with no provocation."
Dazir had left quietly, and Dare studied Defalcon thoughtfully. The blue and white rabbit seemed to have told the truth. Finally he broke the silence.
"Well, the medics are going to hate our guts, but if you like you can leave with us."
"As if I'd rather stay," Defalcon snorted. "Yeah, I'll go with you."
Dazir slipped back in. He wordlessly handed Nightfire and Nightwind to their owner. Defalcon's brilliant smile as he took the twin blades said everything.

[n0]

YaY! More story!

[Kaz]

Plot hints, but they don't make it seem traditional. Hm hmm..

[Coppertop]

Well, since this seems to die unless I post every other day, I guess I'd better get writing, yes?

Elexei flicked a thumb over the edge of his katana, then slid it home in its sheath. He drew his second blade and tested its edge as well.
"Going somewhere, Mr. Rayden?"
Elexei spun, and found himself facing the blaster that Tama had casually aimed at him. The communicatons 'officer' smirked, and finished her comment, "or are you just taking a vacation that we're not aware of?"
"Vacation, no," Elexei said carefully.
"I see. Deserting, are we?"
"Actually, I was just going to, er, give Jheran my, uh, resignation," Elexei said quickly. He made as if to leave. Tama's aim steadied.
"I think you'd better stay right there, Elexei."
"What are you gonna do, Tama, shoot me?"
"If I must."
Elexei watched the senior Bloodflame warily. He shouldn't have been surprised that Tama had known of his plans; the self-titled comm-op often knew things that she shouldn't have.
"All right, let's go," she said coolly, moving up behind Elexei. He felt the muzzle of her weapon, cold against his back.
First mistake: failed to disarm opponent.
"Where?"
"We'll see just what Jheran has to say about deserters."
Elexei felt a brief stab of panic. He was willing to bet both katanas that Jheran's reaction would not be favorable. The blaster at the small of his back urged him forward.
Second mistake: physical contact with metal object.
An arc of electricity leapt across the barrel of Tama's blaster as Elexei dove forward; Tama reflexively pulled the trigger. The blaster charge overloaded, and the entire thing exploded in Tama's hands. She cried out in pain and surprise.
Third mistake: no secondary weapon.
Elexei came to his feet and brought the katana in his hands around, slaying Tama where she stood.
Reaching down, he closed the dead rabbit's eyes. She looked vaguely surprised. Elexei felt a moment of regret.
"You shouldn't have stopped me, Tama," he whispered to the fallen comm-op. He cleaned his blade and sheathed it. "You knew better." He turned and walked away.

Tephro watched the pale gold rabbit for a long moment, then turned back to Jheran. The tawny Bloodflame raised an eyebrow at his second.
"Tama's dead," Tephro said neutrally. "She always did have a thing about deserters."
"She did," Jheran agreed. "I told her to leave Elexei alone, too."
"You wanna kill him?"
Jheran stretched cautiously. His half-healed side flared with pain and he winced. "No. Can't blame the kid. I've done much the same thing in the past."
"I remember," Tephro said, his grin flashing white. He turned as a rangy canine approached them, hand on hilt.
"Ah, Mangan," Jheran said easily. Mangan Tasar nodded to his captain and bared his teeth briefly at Tephro, who returned the snarl with a sneer.
"My captain," he said, in his deep-throated bass. His dark eyes kept straying towards Tephro. "You have orders?"
"Mm. I want you to inform the other Bloodflame extensions that there's a young rabbit I would like to speak to. If they come across Elexei Rayden, I want them to send him to me. Unharmed." He pinned the dog with his gaze, until the canine nodded reluctantly. "And, when you have time, send a message to other bands in the area about young Elexei's turncoat tendencies."
"Of course," Mangan said, eyes fixed on Tephro. The black rabbit deliberately turned his back on the dog. Mangan growled deep in his throat.
"Mangan," Jheran said. The Bloodflame officer turned reluctantly back to his leader. Jheran stepped forward, blue eyes deceptively friendly. Before Mangan could move, Jheran had his throat in a vice-like grasp.
"Tephro is my second, Mangan. I advise that you reconsider challenging him. I would very much hate for anything to upset Tephro." Jheran gazed up at the dog, who topped him by a full handspan. Mangan whined frantically as the hand on his throat tightened; then Jheran released him, causing the other to stagger back.
Thoroughly humiliated, Mangan turned to go. Jheran's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Oh, before you go. Get some of your friends and dig a grave for Tama. There's a spot over by the trees that should be ideal."
Mangan snarled and slunk off. Tephro turned to watch him go, and looked at Jheran queryingly.
"You anticipated Tama's death."
"I didn't really think she'd listen to my warning. I was right."
"Mangan is not going to love you for relegating him to gravedigger."
"He doesn't have to love me," Jheran said coldly. "Just obey. That's all."

[4I Falcon]

HOW IS IT. YOU SAY THAT I WRITE BETTER THAN THIS.

I DISCONCUR.

[Kaz]

Hmm, so many variables to setup, I hope you're just not jumping from enviorment to enviorment because of writer's block.

[Coppertop]

Don't worry Kaz, there's a method to my madness =P

[n0]

Two words: YaY!

[acid]

Yet another excellent chappie. One small problem, though, is that Tephro and Jheran (or at least Jheran) have always confused me as to their true allegiances, (sp?) as I believe they have switched sides and pretended to switch sides many times in the past. Possibly you could clear up their alignment up to the beginning of this story.

[Coppertop]

Ah. Tephro and Jheran are mercenaries. They will work for whatever side offers them the most, which means they're not really good or evil. For example, Jheran worked for Irinn in the previous story until Chaos Hydra offered him something better.

/lecture

4I: There are quite a few people who write better than I do. You happen to be one of them. =P

[4I Falcon]

After reading your contribution to the Nightgate thread, I feel compelled to disagree even further.

[n0]

"Help, Help!" Screams the blonde.

*Flashing blue and red lights approach from the distance*

"What happend here?" asks the guy in the uniform.

"This thread is dying! Please somebody help!" says the blonde.

*out jumps the nurse with the shock reviver thingy"

"Clear!" shouts the nurse.

*thread shakes violently, and suddenly jumps to the top of the fourm*

"I'm OK!" says the thread.

`N0

[4I Falcon]

"Help, Help!" Screams the blonde.

*Flashing blue and red lights approach from the distance*

"What happend here?" asks the guy in the uniform.

"This thread is dying! Please somebody help!" says the blonde.

*out jumps the nurse with the shock reviver thingy"

"Clear!" shouts the nurse.

*thread shakes violently, and suddenly jumps to the top of the fourm*

"I'm OK!" says the thread.

`N0

Decaying, defibrillator, and a banana, in that order.

[n0]

Decaying, defibrillator, and a banana, in that order.
Now a sig quote, because it makes no sense OOC.

[4I Falcon]

Sweet deal.

[Ducky]

I didn't think it made sense IN context, but maybe thats why it was funny. :D

[4I Falcon]

Yep, that's me. Always ready to poke fun at common sense.

[Coppertop]

This is SO not dead. I just need to type stuff up. And as proof, a really really short part to make N0B0DY happy.

Nobody stood on the balcony, bathed in silver moonlight. He stretched his wings to their full span, then flicked the tips and folded them again. He sighed and looked up at the familiar skies of Mechaius.
"... N0?"
"Yeah." He turned to face his sister Kristy. She looked vaguely ill.
"N0, something is really wrong."
"Here?"
"No, no, nothing specific."
"When? Is it something that's happening now?"
"Partly," Kristy said, concentrating. "But mostly in the future."
"Does it affect us?"
"N0, it affects everybody!" she cried. N0 swallowed his next comment unspoken and looked at his sister closely.
"Are you okay?"
"It feels like I'm upside down or something, that's all," she said sarcastically. "It's making me dizzy. I'll be fine."
"Um. You go inside and tell Mom."
"And you?"
"I will find Tiger. Or someone with a ship, I think."

:p

[n0]

Two words: YaY!

[4I Falcon]

H'ray!

Or something.

[Kaz]

It ate everyone @_@

I believe you CT, in that "It's no longer NonDenominationalWinterHoliday Holiday, but I still have freetime, honest!!" way.

[Coppertop]

Oh, you. Everybody's a <s>cynic</s> critic.

[Kaz]

I am only staying here to just see if this finishes well and as an evaluation of what I'm staying for.

It's really cold here now that more than half the people I looked up to are gone.

[4I Falcon]

I wasn't one of them, was I?

[Coppertop]

Hehe. If this is confusing, tell me.

They were shadowy shapes flitting through her thoughts, testing the limits she had placed on them. For the first time she doubted their strength, wondered if the bonds had enough power to hold.
Find me something with power, she had said, and the daymare minions she had called went. But they did not return. She could feel their reluctance to give up on the target they had found, but she had not ordered loss of life. She told them to return, to find a new target, and they refused on both counts. And a good few of them had been sent back by the very artifacts she had sought to steal, banished beyond the Abyssal Wall that protected the living from horror.
The hold command had stopped them. Until she could call them back she would not rescind it. She wanted power, but she didn't want to kill for it. Not yet.
The blue Carrotan sky was darkening when she finally turned the carefully marked pentagon on the floor. Summoning was risky, and she was not particularly gifted at it; it was her careful planning and attention to every necessary detail that had allowed her to succeed thus far.
The runes etched onto the floor flared with a weak blue light as she fed power into the magical cage. Doubt gnawed in the back of her mind. Suppose her control slipped? What if one of the runes faltered? She pierced the Abyssal Wall, calling for one of her minions.
Immersed in her self-doubt as she was, she didn't notice at first the shape her minion had assumed. She looked up and stared into her own eyes.
Her replica laughed, quietly insane, and reached forward. Blue light flared as it came into contact with the pentagon construct. Doubt assailed her again, and the light died. She gasped and sought blindly to banish the minion. The daymare shrieked and vanished as the Abyssal Wall closed, dragging it back into the Abyss.
Half-panicked, she poured enough power into the pentagon for it to be self-sustaining and closed off the channel between it and her. Her doubt would not affect it again.
Something chittered softly behind her. She whirled, terror welling inside her again. One of her captive minions gazed at her calmly, in its Abyssal form.
/You called us./
"Yes, I did, yes," she snapped. "I'm finished with you for now. Return to the Abyss."
/We cannot pierce the Wall. You must send us./
"Yes -" She broke the pentagon long enough for the daymare to enter it.
In her residual panic, she failed to adequately pierce the Abyssal Wall. The pentagon sought a location that did not exist in reality, and settled instead for a random location.
A shape filled the pentagon, huge, humanoid, armored. Where its body might have showed through that thick iron was empty space, save for its face, a glowing green death's-head staring out from within a thoroughly evil horned helmet. It looked down at her paralyzed shape ponderously, then took a step forward. Blue light flared and died. It halted briefly and gazed at her again. She harbored a brief hope that the pentagon would hold it.
The demon raised its axe with negligent ease, then struck with blinding speed that was completely at odds with its heavily armored form.
She never knew what hit her.
The creature stepped over the pentagon as if it did not exist, breaking the barrier and kicking the nameless mage's mangled body aside to fall across one of the blue runes. It strode away, not looking back, destroying everything in its path.

Once broken, however briefly, the pentagon slipped back into its familiar channels, following the path that pierced the Abyssal Wall and calling automatically for the daymares.
They streamed across steadily, unbound, uncontrolled. They fled the confining pentagon across the break provided by the slain summoner's remains.
Darker things than daymares sought to cross, but the bridge of power was attuned only to the daymares, and rejected all other attempts. Self-sustaining and self-powering, the pentagon glowed bluely.
The daymares already controlled by the summoner's bonds were freed. The hold command dissolved and the lesser demons joined their kin, laughing silently.

Mehr turned in the shadow-strewn night, taut as a wire, senses telling the shapeshifter everything it did not want to hear.
Mental, awake, powerful, unfettered, prowled the Carrotan night.
Riddles were the farthest thing from Mehr's thoughts in that moment.

[Kaz]

Not confusing in the least, but then again, I do know a lot of the background of pentagrams ;|.

It's going to get interesting now that you've dragged in darkness.

[n0]

One word: "uh, YaY?"

[Coppertop]

Defalcon flexed his half-healed left arm cautiously, and suppressed a wince as his abused muscles complained loudly. He adjusted the blades slung across his back, and picked his jacket up.
Something moved in his peripheral vision. He froze, casting his glance around the hospital room. Nothing shifted in the shadowed corners. The room was as it should be. Yet that flicker of movement had been real. Defalcon reached back, brushing the palm of his hand across the hilt of one sword, loosening the other in its sheath. He dropped his hand to his blaster rifle, curling his fingers around the reassuring weight of the handgrip.
Flicker.
He looked up.
"There is just no way!"
The spider-bot glared at him malevolently from its upside-down position on the ceiling. It chittered softly, seeming more alive than machine. Its movements were fast and jerky as it skittered across the ceiling towards him. Defalcon's eyes widened and he jerked his blaster rifle from its holster. The spider-bot sprang at him as he fired twice; neither shot seemed to do any damage despite connecting. Discarding the blaster, Defalcon went for his swords and threw himself backwards, the memory of what those steel talons could do still vivid.
Missing its target, the robot landed on the floor and leapt at him again. Nightfire sheared away two claw-tipped jointed legs; the thing screamed and bled black ichor. A moment later it fell lifelessly to the polished white floor as Defalcon decapitated it.
Dazir burst into the room, Dare a split second behind him. They had just enough time to see the mangled robot on the floor before three more scuttled into the room by way of the ceiling. Their sinister eyes were fixed on Defalcon.
Defalcon heard Dazir's breath hiss in as the first robot sprang at them directly from the ceiling. The second charged down the far wall and came at them across the floor. The third clung to the doorframe, blocking any retreat. Defalcon had the time to realize that these three were larger than the first, perhaps the length of his torso, before the leader hit them.
Defalcon brought Nightwind around in a long, sweeping arc that caught the robot at the height of its leap, shearing through it in a shower of sparks. The halves fell twitching to the floor, exposed wires sparking, tubes spraying black oily ichor in a violent arc across the room.
Dare had pounced on the second as it charged them. The creatures were susceptible to sharp steel as they were not to bullets or blasterfire; Dare's sharp dagger severed three of the robot's left legs. Unbalanced, the thing began going in circles. A second blow from Dare drove the dagger hilt-deep in its head, causing the robot to collapse. The silvery-blue rabbit coolly yanked his ichor-stained blade out and beheaded the robot.
At about the time that Dare's victim was going in circles, the third robot shifted in preparation to strike. Dazir recognized the movement as a prelude to attack, and tackled the unprepared robot first, knocking it from its perch on the doorframe. Clinging to its back with both feet and one hand, he began methodically slashing the tubes exposed at the neck and leg joints, spattering the walls and floor with ichor. The robot bucked wildly against Dazir's hold, weakening visibly. It collapsed finally, and Dazir released his grip, retreating as it thrashed around on the floor. Jointed legs scrabbled fruitlessly as it sought for a foothold on the smooth, waxed floor. Defalcon put it out of its misery with a blow from Nightwind.
The three looked at each other nervously. Dare broke the silence.
"Those - those were -"
"Yeah," Defalcon agreed. "They are."
"Were," Dazir correctedf. "They were." He pointed over to where the robots had fallen. "They're not anymore."
Black liquid liberally splashed the floor, walls, ceiling, and rabbits. But the machines themselves had completely vanished. The ichor was the only trace that they had even existed.
"Well I don't know about you," Defalcon said after a second, "but I am totally freaked out."
Dare nodded. Dazir started to say something, but froze as a soft chittering sound reached them.
"That's it," Dare said, "let's go."
There was no argument.

[n0]

Two words: YaY!

[Coppertop]

Haha. Thanks.

[acid]

Yaychappie!

Hah, you are as adept at writing action scenes as I am inept at writing them.

[4I Falcon]

I AM IN MUCH ENJOYMENT OF TEH LAST TWO CHAPTERS. DESPITE MY NONRESPONSIVENESS.

I DO NOT KNOW WHY I AM TYPING IN ALL CAPS. I APPEAR TO BE HOLDING THE SHIFT KEY ON PURPOSE.

DONUT.

[Coppertop]

You're not a bad writer, Acid, not by a long shot.

4I: Tim Hortons.

[4I Falcon]

Tim Horton's is the reason why I type all in caps?

[Coppertop]

Mm, probably. You never know what they put in their coffee.

[Kaz]

I claimeth the third page in the name of caffiene.

[4I Falcon]

No, you don't.

[Kaz]

No, you don't.
Prove that I took any action or lack of action.

[4I Falcon]

Uh...

No.

Ha! Me one, you zero!

[Kaz]

Uh...

No.

Ha! Me one, you zero!But I used hax ;9!!

[4I Falcon]

I am teh win of your hax!

[Kaz]

Cmon CT, I don't come outside mysteriously with a jacket and scour for a wireless AP for nothing ;(...

[4I Falcon]

DECAYING. DEFIBRILLATOR. BANANA.

NEED I SAY MORE.

[acid]

++ Me for understanding 4I. Or not. Your choice.

Anyways, I agree with 4I.

[Coppertop]

Yes, yes, I know.

[Coppertop]

:roll: Unfortunately, it seems so.

4I: You first =P

[4I Falcon]

Already a third or so done Chapter 28 of E:JF. Which is rather fast for me.

[n0]

*sneeze*

[Coppertop]

What no. It didn't post?

[4I Falcon]

Argh?

[Coppertop]

I posted the next part. Apparently it didn't work. >(

[n0]

argh!

[acid]

Insert expletive here!

[4I Falcon]

Insert expletive here!

I concur!

(-)!

[n0]

Expletive!

[Coppertop]

OMGOMGOMG LOOK STOOORRRRiEee

The part that should have been posted, now edited and made better. Haha. Penguins.

"Claw."
Claw blinked sleepy red eyes at Copper. She smirked. "We're almost there."
"Ooh, hold me back," Claw muttered. He sat up carefully, stretching and wincing when his neck cracked loudly. Copper grinned unsympathetically.
"I can't wait until you get reclining seats in this thing," he growled, making her laugh. He straightened, and looked out the viewport.
"Isn't that Carrotus ...?"
"Yeah."
"I'm going back to bed. Wake me when it's over."
"Oh no you don't," Copper said. "We're here to meet Kaz. You're coming along if I have to drag you."
"Ooh, and you actually plan to succeed in this?"
"Try me."
"We could sell tickets. It would be amusing to witness the attempt. We could make a profit at your expense."
Copper's reply, which was doubtlessly scathing and witty, was lost in the startlingly loud blare of warning klaxons. Copper sat upright, and Claw groaned and fell back into his chair.
"Can't we ever have a decent vacation?"
"Shut up and help me find what's wrong," Copper said, scowling at him. Claw watched her searching the control board and radar for a moment before reaching lazily over and snapping on the visual area display. Copper looked sheepish for a moment.
There was nothing on the display. Claw frowned and glanced at Copper. At that moment the alarms shut off.
Claw's harsh voice broke the suddenly oppressive silence. "Nothing on the radar?"
"Not a thing."
"Wierd.
"Totally."
They drifted towards Carrotus for a moment in silence, the large blue-green-white planet dominating the front viewport.
"Malfunction d'you think?"
"I almost hope so, despite how much we paid to upgrade this thing."
A soft chiming sound was emitted from the speakers, followed by the rarely-heard AI of the Phantom Eclipse.
"Pilots alert. Incoming craft in sector 1-H, 4-1-V. Distance three kilometers and closing."
"What?"
"Weapons lock acquired." The alarms went off again.
"Identify incoming," Copper snapped at the AI, as she sent the Eclipse into a corkscrewing dive. The AI's coordinates were alarming. The craft was behind, above and slightly to the right of them. It was a perfect attack angle.
"Craft has been identified as the Warshadow, piloted by Amathi Gerrich," the AI said pleasantly. "Missile lock acquired. Evasive maneuvers suggested."
"Yes, I know," Copper said venomously, spinning the Eclipse down and to the left in an attempt to break the missile lock.
"Well I'm just trying to help," the AI said huffily. Despite himself, Claw smiled.
"A little touchy, Copper?"
"I don't need some jumped-up computer program telling me how to do my job," and she pulled a 180 and accelerated wildly.
"Ignore her," Claw advised the AI. "She's just stressing out."
"A little understandable, I think!" Copper finally broke the missile lock that had threatened them and spun the Eclipse around in a tight arc to face their attacker.
Claw targeted the craft squarely. He caught a glimpse of scorched silver hull, stenciled letters, and the blue glare of engines before the entire vessel vanished.
"What the -?"
The alarms cut off. Copper darted a quick glance at Claw. "Lucky shot?"
"I never fired! It just disappeared!"
"Nothing on the sensors, now."
"... Cloaking? Should I have fired anyway?"
"I doubt it, the craft was too small. Could just be a computer malfunction."
"Oh, right! Not when I saw the freaking thing! That was no malfunction!"
"Now who's stressing out," Copper chided. Claw snorted derisively.
"Uh huh, yeah. Next you'll be telling me it was all a hallucination."
"That can be verified. Reetek, did you manage to identify that ship?"
"Of course I did," the AI said curtly. Copper sighed.
"They had to go program feelings into the blasted thing," she muttered. Claw stared at her, stil disgruntled by the disappearance of his target. "What was its ID then?"
"Warshadow."
"What? ... Are you trying to be funny?"
"Of course not!"
"Copper? What is it?"
"I know for a fact that Warshadow no longer exists," Copper snapped. "I destroyed it. Years ago. This is not the time for any of your pranks, Reetek."
"What makes you think this is a prank?"
"You've been part of this ship long enough that I know your programming, that's what!"
"Copper." Claw's voice of reason went ignored.
"What has my programming got to do with anything? Geez, what is it with you?"
"This is just your taste in pranks, and you know it!"
"Copper."
"Oh, really? What pranks are you talking about exactly? The drills?"
"Is that what you call them? Drills? Your jokes are not a success, Reetek!"
"Copper!"
"What!"
"You are arguing with a machine."
"So?"
"It doesn't have to be Reetek's bad taste in jokes, you know."
"Exactly," Reetek chimed in, in a very un-AI-like manner.
"Reetek," Copper and Claw chorused. The AI shut up.
"It could be an imposter. Maybe somebody liked the name," Claw suggested.
"Who piloted it, Reetek," Copper demanded, with a defiant look at Claw.
"Amathi Gerrich," the AI said sulkily.
"Amathi is dead!" Copper's temper flared again. "I can't believe you would make this up, Reetek!"
"I'm not. You can check my records."
"Don't worry about it," Claw said, a bit irritated now. "Copper, if someone could take the name of his ship, there's no reason they couldn't take his name as well." He conveniently ignored the quandry of the mystery ship's disappearance.
"Yes," she agreed, a bit of relief in her voice. "Yes, that's it." She looked up at him then, green eyes belligerent. "Why must we always be haunted by their ghosts, their memories, Claw? Will they ever leave us alone? Will they ever die completely?"
"I'm sorry, Copper," Claw said, and he meant it. "They follow you for the rest of your life."

[acid]

Very good chapter! 'Twas worth the wait, definitely.

[n0]

*Makes random fish noises and jumps around like a snail*

[4I Falcon]

"I know for a fact that Warshadow no longer exists," Copper snapped. "I destroyed it. Years ago. This is not the time for any of your pranks, Reetek."
"What makes you think this is a prank?"
"You've been part of this ship long enough that I know your programming, that's what!"
"Copper." Claw's voice of reason went ignored.
"What has my programming got to do with anything? Geez, what is it with you?"
"This is just your taste in pranks, and you know it!"
"Copper."
"Oh, really? What pranks are you talking about exactly? The drills?"
"Is that what you call them? Drills? Your jokes are not a success, Reetek!"
"Copper!"
"What!"
"You are arguing with a machine."
"So?"

Absolutely priceless. >D

[n0]

My sig says what is going on here.

[Coppertop]

Bananas?

[n0]

You can't see the picture of the radioactive decay? or of the defibrillator? All you can see is the banana?

Hrm... That is interesting...

[Coppertop]

The others didn't load fast enough.

This story is on hold for a while, I'm sorry to say. I'll be away for a while and won't be online. Cya when I get back.

[n0]

*Sneeze*

[Radium]

*Hands Nobody a tissue*

[Coppertop]

Whoops, hahaha! Forgot all about this.

[n0]

Probably why I sneezed. All the dust was messing with my allergies.

*Sniff*

Oh, and thanks for the tissue.

[Coppertop]

Lol. Well, there's hope for this yet, never fear.

[n0]

*Sneeze*

[Radium]

*hands N0 a pack of tissues*

Sure you don't want me to finish it, Copper? I could read it first and everything.

[Coppertop]

=O!

[4I Falcon]

Egads!

Egads again!

[Radium]

Can I finish it if everyone agrees my part is non-canon?

[Coppertop]

You can if you like, just be aware that I may decide to finish it when I have time. So then we'll have two versions.