Wraith ; a post-apocalyptic RP.

[KoNaStAr]

I'd like to start by saying this is a RolePlay currently being done by my friend Wynter and I. In the RP at the moment she plays two characters, Celes Locke ( name BLATANTLY stolen from FF6 ), and Stryker ( we're planning on him dying soon hence the lame, spur-of-the-moment name ). I play a modern day samurai named Kagemusha. The first few paras will let you in on the story a little bit Keep in mind this isn't written like a normal story, and that it's only something I do for fun.


[Kagemusha]: It was late evening; though the dense smog that littered the sky above filtered out any direct sunlight, it turned the sky a dim red. Along with the miles and miles of desert on each side, small mountains and canyons, deep crevaces into the earth were laid out on the canvas that was what remained of Earth. After the events of WW3, when the nuclear war began, a large amount of people found safety from the effects of the nuclear embargo deep in safety bunkers designed for the occasion at hand. Mainly located in caves deep inside of our earth, located in places such as Mexico, Japan, various states in the US, Antarctica, Russia and Egypt, they were designed with airtight locks to keep nuclear pollution out, and had intricate filtering systems to make sure the air created in the generators inside was as pure as needed be. There was one other place of refuge; 9 years before the war started, a Space Frontier Foundation project entitled MAVERICK was completed.

The idea of the project was to design a large enough structure in space to facilitate the daily living needs of a large population, upwards of 300,000. Upon completion, astronauts and various SFF mechanics and technicians made themselves the first to truly call MAVERICK home. When it was told that the war was going to soon be in a nuclear war, the United Nations counsel gathered and came to a resolve, equally splitting room in the structure for a small sum of young, healthy males and females from each country. The remaining slots were filled mostly with celebrities, and the more financially available citizens of the world before. When the first nuclear missile was fired, it was fired by a terrorist force somewhere in the middle east, aimed directly at Israel. Once this happened, tensions rose, and Israel soon retalliated, not only against their own land, but against the US and Korea. This proceeded to cause a chain reaction, and at that moment, government was out the window; politics were no longer involved. There were no engagements, no rules to this war. It wasn't even a war anymore, it was a massacre, and there was nothing left to do but fight back; everyone knew this would impact the world greatly, some even imagined it would be the end. The people that were brought to the safe locations in the caves were done so privately, not letting the general populous(or is it populace o_o) know. They couldn't save everyone, there simply wasn't enough room.

After the last explosion ever heard on the surface, there was a 5 year cleansing period, and the governmental officials that had been assigned to recreate a decent living habitat on earth flew down from the maverick, finding that with the proper hazmat equipment, they could atleast work in these conditions. 10 Major cities throughout the world were rebuilt, to an extent, including Tokyo, New York City, ( other cities in other countries man wtf >_> ). It took nearly 10 long years to complete the rebuilding process. Once the cities were structurally safe, they began the process to cleanse the air outside. Special ionizing machines were brought in that had been stored on MAVERICK, and left on for 5 more long years. When the time was up, and the machines finally gave out and died, as they were built to do when the air was no longer able to become any more purfified, the last of the government inhabited their respective cities, and then, one year later, when a scraggly economic network and efficient lifestyle had been established, the timelocks on the caves depressurized, and the people emerged. When they expected a beautiful sky, they saw smog; when they expected green grass and full trees, they saw cracked dirt and trunks with bare branches. They eventually settled in, some moving to the larger, domed cities.

2 years after Humanity made it's comeback, communication with MAVERICK was lost, and it was presumed that terrorist activity had led to the destruction of the colony, due to earlier transmissions found in databases on the only 2 ships to ever land on earth from the establishment. When these ships were discovered, however, they were found to be of no use; the systems were too complex, the fuel a different kind than anything available on earth, and much too low to even make it past the first layer of the atmosphere. It was the next year that the killings started happening, when the small government system that existed was toppled completely, and the world was thrown into total chaos. Though they had remained in vastly unpopulated areas before, the beings that hadn't made it to safety but hadn't died had only mutated; as a result of so much exposure to the nuclear radiation but having it in small enough quantities to have the time to adapt, the mutated humans grew stronger, faster, and more vicious; they were capable of thought, though not organized thought, an advanced form of instinct. Some assumed that somehow they knew they were left behind, and were taking out their rage on humanity for what they did to them. Some said they were simply beasts, victims of the radiation turned to bloodthirsty animals, with the only logic available being Kill or be Killed. Though ammunition was scarce, small military-esque groups were formed, makeshift militants trying to protect their own. It gave those outside the domes a sense of belonging, like they were all connected amidst the chaos in the world; like they weren't alone. Having never been able to afford living in the domed cities, they felt oppressed, obviously, and coming together to fight against the predators lurking the world was all that they had left; all the passion they could find in life. Love was a concept seemingly forgotten; it was a cruel, dark world.

That's why Kagemusha grasped the end of his Gouki ( means Devil, name of his sword >_> ) a little tighter when he heard the roar of an engine. A car was a luxury he couldn't afford; hell, he had enough trouble buying a new suit every time his old one got ruined. This time it was white, a color he hadn't tried before, but already he liked it. Not many samurai had a gold tooth, wore white suits with pimp hats and gator shoes and carried a sword disguised as a cane, but he did. ( That's how fuckin cool he is >_> ) When the car got a little closer, he waved them down. Though it seemed reluctant, the duo in the car pulled over to the side of the one way dirt road. The driver rolled down the window slightly, but not enough for Kagemusha to fit, say, the barrel of a gun in. She inquired as to what Kagemusha might be requesting, letting him know in advance that any inquiry for a ride anywhere would be denied. " Heh...no, that isn't exactly what was on my mind. I was just gonna say...I hope you're not goin' back there--" he pointed to the city they were driving to "--because they got no fuel, or supplies. Crime syndicate took over, plenty of guns. No point to go in there and start a massacre. Just thought I'd let you know. " he spoke through the crack, adding a slight melodic feel to his last sentence. Using the finger he pointed to the establishment ahead with, he raised it, symbolizing a meager goodbye, and stood straight up, turning to walk in the opposite direction.

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Celes]: She was a beaut'.

At least, that was what Locke thought of the slightly battered vehicle that she now drove, though apparently her newly acquired 'partner-in-crime' didn't think so. Even as they drove down the dilapidated wasteland toward the only populated area within forty miles, the unruly man complained- and complained, and complained, and complained. Locke would be glad to reach their distance, if only to kick the man out and leave him there for the locals to do with what they would. She kept a tight hold to the steering wheel as she drove, so as not to reach for the night stick resting to the right side of the driver's seat and smack him with it. It would likely be the only way she could shut him up, but she needed him conscious for their next stop; vehicles such as hers were rare to happen upon nowadays, and sometimes such a commodity needed to be defended. Violently, if need be; Locke had done her share of fighting for the damaged vehicle in the past, though she remembered the first fight for it; back when she had stolen it from its original owners.

It had been relatively easy to wrestle the guy from the driver's seat [especially when she had a sharp piece of rusted metal to his throat], despite the fact that she had been relatively new to the act of theft back then; back when she had escaped from the men in white coats and out into the confined world of the dome. The vehicle was a now obsolete model of a 2006 dodge Charger; its dull black paint was peeling in minute spots, and there was a dent in the front bumper- as well as other nicks along the vehicle's frame- but it ran well enough. Feeling 'creative' one day, Locke had painted racing stripes over the vehicle; surprisingly, the glossy red stripes had held up well, though it was obvious the job was far from professional, and perhaps a bit rushed. She had done little to it since then, since the vehicle, in pristine shape when she had received it, was worse for wear, but decent. It also had several nifty features that weren't immediate evident upon looking at it. Apparently, Stryker, as he called himself [ and had refused to offer up any other name and did not answer to anything else ] did not approve- which one may have guessed for all of his aforementioned complaining. Locke had been traveling with him for a little over two months, and he was the worst partner she'd ever had.

The man was boisterous and flamboyant, his very appearance speaking volumes on the matter; his hair was cut short, save for in the middle where it spiked up a few inches in a thin Mohawk, tainted lime green at the tips where the rest of the hair was white. The thin man possessed various piercings and tattoos on his forearms and back, which were all thankfully covered by an aging shirt. His sharp features weren't particularly handsome, nor were they enough to turn the gaze sour; he dressed in white and green clothing, the colors matching his hair; his eyes were tainted the same poison color, owing to contacts that he wore. Around his waist, a thick metal belt that holstered a long-barreled gun that neither he nor Locke knew the name of, though luckily he knew how to take care of it and what sort of ammunition it took. He called it his 'Baby'. Locke called it an annoyance, loathing its owner's unpredictability and the deafening sound it made when it fired, though grudgingly she admitted it was an invaluable tool. She was a lousy shot with it and Stryker was not- in fact, he was the best shot she had ever seen, which was why she kept him around. That and he wouldn't stop following her, like some lost puppy.

Not unlike the two-headed monster that sat in the back seat of the vehicle, digging into the leather with its blunt claws. Locke hadn't intended to bring him with her, but the dog, bred to be malicious, had taken a liking to her- probably because she had bothered to feed it when no one else had- and wouldn't stop following her around. Ultimately, Locke had decided to take the two-headed dog with her, training it for protection. It's above average intelligence and vicious appearance- that of an oversized, black pit bull; it stood nearly three feet at the shoulder, a muscular demon with a red glint in its eye and two heads full of murderous intent. Luckily, it was obedient, and apparently one of the more playful of its species, created in the same lab in which Locke had come from for protection; some rich man's dream turned reality.

Releasing her tight grip on the steering wheel, Locke reached back to pet the monster, affectionate named Black Jack [from left to right]. After a while, when Stryker's chatter had died down and the town ahead of her was in sight, Locke began to feel relieved; she needed something for her headache. A long, thin scar stretched from the crown of her head and halfway down the forehead on the right side, parting the hair like a cartoonist's pen stroke. From FNRI, with love.

Pretty soon, the drone of Stryker's speech entered her brain again- what was left of it, anyway- and this time she couldn't ignore it. He pointed out the man that they were approaching, and she saw him too. Stryker remarked on his style of dress and nodded approvingly, then begged Locke to stop the car.

"Don't want t' stop for 'im. 'sides, me 'ead is achin', feels like the damned flies is eatin' away at it agin. Ah need somethin' t' dull it if they've got anythin' that'll help." The muddled accent was foreign; European perhaps, specifically from one of the British Isles, though not even Locke herself knew where, even vaguely.

"Ew, flies. Don't start /that/ again. Anyway c'mon, maybe he's carryin' something valuable. I could have me a nice new suit, at least. I mean, come on, /look/ at me. I could use a new suit. Don't you think I could use a new suit? Doooon't youuu?"

Locke sighed, not falling for the sad eyes that he made at her, his ruse gone unheeded. "Ye could use more'n just a new suit, hinny. Why bother stoppin'? Let's get wot we're ge'in' an' be about our way, Ah dunna like it 'ere." This colony was familiar to her; she had stopped here for supplies before. Its population of lowlives managed to bring in all sorts of commodities, but they made her nervous. They didn't have much protection from the wraiths, and she dreaded meeting them. The scientists back at the lab would wonder why, as she was 'their own kind', they said. But she didn't quite believe that- least, that was what she told herself. Why, then, did she fear them so? Shaking her head, she responded to Stryker in her monotone drawl.

"If I told thee once, I tol' thee twice- m' not in the mood. Ach, look now, 'e's flaggin' us down. Ah'll bet 'e 'heard what thee were sayin'." Never one to be rude unnecessarily, Locke slowed the vehicle to a stop next to the man. Ever cautious, she only rolled the window down what was necessary to hear him clearly.

"Ain't takin' ye nowhere if tha's what ye had in mind." Apparently, that wasn't what he had in mind.

"Ah come on, all this way an' still but nothin' ta show for it?" She sounded angry, an emotion she deemed appropriate for the situation. While she seethed, Stryker rolled down the window on his side and leaned out, twitching around to sit on the door, resting his right hand on his gun and his other on the roof of the car.

"Now just where are you goin'?" He sounded mischievous rather than vindictive, though his tone was sly all the same. "You're pretty sharply dressed for some ordinary slumrat. Where you come from, old man?"

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Kagemusha]: It hadn't occurred to Kagemusha that they would even bother with conversation, and he refused to believe it was only conversation. With the way this guy was talking, he was probably about to get mugged, for the fifth time this week. /God damn, not this shit again. I'm tired of these kids.../ he thought to himself as he stopped, dead in his tracks. Keeping his body facing the same direction he only turned his head, to the left side, so he could glance back at the one speaking. Through the glass he could see what looked like the barrel of a gun sticking out the end of a holster that didn't fit correctly ( yaeh I can add siht in cuase im lete. ), and the kid was a good 8 inches out of range of his sword.

The blade, entitled by Kagemusha himself as Gouki, translating from Japanese into English as " Devil " or " Demon ", was a 48" long solid black polished wood grain cane with a slight curve like that of a katana. The handle was literally indistinguishable as it matched the sheath of the sword perfectly, creating the illusion that it was only a cane, or a walking stick. The only distinct feature was the small, but sturdy alloy chain, around 12" long, that was seemingly just a decoration. It was actually a connection from the handle to the sheath, meaning one could not only sling the sheath around if necessary, but also extend the blade's reach by an entire foot. Kagemusha fought in the style of Jeet Kun Do when fighting hand to hand, but when using his sword he fought with a technique created by the Higashi Clan, but forgotten since the Kamakura Era of Feudal Japan. It was known as Shun Goku Satsu, which translated literally to " Instant Hell Murder ", but traditionally to " The Raging Demon ". Quite proficient in it, and the last one alive with the knowledge of how to use it, it was needless to say Kagemusha could handle himself.

While he didn't entirely like the way the boy worded his questions, he decided to play along and answer them, in order. Trouble wasn't something he desired at the moment, but then again, he wasn't one to run away. Keeping his right hand on Gouki, his thumb inbetween the two bumbs where the chain attached the two pieces of the sword, ready to reveal the blade at any moment, he slowly turned, his left hand moving to pull the front tip of the hat down to cover his face somewhat. Grinning, at the same time revealing that dusty gold tooth in the top front, he waited for a few moments, as if giving the boy time to ask anything else that was on his mind while he was still able to.

" Okay, kid...we'll play this game. I'll answer all of your questions, and then, I've got one for you. Does that sound okay? " he tried his best to sound as if he was treating the man sitting on his door like an infant. There was a nod from the man, along with a snide look.

" Alright then. Where I'm goin'...a lot of places. I could ask you the same, but you wouldn't give me a straight answer, so I don't think it's appropriate for me to tell you my destination. As to the comment regarding my clothing, and being as a " slumrat ", thank you for the compliment. It means a lot coming from you. " he spoke with a blunt sarcasm, looking the man's torso up and down, grinning even more at how pathetic he looked. " Where am I from....Heh, not that that's any of your business, but to tell you the truth, I really don't know. " he paused, the grin fading from his face, turning into a more stern look now. With his left hand he removed his black sunglasses, and put them in the inside pocket of his suit's coat. Kagemusha waited until he thought the young man was about to speak again, but made sure to cut him off promptly.

" No, no, it's still my turn. I get to ask a question now. My question is, assuming I'm right and this isn't some meaningless conversation...Do you think you can put a bullet in me before I slice your fuckin' head off? " he tried to sound as calm as possible when he said this, trying not to sound like some idiotic brute; no, he was quite the opposite. Collected, and ready for the situation, he was serious. Kagemusha wasn't one to lie.
-----
[Celes(Locke)]: Locke didn't think much of what Stryker said to the stranger, but when the other replied in his sardonic manner, those dull brown eyes turned to look at him, one brow raised as she eyed him; she despised his tone, and found herself wishing he would continue about his way as though he hadn't heard Stryker. Everyone was so /vile/; including the pigheaded slacker that currently had his feet on the leather of her front seat. Locke wasn't here to do any stealing, though she had to admit that she couldn't pass up a good opportunity when it presented itself; which, at this point, there seemed to be nothing here for them. Stryker didn't need that new suit, and Locke only approved of stealing for necessity; rarely had she stolen anything simply because she had wanted it. What she stole, she sold or kept to aid her later on; Stryker, though. He stole because he thought it was a thrill; Locke had never killed anyone on her travels- not that she was the best fighter in the world, but she could handle herself well enough- still, she had never struck a fatal blow. Stryker had shot down three men since she had been with him, and who knew how many others; she didn't like his methods, but she did need his help.

He didn't seem to mind when she told him where she had come from, and not many would keep her company once she did, nor after seeing the nasty cut across her head and learning where she'd got it and what had happened to her. They laughed and they didn't believe her and thought she was crazy or they looked at her in disgust and kept their distance, either way leaving her to blow away like a leaf in the wind. Not Stryker, though. Scoffing at that and wondering why she couldn't have been lucky enough to have better company, Locke listened to the conversation- which at this point seemed entirely one-sided. Boy, could these two talk; however, she wondered just what he stranger called himself doing. Was he actually trying to provoke Stryker? Locke had never seen anyone outdraw him once the decidedly green-tainted man had his hand on his gun, and Locke didn't even know if the stranger was carrying one. Behind her, she heard the unsettling growl of the dogs behind her; it unnerved her, even though she knew they were no threat to her. The sound was like stone grinding together; hollow. Feral and bloodthirsty. The dogs stood up as best they could, turning to gaze out at the man who spoke in such sardonic tones; they could understand every word he was saying. It was when the man uttered his question that the dogs really began to snarl, and Locke became agitated.

"He'll fill thee wid lead, 'e will," she said angrily, both amused and agitated when the man threatened Stryker. Cut his head off? Her eyes searched him, seeing part of a black sheath; was that some sort of weapon? He'd been holding it as a simple cane before but neither Locke nor Stryker were to be fooled; he was either concealing a weapon somewhere else, or the cane concealed a blade. Both had seen that sort of weapon before. Perhaps the sword could catch a good price? She was low on funds, the car needed ethanol and oil, and they all needed to eat. Locke didn't appreciate the conflict that had just been started, knowing that it could get ugly; she didn't want to see Stryker kill anyone else. But it seemed something was already happening; the buzzing in her head became worse and she gritted her teeth, a pained expression showing itself even though she felt none. She could see Stryker raising his gun- even though she wasn't looking at him- and firing it right at the man, but when she blinked the stranger did not have a bullet running through him. It had happened again.
[01:28] Ryuukouhi: The confident youth, a smirk on his lips that fit him entirely, had simply watched and listened as the long-winded man had spoken. His anger was not easily roused- at least not so easily as a condescending tone and what he perceived as an empty threat. "Are you kidding me? I got the fastest gun 'round these parts, old man, you don't stand a-"

..Chance. But he stopped, hearing the vehicle shift gears into reverse, two brilliant white lights illuminating the rear of the car. The wheel turned sharply to the right and Locke slammed down on the gas in one fluid movement, attempting to knock the man aside by way of smacking into him with the side of the car, which turned sharply, its tires churning up dust and dirt. Stryker grabbed a hold of the vehicle's frame with his left arm to keep from falling; Locke's maneuver was not unfamiliar but rather unanticipated, and caught him a bit off guard- it was a wonder he hadn't been throw off completely. She had shifted gears quickly- her reflexes were stunning, especially behind the wheel of a vehicle- at least this particular one. Locke was only aware of what she was doing once she pout her foot on the gas, and then considered her reasons for doing so; if she incapacitated the man first, Stryker would have no reason to shoot him, and if the man really did present a threat, she could quell it.

…Things had to be done as…smoothly as possible.

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Kagemusha]: That accent; it wasn't very familliar to Kagemusha. He found it interesting, being a man who enjoyed studying the cultures of the past. Though he wasn't able to decipher the exact origin of the dialect, for some reason he found himself enjoying the sound. It was strange.../And taking my attention away from this dumbass./ was the last thing he thought before he noticed the vehicle began to move. Then the only thing on his mind was that the girl with the strange accent was going to attempt to run him over.

While sure he would be able to evade the attack, he couldn't run from a car forever. Out here on the outskirts, it would take him a good bit to run to any form of obstacle. Considering his availabilities, weighing his options, he kicked off with his left foot, jumping backwards and rotating, tucking into a crouched position until he hit the pavement another 2-2 1/2 feet back, where he rolled another foot or so to the opposite side of the road. Ending up in a position where both knees were on the ground, he quickly stood, feeling a shooting pain in his knee, but ignoring it; that type of thing could get you killed if you paid too much attention. Coming to a fully erect position(LOL stfu perv), Kagemusha considered jumping at the car and grappling the young man with his sword, and then taking out the driver from there. It was then that he saw them in the distance.

( Quick Note : Town = to the North, Kagemusha was heading South )
It had been harder to see them because of the red fading from the sky; nightfall was coming soon. There on the horizon, moving closer at a rapid pace, was a pack of 20 or so Wraith, from what Kagemusha could see. His eyesight wasn't what it used to be but he could manage more than proficiently. Either way, it didn't matter; he wouldn't be here when they came. Extending his arm outwards in the direction of the Wraith, he was hoping they would cease in their attempts to kill him and look in the direction he was pointing in. He yelled, not a scream, but a firm yell;

" Wraith! "
-----
[Celes]:[Awwh, he likes her accent. That makes me feel fifteen time! And where would be be if you'd thrown me out, huh? Shit out of luck, that's what!" Locke had learned how to tune him out; it was usually easy nowadays, but she couldn't think straight when her brains were rattling around inside her half empty head and the flies kept buzzing and buzzing and buzzing. The car continued its circular course until the man was no longer to the side, but in front of them; the wheel straightened out and Locke let up off of the gas, shifting the vehicle first into neutral and then into drive without hitting the brakes at all. The man's speed was unsettling, and Locke was unnerves by it. The Charger gave a mighty jerk forward, the engine roaring in all its fury as, it seemed, the mechanical masterpiece was ready to charge again, to run another round with the matador. After its initial lurch forward, the Charger stopped, but not only because of the man's cry. Locke hadn't intended on hitting him anyway; pssh, he'd dent her poor car, and she didn't need to damage it any more.

However strongly Locke felt she needed to keep her eyes on the stranger, she felt it more important to look where he pointed instead; no thoughts of trickery crossed her mind in that instant when she looked behind her in terror, the man could have killed her and she wouldn't have noticed in the slightest. Her eyes were wide as she gazed at the pack of wraiths; they were unsightly creatures, and she despised them; she feared them more than she feared being caught and sent back to the lab. "Okay, okay- come on Locke, we gotta get out of here, don't freeze on me, hey-" It was like the woman had gone tharn, but as Stryker spoke to her, she shook her head and turned to look at the man she had just tried to run over. She couldn't leave him out here, could she?

Not to those creatures, not to those things. Although if what the scientists said was true, if she allowed him to come with them it would sort of be the same thing, wouldn't it? Funny, there were Wraiths in and out of the vehicle. 'No no no no no- not true-' she thought, but then again, she didn't have much time to think at all. The Charger lunged forward again, though steered off to the right of the stranger and stopped next to him, a startled Stryker too confused to even raise his gun.

"Nah trouble, just ge' in, we'll get thee oot 'a 'ere."

"What?! Did you see, he /threatened/ me! You can't let /him/ in!"

"Mae car mae rules, hinny. Now quiet wid yeh."
-----
[Kagemusha]: Half-expecting them to perhaps finish the fight and then simply flee and leave his mangled corpse for the Wraith to finish off, his right hand was still clenched tightly around Gouki, but when the car came to a stop beside him he loosened up; it had to be that accent. Upon instruction that there would be no more trouble, atleast for now, and to get in, that these people would drive Kagemusha to safety, he hesitated, and couldn't agree more when Stryker opened his mouth. What would be the point of getting in the car? Such a small flex range for the arm, it wouldn't be a very fair fight if this Stryker DID decide to put a few rounds in him. Then again, it was a good many miles until the next safest town, and not a place to sleep in sight. /I Guess I don't have much of a choice, damnit./

Reluctantly, he loosened the grip on his sword completely and used his right hand to open the door to the vehicle. The two-headed dog in the back seat startled him somewhat; not the fact that it had two heads, no, he wasn't surprised at the disfigurment. What was alarming was the size of the dog, the size of the dog's teeth, and the fact that there were two sets of those teeth just waiting to clamp down on Kagemusha's limbs. Hesitating a moment, he finally slid in, trying to be cautious and act as if the snarls and growls coming from the dog did not affect him. This not being a moment for taking one's time, he quickly shut the door, at which the head entitled Jack clenched his teeth together, emitting a low growl. Kagemusha turned, his glasses still off, to stare directly at the animal; he didn't look at the eyes or focus on either head, no, it was as if he was simply staring at one animal. Slowly but firmly, to remove the visual presence of fear, Kagemusha extended an open left hand, which was met by two razor sharp teeth penetrating the skin. The blood came fast, but Kagemusha kept his hand in place, not resisting the assault; he was trying to show the animal he meant no harm. Keeping that direct gaze, the dog finally began to release it's bite and stop snarling. Letting out a less vicious noise, a cross between a moan and a whine, probably coming from a lack of sleep, the dog seemed a little more gentle. Though he didn't plan on rubbing the dog to sleep any time soon, atleast it hadn't killed him.

" That's a nice dog you got there. " Kagemusha said gently as he took the white bandanna from his pocket with his right and wrapped it tightly around the larger part of his left hand. After a nod of approval from the driver, he spoke again. " You can drop me off in the next town, if that's okay, by the way. We'll just forget about this little argument ever happening, and go our separate ways. Your kindness is greatly appreciated, but I'm afraid I have no means to pay you. "

( I'm typing and you aren't online so right now I RUN THIS THING WOMAN >_> so I'm controllin your people ( TO A VERY LESSER EXTENT BELIEVE ME ;_; Not even speaking for them, just progressing us a little bit so this post wasn't just Kagemusha getting into the car. )

The sky had almost turned into a complete gray, not yet it's normal pitch black due to the last bit of sun peaking over the western horizon; the town was pretty much the only option, and it seemed that there would be a chance of sticking together, perhaps, helping one another out. Considering the amount of thugs and lowlife criminals running around in the establishment they were headed for, it would be a wise decision to atleast form some sort of alliance, atleast until sunrise, and they could get the hell out of here. With the Wraith coming, the criminals and militants in the town wouldn't be focused on the trio, hopefully. Kagemusha let Gouki rest across his lap, angled somewhat so that it didn't poke or prod the beast next to him. Regardless of how fast Kagemusha was, that thing had two heads, and both of them seemed to be able to bite rather hard. Though assured the guy in front of him wouldn't pull anything, he wasn't so sure about the girl; this had all seemed a little too easy. /She could've just shot me, ran me over, left me out there as a decoy, to keep them occupied a little bit longer..but if they were going to shoot me, they probably would've done it by now./ Confused by the situation, Kagemusha tried to maintain a calm appearance while still watching for any sudden or subtle movement, and decided a little bit of conversation could help the atmosphere.

" My name is Kagemusha. Contrary to what you may believe, I'm not a slumrat...No, a slumrat has a home. A place to go back to when they're hurt. Me? I wander. I ain't got no home, and I got no family. I'm a Samurai. "

He was already prepared for the laughter that would most likely ensue at his defining himself as a Samurai.

 

[Infamous]

really good stuff, mang.

one thing though, wouldn't he be a ronin? cause i thought samurai were supposed to serve someone. either way, you should post the rest when you get the chance.

 

[KoNaStAr]

Dude, there's SO MUCH MORE to this RP now >_> if you want me to update, I will. Yeah, I suppose he would be ronin, but the whole " samurai " thing is really just Kagemusha's expression of himself as an elite martial artist; he's just a big kid playin' cool I'll post the rest here.

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Celes]: Nervous with her decision to drive the stranger to safety, Locke kept looking in the rear view mirror, though she knew that Black Jack would keep a close watch the on stranger. She knew he had just threatened Stryker [albeit with just cause]; she also didn't know anything about him. She possessed a valuable asset and he very well may try to get it for himself- though she herself felt exposed, paying attention to what was going on in front of her - Stryker was turned around in his seat, his legs crossed in front of him, his back against the dashboard; he was putting distance between himself and the stranger in case he tried something. His gun was, as likely expected, drawn, and his expression was grim. He was oddly silent. Locke had no objections to that; she didn't want the stranger to be eaten alive by those monsters, but she didn't want him to end up killing the both of them, either. She didn't want things to get ugly, but better him than her. A smirk crossed the woman's face as she steered the car in a wide arc toward the next town; it seemed the stranger was having a 'tender moment' with Black Jack. The dog wouldn't kill him unless he made a threatening move, though Black Jack was quick to lay down the law. The dog, seemingly satisfied with the stranger's behavior, sat back down, having stood up as best he could when the man had entered the car. He was taking up just about all the room, his shoulder pressed against the stranger's; hopefully the spiked collar wouldn't prick him. Brows raised, Locke listened to the stranger's comment, thinking that it was strange he said that instead of questioning them about their motives.

"Nothin' t' contribute, eh, hinny? Well it's nae bother, if we wanted anythin' from yeh we'd 'ave took from yeh."

Back to himself, Stryker piped in. "Probably wouldn't fit me anyhow." He was talking about the suit. "Ah well. Oh yeah, and if we're exchanging names and getting all /friendly/ with one another, that's Locke over there and I'm Stryker. And the mutt is Black Jack. From left to right. It's .."nice" to meet you, ..Samurai dude." He chuckled, wagging the gun from side to side slowly; Locke seemed not to have heard what Kagemusha said beyond his name, but Stryker found his title amusing, if only mildly. He enjoyed being on guard duty.

The drive wasn't long, especially since Locke was driving upwards of 90 mph, though it was dark by the time they reached their destination. She looked at the fuel gauge, then pressed a button on the obsolete navigation system to display the number of miles until the car ran empty. It read '***', which was way past 'zero', which meant they were shit out of luck. "Damnit," she muttered under her breath. If this town didn't have fuel, she would be in trouble. Usually they carried a reserve, but that was what they were running on now. The vehicle slowed to a mere 20 miles as they approached, and Locke surveyed the area ahead of them before turning off her headlights. 'Would be nice to have infra-red', she thought, but she hadn't been able to get her hands on one. Locke pulled the car behind a rock and stopped it; they were about 30 yards from the town. Hopefully, no one had noticed the lights on the way in- but once she was able to get the night vision goggles, she didn't trust driving long without the headlights. Both she and Stryker got out of the car, Stryker with his gun still draw but held loosely at his side, Locke apparently holding nothing; at her side was a long whip, tied loosely to her belt. She didn't bother reaching for it.

"Well, oot tha goes, an' goo' luck go wi' yeh," she said. Black Jack had already opened the door on his side of the car- it was easy for a dog of his intelligence. After kicking it shut, he bounded over to Locke, apparently acting like a pup but looking more like a horse in doing so. The dog was over half the size of the relatively short woman. Patting him on the head, Locke opened the trunk of the car, reaching in and taking out a cover once everyone was out.

"Lock up," she said into the vehicle remote after shutting the trunk, and steel coverings closed over the windows, the doors locked, and the hydraulics system lowered the vehicle to the ground, so that its undercarriage, protected b another steel covering under the bottom of the vehicle, lay on the ground. The tires rose above the ground and drew in closer to the vehicle, flexible steel coverings sliding over them. The vehicle's starter disabled, and the door handles electrolyzed. The car w as safe enough- Locke had never had anyone break into it. Once she was sure the car was locked, she began to walk toward the town, though she stopped. Stryker had begun to move with her, but he was also keeping his eye on Kagemusha.

"Yeh knaw, mebbe there /is/ somethin' yeh can do far oos. Tha' ain't no wee wal'in' stick, is it, hinny? If a weapon's what i' is, we might fetch a pretty penny on market far it." she eyed the black sheath without turning around.



[Kagemusha]: Barely able to contain his laughter at the use of the term ' dude' , though he did for the sake of not getting his brains blown out, Kagemusha decided to stay silent for the rest of the ride. It was somewhat cramped with the dog, and while not the most comfortable of seats, it beat laying on the asphalt dead. When he heard the beeps of electronic devices being used up front, he only thought to himself /Don't bother./ , being that he had never had much experience with anything of the sort. Before the war, a lot of people lived the digital lifestyle, it was the new culture, the ' in ' thing. Kagemusha chose countless nights spent training as opposed to leading a high tech life, never mastering a computer in favor of training with the sword. He knew there was no reason to ask, because the answer received would most likely go right over his head. Silence was the best route here.

When they finally arrived and the vehicle came to a halt, Kagemusha, trying to be as co-operative as possible, exited the vehicle and left the sword hanging on his side by the chain. When the girl spoke, he remained silent still, simply nodding and tipping his hat slightly, then turning to walk away. Though he continued walking, the car's security mechanism did draw enough attention to turn his head. Trying to angle himself so that he could get a good distance between him and the gun, and move to the other side of the road, he began to curve off slightly. The two had began walking as well, but they didn't seem to be in a hurry. Maybe they'd forget about the whole thing, and go on about their business. It wasn't until the girl's voice came again that Kagemusha stopped. Immediately he didn't like the way things were starting to look. It would be best to try and co-operate, but giving up Gouki was not an option. /They did drive me here...Guess I'll have to try it./

" I don't think I can part with Gouki...that would be the same as slicing off my arm and giving it to you. This blade isn't just a tool..It's an extension of my body. An extra limb. I just can't do that...but, if you're lookin to make some money, I think I got an idea. There's a bar here...more of a pub, they call it The Bloody Hooker. The last of the money I had, I spent on drinks at that place. " Kagemusha paused for a second to take a breath; the ripe old age of 43 was getting to him somewhat. " Every night, these guys in the back, they play games of poker until 2:00 A.M. and get plastered right along with it. Now it just so happens, my hand is as hot in poker as it is quick with my sword. All I'd need is a little bit to start off with...and I'll have you a fortune by morning. " he spoke with as much sincerity as possible, though not trying to sound too convincing; he tried his hardest to sound like he knew what he was doing. Which he did, but god damn if it didn't get harder to prove it to people as you got older.

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Celes]: "A rather gruesome analogy," said Stryker lowly, rolling his eyes as Kagemusha explained his 'extra limb'. He reached up with his left hand to scratch his head briefly as he holstered his gun. He figured if the old man was going to try something he would have by now; even though the gun was no longer drawn he was confident he could have it out before that old man could even unsheathe his sword. Pity, though. He hadn't used his Baby in such a long time; he'd had little reason to do so recently though, and Stryker didn't kill without reason. Besides, if he killed someone else Locke may kick him to the curb for good. The gaudy youth, brows raised skeptically as Kagemusha described his talents and the bar that was apparently in the makeshift town. He liked the sound of 'The Bloody Hooker', but he knew that Locke meant to go in, get what she needed, and get out. The woman seemed to be considering what Kagemusha said, though; there was an impassive expression across her features, and she did not betray what she was thinking. The old guy had had some spunk earlier, when he'd threatened Stryker, but now he seemed oddly patient. Seemed they hadn't yet pressed their luck just yet. "I ain't yet seen what tha' hands could do, bu' Ah suppose we coul' let yeh give i' a try. Eh Styke, wha' d'yeh think?" As she spoke, she stroked the dog's head that was closest to her, warranting a disgruntled whine from the other, at which point she switched. It was hard work trying to please the both of them.

Fishing through his pockets for some money, and pulling out a meager amount, Stryker scoffed. "Well we've got enough to let him start, but he better be as good as he says or I'll 'fill 'im wid lead, I will'." He sneered at Locke, poking fun at her accent. She didn't seem to mind. "But I /am/ likin' the sound of the bar. We got enough to get me a drink, too?" He sounded hopeful.

"No go. Sorry, hinny; Ah don't even wan' t' give up what we 'ave now." At this, her attention switched back to Kagemusha. "If thee loses this we'll nae 'ave enough for fuel, neither. So tha be'er not be funnin', bu' if yeh play as well as yeh dress it should be ne bother." She turned to walk again, taking a black beret cap from her back pocket and placing it atop her head to hide the hideous scar. Luckily, there were no wraiths around here, as there was a few moment's walk from the town; when they reached it, the place was oddly quiet. There were few people to be seen, except for the bulky man at the front gate. He seemed oddly cheerful, grinning at them and letting them in with little questions asked. This made Locke nervous, though Stryker remarked that he was glad at least someone around here seemed to be decent. Making their way to the bar, Locke broke away from the group as the two men went their separate ways, one to the poker table and one to the bar itself. The place was insanely crowded- this was likely where everyone in the town came at night; there was safety in numbers and it was 'the place to be', besides. Locke saw hardly any other woen there, and those that were there were either barmaids or strippers. She kept to herself, slinking off to a less crowded corner of the room. Stryker managed to charm a drink from one of the barmaids and after that, went to the poker table to watch Kagemusha, as much to learn about the game as to make sure the man was doing what he was supposed to do.

Locke took the denseness of the crowd to her advantage, slipping in and out and lifting what she could, which was very little. Since she knew that they needed to stay here for a while, she did not get too brave with what she stole. She didn't want anyone to get wise to what she was doing. Once she had a silver pocket watch and a wallet or two secure in her own pocket, Locke took a seat at the bar ordering nothing, to the agitation of the bartender. She couldn't even order water; it was purified, which wasn't exactly free. Which meant that if one didn't have any money, they didn't get anything to drink. Hence why Locke ..well, didn't get anything to drink.

Some time later- she wasn't sure, she didn't want to chance taking the stolen watch out of her pocket and there were no clocks around- Locke heard a commotion coming from the other side of the building, and, hearing the baritone vocals of her partner ring out angrily, she immediately stood up and made her way to the other side of the room. Apparently the players were sick of losing, and decided they would get their money back- violently, by the sound of it.

"You gotta be cheatin' /somehow/," said one of them to the grizzled old man, to which Stryker hastily replied: "Just because you're shit at this game doesn't mean he's cheating, you ugly slumrat. You stink like a fucking dead skunk." At that, twol of them lunged for Stryker, who was standing off to the side of Kagemusha; he was just quick enough to pull out his gun and use it to bludgeon the man in front of him senseless, knocked down by another that wasn't quite as tall as he was, but was about twice as wide. There was little he could do but try to push the bulky slumrat off of him, but along came Locke and kicked him as hard as she could. It was enough to get him off of Stryker.

"Stryker! Are yeh oot 'a yer blinkin' mind?! Ge' up, let's go!"

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Kagemusha]: Very grateful they were allowing him to borrow the money to start the game, Kagemusha came to the conclusion that it was best to leave what happened back there in the past, that if they could forget about it, he could. Though cautiously, he played viciously and relentlessly, cleaning out the first table in about 30 minutes. Newcomers arrived, and stayed for the duration of the time they were there. Stryker seemed to be enjoying the game, from what Kagemusha could tell, but when again, there was no telling just how many drinks he conned into his palm. The greasy fried foods in paper plates on the table and the plastic cups full of beer all looked so appealing, however there was no way Kagemusha would be able to eat it; at 14 years old, his appendix ruptured and he had to have invasive surgery, where some of the lining of his digestive tract had to be removed. This caused the shortening and overall weakening of the tract, disabling the luxury of spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, and anything too harsh on the stomach. Oh, what he wouldn't give for one shot of that good lookin' tequila.

It was probably a good decision to clean off his side of the table and empty the money into his pockets right as he did.

"You gotta be cheatin' /somehow/," and a vulgar retort from Stryker that didn't skip a beat was the last thing that registered in Kagemusha' mind before he noticed the two men jumping from across the table. Taking not even a second for contemplation, he kicked backwards hard, his right hand now grasping Gouki. There was a gunshot, and a man fell; there was someone on top of Stryker, too. The men on the other side of the table began cracking their knuckles, popping the blunt ends of pool sticks across their hands; they didn't look happy, to say the least. When he saw the first one that appeared to be reaching for something in his coat, the demons woke up, and the events set off like clockwork.

Quickly Kagemusha used his left hand to enter into the right side of his suit's coat and retrieve one of the high-powered shuriken, taking no time to aim, simply flinging it under the table; though somewhat off center, it had created the desired effect, and blew the table into mid-air. It took 0.063 seconds for the blade of Gouki to exit the sheath ( This is how long it takes for some guy I was watching on Fight Science to take his katana out. ) , and another 1.028 or so to take the necessary step forward and turn to the left. His right leg extended at full force, colliding with the table at the impact of a 24mph car crash, or around 900psi, sending those behind it flying. Though not inflicting much damage, it got them on their backs, and gave Kagemusha a straight shot for the door.
Stryker and Locke were already halfway across the bar, weaving in and out of the crowd, so Kagemusha kicked off and sailed down the steps of the raised poker playing area, landing on his feet a few steps from the bottom. He could hear the crowd behind him and knew it would only be a matter of time. Moving as quickly as possible he bounded for the door, Gouki still drawn; he wasn't sure why, because sheathing it would probably enable him to move a lot faster. It had to be that urge..that urge that only surfaced every so often. Kagemusha was DYING for a fight.

He hit the door and the first thing he saw outside was the dust cloud, so he headed into it. By way of sound he navigated the positions of Stryker and Locke, who had no intention of slowing down; hell, Kagemusha couldn't blame them. When they finally all came to the car, Kagemusha walked to Locke. " Hold out your hands. " was all he said before she complied and he dumped the equivalent of $5,000 in gold. The trio stayed silent for a while, listening, waiting for footsteps, but nobody had exited the town so far. " Let's go, they're probably just sitting at a new table playing a new game with a new face. " Kagemusha only wished it was as true as he hoped.

******* ( this is like a montage okay? Imagine a cool song and scenes of them walking through the town OMFGSH >_> )

It was a good 30 minutes later by the time they finally got to the ethanol station; Kagemusha had opted to carry all of the fuel tanks, which consisted of 3, in favor of allowing Stryker quick access to his pistol and Locke quick access to the whip; both were better long range, and would be more useful in taking out somebody before they got there. Kagemusha's aim with the shuriken was nothing like it was in his younger days, and he rarely trusted himself to hit a target, much less rely on the tactic to defeat an opponent. The shuriken were more for trickery, distraction; it was Kagemusha's style. To his relief, nobody came, no guns blazed or swords were drawn, and no blood spilled, only tiny drips and droplets of ethanol that missed the containers. Once they were all three filled up, Kagemusha lifted two on his right shoulder and one on his left; the left arm had a touch of arthiritis.

The entirety of the walk through town seemed to be completely safe, though Kagemusha couldn't help but feel nervous at the hard glares of the man standing guard at the gate currently. It wasn't until they were right up on the rock that the car was behind that Kagemusha stopped in his tracks. Quietly, he set the containers down on the ground; during the walk through town he had shielded GOuki. A quick retrieval would mean more sound, but he was sure there were people waiting for them on the other side. He motioned for Locke to go around the right side of the rock, and Stryker to go around the left. As if telling them to move as well, Kagemusha took one baby step forwards, then jumped and kicked off when he hit the rock, propelling himself out into mid-air, Gouki's blade producing a slight glimmer as it emerged.

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Celes]: [ Whoops, forgot to say Black Jack stayed behind. >> ]

"…So how come /you/ can't do that?" asked Stryker as he turned to witness the explosive shuriken and Kagemusha kicking the table hard enough to send the people on the other side flying. Locke covered her ears and grimaced as she ran out; she despised loud noises.

"Well Ah'm a woman, what's /yer/ excuse?"

Even as the two of them looked back they didn't stop running; though Stryker longed to throw a few more punches and hurt more people, he knew he had to stick with Locke- she was, after all, dragging him along by the sleeve of his jacket. Stryker shrugged, ducking under a thrown chair as their little spark set the whole place on fire. It was a good thing they'd gotten out when they did, though both were concerned for the man they'd left behind. He did, after all, have their money; though Locke, rather sensitive for the line of work she was in, was worried they had bailed too quickly; what if they could help? Though the two of them were already around the corner, she slowed down eventually, seeing Kagemusha running behind them. Content, she sped up again, overtaking Stryker and reaching the car first, slamming into it to make herself stop. She wasn't even breathing hard, but Stryker seemed to be a bit out of shape; he vaulted himself onto the roof of the car, careful to watch out for the door handles, lest he find himself forcibly thrown back a few feet or so. He stretched out over the roof, his gun casually pointed in the direction from which they had just come, his head supported by one hand. He seemed almost lethargic, and was attempting to control his breathing; had he not, he would be huffing and puffing all over the place, and he just couldn't have that, now could he?

Emerging from the other side of the car where he had been sitting, Black Jack, who had been ordered to stay behind, emerged and sat next to the car's from bumper, looking fixedly in the direction of the town; should anyone come around that corner, he would be the first to tear their legs off.

Locke was incredibly surprised when Kagemusha handed her the large sum of money- it was the most she had ever seen at one time. Certainly she had amassed much more than this in her travels, but usually whatever they stole was spent immediately on food and supplies, or replacement parts for the car. It was expensive to maintain from their standpoint [which was almost perpetually 'broke as hell']. It seemed that now they wouldn't have to risk anything at the next town- Locke and Stryker ad never been there, but they had passed it a few times. Locke had never liked the sight of it; things were expensive there, she was told, and the place was too big for her tastes. Which meant more people, more loud noises, nor hustle and bustle. Prime conditions for pick pocketing, but she still hated to be bothered with such things. She had grown up in a sterile, virtually silent environment. The dirty conditions of everyday life disgusted her, but she could deal with them; but she still despised the noise. However…they had enough money to treat themselves to something nice once they were there. Maybe they could sleep in an inn instead of in the car for once. And then …well, to Locke, the possibilities seemed almost endless.

But back to the matter at hand. "Well noo, 's a lot more than we started oot wi'. Thank ye." She tried not to sound too amazed, but her expression, normally blank, betrayed what she was thinking. "See? I knew he was good all along. And you doubted me, you silly girl." Stryker chortled. Locke once again retained her impassive expression, adjusting the beret on her head. She listened briefly to see if they were being followed, as the others were, but everything seemed all quiet. Not wanting to unlock the car, Locke instead put the money in the trunk, taking about $500 along with her. Hopefully that would be enough. She instructed Black Jack to remain hidden until she called him unless someone tampered with the car. The dog found a spot not too far off, lying in wait. Gosh, I'm getting really tired of typing.

Blah blah blah they walk, but then liek they get back to the car and there's ppl rite wtf

Locke, who had had her whip held in her hand since they left the fuel station, kept it curled up in her hand, not heeding Kagemusha's signal. She instead looked to Stryker, who rolled his eyes when he was instructed; he knew what to do. She looked, as always, nonchalant, and did move. Stryker went on ahead, approaching from the left, his gun drawn as before, his index finger itching to pull the trigger. Locke's partnership with Stryker was symbiotic; Stryke, left alone when the rest of his gang had been either arrested or killed during a raid, had been wandering alone and with little to devote himself to, and terribly lonely. He hated solitude, and it seemed not many could stand his company for very long. Locke allowed him to travel with her and paid him to be a sort of bodyguard; rather, he got to keep what he stole if he chose to do so. So Locke got protection and the help of a great shooter, while he got companionship, a job to keep himself occupied, and a means to travel the world. Or, the continent, rather.

..Which all went to say that Locke did not fight when she did not need to. Stryker did her fighting for her.

She hung back while Stryker ran around the corner and Kagemusha attacked from above. There was indeed a group of the men from the bar waiting for them; they were prepared for Stryker but not for Kagemusha- they were taken completely by surprise when he made his assault. With their attention on him- all 6 of them- Stryker was able to pick one of them off before they regained their senses- he shot the man through the kneecap, confident he wouldn't be bothering them during the rest of the fight. While the others carried blades and clubs, it was Stryker who held the mightiest weapon of them all; he was careful with his shots though. He didn't have unlimited ammunition.

Hearing the commotion and growing both impatient and worried, Locke turned the corner to see the fighting going on. "Black Jack, come by 'ere! Come bye 'ere, boy!" With that call, the dog tore from his hiding place and then into one of the attackers, both heads grabbing one man by the arm and slinging him a few body lengths away. Locke stopped him from doing more damage, as Stryker and Kagemusha seemed to be handling things pretty well. She detested violence. Cracking her whip at the man who had nearly had his arm tore off [but never actually touching him] she watched him run away with the two of his friends who could still make it. Opening the vehicle up again, Locke made her way over to the passenger side. She could picture the slain men taunting her as they passed into the world of shadows. Telling her that if she wasn't a dirty thief none of this would have happened to them. Ah, it was just her conscious. Or the tremendous gap in her gray matter, either one. Stryker, his heart fluttering, was too stunned to inquire. He was grinning from ear to ear.

"Ach. Stryke, it's yer lucky day, could yeh be a canny good marra an' drive? Ah dinna feel up to it."

"FUCK YES." He was in the driver's seat before anyone else had a chance to get in the car, taking the keys from Locke when she handed them to him. "I mean….what's wrong?"

"Just a bi' of a headache is all. Be careful, woul' yeh?" Taking off her beret and tossing it onto the dashboard, Locke closed her eyes and slouched in the seat, sighing. Maybe she could use the rest of the money to get back on her feet, start some sort of business or something. It would sure beat stealing for a living.

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Kagemusha]: As he emerged from the tip of the rock, grasping the sheath of Gouki in his left and the sword in his right, he emitted a sound, along the lines of " KYAAAH!! " to draw their attention away from Stryker, who was moving around the side of the rock. Maintaining complete focus, a state of mental clarity, he put all of his resistance into his legs for the landing; it would be a tricky one. There looked to be 5 or 6 from what he could see when he first leapt off the rock, and his landing would most likely be on one of the men's faces. It seemed that way until the man quickly leapt to the side, abandoning his club on the dirt; there was a gunshot. Kagemusha landed, and turned to chase the man, but he was a good distance away. The Gouki held horizontally level in front of him, there was suddenly the beginnings of a sudden change in the winds movement, due to the blunt stick that was coming at his head from behind; with an almost instant reacion he turned into a crouched position, sending the long, slender blade of the sword straight outwards; it pierced into the shin of the attacker as the club swinging overhead missed, by atleast 5 inches.

Amongst the chaos, another gunshot had apparently occurred; Stryker had chosen apparently not to kill anyone, as there were now two men lying on the ground with gunshot wounds to the knees. One must have offended him, because Stryker had cared enough to waste the extra bullet and pop him in the other knee. Hell, with the money they had, he'd be able to buy enough ammunition to last him a while if he conserved it. The third man lay bleeding from his right shin, the large wooden club he had swung at Kagemusha lying a few feet from his body. In the distance, visible by the fire at the gate of the town, one individual could be seen scurrying in, followed by a duo, one limping slightly, and leaning on the others shoulder. Assured all was safe, and that nothing else was going to pop out to bite them, Kagemusha stood, taking a few steps over to the man he had disarmed and dismounted. Sheathing Gouki, to show he had no more intention of violence, he crouched, and spoke to the man.

" Now tell me, why you gonna try and jump me and my friends here.." it felt somewhat weird calling them friends so soon, but he didn't interrupt himself at a moment so critical to his mentality. "..plastered out of your mind, knowin' you're gonna be loud as hell. I smelled you fuckin' pricks before we were halfway to the car! Is this what your life amounts to? Living day by day in the slums, oppressed, and eating the lies that are fed to you from the table cloth? Spending the meager income you have on booze, abandoning your wives and children for a bar, for a drink, for that escape from all your problems... People like you are the reason why I am who I am, the reason what I'm doing what I must do. This is the highlight of your life, friend...you'll never walk on that leg again without surgery, and you'll need it soon...and you're bleeding pretty profusely...yes, this is the climax, the peak of your existence; lying bloodied on the desert ground. Heh, you probably -wish- I'd kill you..no, I don't think I have to. I think by sunrise the Wraith will have eaten you alive, passed you around and gnawed you to the bone..This was your legacy, your shot at meaning. You'll find soon if there's a Heaven, or if there's a Hell...I hope for your sake that neither exist. Now you face your death, and you must face it knowing it is attributed to the drunken stupor you so lovingly induce yourself with every time you have a problem...you've lived like a coward, so die like one. "

Kagemusha turned and stood up, speechless now, joining the others as they got in the car. There was nothing to say; it would've been more saintly to kill the man than to leave them all out there for the Wraith. Bloodied up, Wraith would most likely find them fast...A group of 3 or so scouts, most likely. They'd take the first one for themselves, but they'd go back and get more of their kind for the other two. Pass them around, not touching the vitals, sure to let them live as long as possible, to endure all of the pain they possibly could before they were eaten completely. It was a death that Kagemusha knew he would never allow himself to face, opting to take his own life before that happened. Silent for the entirety of the ride, Kagemusha simply stared out the window into the night sky, if you could call it that. For some reason, though, through all the clouds of smog and smoke and every ugly feature, something was still beautiful about life, even if only through Kagemusha's own two eyes. He knew there was still a reason to be here, even if he wasn't sure what it was. Somehow, he found himself switching off, his left hand idly rubbing the two-headed dog beside him. It was a monstrous beast, but a likeable one. The roar of the car's engine had remained in a constant pattern, driving at maximum speed across the gigantic makeshift highways rebuilt on earth. All of a sudden, Kagemusha felt a sense of safety he hadn't felt in a long time, in the company of these people whom he had only met earlier, and not even on good terms. It was almost as if the car was singing him a lullaby, calming him; he slipped into a state of euphoria right before his eyelids closed. The only thing he saw on the back of them was Miwa. ( U GET 2 LURN BOUT HER LATER LOL )

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Celes]: [ ………You said small. ]

"Weeellllp. I say we done pretty good for ourselves," said Stryker, the first to break the silence as usual. He didn't know whether or not Kagemusha and Locke were asleep, though he did not get an answer. Scoffing, he retorted to the silence, "Maybe I ought to fall asleep /too/. I bet you'd like that, would you? Then we can all rendezvous in dreamland. Not like there's anything to crash into out here anyway. I mean, look- couple…rocks, and some..dead trees. And they're not even right in front of me. Psh. You bunch of slackers. Locke, you didn't even do any work, all you did was stand around. I only heard that whip crack like once." He took his hands off the steering wheel to cover his face, his knees keeping the steering wheel in place. "Haha. Look ma, no hands. No eyes, neither." He stayed that way fpr a few seconds before he heard the car putter and slow down dramatically; it sounded like the engine as stalling.

"Oh shit! Locke, it wasn't me, I swear on my grandmother's grave." He put his hands back on the steering wheel and opened his eyes as wide as they could go. "Oh. Oh, wait. We forgot to put the fuel in 'er. You hear that Locke? You forgot! Tha's okay though, I pull over now."

Locke, who was awake by now and couldn't believe she had actually forgotten to fill up the tank, directed Stryker toward a large rock formation she saw off to her left; the car, still drifting along at about 80 miles, pulled to a stop near the rock; Stryker put it in gear and called Black Jack out of the back; the two of them acted as sentries. Locke took one of the fuel tanks out of the trunk and began to pour the ethanol into the car's fuel tank, looking up when she heard Stryker cry out. "Hey. There's some kind of c-"

Just then, there was a terribly loud roar; the sound of a car engine. There was just the sound- no headlights, no movement. Stryker grinned nervously and made his way back tostanding next to Locke, Black Jack following him. Locke gritted her teeth, unable to cover her ears, as she was still holding the fuel tank.

"......Yeah there's a cave over there." Said Stryker, his gun drawn, as was expected of him.



[Kagemusha]: The world was normal; the sky still blue, birds still fluttered around, chirping merrily, ignorant of the events to come. Small children ran and played in the streets, couples walked hand in hand down the sidewalks, businessmen in groups swept past chattering, talking loudly on cell phones. It was pre-apocaylpse Tokyo, Kagemusha's hometown. It was early in the day, around 1:00 PM or so, and the afternoon was at it's finest. There was a certain crispness to the air, that midsummers freshness about. Kagemusha inhaled deeply; he was a completely different image then. Long haired, wearing a loose t-shirt, a pair of shorts and sandals, no trace of Gouki to be found. He was young, and hadn't even met his master who would give him the Gouki before death. Only a student of a Jeet Kun Do master at the time, and he wasn't learning it to be tough, just for a hobby; it was like his version of lifting weights.

He stumbled around the busy section of town for a moment before he came to one of the older looking establishments, a shrine from the Feudal era, with two large lion statues serving as gate guardians. As soon as he turned the corner to walk through the entrance, he could swear he caught a glimpse of Miwa sitting there on the bench, smiling; it was his favorite smile in the world. However, Kagemusha quickly found himself in the backseat of a Charger, beside a large dog. The man in front was talking, a little loud. He didn't think it was necessary to start conversation, not even feeling like it; maybe it was because he thought that for some reason if he just kept his mind on the dream, it would return to him when he went back to sleep. That was the only place he was ever truly happy, the only place he could be with the one he loved. The only way he could ever see Miwa was in his sleep, and he had no problem being the man who lives in dreams.

Stumbling out, somewhat tired, of the car and into the open desert, Kagemusha let out a yawn, walking to the road to keep watch. Slightly groggy, he was surprised and agitated at the introduction of the roaring sound into the environment; ancient reflexes kicked in and Gouki was taken out in a split second ( but that's only because he's tired ), his eyes darting around the area. No headlights, no people running around, no guns or explosions. Then, largely thanks to Stryker, Kagemusha found the source of the noise. The roar of the engine was coming from the massive entrance of the cave that scarred the face of the mountain range a short distance from them.

" What the hell... " he said in agitation, wanting nothing more than but to go back to sleep. Apparently, he wouldn't be dreaming tonight.

********

" HOOYAH!!!!! "

The Army-green hummer emerged from the mouth of the cave at about 95mp/h, the bump at the entrance sending the SUV flying into the air, maintaining the airborne status for atleast 4 seconds. The mammoth automobile crashed down into the dirt, and the driver turned the wheel hard to the left, fishtailing the back end of the car 90 degrees, so that the drivers side window was now facing the entrance of the cave. A spotlight on the top, pointed straight ahead, blinked to life, a silhouette then appearing beside it; the light turned, aimed now at the cavern, displaying the Wraith currently running after the hummer. A good 25 feet away, and the spotlight being high grade enough to light up the entire distance, the wraith still had a little bit to go before they got to the car. Though the driver was still unaware he was in company, it didn't matter, nobody jumped in the middle of a fight with Wraith unless they were there to help.

A large sound was heard, metal scraping against metal, and then, he pulled the trigger; King was stationed in a roof-mounted M60 Turret, fully equipped with chainlink ammunition supplement system and recoil absorbance. The turret rotated to face the direction of the Wraith as he began firing, an excellent marksman, moving quickly and precisely to avoid wasting large amounts of ammunition. Though never breaking his string of fire, he managed to take down every last one before the string of bullets ran out, and the gun produced a loud clicking noise. Almost ready to duck back down into his hummer and take off, he saw one more running from the cave, and hopped straight off the top of the vehicle. Landing on both feet, it took only a moment for him to retrieve the massive handgun from it's holster, and then there was a boom; the echoing sound of a Desert Eagle firing one round into it's target. The Wraith dropped, and after waiting a few more seconds, King got back into his Hummer, sat the Desert Eagle in the passenger seat, and began to slowly drive off. It wasn't until he was right up on the trio fueling up their car that he stopped the machine.

One was fueling up the car, it looked to be a female, unarmed from what King saw. There was a gunner, but it looked to be a pistol or a handgun, though of a high caliber. Then there was a strange looking one; a cross between a pimp and a martial artist, holding a cane. Slowly King opened the driver's side door, his dark black steel-toe combat boot the first thing visible. Upon closing the door, the man walked over, now in the vicinity of the trio, and spoke to all of them, instead of one in particular.

" Hola! Admiral King Rodriguez of the United States Army, but you can call me King. Is there anything I can assist you with? "

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Celes]: While Stryker was intent on watching what was going on before him- and grinning like a little kid while he looked on- Locke instead emptied the remainder of the fuel into the car's tank, putting the container back in the trunk and slamming it closed. She wasn't as amused as Stryker; in fact. She wasn't amused at all. Not even the Charger, itself possessing 475 HP and a Hemi engine, made /that/ much noise. It was loud, but Locke had grown used to it. Besides, the cabin was well soundproofed; since she was usually on the inside of the vehicle, she barely heard the engine noise at all. But the roar of the Hummer's engine, and then the explosive sound of the gunfire was enough to drive her mad. Visibly agitated, Locke got into the Charger and slammed the door, turning on the car's high beams to better get a look at what was going on. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Locke wondered if it was a good idea for them to be sitting here; who knew what kind of person- or people- were driving that thing. With that kind of firepower, what if they decided to make a hostile takeover? She wasn't giving up her beloved Charger to anyone. When the gunfire stopped, Locke rolled down the window, looking first to Kagemusha, then over to Stryker. "Yeh think we ought'a jes' be sittin' 'ere? What if 'e's no' frien'ly?"

"Well it's a little too late now, since he's coming right at us, and we're not even in the car yet, or, like, moving, and he could just roll right over us with that big …beautiful..masterpiece."

"Ach! Tha' big ugly thing?" She didn't speak loudly this time, and what she said was, more or less, kept to herself. She put the car in Drive, though she kept her foot firmly on the brake. Even though she was ready to move the car if necessary, what Stryker said was true. No matter how fast the Charger was, the oncoming vehicle, be it a Hummer or a Yugo, was speeding toward them and could easily overtake the Charger from its current standstill position. Hopefully the stranger wasn't hostile; so far their luck had been good today. Maybe it would continue to be so.

When the Hummer stopped not far from them, Stryker was the first to greet the man, though not with the traditional 'hello'. "/Admiral King/ Rodriguez? /Someone's/ on a power trip. What's an Admiral King anyway? Shouldn't we be calling you Rodriguez? Call you King; psh, that'll be the day. That's a nice truck. My name's Stryker."

"Ge's aboot one gallon tae the mile, I'll wager." Locke put the car in park again and stepped out, her expression indicating that she was suspicious of the stranger. Black Jack came form the other side of the car and stood at her side, forcefully moving Stryker out of the way, though he was too busy admiring the truck to protest. She did not smile or attempt to look more friendly; her expression was also far form placid. Her brows were furrowed slightly, and she was frowning. "Wha' does tha' want?" she asked, seeing no logical reason for any stranger to just come over to her and as her if she needed any help. No one had ever done it /before/, and she did not expect it. She kept a hand on Black Jack's collar; the dog was growling softly, hackles raised and both sets of eyes locked on the stranger; however, the dog did not flash a single tooth. Locke would be glad when the stupid truck was shut off; even now, it was making too much noise. It seemed to be drilling into her mind, worrying the innards of her skull and making her headache worse. She was glad- sarcastically so- to see that Stryker had lowered his gun. What, was he to welcome this stranger with open arms? She was still wary about the /last/ guy they had picked up.




[Kagemusha]: King was convinced that he actually lost a little bit of literacy when Stryker made his inquiry. It was most likely a lost cause, so the newly entitled Rodriguez decided against explaining the fact his name was King. Kagemusha, however, took care of informing Stryker that, judging by the name patch on the man's uniform, his first name was King. Well, atleast Stryker liked the hummer. The truck still roared in the background, mainly because King had foreseen the situation as the norm; he would try to assist people, simply for the fact that they're fellow people, and they would be most ungrateful. He wondered what happened to being able to simply help someone, but then he remembered why all that stopped. That dreadful reality set in once again, and the thrill of the night had died down. It was back to boring life as everybody these days knew it. Deciding it was safe enough to turn the car off for now, he reached into his pocket, not retrieving anything, simply pressing a button on a small remote. The engine went into an idle state, completely silent, though pistons still moved up and down, ready to jump back into it's normal state in the need of a quick exit.

" Ten miles to the gallon city, if you can still find one to drive around in, and thirteen highway. The outer shell is composed of an amalgam of polished steel, high grade titanium alloy and flame resistant heat absorption plates to make sure she runs as efficiently as possible for as long as possible. Bulletproof up to the M1 caliber of bolt action rifle, it can achieve speeds of greater than 115 mp/h, and is capable of both high and low modes of 4-wheel drive. The Hummer can navigate virtually any terrain without error, and can carry loads in excess of up to 2 tons inside without breaking the axel. It's a rippin' roarin' beast of a vehicle and I wouldn't drive anything else. "

King took a second to catch his breath.


" What do I want? I remember already telling you, but I'll say it again. I'm here to see if you need any assistance. Well, I was here looting the cave you see to your southeast, until the wraith appeared. There were literally dozens and dozens of them down there, it was like a congregation. I thought about getting a few frag's from my girl(his hummer) and blowin' the bastards to bits, but one caught sight of me. I turned tail and led him through the cave until I shook him, but I knew he had to be pretty close behind me. So I got to my baby and jumped in and drove out of the foyer of the cave to the mouth, and then I stopped outside to take care of those lilly fuckers that were chasing me. Gave 'em a taste of some hot lead fed from the barrel of an M60 and that's when I met you guys. If all you were doing was taking a pit stop, then I'll let you be on your way. I might head back into the cave for a little bit, if things have cooled down, maybe try to get some more supplies. There's so many clips down there for the STEYR it's not funny. Then again, there is that other city. You guys heard of it? I forget the name, about 40 miles west of here and full of Wraith...it's a Dome structure, opened wide up though, barely any people left. There are plenty of supplies and ammunition for looting, and probably some good trouble to get into, too. If you guys feel like taggin' along, feel free to follow. "

With that he gave them a salute, turning on his heel in an army fashion, rotating 180 degress then walking to his truck. King took a seat inside, pushing in on the clutch and shifting the automobile into reverse, angling himself so that it was a straight shot to the road. Cautious to not kick up any dust, he drove out slowly until the vehicle was on the asphalt, then stepped on the gas, quickly shifting into second gear before he was even that far away, and locking the transmission, his only worry now keeping the steering wheel straight.

*******

" Stryker, I think he means his name is King. "

Kagemusha didn't like him.

The man was a generic brute, and at his announcement of his loyalty to the US Army, it was obvious he was American. Typical, loud and disrespectful to the environment of others, the man wore the regular camo uniform, with few bars under his nametag. Whatever he had done, he had done it once and done it so good they didn't need him anymore; if they let him retire with this equipment, they obviously wanted him taken care of. The man didn't seem particularly fast, or hostile, and there were no weapons in any visible holsters that Kagemusha could see. Still, once again, it all seemed a little too easy. Then again, so had Stryker and Locke, but so far they hadn't tried to deceive him. That is, unless they were right now. If that was the case they were doing a damn fine job.

It was almost physically painful to listen to the man babble on and on and on; the guy had no soldier buddies to tell his war stories to, so it was Kagemusha's place to suffer? Pfft. Then this man who called himself King was talking about something slightly more interesting; a city overrun by wraith, with anything up for grabs and only two bit thugs to stop you. This, Kagemusha thought, could be a very wise place to travel to. His senses got the better of him, and his mind suddenly went to " trap ". This guy had appeared randomly, offering help after he blasts things apart, seemingly absolutely fucking ecstatic like a five year old after going through a twelve pack of yoohoos(except for the sickness). This guy could be insane. When the man saluted and pulled off, before anyone else had the chance to speak, Kagemusha gave his input.

" I don't like him. "

When Kagemusha got in the car, he remained silent, his arms folded across his chest.

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Celes]: "Ooh, King. Right. Sorry."

Locke was amused by Stryker's folly, one corner of her lip drawing up in a half-hearted grin, though the gesture faded almost immediately. She leaned against the top of the door, looking just as bad-tempered as ever as she listened to King's explanation, growing more and more agitated the longer he talked. To her, the man was speaking of nothing; how could go on for so long about his truck? He was tooting his own damn horn, that was what he was doing. Stryker couldn't get enough of it, though; the man was obviously impressed, nodding when appropriate and throwing envious glances at the bulky truck. This guy talked more than Stryker did; at least when Stryker rambled on and on about something, it was usually to himself and about nothing important. Did this guy actually think that they wanted to hear him to through every detail about that ugly truck- its fuel efficiency, the gun on its roof? Well, everyone except Stryker seemed to be on edge about the stranger's presence; he seemed more interested in the vehicle though, less about the army guy that was talking to them. Locke glanced over her own vehicle, looking inattentive even though she was listening; from the way he spoke, it seemed that King had enjoyed getting rid of those wraths; the damned flesheaters.

It wasn't until he started to speak of the city that she looked at him again, immediately interested in what he said. A Dome city..? Infested with wraiths? Locke wondered how it had happened; the people inside were always so careful, perimeter control was always so tight. So how had it happened? Her expression became unreadable once more and she looked toward Stryker, who had, surprisingly, stopped smiling. He actually looked rather forlorn as King got into his truck and pulled away, though Locke had no idea why. Stryker knew exactly where the city was; he had grown up there, and had left 'Little Hokkaido' to 'make it on his own', but he hadn't forgotten [at least entirely] the people that he had left behind. Were they all dead, then? Stryker sniffed, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. He looked back toward Kagemusha as he spoke, brows raised, though his face was uncharacteristically placid.

"…That sad teh see 'im go, hinny?" asked Locke, though she doubted this seriously. She just hadn't known how to go about questioning the man. Come to think of it, she didn't know much about him; not where he had come from, not his real name. Not even his natural hair or eye color. He had never elected to tell and Locke had never asked. Perhaps she should.

"Nah, not at all. Just got sick of all his talking, that's all. I mean, geez, if I ever had to listen to someone ramble on like that on a regular basis, I'd shoot myself. Well we've got your input, Kagemusha, wha' d'you think, Locke?"

"Ah dunna…Ah'm no' too thrilled aboot headin' ta yon Dome city if i' overrun wi' flesheaters.." It wasn't just the wraiths that Locke feared, though that was half the reason why she didn't want to go. She hadn't been to a Dome city since she had left New Tokyo, where FNRI had been. Where her last 'home' had been; she was sure there was another laboratory in this new city, which made it all too similar to New Tokyo. But if they could gather much needed supplies from the city, then wouldn't it be a shame to deny her companions the chance to go there because of her own fears. Looking almost bewildered, Locke settled back into the car, sending Black Jack to get in on the other side. Stryker, who saw their good fortune, did not attempt to persuade her, though he usually would have done so. "Well?" he asked, and Locke nodded. She knew something was up, but she didn't want to question it, especially in front of Kagemusha.

"'urry up an' ge' in, then. Ah don' like tae folla." At that, Stryker smirked. Moving quickly, he leapt over the hood of the car, sliding over the right hand and getting in. As soon as he did, Locke slammed down on the gas pedal, lurching the car forward and turning in the direction the stranger had gone, sending it to 60 in under five seconds, throwing up dust and gravel behind them as they sped toward the Hummer, which was still visible even now. Locke didn't take her foot off the gas, and the Charger only continued to accelerate; even at top speed, the Humvee couldn't dream of keeping up. Locke sped past the vehicle. Stryker leaned back in his seat, leaning against the door, silent for now.

"Ah knaw thee has bad feelin's aboot this other man, Ka', bu' we can just steer clear o' him, aye? Maybe save oursel's a canny bit'a trouble."

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Kagemusha]: (I'm gonna keep King a little longer. I think I just need to develop him a little differently. Oh, an I'm assuming Locke's already gone <_< well I'm kinda making her already gone. So next post, if you want, can be about Locke, and some of Stryker, but I can take a good bit of this side of the story atm if you're busy.)

They waited at the entrance to the domed city for a good two hours before the humvee finally appeared off in the distance. King had taken it down to 65mp/h and kicked it into cruise, the Bose ACOUSTICs stereo system blaring Johnny Cash songs, enjoying the early morning sun that had appeared sometime during the drive. He could swear he had fallen asleep, but that was okay; intense nights at war had left him waking up at the slightest twitch of his wrist. Had the vehicle even veered from it's straight course, he probably would've woken up. After war, after the military, sleep wasn't the same; you didn't dream. You blacked out for a period...it was never about being tired. A real soldier never tires when the war is still afoot; atleast, that's what they told him in his basic training. No, in war, sleep was like losing a little bit of your life amongst the chaotic memories. It was to the point where King didn't even know if he slept anymore...it seemed like he just let his mind wander into temporary dazes.

" Well, they sure got here early. " he said, noticing the three standing at the dome off in the distance. The ground around the truck literally began to shake as he kicked it up a gear, the humvee(I guess since it's miltary and all I should call it that instead of hummer) roared to life, the engine leaving it's idle state of cruise, pistons pumping rapidly, the DOHC barely able to keep the beast under control. It was at truly formidable opponent in the form of a vehicle; artillery, speed ( atleast able to outrun but the quickest of wraith ), and few rifles left on earth save for perhaps a few sniper rifles could penetrate the truck's glass. For the metal exoskeleton, however, it would take a gun with the firepower of an M1 caliber rifle, which were declared extinct after the second world war. Bolt-action never was any fun.

Slowing down as he arrived a good 15 feet away from the other group, he was surprised to only see Kagemusha and Stryker. Locke had apparently wandered off somewhere, and had perhaps taken the Charger with her. King stepped out of the vehicle, leaving the door open; he didn't speak to either Stryker or Kagemusha. Hastily moving to the third door of the vehicle (his is the model where the front is 2 seats with a center console, two bucket seats in the back with the third row seats folded down to create a bed for his supplies), he opened it up and leaned inside, half of him visibly disappearing inside of the humvee.

Lying before him were a plethora of small wooden crates, some leaking ammunition, others leaking small strands of a tan colored hay. It was synthetic grass, used to cushion percussion and concussion grenades, assuring they didn't misfire and explode inside of the humvee at a bump. With the amount of firepower in here, it could probably blow an entire small city up. Strung up on makeshift racks on the opposite side of the hummer(on the right side, the only accessible entrance is the front passenger; for the second row of seats, one must enter via the left side) were 3 different weapons, all of them nearly equal in size. The first was what looked like a shotgun (wiki : Benelli M4 Super 90), designed by an Italian group founded by the original entity Benelli. It was the standard in tactical assault for any sort of task force. Next to it was an Austrian weapon; the Steyr Aug. Futuristic in appearance, the gun was rather short for a full convertible automatic rifle; with single, rapid and ballistc(burst) fire modes, the bullpup machine gun was a force to be reckoned with, standard equipped with a 2.5x zoom, top-mount(wiki: Steyr AUG, main gun made by Steyr company). The third weapon was a Dragunov Sniper Rifle, more commonly known as the SVD; the first efficient sniper rifle with semi-automatic fire mode instead of bolt-action, with a scope that could achieve up to 30x zoom, and was adjusted via switches, rather than dials. Instead of utilizing mechanical functions, the designers(note: RUssians) chose to use electricity for the scope, and with this great leap of faith, they created the top choice for sniper rifles in reconnisance(sp?) missions throughout the world. King lifted the Benelli and the Steyr Aug into the two bucket seats one row ahead, and lifted one of the small boxes of grenades into the floorboard. Exiting the rear of the vehicle, he closed the door, and looked to Kagemusha and Stryker.



" You wanna ride? " King queried the two.


Kagemusha only nodded, reluctantly, and while Stryker wasn't jumping the gun to get in, he seemed a little less apprehensive. Stryker went to the front passenger seat and got in beside King, while Kagemusha positioned himself in the left back seat, Gouki positioned so that if the man in front pulled anything, the blade would travel straight through the chair into his chest. He felt uneasy already. For the first few minutes of the ride, they drove along a straight highway that separated the entrance from the actual bulk of the town; they had seen no wraith yet, but buildings were lit up. Civilization still existed, even amongst the wraith, somehow. Stryker was the first to break the silence, and then a conversation between King and himself ensued.

S: " So how fast does it go? "

K: " 150mp/h is the highest known top speed, but I've never taken it over 125. "

S: " Pfft, the Charger can outrun this thing anyday. "

K: " So I've seen. "

Then there was another silence. Though both Stryker and King seemed to have other things on their minds, Kagemusha kept his eyes on the roadside; he swore he saw a small child in an alleyway, but they disappeared into the darkness before he could tell if it was real or just his mind playing tricks on him. It wasn't until the third or fourth weird look that Kagemusha started having a strange feeling.

S: " So if it doesn't go fast, what's it good for? "

K: " Because when you're driving this, there's no need to run. "

Kagemusha nearly felt like slapping both of them, though not sure why, the conversation they were having annoyed him. Perhaps it was because it had been a while since anyone cared to converse with Kagemusha, but he wouldn't let himself think that. He simply kept staring out the window, trying to figure out why the people here looked at them so weird, and why they hadn't seen a single wraith yet. It was strange, because at that moment, Stryker asked King the same question.

S: " Where are all the wraith at? I thought they run this place. "

K: " The wraith don't run the city, the humans do. "

S: " Well how are they all alive if the wraith have infested the city? "

K: " For the same reason you're still alive, after all your wandering. "

" The people here are strange. " it was the first thing Kagemusha had said the whole time.


King inquired, " What do you mean, strange? ", though Kagemusha went back to his state of silent observation; he didn't want to make any claims before he knew if he was wrong or right, but he knew one thing for sure, and that was that the people in this town didn't act like the people in other towns. Stryker and King started conversing again, with the conversation concluding at Stryker asking if it was okay if he perched in the M60 mount, and King telling him it was fine, just not to fire without being fired upon first. It was key to maintain a state of neutrality until attacked first in a place like this, otherwise, you might end up on the bad side of both sides. Kagemusha started to doubt there was even more than one side, and he almost had his finger on it, but couldn't bring himself to tell the others about his theories on the townspeople. The humvee continued to buzz along the streets, taking sharp turns at some places, running at a decent 45mp/h. They were scanning the town for buildings that looked like they could be home to valuables, but so far, they weren't sure if any even existed.

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Celes]: As soon as the Dome city loomed on the horizon, Locke had slowed the Charger noticeably, never pressing down on the brake but lifting her foot off of the gas pedal. Although she seemed alright, she was apprehensive; she was worried about what would happen when they got to the city, and she was worried about the soldier- he would inevitably catch up to them, though perhaps they would be within the city and he wouldn't even know they were there. Perhaps they could avoid him. She was also worried about Stryker; even now, he wasn't speaking, and she knew that was not at all normal for him. He didn't just all of a sudden go quiet for no reason; she had only seen him do that a few times before, each time after he'd killed someone when they made a robbery. Yeah, he felt bad after that sort of thing, even though he was all gung-ho when it came time to use his weapon. If only for a moment, he went over his actions, asked himself had the killing been necessary. In the five cases he had needed to do so, he decided all but one was necessary. Well. Necessary enough, anyway. Locke asked him if he was okay, and he only responded that he was a bit tired.

Locke seemed satisfied for the moment, but she knew it was more than that; however, she had other things on her mind. Even though she had slowed down considerably, they still reached the city rather quickly. However, Locke stopped the Charger before they actually entered the depths of the city, looking fixedly at a dilapidated building that stood about 10 meters ahead of them. They had stopped right in front of a monstrous crack in the surface of the dome; the building was a guardhouse. Beside it lay the wrecked remains of what looked like a patrol car. Locke didn't see anyone, which was a good thing. The Charger rolled forward a few feet, then stopped. "What now?" asked Stryker, sounding irritated; he was eager to get going and Locke was being her usual self. Often he felt she was too timid for her lifestyle, but the woman always managed to pull through. Locke was not really afraid to enter the city; since there seemed to be no one about, she was relieved; she was, however, eager to go to the lab. She did not want the others to go with her, though; why would she? She didn't need anyone else to know her problems; Stryker knew she had been a test subject at one point in her life, but he didn't know for how long or exactly why she was a test subject. Those things didn't hadn't interested him.

"Maybe we should hev a look 'round forst." It was an unusual thing to say. Look around? Why?

"But you ca-"

"Ge' gooin'!"

Locke put the car in park and stepped out, leaving Stryker and the other to color. She didn't move away form the car door, and when Black Jack started to jump out of the car, Locke called his attention to her ands stopped him from getting out. "Yeh stay put." While Stryker and Kagemusha began to fan out to scout the area, Locke dropped back into the driver's seat, sighing. 'They'll be fine,' she thought, and hoped she was right. Shutting her door, Locke put the Charger in drive and slammed down on the gas, lurching the vehicle forward and farther into the city.

Surprised, Stryker started after her, realized she was already going 60 and that he likely wasn't going to catch up, stopped. "Hey, wait..! Where you goin'? Awh baby, was it something I said? Ugh." He looked to Kagemusha. "..I blame you." No, he really didn't, but he said he did. Stroking his goatee thoughtfully, Stryker sighed, and sat down cross-legged where he was, looking cross. "Maybe she'll come back. She loves me, you know. But I am /such/ a tease."

Meanwhile, back at the batcave…

Locke hadn't taken long to find the city's laboratory; the building- nearly twice the size of the lab in New Tokyo- was the only pristine white structure, its domed makeup matching that of the city's. She hadn't seen anyone on the 20 minute drive it had taken her to get there, and so she felt safe leaving the car parked right near the entrance of the structure. She still locked it up, though, after taking a flashlight from the trunk. Locke had left her whip behind in favor of the night stick; coupled with Black Jack, she had a pretty good defense going if something came up. Looking up at the building, Locke hesitated, wondering what sorts of things she would find there. Just being here brought back bad memories, making her shiver; she tried to recall happier times, but she couldn't think of anything. "Ach, Tink', Ah'm sorry, i's me, no' you," she said to no one in particular, walking into the building. She pushed one of the sliding doors aside and entered, instantly turning on the flashlight. Daylight did not penetrate the structure; there were no windows to let in the light. Probing the dusty, neglected insides of the building with the flashlight, Locke at first found nothing. There were several levels to the building; she would just have to check them all. Her progress was slow; she could only think of what had transpired while she had been an inhabitant of a place such as this.

"Ah'd rathe' hev a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy," she said to Black Jack. Perhaps if she had told the scientists they would have listened to her. The woman cackled once she said it, though the sound, which echoed through the halls, was quickly cut off. Something moved; Locke trained her flashlight on the figure of a rat, scurrying cautiously across the hall and into a room. The thing was monstrous by its species standards, nearly a foot and a half long, not including its tail; Locke had to remind Black Jack to stay on course. Locke's pace increased; she wondered what she would be like now if she hadn't had her behavior surgically altered. She'd always been terribly irritable and disobedient when she was here, likely from all the tests and chemicals she had to endure, and the boredom of remaining behind bars with nothing to do all day had nearly driven her mad. She was a fighter, oh yes. At least until she became too much trouble for the lab. There were others, she knew; several others, some of which had the good fortune to be incorporated into a sort of society, to see how well they adapted to that sort of life, being what they were. Locke hadn't been one of the luckier ones. Locke's pace was almost at a run now; it was about five minutes before she found what she was looking for, on the second floor. The 'Radiation Room' was the term for the division of the lab that dealt with 'her' kind.

[continued on next post]

 

[KoNaStAr]

So her suspicions were confirmed; FNRI wasn't the only place where this happened. After a thorough search, Locke found detailed reports of some of the procedures done in this laboratory; physical and mental conditionings of all sorts, neurosurgery, products testing, dissection; all manner of horrible research. Locke had been hoping it had been a confined science; something that only happened in New Tokyo, and only to her and the few others that had been in the same situation. Apparently the business had expanded; 'her kind' were as good as animals to these people. Angered, Locke growled and kicked over a desk, doing the same to a chair that was in the way. Black Jack, having never seen his mistress so angry, whined. When Locke heard him, she stopped. Patting him on the head, she made to leave the lab and returned to the car, feeling surprisingly numb. She hated this place. Unlocking the car and letting Black Jack in, Locke practically dived into the driver's seat and took off, bulleting the car in the direction she had come from. She felt bad; she felt terribly guilty. Her head was pounding, the pain constantly throbbing and frequently sharp on top of that. She had left Stryker and Kagemusha behind; what if something had happened to them? It would be her own fault and no one else's if they had been hurt or killed. Trying not to think about the worst-case scenario, Locke began to sing.

"Well who's that shouting?
John the Revelator!
All he ever gives us is pain
Well who's that shouting?
John the Revelator!
He should bow his head in shame.

Right, Black Jack?"

The dog, confused, tilted his heads to the side, whining and thumping his tail against the seat. John the Revelator had not been /his/ tormentor.

After confirming that the two hadn't been killed at the site where she had let them, Locke evaluated the tire tracks on the ground; they hadn't been there when she had come in, nor were they her own. The humvee, then? Locke sped in the direction that the tracks led her, following first the humvee's tire tracks in the direct, then the tracks left on the street by the dirt. After a while, she heard loud gunshots, the very same made by that gun atop the humvee. Even from this distance it made her want to strangle the shooter. Locke raced in that direction, luckily not too far off.

Meanwhile, in the Fortress of Solitude…

Stryker grinned, snickering guiltily. "Sorry! Sorry. I uhm, I got a little excited. I mean look at them, they're….they're scary, man." He had been seeing glimpses of people while they had been driving, and hadn't been able to do anything the whole time; he had been told not to fire unless fired upon. So when he saw the group of about 15 men standing ahead of them, blocking the path of the humvee, obviously he fired at them. It had been only a few rounds, aimed a few yards in front of the people. The group backed up a little, but did not break. The humvee slowed to a stop about 12 meters away. The people didn't exactly look friendly; each one was holding some sort of melee weapon, and none of them looked at all welcoming.

"Leave here, you filthy travelers. There's nothing here for you. There are wraiths about; we'll fetch them and bring them here to tear you apart if you don't hit the road."

At that precise moment, the roar of an engine could be heard a little ways off; after a moment, the Charger came speeding into view, stopping perpendicular to the humvee, behind it. Locke, relieved to see Stryker and Kagemusha, jumped out, Black Jack following her. k so like king and Kagemusha were out of the humvee right and Locke went to stand next to Kagemusha k? k.

"I've been to the land of shadows and I saw the light. When I did, they kicked me out and told me they didn't want me there anymore. I'm never sure where the cat goes, but I hate to be without him." At that instant, she lacked any type of accent, her expression not so much impassive as it was completely blank. Although she had been looking directly at Kagemusha, she turned to stare vacantly at the people who stood before them in mid-sentence; they stared right back at her.

"…Come again?" asked Stryker, from his perch at the top of the vehicle.

"Wha'?"

" 'Land of shadows'? 'Light'? 'Cat'? …'The'? What're you talking about, you crazy woman? Don't you see now's not the best time to take a trip to la-la land?"

"..Ah …don' remember what Ah said or what Ah was doin'. Hello, Ka'. Wha's happenin'? Who are these people?"

"We live here," said someone in the crowd, an older man holding a machete. His voice was kind, though just moments before he had been talking of feeding the strangers- the three men, specifically- to the wraiths. "Are you with these three barbarians, young lady?" he asked.

"An' if Ah am?" asked Locke testily; how dare he call her friends barbarians?

"You can stay here; you're like us, we can tell. And we know that you can tell what /we/ are. But they have to leave or be killed. We prefer the latter," said the old man, chuckling derisively.

"Yeh basstard," was all Locke could say, gritting her teeth. She didn't like the look of this group; she knew precisely who they were. And now they had hinted at what /she/ was; would the others notice? Undoubtedly someone would. Locke sighed.

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Kagemusha]: ( In case you're wondering, they can discuss all this dialogue and such and questions about Lockes origins when they arent about to die >_> I'm really confused on what to do, so I opted to just go for the combat side instead of starting dialogue when people are all like " leav or b kiled. " yknows <_< Don't think it's because I'm not paying attention to the crazy shit spouted just now, or the part about " you're like us ". Kagemusha'll ask later maybe >_> but for right now..yeah you get me. Edit of post-post(lol) comments: I think I figured somethin' out, so I'm goin' with it. It avoids me typing some huge combat scene. Edit: Damn I got stuck. >_>)

Well, there were a lot of them. King had guns, with plenty of ammunition, and a trunk full of explosives, but 15 men could rush down on the four of them before they even got one grenade off. Not to mention these people had the backup of the wraith. A sticky situation, something Kagemusha was used to, though disliked greatly; this was indeed a pinch. Kagemusha could move in a room full of men, but this was in the middle of the street, with plenty of room to jump around, and every single one of them could have a gun on their backs. So many possibilities, so many angles, so little time to consider options. Through all the dissection, it boiled down to two options; fight, or leave. Though leaving would be the safest option, for some reason, it seemed like the farthest out of reach, as well. Stryker was in the turret and could take down a good 3 or 4 of them before they scattered, but these people would be fast; Kagemusha doubted it was the first time they had done this type of thing. Gouki was clasped tightly in his right hand, his left slightly out in front of him, gesturing a barrier between him and the angry mob.

They had come to the town to obtain much-needed supplies(nt rly ther rich lol), and hadn't done so yet. Leaving would mean actually leaving, for if the people found them back here after they claimed to have left, it would be the other option automatically; bloodbath. Kagemusha pondered if it would be his best bet to leave, but then one thing the man said played again and again in his mind.

"...But they have to leave or be killed. We prefer the latter. "

That declaration was what made Kagemusha decide to stand his ground, and maybe King and Locke, too. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Stryker grasping the large machine gun, his finger twitching at the trigger, ready at any moment to emit a constant stream of led at the enemy. It didn't appear he had any intentions of backing down. Looking to King, now, his expression was the same was it was every other time they saw him. That same bland look, that led one to believe there wasn't really anything going on inside that head of his; Kagemusha hardly knew him but already felt he wouldn't be the one to declare war on these people in front of them. Almost sure Locke wouldn't, it seemed that it was up to either Stryker or himself, and a quick glance to Stryker, returned back to him quickly, led Kagemusha to believe Stryker was thinking the same thing. Stryker's view shifted somewhat to the right, and he nodded in that direction; Kagemusha turned to see Locke walking off, seemingly back to where the Charger. The man in the turret then looked back to the swordsman, and gave another nod, as if to nudge Kagemusha forwards. Locke walking off had roused the people, some inquiring, but he wasn't listening; instead, he removed Gouki from it's sheath in a rather fast manner, both hands now placed firmly on the handle, the blade angled downwards across his body, the tip almost touching the ground to his right side. It was the perfect offensive/defensive position, for the ease of bringing the higher end up just barely to dodge nearly any blow at any level of the body, and the simplicity of bringing it up in a slashing motion.

" I'm afraid we can't leave. If killing us is what you gotta do... "

He took his first step, leaping forwards now. Perhaps a wrong move, though he would soon find out.

" ...good luck! "

The strange thing was, the people in front still didn't rush forwards, didn't take defensive stances. Kagemusha completely stopped, wondering what was going on until he saw one of them look up, somewhere behind Kage. Though he only caught a glimpse, he could tell by the way the thing disappeared from the small rooftop that it was Wraith, and maybe it was only a bad feeling, but he was sure more were on their way now. Then, the old man spoke again, this time in that grim tone.

" No, no. /We/ won't kill you...but you know what will. As you said to me, swordsman. Good luck... " and with that, using almost superhuman agility, the group before them fled, disappearing into the alleyways littering each side of the street, into total darkness. Nobody had to say anything, because the action that followed was carried out simultaneously by everyone; they ran.

Locke tore off in the Charger in reverse, stylishly spinning the front of the car around 180 degrees and speeding around a curve off into the bowels of the city streets; Kagemusha dashed to the rear of the Humvee and hopped into the third door on the passenger side, where the guns were. Foreign tools, he thought, but perhaps more useful in the event that 5 wraith were on top of you. King got in the front simultaneously, the engine roaring to life out of idle, all four wheels working together to spin the humvee around almost the full 180 degrees. As soon as they peeled out, Stryker turned the M60 turret and Kagemusha stared out the rear hatch(which he had open, let's say, for my sake >_>) at the onslaught of Wraith tearing rapidly across the pavement torwards them. Some of the faster ones would be able to keep up, but Stryker would keep them at bay.

A large thud brought Kagemusha's focus back inside of the car, and he looked down to see a gun laying beside him that hadn't been there before; he wasn't sure what it was called(it's the Steyr AUG, King tossed it back to him because it's the only automatic), but from the looks of the amount of ammunition in the clear hard plastic clip, it was an automatic rifle. Momentarily relinquishing his grip on Gouki, he grasped the handle of the bullpup in his right hand, propping the barrel on the bottom half of the rear hatch, and leaned into the scope; he saw a last glimpse of the wraith before they sped around the same corner as Locke, putting a very short distance between the wraith and the vehicle.

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Celes]: Locke checked the rear view mirror again, looking behind her for signs of the humvee. Everyone seemed to like traveling with King better, so she had figured they would be all too happy to jump in with him. His vehicle had been closer to them, anyway; she took the sight of the vehicle speeding around the corner as a good sign, assuming that King, who apparently wanted nothing more than to help them, had waited for Kagemusha to get in. She couldn't see through the humvee's windshield but she did see Stryker sitting on the roof, now turning himself to face forward. She never got to see any of the wraiths chasing them; she sped around another corner and onto a straight stretch of road, prepared to slam down on the gas but realizing that she would leave the humvee behind. Well, she supposed it could keep up at least to 70 mph or so, so Locke's speed did not exceed 90. They were heading almost opposite the direction in which they had entered the city; she didn't know this place at all- how did they get back? She didn't know. Perhaps she could find a place to hide? Locke wasn't going to leave the Charger sitting just anywhere now; the wraiths weren't stupid. They would trash the vehicle if they found it, especially since its exoskeleton wasn't as strong as the /humvee's/. Jealous, much?

Locke gazed in the rear view mirror again, seeing Stryker waving halfheartedly at her. Locke flashed her high beams, causing the brake lights to light up when she did. They would keep following her, she knew, but she could avoid the, if she needed to; she could find a way out of the city and go out on her own. Why not? The two were probably safer with King, and she didn't know if they even wanted to remain with her anyway. She couldn't tell if any of them had drawn conclusions from what the mob leader had said, but they weren't stupid. Stryker probably wouldn't mind being a permanent fixture atop the humvee, manning the ..whatever kind of gun King had said it was. And Kagemusha? She didn't know if he was going to travel with them; she hadn't even planned for him to stay /this/ long; hell, he didn't even talk to her. The last human-inhabited city had been full of hostiles, so she couldn't have left him there. And this city was no good either. Things kept turning up; she had planned to drop him off somewhere along the line but it seemed things never turned out her way. They hadn't been able to get the supplies; they could pay for them but she doubted the townspeople would be willing to take their money. She had probably destroyed any chance of good relations with them when she had turned her back on them. Locke pondered leaving the three to fend for themselves- which they would undoubtedly do well- and take off on her own. She'd probably do better off alone; Black Jack was there anyway. Then she wouldn't have to worry about anyone but herself; because that was all that really mattered in the end. Right?

But she couldn't leave them. Scoffing, Locke continued to scan the buildings for signs of life and for signs of places to hide. Life outside one of the dome cities for a woman alone was no kind of life anyway; she'd be better off back at FNRI. After a short drive- perhaps ten minutes or so- the street curved dramatically, presumably to circle around the dome. If she followed the road long enough, she could probably circle around to the other side of the city and get out of here. But for now, they needed a place to hide. She was tired, hungry, and sick of driving. Fortunately, she saw what she was looking for- well, close enough, anyway. The Charger slowed down to about 40, turning to go into an expansive parking garage. The ramp led them underground, though Locke was uncomfortable with that; the Charger's headlights came on automatically and she scanned the area, but the darkness did nothing for her nerves. She didn't stop until they had reached the fifth level of the 10-story building, which, though it was a parking garage, was pretty much void of other vehicles, though there were a few others. She pulled the vehicle off to the right, out of the driveway and over a row of parking spaces. The lighting was better here; there was no one else on this floor. They had a better vantage point as well, and the garage was enclosed on one side by another building to which it was connected; there were no other tall buildings around, so the wraiths- if there were any around- shouldn't have been able to see them.

Locke turned off the vehicle's engine and the headlights, looking around. The garage had been built to hold an immense amount of vehicles, so there was plenty of space to move about. K so presumably the hummer pulls up near her and junk. Stryker leapt down from the top of the humvee and walked over to the Charger, leaning his back against the rear door as he talked to Locke. "Ah guess this place'll 'ave t' do," said Locke. The two of them were, more or less, talking amongst themselves.

"Yeah, I suppose so. For a minute there I thought you were going to leave us behind, way you tore out of there."

'Yeah, me too,' though Locke. "Well Ah didn'," she said testily, pushing her door open and getting out of the Charger. She opened the trunk and moved around to grab a bottle of water from one of the cases she had in the back; the trunk was bare of food. It had been amongst some of the supplies she and Stryker had meant to gather. She left it open in case anyone else wanted to have a drink, mostly because she didn't want to hear anyone's mouth. Sharing wasn't a trait she had developed well, especially being raised where she had been. The conditions in which she had to live now didn't help, either. Locke, wanting to avoid the others altogether, called Black Jack to come with her and moved away from the group, first taking her flashlight and whip from the car. She didn't know where she was going, but she would rather not hear anything the rest of them had to say about what had just happened. The woman moved toward the staircase of the garage, which was a lengthy walk across the empty floor. She didn't know what kind of building it was connected to, but maybe she could find something there. She didn't care what it was, as long as it kept her occupied. She doubted she'd find any rest staying close to the others, so why bother?

 

[KoNaStAr]

[Kagemusha]: A great relief washed over Kagemusha as the humvee pulled in one space to the right of the other vehicle, allowing him to release his grip on the firearm, which he tossed back into the trunk area as he took the Gouki up from the floor. From what he could see as he exited the rear left of the vehicle, they seemed to be safe, atleast for the time being. King had not yet exited the vehicle, and seemed to be stretched out in the front seat, with the radio blaring, some racket where a man with a scratchy voice talked about a ' ring of fire '. Music had never been Kagemusha's thing, though he wasn't really opposed to any of it, it just never entertained him. That had always bothered him, because every single person he met thought it had to mean something; the guy couldn't listen to music just because he didn't want to, now he had to justify it. He was pretty sure King would be the type to start with all of that. Locke seemed to disappear after talking to Stryker for a short while, who seemed to be content sitting on the floor with a dirty rag laid out, cleaning his weapon. Best to find his own place to wander off to, he thought.

When he turned to walk away, the large green sign with a white number 5/10 on it led Kagemusha to the conclusion they were on the 5th floor of 10. Maybe the top floor would be an open one, and with a little decent lighting, he could stand up there and look out over the city. It would also prove a nice place to watch for anything that might be headed their way, assuming nothing already was. Slowly he walked over to the ramp up to the next floor, situated right beside the ramp they had just come up, and began hiking up it, using the Gouki every other step. It wasn't tiredness, not exhaustion, just that aching feeling that crept up in your muscles after moving around all day. Never bothered him until he got over the hill, which he still denied to this day that he even had. In his own mind, Kagemusha was still the young, physically pristine mint condition swordsman and martial arts master; he didn't think of himself as having faded over time, he thought of the years as more experience, all of it making him stronger. Only at the 8th floor now, he was already starting to lose his breath, and his pace began to dull down, although slowly.

So far, so good, he had run into no trouble and was nearing the 9th floor. The floor in question was very well-lit, and completely silent, but you never knew when one of those Wraith could appear. Kagemusha was fast on his feet and even faster with his hands, but those things didn't move like people...they could maneuever in ways we could only dream of. If one snuck up on him, it could mean certain death, and dying in a place like this was far from worthy of a samurai. Though he knew in his mind nothing would be there, he poked the tip of his cane around the corner to the next up-ramp before he made his way up it. When he finally emerged, it was confirmed that the top was an open floor, with the exception of a small concrete room where the next ramp would've been located. It was as if he had been half-expecting to see a beautiful sky, because when he emerged, the near complete darkness surrounding him disappointed him. Save for the blinding glow of the flourescents that hung on chains from poles stretched across the length of the lot, there was darkness surrounding him to the top, and sides. Maybe in another city like this, where the " sky ", if you could call it that, still functioned, and there was atleast the glow of lights from all the buildings, the moment wouldn't have mattered so much, but for some reason, Kagemusha felt as if he had somehow let himself down. Deep down, he knew he couldn't have the time of day for thoughts or feelings like this, because in this world they lived in, it could drive a man insane.

The state he was in felt almost ethereal, close to dream-like. A soft but constant buzzing noise was emitted from above, the flourescent lighting, no doubt. Kagemusha wandered over to the edge of the floor, to the concrete wall and alluminum railing atop it, keeping Gouki close at hand, ready at any moment, but he wasn't sure if he'd even need it. All of a sudden that feeling crept up on him, and he began wandering; What am I doing here? Another fucked up situation that has nothing to do with me and could've been avoided completely. What the hell am I doing, where am I even headed? He wished that question had an answer, but so far, he hadn't found it. It was times like these he had to remind himself that life was the same as this before the war. Nobody had any real purpose, life was the same as it is now, just people living day to day. Path of the samurai? What path? He didn't even know if he had the right to call himself samurai anymore. Maybe he was just the same as everyone else, another asshole tough guy robbin' his way through. Perhaps a moment of self discovery was to occur on this very rooftop! Perhaps Kagemusha would find himself, had the thought of robbery not reminded him of their sole purpose of traveling to this city. He wondered why it hadn't occurred to him before.

Taking one last glance over the railing, Kage(yeah, might start calling him Kage sometimes) turned quickly to make his way back to the concrete building he had seen at the entrance of the floor. Though there probably wouldn't be much inside that was all that useful, it wasn't like he had anything else to do, and it never hurts to look. While hopeful the door would have been unlocked, he doubted it very much, and it was a good thing he did, because the motherfucker was locked. Though Gouki was definitely in good enough condition to simply slice the entire locking mechanism out of it, the circumstances of the situation ( see note : Kagemusha feeling inferior after breathing heavily walking up parking garage ) led him to use his foot to kick it down. While not all that painful, it did emit a large cracking sound, which Kagemusha hoped had not come from his own leg, and hadn't, judging by his ability to walk still being in tact. As soon as the foot used to kick the door down landed on the ground, he moved into a defensive jeet kune do stance, though it was pointless. The room was around 12x8 feet, with a small desk attached to the wall, and a large shelf lining the entire opposite wall of the entrance. On the wall opposite the desk was a large wooden board with many pieces of paper tacked on, blotched with pictures of children here and there. The television on the desk was a newer model, definitely purchased since the war, but had gathered a lot of dust; whoever resides here hadn't been in a while. Immediately Kagemusha decided it was best to check the large shelf for supplies, and began scanning the ones at eye level first. The only real items of use he came across and decided to sit on the desk to take before he left were a heavy duty flashlight(HARDCORE METAL TO THE MAX >_>!!!!!), a box of bullets, though he had no idea what kind or what gun they were for, and one rather pecuilar item. It was a portable safe, around 1x1x1(perfect cube >_>) and weighing, Kagemusha guessed, around 15 pounds, though 10 or 11 of that could most likely be attributed to the safe itself. A metal handle was attached to the top, right next to the keypad for the combination input.

" Probably be best to let Stryker and the others have a look at this first... " he said to himself, stashing the bullets and flashlight in his coat pocket, and grabbing the safe in his left hand, taking Gouki in his right. Even with a heavier load now, atleast he was going down instead of up.