The Marauders, Hammers and Hunters go Gang Hunting
Chapter 6 — Gang Policing — The Marauders, Hammers and Hunters go Gang Hunting — Ulleam 6th Ebinar
When the truck pulled into one of the parking spaces outside Duggie’s new home, he saw Hemma, Beatrice and Damien sitting on the ground with a couple of the people he had seen when they had arrived.
Also sat on the ground was Gary, Lara, Dean, Michelle and the four they had seen when they had gone to get the truck along with Ithian. Jaboc and Duggie walked towards the group where Duggie said in street Jarrzarian, “It is good to see and meet new people and soon to be new friends if only for a short time.”
Jum looked over and replied also in street Jarrzarian, “You are the gent we saw earlier, may I say it is also pleasant to meet you too.”
“Great,” said Jaboc.
“Sorry Jaboc,” Duggie said in Basic, and the pair sat down.
“Can I take it you are Claire’s dad?” Ithian asked.
“Yes I am,” replied Duggie and he smiled at Ithian.
Hell Bright said via her telepathy to Duggie, “The four Gangrels are all in the know.”
“Thank you Hell Bright,” said Duggie, “Allow me to introduce my self I’m Duggie. And it is good to meet the person who gave my Claire back her want for learning.”
“No, she always had it, she just didn’t have the right teachers Duggie,” Ithian said, “and may I say that if she continues to progress and learn like she has been doing when she departs for the Academy, she will make a very fine and skilled member of the conspiracy.”
“Have the crew started on the painting yet?” Jaboc asked Ren.
“No, but we have seen Braddock and he said he’s been on to the furniture suppliers and they are making a special delivery to us today by 06:00AN at the latest,” Ren replied.
“Which would be good as it will give us a bit of time to get the stuff in before we think about getting ready for the policing action this evening,” Lara said, and two delivery trucks turned the corner and drove the short distance and parked up.
Out from the cabs climbed four gents and three of them headed for the back of the trucks to start unloading. Everyone got up and Gary headed for the back door and shouted in to the apartment block, “Gangrels, the furniture has arrived, lets get it in side.” A few seconds later 16 youths appeared and headed for the trucks, the two who had been looking after Hemma, Beatrice and Damien also got up and headed for the back of the trucks to help unload.
The three young ones all walked over to where Duggie was sitting and sat down beside him, and Hemma said, “These people are nice, they played tag with us earlier.”
“And they where very good at it too dad, I think I’m going to like it here,” Damien said.
“Yeah I think you may be right Damien.” Duggie replied, “Can I ask would you lot mind helping me unload my stuff into the apartment?”
“No problem,” said Ithian and Wong, and Wong continued, “it would be a pleasure to help.”
“Good then I suggest we get started,” replied Jaboc.
* * * * * *
About 06:15AN everyone who had been working unloading the trucks headed over the grounds for the club and dinner, when everyone had eaten their dinner, they all headed to where the Hunters where sitting chatting about the afternoon training session.
Nibs and Sandra were sat chatting to Paul Snr and Kev about the policing action, lent against the sleeping form of Daraus were Blackie and Pixie along with the rest of the fairy companions Heijarn and Jib-baath were leaning against the legs of the benches playing quietly on a flute and a small acoustic Gui-dram, when Duggie tapped Nibs on the shoulder and said in Street Jarrzarian, “Good evening to you Nibs and Sandra.”
Sandra said, in very broken Jarrzarian, “Hello, Duggie,” and then in basic, “What are you doing here?”
“Me and the kids live here now,” replied Duggie and he gave Bill’s hair a quick mess up, “I hope Claire passed on my message son.”
Claire then lent over to Sandra and said, “The kids are in the know.”
“Thanks Claire, I’ll let them see after you lot have gone,” responded Sandra.
“What the one about me working?” Bill responded.
“Yeah that one on,” replied Duggie as he and the young ones sat down.
“Yes she did, and I have been. My arms ache after that session,” Bill said.
Duggie turned to Nibs and asked, “Jaboc says your fluent in Jarrzarian, may I ask which level?”
“All,” replied Nibs.
“All levels,” Duggie said somewhat shocked, “How long did you live in Jarrzar then?”
“A year, I have a knack of picking up languages very easily. I can speak eight fluently and know five computer languages,” replied Nibs, “Ithian can I ask that you teach me some of the languages you know, especially the specialist ones?”
”No problem Nibs, I’ve got to start the girls on them when we get to the Academy anyway, I don’t see why we can’t make it a class for anyone who wants to learn. Tomorrow can I ask you to come to my lab so I can look at getting what you heard during the raid into a form that is more useful to us,” Ithian said.
”Yeah no problem, when would be a good time?” Nibs asked.
“Anytime after about 10:00BN,” replied Ithian.
“Ok,” said Nibs.
“That’s a good point, can I ask that you check the Hunters over Ithian as well please?” asked Paul Snr, and he made sure Ithian knew what he was talking about with out telling.
Ithian nodded yes I will do.
After dinner was finished Nibs, Sandra, Wong and Jum headed for control. As the four left the canteen Nibs looked back and saw Daraus playing with the three young ones.
Sandra turned to Nibs and said, “Leave him hun, let the kids play with him, he’ll find us when he’s ready.”
“Yeah I know, I’m just looking at him playing with the young ones and at how happy they are,” Nibs said and turned and continued towards Control.
The rest of the people involved in the Policing action all cleared away they’re dirties and headed for the Armoury, companions either flying or walking beside them, leaving Jaboc, Ithian, Duggie, the young ones and Daraus sat at the table. Then Jane, Nicole, Sharra and Walliballa walked in from the ground floor ramp and headed for the food run. When the had got their dinners they all headed for the table when the group were sitting and joined them.
When they had sat down, Jane said, “Good evening, Duggie?”
Duggie smiled and nodded.
“Good evening to you friend,” Nicole said, “allow me to introduce Sharra, head of Club security, and Walliballa.”
“I wouldn’t worry about Hemma, Beatrice and Damien, I told them yesterday evening. Can I take it you are?” Duggie asked.
Nicole laughed, “I am Nicole or Nicolai, and therefore allow a slightly better introduction Sharra, Line walker and head of club and south Suraban conspiracy security, and Walliballa an Alttan Stone Master and keeper of the Zoo.”
“As I know for a fact you don’t know brother, Duggie would you mind informing my brother, Sharra and Walliballa who you are?” Jane asked.
“No problem, can I take it you are Jane C?” Duggie asked, to which Jane nodded, Duggie then continued, “I am Duggie Demitrie, Chiang-Ku Dragon, Tattoo Master, Line walker and member of the Samutai Temple of Jarrzar.”
Walliballa turned and said, “It is good to meet you Duggie, and it’s good to meet someone of your status, especially here where we are somewhat safe.”
Sharra said between mouthfuls, “Paul Snr. has asked me to teach one who he thinks maybe skilled in magick, but I think it may be better for yourself, Duggie to teach them.”
“No Sharra. I have my responsibilities and that is to look after my offspring until my wife has returned and I am only here because I can’t home teach my young ones very easily and here I know they are safe, and will have an education that is unbiased, and non pro-corporate, and to be honest I would prefer not to for the time being. I’ve been asked to assist Paul Snr in running a tattoo parlour and that’s about the only work I wish to do for a while at least, I am almost 5000 years old, and have spent most of that time fighting the evils of the Mega verse, I want a break, but I will always be available to advise and to assist in teaching,” Duggie replied.
“Thank you,” Sharra said.
“And it will do you good to pass on your skills and knowledge to a new person. My lab here is for you to use and it would be a good place for you to teach people,” Ithian said.
“How you finding it here?” Nicole asked.
“Interesting, would be the best description Nicole. I never expected to have moved so fast,” said Duggie.
“I guess Jaboc has already told you that Echo Tech and the Club take care of it’s people, and as a member of the Conspiracy, you automatically become an employee of Echo Tech Inc,” Nicole said.
“Jaboc did say something along those lines earlier today. If people don’t mind I think I have three young ones who I think should be thinking about going to bed, that is of course if they want to go to the party this Frodar,” Duggie said, at this Damien did yarn and was closely followed by Beatrice, “I think I shall head back to the apartment and start to organise things like sleeping arrangements for the young ones.”
“I hope you are up for a visitor in a couple of hours Duggie?” Walliballa asked.
“Yes I am, I always have an open door if a lights on, and I wouldn’t mind talking to you about a small project,” Duggie replied.
“Then I shall chat to you in a bit then,” Walliballa said.
* * * * * *
In the armoury all the personal involved in the policing action, except Kev who was getting ready on the second level of the parking garage, were getting ready.
Gareath brushed his arm and the stabbing pain ran through his body, “Arh, that hurt,” he said.
Paul Snr. saw his face and said, “Be thankful you aren’t fighting on Frodar, Abbey and Clare I think may be and I know I am.”
“Oh who you fighting, Paul?” Abbey asked.
“Richard and I think Nibs,” Paul Snr. said.
Clare heard who Paul Snr. was fighting and said, “Good luck, I think you may need it.”
“It should be relatively equal, Nibs is going to be fighting a normal speed for the whole night, so not to alarm people, and the plan is that if any of the open challenge house fighters are beaten, then either Wong, Jum and or Nibs steps up and takes the ring back from the previous victor. If the house fighter begins to feel tired then one of the other fighters steps in and gives the tired fighter a rest,” Paul Snr. said.
“Sounds good,” said Gary, “Should make for an interesting evening.”
“It should,” said Claire, as she fed the last ceramic plate into the back of her armour and continued after she had put it over her head, “seeing as me, Hell Bright, Clare and Abbey are the open challenge fighters, with Paul, Ren and the twins standing ready to replace if need be.”
“Does sound interesting the Fight Night, I saw the last one, especially to two big fights,” Dean said.
“You do know who was fighting in the first of the two don’t you Dean?” Gary asked as he slotted the last of the ceramic plates into place.
“No, all the announcer said was she was Nibola Nibs Calton,” Dean replied.
“You do realise that Nibola was sat next to Duggie in the canteen,” Claire said.
“What Nibola Nibs Calton, is Nibs,” Michelle said in some what shocked voice.
Both Gary and Claire nodded, “It was also her 18th birthday party that night as well,” Claire said.
Paul Snr. said, “I’ll make sure you sure you lot know when the next spar session is going to happen come and watch, join in if you want, but be warned, everyone fights effectively full speed, full power, closed fist, and I’ve seen Nibs put her foot through solid stone throne.”
“Hell, that’s some power, Gary said the same earlier about Nibs,” said Lara as she fitted the vision rig and connected it to the level two battle computer that the Marauders and Hammers had been issued with.
When everyone was ready, they all moved towards the armoury hatch and asked for their cases from Benny who said, “We’ve sorted out a full load of ammunition for everyone, good luck out there.”
When Sym asked for her case, Benny said, “I’ve made sure your magazines are Binary APEX, that should give the enemy a nasty little shock.”
“Thanks,” said Sym and laughed as she accepted in and moved away from the hatch.
“Thanks Benny,” said Clare as she retrieved her case and pushed it away from the hatch. She then unlocked it and took out her M-40 Pulse Rifle and slipped six magazines into the webbing and slotted a seventh into the weapon as well, Clare then closed the case and placed it on the run. Clare was joined by Arrick who flew from the top of the lockers and the pair walked to where Abbey, Sym, and Rose where stood ready.
Bill with Hrilam flying beside his shoulder then walked over carrying his M-42 Pulse Carbine and said, “I have no idea what group I’m going to be with or what I’ll going to be doing, but I’m ready.”
“That’s simple Bill, work with Gareath, Sym and Rose and pair with Gareath, but move with Sym, so the two close combat move with you and Sym covering them, you and Sym move with the other two covering,” Paul Snr said.
Very soon two Mini buses drove up from Sub basement 2 and the two units climbed in to them along with Bill. Paul then led the rest of the forces to where five FAVs were parked and said to the team, “our transport for the operation. They all should have full load outs of twin GPMGs for the gunner cupola and a single ISW for the passenger’s seat,” Paul then said, “Control, Paul, we’re rolling.”
“Paul, Control. Thanks, we have position locks of all,” replied Sandra.
“All operational forces, Paul, lets roll,” said Paul and the engines on all seven vehicles started and headed out of the garage and down the road leading to the front gate of the club.
Thirty minutes later the five FAVs and two mini buses slowed and turned into the car-park of a some park land north of the area, when everyone had got out, Paul said, “Kev, Paul, situation report please.”
“Paul, Kev, the situation is I’ve just seen a group of six youths go in to the target building. They have four youths on patrol all look like they are carrying an old SMG of some kind and I can see a couple of pairs dotted around most look like they are carrying an old assault rifles, which don’t look in good condition, other than that not much at all.”
“Thanks Kev,” said Paul Snr., “Lets roll and secure the area surrounding the area and wait for night fall.”
Sym, Bill, Rose, Gareath and Hrilam all moved towards the western side of the area, along with Anna, Tony, Dominic and their fairy partners. Gareath and Rose both crossed the main road first and waited in the alley way opposite the rest of the group and after Bill and Sym had crossed and moved to the next junction they followed and were closely followed by the three man sniper team. As the two groups moved on a south west direction down the alley ways and back streets Gareath and Rose both passed a couple off young looking youths who where playing outside, the pair ran back inside the house as Sym and Bill passed then and stopped at the Minor road. A couple of cars drove past going west. Bill saw the back street the group wanted was to the east of their current location and both he and Sym crossed on the diagonal towards the road. They both stopped when they had entered and waited for Gareath and Rose to cross and the pair then headed down the back street and stopped at the secondary road at the end of it. The houses and back yards of the homes where very run down, most needed a lot of work doing to them to make them look like they would be nice to live in, but most of the inhabitants in the area didn’t exactly earn very much and so house repairs and general upkeep wasn’t high on the list of prioties for them.
* * * * * *
Travelling down the secondary road running north south from the car park, Abbey, Clare, Arrick, Gribbloath and Paul Snr. moved along with Vixen Bravo, Abs, Tina and all of the fairy companions. The group soon arrived at the crossroads of a minor road and crossed, Abbey, Clare and Paul then turned down the minor road and headed east and then disappeared into one of the back streets that ran north south. Vixen Bravo along with Abs and Tin continued south and soon crossed the crossroads made when a secondary road running east west crossed. The houses and apartments on the main roads like the ones in the back streets where very much in need of a lot of work doing to them. Most of the ground floor walls had graffiti on and quite a few of the windows were broken in places.
As Clare, Abbey, Arrick, Gribbloath and Paul passed an apartment they heard from a second floor an argument between a man and a women and a kid crying. As they passed the side gate to one property a large dog jumped and started to bark as the three passed, the bang of the dog jumping and hitting the gate made Abbey slightly jump, but she continued on and soon the group had arrived at the secondary road that ran along the northern edge of the bad lands where the Protectors HQ was located. The group stopped and looked up and down the road and across on to the bad lands.
The Vision rigs allowed them to see the thermal shapes of two people hidden behind a pile of junk and also a single human sitting up in a two storey building near the north west corner.
East of where they were they saw a large group of Gangrels turn onto the secondary road and then a short distance later they disappeared down one of the back alleys.
After waiting about thirty minutes Paul Snr. said, “All units report please.”
“Paul, Marauders Alpha. on site just up the secondary from your position,” Gary said.
“Paul, Hammers Bravo, on site and looking straight across the eastern minor road at the target building,” Adam, who was Hammers’ Bravo comms person, said.
“Paul, Hammers Alpha we are on the south western corner, Vixen Bravo has just passed us and was heading for a south launch point.” Dean said.
“Paul, Marauders Bravo, on site south eastern corner,” Lara said.
“Paul, Vixen sniper, we are set and ready, we can see the entire eastern side of the bad lands,” Tina said.
“Paul, Hunter Bravo, we are set and ready on the western side,” Sym said.
“Paul, Anna, Sniper team set and ready, we have the western side covered.”
“Paul, Kev, when you guys go in, I go airborne.”
“All units, Paul, confirmed, visual recon duties until night fall, then we go in.”
* * * * * *
On the western side, Anna, Tony and Dominic had set up on the top of a ten story apartment block and could see right into the top two storeys of the target building and all the areas Abs and Tina could not see. Wood Sterne, Heijarn and Jib-baath were all sat at the northern edge and they too where watching and
When they had arrived Anna who was laying next to Tony whilst Dominic was a couple of metres north of her had set up her spotting binoculars and was using then to scan the area and she was also positioning the enemy she could see for everyone. “Paul, Anna, I’ve roughly locked all the enemy combatants I can see and sending you the image now, I’m also sending one to control.”
“Thanks Anna,” replied Paul Snr. as Anna transmitted the image to him and control.
A few minutes later Dominic said to Anna, “Did you see that guy in the window, I swear he had something sticking out of his head.”
“Yeah I saw him too Dominic,” said Tony, and then said, “Control, Tony.”
“Control here,” replied Sandra.
“Can you back track my camera and take a look at a person in the window I’m looking at now, both me and Dominic think he may have something in his head,” Tony said.
“Will do Tony, Control out,” replied Sandra.
* * * * * *
Sandra then brought Tony’s camera recording to the main monitor and ran it back ten minutes and started to play the recording back at double normal speed, until she saw a guy at the window Tony was talking about, and from what Sandra could see, yes it did look like the guy had things imbedded in his head.
“Braddock, Sandra, can I ask you come and take a look at something.”
“No problem Sandra,” replied Braddock and he walked over to where Sandra and Nibs where working. When he had arrived he said, “What do you want me to look at?”
“That,” replied Sandra and she pointed at the guy with the Tablet stylus.
After a few seconds of viewing Braddock said, “Thanks Sandra, can you check the databases for brain modification technology for us, while I have a chat with Paul and Kev.”
“What’s up?” asked Sandra.
“I’m not sure, but I think that looks like Mind Over Matter tech, do a search for that as well,” replied Braddock.
“Paul, Kev, Braddock, I’m sending a still image of someone Tony and Dominic have just seen in the target building.”
Both of the replied, “Ok,” and Braddock sent the image to their Vision Rigs.
Paul said, “Got it, viewing now,” and after a couple of seconds Paul said, “If that is what I think it looks like, it would explain the insanity people have said about him.”
Sandra then said, “Yeah, it does look like MOM technology,” and showed Braddock what was displayed and then beside it she displayed an image of the guy’s head.
“Sandra has just shown me the work up Richard did on Mind Over Matter Technology 59 years ago after a dimension jump to one of the alternative Darra Von’s,” Braddock said.
* * * * * *
“The only way of confirming if he is native to this Darra Von or from an alternative is to check his genetic makeup against ours,” said Kev, “What is the plan now?”
“Simple we take them down, and we make sure he don’t escape this time,” Paul said, “Tony, Dominic, Abs, Paul, control is sending you an image see the guy, kill him.”
“Paul, Anna, confirm, see him, kill him?”
“Confirmed Anna, see him, kill him,” said Paul.
Clare tapped Paul on the shoulder and said, “What’s the likely hood of him being able to better our assault forces should he engage them in hand to hand?”
“Probably pretty good, Crazies are slightly stronger and faster than normal humans, not by much, but it may be enough,” replied Paul Snr.
“Then I would suggest that the specialist forces take the building ahead of the Marauders and the Hammers then,” responded Clare.
“Good idea Clare,” replied Paul who them opened a secure channel to the unit commanders and Vixen Bravo and also Hunter Bravo and said, “Unit commanders, Vixen Bravo, Hunter Bravo, Paul, listen up, a slight change in the overall plan, specialist forces only to lead the assault on the main target building, and kill all combatants, we may have people who are not native to Darra Von in there and I can confirm that at least one has been improved by technology definetly from an Alternative Darra Von. Control is sending you an image of the guy in question, if you are engaged in hand to hand with the target I advise team work fighting him rather than single combat as he likely to be slightly faster than most of us and very likely stronger as well.”
Everyone replied, “Confirmed Paul.”
* * * * * *
At about 10:00AN Tony and Dominic saw him again looking out of the window in the general direction of them. Tony quietly said, “Good night arse hole,” and squeezed the trigger on his Z2 and at the same time Dominic squeezed the trigger plate of his 240 and both weapons fired Tony’s sending a single high velocity APEX round towards him and Dominic’s sending a full burst of 20 APEX rounds at him.
“Paul, Anna, both snipers have just fired at the target,” and after a couple of seconds she continued, “Confirmed kill. Well I doubt he’s going to be getting up after 21 APEX rounds hit his head and upper body.”
After he dropped, the four guys in the room where he was clustered around him and started to fire in the general direction of the sniper team which cause the three to move back from their firing positions slightly so the building walls and corner were between them and the gun fire. As a few stray rounds flew past the three pixies even they move back to safety
“All units, Paul, go, go, go.”
Abs squeezed the trigger on her D-1000 and put a bullet into one guy’s head she could see from her position and tracked to a second and again fired and dropped the second target. Both Arborne and Far-Britta laugh evilly as the pairs partners dropped targets.
From the southern area Vixen Bravo, Hammers Alpha and Marauders Bravo crossed into the bad lands and were engaged by a couple of positions that had seen them cross the road, but these positions were soon silenced when Lara from Marauders Bravo dropped a 30mm grenade into one position from her modified MA26, and both Paul and Hell Bright destroyed the second position with their A-7s.
“Can someone engage a fire base please,” came over the comm. system from Adam, “They have Hammers Bravo pinned down.”
“Adam, Abs, I can’t see the targets, so I’m unable to engage.”
“Hammers Bravo, Vixen Bravo, engaging now, keep your heads down,” said Claire as she sent a grenade towards the fire base and that was soon joined by two small balls of plasma as Hell Bright double tapped the position.
From the western area Hunter Bravo moved to cross the road and took up a fire position and engaged the forces firing from the second storey window on the target house. The heavy fire from an MA-40 and an M-42 combined with the two Trig 27ds soon forced the combatants from the window, which allowed the three man sniper team to retake their positions and very quickly Tony dropped one when he put a round right through the outside wall and Dominic likewise dropped another when he tried to move across the window. As the sniper team re-took their positions the three pixie partners slowly moved forward and re-took their positions on the corner.
Kev who was now in the air and flying CAP over the battle field was awaiting a fire support requests from the ground forces, he was looking forward to surprising the enemy ground forces when he put a couple of mini missiles into a position.
Hunters Alpha and Marauders Alpha both crossed the road and quickly proceeded south and was soon over a third of the distance between the northern edge and the target house, from what Paul Snr could see from the fire fights and the sheer fact that if a enemy fire base opened fire on one of the assault teams, it was quickly silenced by massive return fire that the bulk of the forces had been placed looking south rather than spread all round.
Paul said to Clare and Abbey as they where joined by Hunter Bravo at the corner of one building, “It looks like the commander didn’t have a fecking clue at how to position ground forces.”
“Yeah, but I have to admit though his forces are putting up a fight, even though we sure as hell have far greater firepower than they do,” Abbey said.
Paul pointed at Hunter Bravo and then at the target house. Sym and Bill both levelled their assault rifles to cover the assault movement of Gareath and Rose, who both ran fast across the open space. A crack was heard and Gareath saw the lock on the door explode as Tony opened it for them. Gareath smiled as he hit the door and flattened himself against the far side of the door Rose took up a position on the near side.
Paul Snr thought, ‘Grenade armed, wait, then hard throw, detonate, and follow in,’ he then said to Clare and Abbey, “Move,” and he took off towards the door and the sounds of Rose and Gareath hosing the room with their Trig 27ds on full auto. The three burst through the open door and covered the assault movement of Rose and Gareath towards the stairs up to the first floor.
Suddenly from a closed door to the left of the door they had entered came two older youths who charged Abbey and Clare, who both ducked and rolled and sent the charging pair flying into the waiting arms of Dean and Trixxie who both smashed the butts of their rifles down and sat on the pair and made sure they understood that if they dared to move they would fire. The pair were then heaved outside in to the waiting arms of the remaining Hammers Alpha and Vixen Bravo who had moved up to support the assault forces. The pair were thrown against the wall and were quickly bound with plastic binders around their wrists and ankles.
Gareath and Rose who were now on the first floor waited for Paul Snr, Clare and Abbey to move up the stairs in support, Hunter Alpha moved up the stairs and started to check the rooms and the various apartments on this level, found no combatants and moved up the stairs to the second floor. Gareath and Rose both followed and entered the room over the door way, they had entered by and found two scared combatants in the corner made by the two outer walls, looking over the back of an arm chair towards the front door. When Rose entered then room she commanded the pair, “Throw those weapons towards me and get those hands where I can see them now.”
The two weapons where in the air before she had time to finish the sentence, Clare followed Gareath into the room and the pair went straight towards the two and heaved them up and over the arm chair and they then went sprawling on the floor and suddenly realised that another female who was carrying what looked like a cannon was standing over then as Paul and Gareath used the plastic binders and made sure the wrists were bound and them the pair were frog marched down the two flights of stairs into the waiting arms of Hammers Alpha who like they had done with the first two passed them out into the hands of Marauders Alpha
* * * * * *
Whilst Hunters Alpha and Gareath and Rose where securing the upstairs. Vixen Bravo with their fairy companions flying around smiling and generally making sure that if more forces attacked they where ready to cause problems, Sym and Bill, Hrilam had remained outside as the area maybe confined, had headed through the door the two guys had charged through and found what looked like a throne room. The room had a large pit in the floor and secured to chains that hung around the wall was a pale looking youth, and in the pit was another two again very pale looking young boys. Sym and Bill stayed in the room whilst Ren and Paul with Hell Bright and Claire in support moved through a door just behind the throne and found a young girl again chained to the wall naked.
Paul heard a cough come from a wardrobe and said, “You in the wardrobe come out with your hands where I can see then or I will open fire.” Hovering above the wardrobe was Deedban who had ready Faerie’s Dance spell. Ser-ooath also hovered to the left and readied her bow and made sure the sleep enchantment was on the arrow.
Very gingerly the door was opened and a pair of hands appeared and was soon followed by a gent who looked and smelt like he had dumped his load he went to his knees and said, “His lordship made me hurt the youths.”
Paul replied, “What did he make you do to them?”
“He told me that if he became a vampire he would make us all into vampires and we would then be able to take over Suraban and rule the city.”
Paul repeated , “What did he make you do to the youths?”
“He made me drain their blood so he could drink it.”
Paul then picked him up and dragged him into the throne room, “What did you drain them?” Paul asked in a stern voice and threw him across the floor. The guy looked at the youth hung up and nodded.
Paul said, “Paul, Paul, we have three youths very likely to have been drained of their blood,” then from a small box situated next to the throne came a young boy who charged Paul and went to claw at his face, Paul side stepped and pushed him across the floor and he sprawled and stopped at the feet of Clare as she walked in, the young boy ran to a corner and cowered there very frightened indeed.
Claire and Charrbrr hovering just over the youth grabbed the cordless angle grinder from Paul’s rucksack. She then cut the chains holding the youth, he collapsed into her arms, she then checked for a pulse and found a very weak one. Claire then chucked the angle grinder to Ren who cut the lock holding the grill to the pit closed and lifted it and he then lowered himself into the pit and like Claire, checked for pulses on both the youths and found one had a weak one and the other had none. Sat on the grill was Ser-ooath who was looking into the pit and he was also hopping that the two youths were alive.
Ren called up to Paul Jnr. who was looking into the pit, “This one has a weak pulse the other one has none.”
Paul Snr who had just walked in said, “Claire, Hell Bright can you transport these two back to the Club and get them to medical as fast as possible.”
Paul Jnr disappeared in the bedroom and two shots where heard and he appeared carrying the girl, he said, “she is also just alive.”
“Yeah we can Paul Snr.,” replied Claire, “Control, Claire, me and Hell Bright are executing a teleport to Ithian’s Lab, find Ithian and get him to the Lab fast.”
“No problem Claire, I’m on it already,” replied Nibs.
Abbey looked at the scared youth and realised she recognized him from the Savraday they had spent talking to the people on the streets during the Wacker War. “Clare ain’t that the kid Anna, Tony and Dominic were protecting?”
“Yeah I think so,” Clare replied, “Anna, Clare, can you confirm is this the youth you were protecting from that bunch of youths?”
* * * * * *
Anna operated the eye scanner and opened up the player screen that had started to flash. She looked at the youth who looked emaciated and very scared. “It does look like Steven,” replied Anna.
“He is incredibly scare of us he almost ripped Paul Jnr. face off,” Clare said.
“Ok, thanks, I’m on my way,” said Anna, “You guys going to be ok here?”
“Yeah, go,” said Dominic.
“Wood-Sterne stay with the others,” Anna said, to which Wood-Sterne nodded.
“Anna, Kev, wait there, I’ll pick you up and drop you just outside the door,” said Kev as he flew over to the apartment block, “put your arms out straight I’ll lift you via the arm pits.”
Anna stood and stuck her arms out as Kev flew behind her and lifted her and landed her just outside the door. Anna went straight in and saw Clare standing in the door way to the throne room. Anna flew in just as Hell Bright and Claire disappeared with the three youths. She turned and saw Steven cowering in the corner, and said to everyone, “Out now people, Abbey, Clare can you stay.”
Both Abbey and Clare nodded and stayed put as everyone else headed for the doorway out. Paul Snr stood on the far side of the door blocking the door way.
Anna stood a little distance from the cowering Steven and said, “Steven do you remember us?”
Steven looked at Anna and then looked at Clare and Abbey, and weakly nodded yes. “Do you remember the promise me, Tony and Dominic made you when we helped you?”
Again Steven nodded yes. “I’m here now to fulfil that promise and take you to a better place, away from His Lordship,” and as Anna said that she moved closer to Steven and offered him her water bottle which he took and slipped it, he then collapsed into her arms and fell unconscious. Anna then shouted, “Someone get an FAV here now, he needs medical attention.” Anna then carried Steven out of the throne room and into the main room and then out of the building and into the night. A couple of minutes later an FAV pulled up driven by Dean, Clare helped Anna strap Steven into the passengers seat and then she climbed into the drivers seat and drove off at high speed.
Paul Snr. said to Kev, “Go with her and make sure no cops stop her or attempt to stop her,”
“I’m gone,” said Kev and he took off and followed Anna and soon had caught her up and said over the comm. system, “Paul asked me to make sure no cops try and stop you.”
* * * * * *
“Control, Paul Snr, can you guys send a clean up crew, we’ve finished and dealt with the situation here now, and inform them that I want the body of the youth in the pit to be brought to the club I think a decent burial should be organised and performed for him.”
“Ok Paul Snr. Echo tech security team on route now to secure the building and sweep the others in the area, they will transport all the dead to the club so we can sort out where His Lordship comes from and weather or not the tech is from Darra Von or not,” replied Braddock.
“Nice operation people, well done.”
* * * * * *
Whilst Steven was being dealt with, Claire and Hell Bright had a message from Ithian, “Claire, Hell Bright, Ithian, I’ll meet the two of you in the Lab and I’ll transport them to the medical facility, they are waiting for the three now.”
Paul Jnr. had joined Ren in the pit and with the help of Claire and Sym got the alive youth from the pit, when he had been gotten out he went into the bedroom and the people in the throne room heard two shots and then Paul walked out carrying the young girl and laid her next to the two male youths when the group was together Claire placed her hands under one and Hell Bright did the same with the other two and they both drew on the mana stores in the crystals hung around their necks and whilst Sym and Bill both held their Spell books they read the spells directly from the pages and cast the teleport spell and as Anna walked in they both disappeared and appeared in the Lab where Ithian read and cast a mass teleport spell from the spell book Grithh held in front of Ithian and the group again disappeared and appeared in the waiting area of the underground section of the medical facility.
The orderlies ran and pushed three beds out and lifted the three to them and quickly pushed them to the emergency rooms where the medical staff were waiting from them to arrive. The doctor in one said, “I want enough blood to be taken to tell me what blood type each needs and I want the answer yesterday.”
Ithian turned to the pair, as they both stood up, and said, “You both did very well. Quick thinking from you Claire, I’m impressed well done.”
“Thank you Ithian, getting them to a medical facility as fast as I could was the only thing on my mind and then I remembered what someone said to me about using my abilities to help people,” replied Claire.
The nurse at the nurses station shouted after coming off the comm. system, “we have another one inbound, eta 15 minutes.”
“Who is that inbound?” asked Ithian.
“It can only be the guy who attacked Paul,” said Claire.
* * * * * *
Out the road heading towards the Club, Anna was driving like a absolute psycho. Kev was a good fifty metres in front making sure that any vehicles on the road got out of her, very soon up on her left hand side came and Echo Tech Patrol vehicle lights flashing and they soon took the lead with Kev, about thirty seconds later a second one had swung in behind the FAV.
Anna said over the comm. system, “Kev, which is the best route to get to the medical facility?”
“Back entrance Anna,” replied Kev.
“Thanks,” said Kev.
Kev thought, ‘If this is what the young ones in the Gangrels are like today, god help the enemy if we ever go to open war.’
Anna slammed the FAV into a hard left hand turn and slowed as she drove down the back entrance ramp into the club, she headed down the road towards the medical emergency facility and she then turned left and stopped, two medical orderlies ran over pushing a trolley and unbelted Steven from the passengers seat and lifted him to the trolley and took him away into one of the doctors offices where a team of five people were waiting for him.
Claire and Ithian walked over to Anna as she parked the FAV in one of the marked bays and walked back into the medical facility. Hell Bright said, “I wish we had realised we would have brought him as well.”
“Not to worry,” said Anna as the four walked to the seats in the waiting area and sat down. “Thank you, but me, Tony and Dominic made a promise to Steven, a promise that Abbey, Clare and Paul assisted us in fulfilling the first time, we should have made sure he was safe when we left him and we didn’t, we failed him that time, I do not intend to fail him again. He was scared when the three of us caught him the first time that we would hand him over to His Lordship. We told him to run, disappear and not return to the neighbourhood, I don’t know what happened but what the bastard did to him was evil and I must appologise to him for breaking our promise.”
“No you didn’t break you promise Anna, you left him and some how he was caught, you kept that promise by doing what you did them and now, His Lordship is now dead, you made sure of that when Tony and Dominic blew his brains out,” said Hell Bright, “and he is safe now and he should get better.”
“Yeah maybe, but I know I’m not going anywhere until I have apologised to his face,” said Anna.
“Well I’ll go and get your cases and clothes and deposit your weapons in your case at least,” Ithian said.
“Thanks Ithian,” replied Anna, and Ithian, Claire and Hell Bright all got up and took Anna’s weapons and her case’s code and walked towards the Armoury. When Ithian returned he had both her cases and a bag with her clothes in. “Thanks again Ithian,” Anna said.
Anna then got up and walked to the nurses station and asked, “Is there some place I can change?”
“Yeah,” said the nurse and pointed Anna to one of the private rooms. Quite quickly Anna had returned in her normal clothes and placed both her cases on the ground and waited for one of the doctors to come out.
Ithian got up and smiled at Anna and said, “I’m sure he will get better Anna.”
”Yeah I know,” Anna replied and she just sat there.
About ten minutes later one of the two doctors walked out of the room and approached Anna. He sat down and said, “He will be ok, we have him on a glucose drip and also a blood plasma drip, we’ve had to sedated him so he won’t pull the catherators out.”
“Can you tell me what happened to him doctor?” Anna asked
“Yes I can, he’s been starved and been very close to starved of liquid, plus I think he may have had some blood drained as well, but that I don’t know for sure. They’re ain’t much you can do this evening for him,” the doctor said.
“I don’t care, I’m not going anywhere until he’s awake and I have apologised to him for breaking a promise I as a Gangrel made him,” Anna said, and got up and walked to the door and looked in at the starved weakened body. ‘I’m sorry Steven, I fucked up,’ thought Anna.
The orderlies pushed the bed with him on out of the room and down the corridor to one of the private rooms where Anna moved one of the arm chairs and placed it beside the bed and she took hold of Steven’s hand, sat down and very soon she was asleep holding his hand.
* * * * * *
Back at the battle field, the three units secured the buildings and initially processed the prisoners, luckily one of the two who had charged the Abbey and Clare was the guy the mechanic had asked for them to look out for. This fact didn’t pass Paul Snr. by either and he smiled when he realised it.
“Control, Paul, can you send a prisoner transport vehicle to transport the nine prisoners back to the holding cells.”
“No problem Paul,” replied Nibs, “Any idea how Steven is?”
“No Nibs, Anna left at speed with Kev flying escort,” Paul Snr. replied.
“Where do you want the van sent Paul?” asked Nibs.
“You got the FAV locks,” replied Paul.
“Yeah,” responded Nibs.
“There,” said Paul.
“Ok,” said Nibs, “Control out.”
About forty minutes after Anna had left five Echo Tech Security patrol vehicles pulled up and ten security personal got out, one walked towards Paul and said, “What’s the situation here now?”
“We control the entire block and shall be taking the nine prisoners with us when we return to the Club, I’ll organise the collection of the bodies tomorrow as some need to be processed and one needs to be given a decent burial,” Paul Snr. replied.
“No problem, we’ll bag, tag and photo then,” the officer said.
“Ok,” said Paul Snr., “Ok guys lets move. And you lot.” Everyone including the prisoners who were being towed behind Hammers Alpha battle field marched back to the vehicles flying around the nine prisoners were the fairy companions and hovering beside Tony, Bill and Dominic where the four Pixies.
When the group had arrived at the car-park a prisoner transport van was waiting for them to arrive, the four Echo Tech Officers bundled them in to the back and secured then to the bench seats and followed the FAVs and mini-buses back to the club.
When the vehicles arrived back and Tony had changed back into his clothes he, along with Wood-Sterne and Heijarn, walked to the medical facility and asked the nurse at the front desk, “Where is Anna Pickering?”
“Is she the young person who brought in the young man?” the nurse replied.
“Yes,” Tony said.
“Corridor five, room eight,” the nurse said.
“Thanks,” responded Tony and he disappeared down the corridor towards corridor five and turned right when he reached it and soon found Anna asleep head laying on the bed, Steven’s hand in hers. He smiled and walked back to his apartment on the third floor.
Wood-Sterne walked in and flew up to the bed and curled up beside Steven’s legs.
* * * * * *
Darabar 7th Ebinar
About 10:00BN Tony woke up, got dressed and along with Heijarn walked down to the canteen, where he bumped into Paul Snr. walking towards the main club from the medical zone. Tony asked, “Seen Anna this morning?”
“Yeah, I popped passed about an hour ago, and she was still sleeping,” Paul Snr. replied.
“Ok, I’ll get her and my self some breakfast and then see if she’s awake,” said Tony and turned towards the canteen, after picking up his breakfast and one for Anna he headed back to the medical facility and found Anna and Wood-Sterne still sleeping in the same positions as she was when he had called past last night.
As Tony walked in Anna and Wood-Sterne lifted their heads and slowly opened their eyes and they both looked at Tony and then at the tray he was carrying. Tony smiled back at her and said, “I thought you may want this hun,” and lifted the tray.
Anna then realised she had hold of Steven’s hand and quickly removed her’s from his and blushed red and looked down, “Yeah thanks brother.”
“I called past last night hun, and seeing you hadn’t moved since I saw you last night, and as long as your happy, then I’m happy,” Tony said and sat down in the other arm chair and the pair ate their breakfast. After they had finished Tony asked, “What’s the diagnosis on Steven?”
“The doctors think they starved him and may have drained a some amount blood, I think the attack on Paul was more a hunger induced one, similar to the first time we caught him,” replied Anna, “the drips are glucose and blood plasma, they sedated him last night so he wouldn’t pull the drips out.”
“Why you here anyway?” Tony asked, “I’ve never seen you this way over someone before.”
“We made him a promise which we kept the first time, but later we broke it and I want to apologise to him for that if nothing else,” replied Anna.
Then Steven’s head turned over and slowly his eyes opened and after blinking a few times he still look increadably groggey from the effects of the sedative. He tried to focus on the person sat next to the bed and got a blurry image of a female who said, “Go back to sleep Steven, sleep the effects of the sedative off.”
He then closed his eyes and fell back to sleep. The pair ate breakfast, and after they had finished Paul Snr. called past and said to the two, “I was going to holding to begin processing the prisoners and was wondering if either of you two wanted to join me and help. The leader is up stairs in the morgue and is getting processed so we can try and find out where he’s from.”
“Yeah I’ll join you Paul,” replied Tony, and got up and took the plate from his sister and walked towards the door, “Chat to you later sis,” said Tony as he walked out the door and turned right and headed past the window and disappeared.
“Can I ask you something Tony?” asked Paul as they walked.
“Yeah,” replied Tony.
“What are your thoughts on the invite the Hunters made earlier this week?”
“My thoughts are, I’m interested in the offer, but we ain’t the same style of fighters as you, Clare or the rest, both me and Dominic very much like to hide and target specific people rather than go close and mix it up with SMGs and hand to hand,” replied Tony.
“Yeah I can see that, but last night if it weren’t for your quick thinking I have a feeling we would probably would have four dead youths rather than one dead one and three alive youths, if only just.”
“True, but when you said see him kill him, that was the only order we needed, to make sure he was going to go down and down hard,” Tony said.
“Yesterday, bar the groups fighting cause mainly due to fear, they collapsed when you and Dominic took the leader out. Remove the head the body dies.”
When the pair walked into the holding area, they saw Nibs and Sandra sat behind the desk with Wong stood behind them and Jum along with Ren stood opposite beside the door leading to the cell block.
Sandra asked Paul, “Who’s interviewing the prisoners?”
“Me, Tony, Clare, Abbey, Gareath and Dominic, most of them I just want to know how they got involved in the gang,” Paul replied.
Then Jaboc appeared leading the mechanic who had asked them to look out for his son, “I’ve just been told that you have Bob’s son in holding, he was wondering if he could watch the interview?”
“Yeah no worries,” replied Paul.
“Bring him to Clare and Abbey, Tony and I will deal with the guy found hiding and Gareath and Dominic can deal with one of the others,” Paul said.
Jaboc then asked, “Where Rose and Sym? I thought they would have been here as well?”
“Getting checked out for Magick Jaboc,” replied Paul.
“Ok,” Jaboc said, he then turned and headed back towards the main area of command.
* * * * * *
A few hours later one of the Nursing staff walked in carrying a large cup of coffee for Anna and said, “Thought you might be wanting this hun?”
“Arh thanks,” Anna replied.
“He must be someone special as I walked past this morning and noticed you asleep in here?” the Nurse asked.
“I as a Gangrel made a promise to him a few weeks back, we kept it back then and then we broke it, I just want to say sorry to him,” replied Anna as she took the mug of coffee and took a sip of it, “exactly how I like it, how did you know?”
“We guessed,” the nurse replied, “The Doc will be around in a short while to check his condition and the condition of the others.”
“Thanks,” said Anna and looked over at Steven. She thought, ‘What did you mean brother when you said I’m happy if your happy.’
Steven then opened his eyes and again blinked at the nurse and then after they focused on her he looked around the room and saw Anna and the medical technology he was plugged into. He said, “Where am I? All I remember is someone catching me as I collapsed.”
“Where you are young man, is in a medical facility run by Echo Tech Inc,” the nurse said.
“I can’t afford to pay for that,” Steven said.
“Pay for what,” said a doctor as he walked in, “You were brought to us by the young lady sat there last night emaciated and very weak, and also having been involved in some nasty torture I would say, people don’t pay when they have suffered things like that, and to put it bluntly yes this facility is staffed by Echo Tech personal, and is paid for by Echo Tech, but I take my orders from the people running the Club and therefore I’m here to make sure you get the best treatment available,” and he picked up the charts from the end of the bed and checked them over and after he put them back he walked up and checked the ECG and blood sugar levels, he then checked Steven’s heart and lungs. “Give you a week young lad and your be strong enough to walk but you won’t be doing much more. When you are, you are going to be starting on some intensive physiotherapy here at the Club and then in may be a three or four months you will be strong enough to think about leaving our care, but that is for later. The consultant who saw you last night has booked you an appointment for a complete MRI scan this after noon along with the other three, which should tell him a lot more about the damage you’ve taken. As I have still to see the other three I will leave you, if you need anything just buzz the nurses station.”
“Thank you,” replied Steven and he smiled at the Doctor.
“Good, now that’s what I like to see, someone smiling. I’ll pop back in a couple of hours just before you go for the MRI scan,” the doctor said, and then turned to walk out.
Steven said, “Can I eat something seeing as I am starving?”
The doctor turned and said, “I don’t see why not,” then the turned to the nurse and said, “Can you sort out getting this lad some food, and can you also make sure the canteen purifies it before they send it over.”
“Yes doctor,” replied the nurse and also left the room
Steven looked at Anna and said, “I know you from somewhere, and I can not remember where.”
Then two young gents walked past the window and stood in the door way to Steven’s room.
Steven looked at the pair, then looked at Anna, and then he looked back at Tony and Dominic. “I, now I remember.”
“Good,” replied Anna, “and I’m happy that Tony and Dominic are here,” and she got up and walked the short distance to the bed and sat on the edge of it and continued whilst the pair walked into the room and sat in the two arm chairs, “We three made you a promise a few weeks ago not to hand you over to His Lordship we kept it with the help of other friends that day, then we broke it, and as Gangrels we don’t break promises, and there fore we three wish to apologise to you for that.”
“And we also wish to let you know that His Lordship won’t be bothering anyone else for a very, very, very long time, like never,” said Dominic, “seeing as me and Tony plastered his brains all over the room he was standing in, yesterday evening.”
“Was it you then who put a stop to his plans to become a vampire?” Steven said.
“Yes, us and other Gangrels did,” replied Anna, “I thought we told you to disappear.”
“I did, but that group had followed us and they grabbed me before I could get away,” Steven said, “When I was taken to His lordship he sentenced me to be his pet and the starved me from that point on. I think I have to say sorry to the person I attacked.”
“Forget it Steven, as some one said, hunger pangs make people do stupid things,” Tony said.
Anna, Dominic, Tony, Steven, and even though Steven couldn’t see then all three pixies sat on the back’s of the two chairs, sat in the hospital room chatting, the nurse returned with a plate of food for Steven.
* * * * * *
Stood just out of view was Paul, Clare, Abbey, Arrick and Gribbloath, Paul said to the two girls, “What do you think, I’ve read the short file on him from the human intelligence operation and I do think he may fit in with the overall scheme of things especially in our forth unit.”
“Don’t know,” said Clare, “Only time will tell.”
Paul turned and said as the doctor passed, “What’s the diagnosis on Steven?”
“Steven, if you mean the youth in there?” the doctor asked.
Paul nodded yes to the question.
“He was starved and very likely suffered from physical and emotional abuse,” the doctor replied.
“So what’s the plan for getting him well?” Abbey asked.
“In about a week I think if he stays on the glucose drip he should be strong enough to walk and then a good few months of intensive physio and he will be as good as he was before he was starved,” the doctor replied.
“What type of physio where you thinking, just work to rebuild his muscles, his body had started to eat them after it has finished the using the fat,” the Doctor replied, “He’s booked in for an MRI scan this afternoon which should tell the consultant a lot more.”
“Can I ask that you let me know the outcome of the MRI scan please, as if nothing else I wouldn’t mind providing some physiotherapy to him,” Paul said.
“No problem, I’ll get the consultant to contact you when he has the results.”
“Ok, how about the other three?”
“Similar, but they lost a lot of blood rather than be starved, its just a matter of slowly making sure they have the blood replaced with the correct type, We’ve had to ship in some blood for one of the three as we didn’t have very much of her type in, and the female was raped multiple times by at least eight different people, she is very lucky to be alive, and will need a massive amount of emotional support to get over what happened to her. All I can say is that she is in the best place to receive it, Nicolai has already signed the waivers concerning the four.”
“Thanks,” said Paul and the five turned and walked towards the main club, and Paul asked, “Shall we go and find the rest of the Hunters?”
* * * * * *
09:30BN Rose woke and sat up in bed and took the blunt that was sat in the ashtray and smoked it, then after she had stubbed it out she swung her legs out and went and had a shower and washed her hair.
When she walked out of the shower she heard a knock at the door and she called out, “Its open , I’m in the bath room.”
Sym and Hell Bright open the door and walked in. Sym called to Rose, “Its me sis and Hell Bright.”
“Hello sis and Hell Bright and Vitanna,” said Rose as she walked out of the bathroom wearing her bath robe and a towel wrapped around her head.
“Hell Bright suggested that after we get breakfast go and get tested for Magick wielding,” Sym said.
“That may be a good idea and also the two of us go and have our medical and see how the people who we rescued are doing as well. Hell Bright as you know the club where would they have been taken?”
“To the medical facility just off the routeway to the back entrance,” Hell Bright replied via her telepathy spell.
“That still freaks me out,” said Rose.
“Yeah me too sis,” responded Sym.
“Well anyway, let me get dressed and then we go and have breakfast,” Rose said.
When she had finished getting ready she was wearing one of the two long flowing dresses they had bought from Gothage and a From Hell with Love logoed t-shirt. The three walked to the canteen and saw Sharra and Ithian chatting at one of the long tables, when the group had gotten breakfast they walked to the table and sat down.
Sharra then turned to Rose and Sym and said, “Ithian suggested that I test the pair of you out today in the lab and it will also let him introduce me to Grithh and the two imp guardians he has protecting the Lab and store.”
“Hell Bright suggested that exact same thing as well, and I’m interested in seeing if what Mads told me on Torbar is true,” said Sym.
“Mads as in Maddi Throabar?” Ithian asked, “and what did Mads say Sym?”
“I have no idea if it was Maddi Throabar, but she said that she thinks I might make a powerful wielder of Magick,” Sym said.
“If it was Maddi, then she generally ain’t wrong about magick wielders,” said Ithian, “I think when everyone is finished, shall we adjourn to the Lab where me and Sharra can see if either or both of you can wield magick.”
When breakfast had been finished the group which now included Claire and Charrbrr walked to the third floor north wing where Ithian, Claire and Hell Bright all teleported the other three to the receiver pentagram. When the six had arrived, Rose and Sym both looked somewhat shocked and just before they sat on the floor a couple of chairs had appeared behind then, as if by magic.
Ithian said, “Thank you Grithh. Peeker, Squarker, here please.”
Two small green wing creatures appeared and flew to the large table where Ithian was sat and they both said, “Yes master, we are here.”
“Good, Sharra and possibly one maybe both of the young ones may be using the lab and store whilst I am in residence at the Academy,” Ithian said, “Now you two come here and stand before me so I may see the person without the clutter of background mana.”
Both Rose and Sym after regaining there composure after the teleporting, walked and stood in front of Ithian, where he looked at each intently in turn. After five minutes of looking at each, he asked, “Sharra can use find for me two training toys please.”
“No problem Ithian,” Sharra replied, and quickly went and fished out one from behind a chest of draws and a second from the top of one of the magickal re-agents cupboards.
She then passed them to Ithian who said, “Would you mind helping Claire and Hell Bright write and learn a general teleport spell in to their spell books,” Ithian turned his attention to Sym and Rose and said, “right I want the both of you to clear your minds of everything and concentrate on the toy, when you can only see the toy describe what you see.
Sym said, “I see a very faint purple glow, now,” then she looked at it somewhat shocked as it changed from a ball to an egg shape, “what the hell.”
“It’s a magical training toy, all my students have one, it’s changes shape randomly and also subtle magickal fields, you would have mastered it when you can detect the changes before they happen and control the changes,” Ithian replied.
Sharra then said, “I still have mine and I carry it everywhere I go, its my good luck charm.”
“Rose what do you see?” asked Ithian.
“Absolutely nothing, at all,” replied Rose.
Ithian could see from the toy which hadn’t changed since Rose had been holding it. “Right it looks like Sym you possess the ability to control the magickal forces and Rose you don’t. The toy also detects those that can and those that can not.”
“A useful little item then,” said Sym.
“Yeah, I was happy when my teacher told me how to make them, now I just keep a supply of a few with me at all times,” Ithian said.
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