Memoirs of a RAFian

[Underseen]

I like seeing Malice being related the way she treats her allies.

[Cloak]

She had to channel that evil from somewhere. And we learn how to interact with others from those around us when we're younger, right?

Anyway, I came up with an idea for Book CLXXXII ("Caught in the Middle"). Basically we caught in the middle of the Wager of the Octessence and their Exemplars.

Don't know how many chapters I can post today.

This one maybe brief.

CHAPTER NINE:
Suspending the Search

"Yar-- I mean, Aquilai, call everyone back." Richard said.

"But . . . but Richard, we haven't found them." Aquilai protested.

"Aquilai," Richard said, looking sincerely contrite and hating having to do this, "Aquilai it's been two and a half weeks. We dare not prolong it any longer, as some countries might take it as an act of aggression."

"But --"

Richard held up his hand, "I know how nonsensical it sounds, but when tempers and emotions run high, logic is very often surpressed or nonexistent. It's human nature."

"Indeed," Aquilai said. "Very well, then. Helen, Sakki, and Broken are going to be livid, you know."

"I do," Richard said, preparing to address the full forum at large. Aquilai gazed at the great father of RAF, looking so burdened and stressed. To bear the mantle of leadership . . . is to bear the world's weight on your shoulders.

***

"I know that it may displease many of you, that it may lead to mutinous feelings, but I'm afraid I must suspend the search for Demos, Yarin, Ash, and Parker." Richard said. He was right, mutinous mutterings met these words, although Rotiart made several snoring sounds, attempting to be funny. Funny, how it never quite pans out the way he plans.

"For how long?" Helen demanded, standing immediately. After it is her love for Parker that powers her ring.

Richard waited a prudent time before saying what he did not want to. "Indefinitely."

"WHAT?!"

Aquilai was quite right in what Broken, Sakki, and Helen's reactions would be.

"Why? What possible reason could you --" Faerie began.

"Because it's a matter of diplomacy," Cloak said from his usual spot in the back, arms folded, head bowed. "Do you think that all of thes countries we conducted this search was happy with the sudden intrusion?"

Cloak looked up, and shrugged.

"I mean, I could be wrong, and your governments may very well work differently from the Council's version of diplomacy."

Silence met these words until the auditorium screen descended behind the mods. Aquilai announced over the intercom, "The airwaves are being pirated, and it looks really important."

Suddenly the static on the screen solidified into Cataclysm's ugly mug. . . .

[Cloak]

Now . . .

CHAPTER TEN:
The Reveal

"Cataclysm!" Cloak said, his worst fears confirmed. "He is still alive."

"What does he want? And whose that he's with?" Az asked.

Faerie squinted and then widened her eyes, "There are . . . there are four of the them."

Kelly seemed to grasp Faerie's meaning first with a soft gasp. Cloak did not want to believe it.

"The time has come," Cataclysm said in a booming, carrying voice. "The time to see if your world is ripe for the Cleansing."

"The what now?" Myitt asked.

Cloak groaned as he facepalmed. "The 'Cleansing'," he spat the word, "some of the more fanatic Realm Walkers speak of it as cleansing the world of the weak."

"Oh, and let me take a wild shot in the dark at just who gets to decide that." Sakki said snappishly.

"My horsemen," he indicated the four behind him, "will examine your world -- do not attempt to resist them, for you will surely not survive."

They were all standing up the Eye of Ages, which had folded out into a hovering platform. The five stood comfortably upon it -- Malice wasn't invited. Whilst grossly embittered, she was still quite alive.

"Allow me to introduce your overseers, my horsemen," Cataclysm said.

It was a punch in the gut to the RAFians because they saw thier friends in full color and illuminated.

"Meet . . . Famine!"

Yarin's normally gray skin was paler and looked tauter than usual. He looked rather bonier than usual, and his face looked rather like Gollum from those "Lord of the Ring" movies, only with six milky-white eyes that appeared to each have a cataract.

His fingertips were a darker gray -- he was "blessed" with the Touch of Famine. His telepathy had grown into Omega-Level telekinesis. He could easily ravage a mind without as second thought.

Goom muttered, "Yarin . . . gone?"

"Meet . . . Pestilence!"

Ash's form seemed rather indefinite and yet her hair was distinctly dementor-like, yet seemed to be like cobwebs. Her skin texture kept shifting colors and textures -- nothing was consistent.

Only her fingertips remained stable in form, "blessed" the Touch of Pestilence. She could assume the form of any plague -- a bug swarm, a megastorm, etc.

"Ash . . ." Broken said, cry in his voice and hand outstretched.

"Meet . . . War!"

Parker appeared to have his armor fused to his body, and his armor having some slight metamorphic properties. His helmet's face plate was replaced by a robotic eye, and there were actual Spartan references -- that is to say, an actual ancient warrior from Sparta.

He was "blessed" with the Touch of War. He was able to summon any weapon for warfare instantaneously.

"No . . . my . . . my Parker . . ." Helen said, tears freely falling.

"Finally, meet . . . Death!"

Demos bore a striking resemblance to Summoned Skull from "Yu-Gi-Oh", sans the wings. Demos's flesh was bone white and his horns were a purplish-black. His fingers now bore claws as did his feet.

Demos now carried the "blessing" of the Touch of Death". His pyrokinesis was boosted to its absolute zenith, as well as his regeneration being instantaneous.

"Demos . . . what have they done to you?" Sakki muttered.

"That's all of them," Estelore said. "No one was spared . . ."

[Underseen]

Fighting friends is hard.

[redtailedsaffa]

Even harder when you have no choice.

[Cloak]

ARGH! Lost the entire damn chapter because my frickin' internet thought this was frickin' funny. Ugh!

Fortunately, it wasn't too long. I'm gonna take a break, then try AGAIN.

[Underseen]

I will be here.

[Cloak]

You're a devoted fan of "Memoirs", aren't you, Underseen?

Warning: may be brief.

CHAPTER ELEVEN:
The Gameplan

"The evaluation of your syrength will be if you survive this onslaught," Cataclysm said, smiling maliciously. "Survival of the fittest. If you should survive, you'll have a place in the new world. If you resist after this Judgement, you shall be," he gave a nasty chortle, "remade."

"The presumption! The gall!" Terenia blustered, outraged. "What makes him think he has some divine right to do this?!"

"He's not the only Realm Walker who thinks in such a way," Cloak said heavily. "It is a coomon prejudice in the Nexus, amongst my species." He spat the word, just to make sure the others knew just how he despised the prejudice.

"We'll have to act quickly." Goom said, at once.

"Right." Richard said. "Sakki, Underseen, Yunyun -- go after Demos. Helen, Sam, Blue -- Parker. Broken, Noelle, Gaz -- Ash. Aquilai, Dino, Rad -- Yarin. See if . . . if you can get through to them. See if you can make them remember."

"And if we can't?" Dino asked hesitantly.

Richard shut his eyes, and everyone knew what would have to happen if they couldn't get the four to remember.

"Maybe," Cloak said slowly, "if Cataclysm was taken out . . ."

"What are you suggesting?" Phoenix asked.

"I must take on Cataclysm," Cloak said.

"But didn't he put a curse on you Elements Masters?" Broken asked.

"Mere mysticism and spooky manner -- it will take more than to scare me off."

"Well," Estelore said, translating to her sunshine yellow kevlar bodysuit, "you won't be alone, Cloak."

"Estelore, even with your power, you can't kill him." Cloak pointed out. "Barring old age, only another Realm Walker can kill a Realm Walker. You know this."

"Doesn't mean I can't use my talents to help." Esty shrugged.

"Very well, then. It is decided." Richard with urgent finality. "Now, go."

"Just a second," Cloak said, gesturing to the broadcast that was still going on. Cataclysm, much like Malice, seemed to like the sound of his own voice. "Cataclysm seems to be under the impression that I'm the last Elements Master. Do not correct him."

Even though forcibly separated by his mother's machinations, Cloak was still trying to protect Shadow.

[Gaz]

Great chapters, Cloaky!

[Cloak]

Thanks, Gazzy.

Okay -- remember guys, the chapter (if I get a chance to write and post it, anyway) will be late tomorrow. And I can pretty much guarantee that it'd be only one.

EDIT: Finished planning out the chapters of "Swarm of the Supermen" -- a dark, out-of-continuity book -- and started planning out the chapters of "Dullsville".

CHAPTER TWELVE:
Death and Taxes*

"Demos!" Sakki cried out.

The Horseman pf Death stood in a graveyard. He looked at Sakki, Underseen, and Yunyun, but his cold, dead eyes registered no recognition. His glowing rune "tattoos" shone menacingly, but the trio saw them as little more than bioluminescent scars.

"Demos, listen to me," Sakki insisted, but he gave no recognition that she had even spoken.

"I don't think he's listening," Yunyun commented benignly.

Demos blasted a concussive burst of fire, which Sakki and Yunyun dodged. Underseen, however, was left with a comical hole in his chest.

"Uh, hey!" Underseen said, gesturing to the hole. But it was only a minor inconvenience, as he easily closed the hole due to his shapeshifting prowess.

"Demos, it's us!" Sakki said seizing his arm, practically preparing to slap the demon-turned-Horseman. Demos, without hesitation, without regret, without thought, turned his hand his "blessed" palm  upon her. He closed it around her arm, activating the Touch of Death.

But, instead of the expected effects, Sakki's Mark and point of contact flared white and Demos's hand and runes burned. He lost this "blessing", he had the Touch of Death no more.

"Demos . . . you -- you tried to kill me . . ." Sakki said, shocked and affronted.

"Sakki . . . are we even sure that Demos hasn't been consumed by Death?" Underseen asked rather pragmatically.

Sakki didn't answer, she didn't like the conclusion she had come to.

"No," Sakki said, with an air of grasping a straws, "Demos is in there -- somewhere -- just subsumed by Death, not consumed."

"But how?"

"There has to be a way," Sakki said stubbornly.

---
*Reference to what Franklin once said, I believe -- "Two things are inevitable: death and taxes" -- or something like that.

[Cloak]

Okay, just one more. Probably the last of the night. Still gotta get up early tomorrow.

May be brief.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
The Mark of Death

"Um, any ideas, then?" Yinyun asked, eyeing Demos wearily.

"He's in there, somewhere. I know it." Sakki said.

"Don't you think that it could simply be wishful thinking, Sakki?" Underseen said, slipping and weaving out of Demos's attacks.

Sakki frowned with narrowed eyes. Then she snapped, "Unity Pulse. Let's go. Now."

The three triangulated their Unity Pulses upon Death-Demos. They gave it all they had.

"It's not working!" Yunyun said.

"Yeah! We're just making him angry!" Underseen grunted.

"Demos, SNAP OUTTA IT!!!" Sakki screamed.

Then, as if in slow motion, a small spark of the purest white energy snapped into existence. That one became two. That two became four. That four became eight. Sixteen

Suddenly, Sakki's clothing became predominantly white, and her long hair became platinum blonde. Her Mark's sheer brute power increased.

Yunyun's clothing also shifted into being predominantly white, and her hair became so white snow looked gray in comparision. Her Mark's power increased exponentially, just like Sakki's.

Underseen became rather like sentient Patronus energy. His Mark's power is boosted as much as the other three.

"The Great Power . . . it's back!"

"Forget that, Underseen," Sakki said. "Pour it on!"

Suddenly, Demos doubled up in pain. The glowing, tattoo-like runes on his body turned a brillant white rather slowly, but eventually dissolved as Demos's Mark became more prominent. The alterations Cataclysm made seemed to flake away as he reverted back to his "Great Power" form, where his body is brillant white with red horns and a white silk suit with red and black trim.

And, as suddenly as it appeared, the Great Power faded. Demos just resembled his normal self.

"What happened?" he asked, then positing hopefully, "Did I maim someone?"

[Underseen]

I love how he asks if he maimed someone unaware of what went on.

[redtailedsaffa]

Reminds me of that scene in Avengers where after the Chitauri are, uh, disabled, Tony Stark wakes up suddenly and is like, "Please tell me nobody kissed me."

Wow, these are great chapters. Love the whole good-over-evil light-and-dark vibe you've got going here.

[Cloak]

Well, while I'll try to still post a chapter a day, considering I'm working a couple more hours next week,  you should really not expect more than one then. Just a heads-up.

Anyway, I planned up to Chapter 14 in the book "Dullsville".

Now, to the reason you come to this thread ( ), a possibility-brief chapter.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
War -- What is It Good For?

Helen and Sam hovered over a nearby abandoned building that was formerly a munitions retailer. Or something to that effect. With a small puff of smoke, Blue appeared and apparently melted into the shadows as the ninja that he was.

"Are you sure that War is here?" Sam asked.

"His name is Parker, Sam," Helen said, hotly. "And this seemed the most logical place."

"But its been abandoned for years," Sam pointed out.

"Yes, but --" Helen begun to protest.

"Hey!" Blue snarled to the two. "Keep down to a dull roar, will you?!"

They looked at Blue, who followed his instincts and hugged the shadows. Blue looked around, anxiously and apprehensively. He replied, "It's a miracle he didn't hear your exchanges."

BOOM! Ba-BOOM!

The abandoned munitions retailer was reduced to a crater. Blue had used a smoke bomb and vanished seconds before.

"No miracles today, it would seem." Blue replied, breathing rather heavier.

"He has got to have bigger armaments than that," Sam said, his Green Lanturn aura enveloping him thoroughly as War-Parker came into view, weapons drawn.

"He showed restraint," Helen said, her Star Sapphire aura seemed to get pinker. "Parker's still alive in there!"

"Or he's toying with us, like a cat with a mouse," Blue said cynically. "Don't romanticize this, Helen."

"No, Blue. Parker is alive in there," Helen insisted, landing. She rushed to War-Parker's side, pleading, "Parker, it's me. Helen."

"Helen, what are you doing?!" Sam cried.

"Helen, he'll kill you!" Blue shouted.

Helen paid them no mind, but she seized War-Parker's arm. War-Parker looked upon her, with that face that was no face, no recognization in his electronic-looking eye. No regret and . . . and no mercy. He reached over and grasped her with his Touch of War.

As with Sakki and Death-Demos, the point contact blistered white as Helen's Mark burned white. War- Parker lost his Touch of War.

"Parker . . ." Helen breathed, not losing her resolve. "Parker . . . I know you're still in there. Fight it! Hear me? Fight it!"

"She's delusional," Blue said, voice barely a whisper.

[Cloak]

Another chapter, I think. Why? Because I can. Again, the disclaimer it might be short, but this book is going to exceed the usual twenty chapters anyway.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
Mark of War

"I heard that, Blue," Helen snarled as Blue blinked, taken unawares, in reply. The fury of a Star Sapohire is said be a rather frightening as a woman scorned. Helen continued with clearly a lot of decorum and dignity, "And, no, I'm not."

War-Parker lost his grip on her and backed away, as if to assess this new happening. But Helen wouldn't be detered. She knew if the situation was reversed, Parker would not, simply not, give up on her. How could she fail him by giving up on him, when she knew that he would fight just as hard for her? And, in a way, Parker had, with whole Louis Cannon debacle.

"Parker . . . Parker, please . . ." Helen outright pleaded. It didn't seem to work, Parker seemed impervious to her words. But Helen wouldn't give up.

"Helen . . ." Sam began.

"Helen, it's time to face facts." Blue said, with as much compassion as the ninja possessed.

"No! He's still in there -- somewhere -- and I will save him!"

That's when it happened, at the exact moment it happened for Sakki and her team. The Great Power returned in great force -- turning Helen and Sam into momentary White Lanterns, and just turning Blue's ninja outfit white with deep blue accents from its normal deep blue with black accents.

"Whoa -- we're White Lanterns." Sam said, surprised. "I thought the Great Power was gone for good."

"Apparently, the great power is more fickle than --"

"Enough jibberjabber," Helen said.

"'Jibberjabber'?" Sam asked. "Wha . . ."

"You just made that up, didn't you?" Blue asked accusingly.

Helen ignored the jibe, "It's obvious why the Great power decided to show up -- Unity Pulse at Parker."

"Huh?" Blue said, taken aback by the suddenness of this urgent request.

"C'mon, guys! Unity Pulse!" Helen insisted urgently.

The two acquiesced, and fired a triangulated Unity Pulse. It had the same effect as it did with Demos. The runes blared a blistering white and the War persona flaked away, revealing a Parker.

"Wha . . . what just hap--mph!"

Parker couldn't speak any more as Parker's mouth was otherwise occupied by an elated kiss from Helen, as the Great Power faded once more.

"Aw," Sam said, disappointedly as the Great Power withdrew.