|
Post by Ciata on Mar 7, 2005 0:41:51 GMT -5
"Oh, yes..."
Lucias extends his paw and at that moment a receiver comes alive on the desk. There are a few moments of static then a slightly trembling voice comes through.
"Attention authorities. This is Juki, I have made contact with Sicarii and have him here for....."
There is a rustling heard over the speaker followed by a gasp and then a sickening crunch of bones breaking followed by a faint gurgling and a thud. Another voice comes over the receiver, one that personifies darkness and sends chills up your spine.
"Interesting....always the same look, but always slightly different. Fine taste though."
As Lucias gasps and reaches for the table another voice comes over,
"Damnit Michael, what have you done?!"
"Why Jonan, how nice of you to join us, your duties not keeping you too busy?"
"You are keeping a friend and advisor of mine there Michael, you know what I'm here for, what did you do to that young man?"
"Oh mighty Diacanos, you should know. The same thing you banished me for."
"You.......why?"
"Because, Raja Borah taste so much better than the usual filth."
Lucias slides down to sit on the floor as he listens
"Grrrrrr, what do you want?!"
"I want you, here, now, for them."
there is a pause
"I know you will do it, you must, it's part of your oath after all, sacrifice yourself and serve others."
"......fine, you have my oath, and you know I will fulfill it."
"Of course you will, no matter what. So be here, and quickly, and any more of your Raja and they will meet the same fate as this one. Oh, and do get here before I get hungry again, there are three women, one poor wounded Raja, and 27 children.......for now."
The radio goes silent and Lucias starts to rise and head for his chair muttering,
"Why oh why......why do some hate so....."
|
|
|
Post by The Union of Tinis on Mar 8, 2005 23:52:07 GMT -5
Waldo watches Lucias take his seat. "I think I'm going to be sick." Turns his head away for a moment. "He's worse than what I've imagined."
The raccoon turns back towards Lucias with the begining of a tear at the corner of his eye. "What are the chances of him standing against Sicarii?"
|
|
|
Post by Ciata on Mar 9, 2005 0:44:09 GMT -5
Lucias sits lost in himself for a few more moments before responding without lifting his head,
"Opalance Calaminion, or Jonan as he was born, can not fight Sicarii, he would never even get the thought into his head before he would be dead. He is not going to fight, he's going to try to end this, and do his duty."
He pauses a little while before starting again,
"Those two's destinies were inter-twined from birth. Opalance started out as Jonan, a direct descendant from Ben Johonan, the founder of the Ciatan. Sicarii was born Michael, a direct descendant from Dinarii the strengthener, founder of the Raja Borah and the third Diacanos. Their families were close, both well off and highly respected, both boys were destined for greatness as they grew up together, always competing and playing against ans with each other.
After time their competition grew more serious, by the time they were adults they were as much friendly rivals as anything, both striving to attain the highest honor and service. They also competed for the daughter of the last Diacanos, the wonderous Saprine Stardance. As they grew older, their competition grew more and more intense, finally, when Serene Stardance died, leaving her daughter and the leadership of the clan free, it came to a head. Serene stated to the two of them that she would marry the best man, or the one that was the next Diacanos. They were both so strong and so even on merit and valor in deeds for the people, one thing made the difference, their view on war. Michael wanted to build a larger army, expanding on his grandfather's work, Jonan wanted to keep it to a small peace keeping force. In the end the people chose the more peacefull ideal, and Jonan was selected for leadership and as a result, marriage.
After his initial devestation, Michael seemed to recover, and was made second in command of the Raja Borah. He seemed happy with this at first, but the lack of work in the peacefull land seemed to only feed his anger he was harboring. At first it was small things, being "forced" to kill a murderer on the loose, "having" to eliminate a foreign threat on the border by taking out the leader, then other, almost random things, crazy accusations, random killings, finally resulting in a brutal murder that the re-named Opalance, was forced to banish him for.
Before he was escorted out of the country, he stole a secret project, meant as a last resort in war, a "Morning Star" stone, a thing able to almost immediatly genetically modify a being at any point of life to even greater strength, instead of it happening over it's growth like a normal Heaven Stone fitted to the Raja Borah. It was the newly branded Sicarii's brain child, and he made sure he possesed it when they came for him, as he was originaly only fitted with one normal Heaven Stone like most leaders.
Using it's abilities he escaped, and remained at large untill one fatefull day in the High Citadel. He somehow entered using means that were supposed to be impossible for any normal, or even enhanced being. He inacted his most dreadfull deed of revenge for his imagined wrongs, he entered into Opalance's room and killed Saprine, fleing and leaving a note saying that he was not finished with him yet, only wanted him to suffer as he had."
Lucias finally looks up,
"The difference though between the two is that Opalance had strentgh, real strength. Though he was crushed, and nearly driven mad with dispair and rage, he regained himself, and greived and went on, not letting his failure to protect her destroy him as Sicarii did.
So now Michael wishes to get his final revenge for his reasons gotten from his sad, twisted mind, by destroying Jonan, if from the outside, while he has been rotting away on the inside."
|
|
|
Post by Ciata on Mar 12, 2005 23:49:21 GMT -5
Reana Stormwake has returned to her duties at the Council Hall, regaining her seat from the now interim leader Kohen Lucias with much thanks. She also arrived with the small Mara, an adorable 3 year old Fennic Fox, who has been a great help in keeping Reana busy and her and off of the recent events, though she still checks up on her mate constantly, who is recovering at increadible rates thanks to his being a Raja Borah. She is now ready for duty an voting and debate, seeking some sense or normality after her ordeal.
|
|
|
Post by Ciata on Apr 6, 2005 8:47:09 GMT -5
Represenative Reana Stormwake after receiving her up-dates on daily decisions back in Ciata decides to hunt down Tinis' represenative Waldo and talk to him about the recent, large changes being made to Ciata.
Reana, "It worries me somewhat, not so much the actions, but that Opalance has suddenly aproved them. In the past he alsways resisted things like increasing the military and terra-forming our land as he is a great proponent of peace and protecting the natural environment."
she pauses before going on, then shares, " I won't lie to you, Ciata has been in a state of upheavel, and crime and public anamosity is the highest it might have ever been. The influx of new people not raised in our culture has drasticly changed our society. I know it has also made things like a police force and larger military and more useabel land neccisary, and Opalance has done what he knows he must, but it still troubles me in a way and yet comforts me in another. Through all of our policies and ideals, we must never forget who we serve, the people, and remember to do what is best for them, regardless of what we want. So I am bothered and comforted by these changes at the same time. I know they will hurt, but I also know that they will help more, however this is not the main reason I wanted to talk with you.
Opalance told me to tell you thank you for your help in protecting our country, but also gave me warning to pass on to others. He doesn't believe that Sicarii would set off a nuclear divice in Ciata, as he still has some sense of national pride and loyalty to the country he once wished to lead, however, our allies are not protected as such.
He fears that he might strike you, or even here in some way, and nothing is above him when striking people that are not his, even if we don't claim him."
|
|
|
Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 6, 2005 13:53:39 GMT -5
Waldo nods. "His game is fear and anguish. Opalance's. I thank you for your warning, but I'm afraid I've already recieved it from my own government.
"This is a new world we live in. I don't think any of us know what to do. Sicarii or other terrors could be lurking in any corner ready to rend us from our bones or to denotate a device. I think you concerns over the changes in your homeland are very much related to Sicarii's reign of terror.
"I've seen a similar shift back home. I've heard some of the old timers talking about how its almost like the Tinis Fed days with how militant things have become. I'm frightened by Izixs' push for increases in the military. I know we need troops to secure Shimandu and beyond and to keep Tinis safe, but at what cost, and is it even worth it if the enemy can strike us any time any where.
"And I can echo the culture swamp. Every year it is becoming more of a burden on our government to keep up the education standards Tinis has enjoyed for so long. With millions of refugees pouring in, the culture of excellence is weakening. We try our best, but I've seen forcasts. If things continue as is, Tinis may encounter an intellectual crash. And at the end of the day, the Tinisian education system is the heart of what makes Tinis Tinis.
"You are not alone in worries about home."
Waldo looks off for a moment.
"Reana, Tinis has made it a policy to make it appear that we are invincible. That even if our armies were to fall, our airforce to be crushed, and our nuclear deterant eliminated, Tinis would survive all under the umbrella of the Pattern Defense System. But there are two main problems, the first being, what if someone denoates a bomb inside the barrier.
"The other more pressing problem is that the PDS has never been tested for nuclear attack. We don't know if it can stand up to such an massive coordinated attack. I'm probably breaking Tinisian law by telling you this, but I don't care. What happened to T3H Furry could easily happen to Tinis.
"And the last thing I heard, Sicarii wasn't to happy with my First Speaker."
|
|
|
Post by Ciata on Apr 7, 2005 13:00:47 GMT -5
Reana, "Sicarii is not happy with anyone but those who stand idly by and watch him reap his destruction, and we too have something of the same idea as your defence system, though we don't have the means or will to implicate it over all our cities, but we call it a bio-shield. I can't tell you much about our technology, because very few, not evne I, know exactly how they work. What most people in Ciata know about the Heaven Stones is that they bio-enginering tools that affect the body on a molecular level, mainly by improving the density of bones and muscles and quickening nerves and enhancing other senses. I know little about the energy forming capacity of it though, aside from what is taught in our schools, that it is some form of micro-fusion that draws it's energy from the environment around it."
She pauses, troubled by a thought she then shares, "There is something else though. We have been receiving more and more evidence that Sicarii is not acting on his own inititive, but following someone else's orders and plan. We have no explination why he would attack and destroy the places he has. At first we thought it one big ploy to draw out the Raja Borah and Opalance to exact revenge and quinch his thirst for suffering, but the nuclear strikes don't match up with that. His name means assassin, and he derives his pleasure from killing individuals and savoring the sickness of it *she shuders* but a nuclear strike is not the means of an assassin, and no major leaders have been killed recently, leadingus to believe that he is taking orders from someone else, and some of his actions, like the suicidal attempt on Opalance's life, were psychotic deviations from that plan."
|
|
|
Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 9, 2005 15:08:07 GMT -5
"There's an analysist at Tinis military HQ that's been suggesting the behind the scenes force. Unfortunatly most of the resources those crazy mad thinkers would have to try to prove this are currently being employeed in the push towards Shimandu City, countering Sicarii himself, and tracking down the missing missiles. Perhaps one of these would lead to a sign as to who might be employing Sicarii.
"Employing Sicarii..."
Waldo wiggles his ear. "How would someone buy off Sicarii? With what he's shown ability-wise, he can most likely take any money or items he wants that's commonly available. So it must be something speacial, and most likely well guarded. Any ideas?"
|
|
|
Post by Ciata on Apr 9, 2005 22:19:40 GMT -5
Reana sighs, "the only thing he values is power and life, and he takes those two as he wishes. He comes from a society that does not place much value on wealth, and if he truly wanted something, he could attain it by some means."
|
|
|
Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 13, 2005 22:38:04 GMT -5
Waldo nods. "So it them must be something that would require him to work for someone, assuming all of this is true. Perhaps whom ever this is will hand him control of Ciata after they've taken the federation?" Waldo scratches his muzzle. "Assuming that's what they're trying to do of course."
|
|
|
Post by Ciata on Oct 18, 2005 10:20:23 GMT -5
For Reana it was yet another long, dull day, the only highlights being taking care of Mara, the little fennic fox who has grown a bit in the long absense of her adopted father and the war. Her legalistic duties are minimal seing as the government she represents is practicaly non-existant after the High Citadel's destruction and Opalance's death. In the months she has slipped into a state of depression being cut off from her home and loved ones, the lone call from Rowan being her single encouragement. She now sits, like most other days, gazing out a window to the west, long ago giving up trying to keep busy. Mara plays quietly with a few toys Waldo brought her and Reana lets her head slip into her folded arms. Sitting there she hears the door to the room creak open, were it a month or two ago she would have jumped up expecting to see Rowan, but instead she sits there thinking it was just Mara wandering off again. A few seconds later though she feels a large, padded paw on her shoulder and she lifts her head slowly with wide eyes, "Rowan?" she turns to see the face of her long awaited mate, "I'm back." She jumps up and into to his arms asking while crying,
"What took you so long? Where were you? Why didn't I ever hear anything?"
"I'm so sorry I never called, but half the time we were in hiding and I was hurt, but I'm better now, though without the heaven stones. I wanted to call you and tell you I was coming, but we were escorting some high level prisoners and we couldn't afford to chance tipping anyone off. I'm sorry I was gone for so long."
"I missed you so much."
"I know."
So the three come back together after a 5 month absense and finaly are together again. They spend the rest of the day trying to catch up on things and playing with Mara, all the while the pair nuzzle and cuddle, not wanting to have any distance between them after being so far apart for so long. Finally as the long awaited day draws to a close Waldo hears a knock on his door, opening it to find the three standing there.
Reana asks, "Waldo, would it be too much trouble for Mara to spend the night at your place? Rowan is finaly back and we really need some time alone together.
|
|
|
Post by The Union of Tinis on Oct 18, 2005 21:14:08 GMT -5
"Sure why not," he answers. "I'm basically done with my busy-ness today and was about to sit down and watch a movie. Maybe I can put something kid friendly in for your little one." Speaking to little fox, "I think I got Dimond Quest on DVD. Its a little old, but I think you might like it. A group of teens climb a mountain looking for dimonds but end up helping do something much better than finding loot."
He looks back up and smiles at the couple. "How long is your evening going to be then? Should I have her sleep on the couch?"
|
|
|
Post by Ciata on Oct 19, 2005 9:38:37 GMT -5
Reana, "Oh, that would be nice *the two look at each other and smile* We're going to have a nice supper together and then spend the evening...um, making up for lost time. She brought her favorite blanket and little Wally."
The little 4 year old fox holds up a racoon plushy, "See, he looks just like you."
Rowan, "Be good now Mara, and tomorrow I'll try to make up the birthday I missed for you, okay?"
Mara, "Okay."
Reana, "Thanks Waldo, we'll be by tommorrow morning to pick her up, thanks for everything."
The two smile again and pat little Mara on her head between her huge, fuzzy ears and walk off arm-in-arm back to their apartment.
|
|
|
Post by The Union of Tinis on Oct 19, 2005 16:28:27 GMT -5
Waldo easily adds more veggies to the stir fry cooking in the kitchen while the previews start up, checking periodically to make sure little Mara and littler Wally are both still there on the couch. By the time the movie begins, Waldo serves up dinner at the small table in the living area.
Waldo asks Mara if she's ever seen Diamond Quest before, which of course she hasn't. Obscure Tinisian films from the 80s don't get much play outside of the Union.
The film features a group of six young meerkats and a slightly older pika as they go on a hike up the mysterious Diamond Mountain. Their main concern at the start of the film is getting away from their home in a barren desert like valley. Ideas and rumors about a great treasure start popping up as the youths meet a number of interesting but fairly humorous adults along the way. Of course to call the movie cheesy wouldn't be out of line at this point. The youths eventually reach what they think is the hidden location of all the diamonds but find it is nothing more than a tunnel to a hidden grotto on the far side of the mountain. Feeling down in the dumps they are about to head back someone finds what they first think is a diamond. But being sharp kids, they soon figure out that it is not diamond, using a rock to scratch the glass easily. But curious as to where the class came from they explore further and find a surveyor who was out of water, having broken his water bottle a few hours ago when he fell. The youths let him share their water and the surveyor asks them if they'd help him with one more thing. After explaining how to do it, the kids position stakes and tapes around the area. The kids of course think the surveyor is looking for the diamonds to at first, but eventually they figure out that the surveyor is looking for a spring. It isn't long before the find it, and with a little time, the group has uncovered the hidden spring. By the end of the night they dug a small trench from the spring to the cave they entered the grotto through, creating a small stream of water through the mountain.
The group sleeps the night on the mountain before awaking to a surprise. The trench has over flowed and the way back is almost impassable for the kids. But they and the surveyor travel back through the cave and return to the valley, which over the next few days suddenly has a mighty river flowing down its length.
|
|
|
Post by The Union of Tinis on Oct 21, 2005 22:53:53 GMT -5
Despite the feel good atmospher of the last quarter of the movie, Mara has gone fast to sleep with a filling dinner in her tummy. Waldo, filled with nestalgia for the old movie finishes it up after he's made sure the little fox is tucked in with her favorite blanket and little Wally.
After the credits role, Waldo double checks the lock on the door and retires to his own room, to also enjoy a night of rest.
Kids are neat is his last thought before sliding into the abyss that is the world of dreams.
|
|