Cantina 6: PTH Part V, Revenge

[Kuuki]

Sir-Vin *coming out* "What's going on? I could have swearn that I felt you in distress a while ago."

[Deac]

Orthos: Marin! What's going on??

[BattleDog]

Hal: You first Lad, whats got you in a lather?

[superthrawn]

Ritchet sighed, again.

 

"Hello. I'm Ritchet, and I don't believe the rather rude female there has properly introduced us. I'm the manifestation of a powerful interdimensional being who is here, it seems, to help you on whatever quest you might be on. I don't know how or where I'll be able to help, but my father told me that you needed help, and told me where to go. Which, unfortunately, is the reason that I ended up inside that poor girl...it wasn't an intentional move on my part that got her killed...I had no desire to kill her, nor to get covered so completely with blood. As I told what's her name, I was told to go to that exact spot...my father can be so (he pauses for a long moment) rude like that sometimes.

 

Now, please. Who are you? And, more importantly, how can I help you?

[Redwing]

Asgardried, Cargo Hold

 

"That remains to be seen," Guy answered coldly. He began walking slowly towards the exit, heading towards Marin. "In the meantime, whoever you are, try not to make yourself conspicious, or the Aesir may change their minds about killing you."

 

***

 

Asgardried, Outside

 

"We've got psychotics after us...more psychotics. That's what," Raschel said. "Where is Heimdall? He needs to hear this."

[jokemaster]

Matt: Better having a crazy person after us than a sane one, at least we'll know what the psycho will do....

[Deac]

Elella: More? I didn't think there were any left!

[Kuuki]

WH Irvine/Cracern "What did you expect? The universe is either falling apart physically or mentally, depending on where you are. Look at this colony for instance."

[Admiral Odin]

Asgardried Bridge

 

*Gerd was just about at the bridge when door opened and Heimdall exited*

 

Heimdall: Looking for me?

 

Gerd: Yup, there a strange creature in the cargo hold. Idun is doing something with it.

 

Heimdall: Ahh, well come along, Marin and Raschel just arrived and by the looks of it they have something important to say.

 

Gerd: Ok.

 

*Gerd takes the lead and heads towards the entrance way. About half way there Heimdall suddenly pauses as if something struck him. Gerd took a couple more steps before realizing that Heimdall wasn't following, She turns to look behind her just as Idun rounded a corner and came upon them.

 

Idun quickly noticed something was amiss in Heimdall be his stance and the look in his face. In a few strides she is standing next to him, her eyes examining his face. She puts a hand on his shoulder and gently shakes*

 

Idun: Heimdall? Is something wrong?

 

*Her words seem to knock him out of his revere, he shakes his head and looks at Idun*

 

Heimdall *letting out a short sigh*: It won't be very long now, but there is still some time and we have some immediate things to take care of. I trust everything is alright in the cargo hold?

 

Idun: For now, I'll tell you more later.

 

Heimdall: Alright, come on I'm sure this is something we all should hear.

 

*The three continue towards the Entranceway, Heimdall showing no signs that anything had happened. Gerd looked a little confused but that quickly subsided. A minute later the three joined Svafa and the others at the entrance*

 

Heimdall: What is it Raschel?

[Redwing]

Aidan followed Heimdall shortly, looking somewhat tired but saying nothing.

 

"I have quite a bit to tell," Raschel said. "There’s someone out here hunting us.

 

"I was walking down a mostly-deserted street when I heard a commotion from one of the houses. I went to investigate, and I overheard a conversation between two beings, both humanoid. One appeared mostly human and called himself 'Cyrus Duncan'. The humanoid had an unusually scarred face and called himself 'Sejhan'. They spoke in Basic.

 

"The first thing I overheard was Duncan asking Sejhan where his men were. Sejhan claimed they fled out of fear. Duncan did not believe him and accused him of frightening them off or killing them. Sejhan first denied this, then admitted to it. He told Duncan that his men were a liability.

 

"Duncan asked Sejhan how he could have a crusade without crusaders. Sejhan replied that he was not asking Duncan for a crusade, just for him to kill 'one little baby Jotun'. He said something strange about crying out loud, and asked, 'You’ve done this already how many times?'

 

"Duncan replied saying that 'the offspring of Thiazi' – apparently his target – would be a very powerful creature. He was unable to kill this Thiazi in the past. He stated that the prophecies Sejhan himself had obtained said that it is by this child’s power that the galaxy has come to this state, and by this child’s power it will be destroyed.

 

"Sejhan told him that he was reading too much in between the lines. Duncan’s target – a girl, it seems – is only about ten to eleven years old. He stated, 'This is a nip-it-in-the-bud mission. Kill the demon child before she can grow up and finish off everything.'

 

"Duncan asked why Sejhan had deprived him of his soldiers if there was so little danger. Sejhan stated that he was the only one in this galaxy capable of killing the Jotun. He said Duncan’s men would have been useless even as cannon fodder, that the Jotun’s protectors would have finished them off before he could say 'bad idea'.

 

"Duncan replied that he had armed his soldiers against Jotuns, and that certainly some would have died, but they would have matched blow for blow, death for death. Sejhan told him that the Jotun child was not with other Jotuns. This came as a surprise to Duncan, and angered him.

 

"Sejhan told him that his target was with a group of 'fanatic mystics'. He said they believed they could restore the galaxy by finding an ancient legendary power. He said that these people have been carting this child around for the past eight months. Is any of this starting to ring some bells? And no, I’m not finished."

 

Raschel looked around at the group, eyes focusing especially on Heimdall, Gerd, and Idun.

[BattleDog]

Hal: So all we have to do is kill or disable this Duncan, preferably kill, before he does a number on us.

[Redwing]

Guy stood against the Asgardried's hull, staring off into the distance. At the name "Cyrus Duncan" he twitched briefly, but said nothing.

 

Raschel continued.

 

"There's more, Hal.

 

"Sejhan said that this Jotun was separated from the rest of her kind in the Holocaust. He said he'd expected the other Jotuns to have retrieved her by now, and he hadn't wanted to make things 'murkier' for Duncan.

 

"Duncan replied that Jotuns were pure evil personified, so he had no problem killing those who wished to align themselves with one. He mentioned that he had killed many Sith. Sejhan told him that her protectors were not Sith, that they believed themselves to be 'really nice guys'. He said the Jotun's protectors would probably think of her as an adorable little girl. He said Duncan had never killed innocents.

 

"Duncan said that he wasn't a fool, and he understood war, and that there could be no pity for 'innocents who use themselves as a willing shield for evil'. This evil must die, he said, and so will anyone who stands in the way of his 'justice', no matter their motives. Sejhan apologized for underestimating him.

 

"The two seemed to come to an agreement after this, and Duncan left the house to get a drink. At the time I thought he hadn't seen me, so I left as quietly and quickly as possible and headed back here.

 

"In the marketplace nearby I heard the sounds of struggle from a side street, and came upon Duncan holding a canteen of water over Marin's face. She appeared to be suffocating."

 

 

She paused and looked at Marin, who was still in the form of a bird. Marin looked back, then spoke in thought speech. <I guess I forgot to mention that to everyone... I naturally breathe water.>

 

 

"I tried to pull him off her," Raschel continued. "He tossed me away as if I weighed nothing. He took a long, sharp, greenish-glowing metal object and pricked Marin with it, then me. It didn't penetrate my mithril armor, but the glow seemed to transfer onto my body, and I lost consciousness.

 

"I woke cuffed to a chair. Marin was in a bathtub filled with water. At the time I thought she was dead. Duncan was sitting in front of us. He told me it was obvious that I was not familiar with mud elves. Or "Amnaer". He said he had first thought Marin was my servant or slave, and he still thought our presence in the same dimension at the same time was suspicious. He apparently recognized that Marin was an outsider. He seemed to think I was as well. I don't know why.

 

"Then Marin woke up and called me by name." She looked at Marin again. "You said you'd been...out of water too long? Then Sejhan appeared. By appeared, I mean he came into existence out of thin air, as if he were a ghost.

 

"Sejhan was very agitated on seeing Marin and I, asking Duncan if he knew who we were, and calling us the 'enemy'. He said he appreciated Duncan's initiative, but that his timing was bad. Apparently 'other' mystics had told him that 'the timetables' were 'bad news'. He asked Duncan to hide us, but took no action himself.

 

"Duncan asked Sejhan if we were among the 'group of mystics' that was 'protecting the evil one'. Sejhan told him yes. Marin told them that they must have us confused with someone else. I told her not to say anything, and Duncan told me 'So, while your friend the Amnaer seems to be innocent in this, clearly you are not.'

 

"He then stood and said that he must be going. He told me he knew what I had heard, and that he had a message for me to take to my leaders.

 

"The message was this:

 

"'I know what you harbor. I am Cyrus Duncan, slayer of demons. I have waited thirty-five thousand years for my vengeance, and now I am coming for you.'

 

"He then walked out, and Sejhan vanished into thin air without saying another word. We came back here as quickly as possible."

 

She stopped speaking, and looked pointedly and questioningly at Heimdall, Idun and Svafa.

 

((Sorry for the length, everyone. ))

[Admiral Odin]

Heimdall: The daughter of Thaizi is dead, killed by us, and yes she was very powerful. As far as this Duncan is concerned, if we had time I would say hunt him down and if necessary kill him. However, time is not a luxury we have. We will deal with him when and if the time comes, otherwise we should concentrate on our mission.

 

 

Asgardried *over an external speaker*: Hate to interupt this august assemble but the map has changed. I'm already plotting a nice and fast course.

 

Heimdall: Thank you. *Looking at Tanara* I see the new jedi is still here. You'll have to excuse us but we need to be leaving.

[Deac]

[Cyrus...rings a bell somewhere...]

 

Orthos: Is the ship clear? Maybe we should get off this rock..

[BattleDog]

Hal: Right then, we need to go. Believe me, you don't want to get caught up in this Tanara.

[superthrawn]

As a bird slowly waking and starting to sing, Ritchet walked into the conversation.

 

"That is very interesting information you have there, my friend. I think I see know why I have been sent to help you.

 

A few weeks ago, I was sent by my father to accomplish a mission in a dimension significantly closer to my own than this I am now. The details are useless, but what I can tell you is that this mission involved the recovery of a series of plans for a type of superweapon...one so devastating, so mobile, so powerful, that if released, it would bring the universe to the edge of destruction. It achieves total integration with the user: you literally are the weapon.

 

Unfortunately, I was thwarted by a man who only called himself Sage Haan, but a few of his characteristics match those of your Sejhan perfectly; most noticeable is his ability to materialze out of thin air. He was accompanied by a man he only called 'K'; this man had the look of a fanatic, and a lunatic in his eyes. He hungered for something, but that is all I know. I could not tell more; though I battled with both, together they defeated me handily, in a much stronger body than I now hold. I can tell you this: if they get their hands on this weapon, there is no doubt in my mind that they will destroy this girl you seek, as well as much else of the world. Assuming, of course, they are who I think they are."

[Writer]

Tanara stood by silently, listening to all that was said. Finally, she reentered the conversation. "If you need help, I am not about to leave you without it. I will help you in any way I can."

[jokemaster]

*Matt arrived*

Matt: Who's she and the talking bird?

[Kuuki]

Sir-Vin "She seems to be another surviving Jedi, and the bird is Marin. Speaking of which, why haven't you transformed back?"

[Redwing]

((OOS: Gah. Lots of people talking at once.

 

Deac: Good. It should.

 

edit: Oops, Ritchet didn't change into a bird...XD *Cuts first sentence*))

 

 

Raschel stared at Ritchet. "Who are you?"

 

"Its name is Ritchet," Guy answered. "It will be staying with us for the time being. Ritchet, we can talk about your 'Sage Haan' aboard the ship."

 

He turned and began to slowly walk back towards the Asgardried.

 

"In case you haven't noticed," he added over his shoulder, "this universe doesn't have much left to destroy."

 

 

Misae looked sharply at Hal as he spoke, and her eyes flickered briefly over the Aesir on their way back to Tanara. "Yes," she said. "Come with us, Tanara. Help is something we've been short on lately."

 

 

Marin ruffled her feathers at Sir-vin's question. <I'll demorph later.>

 

She directed a message in private thought-speech to Heimdall, in a wry tone. <You wouldn't happen to have an especially large aquarium stashed away somewhere, would you?>

[jokemaster]

Matt: Shouldn't she change back now?

[Admiral Odin]

Heimdall: Misea, Tanara may come along if both you and her want that. However, you will be responsible for her and need to tell her all the rules of this ship. We will leave in five minutes anyone not aboard the ship at that time will be left behind.

 

*looking at Marin* No, but tell me how much you need and we will work something out for the time being. A permant solution will be implemented as soon as possible.

 

*Heimdall turns and walks back into the ship, Idun, Svafa following. Gerd waits a moment before running back inside as well*

 

Heimdall: So where are we heading to now?

 

Asgardried: Home.

[superthrawn]

Ritchet screamed at the top of his tiny mouse lungs, "Wait for me!? Can someone please carry me?"

[Deac]

*Elella picks up Richet*

 

Elella: Come along then...

 

*The three relatives board*

[Redwing]

((superthrawn, I thought Ritchet changed to a bird in your last post. If I misread it, which I probably did, since when did Ritchet leave Guy's shoulder?

 

Will actually post later))