Research

[Phoenix]

((This may turn into a miniplot or it may not, but I thought I'd put up the IC reasoning behind no-Jane at GG while I've been away from it. Plus, it gave me something constructive to do. ))



The MAGI library was deserted at this time of night. Only a single light burning in a corner and the occasional noise of an ancient page turning betrayed any activity at all.

A notepad brimming with scribbled notes sat on one side of the desk, a tall and growing pile of books on the other.

Leaning back in the functional if not exactly comfortable chair, Jane stared up at the ceiling for a moment, raising a hand and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes with a quiet sigh, gently scratching the ever-present itch under the hospital-issue eyepatch.

1.30am... Kat'll be getting worried by now... guess I'll wrap this one up an' head home. Not like I'm getting anywhere...

Standing briefly, she stretched and touched her toes a couple of times, the numbness in her back fading slightly. Pursing her lips thoughtfully, she ran her uncovered eye over the pile of worn tomes. Some were in English, some were in French, and some were even in Khelda, but they all bore similar titles.

Curses, hexes, jinxes, bewitchment... These were the physical representation of a growing desperation within the young Peacebringer. Though the power-suppression drugs stolen from the Ziggurat should have worn off some time ago, her abilities showed no sign of returning, and the inner voice that she had grown so accustomed to, even dependent on, was eerily, worryingly silent. Sunstorm's tests had provided precious few clues, though the Coordinator had ordered a complete and thorough examination of the results, hoping to find something, anything, to explain it.

A small smile flitted across her lips at the thought of Sunstorm. Though they had had their spats, heated arguments and nearly several full-blown fights, she had eventually grown to respect and even like the man, gaining a greater appreciation for the difficulty of his job as he had tasked her with more and more important missions for the Army. That he had helped her so willingly and positively was a testament to his ability to leave the past where it belonged.

But for every one who could manage that, it seemed there was always one who refused to. Firebird Phoenix... a Praetorian, a mirror of Jane herself from another dimension. Gifted with control over fire and the forces of darkness, she had somehow crossed the border between the worlds and landed in the Rogue Isles. Powerful, cunning, and utterly ruthless, her attempt to kidnap and kill Kat and Jane was all too easily remembered, in all its painful detail. She had escaped them at the first sign of trouble, vanishing in the chaos of the Alliance's rescue, and had not been heard from since.

Is it too much to hope that she's gone for good?

Shaking her head slowly at the wishful thought, Jane wrapped her heavy coat around her, pocketed her notebook and left the library, locking the door behind her. Flicking a wave to the seemingly ever-present City Representative, she left City Hall and wandered away towards the tram station. A few Hellions were causing minor trouble along the way, but she kept her head down. She was in no shape or mood to handle them now.

Arriving in Galaxy City, she strolled briskly down the ramps and headed for the apartment. The shadows of a few wispy clouds chased each other across the pavement before her, but the sky was mostly clear, the cold cutting through even the thick material of the coat and speeding her walk home. Pulling a key from her pocket, she quietly unlocked the door and gently pushed it open. Locking it again behind her, she hooked the coat on the back of it and wandered over towards the bathroom, a quick glance towards the bed on the way past revealing that Kat was already asleep.

Good... last thing I want is her all sleep-deprived too.

After swiftly brushing her teeth, swallowing a few mouthfuls of water and shedding the majority of her clothes, she slid silently into the bed alongside Kat's still form. Wrapping an arm gently around her love's shoulders, she was greeted by a warm, quiet purr as she snuggled closer.

A shaft of blue-white moonlight falling across the bed gave her a look at the remaining scars on her arm. They were healing, though slowly... it seemed the days when no wound could so much as faze her were coming to an end. Perhaps gone forever...

[Phoenix]

((*is in writing mode* Dialogue has never been a terribly strong point of mine, but I think it came out OKish.))

Another library, this one a dank cave, lit by flickering torches.

How the Circle kept their books in one piece in these circumstances was a mystery. Water dripped randomly from cracks and holes in the roof, occasionally punctuating the quiet, and making it difficult to discern if there was anyone approaching. She didn't intend to stay here long anyway. Though this section of the ruins appeared deserted, she knew from experience that appearances were not to be trusted, especially where the Thorns were involved.

Sighing softly as a thumb through one row of books revealed nothing useful, she knelt and began flicking through a lower shelf. Pulling a thin black book from its resting place, she examined the cover. No title, no author, nothing. Opening it proved less than fruitful-there was evidently some kind of enchantment holding it closed. Tucking it into her bag for safekeeping, she was about to return to the shelf when a noise echoed through the nearby corridors. Instinctively ducking back into a deep shadow, she closed her eyes for a moment and focused her hearing.

Footsteps... coming this way. Crap!

Pressing back against the wall and willing herself to merge into the shade, she drew a deep breath and held it as the door creaked open, the ornate clothing and magical aura confirming a deep-rooted fear.

Death Mage... I am in so much trouble if he spots me... Aw, hell!

A nasty smile appeared on the mage's face as he turned to the shadow containing Jane... followed immediately by a scowl and a howl of pain as he burst into flames, a fireball from the corridor smacking into the side of his head and reducing him to a pile of ashes in seconds. Running to the door and scanning the tunnel, Jane saw nothing, the ruins once again cavernously silent.

The hell was that? Certainly looked painful enough.

Giving the small mound a cautious glance as she passed it, she returned to the shelves and quickly scanned the rest of the titles. Most of the books seemed be ponderous tomes regarding demon-summoning and binding - interesting, to the right mind, but probably useless for her purposes. One of them even appeared to be on fire, though not visibly burning. Shaking her head dismissively, she moved for the door.

Well, that was a bust, 'cept for that black thing. Gotta get that to MAGI. Time to leave...

Stepping out into the corridor and pulling the door shut behind her, she quickly began the long walk towards the exit, the semidarkness of the tunnel making it difficult to see after the torchlit library.Preoccupied with her thoughts, she didn't notice the loose stone until it was too late.

*thud* "Ow!"

Quickly picking herself up off the floor, she darted back a little, spotting an indistinct figure in the gloom and instinctively assuming a combat pose.

Keeping her eyes fixed on the figure in front of her, she rehooked her bag over her shoulder and spoke. "Who the hell are you?" The response was unexpectedly calm... and unexpectedly familiar.

"Good evening."
Jane's jaw dropped as she realised who this was. "KAT? What are you doing down here?"
"Following you. What are you doing down here?"
Jane felt her cheeks redden slightly. "Uh..."
"What's in the bag?"
Looking away slightly and forcing her voice to remain calm, Jane resorted to an old trick. "Stuff."
"Indeed? What'cha need from a Thorn ruin that you can't tell me about?"
Sensing that further resistance would only make things worse, she let it go. "Fine... books."
"Mm?" A curious sort of noise from the lessening darkness as Jane's eyes managed the adjustment. Kat's expression gave nothing away-it seemed almost blank, no emotion visible. Her arms were folded over her chest, and she was entirely still, her eyes fixed and boring a hole in Jane's.
The fight against the internal street punk momentarily lapsed. "What, you forgot what a book is? Y'know, paper thing, contains writing?"
Kat's face remained fixed. "I think you know what I meant."
Finally giving up, Jane let out a quiet sigh. "Hoped to get this done without worrying you too much. I'll tell you what's goin' on if you really want to know. But can we do it somewhere we aren't likely to get ambushed by Thorns?"
"Keeping me in the dark,"-a hint of a smirk brushed across Kat's face as she said it-"is only gonna worry me more. And sure."

The walk back to the apartment was conducted in a solid, stony silence. The familiar warmth of Kat's arm around her did little good.

She's right... never should have done this.

Jane meandered over and slumped into a chair as Kat pushed the door shut, staring morosely at the ceiling as her love took the seat opposite, watching her calmly and patiently.

"Fine... you remember the crap with Firebird, right? 'm'guessing she gave us power-suppression drugs, I know some were stolen from the Zig about then."
"Mm."

Non-responses don't help...

"Well, they don't normally last this long." Jane's gaze shifted to the floor.
"Oh."
"Yeah..." Fighting the urge to look up, she almost muttered the word.

There was a soft creak as Kat stood, quietly crossing the room, perching on the arm of the chair and wrapping her arms around Jane. Gently hugging back, Jane spoke calmly, but quietly.

"'s'where I've been. I figure it's some kind of curse or other magical thing. I thought I'd see what I could find out."
Kat squeezed a little tighter and gave her a concerned look. "Ah... you could've asked me for help..."
Sighing again, Jane shrugged into the grip. "Hardly the first stupid thing I've done, is it?"
Leaning down, Kat gave her a soft kiss on the top of the head. "We're all allowed our mistakes."

A few seconds passed in silence before Jane looked up again. "Though I make more than most... anyway, now what? I found a couple of odd things, and Sunstorm's working on something, but don't seem to be getting very far."
"You talked to Evara?"
A frown creased Jane's features slightly as she thought. "Evara? Sounds familiar, but I can't quite place it."
"Necromancer in the EA. Recently turned up here, as it happens."

Convenient...

Looking up again, Jane allowed her voice to return to normal. "Nice timing. Can we contact her, y'think?"
"Probably."
Jane nodded slowly, a small smile creeping onto her lips. "Cool... an' thanks for not blowing up at me."
Shifting into a more comfortable position, Kat responded with another tight hug. "Anytime."

[Phoenix]

((I have music, I have caffeine, and no-one has screamed at me to stop because reading this is melting their brain, so I continue! ))

Another time, another place. Another library. This one was far larger. Shelves stretched up out of sight, into what appeared to be cloud in the heights of the room, and in long, loaded rows far off into the gloom. It was difficult to quantify the size of the room-it was as big as it needed to be, it had always been, and always would be.

Distant memories of the weeks of enchantment needed to create such a space flickered through the man's mind as he paced between the shelves. The work had been dangerous, and had pushed magic almost to its known limits at the time of its creation. Specific topics could sometimes be dificult to find, but that was the price of such a collection.

Billions upon billions of words, covering everything and anything, from the works of Shakespeare to the minutiae of demon summoning and fighting and everything in between. A familiar symbol carved into the end of a shelf stopped him, and he turned into the alley between the great stone edifices. Curses, hexes, jinxes and bewitchments. He had left her one of his lesser tomes on the subject, tucked surreptitiously onto one of MAGI's less frequented shelves, where he had felt confident that she would find it.

The real power was contained here, thousands of wards and safeguards keeping the books from leaching into each other and causing chaos. Carefully pulling back a long, black sleeve the man reached up and pulled down a thick book. Bound in black leather and sealed by a powerful enchantment to prevent anyone else reading it, it contained his family's research into the more powerful and resilient curses of the dark magics.

Re-sealing the shelf with a touch, he left the library and returned to his study. The room was warm and well-lit, a crackling fireplace in one wall well-supplied with spare wood. Teetering stacks of notes in careful handwriting covered most of the desk, an ancient, heavy thing constructed from oak and edged with gold and silver. Pulling a well-used quill from its resting place, he traced a finger of his free hand gently over the stylised red wings on the front of the book, smiling subtly as it opened itself to the desired section.

As he carefully considered the text, the part of his mind not focusing pondered the unusual situation. He knew that he could not assist her directly - doing so would most likely unleash a catastrophic memory in her, one that would probably destroy her. But he could do something. For some time he had been carefully placing clues and useful information around her, trusting her keen intellect to decipher what she was being given. Progress thus far had been slow, however. She was distracted and angry, her aggression towards her dimensional mirror clouding her judgement. Stepping in to save her life when she had wandered, powerless, into a Circle ruin had brought him perilously close to being seen.

Flicking through the sturdy pages, he stopped at a familiar sight. Brilliantly-coloured pictures of magically-significant seals and emblems were spread across the latter pages.

One of them stood out. Expertly embossed into the page and adorned with gold leaf, the phoenix stood proudly between pillars of flame. Pulling his genealogy notes from a stack, he rapidly flipped to the relevant pages of description and began to read...

Perhaps there is more to this than any of us ever believed. Perhaps destiny is upon us once again. I only hope that she is ready for it.

[Kat]

Independent space

A sound like a clap of thunder resounded off the three walls in the room, and Kat folded into existence falling to the floor. Realising this too late, she groaned and picked herself up, looking around. Whoever's place this was sure kept it clean, and bare... a single torch lit the joint unnaturally brightly. Four plain stone walls connecting to a floor and ceiling of similar creation, with no connections or breaks visible anywhere. A single tunnel lead out. Stepping toward it, Kat saw that it was very long, and indeed seemed to stretch on endlessly. As vertigo gripped her, she closed her eyes and tentatively took a few steps forward.

*thud* "Ow!"

Shaking her head, Kat opened her eyes again. There was a wall infront of them. Whirling around only revealed the way she had come, mere steps away, yet she was at a dead-end. Confused, she started to make her way back. However, after a glance to the left, a T junction was there instead.

What the hell is this place?

Fighting back increasing nausea, Kat plodded down the right hand passage. The place was so angular and precise. Passing a few arched doorways, she decided to look in one. A flight of stairs would've been normal enough, had it not been a spiral staircase seen from the top. Kat screwed her eyes shut and looked away, continuing down the tunnel- again brightly lit by sporadic torch brackets. It took her a while to realise the opposite wall was travelling with her. This time she darted into the nearest arch.

Okay...

She looked up and saw the arch she just walked through. She looked down and saw her feet, firmly planted on the stone. She jumped up through the arch, and fell flat on her back. Dusting herself off, she stepped forward again. She looked up at the arch.

Fine.

Kat looked around at the room she had just dropped... stepped... went into, taking a few small steps forward. It was spacious, and held a few interesting pieces of furniture. A long dining table, ringed by chairs with one either end. They, and she, she noticed, were not casting any shadows and had no highlights. Approaching one end, she heard a familiar and emotionless voice.

"Miss Walker."
Kat jumped in shock. "Johannes?"
The mysterious figure stood and looked at her. "Greetings."
Kat smiled slightly at the familiar face. "Hey... um, better circumstances than usual, eh?"
"Indeed, though given history that would not be difficult. How did you come to be here?" Their voices lacked the echo they should've possessed in a room like this one.
Kat shuffled her feet. "Well, uh, I don't actually know."
The figure in black raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. You have wandered here by accident, then?"
Kat nodded and glances around. "Seems that way, yeah... this is your place? It's... interesting"
"Indeed. This is a place between what you would call the normal dimensions. It is not restricted by earthly geometry or physics. I take it you wandered my halls for some time before they elected to release you here?"
Kat internally winced. "A little bit, yeah"
The figure leaned forward. "So... you did not come here of your own volition, but perhaps there is a reason for which you have been placed within these walls. Come. We will discuss this in a more comfortable- and stable- area." He swept towards the nearest door and disappeared through it, and she hurriedly followed.

On the figure lead, through walls as if they were no more than air (which caused Kat to hesitate the first couple of times) and keeping an awkward pace right between Kat's running and walking speeds. At one point Kat stumbled at an arch as her foot struck an unexpected floor; it looked as though it should keep going through 270 degrees, yet stopped "flat". An mash of expressions crossed her face as her brain struggled with this. "If you fall behind, you may walk these halls forever. Try to keep up." She struggled to get to her feet. "Closing your eyes may help." She did, and it did. Following his footsteps, she caught up quickly, but also noticed two things her lack of eyesight made stark. Apart from the pair's footsteps, there were no sounds. The torches burning were silent, and again the expected echoes from their footfalls were non-existent. And where there was always a plethora of smells, there was nothing but the scent of her own sweat. It was disconcerting. She fought the temptation to grip Johannes' hand.

As the pair got closer to their destination, normality began to return. Smells and sounds, shadows and proper light made themselves known again. Additionally the halls began to receive decorations, paintings, tapestries, weapon displays and gilded columns. Finally Johannes stopped at a large oak door, and with a quick movement unlocked it with a key from his person. He stepped inside and flicked out a hand at the fireplace in the opposite wall, prompting the wood to burst into flames. The now fully lit area looked like a drawing room, filled with expensive and old-looking wooden furniture, decorations and displays.
"Sit down if you wish." Kat followed into the room and sat in a large antique-looking chair carefully, as if worried it might eat her. "Would you care for a drink?" She blinked.
"...um, water would be good, please." At this Johannes pulled two bottles and steins from a cabinet and filled one with water and the other with mead. Sliding into a chair near Kat's, he held out the water, which she carefully took and sipped at.
"Now, since you are here, though we do not know why as yet, do you require my aid?" Kat facepalmed within a few seconds.
"Yes, now that I think of it. You might know that jane and I... well, something bad happened. We couldn't use our powers for a time; mine have pretty much returned but hers haven't. We think the cause might be magical."
Johannes' expression remained neutral. "Indeed I do know. You were careless to be caught unawares in such a fashion."
Kat felt her cheeks turn into radiators and looked partly away, causing Johannes to soften his voice a little. "Yes. I believe that you are correct. I have left her clues and some of my lesser books on the subject in an attempt to help her, but her anger towards her enemy has clouded her judgement."
Kat looked back at him. "Think it might help if I went through them?"
"Another pair of eyes can rarely hurt in matters of research."
"Right." Kat took a pull of her water.
"I believe she is cursed, yes... though the exact nature of such a spell is difficult to determine from here."
"Not surprised..." Kat muttered to herself, before raising her voice to normal and glancing at the door. "I can imagine."
"Do you wish to leave?"
"No, just... this room seems okay, but this place freaks me out. I don't usually get sickness from motion or heights, but fuckin hell..."
"It is a mess, perhaps, but it has its advantages."
"Mm?"
"From here, as you may have guessed by now, I can move freely through the multiverse. The Hall of Doors allows me access to many worlds, including yours, at a moment's notice."
"Useful..."
He nodded. "Indeed. When one's opponents have such a talent within themselves, it is wise to match them."
"Mm."
"In regards to young Jane, I will continue to research this curse as best I can. However, I detect the hand of Destiny guiding these events, and it may be that there is something greater yet to happen."
Kat sighed. "Oh, great..."
Johannes allowed a hint of a frown to cross his face. "Do not be so quick to assume, child. She has greater power than wither of you know, and she will not allow this simple hex to defeat her."
Kat smirked slightly. "I know. I just don't like the sound of Destiny. It smells of "noble" sacrifices and other such crap." Johannes smiled a bit at this.
"Indeed, the word has certain... connotations, but it merely describes a neutral force, one that only a very few can escape."
Kat muttered again and drunk some more water. "Neutral my butt..."
"Balance will return, in time."
"Mm... I don't, of course, pretend to know anything about any of this."
Johannes responded with a lean forward and a press of his hands together. "Good! Honesty is all too rare. If you believe anything that I tell you, young one, believe that things will change for the better."
Kat nodded. "I've been given more than enough reason to trust you. And cool."
He reached into a pocket. "To spare your sanity in future, I will give you this." He removed a white stone with a pair of wings engraved on it and held it out. "Should you need to return here, this stone will bring you to the centre of the castle, avoiding the more... tumultuous outer regions."
Kat took it and looked at it a moment before pocketing it and nodding. "Thank you."
"There are enough ghosts wandering my halls as it is. I would not have you added to their number."
Kat made a pained expression. "Mm."
"Perhaps I am disturbing you. I will cease this line of conversation, then. When you wish to leave, I will direct you to the Hall of Doors."
"Mkay... and not disturbing. I just find eternity difficult to get my head around as it is, let alone wandering this place for it."
Johannes nodded. "Even the few true immortals sometimes find it hard to comprehend. You are far from alone in that regard."
Kat took another gulp of water and grinned. "Mm... Y'know... I always like to finish a drinks off to seem polite, but this one's proving difficult."
"Bottomless containers have their uses, especially in such gatherings as were once held here."
"Mm?"
"This place has always been empty."
She smiled at him. "Thought it was a little big to have to yourself"
"It was, once, though the space has proven useful. I have other bases hidden in various locations, but this remains my home."
After a moment's thought, Kat smirked again. "Nicely decorated. Well, in the middle, anyway. Outer areas could use some work..."
"It deters unwelcome intruders."
"Yes... I imagine it does."
The pair faced eachother in silence for a few minutes, before Kat tapped her communicator experimentally. "Kinda expected, but still not used to that silence."
"Time here is... somewhat more flexible than the time you know. Enough magic distorts reality."
"Yeah... guess that's what the corridors are about?"
"Indeed. The original main gate has been lost for centuries."
"Mm... the others with their comms will probably be getting worried about me now, actually... these have interdimensional capability and stuff so not much causes them to go undetectable, y'see."
Johannes set his drink down. "You wish to return home, then?"
"Yes, please. I mean, I don't wanna be rude or anything."
A smile flicked at his lips as he stood. "Ever considerate, but it is not necessary. Follow me." With that he strode out of the room, Kat in tow.

After some more corridor fun, they approached a large set of doors much the size of the entrance of a castle. Unlocking them with a larger key, Johannes pushed them open. "Welcome to the Hall of Doors."
A wide and short staircase lead down into A huge hall that looked like it could seat thousands. Down the middle were lined dozens of long tables, and both walls were covered with thousands of wooden doors from top to bottom, with accompanying spiral staircases and platforms for access. Gold, silver and precious stones adorned every possible surface and shone with unnatural and eerie light. At the end of the hall stood two great thrones, infront of a huge stained glass window, depicting a figure like Johannes in full battle armour, back to back with a similar yet older figure in the same armour, both with halos over their heads. On either side there was a battle between an army of similarly-clad warriors and what looked like a mass of darkness and eyes. The whole thing cast strangely coloured light on the already oddly glowing room. Kat stared and blinked.
"Holy shit..."
Johannes began descending the staircase. "Perhaps our greatest achievement. Thousands of stable connections to every other world one could feasibly wish to visit."
Kat continued to look around, following him on autopilot. He led the way to the left, climbing the stairway to the third floor, and stopping at a seemingly random door. Pressing a piece of wall next to the door created an unusual pattern of blue light around it. Kat raised an eyebrow. "The path is ready. Once I open this door, you must step through it quickly, to avoid causing suspicion on the other side."
"Mkay."
"I will continue the research, as should you. Keep her safe."
"Yeah... thank you. Goodbye, for now." He unlocked the door and pulled it open, revealing a tunnel of blue light with Kat and Jane's rooftop at the other end.
"Farewell, for now." She nodded and stepped through the portal, stepping onto the rooftop as the tunnel disappeared with a closing of the door.

351's voice came over the comm. "You okay, Kitten? I couldn't see you on the system."
"Yeah, I'm fine, 351. It's nothing, don't worry about it."
351 was clearly curious, but disobeying Kat was beyond his capabilities. "Okay."

[Phoenix]

((Moved this down here to avoid confusion over the timescale. Chronological order FTW! ))


Darkness. Silence.

Where am I?

A strange whirring sound echoed in the gloom, and Jane spun around to see a sword forming from fire in the air in front of her. Though it provided little light, it was enough to see who was holding it.

Black hair. Red armour. Eyepatch.

"YOU!"
"I see your memory has not fled along with your abilities." Firebird took a calm step forward, Jane quickly stepping away in reaction.
"Where is this? What the hell do you want from me?"
"You only get one question, Phoenix. And you know what I want. I want you dead. In the most painful fashion imaginable."

Moving quickly, Firebird turned another step forward into a run, swinging the blazing sword at Jane's head. Reacting instinctively, she launched herself backwards to the ground, flinging a sweeping kick at Firebird's legs, a move effortlessly avoided by the canny Praetorian.

"You'll have to do a lot better than that."

Screaming something wordless, Jane launched herself forward, a surprised defensive stroke from Firebird skimming her arm as they both went down. Rolling across the sandy ground, Jane tried desperately to knock the sword out of her opponent's hand, or disable it, or anything- she knew an even fight would not last long with the weapon in play.Wrenching her left arm free, Firebird struck Jane hard in the face with a backhand and wriggled out from underneath her, hopping up again barely winded.

Dragging herself back to her feet, Jane tried to refocus.

The hell? I'm already out of breath and she's barely bothered! Did I rely on Aph that much?

Her thoughts were rudely interrupted by another lunging swing, scorching through the thin fabric of her shirt and cleaving away the lower half of it. Ducking back from another strike at her head, she hit the ground again and had the good sense to roll away immediately, the sword slicing down where she had lain a moment before and leaving a thick line of blackened, blasted sand. Scooping up a handful of the stuff with her left, she carefully stood again, keeping her right side to her enemy, awaiting the attack.

When it came, she was ready. Twisting away from a violent downstroke, she flung the sand into Firebird's face and immediately pressed forward again, launching herself into the air and landing a heavy kick on the woman's chestplate, knocking her to the ground and again attacking the sword-arm, barely having enough time to react when Firebird twisted it free of the grip and swung upward, tearing a swathe out of Jane's trousers this time.

Never could make new clothes last a week... Damnit, Jane, focus! She's too strong. How the hell do I do this?

She never got time to finish the thought, as the tireless demon-binder surged forward again, chaining together swing after swing. Desperately ducking, weaving, diving and rolling, Jane managed to avoid the worst of them, gaining some distance on the bitch as she pulled herself up again, sweat and sand caked onto her skin.

Damnit...

She was scarcely able to pull in a breath this time before Firebird pressed again, lunging forward with an overthrown swing at Jane's head. Ducking easily under it and swinging hard to one side to avoid the follow-up, Jane realised her mistake a fraction too late. As she momentarily struggled to regain her balance, Firebird darted closer and thrust the sword forward, driving it through skin and muscle and bone.

Paralysed by the burning pain, Jane could only stare helplessly at the blade piercing her chest as Firebird's face took on an evil smirk.

"I expected more from one of your fitness, Jane. Perhaps you relied on your little alien helper a bit too much. Ah, well, no matter now, hm?"
Fighting back tears, Jane raised her head and stared at her alternate self, her eyes full of pain and anger. Drawing back for a second, then flicking forward again, she used what strength she could muster to spit violently in Firebird's face. "Go to hell, you jealous bitch!"
Recoiling slightly, Firebird carefully wiped it away with her free hand and spoke in a voice full of cold malice. "Not before you."

The sword flared brilliantly, Jane's body and the air around it being violently superheated and abruptly bursting into flames, the young woman's screams echoing endlessly and mixing with Firebird's malicious laughter as the world faded around her...

Darkness. Silence.

Time passed, the amount indeterminable, before she began to hear a familiar voice, echoing on the very edge of perception...

“Jane…? Jane?”

[Phoenix]

((Late-night inspiration adds another little piece. ^_^))


Jane's eyes abruptly flicked open, and she found herself looking at a very worried Kat, who had one hand on her shoulder.

"You OK...?"
Sitting up slightly, her sweat-soaked nightshirt clinging uncomfortably, Jane responded in a quiet voice. "Yeah... jus' had a bad dream. I'll go get cleaned up and tell you 'bout it in the morning, kay?"
Kat gave her another concerned look. "If you're sure."
Jane nodded slowly and swung her legs off the bed, pausing to give Kat a kiss before she lay down again. "Back in a sec."

Planting her shaking feet on the floor, she wobbled over to the wardrobe and pulled out a fresh shirt, and moved into the bathroom to clean herself up. Pulling the soaked shirt over her head and dropping it on the floor, she grabbed an oversized towel and dried herself off. Glancing at the mirror as she passed, she suddenly froze at what she saw, her gaze dropping down. A long, thin scorch mark was visible on her chest, directly over her heart. Spinning around and twisting her neck, she was able to spot another mark on her back, though both were fading rapidly as she looked at them.

What the hell WAS that? Was it a dream, or something else? Sure hurt enough...

Closing her eyes and gently resting a hand on her chest, she took a few long, deep breaths. Her heart was still beating fast, thumping loudly in her ears as she tried to regain her composure. Draping the towel around her shoulders, she lowered to the floor and forced herself to calm down.

Whatever it was, it wasn't real. She's playing tricks with your head, but she ain't gonna win that way. Keep it together, Jane.

Forcing in more full breaths, she stood again and scooped up the clean shirt. Dropping the towel again, she quickly checked over her naked form with eyes and hands, reassuring herself that nothing was wrong. Raising her arms, she lazily dropped the loose shirt onto herself, gently pulling it over her head and smoothing it down.

OK... OK... I'm OK.

Leaving the dropped things where they lay for the moment, she tottered back into the bedroom and slipped back into the bed, wrapping both arms around Kat and pulling herself as close as possible before closing her eyes again.

Though the thoughts troubled her for a while, the tiredness and the comfort of Kat so close soon lulled her into a light but peaceful sleep.

[Phoenix]

((Seem to have caught a cold, so probably made some glaring errors here. Beg forgiveness until I can find them and edit them out.))


A softer sound drifted out into the Hall of Doors as Kat was shoved out of the door leading to her dimension. As it shut behind her, she shook her head a few times and looked around. The hall was empty and silent, apart from the echoes of her arrival still resounding off the more distant walls.
Tentatively, she made her way to the front of the hall, being careful not to touch anything- but marveling at the architecture. At the bottom she continued surveying the room for a while, before sitting in a chair at one of the long tables.

Surely he'd have detected me come in...

After an hour, an idea struck her and she took a dagger with a cracked gem in the pommel out of a pocket.
"Johannes?"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Johannes?"

The voice whispered in his mind, echoing vaguely before vanishing again. Lowering the bow in his right hand, he closed his eyes and focused, his powerful senses reaching out into the castle. Detecting a familiar presence in the Hall of Doors, he hooked the bow and his quiver over a practice target and strode away, pulling his black robe off the back of the door and slipping it on along the way.

Pausing before the great doors, he pulled the key from his pocket and quietly turned it in the lock. Pushing the giant slabs of wood open, he carefully descended the stairs, scanning the room and noticing a figure seated at one of the long tables.

"Ah, Miss Walker... what brings you here?"
The redhead abruptly looked up at him. "Hey... Er, I was wondering if I could perhaps help with this research in your library?"
Pausing for a moment, he considered this. "Very well... the space can sometimes be... difficult to search."

Marching over to one of the lower doors, he walked into a storage area and pulled two stone tablets from a shelf, then moved to the main door.

"Come."
Leaping from the chair, she landed soundlessly at his side. Together, they strode through the endless corridors, stopping at a small, unmarked door. Unlocking it with another key from a pocket, he led her into the gloomy library.

"Big..." Kat shook her head slowly. "How do you find stuff in here?"
Separating the tablets with a touch, he held one out to her. "With these."
Taking the thing, she gave it a frown and a serious look. "Magical curses?"
Johannes smiled subtly as a rune lit up on the stone, a similar one floating in the air above a distant shelf. "Well done."
Kat grinned slightly. "Well, you have given me a few things that work like this..."

Navigating carefully through the dark and avoiding several irregular shelves, they arrived at their target.

Running a hand over the shelf, he spoke quietly. "Some five thousand books. Specific information can be difficult to find."
Holding up the stone, she unconsciously matched his tone. "Can these things be as specific as we can?"
"In theory."
"Cool. You probably already tried this, but," -she held up the stone again- "Human/Kheldian bonds, power suppressing, weakening curses, magical."

He allowed himself another smile as a series of books floated off the shelves, organising themselves into neat piles in the air.

"A little better... you've read all this, haven't you?"
"Perhaps, at one point or another. But two pairs of eyes are usually better than one. In any case, we should move from here. Listening shelves have a tendency to bombard one with books on any subject they hear spoken."
Glancing around somewhat nervously, Kat responded quickly. "Agreed..."

Swiftly removing themselves from the cavernous room and closing the door, they heard several heavy thumps from the other side.
Kat winced. "That sounded painful."
"They will return themselves to the shelves, given time."
He gestured to the floating piles still following them, and moved away at a good pace. "Come. We will do this somewhere more comfortable"

Re-entering the richly-decorated drawing room, they found the fire already alight, an assortment of drinks set out on the table. Directing the books to a bare spot, he sat down. "Help yourself to a drink, if you require one."

Watching her pour out a drink and dilute it as instructed, he waited until she was seated and poured himself a drink before he spoke again.

"Let us begin, then. What do you know that this curse has done? Omit no detail, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem."
After a few seconds of silence, she began to speak. "Well, she's lost her powers, obviously... She can't communicate with Aphelion at all. And last night... she said it was just a bad dream, but she was in quite a state. Sweating and shaking. A lot."
One eyebrow flicking up, he leaned forward slightly. "Did she tell you anything of this dream?"
As she spoke again, the books and bottles began to shift, clearing a space in the middle of the table. "Yeah. Erm... She got into a fight with Firebird. She lost, and died."
Flickering images of Jane and Firebird appeared, hovering slightly above the table. "Was she armed?"
"No."
"Was her opponent?"
"Fire sword."
Leaning forward a little further, he flicked out a finger, a flaming sword appearing in the Firebird-image's hand. "Where was this?"
"Nowhere."
Subtly annoyed at this lack of detail, he pressed further. "Nowhere... Dark? Light? Physical or impossible?"
Closing her eyes, she spoke quietly. "Dark. Physical, I would guess. Dirt on the ground, gravity... just no surroundings."
The scene building on the table adjusted itself to reflect this. "Interesting. Did they speak?"
"A little."
"Interesting. I assume the fight was uneven?"
"Pretty much. Jane got tired out real fast, Firebird didn't break a sweat."
"I think this warrants further investigation... we shall see what happened."

Holding out a hand towards the image, he focused his powers. Flames licked randomly along his fingers as the image began to move, replaying the events of the dream from an outsider's perspective. Watching carefully as it progressed, he carefully noted the words used.

The vision came to its end, Kat turning away as Jane was impaled on the sword and wincing at the screams. Quickly dispelling the illusion, he leaned back into the chair. "I apologise for that. But we may have uncovered something."
"Mm?"
Raising a hand, he began ticking off points on his fingers. "You say that she lost contact with her symbiote. She is apparently vulnerable to mental attacks. I believe that is what this 'dream' truly was."
"Probably."
"In this vision, she lacked energy to an unusual degree. Tell me, has she shown any sign of this in waking life?"
This response came more quickly. "Yeah. Her scars from... they haven't healed. Aren't healing. And yeah, she seems on edge."
Tenting his fingers thoughtfully, he frowned again. "There is a common theme here. In this vision, both of them refer to her relying on the symbiote too far. Perhaps this is what is under attack here."
"Mm."
"In that case, what we may have is a magical curse on an energy being. Perhaps... just perhaps, this could be a simple energy tap."
"Mm... are those easy to dispel, then?"
He took a deep draught from his drink before responding. "Normally. However, there are few documented uses of these spells upon Kheldians."
"They are energy. Wouldn't it just... kill them?"
"In time, yes..."

Certain things became clear as he considered this.

"Of course! You face a wicked, sadistic enemy with a penchant for revenge. What better way to gain that revenge than by slowly draining away that which the girl depends upon to sustain her life?"
Kat's expression could have been carved from granite. "We need to do something now, earlier if possible."
"Indeed. We may have little time." He leaned forward again and snatched up a book, flipping it open at random. "Whatever information can be found on these spells and their use on Kheldians will be a help. In the meantime, supplying her with large amounts of energy may slow the process."
Kat glared at one of her hands, clenching and unclenching a fist. "How can we do that?"
Noticing the movement, he cautioned her. "Connecting yourself to this flow will endanger you also."
When she spoke again, it was in a flat monotone. "It might not work at all. The energy is different. But if I can help, I will. I must..."

They lapsed into silence again. Some minutes later, he broke it. "Anything that she can draw from will be of help. Tell me. Your base of operations. How is it powered?"
"Some sort of magical crystal."
"Interesting...How powerful is it?"
"Not exactly sure. It powers all our stuff, I know that."

Leaning forward again, he fixed her with a stare. "I suggest that you find your leader and persuade him to let her draw from it. Take what books you can carry and search them for information, the faster the better. Understood?"
She responded with an affirmative nod. "Yes."
"If you find anything, use the dagger to communicate it to me. I will draw on my own resources and find a way to break this curse. Now, we may have little time. Do you remember the way back to the Hall of Doors?"
"I'd rather not risk it."
Abruptly standing, he marched out of the room. "Fair enough. Come!"

By the time she caught up, he already had the door prepared. Pulling it open as she entered the Hall, he stood back as she leapt up, swinging around a pillar and hurtling through the door. Slamming it shut behind her, he hastened back to the books to continue the research.

[Phoenix]

((I've run out of pie-related puns! ))

With a quiet thud, Kat landed on the edge of the rooftop. The building, overlooking Gemini Park, had become a favourite spot over the past few months, allowing them a relatively secluded place in which to be alone with each other.

Today, however, it was occupied by Hellions, Hellions either too brave or too stupid to remove themselves. Lowering Jane's feet back to the floor, Kat stepped forward and flicked a rolling wave of energy at the punks, scooping them up and throwing them off the roof.

Sighing quietly, Jane wandered over to the edge and sat down, staring gloomily into the park. "That looked like it hurt."
Carefully sitting down beside her, Kat peered over the edge at the fallen gangers. "I hope so."

A few minutes passed before Kat broke the quiet again. "We have news..."
Not looking at her, Jane spoke softly. "Yeah?"
"We think Aph's cursed with an energy draining spell, and working on a way to remove it. In the meantime, Akk's given permission to suck energy from the base's supply."
Jane examined her hands. "Great... hope I can still do that."
Kat stared at one of her own. "Even if you can't, there must be ways."
When Jane spoke again, her voice sounded slightly bitter. "Yeah... there are always ways. Shame we never seem to find them until it's too late."

Reaching over, Kat gently gripped one of Jane's hands. "Doesn't seem to have been too late."
This drew a glance from Jane, before she visibly checked herself and returned to her staring match with the park below.

"Jane... do you trust me?"
Jane looked up sharply. "What kind of question is that? Of course I do!"
Kat straghtened, turned slightly and looked straight into Jane's familiar ice-blue eyes. "Even when I say that things are gonna be alright?"
Returning the look, Jane raised her voice back to normal levels. "I admit you haven't been wrong there yet."
Giving the hand a gentle squeeze, Kat leaned a little closer. "Things are going to be alright."
Leaning forward automatically in response, Jane fixed her eyes on Kat's. "Cool..."

As ever, the world seemed to fade slightly, suddenly seeming to be of secondary importance as they leaned towards each other, their lips meeting in a gentle kiss, their tongues intertwining for a few slow seconds. Pulling away a little, Jane was the first to speak.

"What'd I do to deserve that?"
Kat grinned at her. "Exist."
Blushing slightly, a hint of a smile pulling at her lips, Jane leaned back on her hands and looked up at the sky for a moment. "Cool... though I guess Malta and that lot'll be getting lax without me out there."
"Well then, it'll be a surprise for them when you come back out guns blazing, won't it?"
Looking down at Kat again, she let the smile go. "Yeah..."

Taking advantage of the position, Kat shuffled closer and wrapped her in a hug. Wrapping her arms around to return it, Jane was suddenly struck by a strong feeling of absolute lethargy, shuddering and going limp in Kat's arms.

"Jane!"
"Sitting up again, Jane gave her a blurry look. "Kay... that isn't good."

Kat's hand dropped to her belt and she closed her eyes for a moment. Wincing slightly, she hopped to her feet and scooped Jane up again. Leaping away over the city, they arrived at the Alliance base in short order. As they passed the entrance, Jane began shaking again. "Don' feel so good..."
"I know..."
Rushing haphazardly through the tunnels, a few small items clattering off various shelves as she passed, Kat reached the power crystal and held Jane out towards it. "C'mon, try and drain some!"

Lazily reaching over with one arm, she laid a hand on the glowing surface. "How? Don' remember..."
Lowering Jane to her feet and propping her up with one arm, Kat lowered the hand to her belt again, going through what sounded like a muttered if one-sided argument.

Leaning over, she placed her hands on top of Jane's and fed several pulses of energy into them. Jane's eyes immediately snapped open again, a huge surge of energy flowing from the crystal into her, the glow of the crystal flickering under the strain. Darting back in surprise, Kat quickly had to move forward again as Jane removed her hand from the crystal and promptly keeled over.

"Whoa..."
Managing to catch her just before she hit the ground, Kat sat and laid Jane back across her lap. Jane looked up at her, blinking a few times. "Kay... that was intense."
"Are you okay?"

Jane turned her hands over and examined her blackened palms. "Better than I was. Though little and often may be the way to go in future."
Glancing up at the still-flickering crystal, Kat nodded, as Jane began trying to clean her hands off on her white shirt. "Yes... c'mon, you, let's go get that cleaned up."

[Phoenix]

((Hm. If I keep going like this, people might start thinking I don't like this character. Also, I make the strangest errors at 3am. ))


Light. Sound.

Blinding white light, reflecting painfully off pure-white sand. Brilliant blue water lapped at its edge, a gentle rushing noise echoing in the palm trees.

OK... how did I get here?

Glancing around, Jane took stock of her surroundings. She appeared to be standing on a Pacific beach of some sort, a further scan of the coastline revealing a familiar figure apparently sunbathing in the distance.

Kat? Kay, who cares how I got here?

Grinning to herself, she picked her way across the hot sand towards the prone shape. Carefully sitting next to Kat, she noticed for the first time her own clothing. Or lack of it. A very small string bikini was all that protected her modesty. Blushing instinctively, she glanced at Kat, who looked back at her and grinned. Slipping an arm around her fiance's shoulders, she lay back, enjoying the warmth of the sand against her skin.

Huh... this is nice.

Staring out at the ocean, something began niggling at her. Something was wrong. Creepily, worryingly wrong. Glancing back, she noticed something out of place.

The trees are moving... but there's no wind!

Unhooking herself, she stood and took a few quick steps back.

The world... flickered. A freezing wind tore in from the water, pushing a huge wave in front of it...

WHOA!

Slowly standing again, coughing helplessly, it took her some time to reevaluate her surroundings. They had changed. She now stood on a small, rocky island, the freezing wind howling across it. The sea was violently crashing against its edge, spraying her randomly with frigid water. Sinking down again, she wrapped her arms around herself, her teeth beginning to chatter.

"Cold, Jane?"

Nonononono... not again. No! Why?

Firebird stood calmly at the opposite edge of the island, her sword blazing, flaring occasionally as it was splashed. Eying Jane carefully as the young woman stood, she spoke in a calm, mocking tone, a smirk spreading across her face.

"Rather under-dressed for the conditions, aren't we?"

Glancing down again, Jane's cheeks burned almost as hot as the sword as she realised that the wave had dislodged the top half of the bikini. Swiftly covering herself as best she could, she backed away, her heels inches from the edge.

"Harder to dodge this time, isn't it?"
"Damn you! Why can't you just leave me alone?"
"You KNOW why, JANE!" Firebird snapped. "Lest you forget, it was you who made me into this!"
"And I regret that, and I'm sorry for it! If I could undo what I did I would!"
"A shame that you cannot."

Raising the sword, she charged, closing the distance in a second and swinging for Jane's head. Forgetting modesty for the moment, Jane spun to the side, nearly losing her balance on the slick edge. On her again in an instant, Firebird swung again, anticipating the avoiding action this time and planting a boot squarely in Jane's chest.

"I hope you can swim, Jane! Not that there's anywhere to swim to." Shoving hard as she spoke, she pushed Jane over the side into the frothing water...

Oh HE-*splash*

Pulled down hard by a current, Jane managed to grab a half-breath before her head went under. Desperately holding it in, she swam hard back toward the surface, but just as she got close she was tugged down again.

Damnit...

Pushing all of her strength into it, she surged upward again, red and black spots appearing in her vision. Unable to resist it any longer, the air in her lungs rushed out in a panicked scream... just as her hand broke the surface. Breaking the water and drawing a hugely welcome breath, she looked around. The island was nothing more than a dot in the distance, Firebird's sword a blurry pinprick in the darkness. There was no other land in sight.

Great... so either I fight the current and somehow get back there and she kills me, or I drown out here. Fantastic.

Mentally shrugging, she began fighting back toward the island, dismissing Firebird as a secondary issue for the moment. Tossed around randomly by the waves and pulled in all directions by seemingly-random currents, her arms and legs soon began to throb agonisingly, yet the island seemed only a little closer...

The wind tore a guttural groan from her lips and whipped it away as she struggled on, the pain fading as her limbs began to go numb. Her pace slowing as she got little further, she felt herself begin to sink, pulled downward by another surge. Pulling in as deep a breath as she could, she frantically fought against it, what little light there was fading from view as she was inexorably pulled downward, her vision starting to blur again.

An explosive pain in her chest forced the air from her lungs. As she helplessly watched the hail of bubbles rise to the surface, she pulled in a breath on instinct, drawing in only seawater. There was no air to fuel it, but she attempted a scream anyway, jerking violently as the pain overcame all else, then slowly, gradually faded...

Darkness. Silence.

And then that voice again...

"Jane?"

"JANE!"

[Phoenix]

((Realism probably not. But you wouldn't be reading a story about aliens and magic and interdimensional castles if ya wanted realism, now, wouldya? ))


The room was dark and mostly silent, the curtains blocking out the streetlights and the moonlight. The only real sound was the faint ticking of a clock by the bed. Kat and Jane lay together, half-covered by the blankets. Neither moved much, both exhausted from earlier exertions.

Muttering something, Jane rolled onto her side, coughing quietly in her sleep. This went unnoticed by Kat, who was sound asleep and purring beside her. As the coughs began to turn into fractured hacks, Jane starting to convulse wildly next to her, Kat's eyes flickered open.

"Jane?"
Sleepily rolling towards her partner, she saw what was happening, and paniced. Jane was jerking randomly, her hands raised to her throat and her skin beginning to turn blue.
"JANE!"

What the hell?

Fumbling over the edge of the bed for her clothes, her fingers closed randomly on the carpet, what felt like the small trail of underwear flung randomly across the floor, more carpet, then finally the hilt of a small dagger attached to her belt. Focusing hurriedly on it, she flung out a wild thought, desperately trying to hold Jane still with her free hand.

"HELP!"
After a short silence, the familiar voice rang out in her mind.
What foul hex is this? She is drowning!

Propping Jane up and scooting around behind her, she wrapped both arms firmly around the convulsing girl's midsection and squeezed hard, drawing another hack and a spray of water from Jane's mouth.

"What can I do?"
Keep going, I suspect. If no more water comes, and she does not breathe, perform CPR.

Again, she squeezed.
"Mm-Kay!"
Again, this time drawing a mix of water and blood, and Jane stopped moving, slumping down and remaining completely still.

"...Jane?" Lowering her to the bed, Kat pressed an ear to her chest and heard nothing. Fighting back tears, she began CPR.

"God!"
"Damnit!"
"Breathe!"

After a solid minute of desperate effort, there was no change. A few tears rolling down her cheeks now, she cried out again.

"Johannes!?"
The voice echoed in her mind again, calm and forceful as always. "Keep going."
"O-Kay!"

Another minute, and still there was no response. Continuing the effort, Kat finally burst into tears.

"C'mon, Jane... damnit..."

Suddenly, unexpectedly, Jane shot upright again, coughing uncontrollably, then collapsed back, her breathing hoarse and laboured. Kneeling beside her, Kat spoke quietly. "Jane?"
Jane rolled her head onto its side and gave Kat a bleary, somewhat cross-eyed look. "Huh?"
"Are you OK?"
Staring up at the ceiling again, Jane raised an arm enough to give a rather shaky thumbs-up.
"Oh thank God..." Kat slumped down onto the floor.
Still coughing, Jane managed to spit out a few words between hacks. "Are... you?"
Sniffing quietly, Kat wiped the tears from her eyes. "Yeah."
"You... sure?"
"Long as you are..."
"Yeah..." Jane looked down at herself, noticing the water. "Heh... can't seem... to stay dry recently."
For a moment, the only sound was of Kat's heavy breathing.
"Sorry."
"'s'alright..."

A nasty, retching cough from Jane got Kat's attention and she snapped up again. "What was that!?"
Reeling back again, Jane spoke in a near-whisper. "Huh... tha' hurt... Trying to... cough... chest hurts..."
Settling down beside the bed again, Kat scooped up the dagger. "You got any ideas?"
Jane shuffled over, trying to see what she was doing. "Huh?"

It seems Firebird has sensed our meddling in her plot. She is becoming more daring, more direct.

Kat sighed heavily and slumped down further. "...fuck."
Jane reached the edge and looked down at her. "What?"

I believe I am close to breaking this curse, though it is likely that she will try to accelerate it now.

Leaning her head back, Kat gave Jane a rather awkward look, and got a shrug in return as Jane returned to her position. "Fine. *cough* Don't *cough* tell me."
"Think she knows we're doing something. Just now was something she did, and it'll probably get worse." Unable to look at Jane while saying this, she found herself staring at the floor."
"How do you"-Jane lapsed into another coughing fit-"know?"
"Uh..."
Suddenly there was only the sound of very quiet snoring from Jane.
"Jane?"
There was no real response, Jane shifting onto her side but remaining asleep.
"I see..."

The familiar voice spoke into her mind again, quieter this time.

I know that keeping this from her is difficult. However, it will not be necessary for much longer. The hand of Destiny on these events is clear now. They are beginning to draw to a close, and she will know, soon enough.
"Mkay."
In the meantime, in case the drain accelerates further, I would advise placing her near the power source.

Hurriedly picking up and pulling on the bare-minimum clothing, she gently lifted Jane off the bed, the girl mumbling randomly in her sleep as she was lifted. Reaching the base without incident, she carefully laid Jane down on a padded cot near the power crystal, kneeling next to the cot just as Jane's eyes flickered open again.

"Mm... wha?"
"Near the crystal so you can drain energy more easily."
"All 'lone?"
Smiling at this, Kat gently brushed a few damp strands of hair out of Jane's face. "Course not, silly..."
This drew a smile from Jane, though she was evidently unwilling to concede the point yet."You not got work to do?"
"No employer, remember? Well, apart from Akk I suppose. But no meetings or anything for the company for a while."
"Oh yeah... not gonna be boring? "
"Naw... I got you to look at. If it does get boring, I'll think of something. It'd be worse if you were here alone, I'm sure."
Blushing slightly, Jane began to say something, but it was cut off by a huge yawn.
Gently moving Jane slightly to the side nearer the crystal, Kat slipped onto the thing and made herself comfortable, wrapping her arms protectively around Jane's shoulders. "Tired?"
"Kinda..."
"Then sleep..." Shuffling down slightly, she finished the statement with a gentle kiss on the back of Jane's neck, smiling as she relaxed again.
"Mkay..."
Gently stroking Jane's soft hair as she dozed off, Kat soon felt the tiredness creeping up on her. After one last glance around, she pulled Jane closer and closed her eyes.

[Akkarin]

((You're mean you are, I feel guilty just reading it Poor girl. Good stuff though))

[Phoenix]

((Onvard, to the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning. One or the other. ))


What was I thinking? Guess I wasn't... how could I attack my friends like that?

Lying awake next to Kat, who was sleeping peacefully, Jane stared up at the stone ceiling of the base. The power crystal humming next to them provided enough light to see by, even with the main lights dimmed.

I can't let this happen... maybe this is what she's trying to do. Maybe she wants me to fight with my friends. Well, that ain't gonna happen while I can help it. They're trying to help... all of them are. I can't just throw that back in their faces. I can't let her get to me.

Somewhat calmer now, she snuggled up to Kat again and closed her eyes.

Darkness. Silence.

Or was it? There was something, a discord in the night, on the very edge of detection. Spinning around, she found Firebird standing calmly behind her, sword extended.

"Welcome back, Jane... not had enough yet?"
There was no answer. Jane simply stood still, her eyes closed.
"Unfortunately, ignoring me will not make me go away. It isn't that simple."
"Perhaps not, Firebird, but I know now that I don't have to listen to you. I don't have to fear you. You're not here. You're not real. You're hiding like a coward and sending these... these fakes to try and scare me. Well, that ends now."
Enraged, Firebird charged, swinging the sword hard at Jane's head... and swearing loudly when it passed straight through without effect.
"You can't get to me, bitch. Not unless I let you. That's the weakness in this little scheme, isn't it? As long as you're in my mind, as long as I'm afraid of you, you can hurt me here, wherever here really is. But now... now you're powerless."

Swinging the sword again, Firebird cursed once more as it passed harmlessly through Jane's form. Another swing, this time at the legs, had no effect. And it was then that Jane countered. Swinging a fist around and down, she cracked a hard punch into the side of Firebird's head. Marching calmly forward, she landed hit after hit with hands and feet until the demon-woman lay before her.

"Very good... but you haven't won yet, Jane." Firebird rolled back to her feet and threw out her left hand, snapping it back and pulling a glowing stream of energy from Jane.

No... NO! Damnit...

Feeling her strength gradually ebbing away, Jane dropped to her knees, then to all fours, suddenly helpless once more. Closing her eyes, she awaited the inevitable end...

...then opened them again and looked up as she felt the drain abruptly stop.

A new figure had entered the realm, clad all in black, his features impossible to see against the brilliant white light surrounding him. Firebird had turned away from her to face this new threat. Charging again, she swung the sword down, and was abruptly stopped in her tracks, the dark figure effortlessly catching the sword in one hand and throwing it and Firebird aside with a flick of the wrist. Tumbling away into the darkness, she finally vanished once more, a string of ancient curses following her into the darkness.

Jane felt her hand gripped, and the figure gently lifted her back to her feet, speaking in a calm, deep voice. "You are strong, young Phoenix, and you will rise again, mark my words. You endure so long against a powerful foe, and with my aid you shall cast her down. Hold on, young one... the times that follow are likely to be the most difficult. The enemy senses the doom of her plot, and she will do all she can to ensure its success before it is broken. Destiny is nearly upon us... you must prevail." Releasing her hand, the figure strode away towards where it had appeared and vanished into the darkness again. Slowly, she became aware of Kat's voice...

"Jane?"
Opening her eyes again, she was greeted by the now-familiar sight of Kat's worried face. "Are you OK?"
Taking a deep breath, Jane answered quietly. "Yeah... I think so."

[Phoenix]

A distant chanting echoed through the ruins as Phoenix edged forward, flickering torches creating plenty of pockets of shadow, any of which could hide an enemy. Reaching an open doorway, she flattened her back against the wall and peeked around the stone arch. The room was massive, a huge natural cave expanded further by the Circle and held up by dozens of thick stone pillars. Carefully advancing into the room, she swept her gaze around it, looking carefully for any sign of a mage. Nothing. The room appeared entirely deserted.

Where's that chanting coming from, then? Where is everyone?

Scanning the room again, she shrugged and stepped forward.

Probably some demon ritual in the deeper parts. Well, no need to disturb 'em now.

A deep, rumbling, grinding sort of noise shook her out of her thoughts. Spinning around, she was just in time to see the stone door hit the ground, sealing her in. Peering at the other end of the room showed a similar situation there too. A few hard blasts and punches failed to even dent the block.

Great. Now I gotta find whatever unlocks these things.

Hopping effortlessly up a series of floating rocks that led to a higher platform, she glanced around again and spotted a floating green stone above an altar of some sort.

Looks promising.

Gently prodding it brought the altar to life, the strange symbols of the Circle glowing on the stone. Reaching down and twisting the jewel at the middle of her belt, she pulled her notepad from the storage space and flipped to her notes on this odd language. Carefully reaching out and tapping an appropriate-looking symbol brought an immediate response. The rumbling started up again, and a look over the edge showed that the doors were beginning to rise... as the rumbling spread to the whole cave, the walls shaking and beginning to crumble.

Uh-oh... time to leave!

Scampering back down the floating staircase, the rocks losing their lift and plummeting to the floor just after she stepped on them, she dived out and landed flat on the main floor. Slightly stunned by the impact, she rolled onto her back just in time to see a chunk of pillar falling from the ceiling...

Oh, SHI-!

The rock hit the ground, Jane hearing a dull crunch and feeling an explosion of agony as it crushed and shattered the bones of her left leg. Screaming at the top of her lungs, she fell back, pulling ineffectually at it in an attempt to escape as more chunks fell perilously close. Desperately pulling harder, she felt something begin to give with a fresh burst of pain as another chunk parted company from the roof and fell towards her...

Glancing up, Jane barely had time to pull in breath for another scream before the rock hit, her ribs shattering and disintegrating under the huge weight, a gout of blood flying from her mouth and nose as the hunk of stone careened over the edge.

As the world began to swim before her eyes, she somehow stayed conscious long enough to look down at what remained... now little more than a slathering of gore and fragmented bones on the stone, her spine crushed and cleaved in two by a sharp edge. Desperately rolling her eyes away from the sight, she saw another rock directly overhead break loose and begin to fall, just as her sight finally began to fade...

Kat... damnit... sorry...

Darkness. Silence.

Time passed...

...and suddenly she found herself staring up at the intact roof of the cave, a dark figure surrounded by brilliant white light offering her a hand.

I apologise, young one. You have fallen into a trap not meant for you. This was not meant to be your fate, and thus I can undo it. Go now. The doors are opened. Return to your love and do not come here again."

Wandering away in a daze, she reached the door of the caverns before she could even begin to comprehend what had happened. As the door swung open, the light poured in, momentarily blinding her.

Everything went white... and a familiar voice echoed in her ears.

"Jane? Not again... c'mon, wake up!"

She opened her eyes, and saw Kat staring down at her.

[Kat]

"You must track down the creature and destroy it. Put the blade through its heart and it will be destroyed. Beware, though. With every passing second its masquerade as your love grows stronger. Left too long, they will be inseperable."
The words of the Watchman replayed in kat's head as she edged toward the blackened form of Jane on the balcony, her love slowly turning to face her approach. Kat froze.

Aw crap, this is going to be hard...

Visibly stiffening, Kat continued to edge forward. Jane was the first to speak.
"Kat?"
Kat continued to edge forward, concealing the dagger in her hand behind her back.
"Mm?"
Jane tilted her head to the side a bit, concern showing on her face.
"What's wrong? What are you hiding?"
Kat shuffled around to hide the dagger from Jane's attempts to look around, staying silent.
"What? Is it something for me?"
The struggle with her ever-present sense of humour failed, and Kat replied.
"Yeah..."
"You gonna tell me what it is?"
Shaking now, Kat began to speak.
"It's...-" Her love's face was showing far more concern now.
"C'mon Kat, this isn't like you..."

Shit.
Screwing her eyes shut and turning her head away, Kat finally brandished the dagger and thrust it through Jane's heart, feeling soft flesh and bone and tensing sinew give beneath the force of the blade. Releasing her grip, she fell to the floor with tears already rolling down her cheeks.

Jane could only look down at the piece of metal piercing her chest, as blood pumped out and stained her clothes. Falling to her knees, she forced out some words.
"...What? ...Why?"
Kat could only shake her head and murmur apologies to the ground as Jane drew in a few shallow, ragged breaths, her final utterings emerging in a hoarse whisper.
"I... I trusted you... I loved you..." Finally she fell backwards. As Kat collapsed in a heap of despair herself, the world went black.

Kat's eyes fluttered open to reveal the apartment she shared with Jane. Looking around at Jane, she had a pained expression on her face, only to find it matched by her partner's. Kat moved first and put a hand on one of Jane's shoulders.
"You okay?" Jane ran a hand over her forehead.
"Another dream." Concern crossed Kat's features.
"What was it?"
"You... with a knife..." Jane grimaced. "Why do I keep seeing my own death?"
At this Kat rolled from her side onto her back, releasing Jane's shoulder.
"Dunno..." Jane matched the movement and stared at the ceiling.
"Did I wake you up?"
"No." Kat closed her eyes.
"Oh... something wrong?"
Kat frowned subtlely at this.
"Nah..."
"If you say so."
"Sorry."
This time it was Jane's turn to frown.
"What for?"
Kat was silent for a while before answering in a small voice.
"Um... worrying you?"
Jane rolled onto her side and gave Kat a worried look.
"There's something up, isn't there?"
"Uh..." This elicited only silence from Jane. "You're not gonna let this go, are you?"
Again Jane rolled onto her back, and shrugged.
"If you want me to. I thought we were meant to be totally honest with each other, though."
Internally wincing, Kat responded.
"Fine..." and taking a deep breath, "...that dream, you just had...?"
"WHat about it? Firebird trying to screw with my head again, right?"
At this point Kat looked ready to burst into tears.
"No... 'happened..." Jane blinked.
"What?" Kat wiped her eyes.
"It happened.."
"What...? No... you wouldn't... I don't remember it... I... you..." Jane trailed off, incapable of finding words. Kat continued with a short explanation.
"You were inhabited by some sort of magical creature. That was the only way. Do you remember when your clothes and skin and hair all went black?"
"I think so..." Jane replied as she closed her eyes.
"That was it."
"But that was that stone."
"It was hiding in the stone."
"So... you... I... why are you saying this? Are you trying to...? Ugh..." Jane groaned quietly and placed a hand over her eyes. Kat replaced the hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry..."
"But... I... I don't understand... if it happened... why don't I remember it? Why are you trying to convince me that you did it?"
"Honesty. and I don't know why..." Kat trailed off, muttering something about memory to herself.
"What?"
"I thought you'd remember. You had remembered... you threatended to call the police. The next day was so awkward..." jane shook her head.
"I don't remember..."
"S'ok." Jane made another face.
"I just... can't... doesn't... you... this is making my head hurt..."
"Then don't think about it."
"Look... I dunno why, but something's telling me that you're not lying... but even if you aren't, this doesn't sound like something I want to remember."
"Probably not."
"Honesty is good... and that was a brave thing to say, but can we just leave it buried? I have enough on my mind with this damn' curse already."
"Yes."
"Ugh... what time is it?"
Kat rolled over and fumbled for a watch.
"Five- twenty ish..."
"Great... gonna have trouble getting back to sleep now." At this Kat tilted her head to the side slightly.
"Would it be any easier if I slept somewhere else?"
"No... and I know that probably isn't normal, but I'm technically half-alien, and you're part cat. Think we left normal behind the second we met."
"Mm..." Kat slid closer and wrapped an arm around her partner, which was followed by a small smile from Jane.
"Weird people gotta stick together right?"
Kat gave her a squeeze.
"Absolutely." Jane wrapped both her arms around Kat and pulled her closer.
"Ah, maybe sleep is overrated anyway..."
Kat smiled and pulled herself up to slip her love a kiss.
"Agreed..."

[Phoenix]

Whiteness.

Endless and perfect and near-blinding, it stretched on apparently forever. Sat squarely in what might have been the middle of it, Jane considered her position.

One day? How can it have been one day there and three here? Unless this place is messing with my watch too... damnit.

Lying back and closing her eyes for a moment, she abruptly opened them again when she heard the beat of huge wings. The golden bird soared overhead again, breathing gouts of similarly-coloured flame at an unseen foe that screeched painfully from time to time.

What is this place? And why does it seem... almost familiar?

Screwing her eyes shut again, she tried to think. The appearance of a Kurukt and something that might have been a Mefnanim that she hadn't got a good look at, had been unexpected, stirring odd memories in a nearly-forgotten language. As she lay there, she heard the voice in her head sound again.

Phoenix...

Speaking out loud for a reason that she couldn't quite figure out, she responded to it. "Yes?"

Rise.

Standing up again without really knowing why, she watched as the bird turned and swooped downwards, heading straight at her. Dissolving as it flew into a brilliant golden flame, Jane could only shield her eyes before it plunged into her. Screaming in pain, she buckled, though she could barely hear the sound over the whiteout of her overloaded senses. Crumpling to the ground as the pain receded, a familiar voice echoed once again in her mind, the Khelda understandable and familiar again.

We have won. We have overcome. We are Luminous Phoenix once more.

Shakily standing again, Jane looked down at her hands, the air around them rippling randomly and occasionally glinting, like reflections from liquid mirrors. So absorbed was she, she didn't notice the voice until it came close.

"Welcome, Jane."

Groaning to herself, she spun around to face the familiar figure of Firebird. Her gaze fixing on the flaming sword, she felt more than saw what happened next, a stream of golden-white energy flowing down her arm and forming into a brilliant sword of her own. Glancing down at it, she grinned and raised it into a ready stance.

Shuffling her feet slightly, she looked up at Firebird again, still grinning. "Come and get me. If you can."