Everflame 2 (FINISHED)

[KittKat chunky~]

Annie tapped her foot impatiently, occasionally glancing across at the hangar entrance. She sighed, looking down at her datapad. Nearly half her time was up.

"My dear, would you be visiting the Mechanicus for the first time?" An old owl, feathers grey with age hobbled over to Annie, eyes bright and shining "If you need any help, I can give you a quick tour, for just twenty credits..."

Growling brusquely, Annie's lip raised into a snarl "I work here... Move along unless you want me to ask for a tourism-permit." The owl snapped her beak, hobbling away towards a sleek ship that had just set down at the other end of the hangar.





The crowds where thick, workers and pilots moving in vast waves through tightly-packed corridors. Finally Blaze and Reggie reached the hangar, slipping out of the crowds of people, and met by an anxious vixen.  Annie looked between them both, but made no move to embrace either. She twisted her long ponytail around one finger impatiently "I am leaving, on company business... Hopefully not for long. The worst part, Is that I can tell neither of you where it is I am going..."

She glanced across at Blaze "You at least know company policy, and its not like this is the first time." She looked back to Reggie, apology written across her expression "I hope you understand, that I would only do this if it was absolutely necessary."




Tess grinned, laying the palm of her hand against the cool steel of the ship interior. It hummed, a low purr that rose to a steady woosh of energy and noise. She nodded "Sounds good, n' RUST-E says all the tests checked out... I reckon she's as good as space-worthy as you'd ever get 'er..."

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

"FOXALIVE, sticking your ship to the end of ours won't help anyone," said the pilot of the capital transport. "You see that GA carrier up there? That's the Damascus; head to that, they'll try and pull in as many ships as they can," and with that, the transport shot ahead, powering past debris. Then, a ball of light shot out from the carrier, hitting the transport, and with just as much speed, the transport flew to the GA Damascus. More lights shot out, frantically pulling ships in before they could be devoured.




"Well," Asia said, watching the dragon react. "It's good to know that you two are at least getting along. While he talked, soft and slow footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs, until the doorway showed a hunched old rabbit, ravaged by age, and with robotic legs. Tabby beamed a massive smile, and her eyes lit up.
"Afgha!" she said, and got up, taking the old rabbit in a hug. "How you feeling?" she asked. The old rabbit thought for a moment, then looked up at her.
"Old," he said with a little shimmer in his eyes. Tabby laughed, then turned guiding him to the sofa. Afgha looked to Chronin while he walked, and he couldn't pull his eyes away, he almost had a smile on him.
"Afgha," Asia said. "Tabby and her friend just got a rather interesting order." Afgha didn't seem to react, staring still at Chronin. "Apparently your friends just blew up the capital sphere," said Asia. Afgha gave a sideward glance, and whatever hint of a smile he had on his face was gone. "They've been ordered to kill all extra-dimensionals."
"Oh really?" the ancient rabbit said, his eyes burning into Chronin. "Are you willing to kill every single one, no matter who they are?"






The Beast consumed the last of the debris, and turned to Vuranin.
"Your interruptions waste time. If you think it's in the cargo transports, then go get it," it said, and turned its attention to the carrier, filling the darkness with its light as it burned through all the ships between it and the largest, most impressive craft.






Reggie's head drooped. "Oh," he said, and looked between Annie and her son. "If you say so." He reached for her, pulling her into a hug and kissing her. "How long will you be gone?"






David gave an exaggerated salute back to Tess. "Alright then, thanks for all this. I'll be sure to come back to you for repairs whenever I can." He powered the engines a little more, almost ready to lift off, as he waited for Tess to depart.

[Chrono Blackwyng]

His frustration at the questions and the mounting concern for his foster mother caused Chronin's hair to rise and fall at random as he fiddeled with his talons. Then his hair went completely flat and he made a soundless snicker before looking up at the old rabbit. He was about to say something, then looked at Tabby, who just shrugged her shoulders. "Auntie is so going to kill me when this ends." he muttered as he took a drink then exhaled heavily.

"I had never killed on order, and never will."

[KittKat chunky~]

With a sigh Annie returned the kiss, clutching the folds of his clothes, unwilling to let go " I- I dont know. This isn't a regular trip, rather unexpected I'l admit." She kissed him again, now whispering quietly "Thank you Reg...""

Blaze watched the pair silently, eyes searching as if to pick up tips or techniques. He sighed too and looked across at Reggie's ship. Tess had just jumped down from the ramp, as the engines of the ship rose to a throb. After a quick decision he sidled up to his mum, brushed a quick kiss across her cheek and muttered goodbye, then walked away towards David's ship through the crowds of people...




Tess jumped down off the ramp, little companion following her with a rattle of wheels and whirring motors. The pair moved away from the ship, over a black and yellow striped box painted onto the floor, the safety zone for landing and take-off. Watching David in the cockpit, Tess returned the salute and grinned, running a thumb over the stack of credits in her overalls pocket.

"Hey Tess, what's goin' on?" Blaze stopped beside her, on the opposite side to RUST-E. She turned to look at him, nodding back at the ship "Just fixed the guys ship, good profit out of it too. Why'd you ask?"
Blaze frowned, looking back at Reggie, just visible through the thick crowds. The frown slid away, replaced with a grin "Eh, nothing. Just wanted to know what you been up to all this time..."

[Entaru]

GeT OuT OF MY WaY!...TherE Wasn'T TimE TO LoaD IT OntO ThE CargO ShipS!  The ooze billowed outward towards more ships, devouring one of the closer ones whole.  IF It'S HerE TheN WE Can'T AfforD TO LosE IT AgaiN!

[Chrono Blackwyng]

Vuranin's hair flared up and grew past her shoulders from frustration, but it receded as she started to warp to each of the passenger ships, using the 'one door' limit of her power to 'teleport' to the pilot's cabin so she could search the passenger areas. People panicked at the sight of her, yet they stood still as her eyes were not focused on any of them. She occasionally told a passenger to open up their belongings for any rocks, which was rather painless since she only needed to feel around instead of just tossing things everywhere like her 'associates' seemed to enjoy doing.

Because she didn't have to tear up the ship to get to the inside, she was able to move from ship to ship faster than both Beast and Nero could...

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

"Well then," said Afgha. "Perhaps your defiance could extend into mercy for the two visitors who should be arriving right about now." With his words, the air seemed to shift, and there was a knock on the door. Asia smirked and stood up, heading to the door. Tabby and Chronin could hear it open, and Asia's voice came soft.
"Well bless me," he said. "It's been a long time, and you... I've seen you before too." There were footsteps, and there seemed to be a whisper in the air. Asia returned to the living room, leading the two visitors. When Tabby saw them, her eyes opened wide.
"The hell?" She stood up off the sofa as Howl and Seeker entered the room. Howl seemed like mist of his body was trailing behind him, like a blur, while everything around Seeker seemed to burn with colour. "WHAT THE HELL?!" Tabby stepped back, tilting her head wildly as she comprehended. "You're supposed to be dead!"





Reggie held Annie close to him, momentarily glancing at Blaze as  he headed to Tess. Then he saw the ship.
"What the... OI!" With a fierce snarl, he let go off Annie and ran screaming to his ship as it lifted off. "What are you doing!? Get back here! God damn it, I'll kill you!" He picked up a loose component off the floor and hurled it to the ship as it shot away. People fled as the piece of machinery fell to the floor with a clang.




The Beast powered through space, lighting up the dark, towards the GA Damascus.
"He's almost on us!" yelled a lieutenant.
"Stay just a little longer, we need to get as many ships as we can save."

[tangletail]

Leo didn't take another look as he saw the orbs flying around. He began to panic as one nearly made contact and only crazed his wing, it was quite lucky for something so massive. Quickly he moved to the GA Damascus, flareing on his boost to get there as quickly as possible.

"Warning! Dangerous Energy Levels detected!" the consol wrang out. Leo too a glance behind him and gritted his teeth as this one did more then just graze him. It took off an entire wing and a wingboom. "Danger Stableizers Compromised" the ship wrang again as his ship spiraled out of control towards the entrance.

"Madey! Madey! GA Damascusm, please clear the docking bay!" he yelled into the radio link. As best he cold, he tryed stableizeing the ship manualy but to no avail, the design depended to much on the wingbooms for stability and turning. Seeing a glimps of the landing bay, he quickly raised his feet and put them against the consol to brace for impact. The ship detected the ineditable collision and quickly drew a blast seal from the inside to cover the glass. No more then a second later his ship came crashing into the metal floor slideing, then rolling across the bay and slaming into a wall breaking the glass, rendering the feline inside unconsious as the vessel spart from were the severed parts used to be.

[KittKat chunky~]

Annie stepped back, watching as the ship flew out of the hangar entrance, blue shield shimmering as David flew out into space. She sighed, walking at a much slower and more constrained pace. With a glance over to the small corporation ship, and then down to the time on her datapad she cleared her throat "Reggie?" She took a hesitant step closer "Reggie... I need to go... Blaze can sort out a bunk for you -or something- but i really do have to go now..."



Tess dived behind Blaze, bushy tail flicking "Hide me!" Blaze frowned, utterly confused as he whispered back "What the-?  Tess, what're you doing?" She poked her head over his shoulder, eyes watching Reggie "Well... I was the one who fixed that ship right? And the big guy don't seem too pleased it took off..."

Blaze rolled his eyes, looking back at Reggie "Fine... But he isnt like that, he's a good guy. Its that snake who's the culprit here..."

[Chrono Blackwyng]

Chronin seemed unphased by their entrance, but he glanced at Tabby when she yelled at them. He turned around while chewing on a bone, then lazily took it out as he looked up at the two he was supposed to find. "I heard about you two from Vuranin, why couldn't you wait for the two weeks to pass?" Something in his head kept him from looking at anything but them, probably some kind of sense thats almost overpowering his sense of hearing or smell.

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

The GA Damacus turned from the beast, closed its doors, powered its jump drive and shot through space, disappearing from sight, leaving the remaining ships to their fate. Inside the Damascus, emergency squads raced around, crawling over Leo's ship, slicing it open and lifting the cat from the wreckage. He was taken away among a hundred other victims, crowding in the medical bay.




The beast turned and devoured more ships, burning them to nothing.





Reggie stopped and went quiet, breathlessly looking from the hangar exit, then back to Annie, his face contorted and helpless.  His muscles were tensed with clenched fists, until, looking at Annie, he relented and went back to her, taking her hand.
"Well... damn it, come back soon, okay. As fast as you can." His breathing was heavy, and his eyes seemed strained as thoughts and emotions ravaged his mind. Then, with a sudden jerk, he pulled her in and hugged her tight, as though he would never let go.





"Well," said Seeker, her voice flowing around the room like exotic birds. "We want to get the everflame before our... associates do any irreperable damage." howl looked at her, while a ghost of his image still looked to Chronin. The ghost spoke while the other listened with twitching ears.
"If you've heard of Vuranin, then you probably know about Nero too, right? Hopefully they haven't caused too many problems yet," he said, cocking his head and attempting a diplomatic smile. Seeker looked deep into Chronin, swarming inside him.
"They've already caused something, my dear Howl; something terrible. What hapenned?" she asked.

[Chrono Blackwyng]

Chronin's hair flared out in a fashion similar to Vuranin, but there was no fire-like effect. "Apparently they've just now torn apart the Capital Sphere, and it would take too long for me to get there to be of any good. Looking into my eyes won't get you a better answer, even though my intelligence was wrong in stating that you were a spider hybrid, Seeker." The way she looked at him gave off a similar feeling like his first time staring down a gun-barrel, but it also brought up the same emotion that dragged out his 'other half'.

[tangletail]

The feline breathed heavily, remaining unconsious as he was dragged away twitching everynow and then as images of the recent events ran through his head. He was bleeding pretty heavily from an injury to his head. He let out a low groan from the pain as he stired some. His eyes opened a bit only to close quickly from the bright light. Opening them again very slowly, his eyes began to focus. Erily stareing around trying to find out where he was exactly, as his sight begin to lose focus closeing again.

[KittKat chunky~]

Annie murred softly, letting Reggie hold her tightly. She had forgotten how it felt to have someone so intent on keeping her at their side. Memories came thick and fast, of Kitt, and with him, Kate and many others. She sighed and nuzzled Reggie's chest, looked up into his eyes and spoke softly "I need to go now Reg..."



Blaze and Tess had both moved way to an empty corner of the hangar, amongst the gutted remains of an old ship, long since grounded and stripped for spares. Blaze grinned, watching Tess as they talked. He paused, drawing up the courage to ask the question "Well...  Tess, would you?-"

He was cut short, as RUST-E butted into the conversation, quite literally... "What the hell!?" Tess grinned and giggled quietly as Blaze shoved the droid away. The little automaton issued another loud beep and pushed aginst Blaze's leg, determined to unseat from his precarious position on top of an engine unit "Tess! Call him of would you!?"

[Asia Kali Yusufzai]

"The Capital Sphere?" Howl looked back and forth from Seeker to Chronin, creating a ghostly blur of movement, like he was moving through smoke. His eyes were wide. "That's mental. Seeker we gotta get moving!" He grabbed Seeker's arm, and she looked to him, giving a soft smile. He almost seemed to fade to it, until she turned back to Chronin, the smile absent.
"I hope you won't stop us," she said, and turned to Asia. "We need help from you, since you stole before."
"Yeah," Howl said. "It's too hard and too long to get the flame through normal means, so we... obviously need to take the quickest route. We need to steal it and we want your help to do it."
Asia gave a soft smile.





Medics pulled Leo onto a bed, scanned over all his wounds, checked his eyes, checked his pulse, and started patching him up as soon as they could, rushing and working hard.
"Okay, stopped the bleeding. Looks like he knocked his head. He'll be out a little while."
"Move on?"
"Yeah, take him away, bring the next patient." They put him onto a stretcher, and carried him away to the storage bay where matresses were laid out and he was laid down among hundreds of others.





"Fine," Reggie said, his deep voice running through her body. Then he released his grip on her, and stroked her arms. Leaning down, he kissed her lips, then let go completely, and stepped out of her way. "Have fun." He put on a smile for her.