Testament - Blood For Blood

Description: From seemingly nowhere, an insane, raving lunatic with a scythe and strange powers attacks the UN. Four brave heroes keep the man from killing everyone inside. However, after he escapes, there are more questions to answer...



UNITED NATIONS BUILDING, AFTERNOON

It's a quiet evening, no real trouble to be reported. The building closes at lunch. It has just reopened, and assembly is in session. The building is packed with people trying to get things done in the bureaucracy.

The perfect time to strike.

It's at the gates that the trouble starts. A raven appears, perching on the gates and cawing quietly at the guards. And just after that a man comes into view. Dark hair, pale skin, black clothes. His hair hides most of his face. The guards at the gate do their jobs, moving to stop Testament. "ID, sir?" one of the guards requests.

The man in black stops. "...You want my ID?" His voice sounds metallic, and there is a hint of a Germanic accent there. "...Ha ha ha ha..." There's nothing amused about that laugh, and the guards step back, sensing trouble. And they're right on the money too.

He raises a hand to his face. In the next instant, he digs his fingernails into his cheek, tearing open a gash. Impossibly, a large, arcing spray of blood comes out. But it doesn't just spray around. It solidifies... into a scythe. One of the guards gasps, fumbling for his gun. "W-what the...?!"

The black-clad man's face suddenly looks like a skull, with crimson light behind it. "I AM DEATH!" he proclaims, his voice echoing abnormally. And as he makes this proclamation, he swings that blood scythe. It cuts perfectly well, despite being made of blood. Which the guards find out the hard way.

To their credit, the guards do manage to get calls in for help! Though they're... likely to be garbled by cries of pain and disgusting, bloody slicing sounds. On the other hand, it'll add to the legitimacy of the call for help. Though the black-clad man is already on his way into the building by then...

It was a long day at the UN Building. But business seemed to be about as regular as one would imagine from the morning, with no clues that there would be a veritable massacre happening at the building.

In fact, the morning was rather...drawn out and boring, as one Charlie Nash was speaking to UN officials regarding the planned Special Forces Martial Arts Program, having been tasked with the responsibility to help assure UN officials that the program would be in full cooperation with the UN and international efforts, rather than being the US's attempt at going in half-cocked against these criminal elements. Key figures from the Security Council were privy to the meeting, and it took quite a bit of Charlie's charm and wordsmithing to allieve fears.

But despite the rough but ultimately productive meeting, such things weren't meant to be Charlie's wheelhouse. Rolling his neck and smoothing out his uniform, he was glad for the reprieve for lunch, but not looking forward to being stuck in more committees. Of course, as he was prepared to hit the elevators, he found himself hearing the sounds of panic, as well as the rush of security guards making their way toward the exit.

It didn't take much for suspicion to be aroused. Running to one of the slower guards, the airman quickly tugged on his sleeve. "Excuse me, what's the situation?" he asks, a firm authoritative tone that says he already knows that SOMETHING is up. Just not an idea of what.

Chisaki doesn't come to Metro City often. Usually, she has only come there on a flight, as the international ones sometimes stop at their larger airports, and a childhood of traveling helped. Today, though, she is here to pick up something for her uncle's store; a rug from Tibet that he wants to sell for a pretty yen. She decided to see some of the landmarks, while she was here, and that makes her presence near the United Nations building something of a coincidence.

Sometimes, though, things happen by accident.

The brown-haired girl was walking towards the plaza already, when she heard a surprised police officer shout. The noises -- blood gurgling, that terribly meaty slice, a soft murmur about it coming from the United Nations plaza -- tell her what she needs to know. Her red eyes widen, her lips parting.

Something clicks in her brain. It's something primal, something simple: she needs to find out. She takes off in a run, windbreaker flapping in the wintery gusts blowing into her, and bolts towards the entrance that the black-clad man went through. She isn't quite aware of the other people moving closer to and away from it; when Charlie gets here, she'll be relieved.

Her running slows as she looks through the door, and sees the first dead guard and Testament's back. Her eyes widen. "Holy shit," she whispers, and then repeats for her own sake, "holy shit."

This is no accident.

This is fate.

For wherever the faces of darkness may appear.

There will be those who rise to stop it.

The Sin Eater had traveled to Metro City for this very reason, the spirits forewarned of a new enemy, not from Outworld, but from within Earthrealm. Although the messages of the spirits where always cryptic at best, Nightwolf knew that it was never wise to completely disregard them. He knew that the battle was joined in Metro City, from there on out, it would be up to his own resources to find whoever the spirits warned him about.

Turns out that the trail wasn't too difficult to follow.

Turned into his wolf form, the skinwalker quickly caught the scent of blood and overwhelming negative energy gathering within the UN building. That could only meant that trouble was brewing, and it was the bloody kind.

It was just as he feared, he's come too late when he approaches the blood stained gate, corpses strewn about in a gory display. The wolf bared its fangs in anger and slipped past the blockade and past the startled Chisaki, following the trail of blood upstairs with great haste.

Amongst the panicking people trying to rush out of the building, no one would notice a dog running in the opposite direction.

Everyone was at the United Nations for their own reasons.

Some were speaking before the United Nations, others were just passing nearby, to pick up some goods. Others were here to murder every mouth-breathing human inside, others were a wolf.

But Daniel?

Daniel was here to meet up with the ambassador of Japan. The reason was actually mostly symbolic than business-related; the ambassador wanted to thank the detective personally for his help in uncovering the corruption in the cacao trade. A small mission in the big picture, but it certainly secured favor with the Japanese government. The detective just had to wait for the fly boy to finish pitching a more robust CQC training program or something. He didn't follow the politics. He was just chilling out in a holding room, waiting for someone to buzz him in to shake some Japanese dude's hand and get an award.

And then his phone goes off.

Agent Little sighs, as he picks up the phone. Listening in, he begins to notice the... mobility of the security officers, rushing past his door. "Hello?" Daniel answers into the phone. He focuses ahead, he listens in. And then he finally understands what is happening. His eyes go wide as he stands up. He nods firmly, looking towards the door out. The ambassador would have to wait.

"I'm on the move."

Daniel Jack closes the phone, shoving it into his suit. The detective was on the move, moving with the wave of security guards on the move. There wasn't much time. He was on duty now. Not crime fighting. But security. Something was happenening right outside the Security Council. Someone was breaking in. As Daniel approaches the entrance to the council, terror begins to seize his heart. From what the report to him described?

People were already dying.

The security guard Charlie flags down looks at him as if he's shocked to see him there. Which he probably is. "Whu...?" Pause. A look at Charlie's uniform. The guard salutes. "Guards at the gate said there was a guy with a big knife out front, sir! And you don't wanna hear what I heard on the radio. It sounded... really, REALLY bad!"

Those coming INTO the building from behind him will see what Chisaki saw-- a black-clad human figure that shows a lot of skin between the tube top and 'skirt'. Those coming OUT will see the person from the front... though it might not be much more informative. Then again, there's blood on that exposed skin, and it doesn't look like his, so the gender of the figure may not be important at the moment.

He's in the building now, in the lobby, forcing the crowds heading out to stop, to try to find another way out. Of course, they COULD try to come through him. That raised scythe almost seems to invite it. In fact, if that's not enough invitation? The raven flies up and begins to try to 'herd' the people, by snapping its beak, flapping its wings, and clawing its talons. Trying to push them TOWARDS the menacing, scythe-wielding, blood-spattered man. It wants blood, too!

Raising his scythe, Testament observes, "Ah, good... the herd comes to be culled. Very polite of you... saves me the trouble of having to hunt you all down individually later!" His voice sounds metallic... artificial somehow. So does the cackle that follows. It echoes through the lobby in an odd way that shouldn't be possible for a human voice.

COMBATSYS: Testament has started a fight here as a boss!

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---============                



COMBATSYS: Chisaki has joined the fight here.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---============                


[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Chisaki          0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Charlie has joined the fight here.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---============                


[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Charlie          0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0          Chisaki


COMBATSYS: Nightwolf has joined the fight here.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---============                


[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Chisaki          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0        Nightwolf
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Charlie          0/-------/------=|


COMBATSYS: Daniel has joined the fight here.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---============                


[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Charlie          0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0           Daniel


Frowning, Charlie listens to the guard, then gives him a quick nod. "Hold back and don't get too close. Give me a chance to get there before anyone else engages him," he says, clapping the guard on the shoulder before he starts running toward the stairs.

As he makes his way down, his glasses get tucked into the pocket of his uniform jacket. Leaping down the last story or so of stairs, he barrels into the door with his shoulder and hip, pushing it open as quickly as possible against the crash bar before running down toward the Lobby. Seeing the crowd stalled before the pale figure in back, a chill runs down his back before the airman stiffens up.

"GET BACK! FIND THE FIRE EXITS INSTEAD!" he shouts to the crowd before making a break toward the doors and the man wielding the scythe. "I don't know who you are, pal, but you're not hunting anyone else down today!" he shouts, another leap trying to insert himself between Testament and the fleeing crowd.

When Nightwolf passes her in his wolf-like form, Chisaki comes out of her initial daze. She stares after him, not quite believing her eyes and finding a grim absurdity in the situation. "Uh, Lassie," she calls out after him, "I don't think Timmy is down this well!"

Maybe, she reflects a moment after talking, she shouldn't sass the wolf. Then again, the wolf is showing more guts than she is in the face of this wanton brutality. She sets her jaw at that and starts running after the wolf.

She sees the horror continuing to play out. The raven trying to force the crowd towards the scythe-wielding man. His vicious, violent threats and his strangely artificial voice. The blood covering him. This, Chisaki thinks, is a monster. Then she feels a twist in her stomach, and a pulse from the spirit bound to her body and soul. She happens to be a monster, too.

Her eyes narrow and her terror doesn't vanish, but it fuels her. Her red eyes widen with anger. She is out of her weight class, here, and she knows it. But she wanted a way to make a difference. She can do that, now. A few inky wisps of darkness coil off her, rising like steam from a pan, while she rolls up her left sleeve.

Charlie leaps down; she looks at him, grateful that someone is here, and then she looks back at the black-clad man. "I dunno what you are," she says. Her red eyes blazing. "But I'm not gonna let you do this."

Her left arm suddenly turns a midnight black color, with an eerily smooth sheen that suggests a surface entirely unlike flesh. The curled fingers lengthen and distend, turning into wickedly sharp claws. Motes of black and purple light drift up from it, as she glowers a challenge at the black-clad man.

It's a lot worse than just Timmy.

Everyone inside the UN building is in jeopardy.

Nightwolf senses that there is bravery in some people here, people with the will to fight, and though there are some that have more than others, and yet some that he will eventually recognize, the shaman turned wolf feels that it will take all of their combined strength to face against this new threat.

The skinwalker knows very little of this threat, so far being able to deduce by its spiritual signature that it does not originate from Outworld. It the grand scheme of things this doesn't help the fact that it has already claimed many lives. What could it be this creature's intentions?

Unfortunately for him, Nightwolf knows that the best way to find that out now, is to confront it.

The wolf slips into the lobby and takes point right in front of Charlie and Chisaki as the pilot begins to control the panicking people to flee in another direction rather than risk their lives by running past this grim reaper. Good, the crowd will listen to Charlie, now the only matter is to give this pale man, because Nightwolf can tell that he is one, something else to focus on.

Where once a wolf with dark pelt stood, a swirling mist of green energy later transforms it into a dark skinned man wearing buckskins. Whoever wishes to fight with him, now is the time to let Testament know who is it exactly that opposes him.

"Warriors of Earthrealm!!"

The man shouts, subsequently followed by a lighting bolt crackling through the ceiling of the building that hits him, fueling him with power. He has to show this Darkstalker(?) that there are legitimate threats to contend here.

"RALLY TO ME!!"

Was that Marilynn Manson?

Daniel Jack briefly registers the intruder's appearance as he surges in with the crowds, the security guards intermingling amongst them. Too much was going on; but one thing was enduring: death. This lanky man had brought death, fresh death to heap upon the world. Charlie, the USAF officer that was talking to the Security Council, was on the scene, and as things go to hell, Daniel knew that he could count on the officer. While Chisaki at first doesn't catch the detective's attention, the sudden surge of her limb -does-. It looks like maybe the intruder has backup... until that wolf bounds in, and transforms into a very familiar figure.

He knew that man.

That was the man who saved his life.

As he talks about the Warriors of Earthrealm, Daniel Jack knew exactly what was going down.

This was someone, or rather, something supernatural. Maybe it was actual Death. If there was Egyptian Mythology, why not other mythology? As he stares across the crowd, Agent Little shouts out. "Don't worry fly boy! I do crowd control! Nightwolf! Be there in JUST a second!" The detective surges through the crowd, energy rolling off his body as he thunders. "Charlie's right! Avoid the main exit! Get back!" As to motivate them back, he lashes out with waves of energy, to drive the crowd away from the reaper... while also turning his back to the reaper. Narrowing his eyes, he catches a glimpse of the crow that was trying to shepherd the mob into the slaughter. Hardly thinking any more about it, he simply lashes out his hand, unleashing a brief wave of energy towards the crow.

Hopefully this was something he would not regret.

"Sir!" the guard confirms to the instructions, with a salute, as Charlie starts to run down the stairs. He'll be gathering his fellows for defense, but not directly approaching the man. After all, look what happened to the ones at the gate. What chance do they stand?

Testament is... basically making scary faces at the crowd when Charlie's shout rings out over the crowd. On the bright side... Testament had literally been seconds from leaping forward and cleaving into their ranks with that scythe. Thankfully the appearance of the defenders catches his attention before he can, and gives the crowd a chance at escape.

Some of the smarter people in the crowd, more sane in their fright, start trying to direct the others to the fire exits. Testament notices this, and looks in Charlie's direction as the man insinuates himself between him and the crowd. "Well, well... an all-American Hero, hm?"

Chisaki's sudden pulse of darkness draws his gaze to her. "What do you care for these subcreatures?" he inquires of Chisaki. "You think they care for you? Only inasmuch as they can use you. I know this... from experience. They'll wield you like a tool, make you fight their wars. And then they'll throw you away when they're done. But only if you let them. Join me, and we'll stop it. Stop THEM."

...Is he seriously trying to recruit Chisaki? Is he seriously suggesting that HE is the victim?!

Nightwolf's sudden appearance, as well as the lightning bolt, gets a bared-teeth scowl. His canines look far sharper than they should be, but that might just be a trick of the light. He HISSES, "Another heroic one. And such a disgustingly VOCAL heroic one, too. I'll silence you, too." Indeed, this one's spiritual signature is not that of Outworld. This is... something else entirely. Almost human, but somehow... not quite. Something more. And something less, too...

Daniel's wave of energy hits the crow, and it squawks in surprise, and falls from the air. Hearing the squawk, Testament turns, half to face those coming in from outside, and half to face those coming out from inside. And his gaze turns to where she is, seeing the man who attacked her. With the crowd thinning out, Testament's path is clearer... possibly unfortunate for Daniel.

The others are ignored for the moment, in favor of giving the raven time to collect herself. "I'LL KILL YOU!" he growls loudly, and LAUNCHES himself at Daniel. The scythe swings down as he goes, the blade elongating oddly. The blade might seem to 'melt', and a scary face forms in the blood that makes it up, but if it hits... it's going to feel perfectly solid.

Snorting, Charlie remains stalwart, simply bringing his fists up and prepping himself for a fight in the usual CQC stance, staying between Testament and the crowd as several take cues from him and find safer exits. "Uncle Sam's finest. And no one else is dying on my watch long as I'm here," he says, before frowning as more and more interesting people start to filter in. Nightwolf catches his attention immediately with his booming rally.

"Heh." Shaking his head a little, Charlie looks over toward the shaman. "Not sure if anyone's going to rally, but I think we all have a common target right now," he says, turning his attention to Testa-...oh dear. Charlie's face twists into a bit of a grimace. "Agent," he regards Daniel rather brusquely. He's aware of Agent Little, and despite (or possibly, because) of their own personal 'act first' philosophies, he doesn't seem too fond of the Interpol agent. He'll let Daniel handle crowd control as he suggested, though, instead focusing on Testament for sure this time. "Only thing getting silenced is your scythe, pal," he says...until the wave comes.

Looking back to Daniel, Charlie scowls a bit. "Little, get down!" he shouts, an arm cocked back before hooking it through the air directly toward Testament's flight path. "SONIC BOOM!" he shouts, a spinning wave cutting through the air at not-quite-supersonic speeds, but damn close, trying to intercept the madman.

When Nightwolf changes into his true form, Chisaki gapes at him; the surprise makes her not quite ready to rush to his call, but she nods. Her resolve is firmed up by the speech.

And then Testament speaks directly to Chisaki.

Her eyes widen ever so slightly at that offer, which she hardly mistakes. "They're--I'm not any different than them!" she snaps, but there is a heatedness in her tone that speaks the truth: she is different and she knows it. Her claw flexes and unflexes its fingers, involuntarily, as the anger drives her. "I'm not! I'd never--"

She stops herself, there. She could say she would never kill someone like him, but the memory of standing inside of a darkened stone room and looking down at a man's bloodied body at her feet comes back.

"Just--just SHUT UP!"

Testament turns and launches himself at Daniel. She is too angry to think of shouting a warning out to the detective, as he flies for him, and the cutting wave of the Sonic Boom flying right after. She leaps off the ground herself, swinging back her shadowy hand -- and then rajkes the claws down quickly at Testament's back, trying to find purchase.

Nightwolf hms in recognition as his blank gaze spots the wayward Interpol agent. He should have expected that he'd find him here, in the midst of all this evil. That man was like a trouble magnet.

"Ah, Daniel Little, long have I known that I would fight alongside you again." His brief reminiscence given, the shaman quickly realizes that this is no time to catch up on things as the situation is quickly escalating. A sideglance is given to Charlie without breaking his fight stance, eyes narrowing slight as he regards his ally of consequence. "Do what you must to stop this Darkstalker, soldier."

Although is he really? There is something off this so called Grim Reaper. Nightwolf can sense the dark energies that mark one as a Darkstalker sure enough, but there is something 'artificial' about it, as if it was made rather born.

No matter, he'll have to figure out what Testament really is some time later. Preferably when he's not in the process of trying to kill Daniel who has incurred his wrath. What was that he said earlier about Daniel being a trouble magnet.

"Be wary, girl." Nightwolf warns Chisaki as she rushes in, a glowing green energy bow appearing on his hand. "Strike quickly and get out. Do not stay inside his guard for too long." It seems the skinwalker has the same idea as Charlie as he readies an energy arrow and fires it at Testament right along then Sonic Boom.

COMBATSYS: Daniel blocks Testament's Gravedigger.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [  |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--=============                


[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


Pesky crow!

Daniel Jack manages to knock the crow out of the sky, as the crowd begins to thin around them, and more importantly, away from the intruder. It looks like Daniel was doing well, until a rouse of screams erupts around him. The detective turns around, to see the herald of death focused right upon him.

And the reapening begins.

The blade's strange transformation was neatly alien to any rational process. And yet, Daniel Jack felt some intuitive sense to it. Maybe it was his fight with Anarakis, and his time in the underworld. As the blade sinks beneath into a pool of blood, the detective brings both of his palms forward. Falling into the defensive stance of Todoh-Ryuu, he senses the momentum of the blade as the terrifying visage surges back up from the pool. Palms out, he catches the visage with both palms.

That was a mistake.

Daniel seethes in pain as he stumbles backwards. His hands were soaked in blood... his blood. The impact of the visage tore into them. While his body was safe, his limbs were... in poor shape. Right now, it seemed that the intruder was dead set on him. A poor situation, until Agent Little watches as Charlie, the strange girl, and his old friend Nightwolf surging in. Daniel Jack himself might be in a prime position to fight the man. But as long as he kept him engaged... he might be able to keep him from being too much more erratic. He doesn't lash out at Testament, no.

He tries and calm him down.

"Nobody more needs to die here!" Daniel Jack states to the... man? He had to be a man, in spite of his gothic appearance. Unnatural powers, certainly, but that didn't make him any less human. "Come on, we are all people here. You got a problem? We can talk it out. Why'd you come here? What is your purpose?" The detective's bloody palms rise back up, fingers spread, as he takes a step back. The next blow that was to come... wasn't a blow he could block again. Sweat pours on his brow.

"Hell, I don't even know your name!"

COMBATSYS: Daniel is waiting for something...

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [  |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--=============                


[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Charlie successfully hits Testament with Sonic Boom.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [          |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--=============                


[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Chisaki successfully hits Testament with Shadow Claw Slash.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [             ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--=============                


[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Testament overcomes New Earth from Nightwolf with Phantom Soul.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [               ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|--------------=|===============                


[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


Too focused on Daniel, Testament doesn't see the Sonic Boom until it impacts with his side. He emits a grunt of pain, and staggers as he lands, having to readjust his footing-- the attack struck him while he was in the air and almost toppled him over.

He doesn't turn, but instead allows Chisaki's attack to shred his back. Her claws dig deeply into the exposed skin there. And as her claws draw away... the injuries seal up right before her eyes. "Don't kid yourself." THEN he turns to Chisaki, facing her down from close range. "You are, and you know it." He hisses, "And so do THEY! The moment you cease to be useful to these people they'll throw you away. IF you're lucky. If not... they'll kill you. Because you're a 'threat'. Your EXISTENCE is a threat!"

As Nightwolf's arrow comes at him, Testament extends his arm, opening his hand as if he were offering something in Nightwolf's direction. He is... but it's not something the shaman is likely to want! With a low humming sound, a skull appears, glowing with red chi, and heads slowly in Nightwolf's direction. The arrow hits it, but the skull keeps going... at Nightwolf!

Once free of attacks, Testament seems to pause as Daniel speaks. He looks at his free hand. It's got Daniel's blood on it. Probably the guards at the front too, but also Daniel's. As Daniel speaks, Testament brings that hand up slowly... and just licks the blood from one finger. His crimson eyes close. In an offhand way, he mentions, "...Your blood is delicious."

...What?

That's when he actually registers Daniel's words. His reply is a question. It's spoken quietly, almost serenely. "...No one needs to die?" And a sudden burst of... not anger. Something else. "EVERYONE here needs to die!" He raises that bloody hand before him, clenching it into a fist. "YOU are not people. You are SUBCREATURES! Not WORTHY of mercy! Not when you give none! I AM a monster! And I am one that YOU CREATED!"

Seeing the Sonic Boom hit, Charlie isn't about to stand still and let that be his only contribution. Charging in, the airman takes to his element, and leaps high into the air, a good several feet in the air as he sails above and toward Testament.

"Buddy, for all your talk, you're just a murderer, you're not at liberty to lecture anyone about killing!" he shouts down toward the pale man with blood of far too many on his hands right now. As he starts to fall, he flips forward, tucked into a pike before one leg lashes downward, then another, a slicing strike coming down to try and break down across the very scythe Testament had been using to kill.

"And damn if you're the wrong person to be talking about anyone showing mercy."

The advice that Nightwolf gives is noted, but Chisaki doesn't form a verbal response given her lunge.

She backs away after her first hit lands and Testament turns to face her. Her eyes widen with his words. They will use her? She never considered the idea, but it isn't so alien: she knows people fear things like her. If he can be called a Darkstalker, so can she. The shadowy claw coils its fingers, as a sign of her nervousness. "I'm not trying to be useful to anyone, I'm just--"

She isn't sure. The skull goes flying, and Charlie leaps in too. She ducks, as the Air Force officer launches kicks at Testament. She bolts back in, trying to get close to him -- and she turns around, pivoting on her left foot. She slams a kick at the scythe-wielder's side.

"Did someone try, or did you just--just decide this shit?" she asks, mid-kick.

COMBATSYS: Nightwolf just-defends Testament's Phantom Soul!

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [               ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|--------------=|===============                


[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


Daniel's efforts to talk the Darkstalker down are commendable. Normally, an experienced Demon Hunter like Nightwolf would not have appreciated and would have no doubt scolded the agent of the folly to talk sense with these beasts. However, Nightwolf was no member of the Hunter's Guild, he followed his own path, where redemption was available to everyone. In fact..

Daniel's efforts are not unlike his own previous attempts to talk Jedah down.

Had it not been by the guards that Testament has already slaughtered, Nightwolf would have joined in to talk reason with this strange creature. However, it was clear that words were not going to stop this aspect of the grim reaper. Just like words wouldn't stop the flying skull pushing through the shaman's arrow and then careening straight towards him.

"HRR!!" Summoning two axes to his hands, the Apache brave makes a hard arching swing and smashes right through the skull, cleaving it apart with his well practiced art of splitting skulls with his axe.

"Daniel!!" Nightwolf yells suddenly towards the Agent. "We can talk to him once we've restrained him! He has already killed many here, we must not allow him to add more to his bloody tally!"

Sensing the momentum shifting towards Testament, the Apache joins the charge and runs along with Charlie and Chisaki, boldly entering the fray along his fellow warriors of Earthrealm.

"Listen not to the dark one, girl." Nightwolf says as he runs, glowing axe still in hand. "There is no one that can decide your destiny but yourself!" Is the girl also a Darkstalker? Ultimately it doesn't matter.

"Whoever fights for Earthrealm is my brother in arms!" Warcry given, Nightwolf swings his double axes again, holy blades seeking to cleave Tastament's ribs.

And Daniel Jack keeps listening.

As his hands continue to ooze blood, the detective grits his teeth. As his current allies come roaring into the intruder, he just watches, and listens. Of course, Charlie declares for gung-ho America; why wouldn't he? But it is the conversation between him and the strange girl that the Agent tries to parse. There was... something between them. Not personal; they did not know each other it seemed. But between what they... were? Finally, after the intruder blasts back at the arrow, he focuses on Daniel and... licks his blood. The detective pauses, trying to muster up a response to the... strangely erotic response.

"... Thank you!"

The detective listens to the enraged stranger, and tries to parse it. Listening to these things... it was strange. Maybe it was the dim memories of the mummy he found in the underworld, and listening to him. Even Nightwolf's words come on him dimly. Stopping his rampage. Sure, if this was subduing a murderous creature, maybe the time for words would come later. But something was wrong. Daniel's brow furrows.

"Who did this to you?"

Daniel Jack keeps steady, his expression concerned. He was trying to key into his rage, key into his fury. This was a hate crime against humanity, that much was clear. But why would he hate humanity so much? When someone was enraged at humanity, you act on what is available. This was... this was targeting the United Nations.

Daniel was suspecting something.

"Who created you? Who made you like this? I don't mean broadly. You are attacking the United Nations for a reason, aren't you?" The detective begins to flow with energy as he keeps his stand, in spite of the terrible images flashing before him. But he does not strike out yet.

A strange act of pacifism, in the face of mortal terror.

COMBATSYS: Daniel is waiting for something...

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [               ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|--------------=|===============                


[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Testament blocks Charlie's Blade Slice.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                    |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|-------------==|===============                


[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Testament endures Chisaki's Heavy Kick.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                           ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|------------===|===============                


[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Testament endures Nightwolf's Tomahawk Smash.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                |||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|----------=====|===============                


[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


Testament brings the scythe up to deflect Charlie's kick. The blade seems to dissolve for a moment, but reforms. Though it seems to take a moment for it to do so, and Testament grimaces as the blade reforms. It slows him enough that he can't avoid Chisaki's kick, and emits a "Guah!" as it slams into his side. A similar sound as the tomahawk cleaves his side from the other side. But that injury, too, seals up almost instantly. Still though, he's obviously not unharmed-- the grimace on his face is not one only of hate, but of pain as well.

The attacks force him back, and he half-collapses to a knee, panting, leaning against the haft of the scythe. Is he down? Well, he answers each concern individually. To Charlie, "Oh but I know this. I am a murderer-- and those you serve are the ones who made me. YOU, I think, have just as little right." Chisaki? "If you don't make yourself useful to them... then you'll be thrown away with the rest of the refuse. I'll see you in the gutter, little one." To Nightwolf: "Will you defend her, then, when the very people you fight for turn against her? Or will you stand with them to bring her down for the 'defense' of HUMANS?" He spits the word 'humans' with a kind of hate that leaves no doubt as to why.

Daniel gets a special response. "If you asked, they wouldn't tell you. No one wants to admit to what made me. Dig for the answer yourself. See what you find." He looks like he's getting back up. Slowly. There's a gleam in his eyes. They seem to glow. And then suddenly, he's got a hand in the air, and a wind is kicking up around him. "NIGHTMARE CIRCULAR!"

As he speaks, a portal appears before him... and a massive skull and claws made of blood exits the portal, aimed at the room at large!

COMBATSYS: Charlie blocks Testament's Nightmare Circular.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------=======                


[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


His forward somersualt kick caught by Testament's scythe, Charlie notices the way the blade seems amorphous and reforming, in a way that seems linked to Testament himself. Frowning, he flips backward, landing on his feet a few yards away. Narrowing his eyes, he straightens up and smooths out his jacket, leveling a withering glare toward Testament.

"If you're asking for justice for whoever made you what you are, you think this is going to help any? YOu think this is going to expose anyone, or is it just going to allow them to wrap up in a hut and get eyes everywhere but where they should be?" he asks. Before he can ask any further, that portal opens up. Eyes widening, he crosses his arms, knowing that it's not something he can simply slip around or just use as cover with the size of the blast coming. As the blood apparition comes, he leans forward, shifting his shoulder toward it with arms stlli crossed, weathering the surge like a heavy wind.

Once it passes, he sucks in a breath through his teeth. "Sitrep!" he shouts to the others, stepping forward, though his arms remain at his side for now. It's an aggressive walk, but without any sign of attack just yet. He's not sure that they can afford another surge like that, and he's as good as any to act as a bulwark right now.

COMBATSYS: Charlie takes no action.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------=======                


[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Nightwolf reflects Nightmare Circular from Testament with Shield of the Ancients.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------=======                


[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Charlie          0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0           Daniel


As the group rips through the strange Darkstalker, Nightwolf is not too submerged into his own blood frenzy to ignore his own warning. A few swipes of his energy tomahawks and he's backing the eff out of Testament's scythe reach, having no intentions of getting hit with that thin if he can help it. Even through the haze of battle, the skinwalker is keeping his eyes open, hearing to Testament's plight as Daniel continues to, albeit somewhat foolishly at this point, plead with him to stop. The seemingly futile conversation does yield certain insights though, namely the one that confirms Nightwolf's fears.

Testament wasn't born like this.. he was made... artificially..

"Someone is /making/ Darkstalkers??" Nightwolf suddenly gasps in horror. The very notion of such an abomination sickening him to his very core.

And yet, that does not excuse Testament from killing people at random. Charlie is right, lashing out at people with no proof is not the solution. There is no justice in this, only petty vengeance.

He will not permit it!

He's long made a vow to protect this world, and that includes the United Nations.

"Yes, I will defend her, as I will defend all of Earthrealm.." Whispers Nightwolf when Testament questions his conviction, blank determined eyes staring at the incoming skull made of Testament's own blood sailing towards them, threatening to envelop them all in its dark energy.

Heedless to the results, the Shaman jumps straight into the path of the skull bringing forth a circular energy shield which he smashes into it.

"I will defend them all!"

He digs his heels in, pressing back with all his might as he plows through it, sending a porting of the energy flying directly back at Testament.



"Even from themselves!!"

COMBATSYS: Testament successfully hits Daniel with Nightmare Circular.
-+- CALCULATED HIT -+-

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------=======                


[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0          Chisaki
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Charlie          0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Chisaki blocks Testament's Nightmare Circular.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|------=========                


[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0          Chisaki
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Charlie          0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0           Daniel


They wouldn't tell him?

The words were the ravings of a lunatic. But as Daniel looks into his viscious eyes... he began to get a read. The words to Charlie. The words to himself. The implications were pointing to the very reason this man would be lashing out at the United Nations. Why he would mock both himself and Charlie so personally. Nightwolf's gasping words was exactly what Daniel was thinking.

The United Nations were behind his creation.

The details eluded Daniel, but that much was becoming obvious. But there were a few core points that he understood. The first was that, whatever this person was, he was changed or created. And the organization behind it was either the UN, or something associated within the UN. And whatever he was... was in turn associated with the Darkstalkers, as Nightwolf's and the strange girl's presence indicates. And if the response to his mission to the Underworld was any indication...

Then whatever made this intruder was deep within the skunk works.

Further insights, however, was modestly sidetracked as a portal opens from the depths of SOMEWHERE, and SOMETHING comes pouring out. A massive THING of blood and claws comes reaching out for the detective, and with a shriek, the detective suddenly finds the bloodskull from hell... inserting its claws into him. Not purely cutting him. The detective feels the sensation of the creature simply moving past his skin, to the blood underneath. And with a sickening pop sound, the detective manages to rip himself away.

And essentially, too much skin stays with it.

"Situation normal, Charlie." The detective groans as he falls on his back. Long strips of his skin were still hanging loose through the neat tears of his suit. He was bleeding heavily, the exposed fat of his chest searing in pain against the remains of his suit. The detective grits his teeth in pain as he forces himself up. "Situation normal! I got what I needed to know from him. A-And I think the bastard just took my skin or something, but I can shake it off!" Orange energy floods over his body as he rises up, his hands held high.

And he brings them down.

Huge waves of energy cascade down from his finger tips. The waves crash and rip forward, following along the ground as they roll straight towards Testament. They were slow, yes. But in the chaos of the melee, the detective could afford slow. And yet... every movement was as if it was adding a heavy weight upon his body, sapping his strength. The thought passes his mind again, as he glances down as the strips of flesh poking through the claw holes of the bloodskull.

He had just been flayed.

'Destiny,' Chisaki thinks. That's heavy. She nods, but it isn't certain. There is a seed of doubt there. Testament called himself a monster, and the sentiment is one that she has felt before. That is a thought she cannot shake, even if the words feel comforting. But, sometimes, nice thoughts aren't enough.

Testament's words worsen that thought. It could happen. She remembers the look on Sada's face when they fought. 'What ARE you?' echoes in her ears, and her jaw clinches with anger.

Testament is the person she can direct this anger at.

The claws of blood shoot through the room, and she raises her shadowy claw -- and catches it, before it shoots by and catches her side, slashing her open. Despite the internal angst about what she is, she bleeds red the same as any human. She lists top a side, before she stands up straighter. She looks at Testament, and what he says, the situation, everything becomes a red blur in her mind. The thing that gave her this power and lost itself surges inside of her mind.

Nightwolf's declarations, Charlie's questions, and Daniel's considerations -- all of it goes missed. Things she tries to keep down boil over and the teenager's breathing becomes ragged.

The anger takes over -- directed at Testament, felt for him and more -- and she lets it. She moves, shooting across the ground, and swings back her left arm. The shadowy limb suddenly splits down the middle, her fingers simply merging together, and strands of shadow-stuff take a moment to pull apart like glue being pulled apart. The arm reshapes itself into a pincer, and she slams it down for the middle of Testament's torso, and shoves him to the side.

Then she jumps, pulling the shadowy claw back. Her red eyes blaze with fury, as the arm slams back together, and reforms into the large, clawed five-digit hand. Chisaki yells loudly, and swipes her sharp, clawed fingers down across Testament.

COMBATSYS: Chisaki blitzes into action and acts again!

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|------=========                


[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0          Chisaki
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Charlie          0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Testament dodges Chisaki's Shadow Claw Crush.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|------=========                


[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0          Chisaki
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Charlie          0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Testament dodges Chisaki's Shadow Claw Swipe.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|------=========                


[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0          Chisaki
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Charlie          0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Daniel successfully hits Testament with Chou Kasane Ate.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                           ||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|------=========                


[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0          Chisaki
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Charlie          0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Nightwolf successfully hits Testament with Reflected Nightmare Circular.
-+- CALCULATED HIT -+-

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                              |||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|------=========                


[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0          Chisaki
[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Charlie          0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0           Daniel


Answering Charlie's question is going to have to wait. Because Nightwolf has just sent a portion of his own blood back at him! His surprise shows, not only in his widened crimson eyes, but in how his voice literally jumps two octaves as he proclaims, "WHAT?!" He brings his scythe up, trying to defend against the onslaught, but he doesn't seem to have any way of defending against his own power. And he's tossed back, out of range of Chisaki's attacks.

He ends up hitting the wall hard enough to crater it. Hard enough to STICK to it for a moment. It's not hard to imagine a cartoony peeling noise as he slides down off the wall into a heap on the ground. The scythe disappears, melting into blood and then seeming to just dissipate. And outside the window, there is a loud CAW! The crow is there, pecking at the window as if asking to be let in.

Testament seems down. But before anyone can slap cuffs on him, he begins to stir again. "Naive... All of you." He pushes himself to his knees, beginning to laugh. "To actually believe that your kind knows anything but lust for power and conquest... to make sure everyone is under their thumbs."

"I can't be UNmade. Nothing you could give would be enough to replace what was taken away. There IS no justice possible here. Only revenge." And to Chisaki in particular, "Then let them use you. Let them break you and then throw the pieces away when they're of no more use. Perhaps I'll pick them up, when I find them in some trash can. Maybe then you'll realize the truth. But never let it be said you weren't warned."

He stands, reforming his scythe. With effort, it looks like. Testament dosn't have a lot of fight left in him. His gaze sets right on the wounded Daniel. It looks like he took the most damage. And his crimson eyes narrow. "Dig all you want. You won't find anything. Except your own death. That's why I was made, don't you see? A tool of war, of death. But I refuse to be a mindless slave."

A surge of energy ripples through him, and his eyes gleam. "I REFUSE!"

The rage is channeled, and his lunge is at Daniel-- he's the most hurt. Testament is going down here, he knows it. Maybe he can take one down with him. He pauses only long enough to shape the scythe into a large key. And then he aims to impale Daniel with the key, turn it, and then viciously rip it free.

COMBATSYS: Charlie endures Testament's Master of Puppets.

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                                 ||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                


[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0          Chisaki
[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Charlie          0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0           Daniel


Charlie stepped up to the plate after that massive blood golem surged at the gathered. He only spared a glance to the rest of the lobby, reassuring that it's been evacuated enough that no one else got caught up in that surge. He already saw how it affected Daniel, he need not see civilians get caught in something like that.

"You can't be unmade. Fine. YOu think this is a way to keep any more from being made? You think this is actually going to stop whatever made you from making something else? Whatever made you is larger than this building, and right now, you're a tide crashing on rocks." Before he can say more, though, he sees him advance on Daniel. "GET DOWN!" he shouts to Daniel, leaping into the path as that massive key forms. PUshing the Interpol agent out of the way, he digs his feet in as the key comes. As it stabs through him, he grits his teeth, feeling it tear into him. Gripping down on the bloodform weapon as it turns, he tries to keep hold even as Testament tries to wrench it free. "You're already a slave to the idea that you're just a tool. You think this is going to do anything to change anyone?" he asks. When the key manages to wrench free, Charlie stumbles forward...but keeps with the momentumm, twisting and spinning into a flying kick meant to finally knock the rampaging 'slave' down to the ground.

Chisaki's anger doesn't abate, at first. She hears what Testament is saying, if dimly, and no response comes to mind -- but what brings her back is seeing Charlie take a bullet for Dnaiel. When the key strikes him, she snaps her head to look, and blinks a couple of times at him in shock. He survived it, somehow. Her mouth opens; then it closes, and she gets her head back on. She grits her teeth.

She launches in, again. The shadow claw is foregone; instead, she jumps through the air, and comes down towards Testament, kicking her right foot out as she spins. Before she even lands, she wheels her left foot around in a rapid spin, trying to catch him with both feet in rapid succession.

As her head cools, though, the confusion remains -- and her lips flatten into a line.

Nightwolf wheezes a sigh of relief when that bold maneuver actually worked. For a moment he felt that his spirit was faltering, but once again his faith is rewarded with his shield repelling the evil energy back against the attacker.

There's a satisfying cracking noise as Testament goes *splat* against a wall, and the shaman takes a moment to compose from the exertion.

Only to see Daniel be once again the target of another devastating attack.

"Oh no, Daniel!" That is actually more frustration in the shaman's voice than any actual real concern. Just what is it about this man that makes him keep getting in the way of danger!?

Fortunately, it seems that one of the benefits of Daniel's tremendously bad luck is that he has a lot of friends and though Nightwolf isn't fast enough to save the agent's skin this time, he has Charlie there to assist him.

Well, that's one problem off his shoulders, now it was just a matter of taking Testament down. There will be time for explanations later.

When they don't have an Avatar of the Grim Reaper in their case.

Not paying any heed to Testament's complaints for now, the Apache seeks only to stop the supposedly artificially made Darkstalker by jumping behind him and flank him as the rest of his allies attack the front side. As he gets in position, the skinwalker swings a punch right at the back of Testament's head.

"You shouldn't be unmade."

Those are the words that Daniel speak. And nothing in his voice says he is lying. "I mean, hell. You are talking to a soldier over there. I'm sorry, but honestly..."

"Oh jesus I am bleeding like hell." He winces.

As Daniel curls back, gripping his chest, he seethes as... Testament marks him for death. He just has enough time to look up, to stare at the alien key that was manifesting. That was... that was not something he could handle. The mystic techniques of the intruder was cutting through him like hot butter. He didn't want his body to take more of this abuse. And as he braces himself for the oncoming hellish blast...

Charlie comes on in to save the day.

The fly boy tells him to get down? Well, Daniel gets down. Hitting the floor, he just holds himself tighter, gritting his teeth. And there, he watches as the key just... rips into him. A true American hero. Daniel Jack strives to stand back up, strives to rise back on his feet to rejoin the fray... but another gush of blood comes. "Yeah, uh, holy crap is this guy trying to pick me off?" The detective blusters, as he tries to just rise back on his feet. He stumbles a bit, growing woozy at the blood loss.

He needed medical attention, fast.

COMBATSYS: Daniel is waiting for something...

                             TESTAMENT                              
  [                                                 ||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                


[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0          Chisaki
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Charlie          0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Chisaki successfully hits Testament with Diving Double Kick.

                             TESTAMENT
                             
  [                                                     ||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------------=                


[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0          Chisaki
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Charlie          0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1           Daniel

COMBATSYS: Charlie successfully hits Testament with Leap Kick.

                             TESTAMENT
                             
  [                                                             ]
                 0|---------------|------------===                


[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0          Chisaki
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Charlie          0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1           Daniel

COMBATSYS: Nightwolf successfully hits Testament with High Punch.

                             TESTAMENT
                             
  [                                                             ]
                 0|---------------|-----------====                


[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0          Chisaki
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Charlie          0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1           Daniel

Testament's surprise is visible as Charlie leaps in front to take the attack instead of Charlie. "Typical," he mutters. But he still goes through with the attack. It doesn't matter who takes it. Looking over Charlie's shoulder at Daniel, he hisses, "THIS is what your kind expected ME to do!" Indicating Charlie's status as meat shield at this point. "Like a puppet, with THEM holding the strings!"

That's when he pulls the key back... and bringing Charlie with him, apparently, in the form of a spinning kick that throws him back! Not only that, though. Chisaki's kick catches him in the shoulder and pushes him to the side. And then suddenly Nightwolf's coming in with a punch at the back of his head that rings his bell quite soundly.

He sways dangerously to the side, but puts the blunt end of his scythe down to support himself. Except the scythe just... dissolves, without altering his trajectory one bit. And he falls, landing on his side with a surprised yelp, as if he didn't expect the ground to be there.

That wasn't the only thing Testament didn't expect. He made a miscalculation. Didn't think there'd be anyone here but the masses of humans that would run and scream. He hadn't counted on there being so many skilled fighters-- so many humans as strong, or stronger, than him.

The words of the girl he spoke to in the forest come back to him then-- 'you can't do it all alone'. He'd thought it nonsense. But now he wasn't so sure. If he wanted to wipe humans from the Earth, he was going to need to find other strong people who would be willing to join him...

Testament shifts, trying to get his arms under him, to push himself to his feet. But his arms tremble heavily and then go out from under him, dropping him back on his side. A second attempt results in the same. Nope, he's not getting up, if that rather colorful German curse is any indication.

COMBATSYS: Testament takes no action.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0          Chisaki
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Charlie          0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1           Daniel


COMBATSYS: Testament can no longer fight.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Nightwolf        0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0          Chisaki
[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Charlie          0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1           Daniel


With the flying kick knocking Testament back, Charlie looks like he's still fresh enough to fight a few more rounds. Then reality sets in, and as Testament reels from the combined forces of Chisaki's own kick and Nightwolf's assault, Major Nash ends up swaying and faltering enough that he's forced to stumble toward the nearest upright thing to lean on, in this case a stair railing. "I...nnnhh...chose to put myself in harms way...nn....to protect. You think you're being a rebel..." He pushes himself a little more upright, though clearly clapping his hand over where the key had impaled him. "NNmmhh....but...you're the one acting like a puppet...to what you think you are."

He'll have more than a dry cleaning bill to worry about at this rate, that's for sure, but he looks back to Daniel, still leaning on the railing. "Someone...nghh.....call 911. And maybe requisition some zipties from the guards for our friend so he doesn't do anything more funny until we can get some answers from him," he says to the gathered...well, mostly Nightwolf and Chisaki, since the ambulance is mostly for Daniel.

Testament goes down. Chisaki is left staring at him. She still has some conflicted feelings about that, but... the people are safe. She helped, somehow, with these much more experienced fighters. Adrenaline floods away; the first thing she cues in on is what Daniel says.

"Eh, fuck it, you can probably walk it off," Chisaki replies to Daniel. Then she remembers that he is a cop and she is a girl with an evil shadow arm. She mentally kicks herself for sassing the policeman, and in a respectful tone, says: "I mean, eh, fuck it, you can probably walk it off, officer."

She skips a beat as she takes in his condition.

"Actually, yeah, he's right--" She looks at Charlie. "I'll call 911. I don't like that... gushing blood thing you're doing," she says, her tone becoming more worried as she speaks. She walks away, pulling her flip phone (she is half-Japanese, after all) out and starts dialing. It isn't until she's waiting for dispatch to pick up that she realizes:

She also may have stumbled on some top secret UN project. Life gets complicated.

With the final blow struck, Nightwolf watches as finally their foe succumbs to his injuries and falls on the ground, and this time he does not manage to pick himself up. He looked very surprised at this development as if he hadn't predicted this manner of opposition. It meant he was either working alone, or someone fed him wrong information.

Hm.. unlikely, he didn't seem like the type that would want to work with anyone.

As Nightwolf stands there looking down upon Testament his gaze sweeps across the room to look at his injured momentary allies in turn, Charlie, Chisaki and ever bleeding Daniel.

"Great warriors all of you." He begins. "And yet I fear this is naught but the beginning. Dark times are ahead of us and only working together as we did now can we ever hope to survive the coming onslaught."

He's lingered here too long, and he realizes that when Chisaki begins calling 911. Nightwolf may be a defender of Justice but he really loathes working with law enforcement, not only because all of them are non-believers, but, well, let's admit it, he gets profiled a lot looking the way he does.

As much as he would love to stay and chat.

He moves away and a beam of moonlight shines upon him, strange considering that it's still day out and they are inside a building.

"You have what it takes to defend Earthrealm from the forces of evil."

"Seek me out."

He begins to vanish.

"You will know where to find him."

And then as the beam of light retracts.. he's gone.

Oh yeah, Daniel wasn't doing too hot.

He just keeps bleeding, the detective's flayed skin beginning to force him into shock. But the detective keeps conscious. As the intruder goes down, he sits up, a pair of bloodstained handcuffs yanked out from his suit. "I... I got.. I got cuffs you can borrow!" He tries to muster.

But then, Nightwolf speaks.

In a glimpse of moonlight, the shaman was gone. But the words hang heavy over the detective of Interpol. Seek him out. There was something... very relevant going on between Interpol and the Darkstalkers. Something that was covered up, that was obscured. Something was lying in the shadows of the organization, something that Daniel wanted to get to the bottom of... and he would start getting to the bottom of.

Once he got more plasma back into his body, of course.

It takes him a few monents, but Testament manages to get upright. Kneeling, anyway, his back against the wall. His head lolls forward, his hair covering his face. He has no words for anyone. Except Chisaki. He tilts his head up, pins her with a gaze, and breathes, "You will be in my place someday. Then you'll know... then you'll understand why this is the only path." His voice is almost kind as he says the next. "Come and find me when you want someone to walk it with you."

Strange... he talks like he's going somewhere...

He lets his head loll forward again... for a moment. He waits for the group to be distracted. Nightwolf's exit works fine. And as the shaman disappears, Testament takes in a deep, sudden breath. Then a sharp wind kicks up underneath him, tossing his hair up into the air. At the same time he throws his head back and emits a loud roar!

Suddenly the blood that had been shed seems to rush over to him, pool beneath him, and then rise up with distorted, screaming faces. His voice begins to fade, and then...

He's gone, and the blood just disappears. A look reveals that the crow is gone too, no longer pecking at the window. Seems he teleported away through it...

With the 911 call handled, Charlie's left to do...well, a few things, actually. One is to toss his jacket for the time being, make use of his shirt as a temporary bandage for his wound. It's not much, sure, and he realizes it, but staunching his own bleeding is a good plan....maybe save a sleeve to help bind up Daniel's hands too while he's at it.

Of course, he also has the idea of finding one of the guards so they can bind their man and keep him from doing anything fishy when he recovers. Of course, that thought ends up moot, and his worry precient, as he watches Testament through the corner of his eyes. The rising blood pool that tries to engulf him prompts Charlie to lunge. "WAIT!" he shouts, thought best he musters is aggrivating the wound that blood key left and minimal foward movement. Watching on, he sees the blood wash away...and leave no trace of the pale man that had started this all before. "Dammit..." he grunts.

Now he's left with no culprit....and only more questions to ask. Not that he's going to ask them directly to anyone here. After all, if what that guy said was anywhere close to a real thing, the UN might be a target of suspicion, rather than something his Program will be allied with....

Log created on 18:59:18 01/10/2015 by Testament, and last modified on 03:12:12 01/11/2015.