The things we do for our work....
Nightime in the Obsidian building was quiet and oppresive. Not unlike it's owner.
Most of the hall lights where dimmed or turned off altogether casting liquid shadows about the hallways and the now empty offices that make up the public face of the company.
Occasionally, a powerfully built man, dressed in a black suit, would pass through the offices. Although it was mostly dark, this man never once took off his sunglasses.
As it was, the Obsidian building was closed for the night. But, it seemed that despite that fact, Obsidian Tech was about to have an visitor. One without an appointment....
Darkness blanketed the corridors and offices of the large high rise building. The heavy built guard, one of many that patroled the desolate corridors at night, walked quietly through the rooms, on constant vigil for anyone who tried to enter the building without authorisation.
As ever the night was silent, little happened except the odd scuttle of a rodent or a late night entry from a worker forgetting important files or papers.
He walked down one of the corridors, one that he had walked through nine times already that evening. But this time there was something different. He looked ahead and saw that the elevator at the end of the corridor was on the move. Numbers lighting up above the doorway indicating which floor it was on. Taking his radio from its holseter he walked toward the doorway that led to the lift which had settled on his floor.
"Hey Derek, has anyone entered the lift?" The guard called down, but all he got in reply was the light fuzz of an open comm line.
Slowly the door to the lift opened, but it opened to reveal an empty compartment, completely devoid of anything or anyone. Suddenly a loud clicking noise could be heard and the guard turned to look down an ajacent corridor. Stood there facing out toward the window was a young woman, bending her fingers until they cracked.
"Hey Miss, You shouldn' be in here." He called to her.
In response she turned to face the guard her soft oriental features set off by her piercing blue eyes which glowed under the darkness;
"Miss?" He called again.
But before he could do anything else the woman had burst into a run and all the guard saw was the flash of what looked like a silver blade and in an instant she was stood infront of him crouched low, pain searing through his body from five points in hit stomach and chest. For a second the pain increased as the blades were retracked and the woman stood again as the guard fell to his knees. He watched as the woman walked back down the corridor and into the shadows once again.
The young man, of heavy build, feel to the floor, lying on his stomach, on his wounds that had penetrated his flesh, and as he lay there in a increasing pool of his own blood his chokes and coughs as the life drained from his body could be heard over the comm channels from his radio handset. His friends and colleges listened to the sound of him dieing a painfull and grusome death on one of the many high rise floors of the Obsidian building, and the killer still walked freely through the darkend hallways, was on her way to her target location.....
Re: The things we do for our work....
"Chris, come in!" Static......"Dammit, Chris this ani't funny, come in!!" Static....."Geezus, Derek, go see what the hell's goin' on up there." Static......"Derek!?" Static....."Oh my God. We got a code 5, repeat we have a code 5 situation! All unarmed guards are to report to your nearest armory and suit up. There's no telling what goin' on up there."
Electroninc doors lock tight in an instant with a loud report. On every floor, guards are doning class 1 hard armor. And arming themselves with H&K MP5 submachine guns. They begin to patrol the halls in pairs, seaching for the mysterious intruder....
Re: The things we do for our work....
Yuriko stalked silently through the darkened hallways, she knew it was only a matter of time before the bumbling guard who tried to stop her was discovered. She listened intetly to her sourroundings and the faint sound of an open air vent could be hear. She turned and began toward the hissing sound of air.
She reached the source of the noise, a grated vent to the elevator shaft. Yuriko balled her hand into a fist, it cracked again slightly as her fingers rapped around each other. She swung her fist into the flimsy metal grate, it buckling under the strain, and clattered down the shaft behind it.
"Oi! You!" Yuriko heard the shout and turned to see two guards staring at her, guns pointed toward her.
In an instant she was at her feet, the men running toward her. She swung her still balled fist at the first guard, her rock hard metalic based hand smacked into the face of the guard, the distictive noise of cruching was heard as the jaw broke under the stress, the man falling to the floor unconcious.
At the site of his partner falling the second man rose his machine gun and began unleashing rounds of bullets at the young woman. Yuriko lept in response, she ran at a speed up the wall and kicked off jumping at the guard a second behind was the stream of bullets atttempting to bury into her.
In mid jump she raised both her hands, and extending out of each individual finger came a foot long adamantium claw, and as she flew forward the extended claws swiped, cutting through shaft and workings of his gun, knocking the man to the floor in the shock of her fast action movements.
The guard rolled onto the soft carpeted floor, a look of terror in his face. In an attempt to get away the man kicked out his foot, missing desperately. Yuriko swiped forward cutting the calf of the mans leg, he screamed in pain, clasping for his radio. She quickly grabbed the radio and kicked it across the floor, pivoting back to face him;
"You can tell them in hell that Lady Deathstrike sent you." She smirked.
And in an instant she sunk both her hands of adamantium claws into the shoulders of the man, raising him from the ground, his screams echoing the desolate corridors. His body raised high in the air, she swung her arms and his body swung from the blade-like claws on her hands and through the exterior window which had iluminated the scene. Glass shattered as the guards form smashed through and fell, a faint sound of screaming heard as he fell fifty floors to the hard concrete surface below.
She retracted her claws and grabbed the radio that was left on the floor;
"If you try and stop me, you will get a similar fate to your friends. Going up." She said with a smirk.
She dropped the radio, and slid through the vent gap and into the elevator shaft.....
Re: The things we do for our work....
After running helter-skelter up two flights of stairs, Geoff Simmons and his seach partner felt like they where running through quicksand. As they got to the area of the disturbance, they could clearly tell that they arrived far too late...
"Commander, this is Simmons. We got a body over here. *sigh* Dammit, It's Paul. No sign of his partner....Strike that. From the looks of this, she put him out the window Please advise."
"Shhhssskkk.....I want you two to hold position and await....Hang on.....Ok, boys. New orders came strait from the top. Listen up, everybody. They got that last attack on camera. It is now confirmed we're dealing with a metahuman. All regular personnel has been ordered to report to their designated Alpha level guard stations and await further orders.........They're releasing the Hounds."
Even under his helmet and tinted face plate, Simmons could see the look of horror that crossed his partner's face.
"...I Repeat, The Hounds -will- be released. All Omega protocols are in effect as of now. The Hounds will be released in -three- minutes. Be in your Alpha guard stations by then. Janson out...Shhhsskkk"
"Hounds? What the hell is that?? I was never briefed on that." Simmons piped up as they jogged through the long hall way that separated them from safety.
"Trust me man, you -do not- wanna know. You don't -ever- wanna know." Retorted his partner without turning around or breaking stride in anyway "All you need to know is that if you wanna live, you haul ass to our Alpha station and you stay there 'till they give you the 'all clear'."
"Well, ya. But.."
"GET DOWN!!"
In a blur of motion, John Two-Bird barely dives out of the way of a projectile aimed at his head. His eyes grow wide as dinner plates as he glances back to see a war axe of stygian hue sunk halfway into the wall where he was standing. Simmons wasn't so lucky as his armored, now headless, form slumps to the floor with a clatter.
The Hounds where released early...
"Goddamit!!" The middle-aged man waists no more time getting to his feet and breaking into a run. He realizes his options just dropped, dramatically. He makes way toward the outer offices of this floor. He's got to get to a window. He's got to get there fast....
John rounds the corner and weaves his way inbetween the many desks that block his way. All at once, he can hear the sound of heavy footfalls quickly sprinting his way in the darkness of the room. John hazards a glance over his shoulder to see a desk he avoided being smashed though as if something ran right through it like it wasn't even there.
"AAAH!! SHIIIIIIT!!!!" John's sub-machine gun erupts with fire, sending half a magazine of 9mm rounds into the window. John sprints for his only escape, vaulting over a desk that is thrown to the side by his pursuer like a toy. The middle-aged man can hear an unearthly howl just behind him causing his blood to run cold, for he knows they always howl just before they make a kill up close..
<HAAARROOOOO!!!!!!> John leaps for the now damaged window and bursts through it sending him falling from 20 stories up. With a thought, the mutant known to few as RedEagle shifts his form to that of a blood-red bird of prey. With a flap of his outstretched wings, he narrowly avoids the black armored hand of the Hound as it jumped out of the window right behind him. A shake of his beaked head is all the mutant offers the demonic monster as it plummets to the ground below.
*F**k this job. I'm gettin' to old for this...*
With that, he soars west. His last thoughts on the Obsidian building center around how unfortunate the situation of the current intruder truly is.....
Re: The things we do for our work....
The air in the shaft was thick with dust and grime, the sounds of churning metal echoed off the concrete walls. Yuriko climbed slowly up the shaft, she looked up to see that this wasn't her way up to the top afterall. About two more floors up there was a heavy concrete ceiling holding all the workings of the elevators that work the shaft
The young oriental woman found her footing on the wall, holding onto anything she could find that would allow her to make her way up to the higher floors and towards her target room. The holds were rough on her hands but she held on strong, her enhanced frame gripping onto anything she could with an unbreakable hold.
She knew that once she reached the top of the shaft she was to be forced back out into the openness of the corridors and offices, but she had come this far and wasn't about to give up, she knew that if she succeeded in her cause, the reward would be great and worth the effort here.
She reached just below the entrance to the highest floor she could get to via this shaft and she knew this was going to be one of the more dangerous points of the journey, she will be vunerable as she exits the elevator, open to attack so she had to plan this carefully.
Yuriko dropped to the slight ledge that was at the edged of the doorway and shimmied out of the way of the doors. She opened a small electrical control panel and looked at the criss-cross wires that were throughout the panel. For a second she studied them before pulling at two of them and carefully pushing the bare ends together. There was a bright flash and a shower of sparks and the doors loudly creaked open. A rush of fresher air penitrating the stale musty smell of the shaft.
The young woman carefully peered around the edge of the doorway, expecting to see a patrol of guards at every doorway, but all she saw was blackness, to her surprise. Slowly the woman dressed in black crept around the edge of the heavy metal elevator doors and slid into a heavily shadowed corner. For only a second she thought she had made it up without any problem until she heard it.
The corridor and offices rand with the low clunk of heavy boots walking slowly making their way through the rooms. At once Yuriko knew this was differnet, the dark corridors were no longer flooded with the feeling of fear. Instead Yuriko found herself feeling anxious, she knew at once that whatever was stalking the rooms was going to be more of a challenge than the lowly guards of the bottom levels. The dark figure, coverted in shadow came into view, the ominous presense stopping and readying herself, the long slender adamantium claws extended from her fingers and her mind set changed to the battle ready senses she knew she would have to attune to to ready herself for this opponent.....
Re: The things we do for our work....
Out of the shadows stepped a being so unnatural, it's very existence caused one's senses to scream out in protest.
It stood 7 ft. at the shoulder. It's body seemed composed of a thick jet black armor that did not shine, glisten, or otherwise reflect light. In fact, one did not look directly at it as much as perceive it. One simply know's it's there.
It looked to have weighed in the neiborhood of 300 pounds, of sheer muscle mass. A mane of long white hair plumes from it's head and cascades down it's spiked shoulders.
It's red eyed gaze falls onto the intruder as it's armored hands tightly grip it's twin axes of stygian hue. It rears back an calls out with an unearthly howl, as all hounds do just before making a kill up close......
Re: The things we do for our work....
Yuriko shuddered slightly as the call of this fearsome beast echoed about the darkened hallways of the Obsidian Building. Beast was the only word to describe what stood before her, for it stood as a man or woman would stand, but it’s eyes, calls and movements were nothing more than that of an instinctive animal. This didn’t mean it was going to be an easy fight, many a beast were stronger than man or mutant alone, and the fear Yuriko had seen in the eyes of the guards when these ‘hounds’ where released must have had some basis in fact.
For what felt like a lifetime, but was truly a split second, Yuriko eyed the hound, its dark glowing eyes fixed on her with an look that clearly reflected it’s need to kill her. The Hound screeched a second piercing cry before leaping into action; it’s massive body moving with the grace of a predator. But she herself was a person that fought in the shape of the hunter and so was able to roll aside, curling her shimmering, slender claws underneath her to allow swift movement. The Hound skidded to a halt and turned it’s glare back on her and in an instant was swinging its almighty axe hard down toward Yuriko, she leaped out the way with the agility of a feline but was a split second to late, the axe hit her bluntly across the shoulder. The searing pain cut through her as her body was thrown through an office partition, pieces of the simple wall scattering about. The pain was only with her for a moment before her increased healing abilities took effect, the inside of her shoulder reforming enough for her to fight on with only a little discomfort.
The Hound’s axe smashed through the partition so its look was again upon Yuriko but this time she was ready. Crouched on the ground, like a lion lying in wait amide the grass, she leapt at the Hound as soon as it showed itself, her adamantium claws spread with her fingers and sliced through one of the beast’s axes rendering it useless while her other had swiped across it’s face leaving fresh lines where the blades had cut into the monster’s flesh. It let out a blood curdling scream and it’s eyes seemed to deepen in hue, the red becoming deep scarlet emoting it’s colour on it’s surroundings.
It’s remaining axe came swinging down and missed Yuriko’s head by mere millimetres, her senses heightened at this close call she somersaulted over a desk which had been thrown aside. She pivoted to face the evil Hound, in time to see it’s axe swinging toward her again, she raised her fists in its directions, the claws slicing through the axe shattering it, but not stopping the heavy fist that came down hitting her in the stomach, throwing her through another partition. Her body rolled across the soft carpeted floor, stopping only when an abundance of office furniture had gotten in her way.
She raised her head, a small trickle of blood coming from her forehead and a split lip, which quickly healed themselves, although the pain lingered for a while. She looked about her, the faint thump of the Hound’s heavy footing making it’s way toward her could be heard and felt through the vibrations it was causing. She saw though that the Hounds second attack had turned to her advantage, about a hundred metres away, down a narrow corridor was the personal elevator that would take her to the top of the building, it‘s automatic doors invitingly open awaiting her entrance. But she had to go now or she wouldn’t make it before the Hound got to her.
Her climbed to her feet as fast as she could, not daring to look back to see her foe, but knowing it was coming quicker now, the thumping noise of it’s feet increasing in speed and intensity. Her small frame allowed her increased speed and agility as she ran from the moonlit offices to a dark narrow corridor, lit only by intermittent strip lights above her. The corridor flashed as she entered and left each lighted area, her vision flicking to try and keep up with the rate it was changing. She got to the elevator door and skidded to a halt on the metal surface she turned and smacked the button instructing the lift to slowly rise to the top floor but as she did she saw a huge gripping hand take her by the throat and pin her against the back of the elevator, its searing hot breath hit her straight in the face. The Hound growled as it’s grip slowly tightened, the path of air going into her body slowly closing, she gasped and a disgusting grin began to form on the beasts jaw, it’s eyes brightening with glee at Yuriko’s death.
She called upon all her inner strength, taking a deep breath allowing as much oxygen into her lungs as she could with the rough skinned hand around her throat. She closed her eyes and thrust one hand into the stomach on the beast, at first it was hard, the tough armour that covered the monsters body was strong, but the adamantium claws made there way through it and into the living flesh of the beast. It cried with pain and staggered back, allowing Yuriko to fall to her feet again watching as the beast shuddered.
But it then straightened and roared again, it’s wounds, although severe, were ignored. Yuriko was shocked but quickly adapted, jumping and spinning with her leg out, the soul of her shoe smacking into the jaw of the monster. It spun back and the sound of it’s body hitting the wall and it’s jaw breaking reverberated about the elevator compartment. Yuriko looked up and jumped with only a split second available. She retracted the claws on one hand and punched heavily into the emergency exit hatch that was attached to the top of the elevator car, it’s door flipping away and falling back down the shaft. The young oriental woman crawled hastily onto the top of the car and looked back down in time to see the Hound face staring up at her, reading to jump. It made unearthly noises as it watched her and it’s jaw, obviously smashed by the assault from Yuriko, hung loosely from it’s skull. She had one chance;
Yuriko jumped again and grabbed the elevator cord that was holding the cart, using the hand with the remaining claws extended she swiped at the shaft cord below her just as the Hound jumped to get to her. Her claws slipped easily through the cord and for a second nothing happened until she saw the car begin to drop, it shock, smashing against the sides of the shaft, the roars from the Hound continuing. It landed with an almighty smash at the bottom of the shaft, one last wail was heard from the Hound until silence fell again, the cord she was holding onto shuddered to a halt and looking back down, the car lay in ruins, small flames alighting and sparks shooting from open panels.
Yuriko retracted her other claws and began back up the elevator shaft using the cord as a rope. It took her about seven minutes to reach the tope, passing only one other doorway that would open out to another floor of the building, but her target was further up. She reached the top, her breathing much heavier now from the sheer effort of climbing. She swung from the cord into the inset doorway, and gripping the join firmly, pulled hard, the doors shifting slowly apart to open up to a small foyer. It was pleasantly lit, with warm colours and a number of plants placed carefully about the room. To the edge was two soft comfy sofa’s and a small table with a number of magazines placed on. Next to that was a large water cooler and a pile of plastic cups. Light, uplifting music sifted into the room, obviously to relax its occupants. It was all a strict contrast from what she had seen before, like she had walked into a completely different building. She walked in warily, it was to quiet even with the music and faint noises were heard through the double doors ahead of her.
She slowly removed the small fragile looking sunglasses she had been wearing and watched as infront of her a small opening appeared above the doors, and before she realised a gun barrel faced her, instinctively she leapt to the side, narrowly missing a laser shot aimed at her, she dived behind one of the sofas and the laser cut into the fine fabric that covered it. Yuriko quickly pulled a small metal star from her back pocket and rolled out from behind the sofa, which now resembled a shredded peace of lettuce, it’s greeny fabric mixed with the lighter inner filling. As she rose from the roll the star was thrown from her possession and hit into the workings of the gun. It instantly stopped firing just before it unleashed another shot straight at Yuriko. But the noise had alerted whatever was in the next room and she stood, centring her mind on her objective, the next room, and was willing to battle whatever tried to stop her getting to the last stage of her fight, she would make it......
Re: The things we do for our work....
Upon the opening of the door, cautiously no doubt, Yuirko came across a disturbingly out of place scene.
A calm breeze swept across a vast field of knee deep grass, gently bending the vegetation to it's will. A dark magenta skyline can be seen in the horizon marking the passing of a sun of an odd hue. A dark cloudless, starless sky hangs directly over her like a deep void threatening to swallow her up.
Standing silently across from Yuriko a lone figure can be seen.
Clad an obsidian knight's armor complete with a long flowing black cloak that ripples with motion despite any lack of wind adding to his ominous presence. His stark white eyes level a menacing stare to the intruder as they size her up as he folds his arms.
"Well, young lady.." His eerie voice seems to come from all around her as he speaks. "You have caused quite a stir in my domain. You enter my abode unannounced. And then, you slay some of my hand picked security and one of my hounds.
" I cannot fathom any reason why you would continue to live as my hounds are not easily defeated." The faint sound of chains rattling can be heard. "As such, I shall remedy this situation. If one hound will not suffice in expediting your death...."
At this, a pair of dark beasts step from the shadows inside the dark paladin's cloak. The same as the monster Yuiko defeated in the elevator, one holding a large spear, the other a large battle axe. Both, of obsidian hue. A dark smile crosses the dark lord's lips.
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