After the Schism: 3000AD 120 New Era

[Divine Shadow]

Taira smirked playfully, grabbed Sting's wrist and her foot was right by his face before he could even react. "If i was you, I would shut my gob, because Blain saved my life, and frankly, He's better looking than most of the yutzes around this part." She smirked, then showed the blade in her hand that no one would have seen until she had slit Sting's arm wide open. "You may be named after a scorpions deadly touch, but I am far deadlier." She released his arm, and fixed her clothes, her now tan body shedding a small layer of dust, her hair glistening in the sun coming through the open door.

"My name is Taira, but from up north, you've probably heard of me. They called me puppet master way up there. I made a good killing with rounding up those few bounties around those parts, but of course, money lasts a shorter time than water does in these parts." SHe sighed, and looked at the rings on her fingers. "You know where a girl can bathe without men watching?" She asked. She smirked to herself. Course he would... tho knowing most men, they would try anyways. She started to pull out a few of the blades on her arms, sliding them into a bag. In total she only showed him about ten of the many blades, but it was enough to make sting go wide eyed.

[Divine Shadow]

((ooc: ohkay for some reason this forum hates me today... lol.... sorry for the double post/ooc))

[Keyblade Smitey]

Blain heard the inevitable scuffle outside as he closed the door to the guildmaster's office. He wouldn't have been at all surprised if he'd walked out to find Sting's head stuck up his own rear end. "You're back I see," said the guildmaster, blunt as ever, "I take it you took care of the problem at the mine? Status report."
Blain told the guildmaster about the slaughtered bandits he'd found and how he had fought with the attacker. "Furthermore, sir," he finished up, "I have reason to believe that I know what that man was looking for. At the base of the mine, I found a hole he had blasted in the wall. Beyond it was a pre-schism base! I have no idea how he knew it was there, but he must've been looknig for something inside. Unfortunately, he got away with whatever it was. Nothing more to report, sir."
The guildmaster chewed his lip as he mulled over Blain's report, "Hmmm... Too bad the bastard got away - I'd sure as hell like to know what it was he took. Whatever it was, you were lucky to get out alive. If that guy can slughter a whole clan of bandits..."
"I can take him, sir. He had me at a disadvantage in the mine."
"Maybe so, but killing bandits aint illegal and certainly not out in the wasteland. No, if I were you I'd forget about him. Don't forget, Blain, rashness gets you killed out there."
"I'll keep that in mind, sir."
The guildmaster master gave a 'sure you will' grunt and fished out a bag of iron tokens from his desk, "Whatever kid, we aint no police force. Here's your pay. I'll speak to the Barrons about that base later. Although more than half of me has a feeling they already knew as well. Dismissed outrider!"

Blain left the office to find Sting massaging his arm and gazing wide-eyed at Taira. The cowboy turned as Blain aproached, "Your girl's got one HELL of a kick on her!" he exclaimed, "Fast, sharp as a razor and good-looking to boot! I think I'm in love..." Blain smacked Sting around the back of the head to bring him back to his senses. The cowboy shook his head and straightened his hat, "You're one HELL of a lucky guy, buddy! I gotta run now, but who knows, migh just catch you later. And I'll DEFFINITELY be seeing you again miss!" He tipped his hat and swaggered out the door. Blain rolled his eyes, "Sorry about that. Sting always seems to think ladies can't get enough of him for some daft reason."
"Don't worry about it. Sting tries that again, he's liable to loose some limbs. His loss. Anyway, I need a bath after that journey. Know anywhere a girl can bathe without men watching?"
Blain blinked, "Uhh... Well, there's the public baths? They're meant for the barons and their ilk, so they're kinda expensive. But hey, one of us just got payed fat stacks of cash!" he shook the coin bag, "So I don't see anything wrong with splurging a little! They've got seperate baths for men and women, so I think I'll take a wash too while we're there." He lead them out of the guild, leaving their things in the care of the guild vault that any outriders could use if the need arose. The baths were in the center of town, near the nicer homes of the well-off merchants and of course, the town's ruling barons and their families. The baths were lively, but not crowded when they arived and Blain payed for both of them before they went off to their seperate changing rooms. The baths were open-air with an awning around the side for shade. The pools didn't even need to be heated under the hot sun, remaining at a pleasant temperature most of the day.

[Divine Shadow]

Taira smiled as she walked into the richer part of town, though it faded slowly as she walked into the public baths. On one of the walls was a poster of her mom, put up long ago. Of course it was there to spur young girls into perfection by their parents, but why here? Why now? She wondered if there was another poster on the other side, a little something that the guys want to think about. She wanted to rip it down, but that would make it very obvious. She stripped, heading out into the public bath, letting her hair fall into the water like a cascade of stardust. She sighed in relief, hiding in the steam that rose from the water. Other women's eyes went towards her, but she ducked below the steaming waters surface before they could place her face to the picture of her mother. People always said she looked like her mother.

Taira reached to the soaps that the bath provided, rubbing it into her scalp, through her hair. She sighed as the blood caked mass fell away, her hair feeling clean once more. She stood, preparing to get out of the bath when a woman came forward. "I know you from somewhere..." she said, her eyes suspicious. Taira shook her head. "Sorry, you don't." She turned away, but the woman's grip was stronger than she had expected. "You're Saphina's daughter, aren't you?" Taira pulled away from the woman. "Oh shit.." She jumped out from the bath, grabbing a towel and throwing it around her body before grabbing her clothes. She ran to the men's entrance and screamed inside.

"BLAIN, I HAVE TO GO... MEET YOU LATER AT THE PLACE WE MET." She ran barefoot through the city, her clothes in her arm, the towel wrapped tightly around her body. She ran into the Rats Nest store, and slammed it shut, locking the deadbolt. Dusty ducked behind the counter and Taira ran into the bathroom, getting dressed as fast as she could. She leaned against the door, banging her fist into the wall. Of COURSE the yakuza's wife would be there. Of course she would recognise her. She swore loudly, and she heard Dusty drop something glass.She unlocked the door, and came out, a blade in her hand. "You bloody told those mafia freaks I was in town didn't you, you little FINK. I should cut out your tongue!" she pinned him to the wall. Dusty squeaked in a rat like way, cringing. "I dint i swear doll, I dint." He managed to squeak, her hand crushing his wind pipe. She let him go and he fell to the floor. He didn't run though. That meant something. "Some fella saw you leavin the shop, and saw a poster of your mam. He tipped off the boss right away. He thought I didn't see ya because i was crawling outta the back room." Taira put her knife away, flicked the lock and walked out the door. "At least you didn't repeat a mistake Dusty.... Otherwise, you would be dead." The door closed ominously behind her, and she fell away into the Guild's shadowed doorways, waiting for Blain.

[Keyblade Smitey]

Blain lowered himself into the bath, relishing the time to relax for a moment and to wash away the grime of the journey. He didn't have long to enjoy it though, as after a few minutes, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle; someone was watching him. He surupticiously looked around and his heart nearly leapt into his mouth when he caught sight of Taira on a poster on the wall! Thoughts raced through his head, including "Ohshit ohshit ohshit. Wanted poster? Did she piss off the wrong person or something?" Upon closer inspection, his heartrate slowed however, as he realised it wasn't Taira after all, but her mother, the same woman he had on an old poster in the remains of his house, the same woman he had recognised Taira by. He heard movement behind him and noticed a man had waded over to the same side of the pool Blain was on. "Quite something, aint she?" commented the man, indicating the poster, "Damn magical voice too." The guy seemed friendly enough, but something about his tone put Blain on edge; there was an accent there that wasn't local and who else but local dignitries would use the baths? Himself and Taira excluded of course. "You know," contined the man, leaning against the side lazily, keeping his voice low, "Kinda get the same vibe from her that ya get from that old singer way back when... What was his name? Ah, yeah! Elvis. Folk refused to believe he died, ya know? Swore blind they'd seen 'The King' walkin' around, alive and well. Same with Miss Saphina. I mean I coulda sworne I saw her walk into these very baths not ten minutes ago! Immagine that. And ya know the strangest thing?" he turned and looked Blain square in the eyes, "I coulda sworne she was walkin' in with you." Blain didn't wait for the stranger to get to the point, as he could tell he was NOT gonig to like where the conversation was going. Grabbing the man's head, Blain slammed it into the stone side of the bath, leaping from the water just as he heard Taira's voice from outside, "BLAIN, I HAVE TO GO... MEET YOU LATER AT THE PLACE WE MET!"

Blain dressed hurridly, pulling on his clothes and armour and snatching his handgun from the guy in reception. He knew that guy was giving him a bad vibe, someone wanted to find Taira and judging from her hasty exit, it wasn't for anything good. He pelted through the streets back to his house, grabbing some belongings before heading for the guild. Taira wasn't there yet, so he hastily recovered their stuff from the vault and headed back to the main entrance. Taira had arived and Blain handed her her effects, "Okay, who have you pissed of now?" he held up a hand, "On second thoughts, doesn't matter. We're leaving. Now. I know a guy down south who might be able to tell us what that bastard in the mines was after. Get my gun looked over too while we're there. But we can't stay here anymore, I get the feeling things're about to get hectic." While he had been speaking, he had been half-leading, half frog-marching Taira over to Ant's mech shop. As soon as they got in, Blain slid the heavy doors almost closed before they stuck in place. "You guys better scram," he told the technicians, "Unless you like being in harm's way." The techies looked at each other for a moment before downing tools and heading out the back. They knew better then to ask questions when Blain gave an order. "ANT!" bellowed Blain, "We need a little help here!"
Ant came jogging down the stairs and immediately caught Blain casting nervous looks outside. He rolled his eyes and threw down the rag he had been wiping his hands on, "For pitty's sake Blain, don't tell me you've brought trouble here AGAIN!"
Blain pulled out the power cells from his pack and tossed them across to Anthony, "I won't tell you then. We need these fitted. Pronto, if you don't mind," he glimpsed outside again and noticed a distinct lack of people on the street. Only one of two groups couls do that; the guards, or the... He turned to Taira, "You pissed off the mafia? Wow... I take back what I said about you being lucky," He noticed some people moving down the street outside, looking in every door and every window, "Damn. Taira, can you help me shift some of these crates? We're gunna need a barricade."
Ant, who had been goggling at the fuel cells, snapped out of his daze, "The mafia? Barricade?! TAIRA?!!? What the hell kind of mind control did that girl put you under, Blain? You do NOT fight the mafia in this town!"
Blain leveled a finger at Ant's head, "Taira's a good friend, Ant. I'm not letting the mafia get their claws in her. Now get those in that bike and we're gone. It's us they're after, not you. Do your job and everyone's home free."

[Divine Shadow]

It was all a hectic blurr. SHe had replaced all of her lovely blades into their homes on and around her body when she was slammed ruthlessly into a mechanic shop. She barely heard Blain, her mind racing. The Yakuza, the people who had tried to kidnap her mother were after her. "Hey blain, I didn't do ANYTHIN to piss off the yak's." she grabbed a couple crates, helping Blain to create a barricade in front of the mechanic's door. "Blain, you can't use a gun against these guys." Blain nearly choked on his own tongue when she said no guns.
"WHAT?! are you insane? No guns?" Taira put her hand over his mouth to shut him up.
"That's right pretty boy, no guns. You don't shoot at the yakuza, otherwise its a reason for them to shoot back. If you kill one of their guys, they will have your head on a bounty for the rest of your life... which will be made a hell of a lot shorter than it already is." Taira heard footsteps, and the tell tale voice of the Yakuza's leader's wife. "Miss Saphina, Come out of your own free will, or drastic measures will be taken."

Taira turned to Blain, looking around. "i'm going out there to face them... You get your mechanic friend out of here, otherwise they will kill you... Not to mention kill him for harbouring someone with a bounty on her head." Blain looked like he was about to complain. Taira idly tied her hair back into two rat tails today, the micro tech splitting into four bands easily. She looked at Blain, and turned away. "I can take care of myself Blain. They'll take me to the vegas skyport, so meet me there." She climbed a ladder that went to another raised area, and looked out the window. There were about twenty of the yakuza's men there, along with the wife, though she was in the back, ready to leave if it got sticky. "Well..... you ready boys?"

Qithout warning, taira jumped out the window, landing gracefully , swords drawn. The razorwire was extended, and her hair sweeping the ground. The wind had pulled her bangs to one side, covering her left eye, giving her an evangelical look about her. A vengeful angel... a puppet master. Many names came to mind of the yakuza's men, but none of them fit so well as bounty to them. Taira raced forward, razorwire cutting into people, blades lashing crazily at the guns and other weapons each man carried. Some one cut her across the face, and she stopped, surrounded by men. The razor wire span around her body like a deadly wind, and her swords bit into the arms and chests of men. "BLAIN!!" she screamed, as she forced the men farther back, cutting chunk after chunk of them away. No one would die, she wasn't that stupid. Finally, several of the men lay on the ground, carressing their wounds. Taira walked up to The wife of the yakuza, and sheathed her swords, the razorwire snapping back into her gauntlets. She cocked her hip out, her wrists forward. "What took you so long Lady Yak? I've been waiting years." The woman smiled, cuffing Taira with joy. Since Taira had come straight to her, no bounty would be paid. She laughed a deep hearty laugh, and looked at the men. "once you've finished picking yourselves up... destroy this shop. No mechanic may harbour my property without facing the concequences." She led Taira off, towards the mafia head quarters here in town. "We're going to Las Vegas child, and you will be working there for SOME time."

[Keyblade Smitey]

Blain could do nothing as he watched Taira arc out of the upper window and land among the yakuza thugs like an avenger from heaven. Her blades and wire wove a web of light about her that he was amazed anything could survive in at all! When she gave herself up volentarily to the woman leading the gang, Blain was amazed. Why was Taira giving herself up? They could have easily taken the gang on and got away free as birds! Just then something snapped him out of his shock, "Destroy this shop. No mechanic may harbour my property without facing the concequences." The lady lead Taira away, keeping a firm grip on her wrists, leaving her hired goons to redeem themselves by trashing Ant's shop. Blain swore and cocked his sidearm. "Wait a minute!" yelped Ant, "Didn't you hear your girlfriend? You kill one of the yakuza, even street trash like this and you're a marked man! Even you aren't that good, Blain."
"I know," replied Blain, "No killing. She was, however, somewhat fuzzy on the subject of kneecaps." so saying, he opened up on the unfortunate enforcers. "Ant!" he said over the sound of gunfire and yelps of pain, "We're doing a Santa Fe!"
"We're doing a SANTA FE?!" Ant practically screamed.
"We're doing a Santa Fe," stated Blain, bluntly and finally.
"We're doing a Santa Fe," groaned Ant, "I hope you're going to pay for this." While Blain kept the yakuza at bay, Ant hurridly jammed the fuel cells into place on the bike, ducking occasionaly when a bullet missed his head by milimeters. As soon as he was done, he scampered about the floor, grabbing Blain's gear and whatever Taira had dropped and jammed it into the compartments at the back of the bike. "Okay, you're good to go! Try not to make it too big!" While Ant climed a chain hanging from the roof to hide, Blain mounted the bike and gave one of the handlebars and experimental twist. The roar it produced was very satisfactory. Sighting quickly, Blain shot a single bullet at a tank of fuel at the back of the shop. The resulting explosion would have been cool all on its own. The fact that he pulled a wheelie, riding the front of the blast wave out of the shop, was just amazing. The plan was to make the yakuza believe they had set off the explosion. Ant had left his boots near the tank, so they'd be nice and smoking now. If anyone bothered not to chase Blain, they would asume Ant had been fried in the explosion. Very few poeple ever look above them when searching a place. Roaring off down the street, Blain took off for the gates. The woman who had taken Taira probably had fast transport nearby, so there was no point trying to catch them. His only choice was to go with Taira's plan and head for the infamous skyport of Las Vegas.

[sephiroth2]

OOC: It seems like such a long time, since last I posted. Sorry I didn't post sooner.

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After traveling for over five days, three of them in total without rest, Sleif could finally see in front of him, the infamous skyport of Las Vegas.
With a slight grin, Sleif revved the bike, causing it to use alot of power, propelling him and the bike towards the city.

Once he was within, a couple of yards of the city gates, Sleif instantly lowered the power in the bike, allowing him to gently glide across the desert, until finally coming to a halt in front of two heavily armed soldiers. "Hello, men!" Sleif said to the two, as he continued to sit atop of his bike.

"What is your business here?" asked one of the soldiers, in a rather soft yet forceful tone of voice. "Just looking for information. That's all!" replied Sleif, all the time, slightly ginning to the two men.

"Really! Well there are all kinds of information around here. What exactly are you looking for?" asked the other soldier. "I'm looking for someone, who would know a lot about technology!It's about my bike here. Is there anyone around here like that?" asked Sleif.

"Well, there is one place here, that is like that. If you go from this gate, and continue going down the main street, and once you come to a crossroad, turn right and follow it to the end. Once there, you should see a large metal building, the man who owns it should be able to help you!" said the soldier.

"Thank you very much!" Sleif said to the two soldiers, before he revved his bike again, and slowly made his way into the city. Going down the streets, Sleif could once again sense the gazes of everyone looking at him. After around five minutes, Sleif found himself facing the large building, that the two soldiers told him about.

Stepping off of his bike, for the first time since arriving in the city, Sleif walked towards the large building, before opening the steel door, and moving inside to the floor of the building.
"Hello? Anyone here?" Sleif called out into the building, as he looked around at the many machines and technology.

[Keyblade Smitey]

(OOC: A quick note to respond to Sephiroth2's post, so Blain won't be mentioned in this one. I'm going to try and get the sign-up sheet to the top of the RP page again, try and get some more players. PM your friends and ask them if they want in, will you? /OOC)

Nestled among the ancient skyscrapers of Las Vegas, slums and low-level buildings littered the ground, dwarfed by the towering constructs around them and blanketed in shadows from the newer additions that grew about the tops of the monoliths of steel and metal like tumerous growths of rust and iron. In Vegas, the higher you were, the more important you were. On ground level, people scraped a meager living, praying nothing fell on them from above and desperatly trying to stay out of the way of the various criminal syndicates that ruled from on high. Then again, there were always those who prefered the ignominity of life on the ground. Un-noticed by many, the small metal building Sleif had just entered existed not by necessity, but by choice. "Hello? Anyone here?" Sleif called out into the building, as he looked around at the many machines and technology that lay piled high, mimicing the towers outside or just were scattered about the floor. There was a clatter from the back of the room and from behind a stack of old parts and wires, a young man with a fat face and clipped hair emerged, wearing a shirt and pants that were pockmarked with tiny burns and one sleave of which looked like it had seen better days. He also had a nasty sneer on his face, "Go away," he snapped, "Mr Clerk does not have time for the likes of you, so go on! Shoo! Filthy vagabond, wandering in here with no idea as to th-WHOOP!" As he had been speaking, the man had been advancing on Sleif, flapping his arms and trying to shoo him out. While he had been walking though, his foot had snagged on a snaking wire near the bottom of one of the precarious towers. The man fell flat on his face, grabbing the tower for support and inadvertantly pulling the whole thing down on top of him. He lay there, trapped by the heavy components, emitting squeaks of distress, "Ah! Oh help! A little assistance please? Stranger? Mr Clerk? Help please!" In responce to the man's pathetic whimpering, another figure arived on the scene. "Oh dear, Stuart!" sighed the new arival, with the air on one long-suffering, "Not again. You really are hopeless." The new man was an oldish gentleman with combed, grey hair and eyes, he wore a white lab coat and black trousers. Tucked into the pocket of the lab coat were a small pair of glasses, a rarity, considering the precision to which the lenses had to be cut. he spoke with a quiet, polite manner, obiously unflapped by anything much, "I am Sebastian Clerk," he introduced himself to Sleif, "I see you've met my assistant, Stuart. Before I enquire as to the nature of your visit, would you be so good as to help me get him loose? He's forever doing this whenever we have visitors."

[sephiroth2]

OOC: I'll ask a few people, and see if they'll be interested in joining

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Walking further into the building, Sleif suddenly heard a slight noise coming from the back, before finding out it was a young man with a fat face and clipped hair. Just before Sleif could say something, the small man instantly spoke first. "Go away," he snapped, "Mr Clerk does not have time for the likes of you, so go on!" the man said to Sleif, causing him to begin losing what calm attitude he had to him.

"Shoo! Filthy vagabond, wandering in here with no idea as to th-WHOOP!" the man was greatly angering Sleif, and soon he would have to do something to remedy that, this never happened though. As the man suddenly tripped over, before causing a tower of machines to collapse over him.

"Ah! Oh help! A little assistance please? Stranger? Mr Clerk? Help please!" Sleif listened to the man call out for help. Sleif was intending to just leave the pathetic little creature to rot, however he needed information. A few seconds after the tower collapsed, another voice suddenly entered the room. "Oh dear, Stuart!" sighed the new arrival, with the air on one long-suffering.

"Not again. You really are hopeless." The new man was an oldish gentleman with combed, grey hair and eyes, he wore a white lab coat and black trousers. Tucked into the pocket of the lab coat were a small pair of glasses, a rarity, considering the precision to which the lenses had to be cut. he spoke with a quiet, polite manner, obviously unflapped by anything much.

"I am Sebastian Clerk," he introduced himself to Sleif, "I see you've met my assistant, Stuart. Before I inquire as to the nature of your visit, would you be so good as to help me get him loose? He's forever doing this whenever we have visitors." Sleif listened to Sebastian say, before turning towards the small trapped boy.

Raising his hands towards him, Sleif used a small amount of his powers, to lift and move the metal within the machines, allowing the boy the freedom to move out from underneath them. "There you go!" Sleif said as he lowered the machines back onto the ground, before turning back around to face Sebastian. "Now, may we be able to talk?" asked Sleif.

[Divine Shadow]

Taira hadn't enjoyed the trip on the solar powered machine that the yakuza used to get from Las Vegas to the many smaller cities. Though it made the trip suprisingly fast, though it also helped because they were yakuza obtained items making the slim machine run. It ran on old train tracks that should have long ago fallen into disrepair. Taira sighed. Something more of the yakuza's power. Late that night, to believe it, The machine pulled up to the large front gate. The guards waved them through without a second glance at who was conducting the sand skipper (it was The Yakuza's wife no less) though they had to rub their eyes and double take once they saw Taira Saphina sleeping in the back, hands cuffed to the side of the side of the cart. Mrs. hyoku, otherwise known as mother Yak to those few who stood up to her had been nice enough to leave Taira's feet untied, though she had stolen all but one blade from Taira. Even her razorwire gaultlets were now in a safe in the front of the sand skipper.

Taira woke with a start as they rode under the still working neon lights of Las Vegas. Even as a post schism city, at night it was still the most amasing sight to behold albeit if you went to a European Rave club. Several of the signs didn't work, but those that did had been converted to using Solar power, which was unsuprising considering that with the schism, Solar power was the most efficient energy. They stopped at an old casino, the hotel still a shimmering building that many people passed in awe. Mrs. Hyoku stepped out of the sand skipper, and two of her husbands lowlife cronies came up. She shot them a glance that said it all, and waved them off. One man jumped into the front, the skipper jumping to life slowly, but built up charge from earlier that day had given it enough to survive. The other jumped into Taira's cart. She glared at him, and he smiled toothily, though how he managed that with a full head of teeth was beyond Taira's scope. He gave her a dirty look, but his friend opened the window that led to the front car and shook his head.

"I wouldn't do that mate, this girl brought twenty of the boss's wife's boys down in under ten minutes, and she still has her feet loose." Taira smiled at the last half and right as he finished speaking, hshe had her feet where a girls feet should never be on a man. She pinned the man to the wall of the car, and he held in a squeak that would have shamed a rubber ducky. She released the pressure and the man scrambled as far away from her as he possibly could in the small cart. Taira yawned and pulled the chains that tied her arms down. She sat up and grinned maliciously at the man. When they came to a full stop, she was outside of a bar. She looked at the two men, and rolled her eyes. "You have GOT to be kidding me.." she muttered under her breath as she was lifted out of the cart, the chains undone, and she was taken into the front door. They took her to a room in the back, and they sat her down all most too carefully on a chair, and closed her in the room. The chains fell to the floor, and she picked at the lock with a hairpin she found. She opened the closet and she groaned at the outfits inside. "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME."

[kingdomkeylight]

ooc:so sorry guys that i have not posted in awhile my comp got a bad hack anyways heres my post.

Ale hade been nocked out for 4 days thanking the heavens Nikki was there to help him get out of the tunnels going through thee supplies Ale still had the engine power cell and the motorcycle that produced its own energy "Well I guess we should get moving on Nikki which way" he asked Nikki as she got on "That way" Nikki said pointing to the west "Are you sure you can drive Ale" asked Nikki "Of course what are you worried" he asked as Nikki blushed.

Two Days later.

They had entered the area of Las Vegas as Ale looked around Nikki hid her looks as nthey got off the Transportation devices Ale decided they would sell the engine cell to the first person who had a good deal walking around Nikki started to hold Ales hand for protection Ale not knowing what to say just let her do it "I wonder My good sir how much would you be willing to sell that pretty girl of yours" asked a man in a Yakuza suit "Sorry shes not for sell " Ale said as Nikki got a better grip on Ales hand "I dont think you understand buddy evrythings for sell" the man said this time pulling a gun on Ale smiling Ale delivered a quick kick to the face to the guy falling to the ground Ale looke down at the man "Your right somethings are for sell" he said Stealing the two rings on the mans hand as they walked away Nikki noticed a familier scent "Shes here" Nikki said "Who" asked Ale "The girl from the tunnel incident" she said pointing a finger at a club a few feet away "Underground rooms" Ale Looked at Nikki as she continued "She was kidnapped and is being held against her will" giving Ale a look ale sighed "Okay we will help her just so you dont feel bad" Ale said walkinh to the club a a car went past them.

[Keyblade Smitey]

Sebastian raised one grey eyebrow at Sleif's display of power, "So, you're a superior are you? Well I won't hold that against you. There's only one reason you'd track me down and that's because you require my expertise regarding some piece of old-tech. Please, come in, share a drink and we'll discuss this like civilized men," he turned to his assisstant, struggling out from under the pile, "Stuart, do go and make yourself busy somewhere else for an hour or so, will you?" Stuart hestiated for a moment, before nodding to Sebastian and shooting Sleif a filthy look before hurrying outside. Sebastian sighed and lead Sleif to a small room in the back. It was still cluttered with parts, but two armchairs sat in the center, with a drinks cabnet on one side. Sebastain poured them both a drink of something amber and alcoholic, before sitting himself down and motioning for Sleif to join him, "I believe you have me at a disadvantage sir. Before we get to business, why don't you tell me your name?"
(OOC: Sebastian's yours now Sephy, the convo's up to you, I have Blain to deal with /OOC)

Blain blazed across the desert by night, stopping and sleeping in the heat of the day. He had stopped to fill the water skins just after he left New Sanctum (OOC: The town has a name! ^_^ /OOC), seeing as they were empty when Ant stuffed them into the compartments. He had never been to Las Vegas before, in fact, this was his first time this far south. He didn't stop to admire the scenery though, as though there was any. Dust and rock stretched to either side of him and in front of him. Behind him was obsured by the cloud that his bike kicked up. Apart from the loud roar it gave when it stared up for the first time in Ant's mech shop, the bike was remarkably quiet. Now it only gave a jet-engine whine when starting up or twisting the throttle and a low hum when motoring along. At the end of his first nights ride, Blain had been lucky enough to have a wild cyote of not-inconsiderable proportions wonder into his camp. It had watched him feigning disinterest for a few minutes, before trying to pounce on him. A half-second later Blain's spear had gone through its chest. The meat was good and kept well in the compartments that stayed remarkably cool, despite their black colour and the hot sun and the beast's pelt made a good seat cover where the old one had crumbled away to dust after ten minutes ride, leaving Blain walking bow-legged for a day. Blain knew he could waste no time getting to Vegas skyport, but he also was sure Taira would be safe when he found her. Quite apart from the fact that he doubted the yakuza would kill her when they could make her work for them (willingly or not), he knew Taira could take care of herself to at least some degree, even under to yak's watchful eyes. Also, as well as the logical reasons she'd be fine, Blain could almost feel something pulling him on, giving him hope. He would know if Taira was in trouble, he was sure of it, just as he was sure he would rip hell apart to help her if she was. He gave the throttle another sharp twist, accelerating on towards Las Vegas.

After four days hard riding, he at last came to the walls surrounding the city. He had seen the lights the previous night, a strange glow on the horrizon. He wasn't sure why, but it made him feel slightly ill to look at. The feeling had either passed or he had gotten used to it by the time he was at the gates however. If the city was this impressive now, he could not even begin to immagine what it would have been like one-hundred and twenty years ago, before the schism! Lights flared at ever street corner and even around the city gates and enterances to the monolithic towers that jutted into the sky like man-made mountains, between which ran countless bridges and cables, like the threads of some monsterous spider. Everything rang with the sound of voices chatting, laughing and shouting, music blasted from the towers many, many floors and even on the ground there were sounds of peddlers hawknig their wears and food sizzling on spits as venders cooked to sell to hungry passers-by. Everywhere was awash with sights and sounds and even smells! Tender flesh cooking, strange insence burning in the skyscrapers and the rank stench of over 400,000 unwashed, hot bodies. Blain was stopped at the gates by a half-dozen... well, he suppposed they were human, or at least had a human somewhere not too far back in their ancestry, who were tatooed to their teeth and very heavily armed. "What're you think you're comming in for, little man?" asked one of them.
"Sightseeing," answered Blain, "I hear this is quite the place for... 'entertainment' I was told there were bars here with... quite the 'view'." Someone once said diplomacy meant being able to trade sweet words with the highest of courtiers and swop drunken jokes with the lowest of lowlifes. Blain catered to the latter school of thought at the moment and it seemed to work.
"Huh. You got money?" replied the huge guard, "Vegas don't come cheap." Blain reached behind him and pulled his payment from the guildmaster out of a compartment and jiggled it so the coins within chinked together nicely. The cro-magnon gatekeepers' eye all lit up at that. "Weeeell," said one, "Of course, we'll have to take your weapons and ride. This is a nice, peaceful city, see?" as he said this, a spate of gunshots and cheering were clearly heard from behind him, "And of course, the folk who run this town will want to make sure you keep to the rules, so we'll have to ask you to stay at the gates a few weeks while we check your creden... Crad... Um, make sure you're a good bloke." Blain tossed them each a few of the iron coins. "Enjoy your stay in Vegas, sir," grinned the guard, stepping aside with a mocking bow. Blain gunned his bike and rode into the city. Now all he had to do was find Taira in the biggest city he had ever seen, sneak or fight his way into wherever she was, rescue her, fight their way back out, find a way out of a very dangerous city and they were home free! He stopped the bike outside a tower with some inviting smells comming from inside, flicking a well-armed man a coin to watch it, Blain suddenly felt like he needed a drink. A strong one. He sat next to a young man of about twenty, with clipped, greasy hair and a lab coat that looked the worse for wear, "I'll have whatever he's having, only make it a double. No, better make it a tripple."

[Divine Shadow]

Taira had been ordered to give a show. She sighed, punching her fist into the wall as hard as she could. It left her hand throbbing, and a nice crater in the wall behind the closet of clothes the yakuza had provided. She was wearing a white leather outfit that graced her curves with it's pressance. over top, she wore a cloak that screamed 18th century angel, though the large set of Seraph wings that had been provided in the room were the only thing that caught her eye. They were her mothers. She knew it too. The blues, purples, and blacks in the wings screamed her mothers name to her, and plus, Saphina was carved into the metal in her fathers neat scrawl. She dawned them, and the door opened, two men on each side of a gold looking cage. She rolled her eyes, and climbed in, and the men led her to the elevator that would take them to a lower level of the vast skies of vegas. The elevator was hand cranked, hence the two men, though for them it was a tough struggle with a cage and the girl in the cage, but Taira didn't even bother offering to lighten the load. She sat, delicately, as the men pushed her onto the stage where she would preform later in the day. The red velvet curtains still hung graciously and Taira caught a peek out of her cage. There were three tiered levels. One was what people often called window seats. They hung around the room, their balconies currently surrounded by velvet curtains. Then there was the stage, it was at the same level as the stage she was on, and a catwalk connected, though there were barricades all around the stage she was to preform on. That was probably for those who weren't on duty guards, or rich. Then there was the lower level. That would be for the poorer men who managed to give a few bronze coins to get in. They would be manhandled, but still, the yakuza were using her as a way to get money. This was a teaser for the rich, and a show for the poor. She sighed. In an hour, the place would be packed with me. Maybe he would be here.

A man walked up, surrounded my twenty men. None of them flinched, but they were cautious. The man wore a white silk suit, and was very young, in his mid twenties. His wife was beautiful too, but she always wore an ugly smile that contorted her slim face. But Dante Hyoku, The leader of the Yakuza was a beautiful man. He walked forward and bowed his head to Taira, signalling his men to stop walking forward. They were about ten feet away, and he came up to her cage. "hello beautiful angel, trapped like a nighting gale. I hope you sing like a lark." Taira laughed.
"A twenty man crew for me? You have got to be kidding me. Your wife wasn't very good at explaning what i did to her men, and i wasn't even trying." She Didn't look him in the eyes. He was the devil himself most people said. one glance at his eyes, and he would have you doing the can can naked on his front lawn. he reached into the small cage, his hand petting her skin. It was barely tan anymore. She lost her tan quickly. She flinched away, and he laughed, a deep beautiful laugh that could have broken any womans heart. His hand retreated, his heavily ringed hand pulling back his long back hair. He was the thing that made men scream in the night with fear, and he ached of fanservice for the girls. People didn't know what was in more excess, their love or fear for him. He may have been Yakuza, but his men were the brutes, he was a gentleman. He ran his hand down Taira's arm and leg, like she was a prize to be won.

"It's a pity you're so hauntingly beautiful, you make my wife jealous. For good reason too." He pulled Taira towards him, away from her hanging swing. His hand around her hips, she was brought terribly close to his face. he pulled her close, smelling her rose scented hair. Taira let the small blade she had been hiding in her mouth slip into her teeth, and she leaned forward, to whisper in his ear. "You better let me go." was all she said. She let the blade cut him along his beautiful cheek. She went to the far side of her cage as soon as he let go, his hand went to his face. His fingers stained with his own blood. He laughed, pulling a handkerchief from his breast pocket, and dabbed it away.
"it's been a long time since i have seen my own blood. Maybe I should send you some of my bigger men to keep you occupied later tonight. I will come see you again. Maybe we are more alike than you think miss Saphina. We shall play later, and I don't mean cards." His men faced Taira until Dante had walked past them out to find his wife, and later to find his seat. Taira's heart still sped. She spat the blade out of her mouth with disgust, and a thin boy brought her a handkerchief to wipe away anyblood on her face and the floor of the cage. She heard people being seated, voices and laughter began. Not many knew who was behind this curtain, but they would soon enough. Fake smoke rolled over the stage, and the voices quieted. She was pushed on stage by two men who were dressed in top hats, screaming tuxedo mask.

They walked to the front, undid the cages lock, and stepped to the side. A mike stood on center stage, and hundreds upon hundreds of eyes were on her. She stepped gracefully from the cage, her hair flowing. It was parted to the side, her bangs swept to the left of her face. Her hair was down, but long braids sparkled through her hair. Her hair looked like spun silver to the crowd, her skin looked like moonlight, and her eyes like ice. She grabbed the mike, and sang, her voice carrying over And the seraph wings flickered into life, her unreal appearance turning into complete fantasy. Mens eyes glased over as her voice carried wide over their heads. She danced, her body moving enchantingly. People oohed and Ahhed at her, and one even dared to scream her mothers name. She ripped away the cloak that had covered her white leather outfit, and cheers echoed throughout the bar. Her music picked up beat, to something like a samba, and she danced wildly. She leaned on the bar, and a man reached across, grabbing her rear. She closed her eyes, ignoring his touch and span away, her hair shimmering like some kind of cape around her. Men hooted and hollered at her, and catcalls echoed through the air. The bar was STILL filling up, men squeezing close together to get a glance at the fallen angel.

[Keyblade Smitey]

Blain downed his drink in one and clacked the shot glass back on the counter, signaling for another one. "You sure you can handle that?" asked the man sitting next to him. Blain swallowed the drink before answering, "I'm a superior. Better metabolism than most guys. That and the fact I gotta find somebody here and I got NO idea where to start. I need a few stiff ones."
The man knocked back his own drink and added the shot glass to a small pyramid he had beisde him, "Tell me about it. I just got kicked out by Mister Clerk again. All because some superior whizz-kid with his oh-so-fancy 'look at me, I brought a bit of old-tech, aren't I clever!' Asswipe. I swear, I am going to NEED that new show they got comming two floors up! That is, if Mister Clerk even lets me go. Allways on bloody call, save when he's got a new golden boy to moon over."
Blain was mildly interested, "New show?"
"Pfff, yeah. Something some boys were saying about a fallen angel. Then again they went on to say some singer's come back from the dead, so they were piss-drunk."
A fallen angel. Blain felt something leap in his chest. That had to be Taira, no-one else fitted that description, "What's this about a fallen angel?"
"Ah get lost, I aint interested in talkin'."
"No, really, I am interested. Tell me about this fallen angel. Now."
The man got up and started staggering for the door, "Get lost, ya crazy supe'. I got nothing more to say to you."
Blain followed him out, "No. You're telling me about that angel."
The man swore, "Get lost, tosser!"
Blain grabbed the man by his shoulder, spun him round and rammed his pistol under his drunken chin, "No. You don't understand. You are telling me about that fallen angel. Now. Or your brains are decorating the goddam street! I have come too far to not get what I want now!"
The threat sobered the guy up considerably, "I-I-I-I talk!" he gibbered, "I'll tell you anything, oh most benevolent and mearciful one!"
"That's better," Blain bodyslammed the drunk against the wall and cocked the gun, "Now. Start talking. Where is this angel? You know more then what you overheard in a bar."
"Sh-she's some new catch the Yakuza got, oh desert wind of adventure! Going to perfom tomorrow night in Club Lust, wonderous--"
Blain uncocked his gun, spun it so he was holding the barrel and pistol-whipped the guy, "Cut the hyperbole. Talk straight or you might not be able to for much longer. I'm in a hurry. How can I see this angel sooner?"
"Impossible. Don't have the first clue where she is and wherever she is is bound to be crawling with yaks."
"Damn. Tomorrow night?"
"That's right." Stuart (of course it was him) was practically pissing himself by now.
"And how can I get in? Tickets?"
"You pay on the door."
"This aint the first time you've been to one of these shows, is it? Hmm. Okay, one last question," said Blain, "Where can I find a good old-tech gunsmith?"

That was last night. Now, Blain payed a iron coin to the man on the door and squeazed into the heaving Club Lust. He wasn't one of the first, but the performance had only just started. He worked his way close to the stage, keeping the wide-brimmed hat he had swiped down low to cover his face and making sure his borrowed cape didn't get stepped on. He looked up, not a few feet from the platform. There had been no mistaking the voice, but as she discarded the cape, there was absolutely no doubt; the girl on the stage was Taira. Even as he was still planning his next move, Blain caught a movement he didn't like at all. Some leery fellow by the stage leaned over the barricade and grabbed Taira's ass. Blain just stopped himself from seeing red. Plan B time. He pushed his way close t othe perv and tapped his soulder, "Excuse me sir," he shouted over the sound of the music and the cheers of the crowd, "You might wana leave soon, there's a theif in the area," he raised the wallet he had snatched from a fellow he passed, "Lifted this right off him. 'Course, he won't notice 'till he goes for the next round of drinks,"
"Oi!" A heavy hand decended on on Blain's shoulder.
"Good drinker that one!" Blain grabbed the perv's collar and hurled him into the man with his hand on Blain's shoulder. In the tight confines, this action brought about six people down with him and this in turn sparked a full-blown riot. The punches Blain threw as well probably didn't help either. Before long, the entire poor floor had turned into a full-blown mosh pit crossed with a barfight! At this point the old song 'We Will Rock You' started playing, giving the whole den a great atmosphere. In all the confusion, Blain tore off his cloak and hat, revealing his secret weapon. The gun he had had repaired that very day (King's weaponsmiths 'Making devices to put sharp things in people for 40 years!'). Blue lines traced their way along the stock and barrel and the bar at the top glowed a soft blue colour. At this point, the song ended and the first gunshots started being fired and the mood suddenly turned a lot more serious. Blain turned his gun on the stage, just as Yakuza men started to drop in from the higher balconies, literally. The men in top hats ran forward, aiming for Taira and Blain blasted the pole that stood in the center of the stage for no uncertain purpose at both the top and the base. "Taira!" he yelled, "Watch your back!" The gun did not fire bullets, but instead, blasts of superheated matter, melted into what the gunsmith had called pulse blasts. Over distance they cooled down and became just charged lumps of metal, but at short range they had the power to punch through tank armour. Blain saved his shots however, prefering to use his fists in a situation like this, "Taira!" he said, climing on stage and kicking the heads of those trying to follow, "I got a plan! Follow me as soom as we got a path!" He noticed some yaks still on the balcony pulling out guns, "Sooner rather than later if you please!"