36 Red Twilight Demon of the Flowers chapter 36

Chapter 36 First, Therefor, Because

Realm: The Never

Place: Clocktower, Steel Rose

Chrono Sphere: 20-04

Seeker walks up and down the halls of the Steel Rose. She rubs one of her three fingered hands onto the back of her neck rubbing herself harshly. "What is this feeling?" she turns to face the other direction "Something is wrong with me. I am not functioning optimally." Swiftly she turns around again "Hunger? Is this hunger? Why would I feel hungry?" both hands find the back of her head as she ducks her eyes in frustration. "I have never felt such things. Not I, not my father, not my grandmother, or grandfather…" Suddenly Seeker looks up. She can feel something moving, something that doesn't belong. She melts into liquid steel and flies from the clocktower.

A memory plays on a loop 'Hetatsubachi, what do you want from life?'

'…I want to be free…'

'what do you want from life?'

'…I want to do what I want to do…'

'what do you want from life?'

'you could come with me.'

'I have no choice.'

Seeker's hands find the back of her head, she screams at herself trying to quite he memories.

A sound like that of a air raid horn blows. A beast has forced its way into the Never. Something that doesn't belong to this world or any other that Seeker has seen. It has the head and chest of a bird, wings 80' long, a lashing fleshy tail that snaps around making the most horrifying whistling as it snaps about in the air, 8 crab-like legs rupturing form its chest, a second mouth with hooked fish teeth running from sternum to pelvis.

Seeker shifts back into her humanoid shape standing under the monster looking up at it. The monster creates a sound, it is not a voice, it is not speaking, but the vibrations in the air seem to become words as Seeker studies the monster from another world. "In cosmos before the cosmos that are, lived the Nothings. We saw the stars falling into each other, the black at the center of the cosmos growing larger. The cosmos that were will be the cosmos that are once more. I birthed the beast called Scara, I loved the beast called Cravixs. My love, my beloved, fell into the door to nowhere. I have fallowed. The blood of my love is in your chest. Bring me to my love or…"

Seeker haws grown board of the monster standing before her "what does it mean to be before the beginning? Time is temporal by necessity. There is nothing before the cosmos."

The monster flaps its wings moving closer "Look into the stars, see the sky is turning dark. Time has been broken, the cosmos are in tatters. Your time-space is coming to apart. I must return to the world before this world with the other Nothings. If these things do not pass, my world and your world come asunder."

Seeker snaps one hand down showing her claws "you are not a part of this world. There is more then one way to exit this reality. You are beautiful. I will take away that which makes you beautiful and add it onto myself. You will resist, you will die. It is inevitable."

***

Realm: Neopan

Place: Lair 1, outer wall

Chrono Sphere: 20-04

War has broken out, every few days the Steel Rose descends onto the people of Lair 1. At first the Steel Rose stayed well outside the cities, instead throwing hammers into the Grate Sand Sea, harvesting some unknown minerals from the sand then vanishing but now it drops hammers before the outer wall.

The hammers make a horrifying grinding sound, then brakes apart and giants emerge from the shell. 60-foot-tall monster made of metal stomp up to the walls red light flairs from their eyes burning the walls down into a liquid shape and carry it away in section.

The people of Neopan will not put up with such a violation of their independence. By the second day of the giants eating the walls Neopan has raised an army specially armed to fight the monster. The 'Powns' typically used to fly around the city wising magnets, now being used to scale the giants. Swords with split blades the hum like tuning forks strapped to their legs. The vibrating sword once used by pipe workers to cut metal now used to cut down monsters, and postage handlers like Yt, are now Major's in the army.

The sky is broken, the Steel Rose drops into sight. A dozen hammers hall from space. A dozen giants appears. Yt stands on the walls looking out into the sand, 2 dozen man by her side ready to jump into action, Yt taps the radio on the side of her head "this is umbrella, I have visual contact on 20 metal heads. Anyone have eyes on 21?"

The radio chatters "this is Harbinger, I have eyes on 22."

Another voice comes in "this is Whitey, I have 21 on my side."

Yt draws one of her swords "I got the head. Whitey, Harbinger grab the haunches. I want to see the streets clean before suppertime."

One of the min brake rank as they see the shadows of the colossus creeping up on them. "Yt, where do these things come from?" he is shuttering at the sight of such a massive monster.

Yt shrugs "space." Taps her blades together, a high pitch hum echoes in the air. Yt points, "to battle!" the warriors around Yt throw their Pones into the air. The magnets lock onto the bodies of the giants. Warriors fly through the are then run up the body of the monster. Swords slash, steel hums. The battle is under way.

***

Location: Lair 1 City Hall

The rat samurai Xia, and the merfolk Jloose are pushed into the Judges chamber, Xia dressed in a kamishimo, Jloose dressed like a 'Rom Baro'. The mayor stands in the middle of a room filled with men and radios, metal clicks and electric grinding fills the air. The mayor shouts for people to bring him his reports.

"where are the police? What is the condition of the supply line? How are the walls holding up? When will I have contact with Cilverant?" the mayor notices that Xia and Jloose have entered the room. he points at Jloose with an accusing finger "you are the head of the special committee the facilitates the trade between us and the Steel Rose. Where have you been?"

Jloose and Xia are highly alien, both worldwalkers stand at 5'5" the people of Neopan on the other hand barely reach 4'0" at their tallest. Style on Neopan is fairly uniformed, with so little ground where cotton can be grown, leather clothing is far cheaper and easer to work. The Worldwalkers on the other hand have fabrics and materials from across the cosmos. Almost no one on Neopan has ever seen an 'Athro' so a furry monster like Xia is unmistakable

Jloose walks forth "Cilverant is not currently piloting the Steal Rose."

The mayor shakes his head "what does that mean?"

Xia folds her arms and flicks her tail "the ship has been commandeered, Cilverant has been kicked off his ship and his weapons have fallen into the hands of his enemies."

The mayor looks between them "and what am I supposed to do about this?"

Jloose looks back at the door "if we don't want this planet to die, we need to get me and a strike force onto the Steal Rose and take control back."

The mayor looks to Xia "so why haven't we done this already? You worldwalkers…"

Xia shakes her head "the two of us don't have the firepower to take and hold the Steal Rose. If we had the entirety of the inner circle maybe…"

"then what?" the mayor throws his hands up in anger.

Jloose thinks for a moment "we need to somehow hold the Steal Rose still; Xia and I need to contact as many wizards as we can then find a way to dock. We have to storm a space station."

The mayor stares down Jloose. "I want that thing shot down. Just tell me what you need."

***

Yt joins her team in fighting the giants. Using magnetic spears to climb these monsters is easy compared to what Yt typically does. Yt is a postage handler as her day job, she can't afford a car on her salary and so uses her Powns to 'hitch'. Yt swings around one side of the giant to get it to look at her, this makes room for two of her men to jump up and slash at the beast eyes. The monster thrust its arms down to try to throw the warriors off of it.

Yt throws her spear to strike the head of the monster, she tries to pull her self up to face level, one good slash and she should be able to slice the monster in two. The giant swings his hand in to clap the halfling warrior. Yt spins her self around in the air becoming a Buzzsaw flying through the air. Yt cuts though the monster's hands then flings herself over the monsters head. She takes both swords in one hand then slingshots downwards. Her blades cut from eyes down to hip. The vibration of the tuning forks seemingly causes the monster to uncoil.

Once on the ground Yt taps her radio "that is one down on Umbrella side, how are you guys holding up."

The radio comes to life with screaming, the voice of the caption of one team becomes clear again "this is Whitey, something new just showed up. Some kind of jelly monster. It is fast."

The voice of Harbinger comes in next "I see it, Yt, keep yours eyes open. It is moving your way."

Yt looks side to side, she thinks aloud. "Harbinger and Umbrella both saw it?"

A howl shatters the air, a flock of butterflies descend onto Yt. Jessica, Hetatsubachi and the others appear. Yt startled turns to face Jessica as the Weaver has pushed her way to the front of the group. Jessica orders "One side Yt."

Seeker in her liquid shape rises from the ground behind Yt. Jessica points her staff. As Seeker becomes solid something is clearly wrong with her; the blue metal sections of her body have been partly covered in black feathers, the red stone in her chest has turned magenta with black and red fluid sloshing around in it, her skin and hair cannot become opaque.

Seeker grinds her claws together "Hetatsubachi, I am happy to see you again. I have finally tasted dragon blood. This feeling is like nothing I have experienced before." Seeker swings one hand out and grabs Jessica's staff. The staff sparks pushing Seeker back. The Weaver and the Seeker both freeze in place staring at each other, something strange has happened. These two powers seem to be repelling each other, what can this be? Why would such a thing happen?

Loki slips around Yt. "you will have to forgive me young lady, I am not always so direct, but I need you." Loki wraps his arms around Yt and teleports away carrying her.

Tatsu backs slowly away from Seeker as his eyes run up and down her body, he whispers to himself "something isn't right."

Seeker's hands stretch and hook becoming oversized moon shaped blades. Seeker lowers her head, she reaches around herself holding her head for a moment as if hiding from an unheard sound. "I want to be free." She growls. She repeats herself a dozen times as she holds her head between her hands.

Vita and Ami snarl, the two of them circle Seeker ready to attack. The two wolves jump in. Seeker brakes apart into two entities dodging in independent directions. Vita throws her necklace, it hits the slimy body of Seeker sinking in and vanishing into Seekers body's depths. Vita jumps backwards to avoid an incoming spear-hand strike.

Ami slashes her tail conjuring a phantom sword. Seeker is broken into 4ths, but this is of no concern, Seeker can continue to act unhindered by being broken apart. Seeker transforms two of her bodies an iron-maiden lunging at Ami. Vita throws her shadow out to cover Ami.

Seeker shouts at Tatsu "I have no choice!"

Jessica pushes her staff at Seeker, Seeker transforms into a par of wings and thrust her body in all directions throwing the wolves away from her so she can focus on Jessica. Seeker glows as she locks eyes with the mouse maid "You must be what the missionary is looking for."

Hetatsubachi watches the battle, he is lost in thought, something is strange about the way that Seeker is talking. 'is her will not her own?' he ponders. His eyes flash side to side noticing Jessica is in the clutches of a four-pointed attack. Tatsu stomps a foot and calls on his Arcana, he pushes his will at Seeker. Seeker just as before is pushed by Hetatsubachi's technomancy.

Seeker twitches and thrashes about in odd ways. She shouts "Make this stop! Give me the spirit!"

Hetatsubachi grows as he replies "I don't understand what you are trying to say!"

The golems move in, giants stand over the party threateningly, from Seekers chest springs a pair of metal globes, the globes turn to drills and saws.

Jessica thrust her staff outwards throwing a wave of light, a golem thrust a hand at the ground protecting Seeker. Ami and Vita charge in to continue the attack. Loki warps back onto the battlefield, Loki opens a gate for the group to flee through, Loki calls out "It is time for us to leave!"

The orbs lock onto Loki, Vita nods and retreats following Loki's instructions. Jessica follows only a step behind Vita, Ami is next. One of the orbs strikes Loki in the arm. Tatsu flees, Loki at the end. As Loki steps back through the portal to escape the mechanized army's approach she is struck in the back by one of the orbs, it tunnals into her shoulder and down her arm. One arm falls dead from the metal entwining around Loki's muscles. Loki drops her head back swallowing the pain as she fall into the portal.

***

Location: Lower Residential, Lair 1

Yt house is a dozen wreaked cars cut together. She lives just above the poverty line. Unlick most of her friends she spends little time plugged into to the "Lairs Network" Yt could live better, money spends the same on Lair 1 as Lair 1.5 and Lair 2. But Yt has little interest in indulging herself. Yt has a cousin that was born sick, Yt saves her money to take care of her cousin just in case he gets worse.

Jloose waits with Yt and Xia as the party falls into the room. Vita looks over she shoulder "what is that monster!"

Xia explains "She is called 'the Seeker of Eternity' she is a sickness."

Loki quickly turning pail expresses "Seeker is not herself. There are no less than 2 other people living in her skin." Loki takes a hand full of steps then she falls on her side.

Jloose adds on "I could feel that also."

Jessica's glasses shimmer as she looks across time.

Vita and Ami run over to Loki, the two girls try to pick Loki up.

Hetatsubachi calls over "Loki!"

Jessica yells at Hetatsubachi, "Tatsu, you need to rip off Loki's arm."

"what?" Tatus looks confused.

"Vita isn't strong enough, Ami is to frightened. Seeker is inside Loki's skin and you and I are the only option. If I do it she will die, if you do she might. There is no universe in which Loki live without you eating her arm." Jessica swiftly explains herself. There is a moment of hesitation. Jessica becomes angry, her eyes narrow, she shows her fangs "you will do it now! I need no more blood on my hand!"

Tatsu has killed in the past, he has fought, he has done horrible things back when he was a cage fighter in Dis, but attacking one's friends, that takes conviction. Jessica shouts Again "Tatsu!"

The wolf bears his fangs, he snarls and growls. Loki's skin starts to turn black, her veins bulge. Loki's eyes roll upwards. Hetatsubachi barks calling on the most savage parts of his nature. Tatsu jumps at Loki grabbing her infected arm in his mouth one paw on her breast, he rips sideways wrenching the arm off. Loki doesn't fight, Loki can't fight. The room goes silent