Throw The Small Ones Back (IC)

[Thevshi]

Freedom City Waterfront

November 12, 2013; 6:15 PM

 

The clouds that had hung over Freedom City all day were still very much in place as evening fell.  The temperature was hovering just a bit above freezing, but the wind chill certainly made it feel as if it was colder.

 

Fulmen Fairison had just spent the last half hour fighting his way through Freedom City's rush hour traffic to deliver a set of ice sculptures he had made in one of the part-time jobs he was involved with to help pay his bills.  Some corporation was having some event at their Waterfront research lab and somehow Fulmen had ended up having to make the deliver as the normal driver was sick.

 

Fulmen spotted his destination up ahead, a sleek three story building built on one of the piers along Freedom City's Waterfront.  The company's logo was visible in one of the upper corners, a large star with its name written across, "PanStar."

 

As he drew closer, Fulmen realized that the building was fenced off, and he had to pass through a gate, at which a pair of men in dark red uniforms stood waiting and checking vehicles.  Getting into the small line behind a florist, Fulmen saw the armed guards check the driver's deliver order and then take a look in the back of the van.  Once they were satisfied everything was in order, they waived the vehicle through and the gate opened, closing again behind the florist's delivery van as Fulmen pulled up.

 

A stern looking man that looked like he might have once played football stepped up and shined a flashlight in Fulmen's face.  "Can I see your delivery papers.  Please."  There was a distinct pause before the ""please," the word itself stated in a rather terse and businesslike manner.

[thomasdm3]

"Uh, Delivery papers?" he asked. The delivery man had always dealt with the paperwork. "Im sorry, The guy that normally delivers my sculptures is sick today" Fulmen fished around in his pockets and retrieved his wallet pulling from it a business card and his licenses. "See" he said as he handed the cards over to the disgruntled guard. He looked in the back of the van. "At least it want melt with the weather we are having." He turned back to the guard letting his face relax into a pleasant expression.  As the guard examined the cards Fulmen looked around the surrounding area with his six senses. He wasn't expecting trouble but his six senses was so useful that he used it more than he did his eyes. This unfortunately lead him to sometimes forgeting to look at people when talking, instead  staring blankly at whatever random point his eyes had stop at.  A swift gust blew from outside and into the car. The guard shivered a little bit zipping up his coat.  Fulmen yawned and scratched his head completely unfazed by the bone chilling wind.  

Edited November 13, 2013 by thomasdm3

[Thevshi]

The guard took Fulmen's business card and license, examining them for a moment before stepping away slightly and bringing a radio up to speak into.  Fulmen could hear him calling in about a delivery of ice sculptures and wanting to confirm that some had been ordered.  A few moments passed when he got the confirmation.

 

Using this time to get a bit of a feel for the area, Fulmen reached out with sense far beyond those of a normal person.  Below the docks, he could feel the gentle currents of the South River, as it flowed out towards the Great Bay and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.  There was nothing particularly unusual about the currents and tides, and the water in the area was no dirtier than was common for the river.  The laboratory building in front of him had well regulated air and heating systems, creating a rather still environment, in contrast to the cold breeze whipping around the exterior of the building.  There were rooms that were particularly still, with reduce ionization in the air and lower temperatures, like some sort of clean room laboratories.  Given the slight variations in air flow throughout the building, it seemed likely there were a number of people still inside, the largest number currently gathered in a large room on the main floor.

 

The guard stepped back up next to the van and returned Fulmen's card and license.  "Alright, you've been cleared to enter.  Next time be sure to get your delivery order before you take over the normal guy's run."  He stated.  "But we still need to check out the back."

[thomasdm3]

"Sure, No problem" said Fulmen as he unlocked the doors to the van. The guard began to walk towards the back of the car. “So what’s going on tonight? Seems like a lot of people." Fulmen looked back as the guard opened the trunk. The simmering ice sculpture was illuminated by the light that flooded through the open door. Despite only spending a few minutes on the sculpture it had turned out to be one of his favorites.  The main structure was comprised of a circle of flowing water frozen instantly. On one side a fish swam up the circle and on the other a crane dived reaching out for the ascending fish.  He had never been much of an artist but working water was easy for him and people didn’t really expect ice sculptures to be masterpieces due to their temporary nature. It was a good system; he could make a relatively decent amount of money while practicing his powers and with little effort giving him more time to patrol.         

[Thevshi]

"A demonstration for a development breakthrough for investors and some other VIPs."  The guard replied back briskly, apparently not intent on explaining further.  His manner was certainly quite serious and professional, giving an impression he might be ex-military.  The PanStar symbol on his uniform and hat were indication that he was not just from some rent-a-cop security firm, but part of the corporations internal security team.

 

He seemed rather unappreciative of the masterpiece Fulmen had created for the event, shining his flashlight into the back of the van as he satisfied himself that everything was as it should be.  After a minute or so, he gave Fulmen a small nod.  "Alright, everything looks in order.  Just follow along to the left of the building and you will see an open loading door, there will be space for you to pull into there and someone will be there to direct you where you need to go with the sculpture."  He stated as he moved back up to the driver's side door and gave a signal to the guard manning the gate, which then swung open to let Fulmen drive the van through.

[thomasdm3]

Fulman thanked the guard and proceeded down the road as instructed. He wondered what sort of development would be announced. He stopped the florist truck was blocking the way ahead. They must be confused about where to go. He sighed coming to a stop behind them. After a few seconds he quickly he got out his phone a searched google for Pan Star, pulling up the company’s website. He check for the heat coming off of the car making sure the Florist was still there than began to read.   

Edited November 16, 2013 by thomasdm3

[Thevshi]

Fulman had barely just found PanStar's website when the florist's delivery van stated forward once more and he was able to follow after in his van.  Soon both vehicles had pulled through the open garage door on the side of the building the guard had directed them towards.  Inside was a spacious loading area, which was mostly empty at the moment, save for a couple of cars and a pair of catering vans.  A number of men and women in white uniforms were busy unloading the two vans onto the loading platform.

Pulling the van in rear first on the other side of the florist as it took a space near one of the catering van, Fulman saw a young woman in her mid-twenties in a suit with a kneel length skirt standing up on the raise platform by the vehicles.  As both vehicles came to a halt, she moved up towards Fulmen's window.

 

"You are delivering the ice sculpture, correct?"  She asked somewhat curtly. 

[thomasdm3]

"Yes mam, Sorry for the delay.The guy that normally delivers them was sick so i had to do my self" He said quickly as he got out of the car. Fulmen walked quickly to the back of the car and opened the doors to the back. "So what do you need me to do? He asked. He wasn't rely certain whether it was expected for him to help unload the sculpture or if they didn't want him inside the building. Security did seem pretty tight. Pan star something about the name seemed to ring a bell. He thought about it for a second trying to remember. 

[Thevshi]

The young woman gave a little nod as she glanced at the clipboard in her hand a moment then looked back up.  "There should be an extra cart over along the wall for you to transport the sculpture on."  She said, pointing towards the interior wall of the loading dock.  "You can follow along with the caterers to where it needs to go."  She added, indicating the catering vans which were currently being unloaded onto other carts.

 

She then made her way over to speak with the florists in order to get them organized as well.

 

Fulman found the cart just as indicated by the young woman and soon had managed to get the ice sculpture loaded without betraying that it was too easy for him.

 

Wheeling the cart over towards the catering vans, Fulman arrived just as the caterers were ready to take back the next load of food and drinks.

"Hi."  Said one of the caterers, a man who appeared in his early thirties.  "That is a really impressive sculpture.  How long did it take you?"

[thomasdm3]

Flumen Paused for a second. This is why he did not like delivering his sculptures. It sometimes brought up awkward questions. He thought about lying and saying that he just delivered them but instead deiced on being ambiguous and trying to pass off his uncomfortableness as shy modesty.

"Uh, not as long as you would think. once you get the hang of sculpting it becomes a lot easier" he said grinning slightly wile rubbing the back of his head. "The food smells amazing, what is it?" he asked trying to change the topic. The smell from the carts was quite appetizing. It also help that Fulmen hadn't ate yet. 

Edited November 17, 2013 by thomasdm3

[Thevshi]

The caterers were easily distracted from their question about how long it had taken Fulman to make the ice sculpture as they began talking about the various appetizers they had prepared for the event.  As they talked, the caterers and Fulman pushed their carts towards a pair of double doors with small windows that led out of the loading dock.

 

One of the red uniformed Pan Star security guards was waiting by the doors and accompanied them as they made their way beyond towards wherever the reception was being held.

 

Meanwhile, out in the Great Bay...

 

Nochehuatl, or Wave Eye as he was known to many in Freedom City, was swimming through the somewhat turbulent waters of the bay.  The triton had been patrolling some of the costal waters south of Freedom City, but found little that required his attention.  So he had returned to the waters closers to the city...

[Ari]

With a noisy splash and a guttural sound deep in his throat, Nochehuatl burst from the grey North Atlantic water and landed on a small patch of almost invisible shoals close to the Bay's southern edge, his mighty tail, tipped with a dragon's arrowhead, turning with a flash of light into a pair of inhumanly muscular legs with which he sank down to sit cross-legged upon the rock. In centuries past sailors from the Carolinas and Virginia had studiously avoided this part of the natural harbor, instead banking to the north and east before swinging around into the safer and deeper central passage; "They learn quickly" Wave-Eye thought as he stared towards the glittering towers and blazing streets. The demigod triton glistened dully in the gray half-light, this far from Freedom City's light pollution and the deep red of his naked scaled body was hardly more than a rumor of color, though several of the vivid tattoos that covered him from fanned head to clawed toe shone alongside his numerous piercings. He looked like a codex painting come to life, which was actually rather near the truth.

 

A large cod was gripped between the powerful fingers of his left hand, quite dead. Its backbone was neatly severed and the throat opened to let a thin stream of blood flow into the sea. With a melancholy sigh. like surf pounding a beach. Wave-Eye took the heavy conch shell draping at his side by a leather cord and breathed into the narrow end. Holding the fish and conch in his spined, claw-like hands, he delicately cut apart his meal and washed it from the clear water pouring out of the magic shell. This done he opened his mouth, reflected light gleaming on a multitude of fangs, and calmly ate the fish.

 

---

 

"Nothing. Nothing to be found. I would have thought the coming of Winter would surely cause trouble. Something."

 

He was watching the city again, leaning on massive arms as he peered across the water. As he usually did when nobody else was around, he was talking in his harsh, grating form of Holy Speech that reformed itself into the ears of any sapient being who could hear him. "Those young travelers with a broken mast, that man who fell off the ferry, surely there is more I can do. The Merry Land is but a short distance from here, even shorter if you fly, but as soon as one gets a few miles from this city..." he shook his head, the narrow fans crowning it waved back and forth gloomily. "Two years. Soon I shall have been here two years...and to what good? The fell souls below are warded off by Drowned Atlantis, Mighty La Siren and her Freedom League traverse the globe in power, I have embarked on no grand adventure, encountered only scrapings of the horrors I know will arise, and...I have and can do so little more than I could then. I should give up my dream, La Siren will never want some old butchering relic of a triton in her service..."

 

He smiled bitterly "Strange that someone who has seen ten thousand years of this world should mourn two," he said, "but the world has changed. Things happen faster now, as though the pulse of the omniverse itself has quickened and some vast scheme falls into place. More and more I see, and more surely I know my time is past." Stirring on the rocks he shifted position, heedless of the black waves pounding his brawny shoulders and back. Smugglers still visited the city now and again. It would have been unbearable to miss them because he was so absorbed in self-pity. His depthless black eyes dimmed "If only something could happen where I would be useful..."

[Thevshi]

Dark waves crashed against the rocky shoals on which Wave-Eye was perched, the waters bitter cold, but that hardly bothered the Triton.  There were a few ships out on the dark waters, visible through the darkness due to their lights, which bobbed up and down in the waves.

 

Lost in thought and focused on the bright lights of downtown Freedom City, Wave-Eye almost missed it.  But out of the corner of his senses, he felt something passing through the deep waters of the bay, down close to the bottom, almost hidden by the undercurrents.  Something big had swum by and passed into the Centery Narrows towards Freedom City…

 

 

Inside the PanStar research facility, Fulman and the caterers had followed the security guard down a series of hallways and into a large room in which a number of tables had been set up down the middle of the room.  Two more PanStar employees in suits were waiting there to begin directing the set up, and  Fulman was soon maneuvering the cart the ice sculpture was on to get it transferred over to the central table in the room while the caterers began setting up on the surrounding tables…

[Ari]

"Hello. What are you, now?" Wave-Eye murmured, tensing as he felt the unseen one pass by. Getting to his feet and staring into the black water, he sighed and tossed the fragmented cod into the sea. No beast that large would draw so near without surfacing if it was friendly, leaving unpleasantly few options. Either the Atlanteans had such unimaginably pressing business in Freedom City they had brought one of their oldest and most powerful craft to bear...or else some enormous beast from the Depths had awoken.

 

With a flash of light his thick legs were replaced with a powerful ridged tail tipped by the dragon's spike, and in moments the son of Chachiuhtlicüe was soaring elegantly towards the city, following the unknown thing that tugged at the edge of his senses spread like spiderwebs through the moving water. The flash had revealed a broad grin spreading across the triton's large head, one that grew wolflike as he set off like a red dart. 'O Mother, She of the Jade Skirt, whose dominion is the endless sea,' he thought, black eyes glittering 'I shall never again raise my voice in sorrow or speak ill of my lot, whose destiny is eternal glory in death and Tlalocan!'

 

Setting off as fast as his swinging tail could send him, he charged after what he knew would be an enemy worth the fighting...

[Thevshi]

Diving back into the cold waters, Wave-Eye sliced through the water with practiced easy, undeterred by the waves and tides that lashed around him.  As he neared the bottom, he found that sediment had been disturbed by whatever had passed, kicking it up higher into the water in a great billowing cloud that was swirling around in the currents before it would eventually resettle on the bottom.

 

Though he was unable to see whatever it was at the moment, the Triton could still sense it moving ahead of him and began to pursue.  While it was fast, he was faster, and would soon close the distance.  Swimming along it the wake, Wave-Eye passed through the Narrows, whatever it was he was following having just entered the mouth of the South River...

 

 

Meanwhile, Fulman had just finished getting the ice sculpture situated on its table when he felt an unusual shift in the current toward the mouth of the South River.  Something apparently large was cutting against the current near the bottom of the river, and was leaving a considerable wake as it moved up the river, generally in the direction of the Waterfront...

[thomasdm3]

What is That  He thought as he inspected the source of the disturbance. He tried to get its shape and trajectory first then began to inspect it's  composition. He began to walk back towards his van quickly but casually so not to draw suspicion. He had brought his rain coat in the car with him but this was not an ideal place to change. he had already spotted a large number of  security cameras. If he did change here it would be easy to significantly narrow down the identity of Tempest. If he got out side he could at least fake and Arial entrance. Even that was not ideal as someone might make the connection between the ice sculpture and Tempest. He thought it unlikely that anything that happen would directly effect this building but if something out of the ordinary happened here like a cloud of mist or the sudden appearance of Tempest the security cameras were sure to be investigated.

[Ari]

With a soft rasp of irritation, the old soldier swung over the mist of mud, his greater speed letting him catch a glimpse of something long and many-limbed that long experience filled in before it began to retreat into the murk. "A squid? This near to the surface? That defies all reason, they're deep-loving beasts" Wave-Eye said to himself, streamlining his body as he swam after it "There must be something controlling it, I dare say it's but a pawn in some larger scheme."

 

Whatever it was here for, it wasn't good, and thus would have to be warded off. The two marine monsters sped through the dark water of Centery Narrows and past the horn of Riverside Park, Wave-Eye not daring to challenge it until he was close enough to really make an impact.

Edited November 22, 2013 by Arichamus

[Thevshi]

As Fulman approached the door out of the reception room, one of the PanStar security guards stepped over near him.  "Where are you going?"  The stern looking man asked, holding up a hand to indicate that Fulman needed to stop.  "You need an escort back to the loading dock."  He stated as he then led the young man back out into the hallway and in the direction of the loading dock.

 

 

Wave-Eye followed the massive squid as it made its way into the South River, turning in the direction of the docks that lay along the southern bank of downtown Freedom City.  Though it was not easy to see because of the sediment kicked up in the water, he could make out that the thing's body was easy thirty feet in length, with even longer tentacles trailing behind it.

 

As he continued to close, a sudden burst of energy erupted from the center mass of the gigantic squid.  The energy beam streaked through the cloud of sediment, momentarily creating a clear path though the churning cloud that last mere seconds before closing back up.  Luckily the beam went wide of the ancient Triton, passing several feet to his left and streaking back out towards the Narrows.

[thomasdm3]

Fulmen continued down the hall following the security guard. He watched the bizarre current still monitoring there movement. There were two things in the water. One about human size but moving to fast the other much larger. About the size of a whale but it moved differently.  He studied it and then realized what it was. It moved by Sucking in water and then blasting it back out. It was a Giant squid. All the sudden the water came alive with some sort of energy from the squid. It was blasted at the small creature. He needed to get off the facilities property and soon.

Edited November 24, 2013 by thomasdm3

[Ari]

Jerking back with a cry of surprise, Wave-Eye watched the glowing lance streak by, turning with renewed respect to the squid. This wasn't going to be near as easy as he'd thought(though how easy that was is difficult to say), but allowing an enemy this far into the heart of the city meant he would have to fight. "Maybe I can drive you back, Fiery One, lead you out to sea..." he muttered, putting the conch to his lips and blowing a shuddering, rolling blast that reverberated through the river! At once thin red ribbons began to slide and whirl into view, diving around to girdle the mighty tentacled sea-beast and turning the water around it red in a mass of slicing blades!

 

"I am sorry I must do this, but...wait...nothing!" Wave-Eye momentarily forgot to keep swimming against the current in surprise, massive eyes staring at the dim yet impossible to miss hide "Not a scratch! I have not even scored your body! Well then," he tensed, mind racing for what he could do, "talk to them? no, no good there, something compels him. Make a wall? bah, too big. I must try again" the triton decided, darting nearer and circling over the enormous animal, readying the Red Wave Conch for a second attack.

[Thevshi]

Shrugging off Wave-Eye's blast of slicing blades with seeming ease, the gargantuan squid began to rise up to the surface of the river.  Breaking through the air above next to one of the piers that jutted out over the water from the land.  The waters around it roiled into waves that crashed up along the banks and caused nearby boats to rocks violently. 

 

Massive tentacles, at least a hundred feet long rose up from the waters as it slammed two of them down into the sleek silvery office building sitting atop the pier.  The building and the pier vibrated from the impacts as glass shattered and the walls cracked ominously. 

 

 

Down in the loading dock, Fulman had just started back to the delivery van when he sensed a unusual disturbance in the waters around the creature, followed quickly be the creature rising up to break through the surface.  Then the entire building shook as the sound of loud impacts against the walls reverberated throughout.

 

The security guard who had been escorting him braced himself as he looked back towards the doors they had come through somewhat concerned.  He then paused a moment as if listening to something over the radio.  He then turned back to Fulman.  "Get back into your vehicle and remain until told everything is clear!"  He ordered, pointing over to the delivery van.

[Thevshi]

Wave-Eye of course saw, and sensed, the massive squid like creature rise up to the surface.  But even as he did, he noticed something else amid the cloud of sediment that had been kicked up by the squid's passage.  Down in the water where the squid had just been before going to the surface was a humanoid figure, although details were difficult to make out.  It held some sort of spearlike object in one hand and was hovering in the water facing the Triton.

 

The figure pointed the spearlike object at Wave-Eye, and another blast of energy lanced through the water, disrupting the cloud of sediment as it passed.  This time the blast struck the Triton squarely in the chest, the impact knocking him backward through the water and causing flashes of light to appear in front of his eyes.

[thomasdm3]

Fulmen opened the car's door and enter the Van. He then press the keys in to the ignition and turned. The car came alive with a low rumble. he then turn around a started to back out. What ever was happening it seemed to have heated up. He let out a silent grown as he spotted a few security cameras in the loading dock. Why did every thing have to be recorded. 

Edited November 24, 2013 by thomasdm3

[Thevshi]

Up on the surface of the river, the massive squid smashed the wall of the building once more with one of its long tentacles.  Once again the building and pier shook violently, and a section of the wall was smashed completely in, creating a huge hole in the side of the building. 

 

Down in the loading dock, the security guard that had guided Fulman back to the delivery van ran back through the doors leading into the building, drawing his sidearm as he went.  Glancing around, Fulman saw that there were some cameras in the area, but there was currently no one else in the loading dock.

[Thevshi]

Just as Wave-Eye's vision cleared, he saw the figure dart through the water, circling to the Triton's left side.  It was certainly moving quickly, but not as quickly as Wave-Eye himself could move.

 

The figure the aimed its spearlike object at him once more and another bright burst of energy streaked through the settling cloud of sediment.  Once again Wave-Eye was struck by the blast, which slammed into his left side.  The Triton felt another jolt of pain, but was this time better prepared to take the hit, barely budged by the impact, and vision remaining clear.