Book Two, Chapter Six: Traitor's Remorse

[Dome]

Dante looks at Ionic, realizing he is possessed he think for a moment what he can do. The only thing he can think of doing is diving into his mind with Telepathy and trying to help Ionic fight whatever is controlling his mind. He calls out Nahir and says to him as he climbs on his back, "you get us close but not to close. I need to try and reach his mind. If there is anything you can do to help me, or boost my powers, now is the time buddy, lets go."

With that Dante focuses on reaching out to Ionic's mind, first seeing whats there maybe determining the source of the possesion, and second sending him support, "Ionic you can fight whatever this is. Your a good person, don't let the darkness win. I can help. Let's fight it together."

Meanwhile he lets Nahir run through and navigate through the battle field and approach Ionic.

<Rolls, Nahir dodging enemies>
[dice=20]
[dice=20]
[dice=20][rand=3344436589522057478890922957733887437519856005998132352504349823]

[albatross]

Ionic groans and rubs his eyes. "Where am I?" He looks around. The Phoenix still battles in earnest, with Pantera attacking its face. The Dragon and the Phoenix trading blows.

Ionic appears incredulous, not believing what his eyes are showing him.

[dakota]

Khris continued to raze the shadow creatures with auto fire. He blocked out his sensing powers as best he could so they didn't distract them, but he could feel Khamai somewheres below in the fray. [dice=20]

every so often he would pan his scope for a shot at Ionic, to end this once and for all.[rand=29947008899240734957148434234297688566184121665548954634615036385]

[albatross]

Finally Ionic drifts down to earth. The phoenix disappears abruptly, causing the dragon and the tiger to slip suddenly as they are no longer touching air.

The shadow beasts hesitate, and Tiger takes a moment to toss incendiary hand gernades on three sides, burning dozens of them to a crisp as they pause.

Ionic seems completely lost staring around. When the shadow beasts begin to retreat, the remaining Chinese soldiers follow them, gunning down the stranglers.

Tiger hurries around the walls of flame created by her gernades and over the hillside to see what can be seen on the other side.

[dakota]

As the shadow beasts began their retreat, Khris checked his fire, but held his position. He took the opportunity to reload and begin the tedious process of refilling the oversized magazines. He keyed his radio," Anyone care to tell me why they are giving up? Did someone get that bastard turncoat?"

[shiivster]

*responds to the question over the radio*
'not sure. but we nailed him in a flyby .. '

*she signals for Kirin to circle wider while she looks to see who seems to be guiding the shadow beings

[Dome]

Dante directs Nahir towards Ionic. He climbs down next to him. He approaches slowly and says out loud, "Ionic your ok, everything is going to be fine. We had a bit of problem, but if you can stay focused, I think we will all be ok."

Dante reaches out with his mind to read Ionic's thoughts. He doesn't speak to him, he just listens. He also tries to determine if someone or something else is reaching into his mind.

[shiivster]

JC circles wider still. Kirin's wingbeats somewhat hypmotic as she tries to figure out 'why' attack here.

perc [dice=20+2]

land nav [dice=100]

*is aware the wind is stronger when flying [ like duh ... heh]

*pass ;D something might be noticed by her eyes[rand=0415840703657800461162339575704054488508987097721361387048500691433]

[albatross]

Dante can't sense anything else in Ionic at the moment.

Tiger arrives. "Ionic, " she says kindly, "there is something I need from you." Her guns are holstered and she holds her hands out in a peaceful gesture, her voice and manner non threatening.

Ionic looks at her for a minute and extends his hand. He slips his ring off his finger and holds it out to Tiger. She steps forward and takes the ring, putting it into a pocket.

"Don't call the Phoenix anymore. It would destroy you. And if you do, I'll know about it and hunt you down. You don't have to feel left out, I doubt any of us we be using these in battle in the future. The risks are too great."

Ionic sort of nods. He realizes Jeckle's coat is covered in unicorn dung and shrugs it off.

"Why don't you go take a swim," Tiger suggests. She nods to Dante, "Good work. Watch him for a little while. He just woke up and it may take time for his mind to adjust."

Over her radio she says in Chinese and then in English, "Stay close, mop up. I'll be right there." And she runs back over the hill to help with any remaining shadow beasts.

[Dome]

Dante nods at Tiger. He reaches out to Jeckle and says in her mind, 'Good work, but your Jacket may be ruined. Stay safe I'm going with Ionic to wash up.'

"Lets go Ionic, the lakes this way," he indicates with his thumb in the direction of the lake. He recalls Nahir as they walk towards the water's edge.

[dakota]

Khris remained at the ready, putting the refilled magazines within reach. He couldn't see the rest of the team, but Jeckle and Tiger on the radio eased his mind a bit. He touched the ring on his finger and recalled Khamai from the battleground, and waited patiently.

[albatross]

The cleanup drags on for a couple hours, but mostly because Tiger insists on checking carefully to make sure no more of the shadow beasts are alive on the island.

Once the fighting is over, Tiger has a path to the docks cleared with a tank and taxis the plane to the water for take off. She doesn't really want to be around when the Chinese get around to sending reinforcements.

Once the team is in the air, she leaves Strongbow to fly the plane and gathers everyone else. "Ionic," she says softly, "Quite a few old friends of mine are dead. I know you could bring them back." She raises a hand, "Yet we can't risk you becoming possessed again." Ionic looks at the floor.

"I'm going to give your ring to my father. It is the right power level. Obviously the selfless thing would be for me to give him the squirrel, but it isn't a nearly impressive enough. We can't be sure if the link at risk will be your link, or if the ring will somehow over time forge a new link with someone my father cares about. I don't expect my father to lose possession of the Phoenix lightly. And, given the trouble you've caused, I think its reasonable to ask you to take on the risk."

She looks around to everyone else, "Of course this plan has flaws, still I'm not really sure they don't cancel each other out. Obviously, giving my father anything to make him more powerful is a questionable decision."

"The Phoenix is the best option. It is focused on healing, which is something my father is already capable of, so it is merely a convinence. The possiblity that he could be risking his own link will discourage him from using it lightly. And he would have to help others for the Phoenix to reach its full potential. "

"There is a chance that this ring could possess my father as it did Ionic," Tiger smirks, "but I don't see how it would make him a worse person."

Looking more serious now Tiger's face drains of color a little bit. "I had no idea what was in store for us when I accepted this mission, and it turned out to be quite dangerous. Not just for us, but for others as well." She doesn't meet Khris' eyes or look in his direction. "I advise all of you never to use the creatures in combat. Or at least never without the permission of the person they are linked too."

Tiger sits down. "I could use a vacation."

[Dome]

"And since we have no idea who is linked to what creature...there goes that idea. That phoenix may be able to heal, it sure as hell wasn't healing anybody in that battle. Maybe Windchill had the right idea about staying behind on this one."

[shiivster]

*Looks at the others. her coat has been washed off in the ocean, after the contents were removed. Jeckle sighs as she sits back on the seat

'so, even if we've got a ring, you are implying that we ren't connected to the creature? .. bummer. was planning on enjoying someone to talk to. can't do that now .. in case someone else is listening in .. joy'

*the last word drips with sarcasm, even as her eyes close. this trip has proven her belief in people. her dislike in people now is showing, even as she retreats from wanting to be friendly. 'oh right, i forgot to give you something .. '

*she rises and moves closer, and her eyes focused on Kris, lashes out with a nasty foot kick at Ionic.

Result of the throw of dice 1d20 +4 : 16+4 = 20 [snap kick to face/chin]
Result of the throw of dice 1d6 +1 : 6 + 1 = 7 [she's not overly strong, max? sweet]

' ... i think our debt is settled. you shot me and left me for dead. unlike others, my memory won't forget that Ionic. you are dead to me. don't ever expect any help from me ... unless someone gives a *bleep* about you enough to change my mind. be happy i wasn't wearing the braces, they would have multiplied the P.S.I by a factor of 6 .. at least ... '

*she retreats to her seat and settles, staring straight ahead and says little else as she pits headphones on and closes the eyes

[Dome]

Dante watches Jeckle as she gives Ionic the kick. He says nothing to anyone, but after a few minutes he walks towards where she is sitting. He sits next to her and says, "whatever happened out there today, I'm glad that in the end your ok. If you ever want to talk, you can talk to me."