As Aaron stands up there is a faint buzz in the air. The darkness take on a blueish tinges and then starts to split, a jagged rip apearing as a set of evil looking claws appear out of the nothingness.
Kendic jumps to his feet reaching for his sword. A panic in his eyes which
rapidly infects Rich and Andi.
Aaron turns slowly, a frown forming on his face.
"Hi dad." Imogen comments lightly, not even turning round.
A man steps into the darkness, a smart black business suit, long dark hair
and high oriental cheek bones and skin tone. There are no signs of the claws
that caused the rip. With a half hearted wave the tear seals shut again. He
looks at Aaron and grins.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Aaron asks
The new arrival grins annoyingly then gestures to Ray. "She told me."
"I did not." She defends indignantly.
He grins at her "Not yet you haven't."
She shakes her head. "Sorry dad."
He shrugs. "I suppose I was expecting too much."
"Actually I'm hurt." The man comments in a tone of voice that implies
that this is not really the case. "I mean having a party like this with
out me."
Imogen unfolds her self from the seat. "Yeah think about it Granddad."
She comments, putting far to much emphasis on the 'granddad'. "If we are
going up against Pauls of course we will need Pauls." She loops her arm
round the new arrivals waste and looks up at him proudly.
"And that is why you two are here." Aaron observes darkly.
Paul looks at him. "This is not a time for petty differences."
"That's my line." Aaron responds.
"I know." Paul grins. "That is why it is just so much fun being
able to use it back at you."
Aaron shakes his head."Ok then we had better bring you up to speed."
"s'ok Ray told me you r plans before I left, I'll go with the twins."
He turns and looks at Ray. "That way you don;t have to worry about them
and you can get on with your job."
She smiles at him.
Andi stands looking at the new arrival with a curious look on his face.
Rich turns to him, sensing the mans confusion."What's wrong?"
"I know him from somewhere, but I can't place it."
Rich looks at him. "Well he looks a bit like Shiro."
"No. It's him." Andi shakes his head. "Can't be important."
Paul looks at them. "Are we ready then?"
"Yeah lets do it." Karl responds. He draws a large pistol from a holster
on his belt.
Paul smiles.
A black tint spreads over his skin from his eyes, running down in tentacle like
strands that expand to cover his face. His eyes shift, becoming almost Ebon
in their shape and taking on a electric blue tint. His form expands as if being
inflated, the suit folding back and vanishing under a large dark carapace. The
fingers lengthen and the black nails extend into the same talons that ripped
through reality only a few minutes earlier. A blue sparking force glows around
the talon tips, earthing from one point to the next like a card sharps dancing
card.
Rich steps back sensing a pain in his soul, a need to drop before this thing in terror. The same sensation every necathrope called into him. Only much much worse. It is a gnawing cold that travels along his bones. He can feel his flux draining away, leaving him week and vulnerable.
The creature turns reaching forward and with a wrenching sound that echoes
through the blackness tears a whole in it, revealing the open concourse of central.
It turns to the young girl beside it. "Ladies first." It rumbles at
her.
She smiles sweetly and steps through. It jumps after her, causing the paving
slabs on the far side to shudder. Closely followed by the other twin, Karl and
Aaron.
Ray turns to look at the rest of them. She shrugs almost apologetically. "So
my husbands a little Daemonic." She explains.
Rich shudders. "And that is what Blakk is making an army of?"
Kendric nods.
"Well something like that yes." Ray admits. She looks after the form.
"Probably not as bad as that but then Shokosama is unique."
Rich looks at Andi. "We have to stop him."
Andi nods.
"Ok you have convinced me, Lets do it." Rich follows the unusual team
through the hole.
Andi turns to Ray just before they step through.
"I know him from some where." He admits softly.
She frowns at him. "You do?"
"Yes but I can't place it.".
She looks out of the hole. "Don't worry about it Andi. I'll deal with that."
There is a harshness in her tone as she says it.
Andi looks at the beast before them, wondering just what this small woman can
do to a being that causes that much fear in Rich. As she steps through the tear
a voice whispers softly in his ear.
"Really Andi. You don't want to know."
He turns to see Maggie smiling at him.
"I'll be waiting." She adds.
He smiles at her and kisses her. "I know."