Shadows gathered.
"You'll not force any into the decision," one spoke. "You may help in their decision, but not force it." Nods from shadow were the only reply. "Off then, to your charge."
Rain. Always it was raining, never to let up. Ah, but it made the job so much more fun. Whose idea of fun?
Teserak stalked his prey through the streets of Central. Rain washed over his face as the crowds unconsciously parted to allow his passage. None marked his passing, the Ebb saw to that. He was one of eight converging upon his target. He smiled then, venom dripping from his fangs only to be washed away by the rain. Now the fun began. His fun.
One jump, and he was standing beside a black Augustus in the across from the entrance to The Pit. Looking around, he noticed his brothers and sisters about. At Deth's Door, Ceraain stood unnoticed, her leathery wings folded neatly, resting upon her shoulders. Her white Deathsuit took on the appearance of a bridal gown, a wicked smile crossing her lips as the veil fell over her face. Above the door clung Skreej, his tiny body suspended by extremely long limbs with claws imbedded into the small overhang. His bat head, filled with spider eyes, jerked around as he noticed everything.
From the Augustus stepped Roder, the titan, relieved to be out of the cramped quarters. Dreadlocks cascaded from his head ending in tiny piranha jaws, each whispering his thoughts in a thousand forgotten tongues. Dod oozed around the giant's feet, an amorphous blob of dream stuff. Its multicolored skin scintillated hypnotic patterns that froze most in their tracks.
Theas, Jorn and Fre stood in the line waiting to get into the PIT. All three took the form of an Ebon or Brain Waster, and would torment their target inside.
His four arms crossed his chest as Teserak called forth the Beast. He welcomed the pleasure-pain as his body started changing. Bones cracked and joints popped as his legs fused together and elongated. Scales ripped from his skin as he started curling his tail about himself. The bones in the tips of his fingers grew and pierced the fingers becoming razor edged talons. Blood ran down his forearms as scythe like blades sprouted from his elbows. Overjoyed at the transformation, his Gore Cannon left its customary station that had been Teserak's hip and scurried up his torso to takes its place next to his now feline head. It burrowed into the muscles of his neck and took on the appearance of another head, minus eyes.
He raised his clawed hands in front of his face and noticed the steel wool fur growing and covering his arms. The only part he hated about the Beast was the rust marks left on his skin when he changed back. Lowering his hands, his gaze fell upon the Ebon woman that was their prey.
This rain didn't touch her long, white hair as it fell down her shoulders. Blue rings spread from every raindrop that hit her blood red Deathsuit. Her finely sculpted facial features twisted into a smile as she pulled her seldom used FEN '03 and handed it to the hulking Shaktar at the door. She placed the claim marker in a pocket formed by her bidding on her suit.
"Sssssseeeeee Meeeeeeee," Teserak hissed into the wind.
As she stepped through Deth's Door, her head snapped around. In the lot in front of the door stood one of her nightmares. The giant snakes body supported a four-armed simian chest, topped with two DAF heads. In its clawed hands it held the familiar objects; a Blitzer in one, an impossible large sword held upright in another. In its lower arms it held a likeness of her own head, and the empty eyes stared into her own.
A lump caught in Delidonas throat as she thought of screaming. Deth blocked her view momentarily as he accepted the weapons of the Frother who had been behind her. When he moved again, the creature was gone. In its stead was the giant that chased her through CS1 so often in her dreams. Its hands held a statuette that she knew was herself. The giant's hands slammed together, accompanied by a flash from overhead and the sound of rolling thunder. From between its fingers ran her life's blood. It collected in a pool at the giant's feet. As in the dreams, the blood congealed and took form. It stood up, and turned to face her; a mirror image of herself, if a bloody one.
Her vision blurred, and the waking dreams were gone. She stumbled forward heading for Stasis One. She felt compelled to glance over her shoulder again. She stared at herself in a human's wedding dress, hanging from the ceiling by a noose just inside the door. She bolted, heading for the closest bar and the stiffest drink.
Skreej let Ceraain go, his arm looking less ropelike again. He was a bit disappointed that he didn't get to play more this time around. His brethren consoled him as he scampered across the ceiling and out of the PIT. He would have his chance, and brooded upon that as he made his way to his waiting family in the Augustus.
The four in the car ported directly into Sinokenon and took their seats on the second tier. Ceraain already had their orders filled and waiting. Silently they communed with their three sisters further above that circled Delidona. They felt the intoxicating emotions wash over them as Jorn stared at her from a mirror behind the bar.
Del turned and saw no one behind her. As she took another pull from the glass, an ice cube bit into her nose. The glass fell from her grasp, shattering into a thousand pieces and spilling the three toads heads onto the floor. She quickly squashed each one beneath her boot heel.
A trembling hand reached into a pocket to retrieve the auto-injector. She pushed her way through the crowd back to the door, all the while fumbling for the vial of White Noise. Del quickly rushed through Deth's Door, not even stopping to collect her 603. She quickly jumped into a cab as it deposited four Ops out front. She yelled an address to the driver as she found the elusive vial of 'Noise.
The taxi sped off as Del slammed the vial into her injector. She raised her shaking hand and pumped two doses into her neck. The ride home was a peaceful one.
Jorn was next to join them at the table. As the tall woman took her seat, she grasped her glass in one hand. Her other hand enveloped the top of it and a tongue slipped from her palm to lap at the fluid within. A smile crossed her face as her "saw" Fre's illusions being squashed underneath light boots.
Doors opened at the lift tube and Fre stepped out, heading for the others. Her massive form flew over the first tier after a quick flex of her muscular legs. She sat and joined their communion. As she did so, the bulbous, chameleon eyes on the sides of her head took in the scene around the room. Only one other Union was present tonight, the rest of the cliental were solo. Several quietly conversed with each other as drinks were brought to them. As always the uppermost tier was shrouded in darkness. She sank into the reverie.
Neither driver nor passenger noticed the interloper the cab had picked up. For that matter, neither did any one else. Theas sat atop the taxi enjoying the rain stinging her face as the driver ripped through traffic. Her long, gray cloak flowed in the wind and wiped about as she shifted, finding a more comfortable perch. The others shared the sensation of the wind through her hair. She would bring them through once the taxi deposited its fare. For now, all eight just enjoyed the ride.
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