open The Circulation

[Azura 1,107]

Chelsea hopped backwards when Raiya pushed her fist against hers and shouted "It's not like I have a choice!" before punching the ground with already wounded hand, shattering the ground and causing debris to fly around her before she restored the size of her bubble and levitated bits and pieces of stones and rock around her in the circular motion at a relatively fast speed before she raised her right hand with her palm facing Raiya and sent it all flying towards her at around 1200 feet per second.

[Samurshy 708]

You leave me no choice, then. Raiya thought. Raiya saw what Chelsea was doing when she punched the ground, and so she readied a judgement step. She judgment stepped thirty-two meters away on the right flank of Chelsea. Raiya held out her fists and turned them 180 degrees so that her open palms were facing each other. She then clenched her left hand into an open fist as if she was grabbing something and yelled, "Zenith Judgement Bow!" her fists immediately jumped back into flame form and the flames took a bow shape. As the flames died down an oaken ornate recurve bow appeared. She pulled back the bowstring and an ethereal flaming arrow appeared as if she had drawn it from Hades' quiver and placed it there herself. She then yelled, "JUDGEMENT BARRAGE!" Releasing the arrow which immediately split into forty separate arrows of flame all arcing in a different trajectory from one another, but all homing in on the same target. Even though they arrows appeared to be made out of pure flames, they were actually sharp as well, which is why Raiya aimed the arrows to only graze her and not pierce anything vital. Because the lacerations would be cauterized immediately, and Chelsea would only have to worry about the pain and not blood loss.

[Azura 1,107]

Chelsea ducked and shielded her face with her two hands alongside restoring the original size of her bubble to it's original size when she saw the flaming arrows raining down upon her, setting it to deflect anything that came into contact. However, after deflecting a dozen of them, Chelsea just couldn't take it anymore and a bombardment of flaming arrows tore her flesh as each one flew past her. She tried to endure the pain, but it wasn't something Chelsea was used to. By the time the arrows stopped coming, she opened her eyes and shouted "What do you want from me!?" as loud as she could.

[Samurshy 708]

After the volley of flame arrows subsided, Raiya judgement stepped within talking range of Chelsea. 

"I don't normally deal with Espers. I lead an entire gang of only magicians and that is how it will always be. But, there was something about you, the way you carried yourself, that made me take interest in you. You reminded me of myself when I was younger, you have the demeanor of someone who has been abandoned, like I was. That's why you became a mercenary, right? To be independent? To not ever have to get close to anyone ever again? Join me, Chelsea. I can show you that having friends, and relying on each other is one of the best things in life. I can show you that killing doesn't have to be the only answer. I can show you that compassion for your comrades isn't a weakness. And above all, I can show you how to believe in all these aspects, while at the same time, ruling with an iron fist." Raiya said all these things as she extended a hand to the wounded Chelsea.

[Azura 1,107]

Is it a chance to escape? A surprise attack, maybe? No, it was a chance of a lifetime. A one-eighty degree turn in her life. Chelsea knew that she wasn't going to get another chance like this one, but she wanted to ask her something before she joined her side. "That's a really tempting offer, Raiya, but how could you trust someone that just tried to kill you? What do you see in me that makes you believe I won't?"

 

------

 

Hikari gently held onto Sayaa's hand as they walked all the way to the restaurant with Shane. When all three of them arrived, she noticed that Shane knew one of the workers that was behind the register, so she gave him a quick smile before sitting down on one of the empty seats.

[Octavia's Bow 2,035]

Sayaa sat across from her. She set her cello down in the empty space next to her, having already moved the chair, and proceeded to wait for some form of menu. She already knew she'd be having soda, and since Shane knew someone here they probably served pizza, so she was anticipating a good meal in... semi-favorable company.

[Samurshy 708]

"The gas station has vodka, that's all that I need to brighten my spirits right now" Zeke replied as they continued to walk forward. It took them about thirty minutes, but eventually the SletCo station with the familiar orange cat sign appeared in the distance. "I hope Raiya and Vern weren't too close. I don't want to have to give bad news right now" Zeke said to Misha. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I don't know that you won't turn on me. I am trusting you, since I know I am strong and can handle myself. I am also trusting my strength. Don't disappoint me. You remind me a lot of myself when I was younger." Raiya replied as she dematerialized her armor and weapons, fading away back to her normal leather outfit. Raiya extended her hand to Chelsea for a handshake.
 

[Chickey 383]

By now Misha had built up a bit more endurance, however he still looked a bit uncomfortable. It was one of the few time he regretted wearing a suit. "Hopefully he doesn't have a problem with me bringing an assault rifle with." He commented first. "I suppose Vodka is a fair choice, reminds me of home. However I haven't had a drink in years. I had a bit of a 'problem' as they say a while back. At this point though, f**k it. I'm a heavyweight. I can handle a bottle if needed." Misha added. "I'm at least getting a pack of Chiclets again. I lost my last one when my car exploded back in the city."

Edited November 28, 2014 by Chickey

[Azura 1,107]

Chelsea took a deep breath of relief as she reached out and shook Raiya's hand. "It's funny you bring the word disappointment up, since I just "disappointed" whoever hired me to kill you.." She finished with a subtle laugh. "I'm just a bit worried about people coming after me for getting on his bad side.." Chelsea referred to the person who hired her.

[Samurshy 708]

Raiya looked a Chelsea. She was cut and bruised all over, and even though Raiya wasn't the only one who put those injuries on Chelsea, she felt bad. She decided to use healing magic on Chelsea but it would work better if Chelsea was laying down, relaxed. The sky was darkening ever more so than five minutes ago, and she knew that she had to regroup with Zeke. But this took prescience  Raiya found a large patch of grass and walked over to it. 

"Chelsea, could you lay down on this grass for me really quick?" Raiya asked. 

[Azura 1,107]

"Sure." Chelsea limped over to where Raiya was and laid down on the grass. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Chelsea felt exhausted from all that fighting, and she was relived that it was finally over, and even though she failed to assassinate her target, Chelsea felt like the mission was a success nonetheless.

[Samurshy 708]

Raiya placed her hands on Chelsea and recited the incantation which were direct bible verses. 

"The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm one forty-seven verse three." Riaya didn't need to end it with the verse number but she felt more empowered when she did. Immediately following the end of the recital of the incantation, her hands were covered in a green glow as the energy seeped out from her hands into Chelsea's body mending her wounds and giving her a bit of stamina.

Edited December 4, 2014 by Samurshy

[turndown4whut 9]

Shane, elated to see his old pal again, opened the conversation, "Big D'! I take it you've been laying low with them herbs and spices?"

"Awh you know me my man, you still slinging them dough disks?" D'Shayne inquired.

Shane replied, "Not at the moment, brother. Right now I'm bumming around with some of those esper and magician types, you feel? I'm on one of those so called "adventures.""

D'Shayne was shocked by Shane's newfound adventurous streak. "Damn, boy you goin' in hard, huh? Alright, alright. You gonna need to get some food up in the place to keep that quest of yours runnin' hot, you dig? What can I get y'all today?"
 

Shane grinned, "Alright D, I'm gonna need you to keep this one on the downlow. Can't have prying ears hear about the recipe, y'know? For me and the ladies, we're gonna need two buckets of the Secret Formula. Extra crispy."

D'Shayne was taken back, for a moment, to the countless nights he and his old pal had spent over hot oil, perfecting their recipe, and with nothing but a small grin, he got to work on the special order. 

Five minutes later, D'Shayne returned to his pal with the two promised buckets, and handed them off, at no charge. 

Shane, with the buckets tucked in his left arm extended his open fist for their time honored tradition. The fist bump. 

D'Shayne, with the force of one thousand supernovas, crashed his fist into Shane's and sent him on his way.

---
Seconds Later
---

Shane, had the biggest grin on his face as he set the Chickey Buckets on the table. "Girls, check out what I've got!"

[Azura 1,107]

Chelsea could feel her wounds closing up when the bright light came in contact with it. There was a tingly sensation and it didn't take long before she felt like nothing happened. She hopped back up and said "Thanks." with a smile. "Maybe we should go meet up with your friends. One of them sounded really sad when he thought you died.."

[Samurshy 708]

Considering Zeke was a friend of hers from a while back, and Misha was just a complete asshole, she knew it was Zeke and was pleasantly surprised. 

"Hmm? I see. It appears Zeke must have a soft spot for me. Not all that surprising considering I am probably the only person he knows in this world, and one of the only people he could call truly his friend. It still takes me by surprise a bit, though." Raiya said. "Well, we better try and find where they are, they can't have gone too far by foot." 

Raiya used her index finger to draw a magic circle in the air. The pink glowing circle was bout the size of a diner plate, and after drawing it in the air she grabbed it as if it were a physical thing. On the magic circle it showed two blue dots close to the northern edge of the circle and growing ever so closer to the complete edge.

"It looks like they are about thirty miles to the north of here." Raiya said. Raiya pointed her palm downwards and created another pink circle, this time the circumference enclosed Chelsea and Raiya. They both began sinking into the circle as if the ground they were standing on was made of liquid. Soon enough they were both engulfed and they found themselves traveling through the In-between worlds with immense speed. The in-between worlds (as Raiya liked to call it) looked a bit like the a music player visualizer. A long blue psychedelic tunnel of fluctuating brightness and tones. Eventually the reached the end of the tunnel and manefested out of a pink circle that was placed on the ground about forty meters away from the SletCo gas station. SletCo's all too familiar giant orange tabby cat sign waving at them from a distance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zeke and Misha arrived at the gas station, pushing their way through the entrance doors. Vern was leaning back in his usual chair reading his newspaper, as if nothing had changed in the past day. And for him, nothing had changed. But it still angered and saddened Zeke to know that the world could go on as normal without Raiya. Zeke's thoughts continued to worsen which made his expression turn ever more forlorn as he made his way back to the liquor isle, and grabbed four large bottles of fireball whiskey, placing them on the counter. 

Without looking away from his newspaper he spoke in his rough mordenic accent, 
"Something troubling you, friend?" Vern asked

"A lot of things are troubling me." Zeke said 

"Don't beat around the bush, comrade. I can tell when something is bothering people. Now spit it out." Vern demanded.

"It's Raiya..." Zeke lamented. "She's dead, and it's my fault. I couldn't save her"

"You must have done everything in your power to save her. And if it was outside of your power, it is not your fault because you couldn't have done anything." Vern replied.

Zeke realized that Vern was right. Raiya died, but it wasn't Zeke's fault. He did everything he could, but in the end it was just a matter of bad luck and circumstance. 

"Thanks Vern. I guess you are right." Zeke said trying to smile but only being able to force a smirk."

"But if we are talking about the same Raiya, I can tell you one thing that might make this all better." Vern said, still reading his newspaper. "She's not dead. In fact, she is outside right now." 

Zeke looked at Vern like he had lost his mind, but he still turned around to look out the store front windows. And what he saw brought as much joy to him as it did confusion. It was Raiya walking along side the assassin that he assumed killed her to begin with. Zeke's tattoo started to glow as he got angry and made his way outside to confront the assassin once more.

[Chickey 383]

Misha followed Zeke over to the liquor isle, picking up his box of Chiclets on the way. After Zeke went to the counter he stood there for a few moments, thinking deeply on what to pick. He reached over to a bottle of Vodka before giving a forlorn expression. He sighed and dropped his hand, leaving for the counter. However before he left he picked up something towards the end of the isle. 

 

Misha looked over once Zeke ran outside, not looking all to interested. "Well well... how fortunate." He said as he propped the rifle he had been carrying up against the side of the counter. "Hope you don't mind. However something tells me I lugged it out here for nothing anyways." He commented nonchalantly as he fished out the two things he picked up from the store and placed them next to the four bottles of whiskey. The pack of Chiclets, and a small juice box of fruit punch Juicy Juice. The manliest drink of them all. However Misha himself didn't seem all too proud of the contrast between drinks. 

 

Afterwards Misha pulled out his wallet and grabbed a small chair and pulled it up next to the counter with the gun. He put a hundred note slip to cover the items and sat down, looking out the glass windows to the scene, not bothering to go out yet. He figured he could take the time to talk to someone he might not get the chance to again. "Familiar accent you got there. You got anything interesting to say comrade? Tips maybe? That girl looked like she was going to pull my head off on the way here." He chuckled. Misha's own Mordenic accent wasn't nearly as strong, practically gone in fact. "Keep the change, by the way." 

Edited December 9, 2014 by Chickey

[Azura 1,107]

It was Chelsea's first time traveling through such a dimension, and it was actually quite pretty and pleasant, bursting with vivid colors. However, it did not last long as both of them popped back into reality near the gas station where she spotted someone approaching her. It was the same person she fought around ten minutes ago. Chelsea knew it wasn't going to be pretty if he fought her again, but she believed that Raiya wasn't going to let either of us get hurt.

 

Chelsea noticed his tattoo glowing, and she knew it wasn't a good sign. "I guess you're not here to thank me, are you?" She joked around as he approached.

[Samurshy 708]

"RAIYA! GET AWAY FROM HER! DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING SHE TELLS YOU!" Zeke screamed as he ran full speed (his maximum super human speed, which was about 100 mph). His right fist pulled back for a punch straight at Chelsea's head, as he ran at her. He was about 10 feet away from Raiya and Chelsea when Raiya stepped in. Her reflexes were superhuman, and Zeke couldn't tell if it was that she was moving so fast that even at his speed he couldn't see her, or if she instantly teleported (she used Judgement Step). At his speed, all Raiya did was put her right hand on his stomach and her left hand on his pectorals and she used momentum and speed to shift his trajectory to an air born one. With her Zenith Fists of Judgement equipped, she was easily able to change his momentum with a small angle shift using her hands and arms extended outwards in an arc. 

Zeke didn't know what happened. Even with his enhanced reflexes and early warning system, it was too quick to detect. One moment he was rushing towards the assassin, the next moment he was flying through the air, up and over both the assassin and Raiya. Zeke landed, bounced, and rolled a few times before skidding to a stop on his back. Zeke had no time to be disoriented, even though that wasn't necessarily his choice. After about 20 seconds he got back up to his feet. He quickly fired off a bolt of plasma at Chelsea, but Raiya judgement stepped in front of it, using her fist weapons to block the energy attack. The plasma split into 10 separate smaller beams which arced and diffused harmlessly around both Raiya and Chelsea.

"Zeke, if you don't calm down and rationalize within the next ten seconds, I am going to have to knock you out." Raiya said with an angry expression.

But what is there to rationalize, that girl tried to kill Raiya but she is defending her, she is obviously being tricked. Wait- I saw the Escalade get sucked into that black hole thingy. How did Raiya escape? And more importantly, how did she meet Chelsea who ran away as soon as she thought Raiya was dead? As Zeke thought these things, he realized he rushed in a bit too hastily.

"I guess I was a bit hotheaded there...But I thought you were dead, and I thought it was that girl," Zeke pointed at Chelsea, "who was the one who killed you. 

"I am not dead, that much is false, however, it is true that this girl, did try and kill me." Raiya explained. Her angry expression changing to a stern one. "After I was knocked unconscious because of Misha, I woke up the moment prior to Chelsea throwing the grenade. I was able to teleport out of the vehicle before it was consumed by the singularity. Afterwards I followed Chelsea, and challenged her to a battle. During this battle I decided that she is now my underling and under my protection. So, I suggest you lower your laser cannon before I have to hurt you again."

Zeke couldn't believe what he was hearing.  
"SHE TRIED TO KILL YOU!" Zeke said in confused anger. "I THOUGHT- I thought you were dead" his tone changing to a more melancholic tone. "Why would you care about her? She kills for money."

"My reasons are my own. You are just going to have to trust me. And, I am sorry that I worried you. Though, if it wasn't for Misha, we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place." Raiya growled, sending a death stare to Misha who she could faintly see sitting in the station.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ah! I don't see very many strangers from back home." Vern said, putting his newspaper down to look at Misha with his own eyes. Even though he could see perfectly with his clairvoyance, it was a sign of respect in Morden to look a comrade in the eyes when exchanging words. "Though, judging by the amount of money you must have, what with those seven platinum level credit cards, and the fact that you have $2157 notes in your wallet alone, it doesn't seem that you see very many people from back home either." Vern finished with a smile.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Samurshy

[Chickey 383]

Misha pulled the straw off his juicebox and plunged it inside, taking a sip as he watched the scene unfold outside with a grin. Thanks to his keen hearing, he could still hear what was going on. Once Raiya looked over he gave a happy wave back with his drink.

 

Misha looked over after Vern lowered his newspaper, now locked in a staring contest, but still faintly listening to the conversation outside. He gave a slight chuckle. "How very insightful of you... It's true, I don't get to see many other fellow countrymen. But then again I don't get to interact with many people in the first place. It just seems that some people aren't very appreciative of my company." He said as he pointed over to Raiya with his thumb. He leaned over to the door, still not breaking eye contact. "AND TO BE FAIR, I DIDN'T PUT THE BOMBS ON THE ROAD, NOR WAS I THE GENIUS WHO GOT OUT OF HER SEAT IN A  MOVING VEHICLE." He yelled outside loud enough for Raiya to hear and then leaned back in his seat.  "By the way, you wouldn't happen to have something with wheels I could take off your hands for the way back? We both know I can pay for it now don't we?" Misha added. 

[Azura 1,107]

Everything happened so quickly, and one thing lead to another.. First, Zeke was charging at her and Raiya blinked right in front of her, stopping him right in his tracks and dispelling his plasma attack. It was then when she knew that Raiya wasn't kidding about what she said. Chelsea stayed as calm as possible since she didn't want to give her friends a bad first impression, but she's not the best with first impressions. "Who would have thought we'd become allies?" She said with a smirk.

[Samurshy 708]

Zeke brushed the dust off of him, and frowned. "Yeah, it seems making friends is all I have been doing lately." Zeke said as he walked past Chelsea and Raiya. 

"What now?" Raiya aked Zeke who was now walking towards the gas station.

"We find a way to get back to Novarius." Zeke replied.

"I would teleport us, but I can only teleport a maximum of two people at a time, and it drains my energy pretty quickly" Raiya said.

Zeke walked back into the gas station.

"You want something to eat or drink?" Raiya asked Chelsea. "I'll get you whatever, if you don't have any money on you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Hm... the only vehicle I got in the back that is functioning is the mini bus. I actually just got done cleaning it out, too."

[Chickey 383]

Misha took another sip of his juice box. "That should do for now... How much ya want for it?" He said as he leaned up on the counter next to the assault rifle. "Might have to put it on my card however. Hopefully you got a card swipe-y thingy or whatever." Misha continued as he watched the group enter the store. 

[Azura 1,107]

Chelsea thought about the things she could get from a convenience store. "I'll have two bottles of water and a granola bar. Thanks Rai!" She replied before skipping over to Zeke and introduced herself. "Hey there, Zeke. My name's Chelsea. Nice to meet you." She finished with a cheerful smile.

[Samurshy 708]

Zeke was still livid, though he was keeping a calm facade. Chelsea was just an hour ago trying to kill Raiya, and now Zeke was supposed to be friends with her? Even though he thought these things, he knew that if he didn't get along with Chelsea, it would rub  Raiya the wrong way. And if he wanted Raiya to stay in the group, he would have to trust her even more than he already did to prevent Raiya from having a reason to distrust the group and leave. So, Zeke attempted to reply to Chelsea.

"Um... Hi. Nice to meet you as well." Zeke replied. He was trying to sound genuine, but his voice sounded more robotic and uncaring than he was trying to prevent it from being.

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Raiya went and bought various items, not just the water and granola bars, but beef jerky, soda, various candies, and a pack of Camel menthol cigarettes.


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"Hmm, I like you, comrade. For you, I will take one-thousand notes for the bus." Vern replied to Misha

[Azura 1,107]

Hikari grabbed a piece of chicken and started nibbling on it ever so slowly. She didn't have much of an appetite, but it would be awkward if she just sat there. "I wonder how Zeke is doing now.." Hikari mumbled without even knowing.

 

------

Chelsea knew how he felt, especially since how Raiya and Zeke were so close to each other, or so she thought. "So, are you two together or something?" She asked teasingly.