Heroes: The Road of Good Intentions

[Bloody Good]

"Bugger. I hate tangling with 'kinetics." Yet again, Hector resorted to using his fingers like a mountain climbers pitons. The floor around him was already cracked, and getting a hold wasn't hard, though whether it was a good enough grip to held himself down once the Telekinetic Pencil Pusher got going was dubious.

Think. BB's are no good, he'll just throw them back. Can't reach him unless someone distracts him or lends a hand. Bless him so hard his mother feels it. Should at least make an opening for someone else.

"Tell me if this hurts." The visual effects were minimal, barely even causing a glow around Pencil Pusher. Those sensitive to this sort of thing felt the fringe effects of what was likely the divine equivalent of a mac truck. The sensation was similar to the way the ground will tremble when something heavy falls a long way. Like a 2-ton safe, or a grand piano, or one of those giant weights Bugs Bunny always has on hand.

[Charon]

Legacies jumped back and looked shaken from the burn that he'd received. Focusing again, he turned towards the man who was manipulating him. Tendrils latched out into the ground, as feelers began to push towards the man, feeling out the area around him, seeing how close they could get without going fast enough to risk accidentally spearing one of his own team members. Carefully, Legacies began to walk forward.

[LadyTevar]

Those sensitive to this sort of thing felt the fringe effects of what was likely the divine equivalent of a mac truck. The sensation was similar to the way the ground will tremble when something heavy falls a long way. Like a 2-ton safe, or a grand piano, or one of those giant weights Bugs Bunny always has on hand.

"What The Fuck?"
It was a sentiment shared/spoken by both possesser and possessee, as Argent's body momentarily froze in place like a rabbit before a predator. Inside the mindscape, the two souls looked at each other in concern, wondering what threat was outside.

What was that?
I don't know. Who do you think it was?
The Angel? It was -holy-, not something from this place. Not like you.
Now, why are you so sure I'm from this place? I've been with you longer than that.
No. You're not part of me, so you can stop lying. I'm not falling for that trick.
But you fell for Tachyon's trick.
What are you talking about?
Oh come now, are you that blind? Do you really think Ultima would let you get away, when you're so valuable?
You're making no sense. What does this have to do with Tachyon.
The same day you're attacked by one faction, Tachyon is assigned to your team. A man with a psychic shield, whom you can't read or influence, who suddenly is head over heels "in looooooove" with you.
.........
Yes, you see it now, don't you. He's here to watch over Ultima's prize, that's all
You are a Demon and a Liar. That's not why he's here. That's not why he's ....
And you know this how? Did he tell you? Did you sense it yourself? Oh... wait.. you -can't- sense him. He's a blank spot, immune to psionics. Even when he's inside you, you can't sense him at all

In the mindscape, more lights winked out, replaced by the lurid glow of the intruder. In her shrinking corner Li Na clutched two tiny glowing lights, one blue, one green, that symbolized her links to Elias and David.
... HELP ME ...

[Cynical Cat]

Blackheart twisted in the air, his power of flight opposing that of the stranger's telekinetics. It was like swimming through molasses, but he turned back to face his opponent and inched forward. "Surrender," said Blackheart, "or this gets really ugly."

[SirNitram]

"A pointless display of bravado, from an empty suit." Gravitas sighed. He wasn't able to do much against the telekinetics, but even powered down, his personal gravitational anomaly would protect him against the worst of it. "Let's just skip to the chase."

[Agent Fisher]

Michael lowered his sword. He had been busy cutting up the guards when the telekinetic had walked into the hallway. Narrowing his eyes, the Angel spoke up. "Tell Brother that his pawns will not stop us. You hear that!" He said looking around for more cameras. "This isn't going to stop us, so why not just come out and we can have that final major showdown."

[B4UTRUST]

The man's suit began to smoulder, tendrils of smoke rising from it as it seemingly threatened to ignite by an unseen source. He began to sweat profusely and his visable skin began to blister, burn, crack and peel. The look of pain was obvious in his eyes.
"Yes," he hissed out through gritted teeth, his voice dropping a few octaves. "Lets."

With the last spoken word, Blackheart's head was jerked to the side. It would have broken a normal man's neck quite easily, but the enhanced durability and strength that Blackheart held turned it into what might be considered a minor case of whiplash as he 'felt' the unseen hands holding his head in position.

This lasted for about a second before the team was violently thrown into one another, yanked quickly apart and hurled into the walls into the walls and finally into the end of the hallway behind them.

The priest wasn't so lucky in regard to the demon's tender dealings. It looked like a game of pinball played out with a human body as he was picked up and slammed against first the ceiling, then the floor, followed by each wall multiple times. With each bone-jarring connection of flesh and rock the stone was cracked, broken, indented. Tiny stones and dust rained down from the ceiling following his passing. Each movement into a surface was emphasized by the demon's words. The last word was emphasized with the poor father's body becoming slightly embedded into the rock wall above Mirage Team's heads.
"You. Don't. Go. Around. Blessing. Demons!"

[Cynical Cat]

Blackheart sprung to the side, momentarily breaking out of the telekinetic grip. It closed back on him. He took a step forward. It was like trying to walk through lead. Then another.

The flux of powers playing over him, from both the demon and Hector, set the hairs on his skin standing. A fraction of the energy washing over him was syphoned in by thin black wires that suffused his flesh. Inside his brain, a growing network of alien matter twitched as it felt the energies. It was a fraction of a greater whole, bound to vulnerable vessel that was its main source of energy and protection. Ancient memories stirred.

"Parasite-thing," hissed Blackheart. "I recognize you. Your kind. So young." He took another step. "So very, very young."

[SirNitram]

"It's moments like this I wish the Victory Over Primordials Mudra would work for me." Gravitas murmured, watching things get rapidly worse. "Blackheart's passenger is officially involved."

[Charon]

As the unseen hands grasped at him, Legacies reached out with more tendrils, digging into the floor, the ceiling, and the walls, refusing to be moved by something so simple. Ceiling cracked and groaned under the pressure, walls gave way and more tendrils reached out, digging deeply through the walls.

Legacies did not taunt his opponent, the silver figure simply continued to move forward slowly, tendrils constantly lashing out and pulling in to move him forward without loosing any of his stability.

[LadyTevar]

In her metaphorical hand, the glowing blue ball of light representing Li Na's connection to Blackheart was suddenly shot through with black veins as the Daemonheart gained control of his mind. The roiling power and dark emotions of the primordial being whispered across the mindscape.

What now? What did you do?

Li Na looked up from the black-streaked ball towards the garish lights where the Other had control. Then, calmly, Li Na brought her hand up to touch her chest, embracing the empathic link. The soft silvery lights that marked her area of control dimmed as black tendrils spread.

What ... what is this? What are you doing? For the first time, a touch of fear was in the Other's voice.
This, Li Na answered, is the BlackHeart. Time to die.

And the fight for the mindscape began anew.

[Bloody Good]

A moment of silence. Hector didn't look so good.





Cough

"Is that the best you can do, you pansy?"

A half-hearted kick took the edges off the crater Hector was half-entombed in, and he slid to the floor. He stood, though with one hand on his knee to steady himself. "Listen, Dilbert. I've been hit with freight cars before without even breaking any ribs. Now, I should probably give you the oportunity to atone and begin working towards redemption and your eventual reformation before I reduce you to a greasy smear on the floor, but we've been doing that for centuries, and only one demon has taken the deal so far. So I really hope you won't be offended if we just get to knocking each other around until someone says Uncle."

[B4UTRUST]

Hector felt a force grab the front of his head and jerk him physically downward, faceplanting him into the floor.
"You know, I'm not too fond of that priest of yours..."

He watched the pair slowly advancing on him. This was...unexpected.
"And here I would have thought you all would be more concerned with the wellfare of your female companion. She's no doubt in some rather grave peril at the moment. I'll give you one last chance to go save her and leave."

[SirNitram]

"There's more than two of us. Or do the sad excuses for infernals in this universe lack the ability to count?" Gravitas commented dryly. "Aw, hell. Why not? Shadowdemon, Christian demon, pri-fucking-mordial... It might even work."

After all, what else was he going to do, stand there and be held by telekinesis until the suit let him go? Gravitas began to recite a long, complicated utterance. It held no spiritual or magical power, in this timestream, but the chance to unnerve ancient beings with a language they'd never heard before was worth the wasted breath.

[Charon]

Legacies still did not exchange pleasentries with the demon, nor did it even seem to waver at news of Argent's apparent difficulties. Legacies decided to push himself further, his tendrils lashing out further before grabbing a surface to stick to, he began closing in on the demon quickly.

[Cynical Cat]

Blackheart took another step. Inside his brain his dark passenger unleashed waves of hatred against an intruder. It was enough for it that its host brain identified the intruder as the enemy, someone attacking a woman that was more than an ally. Such details were of beyond it. That it was hostile was enough and its ire was already aroused. It surged into the foreign mindscape with infinite malice and pitiless cruelty.

"I have a counter proposal for you," Blackheart said between gritted teeth. Fury, both his own and that of the blackheart roared through his body. "Cease your attack upon Argent and I won't devour what passes for your soul. I can see the lines of energy resting in your flesh, the anchors holding it there." Another step.

"So feeble. Your flesh so frail. I will rip out your heart and with it your tawdry little soul and your strength will feed me." Another step. "Choose."

[B4UTRUST]

The middlemanager from Hell began to take on a very perturbed look, as if he wasn't use to people waltzing into his domain and then completely disregarding him. He snorted, eyes narrowing.
"Another upstart creature of clay that tries to rise above their station. You and a thousand others over the centuries have threatened my existance. I'm still here, and will be for long after you return to dust. Destroy my flesh and I will return.

"Is this what passes for holy crusades now, oh Captain? A group of dark and malign would-be justiciars? So this is what our Father has reduced you too. Errand boy and nanny.

"Have you all no idea what timetables you've upset? What plans you have damaged by simply delaying the processing of this information? DO YOU?!"

Veins began to throb near the temples of the man as his eye began to twitch.
"AND CEASE THAT INFERNAL MUTTERING," he screamed at the fallen god of the group. This was followed by a wordless scream of rage and frustration, pent up for far too long.

A telekinetic burst exploded outward throughout the level, cracking the walls deeply, shattering everything easily breakable from computer monitors to coffee cups to glass containers. The doors along the hallway slammed open and from within the offices came an almost deafening sound of absolute annoyance as what seemed to be a veritable legion of ballpoint click-pens(all black ink, one would note, none in blue or red) appeared, carried by unseen manipulators, clicking in and out incessantly, repeatedly, maddeningly as the swarmed towards the group to stab and puncture.

[Cynical Cat]

Light flared from Blackheart's eyes. Deadly beams of light shot towards the demon's knees.

[Bloody Good]

"You know, I'm not too fond of that priest of yours..."

Hector regained his posture through sheer brute force. "Not a priest. Just a layman with a gift. If I was a priest, this would probably hurt more." He resumed his theological beatdown just as Pencil Pusher summoned up Clicky Doom, and the 'aftershocks' accompanying it were impressive. Even those not in tune with this kind of energy could see the column of white passing through the ceiling to encompass the demon. Then the pens moved in.

Poke poke poke poke poke poke poke click-click poke

[SirNitram]

Veins began to throb near the temples of the man as his eye began to twitch.
"AND CEASE THAT INFERNAL MUTTERING," he screamed at the fallen god of the group. This was followed by a wordless scream of rage and frustration, pent up for far too long.

The scream of rage and anger and frustration only egged on Gravitas, reciting the lengthy incantation with more vigor. The assault of office supplies hurt him, a sensation he had been without for a long time, but he kept at it, having clearly found a nerve and wanting to pound on it.

[Hotfoot]

Hotfoot struggled against the telekinetic power that bound him, but little could be done. His moves slowed down to ones that could easily be viewed at normal speed, reminding him of the sensation he had picking up one of Saibot's strange boxes. From subsonic to slow as molasses, the speedster gritted his teeth. With the inability to effectively move, he was helpless. His shield flared, doing what little it could to fight the kinetic control, which was virtually nothing. Upon seeing the others of the group being manhandled violently, he decided it was in his best interests not to draw undue attention to himself.

As he was tossed around, he at least kept the presence of mind to tune his shield down enough to not seriously hurt whoever he was smashed into. He grunted as he was telekinetically tossed about.

Then he mentioned Argent...or he thought he did. He was starting to lose track of his concentration. Earlier, in the maelstrom, he had felt good, pure, close to where he needed to be. Now, he felt so far away, even though he was closer. If he could just get free, even for an instant, he could end this.

If only he could signal everyone to cover their ears first.

[General Havoc]

The vat of boiling water did not move or react meaningfully to the chaos going on elsewhere on its level. It remained quiet, motionless, secure within bulletproof space glass and magnetic re-enforcement fields. It might have remained so forever, save that all of a sudden, something blew it to shreds.

The pulse of energy from the demonic manager ripped the industrial grade shatterproof glass to shreds, casting it about the room as though a tornado had passed through unseen. With the pressure released, the water inside the vat erupted up into the air like a volcano, splattering over the room and ceiling, before finally coming to a rest. Only for a moment however did it stay that way, for slowly the water began to move, run, slither together, even as the majority of the water still remaining within the vat slowly began to flow over the side of the shattered receptacle, spilling out onto the floor and forming up into a large heap of water. Vials of clear liquid held within nearby containers shattered as if by magic, and the liquids within them flew towards the center of the room, assembling together, subsuming within the larger mass. Impurities and other debris were ejected at high speeds into the corners of the room, and within less than a minute, not a drop of water remained anywhere in the room, save for a man-sized pile of clear fluid sitting in the center of the wrecked science lab.

A moment or two passed, and then the mass of water swelled, and a large, thick tendril of clear liquid extended from its top, shaped roughly like a boa constrictor or other enormous snake. It spun around in a circle several times, before stopping, pointed at the door. And then the entire mound of water slithered along the floor, over debris and fallen equipment, shedding not so much as one drop of itself as it moved, until it had reached the door.

The door was airtight, and the mound of water hesitated before it for a moment or so, before rearing back and smashing itself into the steel at blinding speed. The door held against the blow, and the water mound splattered all over it, the wall, and onto the floor, like an ocean wave breaking over a rock. No sooner had it done so however, than the water re-coalesced, re-formed itself, backed up further, and slammed into the door again, only to shatter once more against the unmoving metal. Without hesitation or relent, the watery mound reformed and crashed into the door again and again and again, five, ten, thirty times, reforming and slamming into it over and over and over, hard enough to shatter bone, occasionally hesitating long enough for part of itself to freeze through unknown means, battering the metallic portal again and again, until even the re-enforced steel began to give way. Relentlessly, the ambulatory water smashed at the door, denting and caving it back more and more, until after nearly a hundred repetitions, it stopped, and slid itself down into the now-exposed rails that the door usually slid upon. In seconds, it had flowed all around the door's periphery, and then all of a sudden, it froze solid.

Ice has more volume than water.

The door was instantly and violently ripped from its moorings and folded in half like a playing card, even as the rails around the door were shattered and peeled off the wall like an abstract sculpture. And with that, the water-thing, whatever it was, spat the crushed blast door out of itself onto the ground, and unhesitatingly reformed and slithered out of the science lab, into a larger room. For a moment it hesitated, apparently uncertain of where to go now, but soon its surface was rippling with the vibrations from the sounds of activity elsewhere on the same level, and without further ado, it slithered off across the floor, towards whatever was ongoing.

And in whatever it was that was controlling the motions of this strange creature, there was a series of images of very specific beings that it intended to locate and kill.

[LadyTevar]

((Posting for Marcao))

His mind laid elsewhere.

He was certain that something was occurring with Argent and he had every intention on finding her. His head turned as he sought a location to which take himself when he felt something move near his feet. He blinked and glanced down to his feet, a bloodied mass of flesh and bone seemingly slithering past him.

“What?â€

[LadyTevar]

Like a lion, Li Na prowled her mindscape, following the black strands of the Dæmonheart as it devoured The Other's power with ravenous glee. The black-striped blue-tinged will-o-wisp that signified her link to Blackheart, and the origin of the Dæmonheart's rampage sat on her left shoulder; on her right was the pale green globe that linked her to Tachyon. It flickered, unnoticed, as Tachyon tracked her down.

*****
He made it to her side and reached for her, his arms wrapping around her before he lifted her up and held her against him for a moment. Even now the flow of time was altered within his mind, something that afforded him a few tangible benefits. He heard a cacophony of sounds as they spread through the tunnel around them and frowned. At that moment two separate and equal concerns fought for his immediate attention. His concern for Argent which laid in his arms and his concern for his team. He felt Argent stir against him and he looked down.

“Argent?â€

[B4UTRUST]

The demon dropped to the ground, taken out at the knees by the blast from Blackheart. A second later the body burst into flames. The demon screamed wordlessly in pain.

Blackheart felt something collide with the back of his head, not hard enough to cause damage, just an annoyance. Looking at the ground revealed a red swing-line stapler.

The demon's body continued to burn after it was dead. The smell coming off of it was sickening, somewhere between an outhouse in summer and a texas BBQ pit.