Mission Abduction [Closed]

[The Dark Knight]

It was a paradise on earth. A fairytale world where nothing exists save for the sun, sea, and sky. The waves were an ethereal shade of blue, and shimmering bodies wove gracefully beneath the surface. In the distance, the sky and sea merged seamlessly into a single pristine canvas. On this day, even the sun smiled upon them, for its rays offered the solace of warmth and light. Bright green flora sprawled lazily across the ground and laced the sandy edges of the beach with a gorgeous array of colors.

It was a place where Mother Nature reigned supreme. A landscape that Man's dirty, invasive fingers have yet to molest.

But near the sea, where a ring of seashells glimmered like the translucent jewels of a necklace, sat a man. At first, he seemed just as natural as the golden sands and blossoming flowers were, as though he was not a man, but a nature spirit. His aura of otherworldliness was further accentuated when the sun's fingers parted languidly across his back and the painted ribbons of colors on his skin glowed with a golden outline, as though they were alive and drank in the sun's light.

From here, the man who was not quite man waited, an exotic fixture upon Mother Nature's serene face.

[Morbid_fixation]

It had been one long, boring journey clear out here to the middle of no where. The place was quite beautiful, all the lingering smells and the luscious shimmering colors that seemed to blend together as smoothly as a milk shake. Xander hadn't brought many items. A sword that he never left without, a long sleeve shirt and a pair of black jeans. His cloths were slightly loose, Silence was bliss when it came to Xander, he only spoke when it was absolutely necissary.

He was knelt down, about twenty or thirty yards from the other man. A cigarette in his lips, the smoldering cherry exerted puffs of poisonous smoke. The sword had been impaled into the dirt, standing on its own. Its hilt was laced together with what looked to be snake skin, When in all actualility. The blade had been crafted by the remains of a dragon that he had slain. The blade, made of the spinal cord of the creature. Dipped in to molten hot metal, it had taken every bit of three or four months to craft the weapon. He had used the scales from the dragons flesh to make the material that caressed the strange bone and metal that had made a collage of deadly combination.

Long, strands of hair blew ever so gracefully as the winds kissed his cheek. Here he sat, meditating, focusing his mind on the tasks that would soon come to pass. He wasn't much for words, a thousand words couldn't ever equal up too one second of actions. He opened his eyes and glanced toward the other that was here, wondering when they were going to start this mission.

[Ganu_Candali]

(Note: Yacht information acquired from here thank you very much)

Velindrel stood approximately several paces away from Apidej's person. He stood alongside a small group of about five workers. They had skillfully constructed the small racing yacht in a matter of about a two weeks of hard labor. The yacht had the specifications that Apidej needed for stealth-based operations. The most difficult portions of the yacht to construct were the yacht's alchemy and steam-powered engine. As well as the small cloaking device that was also alchemy based. The ship itself featured a typical racing yacht's design. Capable of holding a twenty-head crew at all times of the day. There was space in the nether regions of the ship for considerable cargo in relation to the vessel's size. The vessel's name was not important but there was one etched upon the sides of the ship.

Velindrel turned to look at the vessel, they had used Nth metal to carry the ship from the workshop over to the ocean where it would soon travel across. The ship was made of a hyper steel alloy. Though the metal was common on Valucre, the way that Velindrel engineered the material was not a common process. It was a personal set of aesthetic that made the ship look sleek and almost organic. Velindrel stole a small smile as he looked at the proud vessel in the water. The cloaking device took a particular set of mechanics to conceive of, and was tested several times to ensure that the mechanics of the arcane power worked. Velindrel was getting better with his engineering and alchemy skills as he put them to good practice. The steel and titanium alloy arm that was attached to his body was proof of that knowledge and excellence. Velindrel studied Apidej for a long moment. Standing barefoot in the sand, Velindrel sighed. He did not like to be kept waiting. One arm was folded across his chest, and he prepared to address his superior officer.

"Sir Apidej." Velindrel said carefully. "The vessel is awaiting us. I trust that everything is ready up to specifications and up to par." Velindrel said. He rubbed his beard gently. Velindrel was dressed with clean clothing that day, they were a soldier's uniform for Dictum Veritas. Velindrel walked to Apidej carefully and kept a respectful pace away from his leader. "The ship is ready for boarding when we have all arrived. Furthermore, I would like to join you all on this mission. It will help keep me busy."

[Buttercup]

Vexita would arrive a short while before all of the others, having been groomed since birth to be ever the best. All of the supplies she'd require for this mission were either on her person, or in the worn, cloth sack she plopped within the sand. Orbs of glacier blue drank in the surrounding serenity; from the ring of prismatic seashells to the cascading hues of the sky. This place was the epitome of purity; no man had dared to tarnish its radiant and peaceful beauty until now. There she stood, a black stain upon the glorious horizon. Slender, gloved fingertips rose to feather across her visage, removing rogue strands of platinum from her sunkissed face.

"This place.. will linger." Came the sultry, exotic purr deep within her throat. It was then that her gaze would fixate on the man enjoying himself amidst this abberation of a landscape. There was only silence as the cold, venomous stare scrutinized his ever feature.

[Sorano]

She was already there, hunkered back from the crowd, watching, learning. Like a sponge she soaked up everything around her, storing it deep into her mind for future references. To each she made eye contact with, and to each a nod in greeting, though no words escaped her lips.

Strapped securely to her back, she carried a backpack. From said pack she removed a sketch pad and a pencil and began drawing the scene that was laid about before her. The leader, the dragon rider, the blacksmith, the mercenary, and herself. What an interesting group this mission had pulled from the wood work.

It would seem they all had arrived, and while crude, she placed the sketch pad back in her bag to finish another time, for this moment was already etched into her mind.

Coming to her feet, she moved closer to Apidej. Time was of the essence, and she was sure that soon words of enlightened wisdom would spew forth to their ears, and they would be on their way to fulfill their first mission as a team.

[The Dark Knight]

Apidej hadn't spoken a word since he came here. Instead of the laughing, light-hearted leader many had grown to love, he was pensive and distant. It was as though in that instant, he had transformed from a charming young lad to a stern, stone-faced man. It was as though the magnitude of their mission, and the responsibilities that weighed heavily upon his shoulders had tempered and aged his spirit. Whatever it was, they would know from his meaningful silence that this was mission was of no small significance, and to succeed, they would have to work like the cogs of a gigantic, magnificent machine, with a caliber of excellence that is but a half step away from perfection.

For a minute or two, there was nothing, save for the sound of the lapping waves and cawing seagulls. Then he spoke, in a voice that rumbled with such power that it immediately drew attention to his person and silenced the world.

"Stupendous job, Velindrel." He stepped closer to the elf and clapped him heartily on the back. The cheerfulness was returning to his voice, and he turned to address his comrades. "This mission, comrades, is not for the timid-hearted. But I see in each of you," He paused, and bright, golden eyes met each of theirs in turn, "the heart of a lion. So let us be off, for time waits for no man!"

He stepped onboard, with a shirt folded over his arm. Once on the ship, the dark fabric was slipped over his muscle bound body to cover the painted streaks etched into every inch of his skin. The shirt was of a flimsy material, and once it laid over his body, the material clung firmly to his skin, accentuating the broad width of his shoulders and the firm muscles of his frame. The solemnity that clouded his features earlier had dissipated, chased away by a beaming smile like rays of resplendent sunlight.

"Time to set sail, Velindrel."

[Morbid_fixation]

The rider remained fixated amongst the beach for sometime before he even realised that there were more that would show up. No, he was lost within the strange effects that were happening around him. Estranged and perhaps maybe even a little deranged. He wasn't exactly one that was worried about how horrible the adventure would turn out to be. Hell, he wasn't one to care about much of anything. Still, he was lost staring at his own image glimmering from underneath the innocence of the turmoil that trembled beneath the surface of the waters.

Reaching up, he cut the knot that held his hair up in a pony tail. Long red strands drapped down upon broad shoulders. Shoulder's that were traced in a leather jacket. The jacket looked like it had seen its fair share of wear. Perhaps one to many battles? But upon the back remained what looked like a large dragon's skull with a delecate tracing; A symbol of the last remaining of his clan. In his eyes it seemed embers burned, as he glanced through out the rest of them. Although his face held a less serious look upon it. He kinda looked really relaxed, or stoned or something.

Standing, he heaved the blade upon his shoulders. Behind his head, walking forward. He passed by each of them, the stench of death dripping and resonating within the oxygen that lingered around each and every inch of his body. He remained silenced, something was strange about this creature. For with every step toward the boat; It seemed his motives were different yet, not far from the same as any other. Smoke drifted around and around, making half halo's and demons horn's upon his head. Of course it was all an illusion, yet; Before stopping at the steps of the Yacht. He just stood there. The look on his face was borderline sleep.

[Ganu_Candali]

Velindrel nodded to Apidej, after all, the Elf had a profound respect for the leadership of Dictum Veritas. Stepping aboard the ship, the Elf gave silent orders to the crew that he traveled with. The very men and women who worked at the shop with him back in the Valour City camp. Velindrel took the captain's wheel of the vessel, ordered the anchors to be raised and prepared to set sail. The mechanism of the vessel was a complex alchemy-based device which was why the Elf had asked Apidej to personally pilot the vessel himself. Velindrel tasted the salty sea-wind and felt the general direction that they needed to head. Once he was satisfied, he used the awesome force of his broken psyche to will the leviathan-like yacht out into the open sea. Obeying his very command, the alchemy fueled vessel seemingly propelled itself out into the water. Skidding along the surface quite rapidly, they were doing about 60KPH (Knots Per Hour) with the wind in their favor.

Velindrel controlled the device at his hands carefully pulling and tugging at the mechanism attached to his body. It would take a keen eye to appreciate what it was that Velindrel had built. For using alchemy, he had built a sentient vessel capable of free thought and opting to follow Dictum Veirtas as a fellow servant. It bonded with Velindrel at the molecular level, making it so that only Velindrel could command the vessel at such a level of skill. With his beautiful, yet saddened eyes narrowed, Velindrel commanded the ship. With the speed of thought, Velindrel's thought-commands echoed through the slip-stream and into the consciousness of the powerful yacht. The cloaking device was in play, and about half-way into the journey, Velindrel activated it. A shimmering of light occurred around the vessel, and ship and crew vanished into thin air leaving naught a trace in their wake. No sea bound vessel would be able to track the ships short of possessing god-like psychic abilities. For the most part, Velindrel knew that him and his crew was safe. He had performed a job well done. The captain of the leviathan vessel concentrated on piloting it, until they were well into their journey. Once they had achieved a stage of Event Horizon, Velindrel carefully relaxed his psionic connection with the leviathan and allowed a fellow crew member to take the helm of the vessel. Velindrel then went to seek Apidej out, there was much to discuss.

[Buttercup]

This luxurious trip at sea was already beginning to dim.

A sneer soon gripped her visage as her eyes were cast toward the endless blue off in the distance. She needed to focus on something other than the waves rushing on the side of the boat... the way they cradled and tipped the vessel, rocking it back and for--

She heaved, then. The contents of her stomach spewed off the side and landed in the depths of the ocean below. She clung to the side of the boat, akin to a feline falling in a puddle. She heavily leaned against the solid, wooden structure, and soon her fingertips wound through the messy curls of her hair.

"Oh.. gods.. I hate----" Again, what remained of her stomach now mixed with the waters below. "Make.. the ocean.. stop moving.." Her knees began to buckle and her digits unwound from her tresses in order to cling to the side. "Why can't you people stay on land!" Although carried by a somewhat raised voice, it was the only coherent sentence that made sense at all.

It was quite fitting, however, that an emotionless killer would be dominated by the gentle drum and peace of the sea.

[Sorano]

The ebb and flow of the sea was always a peaceful rather relaxing thing to her. Slowly, she moved to the side of the vessel and leaned over the side, watching the water crash into the boat. Flotsam sporadically littered the area about them, and carefully she eyed every piece she saw, trying to make out what it was, or once was.

Thus far, everyone had kept to themselves. Shy? Maybe. Perhaps it was just part of all their personalities. Turning, she leaned her backside against the rail and allowed her eyes to look across each and every one that was within her eyesight. Each had their purpose for being her, each a specific occupation or skill.

And then of course, there was Apidej. Such an air of mystique about him. She looked forward to a conversation with him in the near future, but until he deemed that time here, she would enjoy the ship, and the journey to where they were heading.

[The Dark Knight]

"Breathe, Danika."

For a man that was so thickset and robust, Apidej moved extraordinarily fast. He was behind her in an instant, broad shoulders hunched over as his massive frame bent to examine her. But the moment of indecision was fleeting, and with a palm turned skyward whle fingers unfurled like a blossoming flower, a ripple of soothing calm radiated from him. It wove around them a gossamer blanket of warmth and protection, so that in spite of the ship's blistering speed, the ground beneath them never rocked once.

"There." His gaze remained a moment longer on Danika. There was a look of understanding in those strange, golden eyes, and one couldn't help but wonder just how much he saw. How much he knew. He did not laugh at his subordinate, the cold-blooded assassin whose spine turned to jello in the seas, and his silence served as an example for the others to follow. They had all seen her weakness, but none was to hold it against her, for their unity was the foundation upon which their vast empire was built.

"An hour from now, we will encounter a ship, some distance from the Terreneus border. We are to invade and capture four of its members. Nicholas St. Pierce, and his three bodyguards. We have those amongst us," He met each of their eyes in turn, "who will be matched up to battle the three guards. Danika and I will take care of Nicholas. Once each base is secured, we will lock them up, sink their ship, and return to headquarters."

Apidej glanced at Velindrel and nodded in acknowledgment, "Until then, I will speak to each of you individually. While we wait, Velindrel will be assigning tasks that each of you can do to help with the ship. Otherwise, make yourselves comfortable, comrades, for you won't have the chance to do so once we start firing."

He strolled over towards the other end of the ship. As he passed them, he tapped Xander on the shoulder to indicate that he would be the first to be spoken to.

[Morbid_fixation]

Slanted eyes fell to a blank stare, feeling the touch of the leader of the mission upon his shoulder. Xanders silence was never broken. Even now as he heard the leader speak to him, glancing through the others on the boat. He didn't quite know what to think, but he moved anyway. Swinging his large sword upward, it seemed to spiral twice before it was slammed in the sheath on his back. He didn't move that fast, there was no need.

For they would be on this boat for awhile longer, while they awaited the target to show himself. Xander took a seat at the front of the boat. Taking out a small dagger and a sharpening stone. He began to sharpen the blade. Slowly moving it from the top down, sliding the metal against the rock. Twisting it over, he drug it back up the stone in a similar motion.

It was pretty clear, he was getting his mind into the mode. Preparing for conflict, for any type of confrontation. This man, was a maniac... Here he waited to receive orders from Apidej. He felt good tonight, there was nothing that he would allow to take away his strength, and there was no denying the pride he felt inside. He stared out across the drifting ocean waters, and he felt the cost of his betrayal weighting his soul down. To save her, he had to give up the rest of the village. And she ended up dying anyway. Flashes of fires, of blood and death gasp for the life of air to breed their sorrowful story.

Yet even now, he fought off the visions that took over his visage from time to time. Never did he speak, he hated the use of words. Unless they were of great importance. If today was the day that he would get to see her again, than he would gladly give his life for anyone on this boat. Yet, on the same hand, there was still much left to do. He wouldn't die here, in the middle of no where. Waters racing every where the eye can see.

[Ganu_Candali]

Following Apidej to the end of the leviathan creation, Velindrel kept his eyes locked on the figure of his leader. Velindrel was skilled at what he did, he was almost obsessive with the construction or repair of items. And an idea of great import dawned upon him whilst he was in communion with the clockwork machine. Velindrel paused when Apidej and he finally reached their destination. The orders of the mission were revealed and Velindrel wondered if he would play a part in the kidnapping events. Velindrel never questioned Apidej, but he was no automaton. He simply needed to keep his mind off of darker matters and work was more constructive than silent suffering. Velindrel waited a moment or two to finally speak up. There were many matters on his mind, tactically inclined matters. Though Velindrel was a skilled mastersmith, he was also a super-genius. His eyes narrowed as he began to speak.

"Sire." Velindrel began. "It has dawned on me that we can devise a machine to capture our opponents without injuring him too much." The smith said. He hated needless loss of life. In the back of his mind, the ghosts of Palgard were whispering to him. He listened for a moment and then returned his attention back to the Firmanent. His eyes were narrowed as he studied Apidej, ever attempting to unlock the enigmatic secrets. He continued to speak. "I can fashion for us a cage that would trap our foe without causing permanent injury." Velindrel said. "I have some basic building materials with me and could fashion and portable cage for this event." Velindrel said. "If you would order it be done, sire." He added. His eyes constantly bore the shadows of Palgard in them...

[Buttercup]

The very nature of the beast was fleeting, at best. She could go from a pleasant conversation to stabbing her partner in the back within a fraction of a second, but to be reduced to a squabbling child was something neither her nor her pride agreed with. Her form slid against the side of the boat, relieved that the world itself had stopped heaving to and fro.

Small beads of sweat decorated her countenance, brushed away by gloved fingertips. With lips that had only moments ago felt illness, soon formed a gentle grin as eyes fluttered closed. "Where have you been all my life, Apidej?" Now calm, a small laugh escaped her. The fog of illness was soon to wash away as she could no longer feel the angry waves beneath them.

[Sorano]

“Hm.” She wasn't sure what to think. She was always so overly analytical, perhaps that's what made her good at her job.

Her attention was yet again turned to the sea. Most people looked at it as certain death. Be it the creatures that lived in the water, the frigid temperature, or the water itself. She however, saw freedom.

Tucking a few stray hairs behind her ears, she again leaned down on the side. The crisp air so fresh as it blew about her face. The only thing she was missing was a cup of coffee, and perhaps a good conversation.