The Rift

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

Hibiki looked down at his arms, they were completely bandaged and he could not move them. He nodded when Ken told him he needed training, but he could not hear him. Hibiki replayed his memory of the wall of fire charging at hi. He wished he had moved, or that he had done something. Burns were scattered all over Hibiki’s stomach and chest, and though they hurt, he did not care. Hibiki concentrated hard and used his psychic power to move one of his fingers. It was harder than he imagined, just controlling one tiny part of his body and causing it to extend outward. He then opened up all of his fingers and bit his lip to counter the pain. “Everyone…I want to become stronger…” Hibiki stood up and stood firm. “I couldn’t help any of you in the slightest…” Hibiki looked his eyes with Kenpachi, “And Kenpachi, I‘m am most sorry, many of my attacks were redirected towards you.” Hibiki exclaimed once more. “We can never lose like this again! I know I have no right to say this, but next time we see that man, we must completely destroy him!”

[GamerKale]

Kenpachi shrugged, "It's fine, Hibiki. It wasn't your fault. And we have a long way to go before we can deal with him." With Hayate's apparent lack of trust in Ken, and he didn't blame him, it looked like he wouldn't be lending Ascalon to Ken anytime soon so he would have to make do with practicing with knives for the time being. He went to his truck and retrieved another blade, if he continued to go through them at this rate he might have to resort to strictly hand-to-hand before the week was out. "Hibiki, think fast!" He spun and threw the blade at Hibiki, it was nigh impossible to tell given the speed and distance, but the blade would only graze Hibiki's shoulder if he failed to defend, assuming Ken's aim was accurate. Ken didn't wait to see what happened, he also wouldn't wait for Hibiki to be armed and ready. They were all injured, and while most people considered that the time to be resting and recovering, Ken's thought process was more of. You wouldn't wait for your target to be ready, and he wouldn't wait for you to be ready, so if you want to live be ready to fight at any time, especially when injured. You need to know how your body will react under those conditions, in order to be able to determine if you can win, if you can run, and if you even have any hope of survival.

[Hayate_T'Eraon]

(Sorry, been busy. Forgot about this for a while)

Hayate checked Ascalon's blade, more of a habit than anything; the sword was nigh indestructible. It wasn't so much distrust on why he wouldn't lend Kenpachi the sword, more that he wasn't sure he could. The Blades of the Arcana were bound to their Knights, to the death. In return for giving the spirits a way to do what they were made to do, the Knights were given several benefits... Amplified power, enhanced senses, the knowledge of the spirit bound to the blade, The Overlay... And enough firepower to level an army, under the right circumstances.

Among other things.

He came level with Kenpachi and Shark, drawing Ascalon from his back and setting the point to the ground, watching and waiting... Ascalon had been looking through the data Mike had downloaded into Hayate's mind, sifting through the compressed memories... and at the person who had sent them.

Kid... These people are probably the best chance we've got. They've lost what makes them human, sure, but they've adapted. And our only chance of even making any progress has got to be finding another Aether Well so that you can recharge.

[Dark Blade]

Hibiki's eyes went wide then narrowed quickly as he attempted to stop the blade. It wobbled and changed course slightly before it finally stopped and fell to the ground. Ken was about to say something when Mike spoke, "Don't bother congratulating the kid. I stopped it." Mike had been keeping his eyes closed the entire time but was aware of what was taking place around him. He had been viewing the area around him through the eyes of some of the others as he let his body rest. "Right now the only ones able to actually do anything other than be target practice are me and you Ken." He sighed and got up. "I understand your reasoning but right now we have been given time to heal and grow stronger. The last thing we need is to injure each other more than we already are." Mike walked past the others and looked for his sword in the area he had dropped it. As he searched he continued talking, "Shark has fairly strong psychic abilities but his sonic ones are stronger. He just needs to practice." Mike looked at Jacklyn, "You have incredible abilities but you never had proper training or experimented with them." He went back to looking for his sword. "Ken, the man we just fought aside you have some of the strongest thermal abilities I have seen. Your defense is still lacking though. I suppose no one told you how to increase your defensive ability." "Ah- here it is." He had found his sword. Sheathing it he went back to his bike. "As for you-" Mike pointed at Hayate. "Your mind is not as closed as it should be. I have seen enough to determine your powers at present are nothing compared to how they could be. To compensate you need to train and become accustomed to your current limits."

Mike was doing what he had hoped he wouldn't have to. Tell others what to do. "Ken considering you still have those carcasses we have food enough for a few days. That should be all the time we will need to fully recover. I'm going to find an intact building we can use for shelter for the time being." Mike got on his bike and drove away slowly looking for a good place for them to rest at least somewhat safely. He left the rest questioning how much he really knew even more.

[GamerKale]

Ken smirked, he was glad Mike was finally stepping into the role of leader. That thought out, he closed his eyes and his mind to think alone for a minute. He could instantly feel the light pressures of the others lift and fade. It seemed that Mike had made an assumption about him, rather than simply reading his mind regarding what he was going to do when the blade was stopped. Congratulations weren't on his mind. Stopping takes too much time and energy it is far better to angle it off to the side. As a wise Jedi once said. Never block. Redirect.

He also found it odd that everyone else was more injured than he at the moment. He could distinctly recall being on death's door and in fact edging over it a bit earlier. You're welcome. Kenpachi's eyes flew open and they darted everywhere, he couldn't tell where the voice had come from. Who's there? He thought loudly, but there was no reply. Maybe it was just my imagination. Injuries sometimes make people delusional. He snatched the blade up off the ground and sat down on some rubble, a half destroyed piece of rope in hand. He tightened his grip on the rope and let his mind become open again as he contemplated what Mike had said. No, I've never had any kind of training beyond how to fix things and kill people, neither of those involves much defense. He tugged on the rope from either side. In principal it should be the same as intensifying my body's attributes and the flames. He let go with his right hand to let flames dance over it. An omni-useful tool fire. Keeps you warm. Kills things at some range. Cooks them. Can even be used somewhat defensively. As he thought that the flames engulfed his hand forming a weak barrier.

[Dark Blade]

((OOC: Considering I would REALLY like to finish this story I will be doing some time skips from time to time now. Move things along.))

Three months have passed since the groups defeat by Gregor. Mike took his final words and followed them. Since then he has been training himself and the others. At first he was questioned as to why he should be calling the shots. That question was met with a display of psychic force the others could not defend against. No harm was done to them, simply a mental trick to make them think he had attacked everyone else. His reasoning was simple. He had the longest time as an abomination and the most training. And if they couldn't realize his simple trick and cast it off he would be the one in charge of training.

The time they spent training was supplemented with excursions out of the ruins they were staying in to hunt abominations. They only went after small groups and made certain that there were ground rules set for each engagement. Sometimes only one of them was allowed to fight while the others watched. Sometimes only one specific power could be used to battle with. And yet other times only specific weapons could be used. Through all of this Mike had kept a close eye on the minds of those that were fought. He wanted to make sure none were aware. He also wasn't sure how the others would react if he told them some could still think. Even the other psychics in the group seemed unaware of this fact. Regardless of how this information got to the others he was sure it would be taken differently from each of them.

Another week passed and Constantine was yelling at them again. He told them to continue the mission or he would abort it and sent hunter squads after them. This was a most unpleasant thought. Hunter squads were small six person units in specialized armor designed to counteract the powers they could bring to bear. Mike knew all to well what those suits were capable of. He had been instrumental in the perfection of their design. Mike was considered a class B abomination, humanoid variety. His powers were among the top fifteen percent of all recorded abominations. It was assumed his powers like all the others would simply continue to grow as he grew older. Hence the need of the hunters. He was the subject that would be the enemy in the hunter suit tests. Eventually the suits could cancel out his mind powers as well as withstand the extreme forces he could put on them. Even his strength and speed were outmatched eventually. But the suits did have a major flaw that Mike knew how to exploit ...

Three Years Ago:
"STOP THE TEST!" "But sir." "I SAID STOP IT DAMN IT!" "Yes sir!" "Subject reaper you are to stand down immedietly and prepare for containment procedures." Mike stood over the most recent hunter suit design and laughed, "NOT SO TOUGH NOW ARE YA?!" The hunter tried crawling away, "Where do you think YOUR going?!" Mike lifted the hunter up and slammed it back to the ground with his powers. "Whats the matter? Hit your limit?" He laughed again as he tore the suit's helmet off and looked at the user. Mike froze. It was Milo. A guard who had always been kind to him, like an older brother. He had snuck Mike out of lock down multiple times just to have someone to talk to as he did his rounds. They even would sit in the break room and watch T.V. together. The look in Milo's eyes said it all. He was terrified. Only then did it occur to him that the entire time the hunter had been pulling his punches. Stopping when he could of won. An electric jolt went through Mike's body and he fell unconscious. Ever since that day Milo avoided Mike. He wasn't angry. He was scared. Scared of what Mike could do. He had killed a friend without ending his life. It cracked Mike's heart even more.

Pushing the memory away he recalled how to overload the suits systems. It had a safety if the wearers vitals became too erratic. The suits systems would shut down so as not to overload the wearers nervous system. All he had to do was fight as hard as he could for a few minutes straight and he could beat a hunter. Of course beating six at once was an altogether new kind of difficulty. "I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I BOTHERED LETTING YOU THINGS OUT OF YOUR CAGES! IF YOU REFUSE TO CONTINUE WITH THE MISSION I'LL JUST SEND-!" "Sorry to interrupt general. But they are follow all mission parameters." Sue had come over the comm link, "The mission guidlines clearly state they are to remain in an area where a prime was spotted for no less than two months and no more than four should the target escape." "WHAT?!" "NOW YOU LISTEN HERE I DON'T CARE WHAT TH-" Mike cut the transmission. "Lilith, screen all incomming calls from now on. If it's the general ignore him. I get angry just hearing his voice." "Aye aye sir!" Lilith saluted. "Please don't do that. I feel old when someone calls me sir." Mike made his way back to the others to resume training. "Ok, next lesson. How to dodge a building." The nearest building collapsed on the group.

[GamerKale]

While the training improved his control Ken's personality also seemed to shift as the days dragged on. His mind which was once entirely open became completely inaccessible at times and his voice gained a hard edge to it. And any attempts at accessing the memories of those times were also blocked. He had only drawn his blade once and that was two weeks ago. He had gone on an absolute rampage, his control over his abilities had vastly increased during the event and he had been laughing madly. He destroyed a building and slaughtered a number of abominations, he seemed to seek out the ones with awareness in particular, it took a combined effort by the others to stop him. His eyes had had an unusually merciless look during that time and an expression of both contempt and joy. Mike had forbade Ken from drawing the sword again, not that Ken needed anyone else to say it.

After the event Ken sealed his mind off from the others, he hasn't been talking as much, and keeps going off on his own during meal times.

[Hayate_T'Eraon]

Hayate pulled himself back from the edge, training out the newly made defects in his Aetherkinetic abilities, and the teleporting... He was able to go farther now, first a few hundred meters, then a mile... Now, upwards of twenty miles, and with greater precision. This world was dying, faster and faster, it seemed. The Constantine bastard was correct, they would have to move.

He adjusted Ascalon's scabbard across his back, as well as the weapons harness that contained the various firearms he carried... as well as his own pet project, a set of foci for his powers. A pair of gloves, inlaid with the various metals required to focus the Aether. He'd be able to conserve and recollect some of what he had lost in fights, if need be... Or just open the "valve" inside his head and blast the hell out of an opponent.

[Haseo{Terror of Death}]

((Sorry about not posting, I've got finals and work and pain. Bleh))

Hibiki had regained movement in his arms, although he also mastered psychic movement of his arms. Otherwise his psychic skills haven't increased much. Hibiki's sonic skills, however, advanced leaps and bounds over his other abilities. He could control sound-waves of the smallest degree. His levitation hasn't increased in speed, or gotten better at all, it may be maxed out. He is more open with the rest of the team and generally more cheerful due to Wes's socialite personality. Hibiki has also trained physically, including using his sword, although his physical strength is lacking, he has learned to use his sonic abilities in weaponless combat. "I guess we're off then." "Finally! I've been waiting to get back on track!" Wes let out a great sigh of relief on his monitor, as his body whinnied.

[Azalan]

(hey guys! Im sorry it took me so long to post. Last year was really rough and work dragged me away from dothackers. Plus there was drama in rl that kept me away. but now I'm back! It's great to see you all again! Hey if I make any errors in my post let me know and I'll be happy to edit them.)

3 months. Jacklyn herself was still having trouble believing that much time had passed. She was however a bit saddened at learning that the group themselves were abominations as well. It makes sense now that I think about it. I mean...we have these great yet terrifying abilities...but we don't know where they all come from. Over the past 3 months Jackie had become alot more open to the group and enjoyed talking with any who would reply. She was a little less shy but still would keep to herself if someone caught her off guard. Her feelings for kenpachi had grown significantly but she was still afraid to tell him afraid of how he would react. His actions as of late had begun to scare her and she was wondering if there was anything left of the kenny she adored so dearly.

Over the past 3 months Jacklyn's psychic powers had gotten significantly stronger. Not so much that she could take on mike but enough if she got cornered. The training had been rather tough on her since she had been on inhibitor drugs during her confinement before the mission had begun that long time ago. But she was adjusting. Her control of water was significantly better. On good days she could rip the blood right out of the target. But it took alot of energy out of her. Her levitation was slightly better but not enough to get higher than 4 floors in a building.

[Dark Blade]

((OOC: Check out whose still breathing! OK lets get this ball rolling again.))


It was the last week before they would have to move out of the area and Mike had decided it would be a good idea to simply take the last week off. Everyone had improved so much that simple training against random F class abominations would do none of them any good. There was a small but still decent size lake near the city they had been staying in. So far it had only been used for training but this time Mike had gotten the others to come down to it for some simple old fashioned beach time. Using what supplies they could find in the ruins they made a volleyball court and played a few rounds. Mike was the refferee since he could cancel out any of the others psychic abilities and keep the game mostly fair. It ended pretty well all things considered. Although Mike figured out that everyone was being nice and let Jacklyn win. As the day moved on they swam for a bit. Mike had tried to be silly and splash Jacklyn only to discover that was a bad idea seeing as how she could hit him with a tsunami. After finding his trunks and turning as red as a cherry the sun was starting to set. Ken started up a campfire and they cooked some fish Jacky had caught from the lake. While the food cooked Jacklyn brought out the holo-harp Mike had given her and played it. It had taken Mike a few weeks to give her proper instruction to play it but the end result was well worth it. She deserved her codename of Siren. She had a beautiful voice. They ended up sleeping on the beach that night. For the first time in a long while Mike had no trouble sleeping.